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We're just gonna be going rapid fire 27 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 1: style through four games from last night's jam packed Wednesday 28 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: Night Slate. We're gonna be covering the Chicago Bulls snapping 29 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: the Nets twelve game winning streak, the Minnesota Timberwolves notching 30 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: their second consecutive win against the Western Conference playoff team, 31 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: over the Minnesota excuse me over the Portland Trailblazers, the 32 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: Detroit Pistons beating the Warriors in a super fun game 33 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: at the Buzzer on a three by Siddiq Bay. And 34 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:32,080 Speaker 1: then last but not least, the Los Angeles beat Los 35 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:36,079 Speaker 1: Angeles Lakers, beating a red hot Heat team without Lebron 36 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: James and Anthony Davis, behind Dennis Schroder and Russell Westbrook 37 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: playing a couple of great games. Um tonight, We're gonna 38 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: be going live on AMP after the final buzzer of 39 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:50,119 Speaker 1: Celtics MAVs just to do a quick breakdown of that 40 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 1: game as well, So keep an eye on the feeds 41 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: later tonight. You guys know the joke before we get started. 42 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: Subscribe to the Volumes YouTube channel so you don't miss 43 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: any more of our videos. Follow me on Twitter at 44 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 1: underscore Jason elt Yees, you guys don't miss any show announcements. 45 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: And then, last but not least, for whatever reason, you 46 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: guys miss one of these videos and you can't get 47 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: back over to YouTube to finish. Remember you can get 48 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: them wherever you get your podcasts under hoops tonight, All right, 49 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: here we go rapid fire four games. So the Bulls 50 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: beat the Nets to one twelve. That snaps Brooklyn's twelve 51 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 1: game winning streak. They led for almost the entire game 52 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: by as much as eighteen. They tried to make a 53 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 1: run the Nets did there in the fourth quarter. Um 54 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:27,640 Speaker 1: finally got their offense going a little bit, but a 55 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 1: couple of pivotal um Uh turnovers pick six is that 56 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: ended up in dunks running out the other way and 57 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: honestly just got handed to Chicago. They made a bunch 58 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: of big plays down the stretch of the game. Zach 59 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: Lavine and DeMar de Rosen in particular have been awesome 60 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: over the course of the last three weeks or so. 61 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 1: We're gonna talk about that here in just a second, 62 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: but they kept him at arms length throughout despite Kadi 63 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 1: going off for forty four points on twenty two shots. 64 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: On December eighteen, the Chicago Bulls were eleven and eighteen 65 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: and everything looked lost. It even appeared that the Goals 66 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: might even consider blowing things up in the season because 67 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: there were enough desperate teams out there that might want 68 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: the services of some of their star players. And I've 69 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: talked about this concept a lot on the show over 70 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: the course the last couple of weeks. But the idea 71 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: of fighting for your season, um obviously for your top 72 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: tier teams. There's a lot of you know, smooth silent 73 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: over the course of the season, Like the Boston Celtics. 74 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: They got rolled in Oklahoma City two nights ago. Who 75 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: cares sail just Alexander was out. They brought a crap effort. 76 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: They've had, you know, pretty inconsistent effort for the last 77 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: couple of weeks now, But it just doesn't matter. Because 78 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: they're so damn talented that they're still the best team 79 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: in the league and they can have bad nights and 80 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: it's just not going to impact them in the standings 81 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 1: because of how much talent they have. But for the 82 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:41,600 Speaker 1: teams in the middle, the think of it, like when 83 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: I was talking about that, if things go right, contenders, 84 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: but it extends even deeper that than two teams that 85 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: have playoff aspirations of any kind. There's up and down 86 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: stretches during the season, and typically there's a stretch, especially 87 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: when you have bad luck early on, where you have 88 00:04:57,480 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: to kind of look in the mirror and decide whether 89 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 1: or not you want to fight for this. And we've 90 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 1: seen a bunch of teams in particular dealing with that lately. 91 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 1: The Los Angeles Lakers, the Atlanta Hawks, you know, the 92 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: Miami Heat as of a couple of weeks ago when 93 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:10,600 Speaker 1: they started fighting and starting to to get it into 94 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: a groove, and the Chicago Bulls were in a similar predicament. 95 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,919 Speaker 1: Eleven and eighteen just got your butt kicked by the 96 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: Milwaukee Bucks last year in the playoffs. There's a lot 97 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 1: of reasons to pack it in at that point, but 98 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: that's not what they did in the In the nine 99 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 1: games since then, the Bulls are now six and three 100 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: UM and I believe they lost one of those three 101 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,160 Speaker 1: games at the buzzer to uh. DeMar de Rosen and 102 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 1: zach Lavine have been unreal. They're averaging fifty three points 103 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: per game over that span on fifty percent shooting. Four 104 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 1: of those six wins involved clutch situations, which has been 105 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: a huge part of their recent success. Both zach Lavine 106 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:47,480 Speaker 1: and de mar DeRozan are shooting fifty from the field 107 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: when the game is within five points with less than 108 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 1: five minutes to go UM in these games, so we'll 109 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: see if it last. But the Bulls are showing some 110 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: fight and that's super encouraging. They're trying to save this thing. 111 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: UM on the that's not worried at all. They've been 112 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 1: the best team in the league over the course the 113 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: last couple of months. I'm officially actually vaulting them up 114 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: into my top tier of contenders with Boston and Milwaukee 115 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: and Golden State, and I'm dropping down the Clippers off 116 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,600 Speaker 1: of that list for the time being. I know everyone says, oh, 117 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: Golden State, you know their their record doesn't dictate that, 118 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: But with what we saw from them last year in 119 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: the playoffs, with what we know about their starting lineup, 120 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:25,720 Speaker 1: with how well they're playing without Steph Curry last night, 121 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: without Andrew Wiggins or Jonathan Cominga either with no wing size, 122 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 1: they still almost beat the Piston. So I'm not worried 123 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:36,679 Speaker 1: about Golden State. They're moving on. Okay, So the Minnesota 124 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: timber Rolls beat the Portland Trailblazers one thirteen to one 125 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: oh six. That's their second straight win over Western Conference 126 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 1: playoff team to kind of as a palate cleanser from 127 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 1: some rough basketball over the course of the previous couple 128 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:51,559 Speaker 1: of weeks. They played absolutely stifling defense in the fourth 129 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 1: quarter of this game. Um. I've talked a lot about 130 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 1: what was what went wrong for Rudy Gobert in the 131 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 1: Utah Jazz over the course of that era, and it 132 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:01,840 Speaker 1: wasn't Rudy's fault. Rudy got blamed for it a lot 133 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: because he's running around like a chicken with his head 134 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: cut off, trying to clean up messes. But more often 135 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 1: than not, it was bad perimeter defense that led to 136 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: those Utah Jazz problems. Someone gets beat off of the dribble, 137 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: Rudy steps up to help. No one rotates on the 138 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 1: back end, it's a wide open shot or something along 139 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: those lines. And um, what I was really curious about 140 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: when he came over to Minnesota was just to get 141 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: to see him play with some better perimeter defenders. And 142 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 1: I was a little concerned that Minnesota might have shipped 143 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: too much of that out. But they've what they've given 144 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: up in backcourt ball pressure type of guards, guys like 145 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: Patrick Beverley, they've actually gained back in a little bit 146 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: more wing depth. UM. And I also really like Kyle 147 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: Anderson signing from that summer as well. So in this 148 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 1: particular game, D'Angel Russell he had been out previously, and 149 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: I don't know if he was on a minute's restriction 150 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: or if they just decided not to play him in 151 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter, but D'Angelo Russell did not play down 152 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 1: the stretch of this game, and so it ended up 153 00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: being Rudy Gobert with a steady mix of really good 154 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: perimeter defenders in that fourth quarter run. You saw and 155 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: Edwards for the whole thing. You saw Jada McDaniels, you 156 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: saw some Kyle Anderson, you saw some Jalen Noel, you 157 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: saw some Austin rivers. You saw some Tari and Prince. 158 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 1: Those are all good perimeter defensive players, and when you 159 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: they were just kind of subbing a few of those 160 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: guys in and out. But for the most part, it 161 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: was four of those guys in Rudy Gobert, and all 162 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: of that run in that fourth quarter was triggered by 163 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: how good they were defensively on the ball and flying 164 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: around in rotations. There was an eight minute stretch in 165 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter of this game, spanning from the nine 166 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:34,560 Speaker 1: and a half minute mark of the fourth to the 167 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: one and a half minute mark of the fourth, where 168 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: the only two made field goals were for Portland were 169 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:44,599 Speaker 1: two extremely highly difficult uh shots from Damian Lillard and 170 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 1: Anthony Simmons two and ones. Dame had like a banked 171 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: in floater from the right, like kind of short elbow 172 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 1: that was extremely high difficulty that he got an and one. 173 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 1: And then Anthony Simons literally at the end of a possession, 174 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:01,319 Speaker 1: just shot a drifting floater off one leg from behind 175 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 1: the free throw line that somehow went in and he 176 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 1: got fouled on that play as well. But those were 177 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: their their only two made field goals over that eight 178 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: minute span. That's how difficult it was for Portland to 179 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: get anything high quality in terms of a shot attempt 180 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 1: over an eight minute span with them locked in and 181 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: then on the other end of the floor, Anthony Anthony 182 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 1: Everards just closed the game just with big time bucket. 183 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 1: After big time bucket, he had hit a pull up 184 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 1: three and pick and roll. He had a nice little 185 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: bank shot on a post up where he bullied his 186 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: way to the rim, and then he had another giant 187 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: driving layup. He finished with thirty two points. Anthony Everards 188 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,560 Speaker 1: last ten games, twenty nine points per game, eight rebounds, 189 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: five assists on fifty true shooting. Again, only a two 190 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 1: game sample, but after things got pretty a bleak there 191 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 1: for a minute, these are two pretty impressive wins. And 192 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 1: to be honest, if they keep defending like this, and 193 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 1: if Anthony Edwards can keep the offensive onslaught going, they're 194 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 1: gonna go on a run, because that's just a simple 195 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 1: fact of the way basketball works. If you're getting stops 196 00:09:58,280 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: and you got a guy on the other end that 197 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: can get to the basket and hit threes and things 198 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 1: like that in great shots for his teammates, you're gonna 199 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: start winning games. Um I did think that the no 200 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 1: D'Angel Russell thing was an interesting data point. I've been 201 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 1: talking for a while about how the Gobert trade kind 202 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:14,719 Speaker 1: of puts the Timberwolves in a predicament where I think 203 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 1: they need to actually build around Gobert and Aunt and 204 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: kind of move on from Carl Town's in d'angela Russell. 205 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 1: I doubt they will because I think the front office 206 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 1: is kind of married to the Carl Town's Gobert thing, 207 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 1: which I think is a mistake. But that's a whole 208 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: other conversation for another day. D'angela Russell, don no matter what, 209 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: kind of feels like the odd man out, and he's 210 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: had some good games this year, but just overall in 211 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: terms of consistency and then what he brings on the 212 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 1: defensive end of the floor, I don't think he's that 213 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 1: great of a fit. And I wanted to show you 214 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,079 Speaker 1: guys some line up data without d'angela Russell to kind 215 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: of demonstrate this. So this season Anthony Edwards with Jalen Noel, 216 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 1: Kyle Anderson, Jade McDaniel's ready Gobert plus eighteen net and 217 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 1: sixty possessions. That means they're outscoring teams about eighteen points 218 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:57,719 Speaker 1: per one hundred possessions. Somewhat small sample, but that's an 219 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: interesting point if you sub in Austin versus great perimeter 220 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: defender and for Jalen Noel plus twenty six net in 221 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:08,080 Speaker 1: forty two possessions. So that's impressive regardless of who the 222 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 1: fifth guy is. With Kyle Anderson, Jade McDaniels, Rudy Gobert, 223 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 1: and Anthony Edwards their plus seven net in three possessions, 224 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 1: so a pretty significant sample size them. They're of them 225 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: succeeding Kyle Anderson and Jade McDaniels, two very good wing defenders. 226 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: Anthony Edwards is a great on ball defender, so anybody 227 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 1: in there, and they're winning games. So some interesting stuff there. 228 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: Portland's started ten and four and they are nine and 229 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:36,319 Speaker 1: fourteen since um eighth worst record in the league over 230 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: that spanned twenty five and defense. And they're also really 231 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 1: struggling to score the basketball without Damian Lillard on the floor. 232 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 1: For the season, when Dame is on the floor, the 233 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: Blazers are plus seven net per one hundred possessions and 234 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: minus six with him off the floor. That's a thirteen 235 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: point swing, so significant issue there was shot creation, in 236 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 1: particular with Dame off the floor. Um alright, moving on 237 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 1: to Detroit Golden State, this is a really fun game. 238 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: The Warriors were locked in on both ends in the 239 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 1: fourth quarter, but the Pistons just kept responding to every 240 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 1: single Warriors run with big plays. So um uh. PPJ 241 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 1: made a couple of free throws to get the game 242 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: back to one. Uh and then Ja Nivey went to 243 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: work got back to back buckets. This is in the 244 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 1: fourth quarter when Golden State was trying to get control 245 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 1: of this game. Um uh. He hit a pull up 246 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:28,959 Speaker 1: three and pick and rollers defender went underneath the screen, 247 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:31,440 Speaker 1: rose up and knocked it down. Very next possession, he 248 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 1: had PPJ on a switch on the right wing, and 249 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 1: just I put this specific play on my Twitter feed 250 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 1: so you guys can see because this is the kind 251 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: of thing that excites me so much about Jade Nivvey. 252 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,679 Speaker 1: He just takes two really long steps to get right 253 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: around PBJ, goes all the way to the rim and 254 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 1: dunks it and it almost looks like Dwyane Wade. And 255 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 1: that was the thing that stood out the most to 256 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: me when I started watching Jade and Ivy when he 257 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: was in summer league and a lot for some of 258 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 1: his college footage. He has this like long step athleticism 259 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 1: that allows him to take um changes of direction while 260 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: he's going full speed and things like that that make 261 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: him extremely difficult to keep in front as a dribble 262 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 1: drive guy. Now he's got a mile to go to 263 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:16,000 Speaker 1: get anywhere close to what Dwyane Wade was. But when 264 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 1: he's got that type of athleticism, the potential is through 265 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 1: the roof. And he's had a rough season and there's 266 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: a lot that he's got to get better at. But 267 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 1: Jada and Ivy continues to be one of the um 268 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:29,440 Speaker 1: the rookies that excites me the most. Uh So the 269 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:32,679 Speaker 1: Warriors go on another run after that, uh to a 270 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 1: little to play sequence from ja Nivy ending in at 271 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:38,119 Speaker 1: Clay Thompson dunk that gets it back to the Warriors 272 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 1: in front by one, and then Isaiah Stewart responds to 273 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: that by winning back to back physical battles. There's a 274 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:46,760 Speaker 1: play where he buries Kevan Luney under the rim and 275 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 1: makes a little right handed hook shot. Then on the 276 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 1: very next possession, Jordan Pool Luney run a pick and roll. 277 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 1: Luoney actually catches almost underneath the basket with Isaiah Stewart 278 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 1: on him, and that same type of confrontation, Isaiah Stewart 279 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: wins it and blocks von Luni. At the rim, I 280 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 1: talk a lot about the physical battle that takes place 281 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 1: underneath the basket and how it's about knocking guys off 282 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:09,320 Speaker 1: of their base. And that was two battles that Isaiah 283 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:11,839 Speaker 1: Stewart one back to back, one on offense and one 284 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,839 Speaker 1: on defense that essentially amounted to a four point swing. 285 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: A couple of big plays to get the Pistons back 286 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: up by three so UM and then two possessions after 287 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: that they converted another PPG turnover into a transition three 288 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 1: for killing and Hayes actually went up by seven at 289 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 1: that point was one of six UM on the next 290 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:34,800 Speaker 1: possession UH the pp the killing Hayes three. Then there 291 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 1: was an Alec Burk's and one that got them up 292 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: to seven. But then Clay gets hot and hits three 293 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 1: straight jumpers for eight points in one minute. Clay was 294 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 1: amazing this entire fourth quarter, really starting to hit his stride. 295 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 1: We'll talk about that here in a few minutes, UM, 296 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: but that gets it back to one oh eight, one 297 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: oh seven, and then boya mcdonovich rescues the possession with 298 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: two point two seconds left on the shock clock on 299 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 1: a baseline out of bounds by taking like this wild 300 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 1: leaning three off the dribble at the shock clock buzzer 301 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 1: that he makes to put the pistons back up four. 302 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 1: I'll talk a lot about rescue possessions. When you got guys, 303 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: typically they gotta be taller, but there are some exceptions 304 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 1: to that role, namely Steph Curry. But when you have 305 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: a guy with there, when there's a possession that's effectively lost, 306 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: and on most possessions, when you've got less than a 307 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: couple of seconds left in a baseline out of bounds 308 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: or sideline out of bounds, like it's hard to get 309 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 1: a quality shot there. And when you've got a guy 310 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 1: that can convert that like one out of every two 311 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: or three time, one out of every three or four 312 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 1: times into three points, that's a huge weapon to have, 313 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 1: and that's a huge thing that bolsters offensive ratings. But 314 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: that was a huge shot from McDon mcdonovitch to put 315 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 1: him up by four. Then Jordan Pool gets going. He 316 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: hits back to back, step back jumpers to step back 317 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 1: two and then a step back three. Now we're back 318 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 1: to two, but Boya mcdonovitch on the other end of 319 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: the floor is just executing and pick and roll. It 320 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 1: gets Downhill makes a really nice kickout pass to the 321 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: corner to Alec Burke's for three. Then he runs another 322 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: one with Siddiq Bay where he throws a beautiful behind 323 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 1: the back feed to Sadik Bay on the left wing, 324 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: who hits the three. Now it's back up to one 325 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 1: sevent Then Clay Thompson goes on another fury uh flurry 326 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: hits a couple of free throws. It's a really difficult 327 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:09,360 Speaker 1: driving scoop layup over Isaiah Stewart and then he hits 328 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:12,320 Speaker 1: the three to tie the game. Beautiful play designed by 329 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: Steve Kerr. There in the final seconds, they run Jordan 330 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 1: Pool along excuse me, Anthony Lamb along the baseline and 331 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 1: Tides Room throws a beautiful skip pass that hits tides 332 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: Roome in uh stride. At the same time, Clay Thompson's 333 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 1: at the top of the key and they set a 334 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 1: quick uh screen with Kevon Looney who Clay Thompson comes 335 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: over the top and ends up catching and knocking down 336 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:35,840 Speaker 1: the three. Yet another flurry from Clay Thompson, yet another 337 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 1: run from the Warriors to tie this game, and then 338 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: they go over to the other end of the floor. 339 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 1: The Warriors defend the action really well, but Siddiq sidy 340 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: Bay just pops out and literally just throws up a 341 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 1: prayer that ends up going in. So every single time 342 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 1: down the stretch of that fourth quarter that the Warriors 343 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 1: went on a run, the Pistons responded, young players in 344 00:16:56,840 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: most cases taking and making big shots, making big plays. 345 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: Obviously a tough loss for the Warriors, but you're super 346 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: thin on the wing without Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Cominga 347 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 1: that's gonna hurt you. There are a couple of key 348 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 1: offensive rebounds and the at the end of this game 349 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 1: that you probably get if you have your wings available. 350 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: But you gotta just tip the cap to the Pistons 351 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:18,439 Speaker 1: because they just made big plays all night long, especially 352 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 1: down the stretch of that game. As for the Draymond ejection, 353 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 1: there's actually a big sequence kind of involving the rebounding 354 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 1: that I was talking about. Isaia Stewart saves it gets 355 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 1: an offensive rebound that I think ends up leading to 356 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: a City Bay three on that offensive rebound. Uh, Draymond 357 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 1: actually like battles with Isaiah Stewart underneath the basket, and 358 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,680 Speaker 1: he's battling for that box out position and they're both 359 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:42,399 Speaker 1: under the rim. The ball comes off and Isaiah Stewart 360 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 1: is able to run back to get the basketball. The 361 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: the the Warriors need to do better job of crashing 362 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:50,400 Speaker 1: from the perimeter to help when Draymond is in those 363 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 1: box out situations. But that's a huge thing where having 364 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:56,520 Speaker 1: some real athleticism on the wing helps you there. And 365 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 1: to be honest, when when you have Andrew Wiggins out 366 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: of the game, when you have Jonathan Comingea out of 367 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,920 Speaker 1: the game, the Warriors really aren't that athletic as a team. 368 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 1: And so that was that's what what kind of made 369 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:12,120 Speaker 1: that specific matchup difficult there as far as the ejection goes, 370 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: because then on the very next possession, Draymond got mad 371 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: that Isaiah Stewart got away from him and then they 372 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 1: got into that tussle. We can argue whether or not 373 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:23,640 Speaker 1: that scuffle dictated a double technical. I kind of see 374 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 1: you where Steve Kerr and where all the other guys 375 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 1: are coming from, Like like that's part of the game 376 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 1: of basketball. There's all these physical battles that are taking 377 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 1: place under the rim. I'm actually surprised it doesn't happen 378 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:36,160 Speaker 1: more often the guys get engaged in a wrestling match 379 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:40,160 Speaker 1: essentially underneath the basket. But that's a conversation for another day, 380 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: because the reality is is every single time that ever 381 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: happens to anybody, it's a double technical. It has been 382 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 1: for as long as I've been watching basketball. Two guys 383 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: get engaged in a battle underneath the basket rebounding. If 384 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 1: it's a little grabbing here and there, it might be 385 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:56,879 Speaker 1: a double foul. But if they're like straight up, like 386 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: about to square up the way those two guys were, 387 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 1: it's all always a double technical. So it's one of 388 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: those things where I understand the frustration after the game, 389 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:09,439 Speaker 1: but you have to know going into that situation that 390 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 1: if you get into a tussle and you already have 391 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:14,240 Speaker 1: a technical, that an injection is on the table at 392 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 1: that point. Moving on to Heat Lakers. So this was 393 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 1: an unbelievably massive win for the Lakers. Lebron missed the 394 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: game with a non COVID illness, which I thought was 395 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:26,719 Speaker 1: surprising because it was a nationally televised game against a 396 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:29,399 Speaker 1: team that they were capable of beating. It was a 397 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:31,679 Speaker 1: nationally televised game against a team that they were capable 398 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 1: of beating. Um Lebron had been playing really well and 399 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: the Lakers had won two games in a row, so 400 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 1: he must have been pretty sick. I expected him to play. 401 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 1: But Dennis Schroder and Russell Westbrook were incredible and that 402 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 1: carried them enough offensively, and then they've actually been defending 403 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 1: pretty well. We'll talk about that in a second, but 404 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 1: Schroeder and Westbrook combined for fifty three points and eleven assists. 405 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:54,439 Speaker 1: They both played made massive plays down the stretch of 406 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:57,359 Speaker 1: this game. Dennis kept getting downhill to his right hand 407 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: that patented Dennis Schroder drive with that cooping lay up 408 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 1: at the end, including the one that ended up sealing 409 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 1: the game late. And then Russ had a couple of 410 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:06,800 Speaker 1: key and ones, one that was on kind of like 411 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:08,680 Speaker 1: an ISO post up kind of thing where a pump 412 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:10,399 Speaker 1: faked and got an and one, and then on the 413 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,119 Speaker 1: back door cut on that last second play or Austin, 414 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:15,879 Speaker 1: Austin reeves through a beautiful bullet pass to us and 415 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 1: he ended up getting an and one. Lots of big 416 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 1: plays from both of those guys, But more importantly, both 417 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:25,120 Speaker 1: of those two guys played incredible defensive games. When you're 418 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:27,639 Speaker 1: down Lebron James and Anthony Davis, they need guys to 419 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 1: step up and you have to defend it an extremely 420 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 1: high level because you're gonna have some offensive struggles, and 421 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: those guys were great. And then Thomas Bryant pitched in 422 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:40,399 Speaker 1: again as well, twenty one and nine, one points and 423 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:43,439 Speaker 1: nine rebounds. The Lakers now on three straight four their 424 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:48,200 Speaker 1: last five. They are a respectable eighth and defense over 425 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 1: that span, which is incredibly impressive without Anthony Davis when 426 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:53,159 Speaker 1: you think about it. But it really comes down to 427 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:56,119 Speaker 1: credible perimeter defense. What do I always say is the 428 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:58,920 Speaker 1: best form of rim protection. I think the best form 429 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: of m protection is perimeter defense or containing the basketball. 430 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:05,920 Speaker 1: And the main reason why is when you contain the basketball, 431 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:08,439 Speaker 1: you don't need rim protection because no one's getting a 432 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:12,359 Speaker 1: straight line drive downhill. And obviously it's actually harder to 433 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 1: build your defense around a scheme that requires you to 434 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 1: keep a rim protector around the rim than it is 435 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:19,880 Speaker 1: to have more freelance where everybody's flying around and doing 436 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 1: a lot more switching and things along those lines. So 437 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 1: when you've got guys like Dennis Schroder competing on the basketball, 438 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:30,399 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook competing, Patrick Beverley competing, Austin Reeves, Troy Brown, 439 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 1: the list goes on. But those guys are competing on 440 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 1: the basketball and in rotation, and so they're not being 441 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 1: punished as much as you would think for their lack 442 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 1: of rim protection. Because as good as Thomas Bryant has 443 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: been offensively, he's not a great rim protector. He's just 444 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 1: not athletic enough or big enough to be a great 445 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:49,919 Speaker 1: rim protector. So it's good to see that them playing 446 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: like legit coherent defense without Anthony Davis just goes to 447 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 1: show you how how hard this team is competing without 448 00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis. They are now six and five since the 449 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:02,479 Speaker 1: a D jury, which is literally the best possible outcome 450 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:04,880 Speaker 1: for that situation. Similar to like we were talking about 451 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:07,840 Speaker 1: with the Bulls. They're fighting for their season and now 452 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:09,680 Speaker 1: they might have saved it. They're just three and a 453 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:12,400 Speaker 1: half games back of the sixth seed, five games back 454 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:15,359 Speaker 1: of the four seed. Adrian Wrzanowski reported yesterday that Anthony 455 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:18,680 Speaker 1: Davis is now running on the court and experiencing no pain. 456 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 1: So the next step is him jumping to see how 457 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:23,680 Speaker 1: that feels. But if a d comes back with how 458 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 1: well Anthony Lebron James is playing with the trades that 459 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 1: they have available to make at the deadline, you know 460 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:32,399 Speaker 1: it's it's still pretty bleak for the Lakers, but you 461 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:34,399 Speaker 1: can see a clear light at the end of the 462 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:37,400 Speaker 1: tunnel that was not there ten days ago, especially at 463 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:39,399 Speaker 1: Christmas Day when they got blown out by the MAVs. 464 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 1: As for the Heat, that was kind of more of 465 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 1: a letdown game than anything else. They've been playing really 466 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: good basketball before that. They were eaten three in their 467 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:49,479 Speaker 1: previous eleven games and had just come off of an 468 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: impressive win over the Clippers. Clippers didn't have Kauai, but 469 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 1: still they had everyone else. It was an impressive win 470 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 1: in A big driving force behind that is Bam at 471 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 1: a Bio seems to have finally taken that offensive leap 472 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 1: that I have been talking about forever. That is so 473 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:05,120 Speaker 1: vitally important to the Miami Heat because of their ability 474 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:08,200 Speaker 1: to score in the half court. BAM's last eight teen 475 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:13,399 Speaker 1: games twenty five points per game on shooting. That's really impressive. 476 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: Um A lot of the old stuff, like he's still 477 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 1: scoring as a rollman, offensive rebound put backs, you know, 478 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,960 Speaker 1: getting out in transition, doing some stuff as a cutter 479 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:24,359 Speaker 1: and in the dunker spot, things along those lines. But 480 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:28,680 Speaker 1: he's starting to consistently bolster his offense with isolation stuff 481 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:32,120 Speaker 1: and post up stuff. UM. In the last ten games, 482 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 1: Bam is averaging five points per game just out of 483 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:38,040 Speaker 1: ISOs and post ups, which doesn't seem like much, but 484 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 1: that's the difference between averaging twenty a game and averaging game. 485 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:45,639 Speaker 1: That's the that's rescue possessions. That's bolstering your offense with 486 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:48,680 Speaker 1: offense that other otherwise wouldn't be there. That that's that's 487 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 1: saving possessions and capitalizing on matchups. UM, he's still a 488 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 1: lot of it's just getting to the middle of the 489 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 1: floor for that really high release short jump shot that 490 00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:58,920 Speaker 1: he makes in that little hook shot as well. For 491 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 1: the season, Bam is an out UH. The Heat are 492 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:03,960 Speaker 1: averaging one point zero eight points per possession on a 493 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:07,159 Speaker 1: Band post up including passes, which is tenth in the 494 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:10,719 Speaker 1: league among players who have run at least eighty post up. 495 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:13,160 Speaker 1: So Band has been a top ten post player this year. 496 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:16,119 Speaker 1: That's really encouraging UM. And then he's also given you 497 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 1: one point one point per possession in ISSO, which is 498 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 1: among players who have run at least a hunter possessions. 499 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 1: That's also really solid, albeit still in some relatively small volume. 500 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:29,240 Speaker 1: The Heat obviously still need to bolster that that forward 501 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:32,159 Speaker 1: position and the at the trade deadline. But if Band's 502 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:34,919 Speaker 1: gonna give you twenty five points per game over the 503 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 1: course of a playoff run and you get playoff Jimmy, 504 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:41,560 Speaker 1: and with how well Tyler Harrow has played offensively this season, 505 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:44,800 Speaker 1: and if they can bolster that forward position, I wouldn't 506 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:47,920 Speaker 1: pick them against the Celtics, Nets or Bucks, but I 507 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 1: give them a fighting chance, like a real puncher's chance, 508 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 1: against any of them. Looking to get more out of 509 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:56,680 Speaker 1: the NBA this season, well, now is the perfect time 510 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 1: to download FanDuel America's number one sports book because New 511 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 1: Summers getting no sweat. First bet up to one thousand dollars. 512 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 1: That's free bets back. If your first bet doesn't win, 513 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 1: just download the fandel sports Book app. It's safe, secure, 514 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:11,879 Speaker 1: and super easy to use. Then you can bet on 515 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 1: everything from the money line to touchdown scores two over 516 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:17,879 Speaker 1: under yards. My favorite bet this weekend is in the 517 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 1: NBA the Miami Heat on Friday Night are going into 518 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:22,920 Speaker 1: Phoenix to play the Suns. They are favored by one 519 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:24,399 Speaker 1: and a half, but the Heat are coming off of 520 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:27,399 Speaker 1: a bad loss to the Lakers without Lebron James and 521 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis, and the Suns are really struggling to score 522 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:33,959 Speaker 1: without Devin Booker. I think the Heat get that game comfortably. 523 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 1: Plus vanduel lets you combine your bets for a chance 524 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:40,680 Speaker 1: at a bigger payout with a same game parlay. 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You know, um, 534 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 1: that's a great punch from Boston, and when they throw 535 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:16,760 Speaker 1: their best punch, because of how much talent they have, 536 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:19,480 Speaker 1: they're gonna be really hard to beat, and Luca wasn't 537 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 1: as sharp tonight. Obviously that trickled down the roster a 538 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:25,479 Speaker 1: little bit. We'll talk about that here in just a 539 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:28,439 Speaker 1: few minutes. One quick note before we get started, for 540 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 1: any of you guys that are listening on YouTube or 541 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 1: on the podcast feeds, don't forget that the very first 542 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:37,679 Speaker 1: place you guys can get this analysis is on AMP. 543 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:40,919 Speaker 1: So the Celtics came in just five and seven in 544 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:43,080 Speaker 1: their last twelve games, and we've talked about it a 545 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:45,879 Speaker 1: few times on this show. There's been some impressive wins 546 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:48,879 Speaker 1: during that stretch, but also some disappointing losses and a 547 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:52,639 Speaker 1: couple of benchmark tests against Golden State in Denver in 548 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:56,040 Speaker 1: particular that they failed miserably, a couple of embarrassing losses, 549 00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 1: a couple to the Orlando Magic in there, and then 550 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 1: they got absolutely destroyed by the Oklahoma City Thunder without 551 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 1: shake guils just Alexander the other night. But if you 552 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:05,920 Speaker 1: zoom in on it, aside from the Okay See game, 553 00:27:06,119 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 1: they actually have been defending really, really well over the 554 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:12,840 Speaker 1: course of that stretch because the what as I kept 555 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:16,160 Speaker 1: saying in those videos, it's their three point shooting primarily 556 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 1: that was leading to most of their problems. I actually 557 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:22,399 Speaker 1: think that the lack of three point shooting and the 558 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:24,919 Speaker 1: inability to point put points on the scoreboard was a 559 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:27,720 Speaker 1: big part of the thing that triggered urgency for them 560 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:29,720 Speaker 1: on the defensive end of the floor so they could 561 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:32,160 Speaker 1: get going there. During that twelve games stretch, they shot 562 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 1: just thirty one from three. Now, shooting slumps, We've talked 563 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:38,720 Speaker 1: about this a lot on the show. They happen, um, 564 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:42,159 Speaker 1: you know, as we always talk about a team, a 565 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 1: basketball team, a good one might shoot from three for 566 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,560 Speaker 1: the season or around there, right, and that means you're 567 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:51,080 Speaker 1: gonna miss sixty percent of them. And so it's easy 568 00:27:51,119 --> 00:27:53,280 Speaker 1: to see how you could as a team kind of 569 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:56,080 Speaker 1: go off the tracks a little bit, lose your confidence 570 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 1: and start to miss shots. And then you can see 571 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:00,520 Speaker 1: the flip side of that from Boston tonight when they 572 00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 1: start to go in and then the confidence starts to 573 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:05,920 Speaker 1: trickle down and then everyone's making shots again. But that 574 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 1: that that that troubling mental aspect of shooting is what 575 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: triggers these slumps. So as as young players that I coach, 576 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 1: and just in general with my own experience in my 577 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:18,440 Speaker 1: time playing the game, you kind of come with a 578 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 1: routine for how to get through a slump, And my 579 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:24,879 Speaker 1: personal philosophy for how to get through slumps is to 580 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:28,359 Speaker 1: improve your shot selection on an individual level, but on 581 00:28:28,359 --> 00:28:32,919 Speaker 1: a team level, it's about generating high quality shots. You know, 582 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 1: when you're dealing with movement shooting like off the dribble 583 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 1: or flying off the screens and stuff like that, there's 584 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:42,080 Speaker 1: so much more of like a touch factor that is 585 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:44,760 Speaker 1: built up through thousands or reps, But it's primarily a 586 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 1: touch in a field because no two shots are alike. 587 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 1: They're all very different depending on how far the how 588 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 1: much separation you have to get, whether the defender closes 589 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 1: out on you as hard as he might. But in 590 00:28:56,000 --> 00:29:00,479 Speaker 1: stand still situations, it's all about muscle memory, and so 591 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:03,920 Speaker 1: when you generate high quality shots, you can lean on 592 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:07,040 Speaker 1: that muscle memory and trust your form and the makes 593 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 1: will follow. But when you don't generate high quality shots, 594 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 1: maybe they're a little bit rushed. Maybe those standstill opportunities 595 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 1: are few and far between, and as a result, it's 596 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:19,080 Speaker 1: hard to find your rhythm with your muscle memory. So 597 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:21,360 Speaker 1: I want to shout out Jayson Tatum in particular. Tonight 598 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 1: came out from the opening tips, setting the tone, trying 599 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:26,680 Speaker 1: to make the right pass to hit shooters in their 600 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:30,640 Speaker 1: shooting pockets. But on a team level, the way to 601 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:34,200 Speaker 1: generate high quality three point shots is a concept we 602 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:36,200 Speaker 1: talked about a ton on the show, which is engaging 603 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:39,880 Speaker 1: help defenders. There's a huge difference between a defender that's 604 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:42,520 Speaker 1: guarding a shooter off the ball and that is in 605 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 1: help side position and maybe lunging at the ball, maybe 606 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:51,920 Speaker 1: quickly stunting, but has an easy close out versus when 607 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 1: you engage that help defender, meaning you totally get him 608 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:58,479 Speaker 1: to commit to guarding you. Now all of a sudden, 609 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:01,920 Speaker 1: that's a much more difficult rotation because you're asking either 610 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:05,840 Speaker 1: a different defender from further away to leave his man 611 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:08,360 Speaker 1: to close out, or you're asking the guy that you 612 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:12,640 Speaker 1: engaged to disengage and close out to the shooters. So 613 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:15,200 Speaker 1: it's a it's a it's a trickle down effect from 614 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:19,400 Speaker 1: your ball handlers to get downhill, engage that help defender 615 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 1: and then hit on time, on target to the shooter 616 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:24,720 Speaker 1: in his pocket. From there you get lots and lots 617 00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:28,280 Speaker 1: of time and then there these are professional shooters that 618 00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:31,360 Speaker 1: are making hundreds and hundreds of shots every single day, 619 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:34,800 Speaker 1: specifically practicing their stands, still shooting in their muscle memory, 620 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:37,320 Speaker 1: and no matter how big of a slump you're in, 621 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,520 Speaker 1: if you get all these wide open looks, you're eventually 622 00:30:40,560 --> 00:30:43,760 Speaker 1: going to find your rhythm. And they did because the 623 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:46,560 Speaker 1: Celtics are a good shooting team. If you are a 624 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:49,640 Speaker 1: good shooting team, which the Celtics are, from a skill level, 625 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:52,560 Speaker 1: they're a good shooting team. It was uncharacteristic what happened 626 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 1: to them over the last couple of weeks. And if 627 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 1: you generate high quality shots, it is automatic that they 628 00:30:57,440 --> 00:31:00,320 Speaker 1: will eventually go win. And they did tonight, and then 629 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, the Celtics looked like themselves again. 630 00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:05,120 Speaker 1: You saw it kind of build confidence throughout the roster. 631 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:07,560 Speaker 1: Then they were defending at it insanely high level. That's 632 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 1: what I wanted to get to next. Boston's defensive rotations 633 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 1: were insane tonight, hard disciplined close outs, not leaving your feet, 634 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 1: chopping your feet and taking away that comfortable spot up 635 00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:21,200 Speaker 1: shot and forcing them to make a decision. It actually 636 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 1: caused a lot of hesitation from Dallas Mavericks, particular guys 637 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 1: like Tim Hardaway Jr. And Christian would pump faked at 638 00:31:27,880 --> 00:31:32,120 Speaker 1: a lot of semi open shots because of hard clothes 639 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:36,960 Speaker 1: outs from you know, ferocious rotations from Boston Celtics defenders. 640 00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:39,720 Speaker 1: And the interesting thing there is we talked about this 641 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:41,400 Speaker 1: a lot when we get to the playoffs, but when 642 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:45,880 Speaker 1: you're playing really great defenses that are locked in, especially 643 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:48,920 Speaker 1: when we get to the postseason, there really aren't wide 644 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:51,920 Speaker 1: open shots. Most of them are semi open, and so 645 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:55,640 Speaker 1: you need guys to confidently rise into shots. And the 646 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:58,960 Speaker 1: Celtics preyed on that, specifically with the Mavericks tonight, with 647 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:01,920 Speaker 1: their hard clothes outs. None of the Mavericks were confident 648 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:04,720 Speaker 1: and they really struggle. I think there were one for ten. Uh, 649 00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 1: their spot up guys were one for ten shooting threes 650 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:08,200 Speaker 1: in the first half. I think as a roster they 651 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:10,080 Speaker 1: were two for sixteen. I want to get a little 652 00:32:10,080 --> 00:32:11,600 Speaker 1: bit more into the Mavericks in a little bit, but 653 00:32:11,680 --> 00:32:15,360 Speaker 1: credits of the Celtics for a really dominant two way performance. Um. 654 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:18,680 Speaker 1: I think that Boston's best punch is better than anybody 655 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:22,280 Speaker 1: else's best punch. They, I have frequently said, are the 656 00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:24,880 Speaker 1: most talented team in the league. Their top eight is 657 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:29,200 Speaker 1: insane Jayson Tatum, Jalen Brown, Marcus Smart, Al Horford, Robert Williams, 658 00:32:29,320 --> 00:32:32,600 Speaker 1: Malcolm Brogden, Derrek White, and Grant Williams, who, by the way, 659 00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:35,320 Speaker 1: is a lot better than he was last year, clearly 660 00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:37,360 Speaker 1: has put in a ton of work in the off 661 00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:41,040 Speaker 1: season into his ball handling, into his shooting, into his footwork. 662 00:32:41,040 --> 00:32:43,480 Speaker 1: He demonsiated a really nice footwork on that spin move 663 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:45,960 Speaker 1: against Christian Wood when he got the and one. That's 664 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:49,160 Speaker 1: lots of reps to get coordinated to the point where 665 00:32:49,160 --> 00:32:52,400 Speaker 1: you feel comfortable making that particular move. But Grant Williams 666 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:54,600 Speaker 1: has made a big improvement. And now all of those 667 00:32:54,680 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 1: eight guys are not just starter level NBA players, they're 668 00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:03,160 Speaker 1: above average starter level NBA players. They've got eight players 669 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:06,320 Speaker 1: that would happily fit into just about any rotation in 670 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:09,640 Speaker 1: the entire league. And I don't think anybody's top eight 671 00:33:09,720 --> 00:33:13,000 Speaker 1: stacks up with Boston's top eight. The problem is, is 672 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:15,680 Speaker 1: there a bit of an arrogant basketball team. They carry 673 00:33:15,680 --> 00:33:18,200 Speaker 1: themselves like a team that's already won a championship as 674 00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 1: opposed to a team that is desperate to get there first. 675 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:23,640 Speaker 1: Um they as a result, they go through these extended 676 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:25,760 Speaker 1: stretches where they're sloppy and they get kind of out 677 00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:28,080 Speaker 1: of character, they take bad shots, they don't do that 678 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:30,720 Speaker 1: important thing in driving kicks systems that I talked about, 679 00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:34,440 Speaker 1: which is engaging that help defender to make passes on 680 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:37,560 Speaker 1: time and on target. They start to turn the basketball over. 681 00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:40,960 Speaker 1: That puts them in precarious situations in transition, and that's 682 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:45,440 Speaker 1: how Boston can experience those negative landslides that they experience. 683 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:48,760 Speaker 1: I get it. I understand the arrogance. This group has 684 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:50,959 Speaker 1: been together a very long time. They've won a lot 685 00:33:51,040 --> 00:33:53,760 Speaker 1: of basketball games. They've won a lot of playoffs series 686 00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:56,400 Speaker 1: like that team has been to the finals uh and 687 00:33:56,440 --> 00:33:59,320 Speaker 1: been to the Eastern Conference Finals three times. Like, They've 688 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:01,880 Speaker 1: just in around a long time and they've been winning 689 00:34:02,240 --> 00:34:04,360 Speaker 1: for a long time. So I understand why they have 690 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:06,960 Speaker 1: that arrogance. But it's a little disappointing, and you've seen 691 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:10,200 Speaker 1: it specifically in some of these games. That Denver Nuggets game. 692 00:34:10,200 --> 00:34:12,200 Speaker 1: I thought they were really sloppy on the defensive end 693 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:14,040 Speaker 1: of the flour the Golden State game, it was like 694 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:16,920 Speaker 1: they completely lost character of who they were as a 695 00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:19,279 Speaker 1: basketball team. So that's the one thing that concerns me 696 00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:23,520 Speaker 1: with them because I think Boston's best punch if is 697 00:34:23,800 --> 00:34:27,000 Speaker 1: better than everyone else's, so in theory, they should win 698 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 1: the title. But I have them third on my list 699 00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:32,640 Speaker 1: of contenders, behind the Milwaukee and Golden State, simply because 700 00:34:32,640 --> 00:34:35,320 Speaker 1: I trust those two teams to throw their best punch 701 00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:38,840 Speaker 1: consistently in the playoffs in a way that I don't 702 00:34:38,920 --> 00:34:42,000 Speaker 1: trust Boston, but make like I want. I want to 703 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:45,279 Speaker 1: cut them a little bit slack because it is very 704 00:34:45,280 --> 00:34:48,359 Speaker 1: possible that this is just regular season malaise. They were 705 00:34:48,480 --> 00:34:51,040 Speaker 1: very dominant from January through the end of the season 706 00:34:51,120 --> 00:34:54,920 Speaker 1: last year, and that resulted in in them eventually losing, 707 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:57,080 Speaker 1: so they know that the regular season doesn't carry as 708 00:34:57,160 --> 00:34:59,759 Speaker 1: much importance. I think they trust their ability to beat 709 00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:01,799 Speaker 1: any of these teams in a seven game series, even 710 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:04,640 Speaker 1: without home court advantage. So maybe it's an urgency thing. 711 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:07,600 Speaker 1: And maybe they get to April and they lock in 712 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:10,000 Speaker 1: and they try in all four rounds, and to be clear, 713 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:14,399 Speaker 1: if they do, I think they'll get the trophy. If 714 00:35:14,440 --> 00:35:17,960 Speaker 1: they consistently throw their best punch in the playoffs, I 715 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:19,640 Speaker 1: think they'll get the trophy. That's how much of a 716 00:35:19,640 --> 00:35:22,560 Speaker 1: talent advantage I think they have. I just don't trust 717 00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:24,520 Speaker 1: them at this point, and that's why I still have 718 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:27,000 Speaker 1: them at third, And to be honest Celtics fans, I 719 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:31,759 Speaker 1: will not pick them over Milwaukee or Golden State in 720 00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:35,160 Speaker 1: any playoffs series, no matter what, simply because of that trust. 721 00:35:35,239 --> 00:35:37,200 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean I don't think they can beat them. 722 00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:39,960 Speaker 1: There's no amount of regular season success that could prove it. 723 00:35:40,239 --> 00:35:42,719 Speaker 1: The only thing that would prove that to me is 724 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:45,759 Speaker 1: if they demonstrated it to us in the playoffs. If 725 00:35:45,760 --> 00:35:48,600 Speaker 1: they do, then this time next year you'll hear me 726 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:51,720 Speaker 1: marching to a different beat as it pertains to the Celtics. 727 00:35:51,719 --> 00:35:53,279 Speaker 1: But they've got to show me they can do that. 728 00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:57,280 Speaker 1: Golden State consistently throws their best punch in the playoffs. 729 00:35:57,320 --> 00:36:00,640 Speaker 1: I've seen that for a half decade. Milwaukee can assistently 730 00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:02,920 Speaker 1: throws their best punch in the playoffs. I've seen that 731 00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:05,399 Speaker 1: two playoff runs in a row. I trust them more. 732 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:07,360 Speaker 1: That's the only reason I have them above it. But 733 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:11,840 Speaker 1: you you know, you saw tonight a glimpse of what 734 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:14,640 Speaker 1: their top end looks like. And that is why I 735 00:36:14,719 --> 00:36:16,440 Speaker 1: call them the most talented team in the league. And 736 00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:18,960 Speaker 1: that's the potential that they have. Um Dallas just a 737 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:20,719 Speaker 1: couple of quick notes. They've been playing really good ball 738 00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:22,920 Speaker 1: before this game. They had won seven straight games despite 739 00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:25,320 Speaker 1: being without some key guys. MEXICALI has been out. I 740 00:36:25,360 --> 00:36:28,040 Speaker 1: didn't realize he had surgery on his hamstring. That's pretty crazy. 741 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:30,319 Speaker 1: So apparently he's gonna be out for a little while. Um. 742 00:36:30,360 --> 00:36:32,160 Speaker 1: And then Josh Green is one of their best three 743 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:34,480 Speaker 1: and D wings right now because of the improvements he's 744 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:36,759 Speaker 1: made as a shooter. So him getting back, I think 745 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:38,960 Speaker 1: he is an elbow issue. He's expected to come back 746 00:36:39,719 --> 00:36:42,080 Speaker 1: over the course of this next road trip. But they've 747 00:36:42,080 --> 00:36:44,720 Speaker 1: been coming playing good, pretty good basketball. They just didn't 748 00:36:44,719 --> 00:36:47,080 Speaker 1: get a good Luca game tonight. I mean, you're not 749 00:36:47,120 --> 00:36:50,600 Speaker 1: going to beat the Celtics at their best unless Luca 750 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:53,680 Speaker 1: don Chet's plays at his best. And I'm not being 751 00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:56,080 Speaker 1: critical of him because to be clear, it looked like 752 00:36:56,120 --> 00:36:58,560 Speaker 1: he was dealing with some ankle stuff. They were I 753 00:36:58,560 --> 00:37:00,800 Speaker 1: couldn't tell if he was sick or that the broadcast 754 00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:03,680 Speaker 1: said he wasn't sick. That he's clearly experienced some sort 755 00:37:03,680 --> 00:37:06,520 Speaker 1: of like impact trauma to the chest that was causing 756 00:37:06,600 --> 00:37:09,680 Speaker 1: him to deal with some coughing stuff. Um, So Luca 757 00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:12,239 Speaker 1: wasn't at his best, and to be clear, when you 758 00:37:12,280 --> 00:37:15,120 Speaker 1: need to lead your team against the one of the best, 759 00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:17,160 Speaker 1: most talented teams in the league, it's gonna be really 760 00:37:17,160 --> 00:37:19,440 Speaker 1: difficult to do that when your body is not cooperating. 761 00:37:19,440 --> 00:37:21,560 Speaker 1: So I want to cut Lucas some slack. But the 762 00:37:21,600 --> 00:37:24,120 Speaker 1: only way you can win a game like that when 763 00:37:24,120 --> 00:37:26,200 Speaker 1: you have a talent disadvantage but you might have the 764 00:37:26,200 --> 00:37:28,600 Speaker 1: best player on the floor is your best player has 765 00:37:28,640 --> 00:37:30,520 Speaker 1: to come out and be the best player on the floor. 766 00:37:30,920 --> 00:37:34,000 Speaker 1: If he does that early in the game, it establishes 767 00:37:34,040 --> 00:37:37,279 Speaker 1: a confident tone around the team that causes them to 768 00:37:37,320 --> 00:37:40,440 Speaker 1: defend better, That causes them to rise up more confidently 769 00:37:40,480 --> 00:37:42,680 Speaker 1: into the spot up shots like I was talking about 770 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:45,840 Speaker 1: with Dallas earlier, which in turn leads the game to 771 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:48,400 Speaker 1: being closer. When the game is close, if you have 772 00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 1: the best player on the floor, you might have a 773 00:37:50,239 --> 00:37:52,640 Speaker 1: chance to pull that game out. But in a game 774 00:37:52,680 --> 00:37:55,840 Speaker 1: like this with Luca, to be honest, he's pretty terrible 775 00:37:55,960 --> 00:37:58,440 Speaker 1: on both ends of the floor. I thought offensively, his 776 00:37:58,560 --> 00:38:00,600 Speaker 1: jump shot was way off, which was leading to some 777 00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:04,560 Speaker 1: bad fast break opportunities. In general and defense, he was 778 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:07,040 Speaker 1: really slow with his rotations. You could see him laboring 779 00:38:07,360 --> 00:38:10,560 Speaker 1: almost conceding with lazy close outs to some of these threes. 780 00:38:10,640 --> 00:38:12,759 Speaker 1: It was a bad Luca game, so you gotta just 781 00:38:12,840 --> 00:38:15,440 Speaker 1: kind of throw it out, um. But the realities is 782 00:38:15,440 --> 00:38:18,480 Speaker 1: they're not gonna beat teams like Boston or really anybody 783 00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:20,480 Speaker 1: in the playoffs for that matter, unless Lucas at his 784 00:38:20,600 --> 00:38:22,319 Speaker 1: very best. But the good news is is we have 785 00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:25,280 Speaker 1: three years of evidence that show us that when Luca 786 00:38:25,680 --> 00:38:28,879 Speaker 1: is in the postseason, he does bring his very best. 787 00:38:28,920 --> 00:38:31,200 Speaker 1: So I'm not overly concerned about it. All right, guys, 788 00:38:31,320 --> 00:38:33,200 Speaker 1: that is all I have for tonight. Don't forget to 789 00:38:33,239 --> 00:38:34,839 Speaker 1: check out. We broke down a bunch of games from 790 00:38:34,840 --> 00:38:37,480 Speaker 1: Wednesday night on the feed. You'll see it from earlier, 791 00:38:37,520 --> 00:38:40,080 Speaker 1: and then tomorrow night we're gonna be breaking down the 792 00:38:40,080 --> 00:38:43,000 Speaker 1: Friday Night slate. I'm gonna be recording that Friday night, 793 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:44,880 Speaker 1: but it won't be uploaded until Saturday, So keep an 794 00:38:44,920 --> 00:38:47,520 Speaker 1: eye on the feeds until on Saturday morning to see 795 00:38:47,520 --> 00:38:50,240 Speaker 1: a breakdown of Friday night games. As always, I apprecate 796 00:38:50,239 --> 00:39:07,680 Speaker 1: your support. Now see you guys next time. The volume