1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, welcome to Hoops Tonight. You're at 2 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: the volume heavy Friday everybody. Hope all of you guys 3 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:20,799 Speaker 1: are having a great end of your week. It's mail 4 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: bag Dave a bunch of good questions from you guys. Again, 5 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 1: I'm grabbing these questions from the YouTube comments. So if 6 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 1: you want to get questions into our mail bag, go 7 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: to our full episodes. Put mail bag with the colon, 8 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: write your question and we will get to them once 9 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:35,279 Speaker 1: a week throughout the remainder of the year. You guys 10 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 1: know the drill before we started subscribing to Hoops to 11 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:38,239 Speaker 1: and o my YouTube channel. You don't miss any more 12 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,279 Speaker 1: of our videos. Follow me on Twitter at underscore j asnlts. 13 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: You guys don't miss youw announcements. Don't forget about ourocast 14 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: feed whever your podcast on Hoops Tonight. It's also super 15 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: helpful for you leave a rating in a review on 16 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 1: that front. Jackson's doing great work on our social media 17 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 1: feeds on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Make sure you 18 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:53,159 Speaker 1: guys follow us over there. And then the last but 19 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: not least, keep dropping those mail bag questions like I mentioned, 20 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: and we'll get to them. In our mail bags throughout 21 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 1: the remainder of the year. All right, let's talk some basketball. 22 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: So I have to start with a fake question. I 23 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: shouldn't say it's fake question, and it actually be in 24 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:07,399 Speaker 1: from a tweet that I saw last night. Why do 25 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: the Clippers feel comfortable making substantial efforts to capitalize on 26 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: the end of the Kawhi James Harden era then the 27 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: Lakers ever did with Lebron and Anthony Davis, and now 28 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 1: again with Luka Dancic. I find this conversation to be 29 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: very interesting. So the Clippers have doubled down on Kawhi 30 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: and James Harden this summer. Right, They gave James Harden 31 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: a new deal. They traded Norman Powell for John Collins 32 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:37,559 Speaker 1: to improve their front core depth, and replaced Norman Powell 33 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 1: with Bradley Beale in upgrade at the position. They signed 34 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 1: an older veteran center in Brook Lopez to improve their 35 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: depth and matchup versatility. They have improved dramatically. The Lakers 36 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: got a castaway and DeAndre and who obviously isn't improved. 37 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: And I don't want to undercut that, but he's super 38 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: high risk. That's a big part of why he was 39 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: available at the number that the Lakers were able to 40 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: get him at right. Most importantly, they let Dorian Finney 41 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: Smith walk. He was a player that was so valuable 42 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 1: to the Lakers last year that they were seventeen points 43 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: per one hundred possessions better when he was on the 44 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 1: floor versus off. He was clearly because of his just 45 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: intelligent positional defense, his ability to knock down wide open 46 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: catch and shoot threes, and just his veteran leadership just 47 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 1: greased the wheels for the Lakers on both ends of 48 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: the floor. He made them better. Lakers fans were pleading 49 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: with JJ Raddick to start him at small forward almost 50 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 1: immediately after the trade, and yet they let him walk. 51 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: He was one of their most valuable role players and 52 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: they just didn't want him. They replaced him with Jake 53 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 1: Loravia and he's fine. I don't want to make this 54 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: about Jake Lorave. He's a fine player, but he's a 55 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 1: substantial downgrade. And the premise behind it all is that 56 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:54,679 Speaker 1: the Lakers want flexibility, flexibility to sign a star in 57 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: twenty twenty seven, or flexibility to trade for a star 58 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: at some point in the future. In other words, words, 59 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 1: the Lakers were hesitant to invest in Lebron and ad 60 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 1: and now they're hesitant to invest in Lebron and Luca, 61 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: and they keep an eye on the future in both cases. 62 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 1: And again, even with the Lebron piece, I want to 63 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: be like, Okay, you're looking for the next player that's 64 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: going to play alongside Luca. Lebron is an all NBA 65 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:22,800 Speaker 1: level talent. It's very possible that you don't get an 66 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: all NBA level talent the entire time that you have 67 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 1: Luka Doncic there. They're not just growing on trees. There's 68 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: fifteen of them in the entire league. That is. This 69 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: piece with Lebron here next to Luca might very well 70 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 1: be the best roster that you're ever able to put 71 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: together alongside Luka Doncic, and yet their eye is on 72 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: the future, while the Clippers seem more focused on getting 73 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: the most out of this group, on capitalizing on this era. 74 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: It's particularly interesting to me because both teams are second 75 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: pier teams. Neither of these teams are on the level 76 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: of the top teams in the league. They're just kind 77 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: of that next level down. A move could potentially move 78 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: them into that range, right, and both teams have an 79 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: obvious retirement drop off coming, whether it's James Harden's potential 80 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: downfall over the next couple of years, Kawhi Leonard's knee trouble, 81 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 1: or Lebron being forty one years old at the end 82 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: of next season. Right, they both are in very similar positions. 83 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: There's reasoning for both teams to go in either direction. 84 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: So why are they going in different directions? I think 85 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: the answer to this is simple. The Clippers trust their 86 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: basketball philosophy. They know they'll be able to pivot when 87 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: the time comes without too much of an issue. They 88 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: just did it. They let Paul George walk, which ended 89 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 1: up being perfect timing, as his knees have just failed 90 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: him since he went to Philly. And they signed Derek 91 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 1: Jones Junior and Chris Dunn for about fifteen million a year, 92 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: thirty five million less than Paul George, and they got better. 93 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 1: Why did they get better because of that lack of redundancy? Because, 94 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: like we talked about in yesterday's pod, a role player 95 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:11,919 Speaker 1: that fills a specific team need can be more valuable 96 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: to winning basketball games than a star talent, a concept 97 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: that has eluded the Lakers ever since Jerry Buss left 98 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 1: the team or passed away. I should say, what is 99 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 1: that strong basketball philosophy? The Clippers know what works in 100 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 1: the modern NBA, and they know they'll always be able 101 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 1: to find the next player that they need to fill 102 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: a role. That philosophy is everything that we've discussed at 103 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 1: length over the previous couple of years. The value of 104 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: advantage creation. When you have a player like James Harden 105 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: that can set up players with an advantage, meaning a 106 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:49,160 Speaker 1: defenders sprinting at them from an opening rather than having 107 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 1: to play against a loaded up defense. If you do that, 108 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: every single one of those role players will overachieve based 109 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:57,840 Speaker 1: on those advantages. James Harden is one of the highest 110 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 1: floor offensive players in the NBA. The value of jump shooting. 111 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:05,720 Speaker 1: The Clippers have consistently been one of the best jump 112 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 1: shooting teams in the league, year after year after year. 113 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: The value of a strong defensive foundation in the form 114 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:16,160 Speaker 1: of a versatial center. They saw the value in Zubots 115 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: that the Lakers did not see in his ability to defensive, rebound, 116 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 1: protect the rim, defend even in switches. He's a better 117 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:25,720 Speaker 1: switch defender than he ever gets credit for. He has 118 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 1: given them the strong defensive foundation. The value of perimeter 119 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,280 Speaker 1: defense and overall team speed. This was the beauty of 120 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: getting Derek Jones Jr. And Chris Dunn players that were available. 121 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:40,920 Speaker 1: Derek Jones Jr. Just had a playoff run with Luka 122 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: Daancis where he made the finals in was immensely important 123 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: as the primary point of attack defender did a wonderful 124 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 1: job on Anthony Edwards, but all the other teams looked 125 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 1: at it and they went, oh, he's just benefiting from Luca. 126 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,359 Speaker 1: The Clippers saw this is one of the most important 127 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: traits that an NBA player can have, the ability to 128 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,720 Speaker 1: guard the opposing best player and to be able to 129 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 1: run up and down the floign transition. Chris Don as 130 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: well a fact similar of that, at five million dollars 131 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: a year. They saw the value there, the value of 132 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: coaching the Lakers let Tyleru walk. The Clippers saw value 133 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: in tylu For the Lakers. They were like, oh, Lebron 134 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: won the title, Yeah he did, but Tyleru was one 135 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 1: of the best coaches in the league. The Lakers didn't 136 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 1: see that. The Clippers did. The value of schematic approach 137 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: on both ends of the floor. Look at what Darvin 138 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 1: Ham failed to do with the Lakers. This has been 139 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: apparent to me for a while, and it's why I 140 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: was so high on the Clippers going into last season. 141 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: I know people like to roast the Clippers and their failures, 142 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 1: but we all know what that was. I'm not sitting 143 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: here and pretending like the bubble wasn't a disaster. The 144 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 1: bubble was a disaster. But every other year they've been there, 145 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 1: it's Kawi's looked great, They've looked like a team with 146 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: a real chance to go, and then his knee just 147 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 1: breaks down. Why I stays healthy, they most likely win 148 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 1: the title in twenty twenty one. This is a team 149 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 1: that has been there, They've just had really poor luck 150 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: with their injuries. Right, the Lakers have no basketball ideology 151 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: beyond how do we get the next star. It's why 152 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: they wanted Kawhi first before pivoting to a championship corp 153 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: of role players. It's why they traded for Russell Westbrook. 154 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: It's why they wouldn't trade picks for Lebron and ad 155 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: when they were trying to win, at least not all 156 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 1: of them. Right, It's why they wouldn't retain Dorian Finney Smith. 157 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: A couple of weeks ago, It's why they won't trade 158 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 1: their first round pick this summer to upgrade a starting 159 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 1: two or a starting three, because it's just not flashy 160 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:45,559 Speaker 1: enough to bring in a role player quality to guard. 161 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: It's not press conference worthy. They want cap space and 162 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: draft picks so that maybe, just maybe they can get 163 00:08:56,400 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: Giannis and Tenna Kumbo or Nikola Jokic. Look at the 164 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 1: Jaclavia signing, for example, and again I like Jake Lerevia. 165 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 1: I think he's a fine player. This is not about 166 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 1: him in a vacuum. What is the one thing that 167 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: this Lakers roster has been sorely missing for years? Athleticism, 168 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 1: especially on the perimeter speed, team speed. Jacularevia doesn't materially 169 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 1: move the needl on that at all. They've needed athleticism 170 00:09:28,559 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: for years, and they've made quite literally no attempt to 171 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 1: address that need. I had Lakers fans tell me this morning, Well, 172 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 1: the Lakers have a title in the Lebron era and 173 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:45,079 Speaker 1: the Clippers literally have zero titles in franchise history. You're right, 174 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: Lebron James chose the Lakers because he wanted to live 175 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 1: in Los Angeles, and he used his friendship with Anthony 176 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: Davis and his agency to bring Ad over and they 177 00:09:56,200 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 1: won a championship. But then Rob Polinka O almost immediately 178 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 1: blew up that core in a way that literally everybody 179 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:08,559 Speaker 1: knew was dumb in the moment. You'll be hard pressed 180 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 1: to find a Lakers fan that was like, oh, this 181 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 1: is smart KCP and Kyle Kuzma for Russell Westbrook and 182 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:16,440 Speaker 1: will let Alex Crusoe walk in the ensuing salary crunch. 183 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 1: Everyone knew it was a bad idea. They blew it 184 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: up right away, and if you zoom out, for over 185 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 1: a decade from twenty thirteen to twenty twenty five, the 186 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 1: Lakers have mostly been a massively underachieving mess relative to 187 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:36,559 Speaker 1: the talent when they had Lebron and AD and obviously 188 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 1: the inability to put together a competent basketball team around that. 189 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 1: While the Clippers have consistently been in the upper echelons 190 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:48,079 Speaker 1: of the NBA, they've even pivoted multiple times in that span. 191 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:50,439 Speaker 1: Do you guys remember that feisty playoff team I think 192 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:53,840 Speaker 1: it was twenty nineteen, the team with Patrick Beverly and 193 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: Low Williams, That team that like straight up was causing 194 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 1: some problems for the Golden State Warriors. They they were 195 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,199 Speaker 1: feisty even before Kawhi and Paul George joined the team. 196 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: The Lakers in their star driven approach it works really well. 197 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:13,679 Speaker 1: It worked really well in the Jerry Buss era. And yeah, 198 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: you still need a top tier star to win the title. 199 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: I'm not trying to undercut that. But after you have 200 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 1: that top star, the rest of the job comes entirely 201 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: down to quality team building and understanding what works. In 202 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:31,679 Speaker 1: the modern MBA. We've seen so many examples of over 203 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 1: indexing on stars not work, the latest being this Kevin Durant, 204 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 1: Devin Booker, Bradley beil Sun's team, it doesn't work. Let's 205 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 1: say things go south with the Nuggets and the Lakers 206 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 1: getting Nikola Jokic. You don't think Nikola Jokic and Luka 207 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:49,680 Speaker 1: Doncic have some redundancies. They're two of the best advantage 208 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: creators in the league. There's a redundancy there. It would 209 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: have diminishing returns. In my opinion, the Lakers will not 210 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 1: experience sustain success in the NBA until they learn this lesson. 211 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 1: End of story. And I just think it's really fascinating, 212 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: Like the Clippers are just like, yeah, yeah, we're gonna 213 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 1: go for it. With this, and then you know, when 214 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: when kawhis done and James Harden's done, we'll just do 215 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 1: it again because we know what works. We know how 216 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 1: to win in the NBA, so we'll just do it 217 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:25,680 Speaker 1: again from scratch or you know, half pivot, whatever it 218 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: is that they end up doing at that point in time, 219 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: and they'll be fine. They've had sustain success because they 220 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 1: understand how to win basketball games. And it's not what 221 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:36,960 Speaker 1: you can say in a press conference about who you obtained, 222 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: but rather what you can accomplish on the basketball court. 223 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:43,440 Speaker 1: Perimeter defense and speed, a strong defensive foundation in the 224 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 1: form of rim protection and defensive rebounding, and the ability 225 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 1: to switch the value of jump shooting at every position. 226 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: Like they just get it organizationally and the Lakers don't. 227 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 1: And until that changes again, there will not be sustained 228 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: success from the Lakers. All right, Let's go to our 229 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 1: next question. 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But the short version 264 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: is everyone just looks at the efficiency. Kobe never had 265 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: a season over fifty one percent in effective field goal percentage, 266 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 1: and it just breaks people brains. But if you do 267 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 1: any research, every perimeter star who was a jump shooter 268 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: in that era was actually less efficient than Kobe. And 269 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: it just was a sign of the times, so to speak. 270 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 1: And I think just people they look at Devin Booker, 271 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:14,920 Speaker 1: and they look at you know, James Harden and some 272 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: of these other two guards that put up crazy efficiency 273 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: numbers which were a product of spread, pick and roll 274 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 1: in great spacing and all these modern offensive concepts that 275 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: make all this work. And they just they sit there 276 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: and look at, you know, Kobe's basketball reference page, and 277 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: they can't piece together why it looks the way that 278 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 1: it looks. Again, Kobe's most efficient scoring season was the 279 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: last season of his career before he tore his achilles, 280 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: because it was the year that was closest to the 281 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 1: modern game and what we understand about basketball now. But again, 282 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:44,520 Speaker 1: I did a deep dive into that into yesterday's show, 283 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,200 Speaker 1: So head back over to our feed and look back, 284 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 1: and you will see I went in depth into that 285 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 1: concept with a bunch of numbers. I explained statistically some 286 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: of the other some of Kobe's peers and how they performed. 287 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: You guys can find that over there. Which of the 288 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: Thunder Summer League players do you think will make sidera 289 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 1: considerable impact on the team this year or next year? 290 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 1: I think Topitch, aj Mitchell, Brooks, Barnheiser could all get 291 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: some decent playing time. Nikoletopitch is the guy that I'm 292 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 1: looking at. And again, it's going to be a similar 293 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 1: kind of problem to what happened with Josh Gitty. A 294 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 1: big part of it is going to be can Topich 295 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:16,800 Speaker 1: hit wide open, catch and shoot threes? And again, like 296 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 1: there's been stretches where that's been the case, in stretches 297 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 1: where that's not and we'll see. But overall, ball handling 298 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 1: was the biggest weakness that I think was demonstrated. There 299 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: were other weaknesses overall offensive process and some of the 300 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 1: spot up shooting stuff, but I thought the Pacers in 301 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: particular exposed a ball handling deficit for Indiana just them 302 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 1: succumbing and fatiguing under some of the ball pressure that 303 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 1: they just pose to them throughout the entire series. And 304 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 1: so the cool topic is getting another reliable ball handler 305 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 1: that can run action and set guys up with advantages. 306 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: That's the kind of thing that we'll be able to 307 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 1: loosen things up for Oklahoma City. On the offensive end 308 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 1: of the floor, can you do a deep dive into 309 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 1: the Timberwolves They're ceiling and floor and what you think 310 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: good moves will be for their future. So you know, 311 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 1: obviously Nikaile Alexander Walker on paper, losing him affects the 312 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,400 Speaker 1: talent level on the roster the depth on the roster, 313 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: and I want to undercut that. I would argue it's 314 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: a little more complicated because they did bring in Dante 315 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: DiVincenzo last year, so it's not like they don't have 316 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: options at that two guard spot. But to me, everything 317 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 1: just continues to fall on Anthony Edwards. I really like 318 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 1: the roster. You talk about ceiling and floor. The floor 319 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 1: is super high because they are just this big, physical 320 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 1: defense full of a bunch of ass kickers that causes 321 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 1: real problems in physical playoff basketball, and that's why they've 322 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 1: made the conference finals two years in a row. I 323 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 1: love the front court thing. I like the versatility. I'm 324 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 1: not a big go bear guy, but like, especially in 325 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 1: the regular season, it helps to have like a shooting 326 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 1: center that you can use in nasried while also having 327 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: like a rim protecting center. The center, they can give 328 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:46,479 Speaker 1: you a high defensive floor in the regular season. I 329 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 1: love their overall defensive foundation. They have better jump shooting 330 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 1: than I think people give them credit for. That was 331 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:55,159 Speaker 1: the big kind of like takeaway from the beginning of 332 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: last season, or was like, okay, Ken Jaden McDaniels and 333 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 1: Julius Randall and Rudy Gobert is a front court, provide 334 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: enough spacing and like Julias, shot the ball pretty well. 335 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 1: Jada mcdanield showed some real scoring chops, especially in the 336 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:10,439 Speaker 1: Lakers series. They're a little bit more resilient offensively than 337 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 1: I expected them to be. But to me, the ceiling 338 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,640 Speaker 1: still just comes down to Anthony Edwards. When they got 339 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:20,880 Speaker 1: into that series shake Gildos. Alexander was able to turn 340 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:23,159 Speaker 1: his back to the basket or generally work off the 341 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:27,360 Speaker 1: bounce in that thirteen to seventeen foot range and get 342 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,439 Speaker 1: reliable baskets that allowed him to score at volume in 343 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 1: that series in a way that Anthony Edwards was not 344 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,680 Speaker 1: Anthony Edwards because of the ball pressure from Oklahoma City 345 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 1: and their improtection. He was chased off the line, didn't 346 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 1: shoot well enough on pull up threes anyway, and did 347 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:46,239 Speaker 1: not have that refined mid range short range scoring that 348 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:49,479 Speaker 1: made Shay such a reliable scorer there. That to me 349 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:52,639 Speaker 1: is the ceiling. The ceiling for Minnesota is Ant's development. 350 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 1: If Ant can close the gap between where Shay is 351 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 1: and where he needs to be. If he can close 352 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 1: that gap, that is what will allow the Timberwolves to 353 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:06,360 Speaker 1: get over the hump Hey, Jason loved the show. As 354 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: a casual NBA fan that never played any high school 355 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:11,719 Speaker 1: basketball or high level basketball. Your breakdowns have really expanded 356 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 1: my knowledge and my joy for watching the game. So 357 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 1: thank you, thank you so much for the kind words. 358 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 1: You talk a lot about shot result and the impact 359 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: of being in rhythm as someone who played at a 360 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:22,760 Speaker 1: high level. Would you please elaborate as to what that 361 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:25,399 Speaker 1: actually means and why that has such a big impact 362 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: on shot results? Is it just confidence when you don't 363 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:30,320 Speaker 1: shoot for long stretches in games as your shooting form 364 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 1: not as precise. Also, how can a team of five 365 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: players be in rhythm versus one guy just catching fire? 366 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 1: Keep up the great work and welcome to Denver. Thank you. 367 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:41,679 Speaker 1: I'm very very excited to be here. So this is 368 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 1: a very very complicated concept, right, the concept of rhythm, 369 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 1: and I don't want to synthesize it down to any 370 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:48,879 Speaker 1: one thing. There's a bunch of different elements to it. 371 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 1: I do think there's a physiological element to it in 372 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 1: the sense that I mean, you guys don't know what 373 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 1: it's like if I handed you a basketball and I 374 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: was like, okay, take a twenty seven foot three right now, 375 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: or not even that. I was just say an NBA 376 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:04,680 Speaker 1: three above the break three, a twenty three foot ter 377 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 1: off of the wing. If I asked you to take 378 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:10,879 Speaker 1: that shot and you didn't touch a basketball at all 379 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:13,199 Speaker 1: today and you just went up there and shot it, 380 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 1: you have a very small percentage chance of making it 381 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 1: because your elbow is just not warm, right Like, the 382 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 1: muscle and the tendon and everything. It's just not loose, 383 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:23,160 Speaker 1: it's not warm right now. In a game, I think 384 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 1: that happens to a much lesser extent, right, Like, if 385 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,439 Speaker 1: you go twenty five minutes of real time without doing 386 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,399 Speaker 1: the jump shot motion and then suddenly you need to 387 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:36,479 Speaker 1: take a shot. Your muscle in your tendons, it's not 388 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: like in that, so to speak, physiological rhythm to be 389 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 1: able to knock a shot down, right Whereas like you 390 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:45,640 Speaker 1: get three four shots over the course of a couple 391 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 1: of minutes, on that third or fourth shot, you're gonna 392 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:51,439 Speaker 1: feel a lot more comfortable physiologically in your elbow. But 393 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:53,199 Speaker 1: there's also a bunch of other elements to it that 394 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 1: involve rhythm on the team level, right, like is overall 395 00:20:57,560 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 1: the team operating with a lot of confidence shooting is 396 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:02,440 Speaker 1: tages tends to be. You know, like when the team 397 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 1: is shooting well, more and more guys tend to shoot 398 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:07,880 Speaker 1: well because there's just a vibe around the team where 399 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: you feel in rhythm, everyone's having fun, everyone's in that flow. 400 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:14,359 Speaker 1: It can manifest in making shots, right. I also think 401 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:17,440 Speaker 1: there's a defensive element to rhythm, Like there's a big 402 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 1: difference between on there and I have a hand up 403 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 1: versus I made you uncomfortable. Maybe I swipe it the 404 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 1: ball down low. Maybe I bring a level of intensity 405 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,960 Speaker 1: to the closeout that affects the player mentally to where 406 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:31,360 Speaker 1: he's just not as like confident or comfortable in that shot. 407 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 1: There's the work before the shot, like am I physically 408 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 1: wearing you down? And all the other elements of the 409 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:40,239 Speaker 1: game so that when you like, let's say it's a 410 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:43,359 Speaker 1: super physical playoff game and you have a wide open 411 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:46,440 Speaker 1: wing three, maybe your legs are more beatn so you 412 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 1: don't get as much lift into the shot. And when 413 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 1: there's not as much lift into the shot, it throws 414 00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:54,080 Speaker 1: the whole calibration of your energy transfer off. Right Now, 415 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:56,400 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, you have to compensate with more 416 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:58,720 Speaker 1: power in your follow through well, now you're shooting a 417 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 1: different shot than the shot you shoot when you're practicing, right, Like, 418 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: all of these things factor in to whether or not 419 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 1: a shot goes in. And I've always said, like, when 420 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 1: it comes to variance, there is absolutely variance, right because 421 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:17,119 Speaker 1: even if you're playing under perfect conditions with no defense 422 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:21,160 Speaker 1: and your arm is physiologically warmed up and ready to go, 423 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: you're still gonna make some and miss some, right, So, 424 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:26,400 Speaker 1: Like I'm not sitting here and pretending like variance doesn't exist. 425 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 1: It's just when I'm evaluating what's happening in a game, 426 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: I'm gonna put variants further down the list behind, Like 427 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:36,879 Speaker 1: is this player getting touches? And is he involved in 428 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:41,120 Speaker 1: the offense? What did the closeout look? Like? How physical 429 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 1: of a game is this overall? Just like pressure like 430 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:47,400 Speaker 1: mental pressure on the shot, right, Like there's I'm gonna 431 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: be looking at stuff like that more than I'm gonna 432 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:52,119 Speaker 1: be looking at just like, all right, we rolled the dice, 433 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 1: let's see what happens. If that makes sense, But it's 434 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 1: hard to explain, Like I am yet to find a 435 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:01,399 Speaker 1: basketball player, like an actual person who played basketball at 436 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 1: a high level. I am yet to find a basketball 437 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: player who looks me in the face and goes, it's 438 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:08,640 Speaker 1: just variance. I just I don't see. I've never met 439 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:13,680 Speaker 1: that person, so like like it's usually an analytics professional 440 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:16,720 Speaker 1: or you know, just a person who's who hasn't been 441 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:19,080 Speaker 1: close to the game who's telling me that, Like variance 442 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 1: is the thing that's dictating everything in basketball. It certainly 443 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:25,160 Speaker 1: plays a role, but it to me is further down 444 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: the list than some of the controllables inside of offensive 445 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:34,280 Speaker 1: and defensive process. Would it be smarter for Damian Lillard 446 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 1: to wait and sign with another team until after next season? 447 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:39,720 Speaker 1: He's getting paid twenty two million anyway, would he be 448 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:41,879 Speaker 1: losing out on more money? Is there a chance or 449 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:44,359 Speaker 1: is there an incentive to join a team now? So 450 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: I think you can this can be played out in 451 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:50,160 Speaker 1: a bunch of different directions. One like, I think it'd 452 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 1: be good for Damian Lillard to be around a team right, 453 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:55,679 Speaker 1: to be still in the NBA process, to be to 454 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:59,119 Speaker 1: have access to the to the facilities and to the 455 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:01,840 Speaker 1: training staff and all those different things. I also think 456 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,080 Speaker 1: there's benefit in terms of chemistry to being around a team, 457 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:08,280 Speaker 1: But there's also obviously a financial benefit in the form 458 00:24:08,320 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 1: of him signing, you know, a veteran minimum contract to 459 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:13,320 Speaker 1: be on a team. Right. My thing is the reason 460 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:16,200 Speaker 1: why I think it's worth exploring is like, let's say 461 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 1: it doesn't work out. Let's say he signs a one 462 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 1: year minimum contract and he does spend time around the team, 463 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 1: and he does build some chemistry, but then all of 464 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 1: a sudden, you get to next summer and the contract 465 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:30,120 Speaker 1: expires and he's like, well, you know, I I think 466 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:32,160 Speaker 1: I'd rather go play over there. Okay, then he can 467 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:34,719 Speaker 1: go play over there. Or you know, let's say you're 468 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: a team. Let's say you're a team that has some 469 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: cap space or has the mid level exception still available 470 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:42,359 Speaker 1: to you. You can pay Dame the one plus one 471 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:45,400 Speaker 1: that most midlevel exceptions usually manifest ads. So let's say 472 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 1: a two year deal with player option. You pick him 473 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 1: up and like, maybe maybe you can get it. Maybe 474 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:54,439 Speaker 1: you can incentivize him, like instead of meeting him at 475 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:57,200 Speaker 1: the minimum contract, pay him closer to the mid level 476 00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 1: exception and take out the player option and be like, 477 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:03,120 Speaker 1: we will pay you for this year under the condition 478 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:05,400 Speaker 1: that you play for us next year. Right, Like, there's 479 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:07,439 Speaker 1: a bunch of different ways that'll work out, and It 480 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 1: all depends. It all depends on which teams are interested. 481 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 1: It all depends, like maybe Damian Lizard's like, I'd rather 482 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 1: take a sabbatical, and you know, I'd instead like, Okay, cool, 483 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,800 Speaker 1: You're offering me ten million for each year for the 484 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: next two years to play, but I have a lot 485 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:21,879 Speaker 1: of money and I'd rather just hang out with my 486 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:24,679 Speaker 1: family and be home and rehab without having to travel. 487 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 1: And or maybe I do want to travel, but for 488 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,199 Speaker 1: cushy vacation spots instead of traveling with an NBA team. Like, 489 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:33,240 Speaker 1: all of those different factors have to come together, like 490 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 1: how much does Dame want to stay home and relax 491 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:38,640 Speaker 1: while he's rehabbing, or does Dame want to be close 492 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 1: to a team? You know, is a team willing to 493 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:43,840 Speaker 1: pay a veteran minimum just for Dame to rehab with 494 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:45,720 Speaker 1: the team? Or do they want to put together a 495 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:47,439 Speaker 1: two year deal to try to tie him up when 496 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:50,399 Speaker 1: he's actually playing basketball again. All those factors will come 497 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:54,640 Speaker 1: together to dictate what his playing situation looks like, Hey, 498 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:57,520 Speaker 1: Jason Love the studio looking into the future for the 499 00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:00,720 Speaker 1: Lakers post Lebron, how would you build the roster around 500 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:04,159 Speaker 1: Luca to maximize the window of his prime. Would you 501 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 1: surround Luca plus Reeves with two way athletes similar to 502 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 1: Dallas a couple of years ago, or would you try 503 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:11,200 Speaker 1: to get another All Star caliber player interested to hear 504 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 1: your thoughts, Thanks again for the great content. So specifically 505 00:26:15,359 --> 00:26:19,520 Speaker 1: Luca and Reeves is tricky because Austin's not a great athlete. 506 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:23,159 Speaker 1: But then again, like you could say that Kyrie Irving 507 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 1: and Jalen Brunson were averaged to blow average athletes as well. 508 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 1: So I don't want to sit there and discount it entirely, 509 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:31,120 Speaker 1: but I do think that the Dallas experiment from two 510 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:33,680 Speaker 1: years ago is the method that I think all teams 511 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 1: need to consider. Rim Protecting vertical spacers, so centers that 512 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:41,640 Speaker 1: can be strong defensive foundations, but they can also roll 513 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 1: hard to the rim and catch and finish lobs. Specifically, 514 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:47,680 Speaker 1: Derek Lively, in his ability to switch on defense, also 515 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:51,280 Speaker 1: gave them a layer of versatility there as well. Surrounding 516 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:53,320 Speaker 1: him with defensive players that can play with an advantage, 517 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:55,840 Speaker 1: guys like PJ. Washington and Derek Jones Junior. They could 518 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:58,879 Speaker 1: hit wide open threes at a reasonable enough clip. It 519 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:01,160 Speaker 1: ended up being a problem in the Celtics series. But again, 520 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:03,880 Speaker 1: that Celtics team had one of the most dynamic rosters 521 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 1: in recent NBA history. They had the ability to put 522 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:08,879 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum on a center and things like that. We 523 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 1: may not see teams like that that they run into 524 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:14,440 Speaker 1: in the future. Right to me, with the Lakers, I 525 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:17,399 Speaker 1: would be less focused on finding the next superstar to 526 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 1: play alongside Luca and I'd be looking for really high 527 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:24,000 Speaker 1: level two way athletes, upgrades at the two upgrades at 528 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:26,480 Speaker 1: the three guys that are big, strong athletes that can 529 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:29,920 Speaker 1: guard multiple positions, that can hit an open three and 530 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:32,399 Speaker 1: drive a close out, and then at the center position. 531 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:34,280 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't like as far as the DeAndre 532 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 1: Ayton thing goes. I think he's a great option for 533 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:38,000 Speaker 1: this year because he's in a contract year. He has 534 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:40,040 Speaker 1: no choice but to behave and to give his best 535 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:42,760 Speaker 1: in order to get his next contract. But let's say 536 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:44,920 Speaker 1: that that happens and he signs a you know, let's 537 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:46,879 Speaker 1: say a four year, one hundred million dollar deal or 538 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:48,760 Speaker 1: something along those lines. All of a sudden, I look 539 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:50,640 Speaker 1: at DeAndre and then I go, I'm not sure i'd 540 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:52,680 Speaker 1: want to be in the DeAndre Eaton business. When he's 541 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 1: got one hundred million dollars coming his way no matter 542 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:57,960 Speaker 1: what over the next four seasons. That could be when 543 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 1: he spirals back down into some of the unper pfessionalism 544 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:02,840 Speaker 1: issues that he had in Portland. Right, So, like I 545 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 1: do love the eight and fit, but in the long run, 546 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:07,760 Speaker 1: if you could have a big athletic center that could 547 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:10,280 Speaker 1: defend and drop and and switches and roll to the 548 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:12,879 Speaker 1: rim with the real vertical spacing threat, I think the 549 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 1: Dallas mold Is is the way to go to take 550 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:23,399 Speaker 1: it a step further. Like Luca, to me uniquely is 551 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:28,800 Speaker 1: less dependent on star supporting talent because he's just this magnificent, 552 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:32,159 Speaker 1: high volume advantage creator. I think Steph Curry kind of 553 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 1: falls into a similar role, and he demonstrated that clearly 554 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty two. Right when you have such a 555 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 1: gifted advantage creator that even like lesser offensive players are 556 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:46,959 Speaker 1: thriving offensively, like PJ. Washington did in the playoffs two 557 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:49,800 Speaker 1: years ago, like Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins did in 558 00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:52,560 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two, When you have that type of talent, 559 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 1: that type of world beating offensive talent, I think it 560 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:59,320 Speaker 1: becomes more about like star role players, really really really 561 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 1: gifted role that can fill gaps and raise your floor defensively, 562 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:06,600 Speaker 1: and all these other things defensively are in terms of 563 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:09,640 Speaker 1: your floor so high that Luca's greatness can carry you 564 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 1: over the top. There are other stars that that changes 565 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:16,560 Speaker 1: and it becomes different and you need more substantial surround 566 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:19,240 Speaker 1: like Yannis for instance. Yannis is the kind of guy that, 567 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:22,760 Speaker 1: like probably needs a really high level perimeter player next 568 00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:26,160 Speaker 1: to him in order to reach his absolute peak as 569 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:29,240 Speaker 1: a superstar. There are gonna be those types of players 570 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:32,240 Speaker 1: out there, but to me, a guy like Luca, it's 571 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 1: less about finding the star next to him and just 572 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 1: giving him really really high level role players. I think 573 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:39,720 Speaker 1: it's proven to work like we saw two years ago, 574 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 1: and that's the direction I would go if I was 575 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:45,120 Speaker 1: the Lakers. Last question, which trio do you think will 576 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:48,600 Speaker 1: be better Victor wemin Yama, Dylan Harper and Steph Castle 577 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:53,640 Speaker 1: or Shae Gildess, Alexander chet Holmgren and Jay dub This 578 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 1: is complicated because there's two completely different angles here. I 579 00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:01,440 Speaker 1: think Wemby's ceiling is substantially higher than SHA's, Like I 580 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 1: think Wemby has a chance to be far and away 581 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 1: the best player in the league one day. I don't 582 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 1: think she has any potential to be far and away 583 00:30:08,160 --> 00:30:10,640 Speaker 1: the best player in the league. So if Victor wemen 584 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:13,640 Speaker 1: Yama reaches that point, that gives him the potential to 585 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:17,320 Speaker 1: be a part of a more dependable core in the 586 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 1: long run than Shaye je Chet and Jay Dubb. But 587 00:30:20,760 --> 00:30:23,600 Speaker 1: Chet and j Dub are both pretty close to all 588 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:27,080 Speaker 1: NBA level talents right now and like, and I believe 589 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 1: I think Chet will certainly be and Ja Dubb has 590 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:32,520 Speaker 1: that potential within the next couple of years. Right, Dylan 591 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:35,440 Speaker 1: Harper will see man like literally hasn't played an NBA 592 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:38,320 Speaker 1: game before, and Steph Castle shows all sorts of upside, 593 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:41,160 Speaker 1: but he's still super raw. Like Steph is still years 594 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:44,800 Speaker 1: away from being like a truly great you know, the 595 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 1: type of player that say Jay Dubb is, for example. 596 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 1: And so it's kind of those two bits of variants, right, like, 597 00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:53,800 Speaker 1: how much better will Wemby become than Shay? And can 598 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:56,840 Speaker 1: Dylan Harper and Steph Castle reach the level that Chet 599 00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:58,880 Speaker 1: and Jay Dubb have reached? And that will be the 600 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 1: determining factor at this point. I think I'd lean Shae 601 00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:06,520 Speaker 1: Chat and Jadub just because They're already there. Shay is 602 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:08,640 Speaker 1: already a top tier superstar, even if he's not at 603 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:12,280 Speaker 1: Jokic's level. Chet and JDub are already like well worth 604 00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:15,440 Speaker 1: max contracts. There's just too much variance in terms of 605 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:17,440 Speaker 1: Dylan Hartbur and Steph Castle and the players that they 606 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:19,360 Speaker 1: can become. But I don't want to sit there and 607 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:21,880 Speaker 1: say that Spurs Core can't be better. They certainly can. 608 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:24,080 Speaker 1: I just think the Thundercore is a little bit of 609 00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:25,960 Speaker 1: a safer bet. All right, guys, It's all I have 610 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:27,880 Speaker 1: for today and all I have for this weekend. As always, 611 00:31:27,880 --> 00:31:30,200 Speaker 1: I sincerely appreciate you guys for supporting us and supporting 612 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:32,120 Speaker 1: the show. We will be back next week. Not sure 613 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:34,080 Speaker 1: what we're I think we're beginning our off season plan. 614 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:36,360 Speaker 1: At that point, Jackson and I need to get together 615 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:38,640 Speaker 1: and do some planning. But again, we will be back 616 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:40,320 Speaker 1: next week. I'll see you guys then