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In Tennessee redline dial one 26 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 1: eight hundred eight eight nine nine seven eight nine in Tennessee. 27 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: Visit www one dot one eight hundred gambler dot net 28 00:01:46,959 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 1: in West Virginia. Welcome to Lakers Tonight, presented by FanDuel 29 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: Here at the Volume, I am Jason Tim. Happy Friday, everybody. 30 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 1: I hope you all had a great week and that 31 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: you have big plans for the weekend. We are going 32 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: to talk a ton of Lakers tonight. That was, you know, 33 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 1: probably the most frustrating basketball game that I can remember 34 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 1: watching when you factor in all of the details surrounding 35 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: the situation. This Lakers team has been super frustrating all season, 36 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: but there have been varying reasons why it was livable 37 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: for one reason or another, whether it was early in 38 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 1: the season so you knew there was a long runway 39 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:48,959 Speaker 1: to try to figure things out, or you could point 40 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: to a clear personnel issue like an injury or the 41 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: need to play a player that you would never in 42 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: a million years play unless you absolutely had to because 43 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 1: you were back against was against the wall with a 44 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:05,119 Speaker 1: bunch of unforeseen circumstances. This was not any of that. 45 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: This was as close to a must win as you 46 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: could possibly imagine for this team. They had more than 47 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: enough personnel available to win the game handily, and not 48 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 1: only did they lose, but they actively sabotaged themselves, which 49 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: is something that has been a very persistent problem throughout 50 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: the entire season. It's like that coach from the Arizona 51 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: Cardinals after that famous Monday night football loss. They are 52 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: who we thought they were. When a team tells you 53 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: everything they are about themselves over a massive, massive sample size, 54 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: it's unrealistic to expect them to change. And a lot 55 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: of that's on me. If you guys, remember, I last 56 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: night laid out the case for how a Lakers playing 57 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: birth could realistically happen and how they could use that 58 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: birth to potentially make some noise in a playoff run. 59 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: And I explained to you guys using one stat that 60 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: they actually had a better punch than they've shown for 61 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: most of the season. I pointed out that in a 62 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: hundred and eighty four minutes this season, coming into tonight, 63 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 1: with Lebron, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook on the floor 64 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 1: with no center, they were plus eleven point for net, 65 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 1: meaning they were outscoring teams by eleven and a half 66 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: points per one possessions. But there was a very important 67 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: stat that I threw out before that. If you guys 68 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 1: remember I said there are some bad Lebron in a 69 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: D stats, And I told you that this season, coming 70 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: into tonight, when the Lakers had Lebron and Anthony Davis 71 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: on the floor together, they had a negative net rating 72 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: and one that was worse than they were last year 73 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: with Lebron and a D on the bench at the 74 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 1: same time. So that's how they've been this season with 75 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:03,159 Speaker 1: Lebron and a D on the floor. So what's the 76 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: difference between those two scenarios. Why are Lebron, a D 77 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 1: and Russ with no center playing relatively well, And why 78 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: are Lebron and a D in general and the totality 79 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:17,599 Speaker 1: of their minutes playing so poorly? And the obvious reason 80 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 1: why was throughout the entire season the Lakers, either by 81 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: either forced by injury at various points or simply because 82 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:30,279 Speaker 1: of malpractice from the coaching staff, they very frequently played 83 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:36,160 Speaker 1: their worst players alongside Lebron James and Anthony Davis. Basketball, 84 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 1: you know, coaches have, like there's coaches have a philosophy 85 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 1: that they bring to a situation. Frank Vogel has a 86 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 1: core philosophy, right, and it centers around controlling the interior 87 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 1: as a defensive team, shutting off the paint, but also rebounding, 88 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 1: controlling the glass. It's all about physical dominance and with 89 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:02,840 Speaker 1: the Kers that worked. That's why I've been so defensive 90 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 1: of Frank Vogel over this entire span. But the league 91 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,480 Speaker 1: has changed a lot in the last two years, and 92 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 1: that particular team was so skilled down the roster. When 93 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 1: you really looked at all the players they had in 94 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 1: their rotation, Alex Crusoe Contavious called, well, Pope Kyle Kuzma 95 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: that was a better version of Dwight Howard. JaVale McGee 96 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: is a much better backup center than anybody they had 97 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 1: that season. He was actually started. That team was significantly 98 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: more talented. This team is not so much, so you 99 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: can't afford to play away from your strengths. And you know, 100 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: there's it's the concept. It's it's like the concept of 101 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:47,159 Speaker 1: confirmation bias, confirmation biases, seeing something that that comes when 102 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: you have a specific worldview, You're gonna gravitate towards data, 103 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 1: and you're gonna gravitate towards evidence that confirms your belief. 104 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: We have had so much evidence this year that this 105 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: team is at their best when Danny Davis is at 106 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 1: the center position and they play their younger players, when 107 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 1: they play Austin Reeves, when they play Stanley Johnson, when 108 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: they play Malik Monk alongside Lebron James and Anthony Davis. 109 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 1: That is when this team has been at its best. 110 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: And there's been significant data to back that up. But 111 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: Frank Vogel has consistently ignored that data. I told you guys, 112 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 1: after they beat the Jazz earlier this season, they beat 113 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: the Jazz, they run him off the floor. It's that 114 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: Stanley Johnson, Lebron pick and roll at the end of 115 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: the game, and there was an amazing lineup that finished 116 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: the game as Austin Reeves, Malik Monks, Stanley Johnson, Lebron 117 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: and I believe it might have been Tailing. I can't 118 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 1: remember who the fourth fifth guy was, but they had 119 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: a core lineup that controlled that game in the fourth quarter. 120 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 1: Frank did not play that lineup a single minute the 121 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: next game, not a single minute. So he had data 122 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 1: right there in his face, proof that what he was 123 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: doing was working with that group, and he completely ignored 124 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: it and went back to what he was comfortable with 125 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: and then next game. That's confirmation bias. That's seeing two 126 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: sets of data, a data that goes against your worldview 127 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: and data that goes towards your worldview, and ignoring the data, 128 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:12,679 Speaker 1: the clear and obvious data that goes against your worldview. 129 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: Frank doesn't like to play this way. Frank doesn't want 130 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: to play Anthony Davis at center. He loves having two 131 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 1: bigs on the floor. He wants to play traditional old 132 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: school plotting basketball. That's what he wants to do. He 133 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 1: wants to live in the half court and play like 134 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: he did with Roy Hibbert in the Indiana Pacers, which 135 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: worked back in the day. This is a completely different 136 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 1: league now. His worldview is inherently flawed for this NBA 137 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,440 Speaker 1: in the year two. So here we go fast forward 138 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: to today, Like I point out three minutes Lebron a 139 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 1: D no center plus eleven point four Lebron a D 140 00:08:55,920 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 1: in totality negative. So is Lee, that's the way they 141 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: need to play Lebron and a D at center. But 142 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: he in that first half tonight, you played twenty four 143 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 1: minutes of basketball. By my count, they played about three 144 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 1: minutes and fourteen seconds with Lebron and a D and 145 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 1: no center, with ross three minutes and fourteen seconds out 146 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 1: of twenty eight available. So all of the data in 147 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: the world, all of the success in the world screaming 148 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: that you need to play this way, but Frank wants 149 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 1: to play his way. And you know, obviously towards the 150 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: end of the game, there was a there was a 151 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: point about seven and a half minutes left in the 152 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 1: third quarter where Frank did finally go. He took Dwight 153 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: out of the game. He he he played Lebron, a D 154 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 1: and Russ without a center, Bingo bengo. They went on 155 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 1: a run right away. Lebron is just getting to the 156 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 1: basket every single time down the floor. He actually, I 157 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 1: have a big feeling that Lebron, like you know, Lebron 158 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 1: and a d are are They look like themselves for 159 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: the most part tonight right. But the context here is 160 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 1: is neither of them has played consistently of late, so 161 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 1: they're conditioning wasn't there. This was a game you had 162 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 1: to win early. This was a game you had to 163 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 1: avoid crunch time at all costs, because you knew that 164 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 1: the longer the game dragged on, the longer it was competitive, 165 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 1: the more likely Lebron and a d S rust and 166 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: conditioning would become a problem. And it did. Lebron fired 167 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: off everything he had in the tank in that third quarter, 168 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: had absolutely no lift in the fourth. Don't think it 169 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 1: was the ankle. I think it was fatigue. It's It's 170 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 1: completely unrealistic to expect him to take a bunch of 171 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: time off like that and then to just walk back 172 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: onto a basketball court and be able to play forty 173 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: minutes of high level NBA basketball. That's unrealistic. This was 174 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: a game where you had to come in and play 175 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:52,319 Speaker 1: to your strengths and close the deal early. But instead 176 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 1: it was close. And what do I always tell you, guys, 177 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 1: if a game is close at the end, literally anything 178 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: can happen. I remember watching a game in the bubble 179 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 1: in and I watched Dj Augustine of the Orlando Magic 180 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 1: personally execute the Milwaukee Bucks with a couple of big 181 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 1: shots at the end of the game because they played 182 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: with their food all night. They ended up winning the 183 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:15,440 Speaker 1: next four games and won the series. But I can't 184 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 1: tell you how many times in my time watching basketball 185 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 1: I've seen a team play with their food for whatever reason. 186 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: Usually it's just effort related. The Lakers actively sabotaged themselves 187 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 1: with strategy. But you find yourself in a close game, 188 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:33,680 Speaker 1: there's eight minutes left and anything can happen, So guess 189 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:38,439 Speaker 1: what happens. Jonas Valanciinas makes a weird lurching three from 190 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 1: the top of the key, because that's the kind of 191 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:43,679 Speaker 1: thing that can happen in a close game. There's a 192 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 1: player where Jonas Valancionas post up Anthony Davis and uses 193 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:49,680 Speaker 1: his off arm to clear space for the shot and 194 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:51,959 Speaker 1: gets a foul call. I thought it was a really 195 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 1: bad call, but guess what happens in really close games, 196 00:11:54,960 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 1: Sometimes really bad calls. It's part of the deal. There 197 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:02,199 Speaker 1: were some really good looks that people missed at the 198 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:06,199 Speaker 1: end of the game for the Lakers. What happens when 199 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: you're in a close game, sometimes you missed shots. This 200 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:13,560 Speaker 1: just happened last week. It might have been a week ago, 201 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: it might have been two weeks ago against Washington, played 202 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 1: with their food blue lead. It was close. Next thing 203 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:23,679 Speaker 1: you know, Lebron was missing a wide open three. At 204 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:26,839 Speaker 1: the end, Russ missed a wide open three and they 205 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 1: got killed by Kris STAPs. Porzingis making contested jump shots 206 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: because that's what happens when you mess around with the 207 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:34,679 Speaker 1: team and get into a close game. This was This 208 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 1: is a team I I told you guys yesterday if 209 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 1: Lebron and a d really were engaged, which I thought 210 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 1: they were tonight, but there was no reason in the 211 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 1: world why they shouldn't go five and one down the 212 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: stretch because they are. Even with all of the issues 213 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: surrounding the two of them on the roster this year, 214 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: they're good enough to win these games. They're good enough 215 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 1: to beat the Nuggets. They're good enough to beat Golden 216 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 1: State if Steph Curry's her. They're good enough to beat 217 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,319 Speaker 1: everybody remaining on their schedule. But the Suns. That's how 218 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 1: good they are. They're good enough to go out tonight 219 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 1: and have the Pelicans down to going into the fourth 220 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 1: quarter to where Lebron and a D could run out 221 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 1: of gas and be fatigued and it could not be 222 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 1: a problem. But instead they played with their food and 223 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: instead Frank went right, this, this is ridiculous. So, first 224 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 1: of all, the starters, I've told you guys all season. 225 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: I've done videos on it, I've done breakdowns, I've shown 226 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: you guys numbers. I've shown you everything that I can 227 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 1: to show that the best players on the roster where 228 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: Austin Reeves, Stanley Johnson, Malik Monk, and Taylor Horton Tucker 229 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:46,079 Speaker 1: alongside Lebron and a D. Austin Reeves didn't play tonight. 230 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 1: I I get it, he hadn't played super well in 231 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 1: the previous few games. But if you know anything about 232 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:57,439 Speaker 1: the game of basketball, you know guys like Austin Reeves 233 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 1: glue guys, guys who are fifth then in lineups. They 234 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: require talent alongside them to get them the easy opportunities 235 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 1: that they capitalize on. Austin Reeves was always gonna look 236 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: worse with Lebron and a D off the floor. He's 237 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: not a guy that can create a ton of things 238 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 1: for himself against that defense. He's not as a guy 239 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 1: who's gonna thrive if he's being guarded all the time. 240 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: He was going to play a lot better with Lebron 241 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 1: and a d coming back. There was no reason in 242 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:28,360 Speaker 1: the world to playoffs, to play Avery Bradley over him tonight. 243 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 1: That isn't a completely inconscionable decision. That is, there is 244 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: no defense for it. I cannot even fathom a reason 245 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: why he would do so. And guess what. Guess who 246 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 1: was cooking like crazy to start the game. C J McCollum. 247 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 1: Why can c J. McCollum is bigger than Avery Bradley, 248 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 1: He's smarter than Avery Bradley, and Avery Bradley is not 249 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 1: good enough on ball anymore to really disrupt players like that, 250 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: and he's a terrible off ball defender. He freelances like crazy. 251 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 1: Play in the first quarter, Dwight Howard's got Brandon Ingram 252 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 1: on a switch. There are two Pelican bigs under the basket. 253 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 1: Uh Lebron James is waiting under the basket. Anthony Davis 254 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 1: is waiting under the basket. Who cares if Dwight Howard 255 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: gets beat off the dribble. Avery Bradley just randomly runs 256 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: over and double teams. Brandon Ingram gives up a wide 257 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: open three to see J McCollum, and you can guess 258 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: how that went. Austin Reeves doesn't make that kind of mistake. 259 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: He's a low He's a high floor, low ceiling guy. 260 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: He's the perfect guy to be the fifth man in 261 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 1: the lineup. He doesn't freelance, he doesn't make mistakes. He 262 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 1: simply does his job. He never forces a bad shot, 263 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: he attacks close outs and makes great reads. He is 264 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 1: the ideal player to put alongside Rustle, Lebron and Anthony Davis. 265 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 1: And he did not play tonight. It's completely indefensible. First 266 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 1: run someb of the game, they put Monk in for us. 267 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: That's fine. Then they bring in DJ Augustine for Dwight Howard. 268 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 1: So you go small and your response is to have 269 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: Malik Monkey DJ Augustine on the floor. DJ Augustine needed 270 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: to play earlier when this team was decimated by injuries. 271 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: There was no reason in the world for him to 272 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 1: be in the rotation tonight, not a single reason in 273 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: the world. And then we go into the second quarter. 274 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: You have Lebron, James and Anthony Davis on your team, 275 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 1: and you started the second quarter with DJ Augustine, Russell Westbrook, 276 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 1: Malik Monks, Stanley Johnson, and when you in Gabriel, that's 277 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 1: an indefensible decision. And then as soon as you brought 278 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis back in the middle of the second quarter, 279 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 1: here came d White Howard with him. I just it's 280 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 1: been like this all season. You can't afford as a 281 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: basketball team to have this many factors working against you. 282 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: We just saw it with the Memphis Grizzlies, who beat 283 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 1: the ship out of the Phoenix Suns tonight. It was 284 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 1: that relatively close and competitive with Memphis controlled that game. 285 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: They did it without their players, their best players. They 286 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 1: did it without Jaren Jackson Jr. Without Steven Adams, without 287 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: John Morant, without Desmond Baine, because that's the only thing 288 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 1: that was working against them tonight, missing players. They don't 289 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 1: have a scheme that actively goes against their strengths. They 290 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:16,399 Speaker 1: don't have a coach that is stubbornly entrenched in his 291 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: in his outdated approach to the game of basketball. They 292 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 1: don't have a front office in ownership group that is 293 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:29,200 Speaker 1: is just steeped in in in like weird familial dynamics 294 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,920 Speaker 1: and inability to empower the proper people in the job. 295 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 1: They don't have those issues, so they can overcome one 296 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 1: issue this Laker team can afford to have with all 297 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:44,159 Speaker 1: of the issues they have with the rust mistake and 298 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: everything that's surrounded that. Letting Alex Cruso go having these 299 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: inferior role players, you can't afford to then have a 300 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 1: coach that also doesn't play the good players you have. 301 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:58,719 Speaker 1: I've done so much to defend Frank Vogel over the 302 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 1: course of this season because I have the utmost respect 303 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 1: for what he's capable of as a defensive coach when 304 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: he's given the tools. But this is just look, dude, 305 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:15,199 Speaker 1: you've got to adapt, and the Lakers have a handful 306 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 1: of guys on their roster that are completely unwilling to 307 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 1: do so. Anthony Davis thinks he's Kevin Durant and his 308 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:25,399 Speaker 1: insistent on taking really difficult midrange jump shots for a 309 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 1: lot of his offense. It wasn't so bad tonight, but 310 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 1: that's been an issue over the course of the last 311 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: two years. You've got Russell Westbrook, who literally went on 312 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: yet another interview yesterday sobs story. I'm just pushing through 313 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 1: a really tough season, not a single word out of 314 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:43,719 Speaker 1: his mouth about how he's one of the least skilled 315 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 1: guards in the entire NBA. Not a single word out 316 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: of his mouth about how, you know, hey, maybe this 317 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:52,199 Speaker 1: season has shown me that I need to make some 318 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 1: improvements this offseason in the skill areas of my game. 319 00:18:57,119 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 1: And then you've got Frank Vogel who thinks it's two 320 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: thousand their team with Roy Hibbert. Still there's way too 321 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 1: much stubbornness on this roster. There's way too much stubbornness 322 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: in this system. Now, they're not completely dead. They can 323 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 1: overcome this. I said they'd go five and one. Maybe 324 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:18,400 Speaker 1: they go four and two and they still get into 325 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 1: the playing spot. But my optimism was centered around them 326 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:25,919 Speaker 1: playing into their strengths. I did that whole video yesterday, 327 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:29,200 Speaker 1: and they went out and tossed it all in the garbage. 328 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: Everything they learned over the course of the season they 329 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:39,719 Speaker 1: tossed in the garbage. And so now do I think 330 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:42,359 Speaker 1: they're gonna make the playing game. No, because they gotta 331 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: go beat Denver on Sunday, And if they continue to 332 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 1: do the same thing they did tonight, they're gonna lose 333 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:51,199 Speaker 1: to Denver on Sunday. So they're not going to make 334 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 1: the playing tournament and they're gonna get eliminated. They're gonna 335 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 1: go home early, and next thing you know, at the 336 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 1: blame aim will start and Franco get fired and Russell 337 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:07,199 Speaker 1: get traded away, and they'll they'll pretend everything's fine. But 338 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: if this team doesn't start getting smarter, they're not going 339 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,640 Speaker 1: to be able to overcome some of the restrictions they 340 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 1: have with their cap sheet. When you're operating on the 341 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: fringes like this, when you've got Lebron and Anton Davis 342 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 1: making a ton of money and you've got this albatross 343 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:24,119 Speaker 1: of a RUSS contract that you have to deal with, 344 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: you have to be smart. You have to be the 345 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:30,680 Speaker 1: smarter team. You can't be the dumb team. I talked 346 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 1: a lot about this yesterday with the Clippers. Right down 347 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 1: the hall in Crypto dot com arena. There is a 348 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:41,720 Speaker 1: team that has been dealing with significantly lesser talent this 349 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:45,880 Speaker 1: season who has been significantly better. Why Because they don't 350 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 1: have nepotism in their front office, because they hire smart 351 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:51,879 Speaker 1: people to do the job. Because they have a coach 352 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 1: that literally just in the last four or five years, 353 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 1: has completely changed his approach and philosophy of the game. 354 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 1: When he was in Cleveland, he was basically Doc Rivers Light. 355 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 1: Now he's Mr five out, Mr embraced all of the 356 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:10,359 Speaker 1: modern trends in basketball. That that team is from the 357 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:15,400 Speaker 1: top down so incredibly smart. And in this Laker team, 358 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 1: it basically has Lebron James going for it once again tonight. 359 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:24,359 Speaker 1: Just this could have been even worse if Lebron didn't 360 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 1: go crazy like he did in the third quarter. And 361 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 1: it's unfore and again he had to do that in 362 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:33,679 Speaker 1: the third quarter to keep that game competitive and they 363 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 1: were only up by one going into the fourth quarter 364 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 1: and he was out of gas. That's you can't ask 365 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 1: that of Lebron at this point of it in his career. 366 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 1: He can't be get fifty every night. Guy. No one's 367 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 1: ever been that guy, not since Wilt and that was 368 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 1: a completely different sport. I just it's as discouraging as 369 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 1: anything that I can remember watching as a fan. You know, 370 00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 1: I am not your traditional Lakers fan. I grew up 371 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 1: in Tucson, Arizona. But in twenty nineteen I started covering 372 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:09,880 Speaker 1: the team. I fell in love with the team because 373 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:13,680 Speaker 1: that team was so much fun. They had they played 374 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:16,119 Speaker 1: directly into their strengths. The coach was perfect for the 375 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,959 Speaker 1: roster they had. Lebron and Nade were completely dialed in. 376 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: They tried harder than everybody every single night, and they 377 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 1: were winners. Those dudes were winners, and it was a 378 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 1: fun team to cover. And literally this season has been 379 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 1: such a departure from that, it's like it's hardly even recognizable, 380 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:37,199 Speaker 1: and and it is. It is what it is. You know, 381 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:41,959 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis, he looked fine, but this dude hasn't been 382 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:43,439 Speaker 1: able to stay on the court for more than a 383 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:46,479 Speaker 1: handful of games at a time, literally since the bubble. 384 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:49,120 Speaker 1: It's gonna take a while for him to get back 385 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 1: to where he's at. Lebron is dealing with an injury himself. 386 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:54,640 Speaker 1: He's not in shape yet, he doesn't have his rhythm yet. 387 00:22:55,960 --> 00:23:00,200 Speaker 1: You you can't afford right now to not bring your 388 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 1: best to the table every night, and this team willingly, 389 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:08,040 Speaker 1: deliberately does not bring their best. The last thing I 390 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:09,639 Speaker 1: wanted to hit on with the Lakers before we move 391 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 1: on was Russ. You know he. I thought it was 392 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 1: a classic Russ game in the sense that he had 393 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 1: a lot of bad that he brought to the table, 394 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 1: but he also had a lot of good that he 395 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 1: brought to the table. When he was guarding brandon Ingram 396 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:26,199 Speaker 1: in isolation, he did a really nice job but holding 397 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: his ground with physicality, making brandon Ingram shoot over the top. 398 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:31,359 Speaker 1: He did something that I've always thought was really smart. 399 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: When you're a shorter defender, don't try to block the shot, 400 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 1: don't try to contest the shot, contest the face. He's 401 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:38,360 Speaker 1: doing a really nice job of just getting his hand 402 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: right there in in brandon Ingram's face, and he made 403 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:43,159 Speaker 1: him miss some shots. It was good defense. But then 404 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:44,960 Speaker 1: when he would getting pick and roll coverage, he kept 405 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 1: dying on the screens. When he would get matched up 406 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:50,240 Speaker 1: with c. J. McCollum, he did a really bad job 407 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:54,360 Speaker 1: because it's a little bit more labor intensive. And then 408 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:57,440 Speaker 1: you know, this is the classic thing that happens with 409 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 1: Russ all the time. Makes two huge threes early fourth 410 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:04,480 Speaker 1: quarter to put the team up eight. But the problem 411 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: is is this season he's been shooting twenty eight point 412 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:11,359 Speaker 1: five percent on catch and shoot threes coming into tonight 413 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 1: point five percent. And what did he do? A few 414 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 1: possessions later? He took an off the dribble three on 415 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 1: the left wing and air balled. Sandwiching those two threes 416 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 1: was two air balls mixed in with a ton of 417 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:26,760 Speaker 1: trash talk, and the team gave up sixty four points 418 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:29,399 Speaker 1: in the second half with Lebron and a D on 419 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:34,440 Speaker 1: the floor. It's just not good enough. I I think 420 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:38,480 Speaker 1: Russ has to Russ has to come to terms with 421 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:40,640 Speaker 1: the fact that he needs to completely adjust the way 422 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:42,679 Speaker 1: he plays basketball. He's got to go into this offseason 423 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: and massively improve the skill areas of this game. I 424 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:48,800 Speaker 1: don't understand how he doesn't look across the way and 425 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:52,080 Speaker 1: see c Jim McCollum and think I need to be 426 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 1: able to do that stuff. All these NBA guards are 427 00:24:56,640 --> 00:25:00,119 Speaker 1: incredible with what they can do with the basketball, and 428 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:03,680 Speaker 1: Russ just has not made an attempt to build that 429 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 1: out in his game. Just simply has not put the 430 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:08,439 Speaker 1: work in and like and that's what I'm That's what 431 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 1: I'm sick of their talking trash to you, Russ, when 432 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 1: you airball that shot because you actually can't shoot, and 433 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:16,560 Speaker 1: the two threes you made are two of the few 434 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 1: that you've made, because when you've cotton shot threes this year, 435 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:22,200 Speaker 1: you've made less than of them. That's why they're talking trash. 436 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 1: So you rubbing it in their face doesn't actually accomplish anything. 437 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 1: The only thing that's going to accomplish anything is you 438 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:30,280 Speaker 1: getting in the gym this summer. Man, work on your game. 439 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 1: You can't be six three lebron every more anymore. That 440 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:36,920 Speaker 1: just runs people over. You've got to get more skilled. 441 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:41,440 Speaker 1: But an insummation to put a bow on this whole 442 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:46,040 Speaker 1: thing with the Lakers, I'm annoyed, I'm frustrated. I I 443 00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 1: this season just needs to be put in the review mirror, 444 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 1: and that that that there's so much self reflection that 445 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 1: needs to be done within that franchise. And it figures 446 00:25:56,920 --> 00:26:00,639 Speaker 1: that the final nail in the coffin would be Frank 447 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 1: Vogel dipping right back into every mistake he made at 448 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 1: the start of the season, with all of the evidence 449 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 1: laid out in front of him. All Right, we're gonna 450 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:11,760 Speaker 1: bring my guy Carson to play some games. How's it going, man, 451 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:17,760 Speaker 1: I'm great, Jason, how are you? I'm annoyed? Man? Yeah, yeah, 452 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:20,240 Speaker 1: you know, I actually could pick up on that. All right, well, 453 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:22,880 Speaker 1: we're gonna pick the mood up here because we've got 454 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:25,879 Speaker 1: the five biggest questions from around the NBA for you tonight. 455 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 1: And the first one is related to a game that 456 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 1: you already mentioned, and that was the Grizzlies going out 457 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 1: and beating the healthy Sons without four of their top guys. 458 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 1: And they're now twenty and two without Jaw this season. 459 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 1: So is that a big deal to you? You know, 460 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: it's funny because I I remember when the Nets lost 461 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 1: in Memphis without Job. The other night, I did this 462 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:52,439 Speaker 1: whole thing about how young athletic teams at home in 463 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:54,640 Speaker 1: front of a raucous crowd or like a buzz saw 464 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 1: when they really really want to win a game. And 465 00:26:57,760 --> 00:26:59,480 Speaker 1: I watched the first few minutes of that game, and 466 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:02,719 Speaker 1: I'm like, yeah, textbook buzz saw. Because you know, and 467 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 1: this is this is the twenty and two thing means nothing. 468 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:08,280 Speaker 1: It relates to Jaw, has nothing to do with how 469 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 1: valuable Jaws to the team, has nothing to do with 470 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 1: this team's ceiling in terms of what it looks like 471 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 1: when it has John the floor. What it does tell 472 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:18,480 Speaker 1: me is that this team, you know, I've said a 473 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 1: lot about the Suns that they are the most talented 474 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:23,440 Speaker 1: team in the NBA from top to bottom. What Memphis 475 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:25,920 Speaker 1: is showing us by them going twenty in two without 476 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 1: Jaw is that they are very much right up there 477 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:31,879 Speaker 1: with Phoenix, not quite there. I don't think they quite 478 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:34,720 Speaker 1: have the high end players, but I think I think 479 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:37,239 Speaker 1: Memphis has a lot more talent than we've given them 480 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:39,840 Speaker 1: credit for, and that's something we should probably factor in 481 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:43,919 Speaker 1: when we're talking about their ceiling. Yeah, I mean you 482 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:46,520 Speaker 1: mentioned the talent there, but I think the number to 483 00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:48,399 Speaker 1: me that stands out most from when they haven't had 484 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:50,240 Speaker 1: Jaws that in those twenty two games, they have a 485 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:53,200 Speaker 1: defensive rating of one oh one point five, which would 486 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 1: be like almost five points better than the best actual 487 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:58,879 Speaker 1: defense in the league. And I just think since Taylor 488 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:01,360 Speaker 1: Jenkins got there, he has done such a remarkable job 489 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 1: of establishing a defensive culture with, like you said, a 490 00:28:04,359 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 1: young group. That's abnormal to be one of the five 491 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:09,040 Speaker 1: six youngest teams in the league and be that great defensively. 492 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 1: So do you think that he deserves more credit in 493 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:15,760 Speaker 1: like the Coach of the Year conversation? Is he under 494 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:21,320 Speaker 1: underappreciated in that way? Absolutely? I I would credit the 495 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 1: front office as well, But like you know, you hit 496 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 1: the word on the head. It's if you hit the 497 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:29,719 Speaker 1: nail on the head with that word culture, because you're right, 498 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:33,440 Speaker 1: it's super uncommon for young basketball teams to be really 499 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:35,160 Speaker 1: good on the defensive end of the floor. The main 500 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:38,600 Speaker 1: reason why is because defense is about so defense is 501 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: so much more complicated than people think. Like Lebron came 502 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 1: into the league as an absolute freak athlete. He was 503 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:45,440 Speaker 1: not a good defensive player the first three or four 504 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:47,760 Speaker 1: years that he was in the league because defense is 505 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:51,440 Speaker 1: so so much about focus, so that you it is 506 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 1: such a brain game that people don't understand. And I 507 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:57,360 Speaker 1: remember this even when I was playing, Like the extent 508 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 1: of time you have to spend memorizing plays so that 509 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:03,920 Speaker 1: you don't get surprised by screens. Like it's just it's 510 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 1: such a silly thing to think about, but like how often, 511 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:09,360 Speaker 1: Like because if you're not paying attention and you don't 512 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:12,760 Speaker 1: know where the screen is coming from, teams disguise actions 513 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 1: really well and you can run headlong into somebody in 514 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:19,640 Speaker 1: the whole defensive concept breaks down. It is so difficult 515 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 1: to be a good defensive player, and it is so 516 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:25,000 Speaker 1: much It's so much more than just are you big, 517 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 1: strong and fast and so to Taylor Jenkins is credit 518 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:32,200 Speaker 1: you know, because there's so many things in offense that 519 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 1: you can't control making shots. You know, how the rhythm 520 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:38,400 Speaker 1: role players are role players are they gonna feel good 521 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 1: one night or they're gonna feel bad one night. But 522 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 1: there's one thing that you can always control, and it's 523 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:44,080 Speaker 1: what you do on the defensive end of the floor, 524 00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:46,760 Speaker 1: because it's all about effort and focus. And so to 525 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:51,479 Speaker 1: Taylor Jenkins credit, he's established a culture there and as 526 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:53,720 Speaker 1: long as it's like it's like keeping the main thing, 527 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 1: the main thing, as long as that's always on the 528 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:57,719 Speaker 1: front burner, as long as that's always the thing at 529 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:00,320 Speaker 1: the top of the player's minds, and you established that early, 530 00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:05,040 Speaker 1: it becomes almost like reactionary. It's almost like instinctual. You 531 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:08,040 Speaker 1: defend because that's just what you do. And that's what's 532 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:10,360 Speaker 1: so hard about this Laker team is like they they 533 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:12,920 Speaker 1: have the opposite of that instinct. They have to go 534 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:15,480 Speaker 1: out of their way to defend because it's not instinctual 535 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:17,640 Speaker 1: for them because it is not ingrained in their culture 536 00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:21,080 Speaker 1: and it but to Taylor Jenkins credit, like, that's really 537 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:23,040 Speaker 1: difficult to do with young players, and he somehow managed 538 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 1: to pull it off. So now that they are standing 539 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:29,720 Speaker 1: here and they're lapping the competition for the second best 540 00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:32,480 Speaker 1: record in the league. What do you think is a 541 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:35,440 Speaker 1: successful season for them at this point when it comes 542 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 1: to how far they can get in the playoffs. Oh, 543 00:30:39,120 --> 00:30:42,000 Speaker 1: that's an interesting question. I mean, they're not gonna say 544 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:43,800 Speaker 1: this kind of thing in the locker room. In the 545 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:46,200 Speaker 1: locker room, they're talking title or bust, as they should, 546 00:30:46,240 --> 00:30:48,280 Speaker 1: because when you when you have the second best, like 547 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:50,680 Speaker 1: people don't realize this, Like you know, we were just 548 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:53,760 Speaker 1: talking about home court and the buzz saw. They're going 549 00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:56,600 Speaker 1: to have home court over anybody in the Eastern Conference 550 00:30:56,600 --> 00:30:59,280 Speaker 1: if they make it to the finals. So Memphis basically 551 00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:01,560 Speaker 1: has the home court locked up for the first round, 552 00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:03,680 Speaker 1: the second round, and the finals. The only round that 553 00:31:03,720 --> 00:31:05,520 Speaker 1: they're gonna have to go on the road is if 554 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 1: they play Phoenix, So they they they are poised and 555 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:14,960 Speaker 1: set for a legitimate playoff run here. Now I expect 556 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:19,479 Speaker 1: that they would lose to Phoenix and possibly earlier because 557 00:31:20,040 --> 00:31:22,760 Speaker 1: you know, the other the next and the next issue 558 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:26,840 Speaker 1: with youth is understanding how to win in a playoff environment. 559 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:31,800 Speaker 1: And you know, historically young teams have struggled there. There 560 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:34,000 Speaker 1: the thunder and two thousand twelve are a great example. 561 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:36,720 Speaker 1: They were favored going into that series. They were significantly 562 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:40,560 Speaker 1: more talented the the Heat were just smarter, and as 563 00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:43,560 Speaker 1: that series progressed, they won five four games to one 564 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:45,480 Speaker 1: in a series that probably should have gone six or 565 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:48,240 Speaker 1: seven games. Because they won all of the basketball i 566 00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:51,400 Speaker 1: Q areas of the game. That's gonna be their biggest shortcoming. 567 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 1: But I would say if they made it to the 568 00:31:53,600 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 1: Western Conference finals and went down admirably in like six games, 569 00:31:57,200 --> 00:32:00,240 Speaker 1: that's a massive resounding success for the season. But I'm 570 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:02,480 Speaker 1: sure inside the locker room they're talking title or bust. 571 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 1: All right, biggest question from around the league tonight number two. 572 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:12,640 Speaker 1: The Nuggets lost tonight. Yokich had thirty eight nineteen and eight. 573 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:15,360 Speaker 1: But still that m v P race is getting so 574 00:32:15,480 --> 00:32:17,760 Speaker 1: tight right now with the way that Janice has been 575 00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:21,840 Speaker 1: surging as of late. So does that loss hurt Yoki's 576 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:27,959 Speaker 1: MVP case? You know, I don't think Yokich is hurting 577 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:30,040 Speaker 1: his mv keep the m v P case as much 578 00:32:30,040 --> 00:32:34,360 Speaker 1: as as Janice is helping it. So the real you know, 579 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:37,800 Speaker 1: Yoki just considered the MVP front runner for two reasons, 580 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:42,240 Speaker 1: in my opinion, One is he's been incredible. But two is, 581 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:44,840 Speaker 1: we don't have a traditional candidate in the sense that 582 00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:47,680 Speaker 1: we don't we didn't have like one of the best 583 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:50,440 Speaker 1: records in the league that has like a bona fide 584 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:53,360 Speaker 1: like Titan of the NBA at the top. Right. You know, 585 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:56,160 Speaker 1: it's not like, you know, Steph Curry and the Warriors 586 00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:58,520 Speaker 1: in two thousand sixteen. It's not like Lebron James and 587 00:32:58,560 --> 00:33:00,640 Speaker 1: the Heat in two thousand thirteen. You don't have these 588 00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:03,360 Speaker 1: this like best team in the league, clearly one of 589 00:33:03,360 --> 00:33:05,960 Speaker 1: the best players. And so Yoki's kind of capitalized on that. 590 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:08,280 Speaker 1: He's gonna end up finishing up with the sixth seed, 591 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:11,520 Speaker 1: and Janice is gonna end up probably is the one seed, 592 00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:15,040 Speaker 1: averaging thirty thirty points per game and potentially winning the 593 00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:17,120 Speaker 1: scoring title depending on how things go with Lebron here 594 00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:20,240 Speaker 1: down the stretch. So, like I I think Janice is 595 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:24,040 Speaker 1: just starting to demonstrate to us a very traditional m 596 00:33:24,080 --> 00:33:25,760 Speaker 1: v P case and that's why he should win. And 597 00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:29,360 Speaker 1: for the record, I'm okay with it, Like I really 598 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:31,920 Speaker 1: like Yoki, but I think we've jumped the gun on 599 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:33,880 Speaker 1: him a little bit. You can run him off the 600 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:37,040 Speaker 1: floor and transition and he's and he's only good defensively 601 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 1: and drop coverage, so there's a lot of different ways 602 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:42,280 Speaker 1: you can attack him. He has some glaring weaknesses, and 603 00:33:42,360 --> 00:33:43,760 Speaker 1: we just have guys at the top of the league 604 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:46,320 Speaker 1: that don't have glaring weaknesses. And you know, you guys 605 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:49,240 Speaker 1: know me like, I'm always going to defer to the 606 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:52,080 Speaker 1: proven guys. And I would much rather see Yannice get 607 00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:54,240 Speaker 1: the trophy than Yoki's for so many different reasons, not 608 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:56,040 Speaker 1: the least of which is he's just a better basketball 609 00:33:56,080 --> 00:34:00,160 Speaker 1: player and in almost every facet of the game. Do 610 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:03,120 Speaker 1: you feel like that decision is kind of made for 611 00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:04,600 Speaker 1: you at this point or is there something that can 612 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 1: still happen down the stretch in these last five six games. 613 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:13,239 Speaker 1: You know, if for whatever reason, the Bucks don't get 614 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:16,200 Speaker 1: the one seed, Yokich will get it, just because of 615 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:19,799 Speaker 1: the fact that he's got such strong voter support. Vote 616 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:23,160 Speaker 1: A huge portion of the voter base relies on advanced 617 00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:26,680 Speaker 1: metrics for their decision. I I I find catch all 618 00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:30,000 Speaker 1: metrics to be almost offensive because basketball is such a 619 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:33,000 Speaker 1: beautiful and complicated sport. I don't understand the need to 620 00:34:33,080 --> 00:34:36,080 Speaker 1: try to apply one number to a player's impact. I 621 00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:39,040 Speaker 1: respect the people who try to figure that out. I 622 00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:41,960 Speaker 1: just for me, it's like basketball blasphemy, so I avoid 623 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:44,799 Speaker 1: it with a ten foot poll. But like Yokich has 624 00:34:44,880 --> 00:34:47,279 Speaker 1: the support of all the advanced metrics, and a lot 625 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:49,160 Speaker 1: of the voters rely on that kind of thing. They 626 00:34:49,200 --> 00:34:51,319 Speaker 1: would love for a reason to vote for him. So 627 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:53,720 Speaker 1: if Jannest for whatever reason doesn't get the one seed, 628 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:56,719 Speaker 1: I think Yoki gets it easy. But I I think 629 00:34:56,800 --> 00:34:59,520 Speaker 1: yok I think I think Janice sees that as an 630 00:34:59,520 --> 00:35:02,320 Speaker 1: achievable a goal, and the team is good enough to 631 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:04,240 Speaker 1: get the wins to do it, so I would expect 632 00:35:04,239 --> 00:35:06,160 Speaker 1: your honest to get it. Although that I think the 633 00:35:06,239 --> 00:35:08,480 Speaker 1: mentioning players tonight had more to do with the back 634 00:35:08,520 --> 00:35:13,439 Speaker 1: to back than them punting the one seed. I will 635 00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:17,120 Speaker 1: say Yoki's winning it would be a really interesting rewriting 636 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:19,239 Speaker 1: of the president, just because even though the Nuggets have 637 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:21,799 Speaker 1: been statistically with him on the floor like on par 638 00:35:21,920 --> 00:35:23,920 Speaker 1: even with the Bucks, they've been a great team. I 639 00:35:23,960 --> 00:35:28,040 Speaker 1: think from eight until last year, Jordans won it as 640 00:35:28,040 --> 00:35:29,880 Speaker 1: a three seed eight eight, and then Russ wanted as 641 00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:32,719 Speaker 1: a six seed in every other winner was a top 642 00:35:32,719 --> 00:35:34,120 Speaker 1: two seeds. If he were to do it in back 643 00:35:34,160 --> 00:35:36,080 Speaker 1: to back years being a four and a six seed. 644 00:35:36,640 --> 00:35:38,759 Speaker 1: That would certainly be as you talk about, you know, 645 00:35:38,840 --> 00:35:41,400 Speaker 1: not having a traditional historical candidate, that would be kind 646 00:35:41,440 --> 00:35:43,960 Speaker 1: of a rewriting of that precedent, which would be interesting. 647 00:35:44,040 --> 00:35:47,520 Speaker 1: So you mentioned the Bucks sitting there guys tonight, and 648 00:35:47,960 --> 00:35:50,640 Speaker 1: you know, not exactly sure on the motivations behind that, 649 00:35:50,719 --> 00:35:55,839 Speaker 1: but do you think that teams out East should try 650 00:35:55,880 --> 00:35:59,399 Speaker 1: and tank and avoid that one seed so they don't 651 00:35:59,440 --> 00:36:02,680 Speaker 1: have to face Brooklyn or the two seed potentially as well. 652 00:36:05,280 --> 00:36:07,200 Speaker 1: You know, it's funny because this is a this is 653 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:10,800 Speaker 1: a conversation that comes up of a lot frequently because 654 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:13,439 Speaker 1: of the concept of load management, the way teams are 655 00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:15,480 Speaker 1: very very careful with the way they take care of 656 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:18,959 Speaker 1: their stars and mostly keep their eye on the long 657 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:22,000 Speaker 1: term goals of the postseason. And you're seeing more and 658 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:25,360 Speaker 1: more frequently, really really good teams fall down in the 659 00:36:25,440 --> 00:36:27,879 Speaker 1: standings for that reason, not not the least of which 660 00:36:27,880 --> 00:36:30,360 Speaker 1: has been the Lakers the last couple of years. I 661 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:33,680 Speaker 1: have a very very firm policy on this kind of stuff. 662 00:36:33,840 --> 00:36:37,600 Speaker 1: Don't screw with the basketball gods. Anytime you ever play 663 00:36:37,640 --> 00:36:43,040 Speaker 1: basketball in a way that that that deliberately limits your potential. 664 00:36:43,360 --> 00:36:46,439 Speaker 1: I view that as playing And you know, some people 665 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:48,480 Speaker 1: don't believe in this kind of thing. I always have. 666 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:52,120 Speaker 1: It's just, you know, there's there's a reason why some 667 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:54,040 Speaker 1: shots go in and some shots don't. Some people think 668 00:36:54,080 --> 00:36:56,000 Speaker 1: it's just luck. For me, it's like, I'm a big 669 00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:59,000 Speaker 1: believer in like confidence and flow and rhythm and and 670 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:02,360 Speaker 1: and I think that like the best example of this 671 00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:05,040 Speaker 1: was the Bucks last year. They had an opportunity to 672 00:37:05,120 --> 00:37:07,160 Speaker 1: take their way out of having to play the Miami 673 00:37:07,239 --> 00:37:09,600 Speaker 1: Heat in the first round, the same Miami Heat that 674 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:12,719 Speaker 1: embarrassed them in the bubble, and instead they were like, no, 675 00:37:12,800 --> 00:37:15,759 Speaker 1: we're gonna whoop your ass now, and then we're gonna 676 00:37:15,760 --> 00:37:18,959 Speaker 1: whoop your ass in the playoffs. And and I that's 677 00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:20,920 Speaker 1: just to me, I think that's just like the the 678 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:25,600 Speaker 1: appropriate way to go about something like that. Yeah, I'm 679 00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:27,160 Speaker 1: with you all the way on that one. I would 680 00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:30,360 Speaker 1: not be tempting the basketball gods because they are cruel 681 00:37:30,800 --> 00:37:35,839 Speaker 1: and vicious, all right. So I mentioned yesterdays, we mentioned 682 00:37:35,880 --> 00:37:39,480 Speaker 1: on yesterday's show that Draymond was having Jayson Tatum on 683 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:42,200 Speaker 1: his podcast, The Draymond Green Show, And one of the 684 00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:45,200 Speaker 1: things that came out of that was Draymond told Tatum 685 00:37:45,239 --> 00:37:46,920 Speaker 1: that he should be the m v P of the 686 00:37:47,000 --> 00:37:49,920 Speaker 1: NBA next year, and he's sort of worked his way 687 00:37:49,960 --> 00:37:51,920 Speaker 1: into the outskirts of that conversation this year, just with 688 00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:54,040 Speaker 1: how phenomenal he's been the last couple of months in 689 00:37:54,080 --> 00:37:56,759 Speaker 1: the Celtics, you know, having the best record in the 690 00:37:56,840 --> 00:38:01,000 Speaker 1: league for the last games. But what do you think? 691 00:38:01,080 --> 00:38:03,160 Speaker 1: Is he a future MVP candidate? Is he a guy 692 00:38:03,200 --> 00:38:08,520 Speaker 1: you expect to win that award someday? I absolutely think 693 00:38:08,560 --> 00:38:11,440 Speaker 1: that he's a He's gonna be a perennial MVP candidate 694 00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:16,040 Speaker 1: moving forward. You know, actually winning the award is really difficult. 695 00:38:16,600 --> 00:38:19,319 Speaker 1: I as much as we talk about m v P, 696 00:38:19,480 --> 00:38:21,400 Speaker 1: we do it because it's just kind of part of 697 00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:24,640 Speaker 1: being an NBA fan. It's probably my least favorite MBA 698 00:38:24,719 --> 00:38:27,120 Speaker 1: award because if it were up to me, we would 699 00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:29,400 Speaker 1: have an m v P that we give after the season, 700 00:38:29,400 --> 00:38:32,080 Speaker 1: like after the finals, and it would just simply be 701 00:38:32,120 --> 00:38:34,560 Speaker 1: who's the best player in the league. I would I. I 702 00:38:34,120 --> 00:38:37,960 Speaker 1: I just I hate how frequently we play these stupid 703 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:41,319 Speaker 1: mind games to talk ourselves into one player being better 704 00:38:41,320 --> 00:38:43,600 Speaker 1: than another because of regular season results. It's a huge 705 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:45,319 Speaker 1: pet peeve of mine, so I'm not a huge fan, 706 00:38:45,560 --> 00:38:48,000 Speaker 1: and for that reason, Tatum might never win an m 707 00:38:48,040 --> 00:38:51,600 Speaker 1: v P because the advanced analytics community gets behind a 708 00:38:51,600 --> 00:38:54,919 Speaker 1: different guy each year, or you know, narratives can play 709 00:38:54,960 --> 00:38:56,520 Speaker 1: a big role in that kind of a thing too, 710 00:38:56,600 --> 00:38:58,480 Speaker 1: so he might not ever get one that I expect 711 00:38:58,560 --> 00:39:00,480 Speaker 1: him to be near the top. I have him so 712 00:39:01,160 --> 00:39:04,080 Speaker 1: right this year. I have the three big ones up top, Yokich, 713 00:39:04,280 --> 00:39:06,840 Speaker 1: you know, Janis Embiid, then I have Luca kind of 714 00:39:06,840 --> 00:39:09,399 Speaker 1: in another tier right down there at four, and then 715 00:39:09,440 --> 00:39:12,560 Speaker 1: below that it's like John Moran, Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, 716 00:39:12,560 --> 00:39:14,560 Speaker 1: all fighting for that fifth spot, and you could make 717 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:17,560 Speaker 1: a realistic case for Tatum to finish fifth. There. The 718 00:39:17,560 --> 00:39:19,560 Speaker 1: Celtics have been arguably the best team in the league 719 00:39:19,600 --> 00:39:22,319 Speaker 1: here down the stretch. When you look at the way 720 00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:28,560 Speaker 1: Tatum is played since January, it's really really high level stuff, 721 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:33,920 Speaker 1: like like peak small forward type of stuff. He's averaging 722 00:39:33,960 --> 00:39:37,799 Speaker 1: thirty points extremely efficiently, especially in the last month. He's 723 00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:40,239 Speaker 1: starting to shoot the three really really well. He's an 724 00:39:40,239 --> 00:39:45,000 Speaker 1: amazing defensive player and he's taken massive leaps as a playmaker. 725 00:39:45,360 --> 00:39:48,560 Speaker 1: When you watch the Celtics now, Jayson Tatum is basically 726 00:39:48,560 --> 00:39:51,080 Speaker 1: getting doubled all over the floor and still giving you 727 00:39:51,160 --> 00:39:55,439 Speaker 1: thirty every night. He is like so so so much 728 00:39:55,480 --> 00:39:57,279 Speaker 1: better than I think people think. And a lot of 729 00:39:57,320 --> 00:39:59,280 Speaker 1: this has to do with the fact that the Laker 730 00:39:59,360 --> 00:40:01,759 Speaker 1: fan base is a very loud fan base. It's a 731 00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:04,480 Speaker 1: large loud fan base, and they have made jokes at 732 00:40:04,480 --> 00:40:07,279 Speaker 1: Tatum's expense for a long time. There's actually a lot 733 00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:11,680 Speaker 1: of anti Celtic sentiment on Twitter, and there's a lot 734 00:40:11,719 --> 00:40:14,720 Speaker 1: of or in the the the general NBA fan base, 735 00:40:14,840 --> 00:40:17,520 Speaker 1: and like, I think that has caused people to sleep 736 00:40:17,520 --> 00:40:20,879 Speaker 1: on him a little bit. He's firmly a top ten 737 00:40:20,920 --> 00:40:23,200 Speaker 1: player in the NBA in my opinion right now, Like 738 00:40:23,239 --> 00:40:25,680 Speaker 1: I would take him hands down over a guy like 739 00:40:25,760 --> 00:40:29,120 Speaker 1: James Harden right now. He's like creeping up to that. 740 00:40:29,320 --> 00:40:31,359 Speaker 1: I kind of have that tier right below the big 741 00:40:31,360 --> 00:40:33,960 Speaker 1: three guys, right below Janice, Lebron and Katie I kind 742 00:40:33,960 --> 00:40:37,640 Speaker 1: of have like the Yokich mb Luca tier type of guys. 743 00:40:37,920 --> 00:40:40,279 Speaker 1: I put Tatum right in that next tier right there, 744 00:40:40,320 --> 00:40:42,880 Speaker 1: which is which is not an easy tier to make 745 00:40:42,920 --> 00:40:45,800 Speaker 1: your way into. He is, on any given night, capable 746 00:40:45,800 --> 00:40:49,719 Speaker 1: about playing any player in the league. I love his game. Yeah, 747 00:40:49,760 --> 00:40:53,560 Speaker 1: and you talk about just his overall evolution, how much 748 00:40:53,719 --> 00:40:55,839 Speaker 1: better do you think he can actually get from here? 749 00:40:55,840 --> 00:40:59,000 Speaker 1: And is he just like the clear successor to the 750 00:40:59,080 --> 00:41:01,719 Speaker 1: Kauai is the eighties as like, you know, maybe not 751 00:41:01,760 --> 00:41:04,839 Speaker 1: on that level historically, but the top score first wing 752 00:41:04,880 --> 00:41:09,440 Speaker 1: in basketball for however long. Absolutely, I would say that 753 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:13,839 Speaker 1: there's a case. Here's the thing, Since January, he's been 754 00:41:13,920 --> 00:41:19,799 Speaker 1: that guy. Since January, he's been peak Kauai. But you 755 00:41:19,800 --> 00:41:21,960 Speaker 1: guys know the way that we do this, We're not 756 00:41:22,040 --> 00:41:25,479 Speaker 1: going to heap that praise on you for doing it January, February, March. 757 00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:27,719 Speaker 1: You gotta do it in April, May, June, so like. 758 00:41:28,040 --> 00:41:30,440 Speaker 1: But now, for the record, I expect him to do so. 759 00:41:31,040 --> 00:41:34,000 Speaker 1: Hopefully the Robert Williams injury doesn't end up being too much. 760 00:41:34,360 --> 00:41:36,680 Speaker 1: There's word that he could come back in the second round. 761 00:41:36,920 --> 00:41:39,800 Speaker 1: I am hopeful that that Tatum gets a chance to 762 00:41:39,840 --> 00:41:42,319 Speaker 1: show it this season. But like, I'm not gonna heat 763 00:41:42,360 --> 00:41:45,240 Speaker 1: that praise early. But what I would I would compare 764 00:41:45,280 --> 00:41:49,280 Speaker 1: this run that we're seeing from Tatum right now cut 765 00:41:49,760 --> 00:41:54,080 Speaker 1: different player, archetype, different ceiling potentially set the Steph Curry 766 00:41:54,120 --> 00:41:55,879 Speaker 1: is one of the best players to ever play the game, 767 00:41:56,080 --> 00:41:57,640 Speaker 1: but it kind of reminds me of Steph in two 768 00:41:57,640 --> 00:42:01,239 Speaker 1: thousand fourteen, two thousand thirteen, where you're like, holy cow, 769 00:42:01,360 --> 00:42:03,880 Speaker 1: like this guy is like a legit star, like like 770 00:42:04,040 --> 00:42:06,520 Speaker 1: super superstar. And that's kind of the way I've you 771 00:42:06,640 --> 00:42:08,960 Speaker 1: take him like he's in the infant stages of his 772 00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:12,279 Speaker 1: ascendancy into being one of the top five players in 773 00:42:12,320 --> 00:42:14,879 Speaker 1: the NBA. Like I that that's how highly I view him. 774 00:42:15,239 --> 00:42:19,040 Speaker 1: I'm not trying to deliberately use hyperboboly like this dude 775 00:42:19,080 --> 00:42:21,520 Speaker 1: is so incredibly good, Like people have no idea how 776 00:42:21,520 --> 00:42:23,279 Speaker 1: good he's been playing this last couple of months. He's 777 00:42:24,600 --> 00:42:26,239 Speaker 1: he's one of a handful of guys in the league 778 00:42:26,239 --> 00:42:28,080 Speaker 1: that is just getting doubled every time down the floor. 779 00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:30,359 Speaker 1: And you literally have to because if you leave him 780 00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:32,160 Speaker 1: on an island, if you let him play pick and roll, 781 00:42:32,160 --> 00:42:35,440 Speaker 1: he's gonna burn you shooting threes as guys die on screens. 782 00:42:35,680 --> 00:42:38,600 Speaker 1: And he's actually like really good going to the basket now, 783 00:42:38,640 --> 00:42:40,640 Speaker 1: which used to be a weakness of his He's added 784 00:42:40,640 --> 00:42:42,719 Speaker 1: a little bit of strength. He's got an incredibly quick 785 00:42:42,719 --> 00:42:44,960 Speaker 1: first steps, handles a lot better than it used to be. 786 00:42:45,280 --> 00:42:49,480 Speaker 1: He's just a freaking monster right now. Yeah, I think 787 00:42:49,480 --> 00:42:51,640 Speaker 1: he's one of the most skilled scores of the basketball 788 00:42:52,200 --> 00:42:54,640 Speaker 1: of my lifetime, which isn't that long, you know, but 789 00:42:54,760 --> 00:42:58,160 Speaker 1: like the blend of footwork and balance and pure shaw 790 00:42:58,280 --> 00:43:00,400 Speaker 1: making and handle it his size, like the guy was 791 00:43:00,480 --> 00:43:04,160 Speaker 1: just built to score the basketball. So I'm all in 792 00:43:04,239 --> 00:43:07,080 Speaker 1: with you on the Tatum praise. All right, last big 793 00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:10,840 Speaker 1: question of the night. The Pelicans obviously went out and 794 00:43:10,880 --> 00:43:12,800 Speaker 1: got the win tonight. They have really looked in a 795 00:43:12,880 --> 00:43:15,560 Speaker 1: lot of ways like a different team since mccollan got there, 796 00:43:15,600 --> 00:43:18,480 Speaker 1: and just over the past twentysomething games and now they're 797 00:43:18,520 --> 00:43:22,520 Speaker 1: sitting up in the nine seed. But obviously the Zion 798 00:43:22,680 --> 00:43:26,919 Speaker 1: question remains ever relevant. So just factoring in all of that, 799 00:43:27,600 --> 00:43:31,680 Speaker 1: what do you make of their future as a team? 800 00:43:31,800 --> 00:43:34,040 Speaker 1: I like their future. I don't think they're gonna do 801 00:43:34,080 --> 00:43:36,400 Speaker 1: anything this year. They're gonna they're gonna get out of 802 00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:38,399 Speaker 1: the They're gonna get out of the plane. They're gonna 803 00:43:38,400 --> 00:43:41,319 Speaker 1: beat the Spurs. Actually, they'll lose to the they'll lose 804 00:43:41,320 --> 00:43:43,719 Speaker 1: to the Clippers. So they're not even gonna get out 805 00:43:43,719 --> 00:43:45,399 Speaker 1: of the plane this year. If they did, they'd lose 806 00:43:45,440 --> 00:43:49,120 Speaker 1: to the Sun's and they get swept. So like, but 807 00:43:49,160 --> 00:43:52,000 Speaker 1: what what I like about the way that they've gone is, 808 00:43:52,520 --> 00:43:56,479 Speaker 1: you know, Brandon Ingram hasn't played great defense really since 809 00:43:56,520 --> 00:43:59,000 Speaker 1: he left the Lakers until this season. Just in this 810 00:43:59,080 --> 00:44:00,680 Speaker 1: last stretch of the season, he's starting to play a 811 00:44:00,719 --> 00:44:05,040 Speaker 1: lot better defense. They they have had a massive issue 812 00:44:05,080 --> 00:44:07,520 Speaker 1: with front court defense, and a lot of that has 813 00:44:07,560 --> 00:44:09,440 Speaker 1: to do with the fact that Zion and this is 814 00:44:09,680 --> 00:44:13,400 Speaker 1: a huge issue with NBA player um scouting over the 815 00:44:13,440 --> 00:44:15,239 Speaker 1: course of the the last few years, every time anybody sees 816 00:44:15,239 --> 00:44:17,480 Speaker 1: an undersized power forward, they instantly go, hey, it's the 817 00:44:17,480 --> 00:44:20,040 Speaker 1: next Draymond Green. And then they realized that Draymond Green 818 00:44:20,080 --> 00:44:22,640 Speaker 1: is a complete unicorn and no one else can actually 819 00:44:22,719 --> 00:44:25,440 Speaker 1: do what he does well. Zion Williamson is not up 820 00:44:25,440 --> 00:44:28,440 Speaker 1: to the defensive task and they're gonna have to probably 821 00:44:28,440 --> 00:44:32,759 Speaker 1: play him alongside a center or alongside a ton of 822 00:44:32,840 --> 00:44:36,680 Speaker 1: really range e, switchy athletic wings. And what do you know, 823 00:44:37,080 --> 00:44:39,080 Speaker 1: they went out and they found a couple of them, 824 00:44:39,280 --> 00:44:42,800 Speaker 1: and uh, Trey Murphy and and uh, I'm blanking on 825 00:44:42,880 --> 00:44:43,960 Speaker 1: his name now all of a sudden, the guy that 826 00:44:44,000 --> 00:44:47,000 Speaker 1: guarded Lebron all night tonight. But like, combined that with 827 00:44:47,040 --> 00:44:49,359 Speaker 1: Brandon Ingram, you know, there's basically the way I see. 828 00:44:49,440 --> 00:44:51,880 Speaker 1: There's two approaches the defense. There's the Frank Vogel approach, 829 00:44:51,880 --> 00:44:55,799 Speaker 1: which is which have have a dominant rim protector and 830 00:44:55,800 --> 00:44:58,680 Speaker 1: then chase everybody off the three point line and funnel 831 00:44:58,719 --> 00:45:01,160 Speaker 1: them into the paint. The A way to have an 832 00:45:01,160 --> 00:45:03,440 Speaker 1: elite defense in the NBA these days is to have 833 00:45:03,480 --> 00:45:05,480 Speaker 1: a bunch of guys that can guard on the perimeter. 834 00:45:06,320 --> 00:45:09,120 Speaker 1: And so if you have a lineup that has a C. J. Mccollin, 835 00:45:09,200 --> 00:45:12,719 Speaker 1: Brandon Ingram too, freaky athletic wings and Zion, that's where 836 00:45:12,760 --> 00:45:17,840 Speaker 1: you can contain ball handlers and wrote and your length 837 00:45:17,880 --> 00:45:21,279 Speaker 1: and athleticism allows you to cover ground in rotations. It's 838 00:45:21,320 --> 00:45:23,840 Speaker 1: like a it's like a much more modern approach to defense. 839 00:45:23,840 --> 00:45:27,080 Speaker 1: That's something that I believe very strongly, and so like them. 840 00:45:27,200 --> 00:45:30,680 Speaker 1: Uh to David Griffin's credit for how much he's screwed 841 00:45:30,800 --> 00:45:34,360 Speaker 1: up since he got there. The finding the couple of 842 00:45:34,400 --> 00:45:37,600 Speaker 1: wings that they found to put alongside Brandon Ingram has 843 00:45:37,719 --> 00:45:41,200 Speaker 1: raised the athletic profile of those lineups, and so I'm 844 00:45:41,200 --> 00:45:43,759 Speaker 1: excited about what they could potentially be. But they need 845 00:45:43,880 --> 00:45:46,120 Speaker 1: Zion to get back, They need a fold. They need 846 00:45:46,200 --> 00:45:47,680 Speaker 1: him to come in in shape, and they need him 847 00:45:47,719 --> 00:45:49,839 Speaker 1: to be able to be a good at least a 848 00:45:49,840 --> 00:45:53,239 Speaker 1: good perimeter defender that can contain ball handlers and at 849 00:45:53,280 --> 00:45:56,680 Speaker 1: least rotate around on the backside since he can't be Draymond. 850 00:45:56,680 --> 00:45:59,839 Speaker 1: If that makes sense. Yeah, shout out to the great 851 00:46:00,000 --> 00:46:04,640 Speaker 1: Herb Jones there. The second win gigs sometimes too. That 852 00:46:04,680 --> 00:46:06,200 Speaker 1: guy kind of does it all. I think he's a 853 00:46:06,239 --> 00:46:09,760 Speaker 1: really fun rookie. He's been very impressive. All Right, I lied, Jason, 854 00:46:10,040 --> 00:46:12,560 Speaker 1: that was not the last question. We have a bonus 855 00:46:12,600 --> 00:46:14,680 Speaker 1: one here, and I think it's going to frustrate you 856 00:46:14,680 --> 00:46:19,480 Speaker 1: because we have a couple of wild quotes from Lakers 857 00:46:19,520 --> 00:46:24,280 Speaker 1: tonight to your favorite Lakers Frank Vogel on the choice 858 00:46:24,280 --> 00:46:27,480 Speaker 1: to bench Austin Reeves and th ht tonight quote. This 859 00:46:27,560 --> 00:46:30,520 Speaker 1: is a playoff game for us. Use the roster however 860 00:46:30,560 --> 00:46:33,359 Speaker 1: you see fit in terms of that matchup. And I've 861 00:46:33,360 --> 00:46:35,360 Speaker 1: got one more for you here you can react to both. 862 00:46:35,960 --> 00:46:39,800 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook on how the Crypto dot Com arena crowd 863 00:46:39,800 --> 00:46:43,080 Speaker 1: affects the team's performance. I don't pay attention to this crowd, 864 00:46:43,120 --> 00:46:49,160 Speaker 1: to be honest. What are your thoughts? All right? I'm 865 00:46:49,200 --> 00:46:51,400 Speaker 1: gonna start with uss I am so sick of his 866 00:46:51,520 --> 00:46:54,920 Speaker 1: obstinence towards the Laker fan base. Dude, they don't like 867 00:46:55,000 --> 00:46:58,120 Speaker 1: you because you suck. That's why they don't like you. 868 00:46:58,640 --> 00:47:00,919 Speaker 1: They don't like you because you uck. And not only 869 00:47:00,960 --> 00:47:04,200 Speaker 1: do you suck, you're obstinate about it. You're stubborn about it, 870 00:47:04,200 --> 00:47:06,480 Speaker 1: and you think it's everyone else's fault except for your own. 871 00:47:06,800 --> 00:47:08,839 Speaker 1: There hasn't been a single moment this season where Russ 872 00:47:08,880 --> 00:47:11,640 Speaker 1: has come out and said, I'm not good enough at basketball. 873 00:47:11,680 --> 00:47:14,279 Speaker 1: Now that I've lost my athleticism, I need to make 874 00:47:14,280 --> 00:47:17,960 Speaker 1: an improvement. That lack of self awareness, that lack of 875 00:47:18,000 --> 00:47:22,239 Speaker 1: accountability had, combined with his poor play, combined with his 876 00:47:22,600 --> 00:47:25,640 Speaker 1: chip attitude, has turned this fan base against him. And 877 00:47:25,680 --> 00:47:27,360 Speaker 1: I I did. I did a big video on this 878 00:47:27,400 --> 00:47:30,000 Speaker 1: about a month ago, and I stand by it. I 879 00:47:30,040 --> 00:47:32,720 Speaker 1: have no problem with the Laker fan base heckling Russ. 880 00:47:32,760 --> 00:47:34,600 Speaker 1: I have no problem with the Laker fan base giving 881 00:47:34,640 --> 00:47:36,719 Speaker 1: him a hard time. He has earned every bit of it. 882 00:47:36,960 --> 00:47:39,960 Speaker 1: And I literally cannot wait for this experiment to be over. 883 00:47:40,040 --> 00:47:42,960 Speaker 1: I cannot wait for I I cannot root for a 884 00:47:43,040 --> 00:47:45,560 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook team ever. Again. I just can't do it. 885 00:47:45,719 --> 00:47:48,160 Speaker 1: I just can't do it. As far as Frank Vogel goes. 886 00:47:49,840 --> 00:47:52,759 Speaker 1: You know, again, like I said earlier, we have data 887 00:47:52,800 --> 00:47:56,480 Speaker 1: sets here, man, I literally we we know that this 888 00:47:56,520 --> 00:47:59,480 Speaker 1: team plays better with Austin, th h Team, Monk and 889 00:47:59,560 --> 00:48:04,040 Speaker 1: Stanley than they do with a Reason Bradley, you know, 890 00:48:04,080 --> 00:48:07,160 Speaker 1: bays More Dwight. They just do. They just simply do 891 00:48:08,120 --> 00:48:11,400 Speaker 1: and so and and again, like the what who knows 892 00:48:11,440 --> 00:48:14,360 Speaker 1: what's going on behind the scenes. It's possible that Lebron 893 00:48:14,440 --> 00:48:15,879 Speaker 1: went to him and said, I want to go down 894 00:48:15,880 --> 00:48:18,239 Speaker 1: with the Vets, but I doubt it. I think this 895 00:48:18,320 --> 00:48:20,920 Speaker 1: is Frank. I think this is Frank leaning into his 896 00:48:21,040 --> 00:48:26,320 Speaker 1: comfort zone. He literally d NP coaches decisioned Avery Bradley 897 00:48:26,360 --> 00:48:28,120 Speaker 1: three of the last four games, and the one game 898 00:48:28,160 --> 00:48:30,320 Speaker 1: he played, I think he only played like sixteen minutes. 899 00:48:30,560 --> 00:48:33,279 Speaker 1: So he's played like literally four minutes per game over 900 00:48:33,280 --> 00:48:35,520 Speaker 1: the previous four games, and you threw him into the 901 00:48:35,520 --> 00:48:38,759 Speaker 1: fire tonight when we literally know that he plays that 902 00:48:38,840 --> 00:48:40,480 Speaker 1: that that Lebron and a d played better with the 903 00:48:40,480 --> 00:48:44,560 Speaker 1: young guy. Like, I wish you wouldn't have read those 904 00:48:44,560 --> 00:48:47,640 Speaker 1: to me, Carson. I know, I'm sorry. I feel terrible. 905 00:48:47,640 --> 00:48:49,279 Speaker 1: I got your blood boil and now you gotta go 906 00:48:49,320 --> 00:48:52,080 Speaker 1: find a way to unwind and and sleep. After this, 907 00:48:52,280 --> 00:48:55,120 Speaker 1: after the vibe started to get more positive. But you 908 00:48:55,160 --> 00:48:58,640 Speaker 1: know it's entertaining. I gotta say, yeah, that is what 909 00:48:58,760 --> 00:49:00,400 Speaker 1: it is, all right, Well, thank you us, and I 910 00:49:00,400 --> 00:49:03,520 Speaker 1: appreciate the game. Man. These are fun alright, guys, that's 911 00:49:03,560 --> 00:49:05,120 Speaker 1: all we have for tonight. I think we need to 912 00:49:05,200 --> 00:49:08,680 Speaker 1: call it and then we can rejoin this roller coaster 913 00:49:08,760 --> 00:49:11,040 Speaker 1: on Sunday as the attempt to get a win over 914 00:49:11,080 --> 00:49:14,520 Speaker 1: the Denver Nuggets. As always, I sincerely appreciate your guys support. 915 00:49:14,960 --> 00:49:17,959 Speaker 1: We will be back after the final buzzer on Sunday, 916 00:49:18,000 --> 00:49:20,960 Speaker 1: when the Lakers probably lose to the Denver Nuggets. I 917 00:49:21,000 --> 00:49:39,960 Speaker 1: will see you guys in a couple of days. Volume