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Dial one 29 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: eight hundred five two two forty seven hundred in Wyoming, 30 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: or visit www dot one eight hundred gambler dot net 31 00:01:54,880 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: in West Virginia. All right, welcome to Hoops Tonight, presented 32 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 1: by FanDuel here at the volume. Happy Sunday, everybody. I 33 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: hope all of you guys are having a great weekend 34 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 1: so far. Enjoyed a couple of good nights away from 35 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: the game of basketball, but I'm excited to dive back 36 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 1: into it. We're gonna hit three games from the last 37 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 1: two nights. The Golden State Warriors dropping their eleventh consecutive 38 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: game against the Memphis Grizzlies, who were super impressive on 39 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 1: both ends of the floor. So I want to spend 40 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: some time talking about the Grizzlies. Today, the Los Angeles 41 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: Lakers lost a heartbreaker to the Dallas Mavericks on the 42 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: back of Maxi kleiba In an awesome fourth quarter from 43 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving. We're gonna dive into that game from the 44 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: perspective of both teams. And then, last but not least, 45 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:45,799 Speaker 1: we're gonna go over the Eastern Conference. The New York 46 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: Knicks won their third consecutive game in very impressive fashion 47 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 1: over the Denver Nuggets. So lots of good basketball to 48 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 1: get into. You guys know the drill. Before we get started, 49 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: subscribed to the Volumes YouTube channel so you don't miss 50 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 1: any more of our videos. Follow me on Twitter at 51 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: underscore Jason lt so you guys don't miss anyhow announcements. 52 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 1: And for whatever reason you guys miss one of these 53 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,080 Speaker 1: shows and you can't get back over to YouTube to finish, 54 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 1: don't forget. You can find them wherever you get your 55 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: podcasts Under Hoops Tonight, and last but not least, before 56 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: we get started, you guys have heard me talk about 57 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: game Time, the fastest growing ticketing app in the United States. 58 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: If you're looking to get out to an NBA game, 59 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: an NHL game, a college basketball game, or a baseball game, 60 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: or even a concert or a comedy show. Game Time 61 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: has you covered with amazing last minute deals on tickets 62 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: to all of these. If you're trying to get out 63 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 1: to an NBA playoff game, game Time is gonna take 64 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: good care of you. 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Download the 75 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: game Time app and to your email and redeem code 76 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: Hoops for twenty dollars off. Your purchase terms apply again 77 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 1: and to your email and code Hoops. That's h Oops 78 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: for twenty dollars off. Download game Time today. Last minute 79 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 1: tickets lowest price guaranteed. All right, let's talk some basketball. 80 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 1: So Memphis just absolutely bludgeoned Golden States defense last night. 81 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: They scored one hundred and thirty three points. They shot 82 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:24,480 Speaker 1: fifty five percent from the field, forty seven percent from three, 83 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: and that's sixty points in the paint. And you know, 84 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:30,280 Speaker 1: it's interesting because the Grizzlies have always been good without 85 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,600 Speaker 1: John Morant, but usually it's because of the physicality areas 86 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: of the game. This is a great defensive team. John 87 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: Morant is one of the weakest defensive links in the 88 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: entire league. So when you take him out of the 89 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:47,839 Speaker 1: equation and put a bigger, stronger guard in entirest Jones 90 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,359 Speaker 1: into that spot, and when you're playing more wing talent, 91 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 1: you're just gonna get a better, more physically imposing team. 92 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: But what's been really impressive in this particular run, and 93 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: they're five and three since John Morant went out, is offensively, 94 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,119 Speaker 1: they've been getting a lot of high level production from guys. 95 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: Ty's Jones has been amazing. He's got excellent pick and 96 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 1: pop chemistry with Jaron Jackson Junior that we're gonna get 97 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: to in a little bit. Desmond Bain has been playing 98 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 1: at extremely high level. Dylan Brooks is finally starting to 99 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:16,119 Speaker 1: hit some shots after a rough start to the season. 100 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: He hit a bunch of huge threes in this particular 101 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 1: game to swing things on the offensive end of the floor. 102 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 1: And so with everything that they're getting out of that group, 103 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: they're actually scoring at a pretty damn effective level. Jaron 104 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: Jackson Junior thirty one points last night, hating threes, attacking closeouts. 105 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: Like I said, he was running that picking pop with 106 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: Tys Jones a lot, and what it's helping there is 107 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 1: he's attacking guys like Kevan Luni with an advantage. And 108 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 1: when Kevon Luny, you know, one of the things that 109 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: he's a very good defensive player, but one of the 110 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: things that he doesn't do a lot is have to 111 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 1: close out to shooters and it's just completely different footwork. 112 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: And Jaren Jackson has been really good driving clothesouts this 113 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 1: year and getting into the lane. He scored ten points 114 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 1: justin pick and pop stuff with Tys Jones in this game. 115 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 1: And you know, since John Morant went down, they've needed 116 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 1: extra scoring punch out of him, and he's been great, 117 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,160 Speaker 1: shooting fifty percent from the field in averaging twenty two 118 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 1: points per game, up from his typical average, which is 119 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: around seventeen. Right, So everybody's stepping up and they're really 120 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 1: impressive on both ends of the floor right now. You know, 121 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 1: when I was watching the film this morning, the most 122 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 1: impressive thing to me was Memphis's interior defense. You know, 123 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 1: a lot of Golden State's actions. You know, we always 124 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:28,920 Speaker 1: talk about Steph's gravity, but it's kind of like their 125 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 1: whole system in the form and the gravity that it 126 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: generates between Steph Clay and Jordan Pool, where guys are 127 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: flying off these dribble handoffs and off ball actions and 128 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: you get a lot of slips to the rim for 129 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: guys of Kavan Looney, for guys like Draymond Green, and 130 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: for guys like Jonathan Cominga right, but like all night long, 131 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 1: Jaren Jackson, Junior Xavier Tillman just digging down at the basketball, 132 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 1: disrupting things before they go up to the rim, then 133 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 1: contesting high above the rim. They help. This is a 134 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:02,279 Speaker 1: crazy stat. Golden State missed twenty six shots just in 135 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,280 Speaker 1: the paint in this game. They were twenty two for 136 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 1: forty eight on field goal attempts in the paint in 137 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: this game. That is an insane level of defensive impact 138 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: from Memphis front court. And again, you gotta remember that's 139 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 1: with most of their defense extended out to the three 140 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: point line, dealing with all the Golden States shooters. So like, 141 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 1: the job that those two guys did cleaning up everything 142 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 1: around the basket was extremely impressive in this game. Jared 143 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 1: Jackson junior man, every single month just takes a little 144 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: bit of a step towards becoming that perennial All Star 145 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 1: that we know he's going to be. So, you know, 146 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: shout out to Memphis, like I good. Like, here's the thing, 147 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: Memphis is not my favorite team. You know, like, I 148 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 1: really don't like Dylan Brooks. I have no patience for 149 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 1: somebody who actively tries to hurt basketball players. And I've 150 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: seen a lot of Memphis fans be like, oh, but 151 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: it's like Draymond No, no no, no, Draymond has a lot 152 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: of hard fouls in his career and he's done some 153 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: jankie stuff, but it's not the same Draymond Green was 154 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: never going to clothesline a guy on a breakaway dunk 155 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: and break his elbow. That's just Dylan Brooks. Draymond Green 156 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: isn't gonna deliberately do extra barrel rolls on the ground 157 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: to roll up into a guy's ankles and knees. That's 158 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: just Dylan Brooks. You know. Draymond Green is never going 159 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: to shove a cameraman for no particular reason other than 160 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 1: to just be an asshole. That's a Dylan Brooks thing. 161 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: So don't compare those two guys to me. They're not 162 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: the same. Like, yeah, yeah, Draymond's a little bit of 163 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 1: a He's a guy that plays an extremely physical brand 164 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: of basketball and he does some jankie stuff that's outside 165 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 1: of the rules, not in the same stratosphere as what 166 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: Dylan Brooks does, So stop comparing them. You know, don't 167 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: like Dylan Brooks. Yeah, it bothers me that they talk 168 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:45,839 Speaker 1: a bunch of shit for a team that hasn't really 169 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: accomplished much. So there are some things that I dislike 170 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 1: about the team, But I'm not like a just a 171 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 1: blind hater. I know they're good. I know Memphis can play. 172 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 1: Their defense is an incredible foundation for them to build 173 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: on over the course of the next couple years. My 174 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: pessimism surrounding them as a playoff team set stems from 175 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: just the way that I look at basketball teams and 176 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: what I think they need to be good at to 177 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: succeed in the playoffs. I think you need to be 178 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 1: excellent defensively, particularly in the front court. They have that 179 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 1: box resoundingly checked. Jaron Jackson Junior to me, is absolutely 180 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: a guy who can be a foundational defensive piece for 181 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: a championship team. You need to have excellent perimeter defense. 182 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:29,439 Speaker 1: Dylan Brooks has been doing a number on stars around 183 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: the league all season long. They've got that checked. Really, 184 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 1: John Morand, is that one little weak entry point, But 185 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: I don't think that necessarily would be enough to get 186 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 1: them beat if they had everything else checked. The reason 187 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: why I'm not super high on Memphis is shot creation. 188 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 1: Their half court shot creators are a little bit limited. Yes, 189 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 1: John Morand's really really good, Desmond Bain's really good. Ties 190 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: Shones is really good. In every playoff series in the 191 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 1: later rounds, they're going to be going against higher level 192 00:09:56,440 --> 00:10:00,439 Speaker 1: shot creators, that's an issue. And then off ball, they 193 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:02,560 Speaker 1: just they're one of the worst spot up teams in 194 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 1: the league, so their shot creators are generating shots for 195 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: guys that can't knock them down. They are less than 196 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: a point per possession on spot up possessions this year, 197 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 1: that's twenty sixth in the league. So yeah, I dislike Memphis, 198 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 1: but I also think they're good. But at the same time, like, 199 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 1: I don't put them in that list of eight teams 200 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: that can potentially win the title simply because I don't 201 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,720 Speaker 1: think they have the shot creation or the off ball 202 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: shot finishing to be able to score well enough to 203 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: win the title. I look at them as Cleveland of 204 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 1: the Western Conference, Like, yes, if John Morant goes absolutely 205 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 1: insane in the playoffs, they have a chance to win, 206 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 1: but it's extremely slim. If Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland 207 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:44,200 Speaker 1: go absolutely insane in the playoffs, they have a chance 208 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: to win, but it's very slim. And Cleveland has more 209 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: shot creation and is better as a spot up team. 210 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: So like, I actually think Cleveland's a better version of 211 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: Memphis in the West. So yeah, I'm not a fan 212 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:56,599 Speaker 1: of the Grizzlies, but there's a basketball reason why I 213 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:59,200 Speaker 1: feel the way that I feel about them. On the 214 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 1: Warriors front, it was a frustrating game because they really competed, 215 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: and you know, they got within two in the fourth 216 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 1: quarters one o eight, one oh six, and then Dylan 217 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 1: Brooks comes down and takes and makes a transition pull 218 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 1: up three that sucks. It happens big time shot. Like 219 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 1: I said, Dylan Brooks was a huge swing factor in 220 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 1: this game on the offensive end of the floor. But 221 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:21,439 Speaker 1: then there were two absolutely critical errors from Jordan Pool 222 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 1: from the one eleven one oh six point that I 223 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 1: thought costs the Warriors the game. There was a play 224 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 1: where at one eleven one oh six where Jordan Pool 225 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,959 Speaker 1: gets Downhill, drives to the basket and Clay Thompson is 226 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: wide open in the left corner, like just completely unguarded. 227 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 1: Desmond Bain I believe, is guarding Steph on this particular play, 228 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 1: panics and leaves and is like going to Clay because 229 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 1: he thinks he's gonna get that shot, and he would 230 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 1: have been too late. If Jordan would have made the past, 231 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: he would have knocked it down. But instead Jordan throws 232 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:53,079 Speaker 1: up this like crazy wild left handed layup that had 233 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:57,559 Speaker 1: no chance of going in Clay Thompson's super discouraged kind 234 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:00,839 Speaker 1: of jogs back in transition defense that down the other end, 235 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: I think Luke Kennard gets a wide up and three. 236 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:04,960 Speaker 1: He misses it, but David Roddy gets an offensive rebound 237 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: in large part because they're not matched up, and he 238 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 1: gets fouled under the rim and he makes one of 239 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:12,679 Speaker 1: the free throws could two possessions later, Jordan Poole just 240 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 1: dribbles the ball at the floor on the right wing 241 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: and just throws an aimless skip pass across the court 242 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 1: and gets picked off and goes the other way for 243 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:23,959 Speaker 1: Desmond Bayd to hit a three in the corner, which 244 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:27,199 Speaker 1: effectively was the dagger. Steph hit a three after that, 245 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: but then Desmond Baine hit a three right after that 246 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:32,960 Speaker 1: where Steph kind of ran into Dylan Brooks and Dillon 247 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 1: Brooks like fell on the ground almost into Clay Thompson's legs, 248 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: so Clay Thompson stopped running, Steph is looking at the 249 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,559 Speaker 1: refs instead of paying attention, and Desmond band comes off 250 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:42,200 Speaker 1: free and clear and hits a three. They just were 251 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: so not sharp in the details defensively in this game. 252 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 1: But those two, those two a rim read from Jordan 253 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:51,439 Speaker 1: Pool and that skip pass I thought were the two 254 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:55,440 Speaker 1: play because it was right there for the taking. And again, 255 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: like with the Jordan Pool thing, I've always said, like 256 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:01,440 Speaker 1: his limitations just come to the surface in a bigger 257 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 1: way when you're dealing with issues with personnel. When you 258 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 1: have your full roster, you can contend with some of 259 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 1: those issues. But when the when the personnel limitations are there, 260 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 1: Jordan Poole's decision making issues come to the surface. Jordan 261 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 1: Poole's issues defense and in defense and rebounding situations, they 262 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 1: come to the surface more. It's it's just, it's just 263 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 1: the unfortunate reality of their predicament. Like I mean, I 264 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 1: told you guys this from the beginning. I I know 265 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 1: how what this core is capable of. But when you 266 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:37,320 Speaker 1: take Andrew Wiggins out of the equation, and you take 267 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 1: Gary Payton out of the equation, they are too small 268 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: and too unathletic to consistently win on the road. At home, 269 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 1: they just play with a ferocity in front of their 270 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: home crowd that can overcome those issues to a certain extent. 271 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: But on the road they can't match that effort differential 272 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 1: in the personnel issues shine to the surface. And you know, 273 00:13:57,280 --> 00:13:59,839 Speaker 1: here's the thing. I can never write them off completely 274 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: because they're gonna be in the play. And my guess 275 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:05,559 Speaker 1: is it's gonna end up being something like Lakers Warriors, 276 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:07,680 Speaker 1: kind of similar to twenty twenty one where they're Lakers 277 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 1: Warriors playing in that seven eight playoff game. That's just 278 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 1: my guess. But like they're you know, I can't completely 279 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:17,959 Speaker 1: write them off because as long as that group is there, 280 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 1: we know what they're capable of. And if Andrew Wiggins 281 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 1: comes back, you know, like I've heard, I've heard some 282 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 1: Warriors fans complaining about the vibes, and yeah, they're bad vibes. 283 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 1: The team doesn't seem happy. Everyone seems pissed at Jordan Pool. 284 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 1: Everyone's you know, showing bad body language. But that's just 285 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 1: everyone overreacts to that stuff. Who likes to lose basketball games? Seriously, 286 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: show me, show me the person who likes to lose 287 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 1: basketball games. They've lost six out of eight. They're not 288 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: going to be running around Stoke tie fiving each other 289 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: and acting all happy. That's not how it works. And like, yeah, 290 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: if if Andrew Wiggins comes back before the end of 291 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,440 Speaker 1: the season and they win two three games in a row, 292 00:14:57,800 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 1: all the energy of the team is going to turn over. 293 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 1: That That's why I can't completely write them off. But 294 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: make no mistake, it looks bleak because there's certainly no 295 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 1: word coming that Andrew Wiggins is on his way back 296 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 1: like they're they're hoping, but there's no there's nothing substantial there. 297 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 1: They're only one and a half games up on the 298 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: eleventh seed, so they could just as easily miss the 299 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 1: play in if they don't come together and win some games. 300 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 1: And looking at their schedule, there's some easy ones in there, 301 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: but there's also some hard ones. At Houston. Houston's beating 302 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 1: everybody right now. They just beat the Pelicans and the 303 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 1: Lakers and the Celtics back to back to back at home. 304 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 1: They're hard to beat in Houston. You're playing on the road. 305 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 1: They're a big they're a lot more athletic on the 306 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 1: perimeter than you think, and they actually present some physical 307 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 1: mismatches they're gonna be That's not an easy game. I'd 308 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 1: pick Golden State to win, but that's not an easy 309 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: game at Dallas. Now that Kyrie Irving's back and playing, 310 00:15:57,440 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 1: Now that Maxi Kleiba's back in point, Maxie's be back 311 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 1: for a little while, but Maxie clee but just kinda 312 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: we're gonna talk about this a little bit with Dallas 313 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 1: when we talk about the Lakers. But he resolves just 314 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: enough of their front court issues on both ends of 315 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 1: the floor to make them a serious basketball team, even 316 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 1: though I don't think they can win the title, like 317 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 1: they're not. That's not an easy game. Okay, then you 318 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 1: come home, but who do you play? Philly? That's not 319 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 1: an easy game. Then Minnesota and maybe if you're lucky, 320 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: Anthony Edwards is still out with an ankle injury at 321 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: that point and you still have a chance to win 322 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 1: that game. Then Pels and Spurs. So there's three easy 323 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: wins there at home probably, But then you go right 324 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: back on the road to Denver, not an easy game. 325 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 1: Then you have Oklahoma City at home, that's probably a win. 326 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 1: But then you go to Sacramento, not an easy game. 327 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 1: To Portland, not an easy game. Maybe if you get lucky, 328 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 1: Sacramentos resting players in that game, but like, look, they 329 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: could just as easily go below five hundred in that 330 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 1: stretch if they don't get it together. Everything comes down 331 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 1: to Wiggins as it pertains to their ceiling. But they're 332 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 1: never getting to that ceiling if they can't secure a 333 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 1: playoff spot. And they aren't securing a playoff spot unless 334 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: they just lock in and win some of these games. 335 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: They've got to get a few of these games, all right, 336 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: Let's move on to MAVs Lakers. So the MAVs win 337 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:14,439 Speaker 1: one eleven to one ten. Kyrie was just unbelievable in 338 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 1: this game, especially down the stretch, making reads and making 339 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:20,160 Speaker 1: little floaters and getting to the basket and drawing free 340 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: throw attempts. He had thirty eight, six and six. On 341 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 1: the other end of the floor, the Lakers were running 342 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 1: good stuff. But Danel they it's so funny and this 343 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: is just shot result, man, like some of this stuff, 344 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 1: some of this stuff is just the way it shakes 345 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 1: out over an eighty two games season, right Like D'Angel 346 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 1: Russell got several wide open shots in the fourth quarter 347 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:47,119 Speaker 1: of this game. He just couldn't make a single one 348 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 1: of them. And then down the stretch of the game, 349 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: in spite of all that, because Dennis Schroeder made some 350 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 1: big plays, you know, Anthony Davis made a couple of 351 00:17:56,560 --> 00:18:01,199 Speaker 1: big plays. They were defending well. They were still up 352 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 1: by four with less than a minute left, and three 353 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:07,399 Speaker 1: crucial mistakes from Anthony Davis cost them the game, losing 354 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 1: Maxi Cliba off ball and making a reckless close out. 355 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: We talked about this a lot. You know, in that 356 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 1: Minnesota game against Brooklyn. If you like a week ago 357 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:23,440 Speaker 1: execution wins and loses basketball games, you know, it's funny. 358 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,160 Speaker 1: I've I've played in so many basketball games in my life, 359 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 1: at so many different levels, and every time you lose 360 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:32,640 Speaker 1: a game, it haunts you, right, And when I think 361 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,199 Speaker 1: back to games that I've lost in my life, that 362 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:38,639 Speaker 1: what haunts me is always a little thing. It's always 363 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 1: like a miss box out here, or like one play 364 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 1: towards the end where you didn't quite sprint back in 365 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:46,479 Speaker 1: transition and you gave up a layup, or you know, 366 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 1: a bad foul, a miss defensive rotation, a play where 367 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: you had a chance to make a play and maybe 368 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:56,640 Speaker 1: you held back. There's always these little things that end 369 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:58,920 Speaker 1: up swinging basketball games. It's one of my favorite things 370 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 1: about the game of basketball. I love that complex nature 371 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 1: of it. I love that chess match. But like it 372 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 1: can be painful, it can cost you. And we talked 373 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 1: about against in that Minnesota Brooklyn game overhelping on contained drivers. 374 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 1: A contested shot has significantly less value than an uncontested shot, 375 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 1: regardless of where it is at the floor. These are pros, 376 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: they make them so if you if Rudy Gobert is 377 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:33,120 Speaker 1: contesting a really tough spencer, didn't what he stepped through, 378 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: You've got a better chance getting a stop there. Then 379 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: if you overhelp and give a wide open shot to 380 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:40,440 Speaker 1: Roy Soneil like we talked about, or when Rudy Gobert 381 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:42,879 Speaker 1: helped off of Dorian Phinney Smith, that cost them a 382 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: game that they should have won. And you saw the 383 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:48,160 Speaker 1: same thing in this Lakers game. The Lakers played better, 384 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:51,119 Speaker 1: they were in position to win up forward less than 385 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:55,920 Speaker 1: a minute left, containing the ball, they had Kyrie corralled, 386 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 1: but they abandoned Maxi Kleber twice off the ball Anthony Davis, 387 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 1: and he's one of the best. He's one of the 388 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 1: best defensive players in the history of the league. So 389 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:09,439 Speaker 1: it's just bizarre. And that's what makes it such a 390 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 1: brutal loss for the Lakers. Was you do everything right, 391 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: and it wasn't a personnel shortcoming. It wasn't you did 392 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:19,879 Speaker 1: everything right, but then they stuck their center on Russell 393 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 1: Westbrook and suddenly you couldn't score and you lost. It 394 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: wasn't you did everything right, but you generated high quality 395 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:28,880 Speaker 1: shots for bad shooters, and so personnel no, no no, no, 396 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:31,159 Speaker 1: you had all the right guys, You did all the 397 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:35,640 Speaker 1: right things in your very best player toasted the game 398 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:37,680 Speaker 1: away at the end with three mistakes. It's just it's 399 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:41,159 Speaker 1: super unfortunate. He fouls Maxi Kleba on a three at 400 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: the top of the key. Maxie goes the line, makes 401 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 1: all three underrated element of that. Maxie Cleban makes all 402 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: three of those free throws. He gets his rhythm and 403 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 1: he's now practiced his release three times immediately before the 404 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 1: game winning shot. Then on the final possession, Kyrie is 405 00:20:55,480 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 1: double teamed. The only open asses the skip pass and 406 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis drops way down into the lane, leaves maxically 407 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 1: bow but just eerily reminiscent to the game they lost 408 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:11,479 Speaker 1: against the Pacers earlier this year, when Lebron James made 409 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: the exact same mistake and overhelped on a contained ball handler, 410 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 1: leaving I believe Andrew Nemhart wide open on the left wing, 411 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:24,360 Speaker 1: I will say, on the Dallas front. You know, obviously 412 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 1: Kyrie brings in that shot. Creation again it Kyrie's won 413 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:28,920 Speaker 1: a lot of games. I think this is at least 414 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 1: the third that I can think of this year where 415 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,919 Speaker 1: Kyrie's won a game without Luca because of what he 416 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:35,879 Speaker 1: can do as a shot creator. Like it's just so 417 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:39,080 Speaker 1: funny to me how every time we have discussions about 418 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving, everyone just massively glosses over just how damn 419 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 1: good he is at basketball, Like he outplayed Anthony Davis 420 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:55,400 Speaker 1: last in that game. I said, just as an idea 421 00:21:55,440 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 1: with Colin Coward, if Anthony Davis got hurt, they might 422 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 1: have to consider using him to get Kyrie, and everyone 423 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:08,439 Speaker 1: lost their freaking mind. And I don't. I wouldn't even 424 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:11,120 Speaker 1: necessarily do that. I was just pitching that as like, hey, like, 425 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 1: if any gets hurt three years in a row, maybe 426 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: flipping him for a star wouldn't be the end of 427 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 1: the world, because you're like, you're not getting a star. 428 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:22,639 Speaker 1: You never get a star. You always get picks and 429 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 1: young prospects, like whatever it is you do. Even if 430 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 1: you want to say that I'm wrong, and you know what, 431 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: for the record, I probably wouldn't do that. I was 432 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 1: just presenting the idea. But at least can we be 433 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 1: honest in the conversation. Kyrie's freaking good, man, He's really 434 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 1: really good, and that's what he's capable of as a 435 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 1: ceiling raising player. A couple that with Maxi Kleibo, which 436 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:50,280 Speaker 1: gives you just a really good defensive front court player 437 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 1: that can guard switches onto the perimeter and can guard big, 438 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 1: strong forwards, can compete in the physicality areas of the game, 439 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:00,239 Speaker 1: and a legitimate pick and pop threat on the other 440 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:02,879 Speaker 1: end of the floor. Just bringing him back into the fold, 441 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:05,199 Speaker 1: I think it's been about a month that he's been 442 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:07,959 Speaker 1: back now. Just bringing him back into the fold just 443 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 1: makes so many things make sense for Dallas on both 444 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,719 Speaker 1: ends of the floor. Again, it's not enough. They have 445 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:17,320 Speaker 1: massive depth issues on the front line that will cost them. 446 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:19,399 Speaker 1: I do not think this team can win a championship, 447 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:23,679 Speaker 1: but just getting Kleiba back and having him play like 448 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 1: that on both ends of the flour just kind of 449 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 1: makes everything makes sense more for Dallas. I want to 450 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 1: talk a little bit about Anthony Davis for a minute, because, like, 451 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 1: this is the Lakers have lost three out of four now, 452 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:40,160 Speaker 1: and this is what it went This is what went down. 453 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:46,440 Speaker 1: He got resoundingly outplayed by Julius Randall and mightily struggled 454 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:48,840 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter against Isaiah Hartenstein in a loss 455 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 1: against the Knicks. At the time, I kind of glossed 456 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:53,720 Speaker 1: over it. Why because he had been playing great pulling 457 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 1: into that stretch, right, and so it was just like, hey, 458 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:58,480 Speaker 1: like eighty had a bad night, first bad night in 459 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 1: a while, Let's not think too much about it. Denny 460 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:04,159 Speaker 1: goes into New Orleans and just obliterates the Pelicans, has 461 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:05,919 Speaker 1: like twenty points in the first half, just kills him. 462 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 1: Then he has to sit out a game against Houston, 463 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:12,119 Speaker 1: which directly costs them a game. They give up seventy 464 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:15,520 Speaker 1: something points in the paint, and then he botches the 465 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:20,199 Speaker 1: end against Dallas, and all of that adds up to 466 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: one in three. And here's the problem. Everyone else in 467 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:29,640 Speaker 1: the West is flopping all over the place, losing games, 468 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 1: Clippers losing games, Warriors losing games, Minnesota losing games. Everyone's losing. 469 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 1: And so there's like, if Anthony Davis plays against Houston 470 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:45,720 Speaker 1: and they win that game and he doesn't make those 471 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 1: mistakes against Dallas, the Lakers are now the sixth seed. 472 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:53,639 Speaker 1: They would be the sixth seed right now with a 473 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 1: favorable upcoming schedule and be in great position to avoid 474 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:02,680 Speaker 1: the play in and like, lucky for them, they still 475 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:06,920 Speaker 1: have a chance because everyone keeps losing and they might 476 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 1: still get up there, but they are blowing opportunities here. 477 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:13,960 Speaker 1: And what's unfortunate is a lot of this is coming 478 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 1: down to Anthony Davis. And you know, it's funny. I 479 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 1: was talking with some of the guys on my team 480 00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 1: here at the volume, just kind of like bouncing the 481 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:24,400 Speaker 1: idea of kind of players that remind me of Anthony Davis, 482 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:27,679 Speaker 1: because it's such a bizarre experience comes to La and 483 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty, just start to finish dominance. From game 484 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:33,720 Speaker 1: one to when they hoisted the trophy, Anthony Davis was 485 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:36,719 Speaker 1: fantastic the whole damn time. I think I ranked him 486 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 1: the fourth best player in the world at that point, 487 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:42,360 Speaker 1: and he deserved that recognition. He was incredible. His defensive 488 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:45,359 Speaker 1: performance in Game six of the NBA Finals was one 489 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:47,600 Speaker 1: of the best defensive games I've ever seen a player play. 490 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:53,679 Speaker 1: Completely shut Miami's water off. But since then, it's been 491 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:59,600 Speaker 1: a recurring theme, these escalations and then a complete drop off. 492 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 1: There's no maintaining that top level of play. Two thousand 493 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: and one, or excuse me, two twenty one. He gets 494 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 1: back in time for the playoffs, just obliterates Phoenix twice 495 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:13,640 Speaker 1: in the playoffs. You're up two games to one. You're 496 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:16,480 Speaker 1: in great shape, ad they just have no answer for 497 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:20,199 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis, and then he pulls us growing can't finish 498 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:25,320 Speaker 1: the series. Twenty twenty two is just a disaster of injuries. 499 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:27,920 Speaker 1: Here's how bad two twenty two was. Aidie never even 500 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,120 Speaker 1: managed to score thirty points three games in a row, 501 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:32,400 Speaker 1: which is something he's done three times already this year, 502 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 1: but comes back into two twenty three, gets up to 503 00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:41,200 Speaker 1: that ceiling twice he did earlier this season and just recently, 504 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 1: but he can't stay there. Earlier this year culminating in 505 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,919 Speaker 1: a fifty point game in Washington, just a month of 506 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:52,800 Speaker 1: just incredibly dominant MVP level basketball. Then he leaves the 507 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:56,000 Speaker 1: next game sick. Then he gets into foul trouble against 508 00:26:56,040 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 1: Joel Ebid and really struggles, actually has a chance to 509 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: win that game at the line, misses another clutch free throw, 510 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:04,720 Speaker 1: and then he gets hurt and misses a month and 511 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:08,520 Speaker 1: a half. So we got there and just couldn't stay there. 512 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:14,440 Speaker 1: And then again this recent stretch, dominant nine and four 513 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:20,440 Speaker 1: post trades, playing great basketball, and then you drop three 514 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:24,479 Speaker 1: out of four games because you get badly outplayed by 515 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:27,720 Speaker 1: two inferior players against the Knicks can't even play on 516 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 1: the back to back in a must win game against Houston, 517 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:33,639 Speaker 1: and crucial mistakes down the stretch, not paying attention to 518 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:38,199 Speaker 1: cost you a game the other night against Alice, and 519 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:40,680 Speaker 1: so it's like he gets there, but he just can't 520 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 1: stay there. And it's it's really bizarre because like I 521 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:46,760 Speaker 1: can't think of another player that I have seen come 522 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:50,639 Speaker 1: through the NBA that they're ceiling. Is best player in 523 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:55,479 Speaker 1: the world, but no team would probably take him as 524 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:57,960 Speaker 1: a foundational piece to try to win a championship because 525 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:03,400 Speaker 1: he can't stay there. So it's it's a really interesting conundrum. Again, 526 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:04,879 Speaker 1: they'd be the sixth seed right now if they get 527 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 1: two of those games. It's not over. Like I said, 528 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:10,960 Speaker 1: they still have plenty of chance opportunity here down the stretch. 529 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 1: Like I said, Golden State has no wings because of 530 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:17,680 Speaker 1: Andrew Wiggins, They're gonna keep falling. Their schedule is tough. Dallas, Yeah, 531 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:19,159 Speaker 1: Maxie Cleeb was playing great, but they don't want the 532 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,439 Speaker 1: front court depth. Anthony Edwards just sprained his ankle. That 533 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 1: helps on the Minnesota front although hopefully he's not out 534 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:26,720 Speaker 1: for too long because I really want to see Minnesota 535 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 1: play in a playoff series. Oklahoma City keeps resting Jalen 536 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 1: Williams and Shake Hill just Alexander randomly as like a 537 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:36,160 Speaker 1: pseudo tank job. But they're not going to gain any 538 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 1: ground on that group unless Anthony Davis gets it together. 539 00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 1: And this isn't even a health issue. He's just not 540 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 1: playing well enough. He needs to get back up to 541 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:47,440 Speaker 1: that level. And there's a specific reason why I think 542 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:52,480 Speaker 1: the Lakers have to finish at least eighth. One gives 543 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 1: you two chances at the plan. If you're in the 544 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:57,360 Speaker 1: eight seed or the seventh seed and you lose that game, 545 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:00,240 Speaker 1: you get another chance. If you're in the nine ten, 546 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:02,480 Speaker 1: it's single elimination from the Star and you have to 547 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 1: win two games, so it's a significant better position. Also, 548 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 1: if you win the seven eight matchup, then you get 549 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 1: to play the two seat, which is likely going to 550 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 1: be Sacramento in a much easier opponent in the first 551 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:19,280 Speaker 1: round than Denver. In my opinion, they're one of the 552 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:23,880 Speaker 1: worst defensive teams in the league. And if you can 553 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:26,920 Speaker 1: get up to seven, you get home court for that 554 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:29,240 Speaker 1: playing game, and if you get up to six, you 555 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:31,800 Speaker 1: get out of it entirely. So there is still a 556 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 1: lot of incentive for the Lakers to try to claw 557 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:37,520 Speaker 1: their way up that stretch of the standings, and I'm 558 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:40,680 Speaker 1: curious to see if they can put it together. All right, 559 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:42,440 Speaker 1: let's move over to the Eastern Conference a little bit. 560 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:46,200 Speaker 1: The New York Knicks beat the Nuggets one sixteen to 561 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 1: one ten yesterday. Super interesting game is chess match down 562 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 1: the stretch on both ends of the floor. When the 563 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:54,960 Speaker 1: Knicks had the ball, they were relentlessly attacking Jamal Murray 564 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:56,960 Speaker 1: Nikola Yok, which was actually doing a really nice job 565 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,239 Speaker 1: and drop coverage protecting the rim. In this particular game, 566 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:04,440 Speaker 1: they were funneling pretty well, but they just kept, you know, 567 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 1: it was it was funny. You'd see Jalen Brunson dribbling 568 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 1: on the right wing and he'd be being guarded by 569 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:12,840 Speaker 1: Contavious callball Pope, and you'd literally hear Tom Thibodeau screaming 570 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:15,720 Speaker 1: from the sideline two two two, which I'm assuming was 571 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 1: him asking for a two one ball screen, which means 572 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 1: the pick point guard is your one right and you're 573 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:24,480 Speaker 1: shooting guard is your two. And in this case, I 574 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:26,680 Speaker 1: want to say it was Emmanuel Quickly, but he was 575 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:30,080 Speaker 1: being guarded by Jamal Murray and he's just calling for 576 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:33,160 Speaker 1: a ball screen to try to get a switch, and 577 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:35,920 Speaker 1: then Jalen Brunson would get onto Jamal Murray and then 578 00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:37,680 Speaker 1: just immediately go to work. I think he scored on 579 00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 1: him three times down the stretch of this game, including 580 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:42,239 Speaker 1: icing the game by getting him up in the air 581 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:44,520 Speaker 1: and with a pump fake and getting to the foul line. 582 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:47,400 Speaker 1: Then on the other end of the floor, it was 583 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:49,640 Speaker 1: a steady diet of Murray Yoket's pick and roll, and 584 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 1: it was It's kind of an interesting adjustment from New 585 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:54,560 Speaker 1: York because Yokis was killing them in the role. Just 586 00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:57,320 Speaker 1: Jamal Murray dragging that second defender around, dropping off to 587 00:30:57,360 --> 00:31:00,560 Speaker 1: Yoki's yoke. It's just doing that hard power dribble into 588 00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:02,520 Speaker 1: his spin move back towards his right hand to make 589 00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 1: that little floating hook shot that he makes. And they 590 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:07,320 Speaker 1: were having a lot of success there, but then Julius 591 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:11,400 Speaker 1: Randall just started completely ignoring Aaron Gordon and parking in 592 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 1: the paint. So then Yokich's adjustment was to pop to 593 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 1: the three point line and out there the first time, 594 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:20,520 Speaker 1: like Jamal Murray just didn't even look at Yokich and 595 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:22,880 Speaker 1: shot like a floater over a double team that he missed. 596 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:26,080 Speaker 1: Some of Jamal Murray's late game decision making hasn't been great. 597 00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:28,080 Speaker 1: And then on another one, they kicked it out too many, 598 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 1: pump faked and he missed to three, So that a 599 00:31:29,560 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 1: little adjustment from the Knicks got them the two big 600 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:33,960 Speaker 1: stops that they needed at the end of the game. 601 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 1: And you're starting to see a lot of teams now 602 00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 1: really ignoring Aaron Gordon, really ignoring Christian Braun, really ignoring 603 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:45,680 Speaker 1: Jeff Green in the week side corner. The Knicks were 604 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:47,880 Speaker 1: doing that the entire second half, and you know, guys 605 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:50,800 Speaker 1: like Christian Braun and Jeff Green, they're making shots, but 606 00:31:51,320 --> 00:31:56,320 Speaker 1: teams aren't guarding them, and that fundamentally changes the way 607 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:59,600 Speaker 1: that it feels offensively with congestion in the paint. And 608 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:02,280 Speaker 1: then Tavia's called Pope, has just kind of gone cold 609 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:05,920 Speaker 1: and he missed several wide open looks in the second 610 00:32:05,920 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 1: half of this game that would have changed the dynamic. 611 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:10,520 Speaker 1: And KCP is one of the most reliable guys in 612 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:13,840 Speaker 1: the league. So some of that's just bad luck. But 613 00:32:13,960 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 1: you know what, you can't you can't take bad luck 614 00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:18,000 Speaker 1: to the standings. It's a loss at the end of 615 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:22,120 Speaker 1: the day, the Knicks have won three straight. Really nice 616 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:25,160 Speaker 1: response because they won nine straight. Then Jalen Brunson gets 617 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 1: hurt and you lose three tough road games in the 618 00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:30,640 Speaker 1: Western Conference. But then you just get it together. You 619 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:33,320 Speaker 1: get a big win over the Lakers the other night, 620 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:35,760 Speaker 1: and then you rip off a three game winning street, 621 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:39,120 Speaker 1: culminating with that really impressive win against Denver. So that's 622 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:40,880 Speaker 1: you know, what's that twelve out of fifteen. It's of 623 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:44,000 Speaker 1: an impressive streak from the Knicks. Their identity really starts 624 00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 1: is really starting to make sense to me. They're an 625 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:50,440 Speaker 1: outstanding perimeter defense team. Like that. They went on a 626 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 1: run early fourth quarter with Yokich on the bench, in 627 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:58,400 Speaker 1: large part once again because Josh Hart Emmanuel quickly RJ 628 00:32:58,560 --> 00:33:02,920 Speaker 1: Barrett just containing the ball in really causing issues for 629 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:05,520 Speaker 1: Denver's offense. They're lucky they got a three out of 630 00:33:05,560 --> 00:33:07,959 Speaker 1: Jeff Green and Christian Braun on skip passes, because if 631 00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:09,520 Speaker 1: those shots didn't go in, they would have been in 632 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:14,080 Speaker 1: big trouble in that bench run. But that's a big 633 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:18,000 Speaker 1: part of New York's identity defensively, outstanding perimeter defense. They 634 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 1: are ninth overall in defensive rating over their last fifteen games, 635 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:23,120 Speaker 1: which is impressive for a team that doesn't have a 636 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:27,000 Speaker 1: great defensive front court. They're pushing in transition a lot 637 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:30,640 Speaker 1: on misses and steals. They're not turning the ball over. 638 00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:34,360 Speaker 1: They're not turning other teams over that much because they're 639 00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:37,240 Speaker 1: more of a slide your feet, keep the ball in 640 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:39,200 Speaker 1: front type of team instead of a gamble and be 641 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:41,760 Speaker 1: aggressive type of team. But they are pushing and their 642 00:33:41,800 --> 00:33:44,000 Speaker 1: tenth and fast breakpoints per game scored over their last 643 00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:46,719 Speaker 1: fifteen games. And then in the half court, they're just 644 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:50,560 Speaker 1: attacking matchups. It's just Julius Randall and Jalen Brunson picking 645 00:33:50,560 --> 00:33:54,640 Speaker 1: on your weakest defender every time down the floor, which 646 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:56,560 Speaker 1: has worked well for them because both of those guys 647 00:33:56,840 --> 00:33:58,680 Speaker 1: can get to pull up jump shots in the mid range, 648 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:00,760 Speaker 1: so some of the spacing can earns from off ball 649 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:03,960 Speaker 1: shooting in Mitchell Robinson don't really bother them as long 650 00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:05,360 Speaker 1: as they can get to their spots and they're pull 651 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:08,640 Speaker 1: up jump shots. Julius Randall has run over five hundred 652 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:12,240 Speaker 1: ISOs this year, over a point per possession. He's isoing 653 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:14,960 Speaker 1: seven times per game. Jalen Brunson two hundred and forty 654 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:17,520 Speaker 1: ISOs this year, four times per game, one point one 655 00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:20,359 Speaker 1: eight points per possession on ISOs. For Jalen Brunson, that's 656 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:23,000 Speaker 1: third best in the league out of the twenty players 657 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:24,840 Speaker 1: to attempt at LEAs two hundreds, so he's one of 658 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:28,080 Speaker 1: the very best high volume ISO players in the league. 659 00:34:28,120 --> 00:34:31,160 Speaker 1: So they're defending, they're running when they can. Then when 660 00:34:31,160 --> 00:34:33,440 Speaker 1: they get into the half court, it's a steady diet 661 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:37,000 Speaker 1: of matchup attacking with Jalen Brunson and Julius Randall, and 662 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:39,480 Speaker 1: then they're crashing the hell out of the offensive glass. 663 00:34:39,880 --> 00:34:43,080 Speaker 1: Julius Randall, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Mitchell Robinson are all top 664 00:34:43,120 --> 00:34:45,799 Speaker 1: twenty eight in the league in total offensive rebounds this year. 665 00:34:46,239 --> 00:34:48,360 Speaker 1: Josh Hart there are two guards in the league this 666 00:34:48,440 --> 00:34:50,399 Speaker 1: year that have at least one hundred offensive rebounds. It's 667 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:53,279 Speaker 1: Josh Hart and Josh Kiddy, who's six foot eight. So 668 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:57,200 Speaker 1: they're just extremely relentless on the offensive glass as well. 669 00:34:57,320 --> 00:34:59,640 Speaker 1: They have an identity, and again everything comes down to 670 00:35:00,040 --> 00:35:03,360 Speaker 1: Julius Randall Jalen Brunson making enough plays offensively in the playoffs, 671 00:35:03,680 --> 00:35:05,520 Speaker 1: but it's cool to see their identity forming and you 672 00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:08,839 Speaker 1: could see Nicks basketball becoming a cultural thing that they 673 00:35:08,840 --> 00:35:11,759 Speaker 1: can build on by supplementing with talent moving forward. Now 674 00:35:11,920 --> 00:35:15,440 Speaker 1: it's fun time to be a Knicks fan. The Nuggets 675 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:17,640 Speaker 1: have now lost five out of six, with their only 676 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:21,080 Speaker 1: win being against the Pistons. When I started recording this video, 677 00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:23,279 Speaker 1: they were they were up double digits in Brooklyn and 678 00:35:23,360 --> 00:35:24,759 Speaker 1: the tail end of a back to back, So they 679 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:27,600 Speaker 1: might be getting right today, we'll see. But their twenty 680 00:35:27,680 --> 00:35:30,040 Speaker 1: ninth and defense over that span, and again we've talked 681 00:35:30,080 --> 00:35:32,680 Speaker 1: a lot about Yokich, and again the Yokich thing is 682 00:35:32,719 --> 00:35:35,840 Speaker 1: just a lot of conversational It's been heavy as a 683 00:35:35,840 --> 00:35:38,880 Speaker 1: conversational topic. But the reality is is that has to 684 00:35:38,920 --> 00:35:42,359 Speaker 1: do with MVP and comparing him to MBID and Jannis. Like, 685 00:35:42,560 --> 00:35:44,880 Speaker 1: one of the biggest defensive weak links for the Nuggets 686 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:48,120 Speaker 1: right now is Jamal Murray's. This has been something I've 687 00:35:48,120 --> 00:35:49,880 Speaker 1: been talking about all season, but he's one of their 688 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:52,720 Speaker 1: one of their biggest entry points, and he was getting 689 00:35:52,760 --> 00:35:55,440 Speaker 1: targeted non stop down the stretches this game, and he 690 00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:57,600 Speaker 1: hasn't been playing well enough offensively to cover for it. 691 00:35:57,640 --> 00:36:00,640 Speaker 1: Although he did get going offensively against the Knicks and 692 00:36:00,680 --> 00:36:03,000 Speaker 1: made a bunch of big plays until he missed that 693 00:36:03,160 --> 00:36:06,919 Speaker 1: late floater. The Nuggets are also struggling to rebound. They're 694 00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:10,400 Speaker 1: twenty fourth and defensive rebound percentage. They're losing thirty percent. 695 00:36:11,520 --> 00:36:13,480 Speaker 1: Thirty percent of the time they force ay miss the 696 00:36:13,520 --> 00:36:15,760 Speaker 1: other team is getting the offensive rebound. That's a problem 697 00:36:15,840 --> 00:36:18,799 Speaker 1: right now. But here's the other thing. They usually cover 698 00:36:18,880 --> 00:36:20,960 Speaker 1: for all that stuff with offense, and they're fifteenth and 699 00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:24,120 Speaker 1: offense over this span. Big part of that is KCP 700 00:36:24,239 --> 00:36:26,279 Speaker 1: and Jamal Murray cooling off from three. That's a big 701 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:29,839 Speaker 1: part of their offensive punt punch. Yokich I think, you know, again, 702 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:32,480 Speaker 1: it's hard to be super critical because he's averaging twenty nine, 703 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:36,799 Speaker 1: but there's still I think that when the team is 704 00:36:36,800 --> 00:36:40,360 Speaker 1: struggling to make shots that Yokis needs to try to 705 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:42,400 Speaker 1: be a little bit more aggressive. It kind of reminds 706 00:36:42,440 --> 00:36:45,200 Speaker 1: me of early Lebron, and Lebron's much better at this now, 707 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:47,160 Speaker 1: and I'm sure Yokich will be in his future. But 708 00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:49,799 Speaker 1: there comes a time in a place where making the 709 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:53,439 Speaker 1: right play is no longer the option, and now it's yeah, 710 00:36:53,520 --> 00:36:56,560 Speaker 1: I'm I know that guy's open, but I'm Nickel Yokich 711 00:36:56,760 --> 00:36:59,120 Speaker 1: and these dudes can't guard me. And I need to 712 00:36:59,120 --> 00:37:01,759 Speaker 1: score a little bit more. And that's the thing, Like 713 00:37:01,960 --> 00:37:04,360 Speaker 1: I'd like to see Yoka s hit that higher gear 714 00:37:04,920 --> 00:37:07,120 Speaker 1: in stretches like this, try to get up to thirty 715 00:37:07,120 --> 00:37:09,840 Speaker 1: four thirty five points per game and try to carry 716 00:37:09,880 --> 00:37:12,560 Speaker 1: the offense until guys start making shots again. Then you 717 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:16,520 Speaker 1: can kind of settle back into the background and then 718 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:18,160 Speaker 1: something to keep an eye on again. As teams are 719 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:21,479 Speaker 1: ignoring that week side corner, they're conceding shots to guys 720 00:37:21,480 --> 00:37:25,040 Speaker 1: like Aaron Gordon and Christian Brown and Jeff Green and again, 721 00:37:25,160 --> 00:37:28,480 Speaker 1: like I said, sometimes they're making them, but it's not 722 00:37:28,520 --> 00:37:30,560 Speaker 1: just about that. It's about the way teams are guarding 723 00:37:30,560 --> 00:37:32,600 Speaker 1: you in the way that disrupts all of your other actions. 724 00:37:35,360 --> 00:37:37,640 Speaker 1: Hopefully they'll get back on tracking. It's Brooklyn today, but 725 00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:39,120 Speaker 1: they have a tough schedule in the next two weeks. 726 00:37:39,160 --> 00:37:41,239 Speaker 1: They play the Bucks, the Sixers, and the Suns. And 727 00:37:41,320 --> 00:37:43,080 Speaker 1: you know, one last thing I'll say about the Nuggets 728 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:45,160 Speaker 1: because everyone a lot of people are saying, like, hey, 729 00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:47,480 Speaker 1: it's an urgency thing. They had a big League Like 730 00:37:47,520 --> 00:37:50,400 Speaker 1: even after all of this, they're just three losses or 731 00:37:50,440 --> 00:37:52,840 Speaker 1: they still have a three loss advantage over the Kings 732 00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:55,200 Speaker 1: with like eleven games left or whatever, so they're still 733 00:37:55,200 --> 00:37:58,600 Speaker 1: in pretty solid shape, right, But like I don't necessarily 734 00:37:58,600 --> 00:38:01,319 Speaker 1: buy that as an excuse. Is particularly because of what 735 00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:04,960 Speaker 1: Denver needs. Denver has personnel shortcomings when it comes to 736 00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:10,600 Speaker 1: rebounding in defense. That's just a fact. So they need 737 00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:15,000 Speaker 1: to be extremely sharp on the details to get enough 738 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:17,480 Speaker 1: stops and to secure enough for rebounds to win in 739 00:38:17,520 --> 00:38:21,520 Speaker 1: the playoffs. So details do matter for them. Habits do 740 00:38:21,640 --> 00:38:25,640 Speaker 1: matter for them, and them not being sharp going into 741 00:38:25,680 --> 00:38:28,719 Speaker 1: the postseason is a very bad omen for them. So 742 00:38:28,880 --> 00:38:31,640 Speaker 1: I would be I'm going to be paying very close 743 00:38:31,640 --> 00:38:34,040 Speaker 1: attention to Denver here down the stretch, just to see 744 00:38:34,040 --> 00:38:37,080 Speaker 1: if they can get sharp in time to be ready 745 00:38:37,080 --> 00:38:39,360 Speaker 1: for that playoff run. All right, guys, it's all I 746 00:38:39,360 --> 00:38:41,320 Speaker 1: have for tonight. We're taking another day off tomorrow. That 747 00:38:41,400 --> 00:38:43,120 Speaker 1: the NBA schedule is a little weird here around the 748 00:38:43,239 --> 00:38:44,920 Speaker 1: NC Double A tournament. They don't have a lot of 749 00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:48,680 Speaker 1: nationally televised games. It's a lot of lesser matchups. But 750 00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:50,759 Speaker 1: if things pick up again during the middle of the week, 751 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:53,120 Speaker 1: So these these next two weekends are a little weird. 752 00:38:53,760 --> 00:38:55,400 Speaker 1: But we're taking tomorrow off. We're gonna be doing a 753 00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:58,759 Speaker 1: show on Tuesday morning. That covers Monday nights games, and 754 00:38:58,800 --> 00:39:01,480 Speaker 1: then we're gonna be working Wednesday night, I believe, after 755 00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:04,480 Speaker 1: the final buzzure of Suns Lakers. So uh see you 756 00:39:04,560 --> 00:39:16,120 Speaker 1: guys on Tuesday. As always, I appreciate your support. The 757 00:39:16,200 --> 00:39:16,640 Speaker 1: volume