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Happy Tuesday, everybody. 28 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: I hope all of you guys are having a great 29 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 1: week so far. We are live on amps so if 30 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: you're watching on YouTube, we're listening on our podcast feeds. 31 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 1: Don't forget that AMPU is the very first place that 32 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 1: you guys can get these shows. Continuing our Power rankings 33 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 1: today with number ten the Oklahoma City Thunder who are 34 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 1: very interesting on their own accord, before we even get 35 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: to the fact that Chen Holmgren's coming back this year, 36 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 1: and just so you guys know, over the weekend, we 37 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 1: are now less than a month away from the kickoff 38 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: of Or I should say, the tip off of the 39 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 1: NBA season we are today is what September twenty sixth 40 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:22,399 Speaker 1: and October twenty fourth is our season opener. The Denver 41 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 1: Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers will get things kicked off, 42 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: So I'm starting to get super excited for that. But 43 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 1: we're gonna talk, okay, see today a good long season 44 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: preview on them, and then I've got three or four 45 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 1: mail back questions for the end of the show as well. 46 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 1: You guys are the job. Before we get started, subscribe 47 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,359 Speaker 1: to our YouTube channel. Don't forget about follow me on 48 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 1: Twitter at Underscore Jason LT and our podcast feeds wherever 49 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 1: you get your podcast under Hoops Tonight. And I need 50 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:45,959 Speaker 1: mailbag questions. We're gonna continue to do those at the 51 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:47,679 Speaker 1: end of these shows in perpetuities, so don't forget to 52 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: drop mailback questions in the YouTube comments. All right, let's 53 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: talk some basketball so quick, little off season recap. Not 54 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: much roster turnover for the Thunder. They did lose Darios 55 00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:59,919 Speaker 1: Rich to the Warriors and free agency. He was basically 56 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: their backup five last year. They did get Davis Beharton's 57 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 1: in a trade. He shot a fifty eight percent EFFECTI 58 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:08,799 Speaker 1: field goal percentage on catch and shoot jump shots last 59 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: year sixty five percent when he was unguarded. In general, 60 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: was deadly in spot up situations one point four to 61 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: four points per possession, which is like off the charge. Good. 62 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:20,519 Speaker 1: But he barely played only eleven minutes per game last year, 63 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: and forty five games only logged eighty two spot up possessions. 64 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 1: My guess is that he probably won't play much. We'll see, 65 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:30,119 Speaker 1: but it's very possible that he ends up getting moved 66 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 1: at some point. I'm curious to see what they decided 67 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 1: to do to him. But technically he's on the Thunders 68 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: roster right now. Vacilla Jay and I'm sorry if I'm 69 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: butchering the pronunciation there, but Vasilla Jay meat Chitch signs 70 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: for three years and twenty four million dollars. Played overseas 71 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 1: last year and was amazing. He's a big guard. He's 72 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: about six foot five, moves pretty well laterally. He's not 73 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: a great like vertical athlete, but he moves pretty well laterally. 74 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: He's got a good quick first step. He was one 75 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 1: point two to one points per possession in pick and 76 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: roll last year. Just a ridiculou lessly deadly pull up three, 77 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: particularly from three, but he can do it from everywhere 78 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: on the floor. But he just whenever he sees a 79 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: spot when a dude ducks under a pick or gets 80 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: caught on a pick, he can rise in, fire out 81 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 1: to like twenty five twenty six feet and hit it 82 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: pretty consistently. He was fifty three point four percent in 83 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 1: effective field goal percentage on pull up jump shots overall 84 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 1: last year, and most importantly, when he gets downhill and 85 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: pick and roll, he's got a gift for engaging the 86 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,599 Speaker 1: screen defender, baiting them to come further out. Because of 87 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 1: his willingness to shoot not just the three, but also 88 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: pull up jump shots in the mid range and floaters 89 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 1: and things along those lines, he could pull the screen 90 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,359 Speaker 1: defender out, which then unlocks his best skill, which is 91 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:41,600 Speaker 1: his passing ability. He was an excellent passer and pick 92 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: and roll last year, great at making the skip pass 93 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: of the weeks side corner, hitting the roll man. He's 94 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 1: just a super skilled shot creator and I think he's 95 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: going to be an interesting addition off the bench for Okase. 96 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 1: He was forty one percent on all jump shots overall, 97 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 1: fifty eight percent waited for threes, and sixty two percent 98 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 1: at the rim, which is excellent for guard. I just 99 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 1: look at him as basically like a shorter version of 100 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 1: Josh Giddy, who's a better jump shooter. Is kind of 101 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 1: the way that I look at it. But I think 102 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: he's gonna be an interesting guy to come off the 103 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:14,559 Speaker 1: bench and continue to be the next in a long 104 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,720 Speaker 1: line of skilled shot creators on this OKC team. They 105 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 1: also drafted Cason Wallace out of Kentucky, Big guard, six 106 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 1: foot two, strong, long arms. I think he's got about 107 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: a six to eight wingspan, good athlete with like real 108 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 1: downhill power when he starts attacking the rim. He can 109 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: actually get by people pretty easily. Good shooters well, fifty 110 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: four percent effective field goal percentage on catch and shoot 111 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: jump shots, forty seven percent on pull up jump shots, 112 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 1: and he has the potential to be an excellent defender. 113 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 1: I'm not as high on him as everyone else. I 114 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: think he really struggles with screen navigation right now, but 115 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: I think it's mostly an effort thing. When I watch him, 116 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: he just kind of seems willing to die into screens 117 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 1: or get into a trailing position. I think he's got 118 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 1: the athletic tools and the strength to be an excellent 119 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 1: screen navigator, so I think in the long run he 120 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: could be a really interesting option there. But this is 121 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: a team that's deep at guard, so I'm not sure 122 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: he's gonna play much to start. But again, in this 123 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 1: particular situation with the Thunder, they're just stacking assets, stacking 124 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 1: young talented basketball players, so they could pick the ones 125 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: that actually make sense with them in their long term 126 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 1: vision and trade the ones that aren't a fit into 127 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: that vision for potentially the veteran star that could come 128 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: into the picture. Right, because as we look at this roster, 129 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: it's all kids in their twenties, right, You're guys like 130 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,719 Speaker 1: Victor Oladipo who are on the roster. I mean that, 131 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:32,719 Speaker 1: like I doubt he ever actually plays for the Thunder, 132 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,599 Speaker 1: that he's not going to be a veteran presence necessarily, right, 133 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 1: So it's like, you're not this is a young team, 134 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 1: and so in the long run, having all these assets 135 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 1: could be the vehicle with which you get veteran presences 136 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 1: that are needed, specifically a role player, because I don't 137 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 1: think this team needs any more shot creation necessarily. But 138 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 1: looking at the depth chart at guard, they have shake Gil, 139 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: just Alexander Trey, mann, Isaiah Joe Mitschich. Like we mentioned earlier, 140 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 1: Cassan Wallace at four, Josh Gitty, lou Dort, Jalen Williams, 141 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: Kenrich Williams, Aaron Wiggins, and Jeremiah Robinson Earl. That's a 142 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: pretty ridiculously deep core of forwards. And then Bigs Chet Holmgren, 143 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: Alexei Pokoschewski, Jalen Williams, and Uzman Dang. That's a lot 144 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: of really good basketball players and it's gonna be really 145 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 1: interesting to see how they kind of piece together the rotation. 146 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: Starting lineup with Chet coming back should be Shay, Josh Gitty, 147 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: Lou Dort, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. That's potentially a 148 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 1: lineup that could be the best lineup in basketball within 149 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: the next five years. That is a really, really exciting 150 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: group of young players. So there's two different ways that 151 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: I think that the Thunder are going to make a 152 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: leap this year. Because obviously I have them very high. 153 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: I have them up at tenth. So I'm saying that 154 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: I believe the Thunder a top ten team in this league. 155 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: And this is a team that was very firmly in 156 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: the middle of the pack last year. So what am 157 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 1: I saying is going to justify that leap a couple 158 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: of different things. Specifically, is this already is an existing 159 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: group that is on the rise before we even get 160 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: to Chet Holmgren. Right, Like Shake Giojess Alexander is a 161 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: bona fide superstar, Josh Gatty is a serious weapon as 162 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 1: a number two. Not only did he average seventeen eight 163 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: and six last year, but he had thirty one points, 164 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: nine rebounds, and ten assists in that play in victory 165 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: against the Pelicans. I watched that game in its entirety 166 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: again this morning. He was awesome. And then Jalen Williams 167 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: is coming off of super impressive rookie campaign. I think 168 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: he has the potential to be a better version of 169 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: Jalen Brown, who's got more of like a versatile shot 170 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: creation package and a better passer, much better. He's already 171 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 1: a better passer than Jalen Brown. So, like, I'm really 172 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,439 Speaker 1: excited about Jalen Williams in the long run as well. 173 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: This is a team that can get so much better 174 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 1: even just looking at that specific core. And then you 175 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: throw in Chet, who specifically addresses some very specific weaknesses 176 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: on this team, right, like, this is a team that 177 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 1: did not protect the rim well last year. This is 178 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 1: a team that did not rebound well last year. And 179 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: so not only is chet Holmgren another super exciting young 180 00:08:56,440 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 1: player as like a folkrum there, he's also specific addressing 181 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 1: a need. And as good as Jaylen Williams was last 182 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 1: year playing off playing basically as they're starting five for 183 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 1: the second half of the season, like he struggled in 184 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 1: pick and pop situations, he struggled as a role man. 185 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 1: That's something I expect Chet to be good at right away. 186 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:18,679 Speaker 1: And so it's not just the exciting young group and 187 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: the improved continuity and them getting better as they are 188 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 1: as just as all young players do year by year 189 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 1: in their experience in the NBA. It's also adding a 190 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:32,680 Speaker 1: super talented young player that specifically addresses a need. And 191 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: so I'm really really excited to dive into that a 192 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 1: little bit deeper on both ends of the floor. But 193 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 1: I don't think people are even prepared for how good 194 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: Chet Holmgren is going to be. I think he's gone 195 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 1: under the radar a little bit, not just because he 196 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:45,319 Speaker 1: missed the year last year, but because of all the 197 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: hype surrounding Victor Wembinyama, and like, don't get me wrong, 198 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: Victor wemen Yama is a better prospect. He deserves to be, 199 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: and in the long run he should be a better player. 200 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 1: But right now, Chet's actually significantly more polished from the perimeter, 201 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 1: significantly more polished Webnyama is, and so I think he's 202 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: actually gonna provide a lot of what Victor can right away, 203 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: but be a much better perimeter player, which I think 204 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:08,560 Speaker 1: is going to be super exciting. But we'll talk about 205 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 1: that more later. So let's get to the offensive end 206 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,839 Speaker 1: of the four. So the Thunder primarily set up in 207 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 1: five out spacing, and the reason why they're able to 208 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: do that is they've got skilled big men, right like 209 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 1: Jaylen Williams and Alexi Pokashevski and Dario Sarch last year 210 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:25,679 Speaker 1: were all capable at least willing to take three point shots, right. 211 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 1: Some of them made it more than others, but they 212 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: were willing to take those shots, and so that allowed 213 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 1: them to set up in that five out spacing. This year, 214 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 1: it's gonna be the exact same kind of arrangement. You're 215 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 1: just gonna basically swap out Dariosarge for Cheded Holmgren. And 216 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: then properly slot Jaalen Williams where he should be, which 217 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:42,959 Speaker 1: is as a backup five right. But it's the same 218 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,199 Speaker 1: kind of setup, and the reason why five out spacing 219 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 1: matters is it's just much harder rotations to make. So 220 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 1: imagine a four out one in spacing system where in 221 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: any sort of ISO situation, my big man's in the 222 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: dunker spot. If I beat somebody off the dribble, or 223 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: I post up and try to make them move aggressively 224 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 1: towards the basket, it's a really easy rotation for the 225 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 1: rim protector to make because he's basically just gonna let's 226 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: say that his man is in the dunker spot, He's 227 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 1: gonna situate himself close enough that the ref won't call 228 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: defense of three seconds, but close but still be in 229 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,199 Speaker 1: the paint where he can help, right, Or even if 230 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: that dunker stands, you know, in the short corner, he 231 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 1: can still have like one foot in the paint and 232 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 1: just kind of step in and out. It's a really 233 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 1: easy rotation for him to make at the rim. And 234 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 1: then same thing for pick and roll. In a pick 235 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:32,080 Speaker 1: and roll situation, if you have a non shooting five, 236 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:34,839 Speaker 1: you can run no roller behind coverage, meaning like you 237 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: can actually continue to back up into the paint and 238 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 1: not have to worry about the rollman popping to the 239 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 1: three point line where he can cause problems. You can 240 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 1: drop back and handle the rollman and the ball handler 241 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 1: coming towards you. Right. So in a five out spacing system, 242 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 1: you make that rotation infinitely harder, right because in pick 243 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: and roll coverages, now you've got Jalen Williams or in 244 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 1: this case Chet Holmgren popping to the three point line, 245 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 1: and now as the role man, you have to account 246 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,719 Speaker 1: for the fact that he can score there. Now, jay 247 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: Lynn Williams actually struggled in picking pop situations last year, 248 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 1: did not play super well there. Chet Holmgren's gonna be 249 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:12,960 Speaker 1: much much better there. So it's gonna be an even 250 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 1: bigger problem for defenses this season. But as the screen defender, 251 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: you have to be prepared for on the throwback pass 252 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 1: to the popping big you have to close out, which 253 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 1: is a really difficult rotation to make. Right. Or let's 254 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,680 Speaker 1: just say, in any sort of ISO situation, if I've 255 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 1: got a shooting five, let's say, for instance, like a 256 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 1: play that the thunder run a lot, so a lot 257 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: of times they'll have they'll have their big man started 258 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:41,319 Speaker 1: above the break at the top of the key. So 259 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: let's say Chet Holmgren's there, right, and they'll do a 260 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: back cut with SGA. So a lot of times they'll 261 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 1: use SGA as like a decoy to set up a 262 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 1: dribble handoff. So like SGA will like throw the entry 263 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: pass to the top of the key to the big 264 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 1: man and like fake like he's gonna go for a 265 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: dribble handoff, but then he'll just cut back door and 266 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 1: he'll go through to the other side, and then they'll 267 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 1: like flow into a dribble handoff out of the corner 268 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: for like Jalen Williams or something like that. Right, But 269 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 1: let's say Shae gets by his man in the back 270 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: cut and Chet throws the pass and hits Shay on 271 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 1: the drop on the back cut towards the basket. Where's 272 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:16,199 Speaker 1: the rotation? Right? In a excuse me, in a four 273 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:18,360 Speaker 1: out one end system, if you beat somebody on a 274 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 1: back cut and the rim protector's there, it's an easy rotation, right. 275 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: The rim protector's just waiting. Maybe you make the drop 276 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 1: off pass to the dunker spot. But we've seen a 277 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 1: lot in the playoffs, in particular, guys in the dunker spot, 278 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: it's easy for them to get to for the rim 279 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,079 Speaker 1: protector to recover, right. Like we'd see you know, Jared 280 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: Allen sitting in the dunker spot and Mitchell Robinson be 281 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:39,840 Speaker 1: able to stunt up at Evan Mobley but still get 282 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: back to contest Jared Allen. Or we'd see the Lakers. 283 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 1: That would happen a lot with Jared Vanderbilt, Like he 284 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: cut into the dunker spot and he'd catch there and 285 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: the guy would be able to step up to help, 286 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:50,320 Speaker 1: but then still recover back to Jared Vanderbilt. It's just 287 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 1: an easier rotation to make, especially for an elite rim protector. 288 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:56,840 Speaker 1: But in a five out system, if SGA beats his 289 00:13:56,920 --> 00:14:00,200 Speaker 1: man on the cut and you know chet Holme and 290 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 1: throws that bounce pass, that rotation's got to come all 291 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 1: the way out of the weak side corner. Now that's 292 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,319 Speaker 1: an extremely difficult rotation to make. SHA's probably going to 293 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 1: get a layup, right, And if he doesn't get a layup, 294 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:15,320 Speaker 1: it's you're in a five out spacing system, right, So 295 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 1: even if he does rotate over and stop SHA from 296 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 1: making the layup, he's gonna have easy kickouts to shooters 297 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 1: on the weak side and so and like, literally, instead 298 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: of a rim protector being able to step up to 299 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 1: contain SGA and then stunt back to stop the dunker spot, 300 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: he's not gonna be able to contest that and then 301 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 1: close all the way out to the weak side corner. 302 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: So again, five out spacing requires you to have a 303 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: skilled big man, a guy that's capable of knocking down shots, 304 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 1: and not only that, but capable of making plays off 305 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: the dribble. But if you can set up that way, 306 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 1: it provides many, many more issues for the defense, right. 307 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 1: And like we've seen five out lead to advantages even 308 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 1: for teams that don't have shooting bigs, right, like Golden 309 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: State runs primarily a five out offense. And now again 310 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: we've seen elite defen has caused them problems by sagging 311 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 1: and top locking, right, But for the most part, five 312 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: out spacing is going to provide better opportunities for your 313 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: perimeter players to get downhill. That just fundamentally is the 314 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 1: best way that they to set up an offense in 315 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 1: the modern NBA. And that's you know, kind of why 316 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: I love this Oklahoma City Thunder team so much like 317 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: they have one of my favorite young players in the 318 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: league and Shay Gilles Alexander, they have one of my 319 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: favorite young draft prospects in the league and Chat Holmgren. 320 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: They've got all these other young players that are super 321 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: fun and exciting to watch. They've got a coach, Mark Dagenol, 322 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 1: who does a really nice job. But also they play 323 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: a modern brand of basketball that I really really like, 324 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: not just on the offensive end of the floor, but 325 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 1: on the defensive end of the floor as well. But again, 326 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: like that, when you combine that spacing setup with guys 327 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: like Shay that can get downhill so well, with guys 328 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 1: like Jalen Williams that can get downhill so well, with 329 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 1: big guards like Josh Giddy that can punish players inside, 330 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: like you end up scoring in the paint a ton 331 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 1: And they were fifth in restricted area makes per game 332 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: in the entire NBA in seventh and overall points in 333 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 1: the paint per game, So I think that was a 334 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: positive fallout from their spacing setup. But everything starts with 335 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: shake gil As Alexander, like he's just a bonafide superstar. 336 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 1: He was fourth in the league in scoring last year, 337 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: averaged thirty one points per game sixty three percent through shooting, 338 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: which is just obnoxiously good. But most importantly, he excels 339 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: at a brand of basketball that you need to reach 340 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 1: the highest levels of the game of basketball. Right Like 341 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 1: SGA is not an analytics guru, Like I'm gonna take 342 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 1: the most efficient shots, and we're gonna squeeze out the 343 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: best point per possession rating and in all these situations 344 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 1: and maximize regular season potency. He plays basketball in a 345 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: way that succeeds in the NBA postseason. He does take 346 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: shots that are not necessarily analytically sound, right Like an 347 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 1: SGA pull up jump shot last year was only worth 348 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: about one point zero two points per possession, right, which 349 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: seems low because he's taking a lot of pull up twos, 350 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 1: But the reality is is like he can get to 351 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 1: that shot whenever he needs to, even in a situation 352 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: where things get super congested in the paint, where the 353 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:06,040 Speaker 1: ref starts swallowing their whistles and letting go a lot 354 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: of a lot of contact and fouling. Right, like his 355 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 1: points per possession is resilient, it's postseason resilient. By by 356 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 1: thriving in the methodical half court setting, he can be 357 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 1: a great crunch time player, and he can be a 358 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:22,879 Speaker 1: great playoff player. And I don't think it was a 359 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 1: coincidence that in his first massively important elimination game as 360 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 1: a as the solo star, as the main star on 361 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 1: a team. Obviously he had his reps in the past. 362 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 1: I think he at that one playoff series with with 363 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:39,719 Speaker 1: Chris Paul in the bubble, right, But like when when 364 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 1: you look specifically at his first real big, you know, 365 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 1: high stakes playoff game in the first round of the 366 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 1: of the playing tournament, he was incredible and down the 367 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:52,359 Speaker 1: stretch of the game was creating high quality shots all 368 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 1: over the floor right and ended up hitting basically the 369 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 1: game winner, that crazy one like fade away going along 370 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 1: the left lane line, right. So, like, that's the exciting 371 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,159 Speaker 1: part is it's not just that you have a superstar. 372 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 1: You have a superstar whose game is specifically built to 373 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: thrive in the NBA postseason. And that to me, if 374 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,160 Speaker 1: you're a basketball fan and you're rooting for a team, 375 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 1: that's like the one thing you absolutely have to have 376 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 1: to have any chance to win. And SGA is that guy, 377 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:24,880 Speaker 1: And so that's your starting point, that's your primary entry point, right, 378 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:27,639 Speaker 1: Like that's the guy that can consistently get the defense 379 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 1: into rotation, and from there, they're just a devastating drive 380 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: and kick team because everybody on the floor knows how 381 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 1: to cut, knows how to relocate off the ball, knows 382 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:39,879 Speaker 1: how to attack a close out, knows how to attack 383 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: the offensive glass. They're just an extremely difficult team to guard. 384 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 1: It's funny because, like watching the Thunder is a surreal 385 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:51,119 Speaker 1: experience because they're super young, right, They're this super young 386 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 1: basketball team. All their core players are in their twenties, 387 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: and yet when you watch them, it's like watching a 388 00:18:57,359 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 1: veteran team. Even their older play, even their excuse me, 389 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: even they're younger players, guys like Jaylen Williams and Josh Giddy, 390 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: they play like veteran players, you know. Like even Jaylen 391 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 1: Williams as a young big man in this league, Like 392 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: you watch him in a high stakes environment and he 393 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 1: just isn't gonna do anything stupid, Like he's just gonna 394 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 1: play within his role and limit mistakes and do his job. 395 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,120 Speaker 1: And that's like a cultural thing from the top down 396 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:26,920 Speaker 1: in the roster, Like this is not the Houston Rockets 397 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 1: from last year or the Detroit Pistons, and some of 398 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:31,560 Speaker 1: these other young teams where it's like it just feels 399 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:34,040 Speaker 1: like no one really knows how to play basketball at 400 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 1: like a veteran level. Right, Like, this is a young 401 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: team with the personality and execution and habits that you'd 402 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 1: expect to see from a veteran team. And that's what 403 00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:46,719 Speaker 1: makes him such a devastating half court offense in these big, 404 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 1: like slow down environments, right because like you're just SGA 405 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 1: is either gonna be able to call for a ball 406 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: screen and get a blitz which is gonna open up 407 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: a four on three and you're gonna get some sort 408 00:19:57,600 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: of wide open shot out of it, or in single 409 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 1: he's capable of executing and getting to spots on the 410 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 1: floor where he knows he can make shots at a 411 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 1: high percentage, and and it just makes them really really 412 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 1: difficult to guard. But they have tons of secondary shot creation, obviously, 413 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 1: Josh Giddy, as we mentioned earlier, the incredible thirty one 414 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:18,119 Speaker 1: to nine to ten in the In that first playing 415 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: game against the Pelicans, Jalen Williams was up over a 416 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 1: point per possession in all play types. Last year, Jalen 417 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 1: Williams converted ISOs at one point one to two points 418 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 1: per possession. Last year, there were seventy two players in 419 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:31,679 Speaker 1: the NBA who averaged or excuse me, who logged at 420 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: least one hundred ISOs last year. Jalen Williams ranked seventh 421 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:37,880 Speaker 1: out of those seventy two players with his one point 422 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:39,880 Speaker 1: one to two points per possession. Like, as far as 423 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: young rookies go, he's one of the more exciting ones, 424 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 1: and he's obviously going to experience significant leaps in the 425 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 1: coming years now, the biggest weak point in the offense 426 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:50,680 Speaker 1: last year was their spot up shooting. As good as 427 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 1: their spacing principles were, they just had a lot of 428 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 1: guys who struggled to make shots like Lou Dort, Jalen 429 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 1: Williams and Josh Gitty and I'm talking about jay Len 430 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:02,679 Speaker 1: Williams and Josh Gitty were all below a point per 431 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:05,399 Speaker 1: possession in spot up situations last year. Even Shay is 432 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:07,119 Speaker 1: good of a pull up jump shooter is as he is, 433 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 1: he's not a good catch and shoot player. He was 434 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 1: only twenty eight percent from the field on catch and 435 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,439 Speaker 1: shoot jump shots last year. As a team, the Thunder 436 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: were twenty six then spot up efficiency, so they were 437 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 1: bottom five in converting spot up possesions. Last year, that 438 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:22,439 Speaker 1: was the big thing that held them back on the 439 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 1: offensive end of the floor. Now, I think a couple 440 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 1: of things will help here a lot with their spot 441 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 1: up shooting. One, continuity, you have guys like Josh Kitty, 442 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 1: Jalen Williams, Sga. These are all guys that are accustomed 443 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: to having the basketball in their hands a lot, right, 444 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:40,400 Speaker 1: And so I'm not surprised the guys like Jalen Williams 445 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,919 Speaker 1: and Josh Kitty struggled a little bit in spot up 446 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:45,879 Speaker 1: situations because they're just not used to having to do 447 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 1: that a lot on the basketball floor, right. So, and 448 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: even Sga, like you give the ball to Josh Kitty 449 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: or Jalen Williams and let them go to work. He's 450 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 1: not used to having to take a lot of catch 451 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:57,679 Speaker 1: and shoot jump shots, so he only took fifty all season, right. So, 452 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 1: Like at a certain point like these all three of 453 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: them will get more and more comfortable playing with each other, 454 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 1: understanding where their off ball opportunities are and how to 455 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:11,200 Speaker 1: capitalize on them. So I think continuity will help, because yeah, 456 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: I think that's basically the first year that all three 457 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: of those guys have played together, and then the Chet 458 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 1: Holmgern thing. He's just a massive upgrade on both ends 459 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 1: of the floor and it's just gonna make things a 460 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 1: lot easier. Like Jaylynn Williams the center, he was really 461 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:29,160 Speaker 1: good in catch and shoot situations, in spot up situations, 462 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:31,680 Speaker 1: but when he was picking and popping, he struggled to 463 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 1: knock down shots. He was just six for twenty one 464 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:37,119 Speaker 1: on the season knocking down shots. He was good in 465 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:39,480 Speaker 1: the short role, like he would catch on those blitzes 466 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:43,040 Speaker 1: from SGA and he would make good reads to shooters, 467 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 1: but he really struggled finishing at the basket. So like 468 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:48,679 Speaker 1: as good as Jalen Williams was in certain areas, he 469 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:52,359 Speaker 1: had some pretty glaring weaknesses. Like I expect Chet to 470 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 1: thrive in those situations. I expect Chet to be a 471 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:57,639 Speaker 1: great pick and pop player. I expect Chet to be 472 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:00,920 Speaker 1: a really good short role player as well. He's gonna 473 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 1: actually provide vertical spacing, a legit gravity in rollman possessions 474 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:09,639 Speaker 1: where he can actually roll to the rim and be 475 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:12,200 Speaker 1: a vertical spacer. That's not a thing that this team 476 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:13,800 Speaker 1: has had, and that's not a thing that SGA has 477 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:15,960 Speaker 1: been able to play with right and then he's also 478 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 1: gonna have the ability to capitalize on switches and things 479 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 1: along those lines, which Jalen Williams couldn't do. So I 480 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:24,680 Speaker 1: think I think Chet's just gonna be a much much 481 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:27,480 Speaker 1: better player. And that's not an insult to Jalen Williams. 482 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: He did his job. He filled in as a center 483 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 1: with the injury, but like that's where he should be. 484 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 1: He should be off the bench. He's a very good 485 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:36,399 Speaker 1: bench player to have on this particular team at the 486 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: center position. But when you add in the improved spacing 487 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: with Chet Holmgren, and not only that but his improved 488 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:47,040 Speaker 1: playmaking in the short role, I actually think you're just 489 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 1: gonna get higher quality spot up reps. So when you 490 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:54,359 Speaker 1: factor in better spot up opportunities and more continuity for 491 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 1: the guys learning how to capitalize on him, I expect 492 00:23:57,080 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 1: them to be a much much better spot up team 493 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 1: next year. So I mean, when you kind of put 494 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:06,240 Speaker 1: all that together, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised 495 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 1: if OKC ended up being a top ten offense next year. 496 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 1: I predict them to finish in that eight to twelve area, 497 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 1: like right around the tenth best offense in the league. Now, 498 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:18,920 Speaker 1: looking at the defensive end is actually a super interesting 499 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:21,640 Speaker 1: experience with this Thunder team because they were really good 500 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 1: in some areas and really struggled in others. Right, They 501 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:28,160 Speaker 1: finished thirteenth in defensive rating, which is confusing because they 502 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: were an average paint defense, They were a bottom ten 503 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:35,600 Speaker 1: three point defense, They were the third worst defensive rebounding 504 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:39,000 Speaker 1: team in the league, and they fouled a ton. So like, 505 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 1: how did they manage a decent defensive rating thirteenth in 506 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 1: the league despite being not great at any of those 507 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 1: core areas. And it really just comes down to they 508 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 1: never ever turned the ball over, right, They they're the 509 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:56,720 Speaker 1: fourth best team in the league at taking care of 510 00:24:56,720 --> 00:24:59,400 Speaker 1: the ball. That prevents their defense from having to deal 511 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 1: with those trains opportunities, Right, Like, every time you turn 512 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:06,119 Speaker 1: the ball over, it's a high percentage possession going the 513 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:09,040 Speaker 1: other way. By taking care of the basketball, you prevent 514 00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:13,160 Speaker 1: those opportunities. Right. In fact, they allowed a transition possession 515 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:18,320 Speaker 1: on just thirteen point five percent of their defensive possessions. 516 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 1: That was the best in the entire league according to 517 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:24,240 Speaker 1: Cleaning the Glass. So taking care of the basketball and 518 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:28,680 Speaker 1: avoiding those catastrophic defensive possessions where you're just giving away 519 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 1: a two on one, three on one, fast break dunk 520 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:34,359 Speaker 1: or wide open three. That helps a lot. And then 521 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 1: the second part of it is they forced to turn 522 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 1: the turnovers. Opponents averaged sixteen point three turnovers per one 523 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 1: hundred possessions against the Thunder, which was the second best 524 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:45,680 Speaker 1: mark in the NBA, second only to the Toronto Raptors. 525 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:48,240 Speaker 1: And that comes down to their aggressive point of attack defense. 526 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:50,720 Speaker 1: This is the strength of their defense is the point 527 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:52,760 Speaker 1: of attack. Lou Dort is one of the very best 528 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:55,960 Speaker 1: perimeter defenders in the league. Shake Gildas Alexander is a 529 00:25:56,080 --> 00:26:00,439 Speaker 1: very impactful perimeter defender, is very disruptive. He's constantly reaching 530 00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:02,919 Speaker 1: in with his long arms and getting deflections and knocking 531 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:05,240 Speaker 1: the ball away. He was actually tenth in the entire 532 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 1: league in stocks last year steals plus blocks, which is 533 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:13,480 Speaker 1: insane because that's a stat that's typically dominated by long, 534 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:16,920 Speaker 1: athletic wings and rim protectors, right. But nope, Sga is 535 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:19,439 Speaker 1: right there in the mix because he's super disruptive at 536 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 1: the point of attack. So think of it like this, 537 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:24,919 Speaker 1: if you force a ton of turnovers, meaning you cause 538 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:28,119 Speaker 1: in this case, sixteen and a half possessions a game 539 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:30,560 Speaker 1: where the other team doesn't even get a shot on 540 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 1: the basket and you keep them out of transition, you 541 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:37,960 Speaker 1: can be a good defense even when you struggle in 542 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:40,600 Speaker 1: other areas. And I think that's the perfect example of that. 543 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: You finished thirteenth in defensive rating despite not protecting the 544 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:46,040 Speaker 1: paint well, despite not protecting the three point line well, 545 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:49,359 Speaker 1: despite not rebounding well, and despite fouling a lot, And 546 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:51,680 Speaker 1: it's literally just goes to show you like you can 547 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 1: target specific areas and be elite at specific things and 548 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 1: cover for that. And them dominating the transition attack through 549 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 1: forcing turnof and taking care of the basketball allowed them 550 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:08,520 Speaker 1: to be a moderately successful defense. But again, like chat Holmgren, 551 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 1: is what makes this super super exciting because you've got 552 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 1: this elite point of attack defense in my opinion, right 553 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,359 Speaker 1: like between SGA and Loudort, you're gonna be able to 554 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:20,320 Speaker 1: cause serious problems for perimeter players at the point of attack, 555 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 1: but you've had no rim protection behind you, and you've 556 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 1: never been able to end defensive possessions with a rebound. 557 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:30,640 Speaker 1: Like here's how important rebounding is for this team. According 558 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 1: to cleaning the glass on half court defensive possessions in 559 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:41,359 Speaker 1: terms of actually forcing misses. The Thunder were the fourth 560 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:44,199 Speaker 1: best half court defense in the league last year in 561 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:47,399 Speaker 1: terms of actually forcing misses, and we count calculate that 562 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:51,080 Speaker 1: by points per play rather than points per possession. But 563 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 1: they gave up an offensive rebound on thirty percent of 564 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:58,679 Speaker 1: those half court possessions. So when you're giving them an 565 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 1: extra chance one out of every three times, that's gonna 566 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:03,720 Speaker 1: hurt your defense. And that's what it ended up happening. 567 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,680 Speaker 1: So again, like they actually were a really good half 568 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:13,800 Speaker 1: court defense, they just couldn't secure defensive rebounds, right And 569 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 1: so like when you look at that specific situation, that's 570 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 1: where it gets exciting to add chet Holmger into the mix, 571 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 1: because this is a team that forces a ton of turnovers. 572 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 1: This is a team that can be impactful at the 573 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 1: point of attack. Now, this is a team that can 574 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:29,000 Speaker 1: protect the rim. Now, this is a team that can 575 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:33,080 Speaker 1: secure defensive rebounds. Chet Holmgren is that type of athlete 576 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:36,119 Speaker 1: at the center position, and that I think is gonna 577 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 1: push them way up in what their defensive potential could be. 578 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:41,640 Speaker 1: I actually think this team is gonna finish right around 579 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:45,360 Speaker 1: tenth and defense as well, and Again, if you're a 580 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 1: right around the tenth best offense and right around the 581 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:49,960 Speaker 1: tenth best defense in the league, you're gonna win a 582 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 1: lot of games. And I think this Thunder team is 583 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:53,280 Speaker 1: gonna win a lot of games. I think they're gonna 584 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 1: win probably around fifty games, which is a lot in 585 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:59,320 Speaker 1: the Western Conference. I think they're gonna have home court 586 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 1: advantage in the first trout of the playoffs. I thin 587 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:02,640 Speaker 1: they're gonna be a top four seed, and I think 588 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:04,600 Speaker 1: they're gonna be a royal pain in the ass when 589 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:06,360 Speaker 1: they get there. And I wouldn't be the least bit 590 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 1: surprised if they knocked out a team or two along 591 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:12,240 Speaker 1: the way. Don't be the least bit surprised if you 592 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:14,600 Speaker 1: see kind of similar to what the Thunder did in 593 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 1: twenty eleven. Just start beating teams that you're not expecting 594 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 1: them to beat like that is the type of potential 595 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 1: that I think this team has. I'm super super excited 596 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:26,280 Speaker 1: to watch them this year. They're only gonna be on 597 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 1: national TV thirteen times, which I think is a mistake 598 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:32,040 Speaker 1: because not only do they have super exciting young players 599 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:34,240 Speaker 1: to watch, but they're just gonna be good. They're going 600 00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:36,440 Speaker 1: to be good that Like. Of all of the things 601 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 1: that we're going to see this year, one of the 602 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:42,800 Speaker 1: ones that I feel most confident about is that if 603 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 1: the Thunder are healthy, they are going to be a 604 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 1: top four seed in the West. I just I think 605 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 1: this team is incredibly talented. I think they're led by 606 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:53,200 Speaker 1: the right kind of star. They are adding a very 607 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:56,960 Speaker 1: specific player that addresses all of their weaknesses, and they've 608 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,600 Speaker 1: got young players that are gonna take leaps. Watch out 609 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:01,200 Speaker 1: for the Thunder this year, man, I think they're gonna 610 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 1: be incredibly good. All right, let's move forward to the mailbag. So, 611 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:08,960 Speaker 1: first mail back question, how much does being involved in 612 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 1: an injury change how you play? Things that come to 613 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:15,040 Speaker 1: mind is charge setting, blindside screens, undercutting on closeouts, mid 614 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 1: air contests. Thinking about the player that made the impact 615 00:30:18,360 --> 00:30:21,360 Speaker 1: on Nick Chubb. I'm sure there is some internal warfare 616 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 1: anytime a player performs those things on a court after 617 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:26,560 Speaker 1: they were involved in an injury. Do players continue to 618 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 1: close out as hard, set as many screens, take as 619 00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:33,120 Speaker 1: many charges, et cetera. So good question. I can only 620 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 1: speak from my personal experience. Uh, but I had a 621 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:42,040 Speaker 1: broken foot my sophomore year of college and It happened 622 00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:44,760 Speaker 1: during the off season, and I was still recovering from 623 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:48,080 Speaker 1: it when I came into the season, and the big 624 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:51,160 Speaker 1: thing that stood out to me personally was not trusting 625 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:55,360 Speaker 1: planting hard or exploding on it. Like when you see 626 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:57,479 Speaker 1: it's it's funny. As a basketball player, you see these 627 00:30:57,520 --> 00:31:02,360 Speaker 1: opportunities arise right like you'll you'll be working on a 628 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 1: close out or working and pick and roll and you'll 629 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:07,760 Speaker 1: see an opportunity, like a lane will open up, and 630 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 1: if you're an athlete, you'll think, like, oh, I can 631 00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:12,880 Speaker 1: shoot that gap, and like that was one of my 632 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:16,080 Speaker 1: strengths when I was playing, was like I was good athlete. 633 00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:18,160 Speaker 1: I was a good size, and I could jump and 634 00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:20,360 Speaker 1: I can move a quick first step right. So like 635 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:22,760 Speaker 1: if I saw an opening, I'd shoot that gap right. 636 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:26,920 Speaker 1: And that is an example of a play that requires 637 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:30,120 Speaker 1: when you when you really like try to hit the jets, 638 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:32,680 Speaker 1: so to speak, into those tight space environments, you have 639 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 1: to trust that you can explode, meaning like you have 640 00:31:36,680 --> 00:31:38,360 Speaker 1: to plant hard. Let's say I need to do a 641 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:41,240 Speaker 1: left right takeoff, so I need to plant my left 642 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:44,160 Speaker 1: foot hard, swing that right foot around and plant it 643 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:47,120 Speaker 1: hard and elevate off the ground. And like I didn't 644 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:50,160 Speaker 1: trust my foot, and that was the main issue, is 645 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 1: like I just was very passive and tentative. And it 646 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:57,360 Speaker 1: wasn't even just in those specific situations attacking the like 647 00:31:57,440 --> 00:31:59,920 Speaker 1: any sort of lane that would open up, I'd also 648 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,240 Speaker 1: it would also be in rebounding situations, like a like 649 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 1: a highly contested rebound where I know I need to 650 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:07,800 Speaker 1: elevate in traffic, like maybe I don't jump for it right, 651 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:10,960 Speaker 1: or a tougher defensive rotation or something along those lines. 652 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,959 Speaker 1: Like there was a trust phase that was after the 653 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:16,040 Speaker 1: recovery phase, and that's what I remember, is like it 654 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:19,280 Speaker 1: was like I got hurt, I rested, you know, walked 655 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:21,479 Speaker 1: around in a walking boot for two months, and then 656 00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:23,640 Speaker 1: when I got to campus, I started to rehabbing get 657 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:26,520 Speaker 1: back into shape, and like then there was like this 658 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:30,960 Speaker 1: phase where I was more or less back, but I 659 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:34,080 Speaker 1: wasn't playing well. And it's funny because in this particular 660 00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:36,880 Speaker 1: season that I'm referencing, in non conference play at the 661 00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:39,600 Speaker 1: start of the season, I really struggled and at one 662 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:41,520 Speaker 1: point I actually got pulled out of the starting lineup 663 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:43,920 Speaker 1: for two games to like teach me a lesson, so 664 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:46,720 Speaker 1: to speak, about not competing enough on the offensive glass 665 00:32:46,840 --> 00:32:48,800 Speaker 1: or on the on just on the glass in general 666 00:32:48,840 --> 00:32:50,800 Speaker 1: as a rebounder. By the way, my coach was right 667 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:52,800 Speaker 1: to do that. I was not rebounding well at the time. 668 00:32:53,240 --> 00:32:56,840 Speaker 1: But then like right around the end of that semester 669 00:32:57,520 --> 00:33:01,600 Speaker 1: going into the spring, like something clicked and suddenly I 670 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:05,560 Speaker 1: trusted myself again and to really plant that footthard and 671 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:09,360 Speaker 1: then I was able to make those explosive moves again. 672 00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:11,640 Speaker 1: And then suddenly, like I rebounded really well. I was 673 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:15,200 Speaker 1: I think third in my conference and rebounding that during 674 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:17,800 Speaker 1: conference play and ended up making an All conference team. 675 00:33:18,040 --> 00:33:19,760 Speaker 1: I played much better in the springtime, and it was 676 00:33:19,800 --> 00:33:23,800 Speaker 1: because like I regained that trust in my athleticism, and like, 677 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:26,040 Speaker 1: you know, it's funny because that's like in general, what 678 00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 1: it's like aging with the game is. And I'm not 679 00:33:28,320 --> 00:33:30,600 Speaker 1: that old. I'm only thirty two, but like as a 680 00:33:30,600 --> 00:33:34,080 Speaker 1: thirty two year old playing now, I'm still not quite 681 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:36,160 Speaker 1: the athlete I was when I was in college. But 682 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:38,440 Speaker 1: I'm still a good athlete. But like I'm just super 683 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:41,240 Speaker 1: picky about it. But it's not even about not trusting 684 00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 1: my body. It's about just not wanting to take the 685 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:46,880 Speaker 1: risk and it's more like as a thirty two year 686 00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:51,480 Speaker 1: old whose profession is not basketball, like my profession or 687 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:54,640 Speaker 1: shouldn't say basketball, but not playing basketball, right, Like, my 688 00:33:54,680 --> 00:33:58,480 Speaker 1: profession is outside of that, And I have other passions, right, 689 00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:01,440 Speaker 1: Like I love to be active with my wife, and 690 00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:05,000 Speaker 1: we love to travel, and I love to you know, ski. 691 00:34:05,080 --> 00:34:06,840 Speaker 1: I'm getting ready to go into ski season, right, so, 692 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:08,680 Speaker 1: like I have these other priorities, and so like a 693 00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:12,359 Speaker 1: serious injury is not something I'm interested in messing around with, right, 694 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:15,600 Speaker 1: so I won't push it. So to speak to the 695 00:34:15,640 --> 00:34:18,560 Speaker 1: same extent that I used to, like most recently, on Sunday, 696 00:34:18,560 --> 00:34:21,359 Speaker 1: I played in a game, or on Saturday, I played 697 00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:23,719 Speaker 1: in a game with like a group of players that 698 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:27,000 Speaker 1: I play with that we scrimmage club teams in jucos 699 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:29,919 Speaker 1: around the state of Arizona. It's just like a way 700 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:33,279 Speaker 1: that I just find the higher level competition every once 701 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:35,719 Speaker 1: in a while coming out of Tucson. And I was 702 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:38,600 Speaker 1: playing on Saturday and my achilles was causing me some 703 00:34:38,640 --> 00:34:41,480 Speaker 1: like significant soreness, and I started to feel some soreness 704 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:43,680 Speaker 1: on Thursday, and like, I'm just I don't want to 705 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:45,400 Speaker 1: risk that, Like it's just not worth it to me. 706 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:48,439 Speaker 1: So I literally skipped my game yesterday for my men's league, 707 00:34:48,480 --> 00:34:49,759 Speaker 1: and like, I'm not gonna play today and I'm not 708 00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:51,759 Speaker 1: gonna play tomorrow. I'm gonna take some time off because 709 00:34:51,760 --> 00:34:53,400 Speaker 1: it's just not worth it for me at this phase 710 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:56,240 Speaker 1: of my life to push through and I'm not trying 711 00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:58,920 Speaker 1: to play professionally or anything, right, And so that same 712 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:03,360 Speaker 1: ideology stems into everything, like I won't put my body 713 00:35:03,400 --> 00:35:05,600 Speaker 1: on the line as much as I used to. And 714 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:08,239 Speaker 1: that's the thing. When you're younger, you feel invincible and 715 00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:11,200 Speaker 1: you do put your body on the line all the time. 716 00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:13,920 Speaker 1: But I think everybody kind of goes through a phase 717 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:15,520 Speaker 1: in their thirties where they just kind of start to 718 00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:18,080 Speaker 1: be more picky about it. But as far as injuries go, 719 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:20,600 Speaker 1: I think that's like the big thing I learned from 720 00:35:20,640 --> 00:35:24,000 Speaker 1: that broken foot. And it's just like there's phases. There's 721 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:28,440 Speaker 1: the healing process, there's like the rehab and reconditioning process. 722 00:35:28,520 --> 00:35:31,319 Speaker 1: Then there's like the mental process. It's getting over the 723 00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:34,480 Speaker 1: mental hurdles that you build over the course of that injury. 724 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:37,120 Speaker 1: All right, next mail back question. If you had the 725 00:35:37,239 --> 00:35:40,920 Speaker 1: power of the NBA commissioner, what would you change specific 726 00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:44,440 Speaker 1: or would you change anything specific in the NBA. So 727 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:47,360 Speaker 1: I put three things down just as quick. Ideas, I 728 00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:49,880 Speaker 1: shortened the seasonto sixty six games. I've talked about this before, 729 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:53,319 Speaker 1: but like whatever gate revenue you lose by losing twenty 730 00:35:53,320 --> 00:35:55,560 Speaker 1: percent of the games, I think in the long run 731 00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:59,880 Speaker 1: you would make up through improved urgency, improved star performance. 732 00:36:00,080 --> 00:36:03,200 Speaker 1: Those two participation I should say, by having your stars 733 00:36:03,239 --> 00:36:05,960 Speaker 1: playing way more of the games, By having each of 734 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:09,120 Speaker 1: those games matter twenty percent more in the long run, 735 00:36:09,160 --> 00:36:11,239 Speaker 1: I think you'd recoup that lost revenue. The league will 736 00:36:11,239 --> 00:36:13,440 Speaker 1: never do it, but that's what I would do. Secondly, 737 00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:15,319 Speaker 1: I'd change the way the game is officiated. I think 738 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:20,360 Speaker 1: there's an obsession with trying to avoid the overly ugly 739 00:36:20,520 --> 00:36:23,600 Speaker 1: physical rock fight games of the late nineties and early 740 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:26,880 Speaker 1: two thousands. That's kind of like the direction the league 741 00:36:26,880 --> 00:36:28,879 Speaker 1: went right with the way they were officiating is trying 742 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:32,000 Speaker 1: to avoid that. But I don't think that would happen 743 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:34,040 Speaker 1: if you changed the way the game was officiating. By 744 00:36:34,080 --> 00:36:36,040 Speaker 1: the way, when I say that, I mean like basically 745 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:37,759 Speaker 1: give the benefit of the doubt to the defender is 746 00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:39,319 Speaker 1: what I would do. I would make it so that 747 00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:42,560 Speaker 1: like if a dude does some janky non basketball move 748 00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:45,560 Speaker 1: and tries to draw out, don't give it to him. 749 00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:48,000 Speaker 1: If a guy flops, don't give it to him. If 750 00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:50,600 Speaker 1: a guy is maybe fouled on a jump shot, like, 751 00:36:50,680 --> 00:36:52,759 Speaker 1: don't call it unless you're one hundred percent certain. Like 752 00:36:52,840 --> 00:36:55,520 Speaker 1: just I would be way, way, way more deferential to 753 00:36:55,560 --> 00:36:58,319 Speaker 1: the defense with officiating, And I don't think it would 754 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:01,600 Speaker 1: ruin the product because the spacing in general is so 755 00:37:01,680 --> 00:37:04,320 Speaker 1: much better and the overall skill level on the floor 756 00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:06,040 Speaker 1: is so much better. I think it would just look 757 00:37:06,080 --> 00:37:08,279 Speaker 1: like playoff basketball in the regular season, which is a 758 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:12,279 Speaker 1: very very entertaining television product. So I would change the 759 00:37:12,280 --> 00:37:14,480 Speaker 1: way the game is officiating more more in favor of 760 00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:17,359 Speaker 1: the defense. And lastly, I would change the salary cap 761 00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:20,120 Speaker 1: rules to protect teams that draft well. So I think 762 00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:25,359 Speaker 1: it's ridiculous if you're a team like like uh, Oklahoma City, 763 00:37:25,400 --> 00:37:29,839 Speaker 1: for instance, and you draft all these guys and it 764 00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:31,919 Speaker 1: comes it comes time to pay them and you can't 765 00:37:32,280 --> 00:37:33,920 Speaker 1: because of the salary cap, and then you end up 766 00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:36,360 Speaker 1: having to pick and choose which guys you want to 767 00:37:36,360 --> 00:37:39,360 Speaker 1: actually retain. Right Like, to me, that doesn't make any sense. 768 00:37:39,600 --> 00:37:42,279 Speaker 1: Like the Orlando Magic could run into this problem soon, 769 00:37:42,360 --> 00:37:44,600 Speaker 1: Like what if you need to pay everybody and then 770 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:46,480 Speaker 1: all of a sudden you have to let Markel Folts go? 771 00:37:46,600 --> 00:37:49,120 Speaker 1: Like that doesn't that That's not fair in my opinion. 772 00:37:49,120 --> 00:37:51,120 Speaker 1: And so the way that I'd structure it is like, 773 00:37:51,160 --> 00:37:53,359 Speaker 1: because every team has a combination of both, right, Like 774 00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:56,520 Speaker 1: the Magic have Markel Folts who they have obtained in 775 00:37:56,560 --> 00:37:59,560 Speaker 1: a trade, but then they have Franz Wagner and Pala 776 00:37:59,560 --> 00:38:02,239 Speaker 1: Boncarra that they got through the draft. Right, So like, 777 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:06,200 Speaker 1: at what point do you kind of like change the 778 00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:09,160 Speaker 1: rules based on how you obtained the player. And That's 779 00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:10,680 Speaker 1: what I would do is I'd make it so that 780 00:38:11,080 --> 00:38:16,120 Speaker 1: if you are paying salary tax penalties, I'd structure the 781 00:38:16,239 --> 00:38:18,759 Speaker 1: entire process so that you only pay those penalties on 782 00:38:18,800 --> 00:38:21,560 Speaker 1: players obtained through free agency and trades. Because at the 783 00:38:21,640 --> 00:38:24,080 Speaker 1: very least, you should have the ability to sign or 784 00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:28,760 Speaker 1: extend a homegrown player that you've obtained through the draft 785 00:38:29,080 --> 00:38:31,359 Speaker 1: to a long term deal and not have to worry 786 00:38:31,400 --> 00:38:35,160 Speaker 1: about paying absurd luxury tax penalties just because your scouting 787 00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:37,360 Speaker 1: department is better than the team down the road. I 788 00:38:37,360 --> 00:38:39,279 Speaker 1: don't think that's fair, especially when you look at the 789 00:38:39,920 --> 00:38:42,279 Speaker 1: realities of first round draft picks and how many of 790 00:38:42,280 --> 00:38:45,360 Speaker 1: them actually pan out, and the answer is pretty small. 791 00:38:45,760 --> 00:38:48,320 Speaker 1: And so like, if you do strike gold three times, 792 00:38:48,360 --> 00:38:50,520 Speaker 1: like that sucks that you might have to lose a 793 00:38:50,520 --> 00:38:53,000 Speaker 1: player as a result of that. So that's something that 794 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:56,239 Speaker 1: I'd like to see them address as well. Two more, 795 00:38:58,040 --> 00:38:59,799 Speaker 1: a lot of people say that Kyrie Irving is the 796 00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:02,279 Speaker 1: most skilled player in the NBA. What do you say 797 00:39:02,320 --> 00:39:04,160 Speaker 1: to this? I tend to disagree because I think Steph 798 00:39:04,200 --> 00:39:06,360 Speaker 1: Curry is the most skilled player in the league. Kyrie 799 00:39:06,440 --> 00:39:08,000 Speaker 1: might have the best handle, but there have been other 800 00:39:08,120 --> 00:39:10,880 Speaker 1: ball handlers at least comparable to him in history. However, 801 00:39:10,880 --> 00:39:12,760 Speaker 1: no one can even touch Curry in terms of volume, 802 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:14,520 Speaker 1: pull up three point shooting, plus he might have the 803 00:39:14,520 --> 00:39:16,680 Speaker 1: top might have a top three handle in the league. Thoughts. 804 00:39:17,160 --> 00:39:19,040 Speaker 1: Good question. I've talked about this before, so I'll just 805 00:39:19,080 --> 00:39:21,239 Speaker 1: give like a really short version of it. But to me, 806 00:39:21,280 --> 00:39:23,840 Speaker 1: it's like separating the skill set from the realities of 807 00:39:23,840 --> 00:39:26,920 Speaker 1: what makes a good basketball player. So if you include 808 00:39:26,920 --> 00:39:31,400 Speaker 1: things like the willingness and ability to play off the ball, conditioning, 809 00:39:31,640 --> 00:39:35,719 Speaker 1: competitiveness on defense, defensive instincts, things like that as skills, 810 00:39:35,840 --> 00:39:38,600 Speaker 1: so to speak, then yeah, I think Steph is a 811 00:39:38,640 --> 00:39:42,640 Speaker 1: more skilled player than Kyrie. But if I simplify skill 812 00:39:42,719 --> 00:39:45,920 Speaker 1: down to strictly shooting touch from every spot on the floor, 813 00:39:45,960 --> 00:39:50,839 Speaker 1: including at the raymen, off jump shots, footwork in and 814 00:39:50,840 --> 00:39:53,560 Speaker 1: out of specific moves and counter moves, and the handle 815 00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:57,319 Speaker 1: to make all those moves and counter moves, if I 816 00:39:57,400 --> 00:40:01,560 Speaker 1: oversimplify the game to just that move passing, off ball 817 00:40:01,680 --> 00:40:04,160 Speaker 1: play every other thing out of the equation, then I 818 00:40:04,160 --> 00:40:08,200 Speaker 1: do think Kyrie's combination of shooting, touch, footwork, rim finishing, 819 00:40:09,920 --> 00:40:12,200 Speaker 1: sheer arsenal of moves and counter moves is the best 820 00:40:12,200 --> 00:40:14,640 Speaker 1: in the NBA. Maybe ever, like that's that's how much 821 00:40:14,719 --> 00:40:18,279 Speaker 1: I think Kyrie has that stuff polished out. But like 822 00:40:18,440 --> 00:40:21,520 Speaker 1: it's just a silly conversation to my opinion, because Steph 823 00:40:21,600 --> 00:40:24,520 Speaker 1: is just a much much better basketball player. He is 824 00:40:24,560 --> 00:40:26,680 Speaker 1: willing to work off the ball and does so at 825 00:40:26,719 --> 00:40:29,600 Speaker 1: an extremely high level that helps him generate easier offense. Right. 826 00:40:31,360 --> 00:40:33,680 Speaker 1: His willingness to work off the ball makes him less repetitive. So, 827 00:40:33,719 --> 00:40:36,920 Speaker 1: like Kyrie, Irving is gonna attack in very similar ways often, 828 00:40:36,960 --> 00:40:39,440 Speaker 1: and if you are guarding him with a live dribble 829 00:40:39,440 --> 00:40:41,399 Speaker 1: from the perimeter every single time, like you're just gonna 830 00:40:41,440 --> 00:40:42,920 Speaker 1: kind of figure out how to get in front of 831 00:40:42,920 --> 00:40:45,200 Speaker 1: some of his moves, right, But like, Steph is gonna 832 00:40:45,239 --> 00:40:47,040 Speaker 1: always be moving off the ball, and if he does 833 00:40:47,080 --> 00:40:48,440 Speaker 1: go to pick and roll, it's gonna at the end 834 00:40:48,440 --> 00:40:49,879 Speaker 1: of the game when he needs to, and it's gonna 835 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:51,399 Speaker 1: catch you off guard and you're not gonna be ready 836 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:53,160 Speaker 1: for those moves. And I think that's a big part 837 00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:55,640 Speaker 1: of why he's so successful when he gets later into 838 00:40:55,680 --> 00:40:58,560 Speaker 1: the postseason, right, and then Steph is also a better defender, 839 00:40:58,680 --> 00:41:01,600 Speaker 1: a better rebounder, a better leader. He's just a better 840 00:41:01,640 --> 00:41:05,160 Speaker 1: basketball player. And so like, yeah, when we say, like 841 00:41:05,239 --> 00:41:07,120 Speaker 1: who's the most skilled player of all time, it all 842 00:41:07,160 --> 00:41:09,600 Speaker 1: depends on how you define skill. And yes, if we 843 00:41:09,719 --> 00:41:14,040 Speaker 1: narrow down skills specifically to ball handling, shooting, footwork, then yeah, 844 00:41:14,040 --> 00:41:15,759 Speaker 1: I would say that Kyrie is the most skilled player 845 00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:18,120 Speaker 1: in the NBA. But he's not close as a basketball 846 00:41:18,120 --> 00:41:21,919 Speaker 1: player to Steph. He's a far better player on both 847 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:26,120 Speaker 1: ends of the floor, including on the offensive end, and 848 00:41:26,160 --> 00:41:27,640 Speaker 1: that's why he's won so much in his career. I 849 00:41:27,640 --> 00:41:31,880 Speaker 1: don't think that's a coincidence. All right, last question, what 850 00:41:31,920 --> 00:41:34,239 Speaker 1: do you think will happen with Dame? Doesn't seem like 851 00:41:34,280 --> 00:41:37,120 Speaker 1: Portland is interested in trading him into Miami. So the 852 00:41:37,360 --> 00:41:39,960 Speaker 1: latest intel is that Toronto's getting in on the equation. 853 00:41:40,760 --> 00:41:42,480 Speaker 1: And I don't want to say it's off the table, 854 00:41:42,560 --> 00:41:45,000 Speaker 1: because one, I'm not a super connected guy. It's not 855 00:41:45,080 --> 00:41:48,520 Speaker 1: something I'm really interested in. I'm more of an analyst, right, 856 00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:51,880 Speaker 1: I'm not, you know, constantly having phone conversations with gms 857 00:41:51,920 --> 00:41:54,480 Speaker 1: and trying to get behind the scenes intel. Right, So 858 00:41:54,600 --> 00:41:57,200 Speaker 1: like I don't speak I can't speak to the to 859 00:41:57,280 --> 00:42:01,520 Speaker 1: the personalities involved. Right. And if here's the reality, If 860 00:42:01,560 --> 00:42:05,040 Speaker 1: Portland is vindictive enough to send Miami away from Miami, there, 861 00:42:05,280 --> 00:42:07,920 Speaker 1: excuse me, send Dame somewhere other than Miami. And if 862 00:42:07,960 --> 00:42:11,920 Speaker 1: Toronto is as aggressive as they were during the Kawhi situation, 863 00:42:12,080 --> 00:42:15,160 Speaker 1: then yeah, like Dame might end up being a Toronto raft. 864 00:42:16,120 --> 00:42:19,239 Speaker 1: But two things. One, I don't understand why Toronto would 865 00:42:19,239 --> 00:42:22,120 Speaker 1: even do that. Like how good is Toronto really? Like 866 00:42:22,160 --> 00:42:24,040 Speaker 1: I didn't even have them in my top twenty teams 867 00:42:24,080 --> 00:42:26,720 Speaker 1: this year. They have arguably the worst backcourt in the NBA. 868 00:42:28,840 --> 00:42:32,279 Speaker 1: Like if I slot Dame into the starting lineup even 869 00:42:32,320 --> 00:42:34,799 Speaker 1: in a vacuum, Like, let's just pretend Toronto doesn't even 870 00:42:34,800 --> 00:42:38,360 Speaker 1: have to send players back like is Dame Ogan Andobi 871 00:42:38,480 --> 00:42:42,120 Speaker 1: Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes and Yaka Perl Are they are 872 00:42:42,120 --> 00:42:45,319 Speaker 1: they winning the championship? Like? I don't think so. Like 873 00:42:45,360 --> 00:42:48,719 Speaker 1: I think they instantly become like a fringe contender, But 874 00:42:48,760 --> 00:42:52,040 Speaker 1: they're not winning the championship. It's not like the Rafters 875 00:42:52,120 --> 00:42:55,480 Speaker 1: in twenty eighteen, who were if I remember correctly, they 876 00:42:55,520 --> 00:42:57,799 Speaker 1: won fifty nine games or something like that, and we're 877 00:42:57,880 --> 00:43:00,600 Speaker 1: the number one seed in the East and like or 878 00:43:00,719 --> 00:43:04,520 Speaker 1: just flat out like literally just a better version of 879 00:43:04,520 --> 00:43:07,640 Speaker 1: Demarta Rosen away from being a championship team. And so yeah, 880 00:43:07,680 --> 00:43:12,600 Speaker 1: they swapped Danny Green and Demarta Rosan out and or 881 00:43:12,640 --> 00:43:16,280 Speaker 1: excuse me, swapped Demarta Rosan out right in the deal 882 00:43:17,320 --> 00:43:20,480 Speaker 1: they had Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green and suddenly like 883 00:43:20,960 --> 00:43:23,239 Speaker 1: they are the best team in the league and demonstrate 884 00:43:23,280 --> 00:43:25,640 Speaker 1: that on the court. Right, But like that team actually 885 00:43:25,640 --> 00:43:27,880 Speaker 1: made a lot more sense in terms of how close 886 00:43:27,920 --> 00:43:30,600 Speaker 1: they were, how wide open the league was at that point. 887 00:43:30,960 --> 00:43:33,799 Speaker 1: Obviously with when you get to the postseason, Well, I guess, 888 00:43:33,920 --> 00:43:36,200 Speaker 1: I guess technically it's not true because the Warriors were 889 00:43:36,200 --> 00:43:39,120 Speaker 1: still put together. I get Yeah, I guess that's a 890 00:43:39,160 --> 00:43:41,879 Speaker 1: good point, like the Raptors were technically taking an even 891 00:43:41,880 --> 00:43:44,640 Speaker 1: bigger risk when you factor in how dangerous the Warriors 892 00:43:44,680 --> 00:43:46,920 Speaker 1: were at that point. But I do think in general, 893 00:43:47,040 --> 00:43:50,640 Speaker 1: taking a fifty nine win team and swapping a superstar 894 00:43:51,520 --> 00:43:54,440 Speaker 1: or a star like in Demarta Rosen for a superstar 895 00:43:54,480 --> 00:43:58,960 Speaker 1: in Kawhi Leonard is just a much more straightforward process 896 00:43:59,040 --> 00:44:03,320 Speaker 1: than We're maybe not even a playoff team, and we'd 897 00:44:03,360 --> 00:44:05,160 Speaker 1: have to give up one of our core players to 898 00:44:05,160 --> 00:44:07,719 Speaker 1: get Dame anyway, Like, let's say you just give up 899 00:44:07,719 --> 00:44:11,799 Speaker 1: ogn and obi Is, which is the structure of the deal, 900 00:44:11,840 --> 00:44:13,839 Speaker 1: that the only structure of the deal that makes any 901 00:44:13,840 --> 00:44:17,120 Speaker 1: sense for the Raptors. Let's say you just give away 902 00:44:17,160 --> 00:44:20,760 Speaker 1: Ojan and obi Is, Damian Lillard and Gary Trent Junior 903 00:44:21,360 --> 00:44:24,400 Speaker 1: with Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes and Yakapera winning the title. 904 00:44:24,480 --> 00:44:27,120 Speaker 1: I don't think so so Like I don't really understand 905 00:44:27,200 --> 00:44:31,160 Speaker 1: that specific rumor. I continue to think, like I've thought 906 00:44:31,160 --> 00:44:34,959 Speaker 1: all summer, that Portland cannot do this to Dame. They 907 00:44:35,280 --> 00:44:36,839 Speaker 1: I do believe they owe it to him to send 908 00:44:36,880 --> 00:44:38,399 Speaker 1: him to Miami. I know so many of you guys 909 00:44:38,440 --> 00:44:40,120 Speaker 1: disagree with me, and we don't need to get into 910 00:44:40,120 --> 00:44:43,200 Speaker 1: that again today. But like I do believe that they're 911 00:44:43,200 --> 00:44:45,160 Speaker 1: eventually gonna send him to Miami, and this is all 912 00:44:45,280 --> 00:44:48,080 Speaker 1: just a leverage campaign to get the most possible return, 913 00:44:48,120 --> 00:44:50,600 Speaker 1: which I'm totally okay with, even as ugly as it 914 00:44:50,640 --> 00:44:53,440 Speaker 1: all looks in the big in the big picture. Right, 915 00:44:53,520 --> 00:44:56,760 Speaker 1: So my guess is, I mean today's Tuesday. My guess 916 00:44:56,800 --> 00:44:59,800 Speaker 1: is that we end up having this trade before before 917 00:44:59,840 --> 00:45:03,319 Speaker 1: some because of Media Day on that following Monday, and 918 00:45:03,880 --> 00:45:06,080 Speaker 1: teams wanting to kind of have their roster set going 919 00:45:06,120 --> 00:45:09,480 Speaker 1: into training camp. So my guess is this ends pretty soon. 920 00:45:09,880 --> 00:45:11,560 Speaker 1: And my guess is this ends with him in Miami, 921 00:45:11,600 --> 00:45:13,440 Speaker 1: but of course it's on the table that he ends 922 00:45:13,480 --> 00:45:15,400 Speaker 1: up in Toronto or somewhere else. All Right, guys, that 923 00:45:15,480 --> 00:45:17,160 Speaker 1: is all I have for today. As always, I sincerely 924 00:45:17,160 --> 00:45:19,359 Speaker 1: appreciate you guys for supporting the show. We will be 925 00:45:19,400 --> 00:45:45,360 Speaker 1: back tomorrow with number nine the volume