1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: The volume. The eighty two game preseason is in the books, 2 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: and now it's finally time for the real season. Don't 3 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: miss out on any of the NBA playoff action at 4 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 1: DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NBA. 5 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: From the play in tournament through the finals, DraftKings Sportsbook 6 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: has you covered with same game parlays, live betting odds, boosts, 7 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: and so much more. The Boston Celtics are currently the 8 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: favorite at plus one sixty, but the team that's third 9 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,599 Speaker 1: in my championship rankings the Dallas Mavericks. 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Happy Wednesday, everybody, oph All, if 28 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: you guys are having a great week so far, Just 29 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: gonna break down that highly entertaining matchup between the Miami 30 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: Heat and the Philadelphia seventy six ers. I will say 31 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: the playing tournament has certainly been fun. One of the 32 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: things that's kind of worked for it is good teams 33 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 1: keep falling into it for various reasons, usually either veteran 34 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: teams or teams that dealt with injuries, and so we 35 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 1: get to see super high stakes, super intense basketball games 36 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: in a one game sample, and it's living up to 37 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 1: the billing. That was a really really fun game. I 38 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: enjoyed watching that we're gonna break it down from the 39 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 1: perspective of both teams, talk briefly about what's next for 40 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: both teams, and then we'll get out of here for 41 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 1: the night. You guys know the Joe before we get started. 42 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:28,359 Speaker 1: Subscribe to a brand new YouTube channel so you don't 43 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: miss any more of our videos. Follow me on Twitter 44 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: at underscore json ltis. You guys, don't miss any show 45 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: announcements as well as the film threads that I do 46 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: from time to time. Don't forget about the podcast speed 47 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcast under Hoops tonight. And last 48 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 1: but not out least, keep dropping mail back questions in 49 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 1: the YouTube comments. I'm gonna be recording a mailbag episode tomorrow. 50 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: Also in case you missed it earlier today, we did 51 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: a almost an hour long preview of the Lakers Nuggets series, 52 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 1: so you guys, I had like twenty nine clips in 53 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 1: that one as well for a film session at the end, 54 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: so make sure you guys check it out a little 55 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:01,359 Speaker 1: bit further back on the feed. All right, let's talk 56 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: some basketball. So you know, it's funny every single time 57 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: a team runs into Miami, they always seem to be 58 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: caught flat footed just by the way that they play. 59 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: It actually reminds me a lot of Golden State right 60 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 1: around the time that they were at their peak there 61 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: in that twenty fifteen to twenty nineteen period there where 62 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 1: it's like they just play so differently than everybody else 63 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: in the league that when you run into them, it's 64 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 1: an adjustment to kind of get used to playing that 65 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: style of basketball. Now for Golden State, it's more on 66 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 1: the offensive event they kind of invented modern ball in 67 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: player movement, right, and there's just it's so weird to 68 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: guard an opposing star and have it be chasing them 69 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: non stop off of off ball screens and constantly having 70 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: to navigate all these complicated screening actions. And they there 71 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 1: for a while, the Warriors were throwing the most passes 72 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: in the league by a mile. It's just so you 73 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: go from teams that are running spread, pick and roll 74 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 1: and not as much ball and player movement, and all 75 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: of a sudden, like you into a playoff series against 76 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: Golden State, and in Game one, it's just a complete 77 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: landslide because you're just not ready to deal with the 78 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: style of play that they have. Right for Miami, it's 79 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: like that, but it's like on the defensive end of 80 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: the ball, right, Like Eric Spolster is the best defensive 81 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: tactician in the league. He's got his guys so incredibly 82 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: dialed in in all these specific details of their defense 83 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 1: that they can be really really difficult to just walk 84 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 1: in and play against. And it can take an adjustment period, 85 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 1: and I think you saw that in a big way 86 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: in the first half of that game. So, but Miami's 87 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 1: been a bottom ten offense all a year. That's been 88 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:37,280 Speaker 1: a pretty consistent issue. Then you kind of combine that 89 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 1: with Jimmy Butler tweaking his knee and like he was 90 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:42,919 Speaker 1: clearly really bothered. There was a turnover where I think 91 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:45,720 Speaker 1: Buddy it was either Butterhelder Kyle Lowry had a runout 92 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 1: and someone was running back. I think it was Tyler Harroll. 93 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,359 Speaker 1: But Jimmy Butler's trailing to play and he was taking 94 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,600 Speaker 1: these like slide steps while he was sprinting, and I'm like, oh, 95 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 1: that's not good because he doesn't even trust his knee 96 00:04:57,240 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: to like plant hard on it, to run, let alone, 97 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: to do anything useful. And so kind of descended down 98 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 1: into Tyler Harrow ball, and to Tyler Harrow's credit, I 99 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: want to shout him out, like he had a really 100 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 1: poor shooting night, but he just kept trusting his shot, 101 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 1: kept trusting his form, and he made some huge ones 102 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 1: late in the game to give the Heat a chance. 103 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 1: But the Miami offense is already somewhat limited, right, And 104 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: so the Sixers come out, they jump out to an 105 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 1: early lead by virtue of them just having more offensive talent, right. 106 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: And then right around there in the middle of the 107 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:29,919 Speaker 1: kind of like early that transition between the first and 108 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: second quarter, Eric Spolser does what he does often where 109 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: he goes as soon as bam Adebayo leaves the floor, 110 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 1: comes in with Kevin Love, and he goes to his 111 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 1: zone defense. And specifically, what they were doing in the 112 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: zone that was really bothering Philadelphia was they were constantly 113 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: denying the high post entry in the low post entry. Right. 114 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: So like in a two three zone, there's generally an 115 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: opening in the middle of the floor, and that's what 116 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: makes Miami zones different, Miami's zone different. I thought JJ 117 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: Reddick did a really good job of breaking down on 118 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 1: the broadcast how it's like kind of like a shape 119 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 1: shifting zone. And one of the things you'd specifically see 120 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: in terms of that shape shifting is there was always 121 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 1: somebody on EMBIID regardless of where the ball was on 122 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 1: the floor. So like, for instance, let's say that the 123 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:18,799 Speaker 1: ball was on the right wing as Embiid is flashing 124 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:22,839 Speaker 1: like he's being guarded by Kevin Love on the baseline 125 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: side right, and then as he flashes up, Kevin Love 126 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 1: follows him there, and then the guy on the opposite 127 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 1: wing would shoot down and deny, and then Kevin Love 128 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 1: would drop back. And then if the ball got swung across, 129 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 1: that guy would linger for a second and then they 130 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,479 Speaker 1: would just interchange and someone would deny, ball would go 131 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 1: to the corner and they would go back out, and 132 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:40,600 Speaker 1: then Kevin Love would step up and grab him, and 133 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: it would just be like there was constantly someone on 134 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 1: embiid and there were just jutting in from the sides 135 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 1: to deny that post entry or high post entry every 136 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: single time he flashed up to the floor. That basically 137 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: removed EMBIID from the equation. The other thing it did 138 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 1: is it forced some turnovers, because what would happen is 139 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:00,600 Speaker 1: there'd be an interchange, right, so like a guy would 140 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: be a guy would be on EMBIID and he would 141 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 1: close out and there'd be like this interchange, and in 142 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: that gap of the interchange, a player would throw a 143 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: pass and as a guy shooting in he would steal it. 144 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: And so they were picking up full court dropping back 145 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: into that zone, denying embiid the catches. No one wanted 146 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: to settle for the early three, which is the thought 147 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 1: of the shot that's mainly available in that zone, right, 148 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 1: And it just threw Philly for a loop, and next 149 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: thing you know, it goes from being a game that 150 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: Philly's in control of too a game that Miami is 151 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 1: very much in control that I think they went up 152 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: by as much as fourteen if I remember correctly. And 153 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: like on the shooting standpoint, one of the other main 154 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: ways that a zone will disrupt an offense is like 155 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: you're accustomed to shooting a certain way as a catch 156 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: and shoot player. Right. So for instance, generally speaking, when 157 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 1: the ball, when it's a simple ball reversal, your coach 158 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: will want you to run another ball, screen, run another action. 159 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: They want you to take threes, the great three that 160 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 1: you generate by virtue of dribble penetration. It's like an 161 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 1: inside out style of basketball. That's what coaches won right. 162 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: So when you're practicing, the majority of the shots you're 163 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: getting not just in practice but also in the game 164 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: over the course of the eighty two game regular season 165 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 1: in the NBA, the majority of the shots you're getting 166 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:13,119 Speaker 1: are like, oh, I as a big man, I picked 167 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: and popped to the top of the key. As a 168 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 1: weak side guy in the corner, they ran a ball screen, 169 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: my man tagged, and so now I'm open in the corner. 170 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: Or oh, they ran a ball screen, my man tagged, 171 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: they swung to me. A guy rotated from the wing. 172 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: I rotated to the up the floor, up to the wing. 173 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: That guy takes a shot. Right. You're accustomed to shooting 174 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: in a certain tempo and a certain rhythm and a 175 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: man de man defense, and then all of a sudden 176 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: against a zone, it's like I just caught a swing 177 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: pass and like I'm open for a second, but like 178 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: then they close out at me, and I feel like 179 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,560 Speaker 1: that's not a great shot. And so even when you 180 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: do shoot it, it's like a break rhythm situation. It 181 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,200 Speaker 1: just feels different than the types of shots that you 182 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: typically get. Right. But once again, something that I talk 183 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: about a lot on the show, like anytime you stick 184 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: with a look for a long time, people are gonna 185 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 1: figure it out. And so several things turned the game around, 186 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 1: starting with the zone. Nick Batoom obviously just having the 187 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 1: confidence to rise in fire and take those wing threes 188 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 1: in corner threes that the offense was generating to tyre smacks. 189 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: He finally realized that like, hey, I don't need to 190 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 1: pass out of this zone. I just have to beat 191 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 1: my man off the dribble. And if I beat my 192 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: man off the dribble, it effectively accomplishes the same thing 193 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: as me making that post entry to embiid because again, 194 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: the majority of the ways that you'll see his zone attacked, 195 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: especially at the lower levels like high school and college, 196 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:35,720 Speaker 1: the majority of the way you'll see his zone attacked 197 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: is guy flashes to the high post. Make the entry 198 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: forces the bottom guy in the zone to step up 199 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: and guard. As soon as he steps up in guards, 200 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: it basically creates a three on two on the baseline 201 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,079 Speaker 1: where the two shooters drop to the corners and then 202 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: the guy along the baseline kind of cuts under the 203 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 1: rim and usually you'll either be able to drop it 204 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: off to the guy under the basket or kick it 205 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: out for three. That's how you get the high quality 206 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,599 Speaker 1: threes against the zone. But you can accomplish more or 207 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,319 Speaker 1: less the same thing through dribble penetration. And I thought 208 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:03,319 Speaker 1: Tyrese Maxi, even though he had a rough shooting night, 209 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:05,839 Speaker 1: I thought he generated a lot of high quality shots 210 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 1: driving the zone. Another thing mb did, which I thought 211 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 1: was smart, is instead of constantly flashing low post, high 212 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 1: post to try to get those catches, he just said, 213 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:16,440 Speaker 1: screw it. I'm gonna stand at the three point line 214 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 1: right if they're gonna If they're not gonna let me 215 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 1: catch inside, I'm not just gonna sit here and be useless. 216 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go stand above the break and I'm gonna 217 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 1: knock down those threes when they come to me. And 218 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 1: he knocked down a couple of massive threes there in 219 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,959 Speaker 1: that second half, as as he got catches clean catches 220 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:35,559 Speaker 1: up at the top of the key, a couple other 221 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 1: key things. The Sixers, through a wrench early second half, 222 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 1: went with a lot of ball pressure of their own, 223 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: kind of changed the tempo, went some zone possessions of 224 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: their own to try to throw Miami out like again. 225 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:49,199 Speaker 1: In order for Miami to set up their zone, they 226 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: have to score. It's really hard to set up a 227 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 1: zone in a live ball situation. The vast majority of 228 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 1: teams will just drop back in demand amand like transition 229 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: defense principles, right sprint back, stop the ball, protect the rim, 230 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:02,320 Speaker 1: get matched up, just play basketball from there. That's what 231 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: most teams are gonna do when they don't score, right. So, 232 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:10,600 Speaker 1: by ball pressuring, getting stops, using their zone and ball 233 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: pressuring to get those stops and getting out going the 234 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 1: other way, they prevented Miami from getting to set up 235 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:18,559 Speaker 1: their zone as much. And between all those factors and 236 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 1: then the Jimmy Butler injury, it just kind of swung 237 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 1: the game back in Philly's favor and they were able 238 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 1: to regain control of the situation after being down significantly. 239 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 1: But too made a bunch of huge plays down the stretch, 240 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: not just the threes, but also he had that big 241 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: offensive rebound put back that where he was like kind 242 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:37,319 Speaker 1: of like sideways in mid air that was insane. Also 243 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: had a huge stop on Tyler Harrow. Joel Embiid was 244 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: dropping way back into the paint to protect the rim, 245 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 1: and one of the things that that did is it 246 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 1: left it so that Tyler Harrow was able to kind 247 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:50,839 Speaker 1: of get ball screens and get into drop coverage shots. Right. 248 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 1: Drop coverage shots are like if you get your man 249 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 1: caught off the screen and you come over the top 250 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: and he's chasing you over the top. If you get 251 00:11:56,920 --> 00:11:58,439 Speaker 1: a lot of separation, you can get to a pull 252 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 1: up three, you get a little bit of separate, you 253 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 1: can get downhill and take a floater or get to 254 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: something in the mid range there, right. And what that 255 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 1: does when you go into that deep drop coverage is 256 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 1: it puts a heavy emphasis on the point of attack 257 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: guy to get over the top and get rear view contests. 258 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:16,200 Speaker 1: And Nick Patum got a massive block on Tyler Harrow 259 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 1: on a shot that could have tied the game late. 260 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: Shout out to Nick Patum. I also want to shout 261 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 1: out Daryl Morey here. You know, I am genuinely impressed 262 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: by what he got back from the James Harden trade 263 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: in the sense that he got a useful player in 264 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:32,559 Speaker 1: Nick Patum. That obviously is helping you win a big game. 265 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 1: But in addition to that, they got draft compensation back. 266 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 1: And so one of the things that is kind of 267 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: optimistic about the situation with the Sixers is Yeah, they 268 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:42,719 Speaker 1: got their opportunity this year. We're going to talk a 269 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: little bit about the Knicks matchup. They because of the 270 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: way that the seeding kind of like played out. You know, 271 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 1: you've got an injured Bucks team and a six seed 272 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:53,679 Speaker 1: in the Pacers that they could potentially face in the 273 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: next round. Like there's a pathway here where they could 274 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 1: potentially get to the conference finals. But in addition to that, 275 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: they're really well positioned to this to try to make 276 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:03,199 Speaker 1: some sort of all in trade, like let's say, if 277 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 1: a Paul George becomes available or Brandon Ingram becomes available, 278 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: someone along those lines. They have the ability to step 279 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: in and make a move on something like that through 280 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 1: some of the return that they got from the James 281 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 1: Harden trade. You can't do better than real draft assets 282 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: and a useful player in a playoff setting. Nick with 283 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 1: Chum showed that today, just really confident in his shot, 284 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: a really quick compact release that he was able to 285 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: get off without much separation, and then obviously just activity 286 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: with his length and his athleticism on the offensive glass 287 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 1: light and then also on the ball against Tyler Harrell. Also, 288 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 1: I want to show to shout out Joel Embiid, Like 289 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 1: one of the reasons why I didn't have the Sixers 290 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 1: very high on my contenders list. As a matter of fact, 291 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 1: they didn't even crack my top ten. One of the 292 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 1: main reasons why is Embiide has his playoff limitations. Like 293 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: once again, with exception of those spot up threes, he 294 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 1: really struggled to knock down his mid range little face 295 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 1: up you know, whether it's a off the dribble or 296 00:13:57,679 --> 00:13:59,679 Speaker 1: kind of a jab step type of jumper. All those 297 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: jump in the midrange struggle to make him again. And 298 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 1: that's kind of like Ben the theme of Embiid's career 299 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 1: as he shoots like fifty percent of on him in 300 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 1: the regular season, then he gets to the postseason and 301 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:10,079 Speaker 1: he can't make him right. But I'm not going to 302 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:12,680 Speaker 1: really get on him about that because he's clearly coming 303 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 1: back from an injury. He's out of rhythm, he's not 304 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,960 Speaker 1: in physical condition right now. That's a big part of 305 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: why I wasn't very high on the Sixers coming into 306 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 1: this playoff run. In order for Joel Embiid to beat 307 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: the Knicks, to beat whoever comes out of that Pacers 308 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: Bucks series, and to beat that ridiculously good Celtics team. 309 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: They need the best version of Joel Embiid, the one 310 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: that breaks through and destroys all of his playoff demons 311 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: and is an alpha dog who runs rough shot through 312 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 1: the entire league, something that I genuinely believe will happen 313 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 1: one day. I think it's going to happen in the 314 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: next couple of years, but this specific circumstance, trying to 315 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: come back from an injury this late in the season, 316 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: doesn't feel like the time that that will happen. Maybe 317 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 1: he'll prove me wrong, but that's kind of my read 318 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: on the situation. That's it zooming in On this particular game, 319 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 1: I thought he was really impressive in the sense that 320 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: Miami completely took him out of his rhythm with the 321 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 1: zone off the zone defense right. In general, his touch 322 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: isn't there, his conditioning is not there, but he just 323 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: found a way to make plays down the stretch to 324 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 1: win the game. We talked about going away from trying 325 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: to catch at the high post in the zone, but 326 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:20,160 Speaker 1: spotting up above the break. Rim protection was a huge 327 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 1: story in this game. How many times did you see 328 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 1: a Miami Heat player challenge Joel Embiad at the rim 329 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: in this game and miss that huge offensive rebound late 330 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 1: where he got the put back in the and one 331 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 1: just finding a way to make key plays down the 332 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: stretch of the game to win, to get the win, 333 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: and like again, this was a huge win. To go 334 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: from facing that Boston team to facing this Knicks team 335 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 1: that has really one primary shot creator on the roster, 336 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: you give yourself a significantly better chance to get out 337 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 1: of the first round and potentially make a longer run which, 338 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 1: by the way, if you do beat the Knicks, you 339 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: have a longer runway for Joel Embiid to get his 340 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: legs underneath him. You know, if you end up facing 341 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: Boston in the conference finals and in the first round, 342 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: that month of reps could be the difference between an 343 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 1: MBAT who's capable of running over those guys in an 344 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 1: embid who's not. And so I thought that was a 345 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: big time performance from Joel did his team a huge 346 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 1: favor there down the stretch. Looking at the Knick series, 347 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 1: gonna be a fun one. Two really good defenses, two 348 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 1: really good guards Jalen Brunson and Tyres Maxi both went 349 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 1: up a big level this year. To me, it's gonna 350 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 1: come out, come down to Joel Embiid and whether or 351 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 1: not he can reach that superstar level. If he doesn't, 352 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: I think the Knicks are gonna win. We fortunately have 353 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 1: a good piece of film to look at from back 354 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: in January, right after the oj Anobi trade where the 355 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 1: Knicks had ojan Andobi and Philly had Embiid. I'm excited 356 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 1: to go and watch that film. Tomorrow morning. We're gonna 357 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: have a deep dive series preview for the Knicks versus 358 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 1: the seventy six ers that's going to come out tomorrow 359 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 1: on the Miami Front. Obviously we're gonna pick them regardless 360 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 1: of who wins this Bulls Hawks game. But that Jimmy 361 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: Butler injury does not look good and they desperately need him, 362 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 1: and that kind of worries me. And like, don't get 363 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 1: me wrong, like I trust Eric Spolstra. You know. Obviously, 364 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 1: Tyler Harrell showed me a lot tonight just in his 365 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: resiliency with a shot not following. There's a lot to 366 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: like about this particular team. I thought Hamy Hawkes, with 367 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:18,199 Speaker 1: exception to the stretch run where he had some mistakes, 368 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:21,160 Speaker 1: I thought Hamiy Hawks played really good basketball, a lot 369 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 1: of good but without Jimmy Butler. They just don't have 370 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:26,919 Speaker 1: the firepower. You're turning around two days from now for 371 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 1: that game, and then even if they do happen to 372 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:31,680 Speaker 1: win on Friday, they have to turn around and play 373 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:35,679 Speaker 1: again on Sunday. That's just a lot to ask. And 374 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,880 Speaker 1: I'm worried about Jimmy's ney again, Like there's bulky and 375 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:42,200 Speaker 1: in like kind of like sore, and then there's oh, 376 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 1: I need to sprint back and transition defense and I'm 377 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 1: doing a weird speedwalk slidestep and when I saw that, 378 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 1: I'm like, uh oh, something more significant is going on. 379 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 1: So hopefully that's not the case. Hopefully he's able to 380 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 1: get over it relatively quickly. I want to see Miami 381 00:17:56,680 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 1: versus Boston in the first round, because here's the thing. 382 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:02,919 Speaker 1: I can't go. If Miami loses on Friday and we 383 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: get Chicago or Atlanta against Boston, Boston's gonna beat the 384 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 1: shit out of them. And then they're gonna beat the 385 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: shit out whoever wins the Cavs Magic Series, and then 386 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 1: they're gonna literally go two rounds without facing a real team, 387 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 1: and then they'll run into somebody in the second or 388 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 1: in the conference finals. Who's been through back to back 389 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 1: blood bats in round one in round two now, to 390 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:26,120 Speaker 1: Boston's credit, that's the reward they get for being the 391 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 1: number one seed in the Eastern Conference. Some of this 392 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: also is just the reality of the Eastern Conference and 393 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 1: the fact that there are some limited teams in the 394 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 1: playoff field, which is just not the case in the West. 395 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:37,959 Speaker 1: But I'm hopeful that Miami can get the job done 396 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,840 Speaker 1: on Friday, and that Jimmy's in better shape than it appears, 397 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:43,639 Speaker 1: because at least Miami with Derek Spolser is gonna make 398 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:46,679 Speaker 1: that first round more interesting, even though I will be 399 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 1: picking Boston. All right, guys, that is all I have 400 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: for today. One last note before we get out of here. 401 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 1: The guys from Jenkins and Jones are gonna be going 402 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 1: live on YouTube right after the final buzzer of Hawks 403 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 1: versus Bulls, So make sure you guys get over there 404 00:18:57,800 --> 00:18:59,479 Speaker 1: to check that out. Remember to check my feet out 405 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:02,160 Speaker 1: tomorrow morning for the or it should be about tomorrow 406 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 1: afternoon for my series preview on the seventy six Ers 407 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:09,440 Speaker 1: versus the Knicks, And don't forget to drop some mailbag questions. 408 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 1: We're gonna do a mailbag at the end of that show. 409 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: As always, I sincerely appreciate you guys for supporting the show. 410 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:15,880 Speaker 1: Happy to be on this playoff grind with you guys. 411 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:17,400 Speaker 1: Long a way to go, It's gonna be fun. I'll 412 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:43,640 Speaker 1: see you guys tomorrow. The volume