1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:17,920 Speaker 1: Mmmmm, all right, welcome to the state of the Lakers. 2 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 1: Does that if I dash? Reddio? Thank you guys so 3 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: much for coming to hang out on a Tuesday. The 4 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:25,120 Speaker 1: Lakers used to be a team that would come out 5 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 1: and play a bad game of basketball, where their effort 6 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: would be poor and their stars would look lethargic and 7 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: they would lose. And so for them to have a 8 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: similar type of game tonight and to get a win, 9 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: I'm going to take as a huge positive. Rods. First 10 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 1: of all, how you doing, buddy. How's your week going 11 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 1: so far? It's going good. Yeah. Three games in a row, 12 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: three wins in a row, I think for the third 13 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: time this season. I think we won four in a 14 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: row one time. But man, it's good to stack a 15 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: couple of these together. It looked a little shaky early 16 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: in the fourth. I thing we went about we went 17 00:00:57,920 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: down seven. Oh yeah, man, this is a good one. 18 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: This is a fun one. A lot of threes back 19 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: and forth. But I'm well, man, how are you? I'm 20 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: doing good? Um, It's been a day full of basketball 21 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: for me. I played a little bit this morning. I 22 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: coached my high school kids. They gotta win tonight as well. 23 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: And then the Lakers gotta win. So it's been a 24 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 1: good day of basketball. But I'm excited to break this 25 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: one down with you. It was an interesting game because 26 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 1: the Lakers clearly came out lethargic. In my opinion, their 27 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: health defense was horrible. They were missing a lot of 28 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:30,400 Speaker 1: box outs. The Kings looked more energetic. Lebron in particular, 29 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:34,759 Speaker 1: looked a little bit apathetic, and then he drove into 30 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: Alex lenn and what need a knee with him? And 31 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 1: you could tell, like for the next long stretch of 32 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: the game that that really bothered him physically. You could 33 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: see him favoring it. You could see him kind of 34 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: continuing to miss box outs and rotations, just trying. It 35 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: seemed like he was just trying to make it to 36 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 1: the final buzzer. Lakers had a little bit of a 37 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 1: stretch there at the start of the second quarter where 38 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: they looked amazing, and we'll get into the reasons why later. 39 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 1: Hin and th h teams white, but it was nice 40 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: to see that even though for the most part they 41 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:09,239 Speaker 1: look lethargic and pour on both ends of the floor, 42 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: they hit the gas at the end of the game. 43 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 1: And when they hit the gas, they were better, and 44 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 1: that is what good teams do. And I know people 45 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: want to undersell and and try to undercut beating bad teams. 46 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: But the Laker team, this Laker team has lost too 47 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,359 Speaker 1: bad teams a lot this season early on, and so 48 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 1: I look at it more as taking care of business. 49 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: The Lakers took care of business tonight in a funky game, 50 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: made plays on both ends of the floor down the stretch, 51 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,640 Speaker 1: and they deserve to win. Yeah. Man, we are in 52 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: no position I keep saying to be picky about wins, 53 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 1: especially where we are in the standings. Memphis just keeps winning. 54 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 1: They don't look like they're gonna slow down. They look 55 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 1: like they might lock up that fourth seed pretty soon. Here. Yeah, man, 56 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: it's a it's a good win, and you have to 57 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: kind of stack some of these wins together, and they 58 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: were able to do that tonight. I thought Sacramento hit 59 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: a bunch of tough shots as well. We lost Buddy 60 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: healed a few times off screens. That's gonna happen, But 61 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: I thought you hit a few tough ones. Deer and Fox, 62 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: I think they said, I don't know if they have 63 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 1: if this number is correct, If I heard it right, 64 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 1: he sho from three. I'm not sure if that if 65 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: I heard that correct. Yeah, yeah, and he hit a 66 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: bunch of them to night. He had a bunch of 67 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: step back threes. I thought the Tyrese Haliburton one over 68 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 1: Mellow was a tough one. We had a four point. 69 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: We missed a lot of layups where like it could 70 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: have changed the tide of the game. Right, Like, we're 71 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: on a big run, we're up like six, and we 72 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: get like a turnover. I think Russ had a block 73 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: and he went the other way and miss the Mr 74 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: Russ no turnovers tonight, I believe he finished with no turnovers, right, 75 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: and again you texted me like he had some bad shots, 76 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: and that's that's true. There are a bunch of bad 77 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: shots that you can kind of convert over to turnovers. 78 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: But it's nice to see him have just a good 79 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: no turnover floor game, even if the shot selection a 80 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: few times wasn't great. But I mean it was a 81 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: it was a win. That's nice to stack them together 82 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: and hopefully we can win the next one as well 83 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: to to make it four. But yeah, we're in no 84 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: position to be picky. Uh. This team is still trying 85 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: to figure each other out. We lost a starter tonight 86 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 1: due to contractual reasons that help. We'll get back. Yeah, 87 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: we'll get back on Friday. Um, So it was nice 88 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 1: to kind of get gut this one out. I thought, 89 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: you know, I thought Frank pushed a lot of the 90 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: correct buttons tonight. Like every lineup decision, I thought it 91 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 1: was correct. I thought he made, you know, a bunch 92 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: of good tactical decisions. He wasn't rigid with his lineups 93 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 1: like he was in the last game. I thought, you know, 94 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 1: mirroring Dwight minutes, and we'll get to Dwight obviously later 95 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 1: mirroring his minutes with Alex Land. I thought that really 96 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: changed kind of the course of the game as well. 97 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: But this was a good way. It was a good, 98 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,279 Speaker 1: good game to get a win. Went on. Yeah, so 99 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: let's let's start with Dwight, because we had an interesting 100 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 1: discussion after the last game going over this idea that 101 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: Frank refused to fold under pressure to go bigger. Um, 102 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,480 Speaker 1: and I talked about how I personally disagreed with that 103 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:50,040 Speaker 1: right and I had mentioned that Dwight is a quality 104 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: NBA player. He is a good backup center in this league, 105 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 1: and so I disagreed with the philosophy of leaving him 106 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: on the bench for the sake of your i've out identity, 107 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:04,160 Speaker 1: when talent has been somewhat of an issue so far 108 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:08,159 Speaker 1: this season. However, in in the last part, I explained 109 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:12,160 Speaker 1: that I understood Frank's rationale in that it seemed like 110 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:16,159 Speaker 1: his I hit the goal was to train yourself to 111 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: stay small and have that be the permanent identity. And 112 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 1: so that's why I was genuinely confused when they went 113 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:27,359 Speaker 1: to Dwight tonight, because the same rationale for going to 114 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 1: Dwight tonight was the rationale they needed last game, and 115 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 1: for whatever reason, he couldn't get their last game mentally 116 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: as the coach, but tonight he could. And you know, 117 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: I tend to think the reason why I was there's 118 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:42,599 Speaker 1: two parts to it. Yes, it's Dwight being a good 119 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: NBA player, but it's also a versatility Raj like I 120 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: like the ability to be able to play multiple styles 121 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 1: of basketball, and leaning one thousand percent into playing five 122 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 1: out ball is just as detrimental, in my opinion, to 123 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 1: leaning one thousand percent to playing two big ball the 124 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: way they did last year, which I thought was a 125 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: departure from the previous season. And it was a problem 126 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: for many reasons because then when they went to a 127 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 1: d at the five in the very rare stretches where 128 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: they did, it felt unusual, and there were some struggles, 129 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: namely Game one against Phoenix, where things didn't go super well. 130 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 1: Point being, you know, having versatility, being able to play 131 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 1: multiple styles of basketball is is one of the one 132 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: of the hallmarks of a championship team. And Dwight is 133 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: a good basketball player that can make plays on the 134 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 1: offensive glass. He can make plays defensively in pick and 135 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: roll coverage. He can finish lobs and drop off passes 136 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 1: from guys who can make plays off the past, even 137 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 1: guys who aren't great and making plays off the past, 138 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 1: like Moleague Monk for instance, who hit Dwight for a 139 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: couple of dunks tonight. Point, being Dwight's a good player, 140 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: it made sense to play him, even if it goes 141 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: against the style of play that you have in your 142 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: other lineups, because you need that versatility. You need to 143 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: have the ability to call an audible in a playoff series, 144 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 1: and Dwight's a really good audible. And so I thought 145 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: that was impressive, and I heard a lot of people 146 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: bringing up like, Okay, Dwight looked springy because he had 147 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: some time off, and I'm not debating that, Like, I 148 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: definitely don't think Dwight should be a big minute guy. However, 149 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 1: a lot of the bad games Dwight had recently were 150 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: more related, in my opinion, to the COVID suspension and 151 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 1: him losing his conditioning. So I tend to think as 152 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 1: long as Dwight is in a small role, maybe a 153 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: two shift player or one shift player, then he can 154 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: play every night for us if we need him to. 155 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 1: I don't think he's physically incapable of doing that, right, 156 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: And you know, I thought even I just like I 157 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: used the word ridgid a lot with it because I 158 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 1: just don't think we're in position like we had a 159 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 1: nice lead, or we were up in the standings, or 160 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 1: even if a d was healthy. And yeah, you can 161 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: go to this full no center as they call it, 162 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: right because Local used to wear no center and when 163 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 1: he includes Aunt Davis in that as well, you could 164 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 1: do that. You can experiment, But I think we are 165 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: in still win collection mode here and we can't give 166 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: up nights and we can't have what nas redid the 167 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 1: other night. And I thought this game was kind of 168 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 1: tilting towards that, because the whole point of going small 169 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 1: right is to get an offensive advantage, Like that's what 170 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 1: we're doing when we go small, and I thought tonight 171 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 1: we were getting killed on the boards while also not 172 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: getting the offensive punch. I think we had Russ and 173 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 1: tailing in. I don't remember if Lebron was also on 174 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: the floor when Dwight Howard checked any might or might 175 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 1: have not, but I thought that kind of changed the 176 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: flow of the game. Sacrament And went up nine to two, 177 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 1: I believe, and then we caught them at four teen. 178 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: But then Alex Lann came in and I thought he 179 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: again took control of the game for Sacramento. He was 180 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: getting offensive rebounds. You talked about our health defense early 181 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 1: it was really bad. I thought Lebron wasn't wasn't there 182 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 1: on the help early. I'm not sure if that's just 183 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: him kind of load managing through or just didn't want 184 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: to whatever it was, or the physical battles download that 185 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 1: you don't want him doing all game. I thought all 186 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 1: of that was part of it. And I love just 187 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 1: putting Dwight in there to kind of nullify the Alex 188 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 1: land matchup, and I thought that changed the whole floor 189 00:08:57,840 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: of the game. He came in like the middle of 190 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: the first and know we kind of took back. I 191 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: think we were up thirty to twenty seven or something 192 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: after the first quarter. But yeah, do I can play 193 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: here and there. I'm fine. He doesn't have to play 194 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:08,839 Speaker 1: every night. I would like him to be like ten 195 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: or fifteen minutes. I don't think you're gonna get fourteen 196 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: and fourteen as he put up tonight in twenty two 197 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 1: minutes every single time that you play him. But it's 198 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 1: just a nice switch up, Like you talked about the versatility, 199 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: and I don't think we're in the mode to be 200 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 1: able to give games away. And I feel like that 201 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: was it was kind of going there with the with 202 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,439 Speaker 1: alex Lyn starting to dominating a similar fashion than nos READD. 203 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:29,839 Speaker 1: But Dwight still you talked about a good NBA player. 204 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:31,959 Speaker 1: He's not DeAndre Jordan, and you don't need to cut 205 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: him out the rotation. He can still move his feet, 206 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: he can still jump to block shots, he knows how 207 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 1: to roll correctly. I thought him and Malik Monk had 208 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 1: a good chemistry earlier in the year. I thought you 209 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 1: saw that again tonight. Their screen role game was nice. 210 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: Um leaked through him some lobs. It's just a solid 211 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 1: NBA player that we can he can be our backup center. 212 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: But thought again, Frank, I thought he just pushed the 213 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:51,959 Speaker 1: right buttons. He uh, Alex Lann came in, I believe 214 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: in the fourth. Then he put Dwight Howard in as well, 215 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: Like he mirrored their minutes really nicely, and I think 216 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:57,719 Speaker 1: that's what you have to do right now. But yeah, 217 00:09:57,760 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: Dwight was really good tonight. Man. I thought he kind 218 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 1: of say our first quarter and that kind of energized 219 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 1: us to the rest of the game. Mm hmmm. I 220 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 1: wanted to move on to Russ for a second because 221 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 1: I've been pretty hard on Russ recently, and I think 222 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: I've done a good job. I hope if I'm wrong, 223 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 1: you guys can let me know. But I think I've 224 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: gonna done a good job of explaining exactly what worries 225 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 1: me about Russ. It's not so much the day to 226 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: day stuff, because he's been good for some stretches of 227 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 1: the season and he's been bad for some stretches of 228 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 1: the season. He was bad to start, then he had 229 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,080 Speaker 1: a stretch there for about a month or so where 230 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 1: he actually was really good and only some uninformed people 231 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 1: outside of the Laker fan base were particularly negative towards Russ, 232 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: and then he kind of went back into a slump 233 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: here recently where he hasn't been shooting the ball well, 234 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 1: he's make more defensive mistakes, he's been missing everything around 235 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: the rim um, and so that that to me, is 236 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: separate from my concerns with Russ, which have always been 237 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: late game decision making, particularly in a playoff setting. You 238 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:58,959 Speaker 1: know what I mean, That's what I've I've said, but 239 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 1: I want to be clear, like I do think Russ 240 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:05,079 Speaker 1: dos a ton to help this team. He's the definition 241 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: of a good play, bad play, got type of guy, 242 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 1: and there are a lot of nights, especially during the 243 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 1: regular season, where he brings a lot of good and 244 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 1: very little bad, and today was one of those games. 245 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 1: He had some pull up midrange shots that I thought 246 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:22,839 Speaker 1: were ill advised early in the game, but other than that, 247 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:26,320 Speaker 1: other than that, he did a really good job. I 248 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: thought he carried the team in the third quarter when 249 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 1: Lebron was in that funk um that we described earlier, 250 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 1: and that was an example of a basketball game where 251 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,599 Speaker 1: if Russ isn't there, you probably lose, you know what 252 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 1: I mean, because that's what you need for various stretches 253 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 1: of the game. You need somebody that can carry you 254 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:47,679 Speaker 1: when things aren't working. And Molikue Monk, if you remember, 255 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 1: was hot to start the game, but then kind of 256 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 1: went cold there for the second and third quarter. So 257 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: you had Lebron and Monk, the two guys who brought 258 00:11:55,760 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 1: the game home. Those two guys were mostly cold and 259 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 1: off during the middle portion of the game, and Russ 260 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 1: carry then. And so that's an example of some of 261 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 1: the good that that Russ springs to the table. But 262 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 1: above that, I wanted to because you actually brought this Upfrage. Yeah, 263 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 1: I thought it was interesting late game how they basically 264 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 1: started spamming the Lebron Monk pick and pop there on 265 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 1: the right wing, which I think is a good play. 266 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 1: But it was interesting how Russ basically got relegated to 267 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 1: being in the dunker spot. Now, there was a play 268 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:36,319 Speaker 1: where he did get an offensive rebound at one point, 269 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 1: but that kind of thing does concern me potentially in 270 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:41,679 Speaker 1: the long run, and you may feel differently about it, 271 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: but you know, for a player of Russ's caliber, in 272 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:50,199 Speaker 1: terms of reputation to basically be relegated to being Ben 273 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:53,199 Speaker 1: Simmons at the end of the basketball game, there's a 274 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: huge diminishing return there offensively, um, and that scares me 275 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: for a playoff series because then you start to look 276 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:03,439 Speaker 1: at the situation and go, Okay, would we be better 277 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 1: off with another guy there who can shoot, so that 278 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: maybe Lebron and Monk are running that with a true 279 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: five out, or maybe Anthony Davis isn't that dunker spot instead, 280 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 1: you know what I mean? Like that, that's kind of 281 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:18,320 Speaker 1: the It was an interesting end of the game there, 282 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 1: because again, if if Russ can't have the ball in 283 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 1: his hands, what is he really doing aside from grabbing 284 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:27,680 Speaker 1: the occasional offensive rebound. But I wanted to hear I 285 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 1: wanted to hear your opinion on that sequence, Yeah, because 286 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 1: I know because you and not It's not just you, 287 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 1: it's a lot of people who have, you know, expressed 288 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 1: concern for the late game offense with Russ right with 289 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: his decision making throughout the game. Kind of lends to 290 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 1: your thoughts on him in high level situations. And I've 291 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: always thought that he's, like you said, what are you 292 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:47,719 Speaker 1: gonna do? What's the point of having Russ on the 293 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: floor if you can't have the ball in his hands. 294 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: But you don't want the ball in his hands, right, 295 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:53,840 Speaker 1: you want the ball on Lebron James hands in those situations. 296 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 1: And I've always said, uh, to kind of have Russ 297 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: in those situations. It's not to like control him or 298 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: try to bring him down, it's just to lower the usage. 299 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:03,679 Speaker 1: And I thought, this is what it's gonna look like 300 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 1: in the playoffs. He saw this when they played Cleveland 301 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: earlier and it was a close game. Anthony Davis was 302 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 1: also on the floor. He was kind of the screener. 303 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:11,559 Speaker 1: This is kind of how I see Russ in those 304 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 1: kind of moments in the dunker spot. And to me, 305 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 1: it's not relegating relegating him there in a bad way 306 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: because it kind of puts what he's good at into 307 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 1: the forefront. Right. He is a good offensive rebound or, 308 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 1: and you talked about him getting one tonight, and putting 309 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: him there kind of puts those in. It puts him 310 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: in those situations. He also gotta I think he also 311 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: got a basket off the cut. He's a good cutter 312 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: in those spots, and he doesn't always have to be 313 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 1: in the dunker spot as well. He can be a 314 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 1: little bit more on the weak side where it's not 315 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 1: all the way to the three point line, it's right, 316 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: it's right about halfway and that's usually where players cut 317 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: from the baseline on. And we saw that again tonight 318 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: and it was Lebron and Monk too man game screen 319 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 1: roll late, right, And that's to me what our late 320 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 1: game offense is going to be. Even when we had 321 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis on the floor in the playoffs, are late 322 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 1: game offense was a guard screen action. It was k 323 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 1: CP and Monk is a lot more versatile than Cap 324 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 1: is a better shooter, better off ball handler. It reminded 325 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: me a little bit and I hope this isn't like terrible, 326 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: but it reminded me a little bit of like Kyrie Irving, 327 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 1: and of course Monks not the talent of Kyrie Irving, 328 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 1: had just me and the archetype of a three level 329 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: score right where you have to guard a monk off 330 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: the dribble. You have to guard him as a spot 331 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 1: up guy and he can float, and he has a 332 00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: floater game like he has the whole offensive package. And 333 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 1: it's not always on every night, but I just think 334 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: that's what we're gonna see. And that's why I'm not 335 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: too worried about Russ in those kind of situations. If 336 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: a d is on the floor, to me, he's probably 337 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 1: the screener or he's in the dunker spot, and maybe 338 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 1: Russ is a screen and there's things that you can do. 339 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 1: I just don't think Russ would have the ball in 340 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 1: his hands in those situations. So I was gonna ask 341 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 1: you that does that seeing that like late game offense. 342 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: I guess does that kind of temper your your worries 343 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 1: a little bit? Because it did, at least for me. 344 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 1: I've seen this a couple of times now late game offense, 345 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 1: but Russ just does not have the ball at the 346 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 1: top of the key in late game situations, Like that's 347 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 1: just not what we run. It's Lebron James with the ball, 348 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 1: screen action whatever, whoever he wants to come set the screen, 349 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 1: whether it's Wayne Ellington to be Dallas, right to be Dallas. 350 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 1: We went Wayne Ellington straight screen roll tonight. It was 351 00:15:57,080 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 1: Malik Monk against the Calves. It was Anthony Davis to 352 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 1: get mobile on him, like it's gonna be whoever he 353 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: wants to mismatch hunt and it's not going to be 354 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 1: rusted with the basketball, which is why I'm not as worried. 355 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: And I think putting him in the dunkers again, stretch 356 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: weak side, not all the way to the corner, but 357 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 1: on the baseline where he can cut through. I just 358 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: that's how I see us playing late game offense. So 359 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 1: I see that side of it. I do, And I 360 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: want to be clear like I I do. I try, 361 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 1: like I said from the beginning, with this rust thing, 362 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 1: I go out of my way to try to see 363 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: the positive. I really do. Where where I concern myself 364 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 1: primarily has to do with a situation where that's not 365 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: Damien Jones and Buddy Healed guarding the Malik monk Lebron action. 366 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 1: So so let's say we're playing Phoenix or playing Golden State. 367 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 1: If it's if it's Phoenix in all likelihood, if that's 368 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 1: a Malik Monk, it's Devin Booker guarding him, right, and 369 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 1: probably Michael Bridges on Lebron. That's just they're they're gonna 370 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 1: switch that every time. And yes, Steven Booker is is 371 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: someone Lebron can attack. But the point is is that's 372 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: gonna be Lebron having to beat Devin Booker off the dribble, 373 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:12,479 Speaker 1: and it's gonna be DeAndre Ayton and you know, probably 374 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 1: Cam Johnson or Ja Crowder on the on the week 375 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 1: side and CP three. It's just all those windows get 376 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:21,439 Speaker 1: way tighter against a really, really good defense. And the 377 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:25,719 Speaker 1: same goes with Golden State. That's probably gonna be someone 378 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:28,440 Speaker 1: like Andrew Wiggins on Lebron and someone like Clay Thompson 379 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:30,919 Speaker 1: on Malik Monk, and they're just gonna switch that action 380 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 1: and forced Lebron to either post up or drive to 381 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:36,679 Speaker 1: the basket. And again, like having a guy like Russ 382 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: in the dunker spot doesn't show some of the downsides 383 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: of that diminishing return I'm speaking of against a bad team, 384 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 1: but it will against the top tier teams, especially on 385 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: the defensive end of the floor. So that's kind of 386 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: like what I visualized. They're like, Okay, would we be 387 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 1: better off, you know, not having to occupy that spot 388 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 1: to give Lebron a better chance to come to consistently 389 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:04,240 Speaker 1: beat someone like Clay Thompson off the dribble or Devin 390 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 1: Booker off the dribble. The playoff series with enough of 391 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 1: an advantage to where he can finish over the inevitable 392 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 1: rotating defender that's going to be someone like Draymond Green 393 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:16,239 Speaker 1: or Deandret like, it's just everything I look at it 394 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,639 Speaker 1: is through with Russ, is through the lens of what 395 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:21,119 Speaker 1: it's gonna look like on the biggest stage, and that stuff. 396 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:23,159 Speaker 1: That stuff does worry me a little bit. I'm not 397 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 1: saying it's not gonna work, because it might, but that's 398 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,640 Speaker 1: where it gets concerning. That's why I prefer the idea. 399 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:32,439 Speaker 1: As great as the Monk Lebron screening actions are, I 400 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 1: prefer the idea of getting Russ involved in the action 401 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:39,919 Speaker 1: because you know, in all likelihood there you're more likely 402 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 1: to have them double Lebron than to switch, because they 403 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 1: probably would prefer to not have Lebron um you know, 404 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 1: go against your point guard, which is in this case 405 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:53,159 Speaker 1: to be Step or CP three. And then also Russ 406 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 1: is so quick off the dribble, you know, and more athletic, 407 00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 1: better athlete than Monk, that he has a better chance 408 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:02,359 Speaker 1: to punish a bigger defender off the dribble. So that 409 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 1: probably ends up being some sort of trap which puts 410 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 1: Russ in a situation where he can attack four on three, 411 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 1: and I almost like our chances better there, so, accepting 412 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: the reality that Russ is going to be in this picture, 413 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 1: I tend to like him more as a screen and 414 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:21,879 Speaker 1: screener than in the dunker spot because I think the 415 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,240 Speaker 1: dunker spot thing works better against bad teams than it 416 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 1: would against good teams. But that's just me kind of 417 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 1: like in the moment, trying to visualize what it might 418 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 1: look like against the very best teams. If that makes sense, Yeah, 419 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 1: for sure, And it doesn't have to be like he 420 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 1: doesn't always have to be there, and it doesn't have 421 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:40,120 Speaker 1: to be Malik Monk as well. And if it's against Phoenix, 422 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 1: they probably want to involve Eighten in the matchup, right. 423 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: I think Lebron actually kind of likes the aiden matchup 424 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,160 Speaker 1: able to attack him. It's how they're defending. If if 425 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:49,199 Speaker 1: a team is switching everything, then Lebron can kind of 426 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:52,200 Speaker 1: miss much miss mismatch hunt that way. And yeah, like 427 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:53,639 Speaker 1: I think Russ can be the screen in a lot 428 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 1: of these situations as well. I think he's still a 429 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 1: good four on three attacker. If Lebron is getting trapped, 430 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 1: there's just other places on the or you can put him. 431 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: He's just not going to be the spacer or the 432 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,719 Speaker 1: guy doing the main attack really, and that's your worry, right, 433 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:08,440 Speaker 1: you don't want him as the main isolation attack. He's 434 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:10,640 Speaker 1: it's not gonna like I think a lot of people 435 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:12,879 Speaker 1: before the season started thought it would be kind of 436 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: turn base, right, where Lebron and Russ kind of take 437 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:17,680 Speaker 1: turns running ball screen actions. That's just not how it's 438 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: been this season, and nor do I think how it's 439 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 1: going to be in the playoffs. It's gonna be Lebron, 440 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:23,920 Speaker 1: James controlling, and Anthony Davis is another guy who's gonna 441 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 1: be thrown into the picture who's going to be involved, 442 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: and almost all these actions as well, right, I mean, 443 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 1: you can have a d space as well to corners, 444 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 1: but there's just stuff you can do. Why I'm not 445 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:33,680 Speaker 1: too worried about it, And you're right, Russ as a 446 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: screener I think works really well as well. Most most 447 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:38,880 Speaker 1: teams like to put a big onto Russ because he's 448 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 1: not a spacer, and if you can involve another big, 449 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 1: their teams don't usually want to switch their center onto Lebron, 450 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: and you have a four on three in that way. 451 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:48,280 Speaker 1: And again that's how we got the Austin Reeves game winner. 452 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: Kind of it was Ellington's screen role. Russ was able 453 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,159 Speaker 1: to attack a compromise defense and found Austin reads for 454 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:55,159 Speaker 1: the game winner. So I'm not worried about that. I 455 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: just think like our worries about Russ having to make 456 00:20:57,560 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 1: the high leverage kind of decision making lays just it's 457 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 1: just not what we have to worry about in my opinion, 458 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 1: Like it's going to be Lebron James playing his style 459 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:07,959 Speaker 1: of basketball, which is card screens or uh in the 460 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 1: post if he wants, or you know, screen with a 461 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 1: d or whatever, and the places on the floor we 462 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 1: can put Russ, And that's what the rest of the 463 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:16,360 Speaker 1: season is therefore, to kind of find situations to put 464 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 1: him and I think the dunker spot, it's just one 465 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 1: kind of uh, one kind of variety of different places 466 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 1: we can place them on the floor. Yeah, And again, 467 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 1: like this is where I've had issues with this fit 468 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:33,200 Speaker 1: is even though my basketball brain tells me that your 469 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: best chance to develop driving lanes is to use Russ 470 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:38,639 Speaker 1: as the screener, that then puts him back in a 471 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: position where he's making decisions, which is exactly what I 472 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:44,199 Speaker 1: don't want him doing at the end of game. So 473 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:46,239 Speaker 1: it's just tough. It's just tough like And again, this 474 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:48,919 Speaker 1: is why it's so important that I have people like 475 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:51,000 Speaker 1: you that are more optimistic about it. And then there 476 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: are a bunch of people in Laker Twitter that I 477 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 1: follow who are more optimistic about this fit because they 478 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,679 Speaker 1: helped me see the other side. I'm just presenting to 479 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 1: you guys, my my view on this. My view on 480 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 1: this is I just see this inevitably coming to a 481 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 1: head where in a playoff series against an elite defense 482 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:11,440 Speaker 1: late game situations, Russ is going to become a liability um, 483 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: either as a decision maker or off the ball. That's 484 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:17,119 Speaker 1: that that to me continues to be a concern and 485 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 1: I haven't seen anything this season that has dissuaded me 486 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:25,359 Speaker 1: from that other than success against some limited teams and 487 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:28,640 Speaker 1: you know, a couple of a couple of late game 488 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: situations where happened to work out well, but there have 489 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 1: also been like a late game situations where it hasn't. 490 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:34,680 Speaker 1: So it's just been tough. But anyway, we've talked a 491 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:36,879 Speaker 1: lot of us recently. We can move on. But the 492 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 1: uh I wanted to talk about, I suppose because Taylor 493 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: Talan deserves some attention, but I think we got to 494 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 1: go to the Lake Monk first here because he's just 495 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: been so incredible. But there's been a lot of people 496 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:53,919 Speaker 1: talking about, um the long term conundrum here, which is 497 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:58,159 Speaker 1: that a league monk has vastly outperformed his contract, But 498 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:01,200 Speaker 1: we can get to that in a minute. UM. Basically, 499 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,359 Speaker 1: what I had pointed out in the last part was 500 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:07,560 Speaker 1: that sometime in recent weeks, Molik Monk seems to have 501 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 1: either been given a green light or he just snatched 502 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:15,080 Speaker 1: the green light, because for whatever reason, in recent weeks 503 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:18,439 Speaker 1: he has been gunning and it's been very good for 504 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:23,320 Speaker 1: our offense because we don't really have anybody because as 505 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 1: good as Mellow is, he's more of a like we 506 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:29,199 Speaker 1: talked about. He's more like if you give him an advantage, 507 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:30,880 Speaker 1: he can score. So if you get him a really 508 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:33,919 Speaker 1: good matchup in the post, or if you get him 509 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:36,960 Speaker 1: with the defender closing out at him, he can score. 510 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:41,399 Speaker 1: But Molik Monk is basically our only non lebron player 511 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:47,640 Speaker 1: who from all three levels is lethal. Um. Even if 512 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:50,800 Speaker 1: he doesn't necessarily have an advantage, he can beat you 513 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:53,159 Speaker 1: with three point shot. He's got an arsenal of shots 514 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 1: he can go to in the mid range, in short range, 515 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 1: he's got floaters and scoops, and then he's a vertical 516 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 1: athlete above the rim. And so combining that with his 517 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:07,120 Speaker 1: youthful exuberance in his like outrageous confidence in a green light, 518 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:11,200 Speaker 1: he's really taking off for us and it's giving our 519 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 1: offense a new dynamic that we haven't had all season. 520 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:17,439 Speaker 1: And then again in this five out attack, it's just 521 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:19,880 Speaker 1: built for him. But I mean more of the same 522 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:21,800 Speaker 1: that we were talking about in the last part. But 523 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:24,840 Speaker 1: he's just he's just something else man like that. It's 524 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 1: like he got absolutely scorching hot in that fourth quarter 525 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:32,159 Speaker 1: to save us tonight. Yeah. I love the way that 526 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 1: used youthful and was it what you say, exuberance, Yes, 527 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:38,479 Speaker 1: he is. It's funny because this team was, you know, 528 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: and they're still old, you know, because their best player 529 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:43,560 Speaker 1: obviously is it's thirty seven, just turned thirty seven, but 530 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:45,680 Speaker 1: in Russell Westbrooks thirty four. But it's funny kind of 531 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:48,320 Speaker 1: looking at the rotation, now, how many kind of youthful 532 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 1: guys there are? Right? You have? You obviously have my 533 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:53,240 Speaker 1: league Monk. I think he's twenty three or twenty four, 534 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:56,719 Speaker 1: I don't remember. Austin Reeves is around twenty three, Stanley 535 00:24:56,800 --> 00:25:00,080 Speaker 1: Johnson is is twenty five. Th h T obviously the 536 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:02,680 Speaker 1: rotation at twenty two. So you do have a mix, 537 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 1: a nice mix of young guys, I guess, and that 538 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:07,159 Speaker 1: kind of pops off the screen as well. To me. 539 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:08,840 Speaker 1: You kind of see them move at a little bit 540 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 1: of a different pace. I think the reason is still 541 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 1: moving at his age, which you know makes sense. He 542 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 1: just kind of came back. Carmelo Anthony obviously is who 543 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: he is. Yeah, man, Malik has been awesome. He is 544 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 1: fearless to me, like that's kind of the word I 545 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:22,920 Speaker 1: used for him. He's just not scared of the moment. 546 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 1: He'll take any shot. He doesn't have to be wide 547 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 1: open to shoot, which I think is a big thing 548 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 1: for this team, and it was kind of the trouble 549 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 1: for a lot of our shooters in the past. Um 550 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:33,480 Speaker 1: a lot of them had to be wide open to 551 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 1: kind of shoot. And Malik Monk, he's able to get 552 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 1: in his shot quickly. Again, that's kind of why I 553 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:41,080 Speaker 1: think the Lebron Malik Monk game works so well. Uh, 554 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:43,359 Speaker 1: even you add his ball handling, but able to pop 555 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 1: from three really quickly when we were down like four, 556 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:47,400 Speaker 1: and I think, uh, he had two threes that were 557 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:49,960 Speaker 1: kind of tying along with Buddy. He'll too continued to 558 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 1: come back and drain threes on us. But yeah, he's 559 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: been awesome. I think he has better passing ability than 560 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: you know, I thought over the summer, and he's kind 561 00:25:57,280 --> 00:25:59,600 Speaker 1: of showing the ability to run scoremen actions to make 562 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: re it's off of it. He's a nice law passer. 563 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:04,400 Speaker 1: We saw something to Dwight like I talked about earlier. 564 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:06,560 Speaker 1: I just think, you know, he's a really nice player, 565 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:08,159 Speaker 1: and I think him and we got some news that 566 00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 1: Kendrick Nunn is close. I'm not sure exactly what that means, 567 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:13,800 Speaker 1: but hopefully he'll come back pretty soon. I think, you know, 568 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:16,119 Speaker 1: None and Monk is a really interesting combo. We have 569 00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 1: a bunch of guards now playing every badly. Obviously starts 570 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 1: th HD again comes off the bench. Now it's gonna 571 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 1: be interesting how the rotation looks. But I don't think 572 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 1: Milik Monk is going anywhere. Also, I'm not sure he 573 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:28,000 Speaker 1: starts when everyone's healthy as well. But he's been awesome 574 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:30,920 Speaker 1: and him and Lebron obviously have something there. There's there's 575 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:34,320 Speaker 1: something uh tangible there with their connection, and it's not 576 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:37,119 Speaker 1: just tonight, it's just it's not just these last few games. 577 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:39,159 Speaker 1: It's been since the beginning of the season to me, 578 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 1: and Lebron plays well with you know, scoring guards, and 579 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:45,359 Speaker 1: I think milink Bunk fits right into that, especially scoring 580 00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 1: guards that can shoot the ship out of the basketball, 581 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:51,480 Speaker 1: which which moves us to the contract connundrum because it's 582 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:54,960 Speaker 1: it's it's you know, I've been an advocate all season 583 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:59,320 Speaker 1: for moving from th HD to try to get a 584 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:02,560 Speaker 1: good starter, like a guy like Jeremy Grant, which we 585 00:27:02,600 --> 00:27:06,159 Speaker 1: talked about, and obviously that type of deal would require 586 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:09,879 Speaker 1: you to include Kendrick Nunn. And you know, this brings 587 00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 1: up an interesting conversation about asset management because the reality 588 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: of the situation is as Malik Monk is not a 589 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 1: minimum contract player. He's probably not a he's definitely not 590 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 1: like a twenty million dollar a year guy, but he's 591 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:24,919 Speaker 1: not a minimum contract player. So the reality is is 592 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:27,840 Speaker 1: after this season, someone's going to offer him either a 593 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:30,800 Speaker 1: mid level exception or something even more if they're a 594 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:34,159 Speaker 1: team that's operating like they have cap space. So you know, 595 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:36,879 Speaker 1: the interesting rules about the way the CVA works, and 596 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:38,880 Speaker 1: Roger you can correct me if I'm wrong, But as 597 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:41,680 Speaker 1: long as Kendrick Nunn is on the roster, which could 598 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:43,680 Speaker 1: be this year and next year depending on whether or 599 00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 1: not he uses his player option, he technically occupies the 600 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:51,200 Speaker 1: mid level exception spot, which means the the Lakers would 601 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 1: not be able to offer uh Kendrick excuse me, Malik 602 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:57,639 Speaker 1: Monk anything other than a very slight phrase over the 603 00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:02,160 Speaker 1: minimum contract. So that's another positive angle to look at 604 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:06,160 Speaker 1: when you talk about potentially moving th HD and Kendrick Nunn, 605 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:09,000 Speaker 1: because if you move th HD and Kendrick Nunn in 606 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:12,040 Speaker 1: a trade for a player like Jeremy Grant, you open 607 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:16,359 Speaker 1: up an exception slot to use to retain a player 608 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,520 Speaker 1: like Molik Monk. So you got to now look at 609 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:22,879 Speaker 1: that potential trade as it's not just trading Kendrick Nunn 610 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 1: and th h T for a wing. It's trading Kendrick 611 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:29,159 Speaker 1: Nunn and th h T for a wing and possibly 612 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:32,240 Speaker 1: keeping Malik Monk when you probably wouldn't be able to 613 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:36,399 Speaker 1: keep him otherwise. So that's another Molik Monk's recent play 614 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: is now adding another interesting wrinkle to the decision making process. 615 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 1: This coming off season, you know, like I understand us 616 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:47,320 Speaker 1: kind of discussing this and I see, you know, not 617 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 1: just you and everyone on the time and talking about, 618 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:51,440 Speaker 1: Oh man, I hope we can keep the League Monk 619 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 1: next year. I can't even like get entertained with that, 620 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, Like I can't even like 621 00:28:56,280 --> 00:29:00,160 Speaker 1: get into emotionally there. I'm so much into this in 622 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:03,040 Speaker 1: but I understanding League Monks played really well, Jason. This 623 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:05,480 Speaker 1: roster has turned over like three times. I feel like, 624 00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:09,080 Speaker 1: you know, emotionally, attaching ourselves to a guy who's not 625 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 1: named Lebron James or Anthony Davis to me is kind 626 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:15,840 Speaker 1: of kind of like fool's goal, just with just with 627 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 1: how the roster has turned over, how the you know, 628 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 1: GM has operated the last few years, Like if this 629 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:24,120 Speaker 1: team doesn't win a title, even even when winning a title, 630 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:27,000 Speaker 1: they still flipped all the roster like, so that's kind 631 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 1: of where I can't really get to invested in that. 632 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:30,960 Speaker 1: I think the you know, trading Kendrick Nunn thing is 633 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 1: an interesting conversation. I think they do want to see 634 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:35,720 Speaker 1: him play first before moving on from him. Uh. I 635 00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:37,520 Speaker 1: know a lot of people you know and like yourself 636 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:40,200 Speaker 1: want to move him for move Taylor as well in 637 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:42,920 Speaker 1: combination with none. I think that's interesting. But Leek's playing 638 00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:44,760 Speaker 1: so well, man, I can't even really move on to 639 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:47,120 Speaker 1: next year. I hope they can keep him. I don't 640 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 1: think he's gonna make the minimum next season. Like you 641 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 1: talked about, he has definitely outplayed his contract, and that's 642 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 1: what you need to do. When you have a team 643 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 1: full of minimum guys, you need a few of them 644 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:57,760 Speaker 1: to outplay the other contract I think Carmelo has outplayed 645 00:29:57,760 --> 00:29:59,800 Speaker 1: his contract. I think you know, I think the league 646 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:02,320 Speaker 1: Monk has definitely outplay as contract um and you need 647 00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:04,480 Speaker 1: that when you have a team full of guys um 648 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:06,960 Speaker 1: making when you only have minimums to give out, and 649 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:09,840 Speaker 1: our other guy who makes who makes like who makes 650 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:12,040 Speaker 1: money that's not the minimum has not played a single 651 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 1: second this year in Kendrick not so it'd be interesting. 652 00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 1: But yeah, Molaksen's been awesome. I hope he stays. But 653 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:19,240 Speaker 1: I can't even get entertained, honestly, with that conversation you 654 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:21,240 Speaker 1: were asking me about the c b A. I am 655 00:30:21,240 --> 00:30:23,120 Speaker 1: probably one of the last people to ask about that 656 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:26,800 Speaker 1: as as well. I'm so just into this season. People like, oh, 657 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:28,560 Speaker 1: can we keep Lake Monk, I have no idea. Other 658 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 1: people do a great job with that. Eric Pink is 659 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:34,520 Speaker 1: one of the best. Um, definitely, not for sure. I 660 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:36,880 Speaker 1: don't forget trying to be a part of that wheelhouse either, 661 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,160 Speaker 1: But yeah, I hope lake Monk is back. I just 662 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 1: you know, like I said, getting emotionally attached to a 663 00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:43,680 Speaker 1: player not named Lebron or Anthony Davis. It seems kind 664 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:46,560 Speaker 1: of foolish to me, with how the roster has turned 665 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:50,360 Speaker 1: over the last few years. Yeah, it's it's funny because 666 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:53,000 Speaker 1: I'm actually very thankful that there are people in our 667 00:30:53,040 --> 00:30:56,600 Speaker 1: business who takes time to learn that stuff, because, like 668 00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:58,920 Speaker 1: you know, I live and breathe the game of basketball 669 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:00,480 Speaker 1: every day of my life as a player, as a 670 00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:02,600 Speaker 1: coach and as a guy who covers the Lakers and 671 00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:04,960 Speaker 1: just as a fan. And I may or may not 672 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:07,280 Speaker 1: be able to offer something of value in that department, 673 00:31:07,320 --> 00:31:09,960 Speaker 1: But when it comes to something that literally lawyers drafted, 674 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:14,200 Speaker 1: yeah that's that's that's hirely above my pay grade. Um, 675 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:16,959 Speaker 1: So let's let's get th h D really quick and 676 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:19,360 Speaker 1: then I want to rant about Stanley Johnson for a 677 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:22,720 Speaker 1: second and then we'll call it a night. So so 678 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:27,320 Speaker 1: I've been heavy behind th HT this year, which is weird. 679 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:29,160 Speaker 1: You and I've kind of flip flopped because last year 680 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:30,560 Speaker 1: I was the one that was down on him, and 681 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:32,719 Speaker 1: now I'm the one to tie on him. But like 682 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:37,520 Speaker 1: the I I pointed out all season that you know, 683 00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:41,120 Speaker 1: he's been in an unfortunate circumstance surrounding his role. You know, 684 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 1: get go through training camp and then break your thumb, 685 00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:48,400 Speaker 1: then you come back and play, and it's roster volatility 686 00:31:48,560 --> 00:31:52,080 Speaker 1: between you know, wings and guards dropping with injury to 687 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:55,240 Speaker 1: Lebron and Anthony Davis missing time, him going in and 688 00:31:55,240 --> 00:31:58,200 Speaker 1: out of the starting lineup, and then Bamy gets COVID, 689 00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:01,720 Speaker 1: and so he's just been in a really inconsistent role. 690 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:05,560 Speaker 1: And I predicted that he would play better as he 691 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 1: got just more consistency in the lineup, and it seems 692 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:12,160 Speaker 1: now that he's going to consistently be coming off the bench. 693 00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:16,160 Speaker 1: And also they're the Lakers are leaning into a style 694 00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:18,680 Speaker 1: and sticking with it, the style that is more conducive 695 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:22,760 Speaker 1: to th hts skill set. And you know, obviously it's 696 00:32:22,760 --> 00:32:25,440 Speaker 1: just one game, but I think he's been trending in 697 00:32:25,440 --> 00:32:28,200 Speaker 1: this direction over the last few games, starting to show 698 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:31,160 Speaker 1: some signs of confidence on the offensive end and starting 699 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:34,600 Speaker 1: to make some plays on defense. And tonight I thought 700 00:32:34,640 --> 00:32:38,120 Speaker 1: he played one of his best games as a prom 701 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:40,200 Speaker 1: because even though he had a couple of twenty point 702 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:43,920 Speaker 1: games early in this season, they were in losses if 703 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:47,520 Speaker 1: I remember correctly, um and kind of I won't say 704 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:49,840 Speaker 1: garbage time because they were't garbage time, but they weren't 705 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:54,640 Speaker 1: as impactful a statistical performances as his was tonight. The 706 00:32:54,680 --> 00:32:57,600 Speaker 1: shots he made were all huge and important to the game. 707 00:32:57,680 --> 00:32:59,880 Speaker 1: That little one leg a fadeaway he made tonight in 708 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:05,200 Speaker 1: e lane was monumental superstar playing yep, and he had 709 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:08,920 Speaker 1: a handful of those plays today. Rose that that weird 710 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:11,040 Speaker 1: scoop shot he had in the first half going around 711 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:14,840 Speaker 1: Damien Jones like literally like like caught on his pivot 712 00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:18,520 Speaker 1: foot underneath the basket with the massive human towering over him, 713 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:20,200 Speaker 1: and he just kind of like chicken winged them and 714 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:23,160 Speaker 1: stuck his arm out and and made that little scoop shot. 715 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:26,600 Speaker 1: But tonight he was all over the place defensively as well, 716 00:33:26,640 --> 00:33:29,480 Speaker 1: blowing stuff up and causing problems. Did I thought he 717 00:33:29,520 --> 00:33:32,720 Speaker 1: did a pretty good job chasing, but he healed around 718 00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:35,280 Speaker 1: when he had to and I know open he shot amazing, 719 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:37,320 Speaker 1: but he healed. His game was more of like I 720 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:38,960 Speaker 1: made a couple of easy ones early and then I 721 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:41,160 Speaker 1: got crazy hot started making the tough ones, which is 722 00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:44,920 Speaker 1: something we talked about a lot. But point being th HD, 723 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:47,200 Speaker 1: he's not gonna be like this every night because he's 724 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:50,720 Speaker 1: a young player, and consistency is the number one thing 725 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:53,320 Speaker 1: that young players struggle with because they're bad at replicating 726 00:33:53,320 --> 00:33:55,880 Speaker 1: what they're good at and minimizing what they're bad at. 727 00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:58,760 Speaker 1: So you're gonna see some more bad th HD in 728 00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:02,120 Speaker 1: the near future, I'm sure. But this is a lot 729 00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 1: of what you saw tonight. Translates. This wasn't just oh 730 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:07,880 Speaker 1: he made shots tonight, No, that's not what this was. 731 00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:11,799 Speaker 1: Stuff that he did is stuff that's easy to replicate. 732 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:14,720 Speaker 1: His ability to finish around the basket when he's given 733 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:17,920 Speaker 1: space to operate, when he's confident and using his strength 734 00:34:17,920 --> 00:34:20,600 Speaker 1: to his advantage, that will work as long as he's 735 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:23,319 Speaker 1: in the league. A lot of those little floaters and 736 00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:26,160 Speaker 1: scoops and stuff around the basket, those are pretty high 737 00:34:26,200 --> 00:34:29,080 Speaker 1: percentage shots for a guy like th HT. This isn't 738 00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:31,160 Speaker 1: a guy that's going out there taking a ton of 739 00:34:31,239 --> 00:34:34,359 Speaker 1: jump shots. That's not that's not his game. Uh. If 740 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:36,719 Speaker 1: I'm not mistaken, he only made one three tonight, so 741 00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:39,080 Speaker 1: it's not like he was out there bombing away from three. 742 00:34:39,440 --> 00:34:45,120 Speaker 1: And then obviously everything he does defensively that absolutely translates forward. 743 00:34:45,200 --> 00:34:47,640 Speaker 1: So this is why I've been so optimistic about th ht. 744 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:50,920 Speaker 1: This stuff that you saw tonight, that's replicable, that can 745 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:55,280 Speaker 1: be done over and over again soon, and so that's 746 00:34:55,320 --> 00:34:57,719 Speaker 1: why I've I've been such a believer in what he does. 747 00:34:57,880 --> 00:35:01,160 Speaker 1: And here's the thing. It's really this simple. If sometime 748 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:07,200 Speaker 1: before January, if he can consistently do this, meaning if 749 00:35:07,239 --> 00:35:09,239 Speaker 1: he can, I won't even say January fifteenth, I'll just 750 00:35:09,239 --> 00:35:11,279 Speaker 1: say the trade deadline, because the Lakers can obviously kick 751 00:35:11,320 --> 00:35:12,759 Speaker 1: the can down the road if you're not ready to 752 00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:14,960 Speaker 1: make that decision. But if he can get to a 753 00:35:14,960 --> 00:35:18,759 Speaker 1: point where two out of three nights he's pretty impactful 754 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:20,960 Speaker 1: on both ends of the floor, I don't want Jeremy Grant. 755 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:25,680 Speaker 1: I want th D because because because this is an 756 00:35:25,680 --> 00:35:29,040 Speaker 1: impactful basketball player who projects to get better and better 757 00:35:29,080 --> 00:35:33,880 Speaker 1: each year. But if it's clear that he's still a 758 00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:37,040 Speaker 1: couple of years away from getting to the point where 759 00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:39,640 Speaker 1: he can consistently have this type of two way impact, 760 00:35:40,280 --> 00:35:42,399 Speaker 1: then you have to make the move, which, for the record, 761 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:44,480 Speaker 1: roads just exactly what I said a couple of months ago. 762 00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:49,239 Speaker 1: Things just got complicated by the a D injury and now, 763 00:35:49,360 --> 00:35:51,879 Speaker 1: like we talked about adding the leak monk thing in there. 764 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:54,640 Speaker 1: But you know, Teach, he's a really good basketball player 765 00:35:54,840 --> 00:35:57,440 Speaker 1: and so that's gonna be an interesting decision the Lakers 766 00:35:57,440 --> 00:35:59,600 Speaker 1: are gonna have they have to make now. My prediction 767 00:35:59,800 --> 00:36:03,600 Speaker 1: is that tonight is somewhat of an outlier, that he 768 00:36:03,680 --> 00:36:07,200 Speaker 1: will have more limited games than games like this, and 769 00:36:07,239 --> 00:36:10,399 Speaker 1: the Lakers will end up moving him. But I'm glad 770 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:12,800 Speaker 1: she had a game like tonight where he put together 771 00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:15,160 Speaker 1: a lot of those things that he does well into 772 00:36:15,200 --> 00:36:18,399 Speaker 1: one night, so people can kind of see why I've 773 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:22,080 Speaker 1: been so optimistic about him. Yeah, and to your point, 774 00:36:22,160 --> 00:36:25,200 Speaker 1: really quickly, um, leak monk, not note monk. I think. 775 00:36:25,440 --> 00:36:28,120 Speaker 1: Frank Vogel said that he felt like both Dwight and 776 00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:31,960 Speaker 1: Taylor looked like they broke out after struggling physically from COVID, 777 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:33,440 Speaker 1: so that could, you know, be a part of it 778 00:36:33,719 --> 00:36:36,640 Speaker 1: as well. I thought, you know, Taylor, this is the 779 00:36:36,680 --> 00:36:38,600 Speaker 1: third trade game where he came off the bench, and 780 00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:40,880 Speaker 1: I think that really helped him. I always said that 781 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:43,239 Speaker 1: him playing with both Russ and Lebron was a little 782 00:36:43,280 --> 00:36:45,200 Speaker 1: bit of a struggle. You pair that with how many 783 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:47,319 Speaker 1: minutes he played next to DeAndre Jordan's as well, like 784 00:36:47,360 --> 00:36:49,680 Speaker 1: he was just never in lineup that kind of were 785 00:36:49,680 --> 00:36:52,600 Speaker 1: conductive to him. But even with all that said, he 786 00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:54,880 Speaker 1: needs a guy to have somewhat of a jumper to me, like, 787 00:36:54,920 --> 00:36:56,719 Speaker 1: he doesn't have to have a good jump shot. It 788 00:36:56,719 --> 00:36:58,480 Speaker 1: can be below average, but it has to be something 789 00:36:58,680 --> 00:37:01,120 Speaker 1: the teams at least respect. And I thought, you know, tonight, 790 00:37:01,280 --> 00:37:03,279 Speaker 1: he had a few he hit his He had like 791 00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:05,200 Speaker 1: a mid range pull up or something like that and that, 792 00:37:05,320 --> 00:37:06,920 Speaker 1: and he had a few layups at the rim. He 793 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:09,160 Speaker 1: was able to attack Alex Land off the dribble. I 794 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:11,080 Speaker 1: thought playing him with Dwight was a nice thing. I 795 00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:12,919 Speaker 1: don't know if you've noticed that as well. I thought 796 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:15,360 Speaker 1: giving him a big screener was just nice. And the 797 00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:17,680 Speaker 1: King's kind of run a drop back coverage because Alex 798 00:37:17,760 --> 00:37:22,960 Speaker 1: Lan obviously yeah advantage, yeah exactly, And we got him, 799 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:25,320 Speaker 1: you know, getting downhill and he missed a layoup, a 800 00:37:25,320 --> 00:37:26,800 Speaker 1: couple of layers, but he got to the rim, he 801 00:37:26,880 --> 00:37:28,440 Speaker 1: got he got to be he was able to be 802 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:30,560 Speaker 1: physical at the basket, and that's just stuff he can do. 803 00:37:30,760 --> 00:37:33,279 Speaker 1: He saw his footwork kind of come into play as well. 804 00:37:33,280 --> 00:37:35,919 Speaker 1: And defensively, man, he was. I thought he was really good. 805 00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:38,680 Speaker 1: I thought his health defense was nice. His wingsman came 806 00:37:38,719 --> 00:37:41,200 Speaker 1: into play um on the pick and roll defense where 807 00:37:41,360 --> 00:37:43,000 Speaker 1: he knocked away a bunch of balls where he was 808 00:37:43,040 --> 00:37:45,600 Speaker 1: the help guy helping the helper on the roll. Man. 809 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:47,560 Speaker 1: He was good tonight. And again, you're not gonna see 810 00:37:47,560 --> 00:37:49,600 Speaker 1: the point point level that it was tonight. You don't 811 00:37:49,640 --> 00:37:51,279 Speaker 1: have to see that. You just need a little bit 812 00:37:51,280 --> 00:37:53,600 Speaker 1: more finishing at the rim. I still want him to 813 00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:55,840 Speaker 1: shoot his open threes. I think he's a better shooter, 814 00:37:56,160 --> 00:37:58,200 Speaker 1: way better shot than he showed. I don't think he's 815 00:37:58,200 --> 00:38:00,200 Speaker 1: like the worst shooter in the league, which is the 816 00:38:00,239 --> 00:38:02,719 Speaker 1: percentages that he's kind of throwing up right now. He's 817 00:38:02,719 --> 00:38:04,920 Speaker 1: been in his head and maybe the physical stuff is 818 00:38:04,960 --> 00:38:07,000 Speaker 1: what it is. The trade stuff. Like again, I'm a 819 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:08,839 Speaker 1: guy who doesn't really like to get into that. That's 820 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:11,240 Speaker 1: gonna be an interesting topic for the next few weeks. 821 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:14,399 Speaker 1: We'll see if that that manifests into anything. But yeah, 822 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:16,320 Speaker 1: I mean, I think thh is important for this team. 823 00:38:16,360 --> 00:38:19,520 Speaker 1: He's the second he's the second only non minimum player. 824 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:22,000 Speaker 1: The other guy, obviously Kendrick Not hasn't played, and she's 825 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:23,759 Speaker 1: the guy they've invested in, put a lot of money 826 00:38:23,800 --> 00:38:26,000 Speaker 1: into him as well. We'll see if that kind of 827 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:28,400 Speaker 1: bears out and he plays a lot and he plays better. 828 00:38:28,440 --> 00:38:30,520 Speaker 1: But I thought him coming off the bench is huge, man. 829 00:38:30,560 --> 00:38:32,279 Speaker 1: I think that just gives him a little bit more 830 00:38:32,320 --> 00:38:34,440 Speaker 1: freedom to kind of run actions They let him is 831 00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:36,640 Speaker 1: so as well we run on, we run him off 832 00:38:36,640 --> 00:38:38,359 Speaker 1: a little pin downs to kind of get him, get 833 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:41,000 Speaker 1: him going downhill, um, just him catching and be able 834 00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:43,080 Speaker 1: to go to the basket. I still wish he uses 835 00:38:43,160 --> 00:38:45,000 Speaker 1: his left hand a little bit more. He still does 836 00:38:45,040 --> 00:38:46,680 Speaker 1: a lot of flip shots that kind of missed all 837 00:38:46,920 --> 00:38:48,680 Speaker 1: but he's a confident him and I think he'll he'll 838 00:38:48,680 --> 00:38:50,600 Speaker 1: figure it out and this is kind of the blueprint 839 00:38:50,840 --> 00:38:53,680 Speaker 1: for him. And obviously that turnaround jumper he had again tonight, 840 00:38:53,680 --> 00:38:55,920 Speaker 1: that's kind of his go to shot. It's been airballing 841 00:38:55,920 --> 00:38:57,759 Speaker 1: a lot recently, but that was the shot he was 842 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:00,000 Speaker 1: making I think last year, and we'll see if that continue. 843 00:39:00,080 --> 00:39:01,640 Speaker 1: But it was a good game I don't expect this 844 00:39:01,680 --> 00:39:03,600 Speaker 1: every night, like you talked about, but it's kind of 845 00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:05,759 Speaker 1: the blueprint for him attack the basket, you know, when 846 00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:08,120 Speaker 1: when he gets his minutes, I like his minutes not 847 00:39:08,280 --> 00:39:10,640 Speaker 1: next to both Russ and Lebron. I think you're seeing 848 00:39:10,840 --> 00:39:13,719 Speaker 1: the kind of fruit of that. Yeah, that's exactly what 849 00:39:13,800 --> 00:39:16,640 Speaker 1: I was just gonna say, is getting him where Lebron 850 00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:19,560 Speaker 1: or Russ are off the floors that he can kind 851 00:39:19,560 --> 00:39:24,000 Speaker 1: of actually feel free being aggressive, because that's that's really 852 00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:26,520 Speaker 1: the hard part of it, right, is like how do 853 00:39:26,640 --> 00:39:30,920 Speaker 1: you feel confident as a young offensive basketball player when 854 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:34,520 Speaker 1: that's Lebron and Russ standing off the ball? Like that's tough, 855 00:39:34,680 --> 00:39:36,640 Speaker 1: you know. But if if one of them is off 856 00:39:36,680 --> 00:39:38,400 Speaker 1: and then the other guy, Lebron is kind of like 857 00:39:38,520 --> 00:39:41,080 Speaker 1: desperate for somebody other than him to make a play, 858 00:39:41,160 --> 00:39:44,239 Speaker 1: then there you go. There's your opportunity. But I wanted 859 00:39:44,280 --> 00:39:47,279 Speaker 1: to quickly before we call it a night here, I 860 00:39:47,280 --> 00:39:49,760 Speaker 1: wanted to talk about Stanley Johnson for a second because 861 00:39:49,800 --> 00:39:53,640 Speaker 1: this has been somewhat of a uh a kind of 862 00:39:53,640 --> 00:39:56,880 Speaker 1: a confusing situation for me. So first, starter's upfront. I 863 00:39:57,080 --> 00:40:01,040 Speaker 1: understand the financial predicament that the Lakers are in, I 864 00:40:01,120 --> 00:40:03,160 Speaker 1: understand that Jennie Buss doesn't have a ton of money. 865 00:40:03,360 --> 00:40:06,480 Speaker 1: I understand the fact that saving a few hundred thousand 866 00:40:06,560 --> 00:40:09,840 Speaker 1: dollars here or there because of the compounding effects of 867 00:40:09,840 --> 00:40:13,560 Speaker 1: the luxury tax are pretty significant. But I also understand 868 00:40:13,600 --> 00:40:16,400 Speaker 1: that the Lakers haven't had a huge problem with continuity 869 00:40:16,480 --> 00:40:19,600 Speaker 1: this season. I understand that the Lakers have struggled all 870 00:40:19,600 --> 00:40:23,600 Speaker 1: season with having somebody on the wing who does the 871 00:40:23,640 --> 00:40:28,080 Speaker 1: dirty work, who has some good size and athleticism. Those 872 00:40:28,080 --> 00:40:32,919 Speaker 1: two things, to me, are very very much relevant here, 873 00:40:33,520 --> 00:40:37,760 Speaker 1: even as we consider the financial ramifications of potentially signing 874 00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:41,600 Speaker 1: another basketball player on this team. And what bothers me is, 875 00:40:42,160 --> 00:40:44,919 Speaker 1: given that lack of continuity, the fact that we were 876 00:40:44,920 --> 00:40:49,440 Speaker 1: willing to let a player miss a practice, miss a game, 877 00:40:50,120 --> 00:40:52,640 Speaker 1: even though he's been what raj our fourth or fifth 878 00:40:52,680 --> 00:40:54,600 Speaker 1: best player over the course of the last ten days. 879 00:40:55,160 --> 00:40:58,400 Speaker 1: He was starting. He was starting. He was starting a 880 00:40:58,480 --> 00:41:01,160 Speaker 1: starter for us who was our fourth or fifth best player, 881 00:41:01,960 --> 00:41:05,399 Speaker 1: legitimately gave us a chance to win on Christmas Day 882 00:41:05,440 --> 00:41:08,160 Speaker 1: when I didn't think we did have a chance. This 883 00:41:08,239 --> 00:41:11,120 Speaker 1: is a good basketball player that fills a very specific 884 00:41:11,200 --> 00:41:14,960 Speaker 1: need for the Lakers, and the Lakers are playing a 885 00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:19,240 Speaker 1: weird financial game with him right now. And quite frankly, 886 00:41:19,560 --> 00:41:23,320 Speaker 1: this is where the basketball gods get involved here, because again, 887 00:41:23,520 --> 00:41:25,719 Speaker 1: this might all be written in there where they're like, Hey, 888 00:41:25,719 --> 00:41:27,959 Speaker 1: we're gonna wake up tomorrow, it's January five, We're gonna 889 00:41:27,960 --> 00:41:31,960 Speaker 1: sign Stanley. But I think this is just bad process. 890 00:41:32,040 --> 00:41:34,360 Speaker 1: And if I was Stanley Johnson, I would feel insulted 891 00:41:34,920 --> 00:41:37,040 Speaker 1: because given everything that he's brought to the table over 892 00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:40,440 Speaker 1: the last ten days, to do something like this, to 893 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:42,359 Speaker 1: just try to pinch pennies, like if they signed him 894 00:41:42,400 --> 00:41:45,800 Speaker 1: to another ten day contract, that that, to me is 895 00:41:45,840 --> 00:41:49,680 Speaker 1: insulting to Stanley. Do you have used for Stanley? Yes? Absolutely, 896 00:41:49,960 --> 00:41:51,840 Speaker 1: he's been your fourth or fifth best player over the 897 00:41:51,840 --> 00:41:54,840 Speaker 1: course of the last ten days. Is Stanley an asset? No, 898 00:41:55,000 --> 00:41:58,160 Speaker 1: not necessarily, but on a minimum contract. He's shown enough 899 00:41:58,200 --> 00:42:00,439 Speaker 1: over the last ten days that if he did get 900 00:42:00,480 --> 00:42:03,719 Speaker 1: thrown into a trade, there's gonna be someone out there 901 00:42:03,719 --> 00:42:06,839 Speaker 1: who would want him. I guarantee you he's proved over 902 00:42:06,840 --> 00:42:09,200 Speaker 1: the last ten days that he's an NBA player, Okay, 903 00:42:09,280 --> 00:42:11,360 Speaker 1: like not a guy who should be on on his 904 00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:14,040 Speaker 1: couch or playing in the G League. So I just 905 00:42:14,080 --> 00:42:18,840 Speaker 1: don't see the I don't understand the rationale of pinching 906 00:42:18,880 --> 00:42:22,640 Speaker 1: pennies to this extent, Like even with Alex Caruso, it 907 00:42:22,719 --> 00:42:25,680 Speaker 1: made more sense to me, which I hated the Alex 908 00:42:25,719 --> 00:42:28,279 Speaker 1: Crusoe decision, but at least you could tell me, like, hey, 909 00:42:28,320 --> 00:42:31,359 Speaker 1: we're talking about thirty million dollars here right, Like that 910 00:42:31,440 --> 00:42:35,200 Speaker 1: was an entirely different type of math equation. You're talking 911 00:42:35,280 --> 00:42:38,600 Speaker 1: we're talking about a very small amount of money relatively 912 00:42:38,719 --> 00:42:42,080 Speaker 1: right now that we are pinching and missing a player 913 00:42:42,600 --> 00:42:45,279 Speaker 1: for for for a game, especially game like tonight where 914 00:42:45,360 --> 00:42:47,160 Speaker 1: energy was an issue. Stanley would have been a big 915 00:42:47,160 --> 00:42:50,160 Speaker 1: help tonight, And I just I just don't understand it, 916 00:42:50,200 --> 00:42:52,960 Speaker 1: and it to me, it's it's it's a difficult process 917 00:42:53,280 --> 00:42:57,560 Speaker 1: as a fan of the team to try to justify Yeah, 918 00:42:57,600 --> 00:43:00,560 Speaker 1: you know, that's the human human element of it. And obviously, 919 00:43:00,640 --> 00:43:03,080 Speaker 1: for Stanley Johnson, you would like the full roster, but 920 00:43:03,120 --> 00:43:04,799 Speaker 1: you know, I always go to other guys for this, 921 00:43:04,840 --> 00:43:07,319 Speaker 1: and Eric Pinkins obviously, who does a great job with 922 00:43:07,360 --> 00:43:09,560 Speaker 1: the cap stuff, and we're lucky to kind of have 923 00:43:09,719 --> 00:43:11,640 Speaker 1: him be one of the Lakers, you know, be do 924 00:43:11,760 --> 00:43:13,960 Speaker 1: so much for the Lakers in terms of letting us 925 00:43:14,000 --> 00:43:17,080 Speaker 1: understand this stuff. He says, it's more for flexibility kind 926 00:43:17,080 --> 00:43:19,520 Speaker 1: of concerns instead of tax. It's not really a tax thing. 927 00:43:19,800 --> 00:43:21,840 Speaker 1: It's that, you know, if they want to have a trade, 928 00:43:22,160 --> 00:43:24,920 Speaker 1: maybe a trade maybe won't go down by tomorrow, but 929 00:43:24,960 --> 00:43:27,680 Speaker 1: just to have the roster roster spot. Me and you 930 00:43:27,760 --> 00:43:30,400 Speaker 1: both thought that trading Rondo was the roster spot to 931 00:43:30,440 --> 00:43:34,120 Speaker 1: get Stanley Johnson on the team. That's obviously wasn't correct. Um, 932 00:43:34,160 --> 00:43:36,319 Speaker 1: they just opened up a roster spot and they can 933 00:43:36,360 --> 00:43:39,719 Speaker 1: sign Stanley Johnson again tomorrow to another ten day which 934 00:43:39,880 --> 00:43:42,440 Speaker 1: looks which looks like this is what's gonna happen. Um, 935 00:43:42,520 --> 00:43:44,759 Speaker 1: hopefully Santy john I don't know. I don't think he'll 936 00:43:44,760 --> 00:43:46,680 Speaker 1: get signed to a team before then, and I think 937 00:43:46,719 --> 00:43:50,040 Speaker 1: David mcmaniman also said that they have mutual interest to 938 00:43:50,080 --> 00:43:52,680 Speaker 1: come back, So this is probably all going to work out. 939 00:43:52,719 --> 00:43:54,880 Speaker 1: But you're right, you know, this isn't great process. You'd like, 940 00:43:55,080 --> 00:43:57,480 Speaker 1: you know, a guy who's kind of started for his 941 00:43:58,000 --> 00:44:00,319 Speaker 1: tenure here. I think he started more games that he's 942 00:44:00,480 --> 00:44:03,000 Speaker 1: come off the bench, if I have that correct. Um, 943 00:44:03,080 --> 00:44:05,160 Speaker 1: he's I believe. So you would like a guy like 944 00:44:05,239 --> 00:44:07,480 Speaker 1: that to you know, have earned a roster spot. But 945 00:44:07,600 --> 00:44:10,400 Speaker 1: that's just not how it works. They obviously want the 946 00:44:10,440 --> 00:44:12,640 Speaker 1: flexibility to be able to keep a roster proud open, 947 00:44:12,760 --> 00:44:14,759 Speaker 1: and I think that's more what it is as well. 948 00:44:14,800 --> 00:44:17,920 Speaker 1: I don't think it's saving money as much, which obviously 949 00:44:17,960 --> 00:44:19,879 Speaker 1: they will. They also they also save money, I believe 950 00:44:19,880 --> 00:44:22,120 Speaker 1: in the Rondo trade as well, but again that's neither 951 00:44:22,160 --> 00:44:23,839 Speaker 1: here and there. I think this is more to key 952 00:44:23,840 --> 00:44:26,600 Speaker 1: flexibility as well. Like Eric, Eric Pink has talked about, 953 00:44:26,840 --> 00:44:29,280 Speaker 1: UM so we'll see, but hopefully he's back. He's definitely 954 00:44:29,320 --> 00:44:31,960 Speaker 1: earned a spot. He's been great. He's been a power forward, 955 00:44:32,000 --> 00:44:34,680 Speaker 1: a power wing that this team has desperately needed. You've 956 00:44:34,680 --> 00:44:36,960 Speaker 1: talked about it's bad process. Probably you know, to just 957 00:44:37,040 --> 00:44:39,319 Speaker 1: let him sit out there, miss practice, missed the game. 958 00:44:39,719 --> 00:44:41,880 Speaker 1: You know, you start three games then you just miss. 959 00:44:42,160 --> 00:44:44,520 Speaker 1: You just missed. To be resigned to another ten day. 960 00:44:44,560 --> 00:44:46,600 Speaker 1: It's not great. You would like him to have earned 961 00:44:46,600 --> 00:44:48,520 Speaker 1: that spot, but it just looks like what it's going 962 00:44:48,600 --> 00:44:50,799 Speaker 1: to be. Hopefully after the second ten day they do 963 00:44:50,920 --> 00:44:54,359 Speaker 1: eventually sign him. Hopefully they maybe they cut someone else 964 00:44:54,360 --> 00:44:56,520 Speaker 1: will We'll see what happens. But I think that's more 965 00:44:56,600 --> 00:44:58,160 Speaker 1: what it is as well. At least that's what Eric 966 00:44:58,160 --> 00:45:00,600 Speaker 1: winkis believes it to be. But you're this isn't a 967 00:45:00,719 --> 00:45:03,080 Speaker 1: great process. You want a guy who's who's played well 968 00:45:03,160 --> 00:45:05,360 Speaker 1: to earn a spot on the team, for sure. So Roger, 969 00:45:05,400 --> 00:45:08,560 Speaker 1: you're my guy, and I appreciate your perspective, but I'm 970 00:45:08,600 --> 00:45:10,640 Speaker 1: gonna call BS on you, well, not on you, but 971 00:45:10,680 --> 00:45:13,000 Speaker 1: on me, not even on Eric Pinkus, but just on 972 00:45:13,040 --> 00:45:16,560 Speaker 1: the idea that the Lakers are valuing the roster spot 973 00:45:16,640 --> 00:45:22,000 Speaker 1: because they could the rock. The Lakers could create a 974 00:45:22,040 --> 00:45:27,000 Speaker 1: roster spot anytime they want. The the DeAndre Jordan contract 975 00:45:27,120 --> 00:45:30,920 Speaker 1: because it was fully guaranteed. That money's lost, it's gone, 976 00:45:30,960 --> 00:45:34,600 Speaker 1: it's into the ether of of of whatever NBA salary 977 00:45:34,880 --> 00:45:38,080 Speaker 1: Captain Land is h If you have no intention of 978 00:45:38,120 --> 00:45:40,880 Speaker 1: playing down to Jordan against the season, which appears to 979 00:45:40,880 --> 00:45:43,880 Speaker 1: be the case, cut his ass, cut him, get him 980 00:45:43,880 --> 00:45:46,800 Speaker 1: out of there, and if you do, bam open roster spot. 981 00:45:47,400 --> 00:45:50,320 Speaker 1: That okay. I understand that you don't like the idea 982 00:45:50,400 --> 00:45:53,640 Speaker 1: potentially of having a player that you invested in on 983 00:45:53,680 --> 00:45:56,880 Speaker 1: the streets, but it's clear that he has. He barely 984 00:45:56,920 --> 00:45:58,680 Speaker 1: made sense when we were trying to play big. He 985 00:45:58,800 --> 00:46:01,840 Speaker 1: certainly doesn't make sense with our current style of play. 986 00:46:01,960 --> 00:46:04,719 Speaker 1: So I think and just in general, man like, with 987 00:46:04,800 --> 00:46:09,480 Speaker 1: this kind of stuff, you can you can find somebody 988 00:46:09,520 --> 00:46:12,120 Speaker 1: out there to help you facilitate just about anything. I mean, 989 00:46:12,200 --> 00:46:15,240 Speaker 1: look at the was it at the Wizards who helped 990 00:46:15,280 --> 00:46:17,640 Speaker 1: us facilitate getting that third max slot when we were 991 00:46:17,640 --> 00:46:21,120 Speaker 1: going after Kauai. It's like you know when when everybody 992 00:46:21,120 --> 00:46:22,759 Speaker 1: in the league, when all those guys are like, oh, 993 00:46:22,880 --> 00:46:24,520 Speaker 1: they can't do it, there's no way they're gonna get it, 994 00:46:24,719 --> 00:46:28,440 Speaker 1: Well guess what they did. Like you, you can like 995 00:46:28,560 --> 00:46:31,960 Speaker 1: kind of finagle this stuff if you're if you're diligent 996 00:46:32,120 --> 00:46:34,719 Speaker 1: enough about it as a front office. And so the 997 00:46:34,719 --> 00:46:37,319 Speaker 1: way I look at it as all of this is 998 00:46:37,360 --> 00:46:42,640 Speaker 1: smoking mirrors to cover for yet another example of penny 999 00:46:42,680 --> 00:46:46,880 Speaker 1: pinching from the Lakers recently. And again this to me, 1000 00:46:47,200 --> 00:46:52,480 Speaker 1: this specific instance is absolutely insane because again we're not 1001 00:46:52,520 --> 00:46:56,560 Speaker 1: talking about a thirty million dollar commitment like it would 1002 00:46:56,640 --> 00:47:00,000 Speaker 1: cost to retain Alex Caruso. We are literally talking about 1003 00:47:00,000 --> 00:47:04,600 Speaker 1: out I'm pretty sure for his years of service and 1004 00:47:04,680 --> 00:47:07,440 Speaker 1: for him being this far into the season, and for 1005 00:47:07,520 --> 00:47:10,719 Speaker 1: it being pro rated for a veteran minimum deal to 1006 00:47:10,760 --> 00:47:13,399 Speaker 1: guarantee Stanley Johnson to come back, I'm pretty sure it's 1007 00:47:13,440 --> 00:47:16,320 Speaker 1: a very small number, and I think it's under a million. 1008 00:47:17,160 --> 00:47:22,560 Speaker 1: So even with luxury tax, even with UH you know, 1009 00:47:22,680 --> 00:47:26,439 Speaker 1: factoring an extra couple of days to to bring him back. 1010 00:47:26,560 --> 00:47:29,719 Speaker 1: I think this is just to to literally get a 1011 00:47:29,719 --> 00:47:35,600 Speaker 1: guy to willingly subject yourself to another starting lineup, a 1012 00:47:35,680 --> 00:47:40,160 Speaker 1: flip over to another UH day where one of your 1013 00:47:40,200 --> 00:47:43,160 Speaker 1: important swing men is missing practice and missing a game. 1014 00:47:44,880 --> 00:47:48,120 Speaker 1: This is just I think it's unacceptable personally, And I 1015 00:47:48,200 --> 00:47:51,200 Speaker 1: understand some people disagree with me and look man like like, 1016 00:47:51,440 --> 00:47:54,680 Speaker 1: I I appreciate your perspective, and I'm not saying you're 1017 00:47:54,760 --> 00:47:58,279 Speaker 1: wrong necessarily, I'm just saying I I I struggle to 1018 00:47:58,320 --> 00:48:01,200 Speaker 1: see that rationale. I you're know, you're right in like 1019 00:48:01,280 --> 00:48:03,759 Speaker 1: a vacuum, like in a right world, Stanley Johnson would 1020 00:48:03,760 --> 00:48:05,799 Speaker 1: be on the team. But you know, and you're gonna 1021 00:48:05,840 --> 00:48:07,279 Speaker 1: You're gonna aid me for this one as well. You 1022 00:48:07,280 --> 00:48:09,160 Speaker 1: can call BS on this one as well, but I 1023 00:48:09,200 --> 00:48:11,520 Speaker 1: believe you know. Eric Winton's pink is kind of talked 1024 00:48:11,560 --> 00:48:14,200 Speaker 1: about the deandr Dornan situation as well. He said, there's 1025 00:48:14,200 --> 00:48:15,560 Speaker 1: no need to cut him when you can kind of 1026 00:48:15,640 --> 00:48:18,399 Speaker 1: use him for salary filler. It's not much salary, but 1027 00:48:18,560 --> 00:48:20,920 Speaker 1: using for salary filler in the trade. And again if 1028 00:48:20,960 --> 00:48:22,799 Speaker 1: that time comes where you can then you can cut 1029 00:48:22,880 --> 00:48:25,360 Speaker 1: him later. And again it looks like it's going that direction, 1030 00:48:25,440 --> 00:48:27,960 Speaker 1: right Deandi Jordan has not played We're going to no 1031 00:48:28,120 --> 00:48:31,040 Speaker 1: center plus or one center lineups, and he's been so 1032 00:48:31,080 --> 00:48:33,879 Speaker 1: far out the rotation for this long. It looks like 1033 00:48:34,120 --> 00:48:36,560 Speaker 1: that's where and going where it's going. Uh it's funny 1034 00:48:36,600 --> 00:48:38,560 Speaker 1: because you keep you bring up the Carusoe stuff. To me, 1035 00:48:38,640 --> 00:48:41,960 Speaker 1: that is the more unacceptable thing. I don't care the 1036 00:48:42,080 --> 00:48:45,040 Speaker 1: luxury text, you know, savings and stuff like that. Ask Cruso. 1037 00:48:45,160 --> 00:48:46,920 Speaker 1: You you sign him and then you trade him later 1038 00:48:46,960 --> 00:48:48,719 Speaker 1: if you have to, or you do what you know, 1039 00:48:48,760 --> 00:48:50,239 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, you don't let a guy 1040 00:48:50,280 --> 00:48:52,440 Speaker 1: that you've built up. And I've gone into Cruso too much. 1041 00:48:52,440 --> 00:48:54,520 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna rent again on Caruso. To me, that's 1042 00:48:54,520 --> 00:48:58,160 Speaker 1: more of a uh an offense than this. But yeah, 1043 00:48:58,480 --> 00:49:00,560 Speaker 1: it looks like Stanley Johnson is going to get signed though, 1044 00:49:00,600 --> 00:49:02,680 Speaker 1: back with the team. So this looks like it will 1045 00:49:02,719 --> 00:49:05,680 Speaker 1: go go. You know, the process will work out, even 1046 00:49:05,719 --> 00:49:07,719 Speaker 1: if it is in great process. But you're entitled to that. 1047 00:49:09,560 --> 00:49:11,600 Speaker 1: You know. I'm not in the office. I don't know 1048 00:49:11,640 --> 00:49:15,480 Speaker 1: the inner workings the exact situation, but I believe that's 1049 00:49:15,480 --> 00:49:17,520 Speaker 1: eventually what's going to happen. Though Santay Johnson will be 1050 00:49:17,600 --> 00:49:20,560 Speaker 1: back on another ten day. Hopefully he gets resigned again. 1051 00:49:20,600 --> 00:49:22,799 Speaker 1: You would like him to have the roster spot now, 1052 00:49:23,120 --> 00:49:25,400 Speaker 1: but it looks like they're going to keep it open 1053 00:49:25,800 --> 00:49:28,520 Speaker 1: for now, so we'll see how it goes. But yeah, 1054 00:49:28,960 --> 00:49:30,799 Speaker 1: I don't know. I can't change your mind on that. 1055 00:49:30,960 --> 00:49:32,719 Speaker 1: I'm just going by what you know, people who kind 1056 00:49:32,719 --> 00:49:34,840 Speaker 1: of who talk about this, what they kind of believe 1057 00:49:35,280 --> 00:49:37,160 Speaker 1: be You're allowed to believe that it's it's for savings 1058 00:49:37,200 --> 00:49:39,800 Speaker 1: as well well. But we'll see if Stanley Johnson doesn't 1059 00:49:39,840 --> 00:49:41,480 Speaker 1: make you know, it doesn't if he doesn't pass the 1060 00:49:41,480 --> 00:49:43,319 Speaker 1: second ten day, we can come back and have this 1061 00:49:43,360 --> 00:49:47,239 Speaker 1: conversation again. But but hopefully he does. For sure, I 1062 00:49:47,320 --> 00:49:49,720 Speaker 1: get I get the idea of retaining and for salary Ballace. 1063 00:49:49,960 --> 00:49:52,279 Speaker 1: My point is is like you could cut him if 1064 00:49:52,280 --> 00:49:54,400 Speaker 1: you needed to. So if you're in if you're in 1065 00:49:54,400 --> 00:49:56,719 Speaker 1: the trade market and your trade dictates that you need 1066 00:49:56,760 --> 00:50:00,359 Speaker 1: salary filler, Bam, there's DeAndre Jordan's and get what they're 1067 00:50:00,360 --> 00:50:02,759 Speaker 1: Stanley Johnson. If you have no room for him on 1068 00:50:02,800 --> 00:50:05,120 Speaker 1: the wing, and maybe if the team is like, hey, 1069 00:50:05,160 --> 00:50:07,080 Speaker 1: I want him in the deal, then saying there you go, 1070 00:50:07,160 --> 00:50:09,560 Speaker 1: there's an asset, right, Or if you're in a situation 1071 00:50:09,600 --> 00:50:11,480 Speaker 1: where you're making a trade and you need roster spots, 1072 00:50:11,520 --> 00:50:14,200 Speaker 1: like let's say it's break class in case of emergency 1073 00:50:14,239 --> 00:50:16,520 Speaker 1: and we're trading in Russell Westbrook came from bringing back 1074 00:50:16,800 --> 00:50:18,719 Speaker 1: a twenty million dollar guy, AI million dollar guy and 1075 00:50:18,760 --> 00:50:21,000 Speaker 1: the twenty million dollar guy or whatever, then yeah, we 1076 00:50:21,040 --> 00:50:23,680 Speaker 1: would need to cut somebody, but you have you have 1077 00:50:23,880 --> 00:50:27,840 Speaker 1: that permanent flexibility. Like what I disagreed with was like, okay, 1078 00:50:27,920 --> 00:50:30,799 Speaker 1: we're we're not signing Stanley Johnson yet because we we 1079 00:50:30,880 --> 00:50:33,120 Speaker 1: might need this open roster spot. No, no, no, if 1080 00:50:33,160 --> 00:50:37,400 Speaker 1: you actually needed an open roster spot in a predicament, 1081 00:50:37,880 --> 00:50:40,480 Speaker 1: you can literally create when in a moment's notice, So 1082 00:50:40,520 --> 00:50:44,440 Speaker 1: that that's where I I juste But yeah, but like regardless, 1083 00:50:44,520 --> 00:50:47,319 Speaker 1: no matter what, Like I just don't like playing with 1084 00:50:47,360 --> 00:50:49,239 Speaker 1: fate on this kind of the stuff, on this kind 1085 00:50:49,280 --> 00:50:50,960 Speaker 1: of stuff, right, because if you look at this, if 1086 00:50:51,000 --> 00:50:53,000 Speaker 1: you look at this Laker predicament, like part of what 1087 00:50:53,120 --> 00:50:55,920 Speaker 1: happened this summer is we traded a lot of depth 1088 00:50:56,440 --> 00:51:01,440 Speaker 1: for Russell Westbrook. Right now, what happened by the grace 1089 00:51:01,520 --> 00:51:04,600 Speaker 1: of our scouting department and just some good luck. We've 1090 00:51:04,640 --> 00:51:08,600 Speaker 1: had some hits, right, like Austin Reeves bam, that fills 1091 00:51:08,600 --> 00:51:10,560 Speaker 1: in some of that depth that we lost, right, like 1092 00:51:10,840 --> 00:51:15,600 Speaker 1: Malik Monk being a betteran minimum guy who, by the way, 1093 00:51:15,920 --> 00:51:18,640 Speaker 1: somehow no one in the league offered a contract like 1094 00:51:18,840 --> 00:51:23,200 Speaker 1: what in the world, but like but like Malik Monk materializing, 1095 00:51:23,239 --> 00:51:27,600 Speaker 1: and then Stanley Johnson literally from your G league team 1096 00:51:27,640 --> 00:51:30,600 Speaker 1: to come up and be a very very important basketball 1097 00:51:30,600 --> 00:51:32,600 Speaker 1: player for you over the last two days, Like you've 1098 00:51:32,640 --> 00:51:35,680 Speaker 1: come into a stroke of luck here where now the 1099 00:51:35,719 --> 00:51:38,640 Speaker 1: only concerns about the rust thing are genuinely just fit, 1100 00:51:38,960 --> 00:51:40,640 Speaker 1: you know, like is this going to work in the playoffs? 1101 00:51:40,719 --> 00:51:43,400 Speaker 1: But the death thing really isn't a concern anymore. We 1102 00:51:43,480 --> 00:51:47,879 Speaker 1: have depth. We through Austin Reeves, through Malik Monk, through 1103 00:51:47,920 --> 00:51:52,480 Speaker 1: Stanley Johnson, we've recreated at least a significant portion of 1104 00:51:52,520 --> 00:51:55,239 Speaker 1: what Kuzma and KCP brought to the table. Right we 1105 00:51:55,360 --> 00:51:58,480 Speaker 1: have now. Whether or not that one of those groups 1106 00:51:58,520 --> 00:51:59,920 Speaker 1: is better than the other, that can be argued by 1107 00:52:00,000 --> 00:52:03,200 Speaker 1: someone else. But my point is is you have somehow 1108 00:52:03,280 --> 00:52:06,719 Speaker 1: tripped and fallen into getting some of the best of 1109 00:52:06,800 --> 00:52:09,160 Speaker 1: both worlds here. If your desire was to have Russ, 1110 00:52:09,200 --> 00:52:12,880 Speaker 1: so why would you play with that by by playing 1111 00:52:12,960 --> 00:52:15,920 Speaker 1: this game with Stanley Johnson over a couple hundred thousand 1112 00:52:15,960 --> 00:52:19,600 Speaker 1: bucks Like that, to me is just foolishness, But it 1113 00:52:19,680 --> 00:52:21,319 Speaker 1: is what it is. That I that's all I had 1114 00:52:21,320 --> 00:52:22,759 Speaker 1: for the night, Roger, was there anything else you want 1115 00:52:22,760 --> 00:52:25,759 Speaker 1: to hit on before we get out of here? Uh? No, 1116 00:52:25,920 --> 00:52:27,879 Speaker 1: I think that was pretty much it. I'm not sure 1117 00:52:27,880 --> 00:52:29,879 Speaker 1: if we did shout it out, I don't remember, but 1118 00:52:30,200 --> 00:52:32,799 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook no turnovers tonight. I think that's you know, 1119 00:52:33,040 --> 00:52:34,880 Speaker 1: I think that's great. I think we only have like 1120 00:52:34,960 --> 00:52:37,440 Speaker 1: five as a team. So again we talked about the 1121 00:52:37,440 --> 00:52:40,640 Speaker 1: misshots there, but no turnovers. That's a positive here. Uh 1122 00:52:40,640 --> 00:52:43,320 Speaker 1: and you know, the Kings play some pretty good premiery defenders. 1123 00:52:43,360 --> 00:52:45,640 Speaker 1: Davian Mitchell. To me, we didn't get to him either. 1124 00:52:45,640 --> 00:52:48,040 Speaker 1: He's he's special. I think he's gonna be an awesome, 1125 00:52:48,040 --> 00:52:50,440 Speaker 1: you know, defender player in this league. But yeah, no turnovers, 1126 00:52:50,440 --> 00:52:52,439 Speaker 1: prop Uss. Hopefully that kind of keeps up. But yeah, 1127 00:52:52,440 --> 00:52:55,640 Speaker 1: that's all I had as one man. Cool. Yeah, and look, 1128 00:52:55,719 --> 00:52:58,759 Speaker 1: Russ again, I'm glad he had no turnovers tonight, but 1129 00:52:58,880 --> 00:53:02,680 Speaker 1: let's I want to see him show a consistent commitment 1130 00:53:02,719 --> 00:53:04,399 Speaker 1: to that part of his game. I was. I did 1131 00:53:04,440 --> 00:53:07,800 Speaker 1: a little rant for on this for my Twitter page, 1132 00:53:07,840 --> 00:53:11,960 Speaker 1: but like you know, the idea of Russ being Russ, 1133 00:53:12,000 --> 00:53:15,239 Speaker 1: there's a limitation to that on this team, in his 1134 00:53:15,280 --> 00:53:18,960 Speaker 1: specific role. I actually think he needs to change in 1135 00:53:19,080 --> 00:53:22,040 Speaker 1: some ways. That doesn't mean, hey, Russ stop driving to 1136 00:53:22,080 --> 00:53:23,719 Speaker 1: the basket now, That's not it at all. That's not 1137 00:53:23,719 --> 00:53:26,000 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. I'm not saying Russ stop being aggressive. 1138 00:53:26,160 --> 00:53:29,200 Speaker 1: It's just Russ does need to change in the sense 1139 00:53:29,560 --> 00:53:32,400 Speaker 1: that he does need to devote more attention and effort 1140 00:53:32,719 --> 00:53:35,160 Speaker 1: towards cleaning up some of the margins of his game. 1141 00:53:35,360 --> 00:53:39,200 Speaker 1: Because when he was younger and more athletic, you know, 1142 00:53:39,400 --> 00:53:42,080 Speaker 1: he had the ability to overcome a lot more of 1143 00:53:42,120 --> 00:53:44,760 Speaker 1: his mistakes than he does now. So he actually does 1144 00:53:45,239 --> 00:53:49,560 Speaker 1: actually need to change. And and so it's it's not 1145 00:53:49,600 --> 00:53:52,160 Speaker 1: a matter of of you know, trying to get out 1146 00:53:52,160 --> 00:53:55,080 Speaker 1: of Russ's way and let rusty Russ. It's about Russ 1147 00:53:55,160 --> 00:53:57,200 Speaker 1: does have to try to fit in a little bit more. 1148 00:53:57,239 --> 00:54:02,399 Speaker 1: I think. Um, But that's like, yes, tonight, big positive step. 1149 00:54:02,440 --> 00:54:04,800 Speaker 1: It's not easy to get zero turnovers the game, especially 1150 00:54:04,840 --> 00:54:07,040 Speaker 1: with Dave on Mitchell's up in your air space all 1151 00:54:07,120 --> 00:54:09,759 Speaker 1: night long. Yep, and I think it is his first 1152 00:54:09,840 --> 00:54:12,279 Speaker 1: zero I read him. Let me see if I can 1153 00:54:12,320 --> 00:54:15,439 Speaker 1: go to the tweet first turn first zero turnover games 1154 00:54:15,440 --> 00:54:19,799 Speaker 1: since the March fourteen, two thousand sixteen wow, which which 1155 00:54:19,840 --> 00:54:21,600 Speaker 1: is you know, quite a quite a while. So this 1156 00:54:21,680 --> 00:54:24,000 Speaker 1: is good to see. We probably most players don't get 1157 00:54:24,000 --> 00:54:26,600 Speaker 1: no turnovers with the ball handling that Russ has obviously 1158 00:54:26,680 --> 00:54:28,640 Speaker 1: gets more than most players. But yeah, it's a good 1159 00:54:28,680 --> 00:54:30,560 Speaker 1: good thing to kind of celebrate. Hopefully it's something we 1160 00:54:30,640 --> 00:54:33,880 Speaker 1: get going forward as well. All Right, everybody, thank you 1161 00:54:33,960 --> 00:54:35,880 Speaker 1: guys so much for coming to hang out. This is 1162 00:54:35,920 --> 00:54:38,640 Speaker 1: going to air on DASH Radio tomorrow morning at seven 1163 00:54:38,640 --> 00:54:41,960 Speaker 1: am Pacific Standard time, and we'll be on our podcast 1164 00:54:42,000 --> 00:54:45,239 Speaker 1: feed here in about twenty minutes or so. Thank you 1165 00:54:45,239 --> 00:54:48,040 Speaker 1: guys as always for your support for rocking with Roger, 1166 00:54:48,040 --> 00:54:50,480 Speaker 1: and I'm excited to see what we got for the 1167 00:54:50,480 --> 00:54:52,480 Speaker 1: rest of the season. I believe we play again on 1168 00:54:52,680 --> 00:54:57,040 Speaker 1: Friday night, if I'm not mistaken at eight I think, um, 1169 00:54:57,120 --> 00:54:59,399 Speaker 1: so we will see you guys for the postgame show 1170 00:54:59,480 --> 00:55:02,560 Speaker 1: then appreciate your own thanks,