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The Nuggets got revenged on the 36 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: thunder at a very interesting rematch, very interesting defensive adjustment 37 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: from Michael Malone in the second half as the Nuggets 38 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: get a big win there After that, I want to 39 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: talk a little bit about the Atlanta Hawks, who have 40 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: won four out of five and specifically a couple of 41 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 1: things that really exciting about the bright future that they have, 42 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: even if we all can agree that they have a 43 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 1: certain ceiling this year. Then at the tail end of 44 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: the show, I just want to briefly talk about the Lakers, 45 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:10,399 Speaker 1: just so I can tell everyone to take a deep 46 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 1: breath and relax, because I'm not too worried about their 47 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: disaster in Brooklyn last night. You guys are the job 48 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: before we get started. Subscribed to Hoops to Night YouTube channels. 49 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 1: You don't miss any more of our videos. Follow me 50 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: on Twitter at Underscore JSONNLTC. You guys, don't miss you announcements. 51 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 1: Don't forget about a podcast feed wherever you eat your 52 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: podcast on our Hoops Tonight. It's also super helpful if 53 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 1: you leave us a rating and a review on that front. 54 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: Don't forget about our new social media feeds on Twitter, Instagram, 55 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: and Facebook. We're releasing content throughout the year, and then, 56 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:35,959 Speaker 1: last but not least, keep dropping mailbag questions into the 57 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: YouTube comments. We are recording a mail bag tomorrow that 58 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 1: is going to run on Thursday, So this is the 59 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: last episode for you guys to get questions into the comments. 60 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 1: All right, let's talk some basketball. So again I talked 61 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:52,079 Speaker 1: about how in the Sunday game it was obviously a 62 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 1: very strong statement for shake yieldess Alexander, for MVP, and 63 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: in general a sign of some weaknesses that the Denver 64 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: Nuggets had. I listed at the end of the show 65 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: a couple of things that the Nuggets could do better 66 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: to try to flip the script in last night's game, 67 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 1: and I talked a lot about on defense the issues 68 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 1: that they had containing the ball, and the solution that 69 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 1: I presented not really a solution, but the strategy that 70 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:18,639 Speaker 1: I would recommend was just bring Yokic up to the 71 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 1: level I thought those were his best looks. Just make 72 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: sure he gets there early enough that Shay can't like 73 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: split him off the dribble or anything like that, and 74 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: pray on Shay's inability to like really really pass well 75 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 1: out of traps and double teams and things along those lines. 76 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 1: I did talk about how they should unleash that zone 77 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: look again in the second half, just as a rhythm disruptor, 78 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: but Mike Malone ended up going with something way more aggressive. 79 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: He started with the exact same strategy from the Sunday game, 80 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: in the first half a mix of at the level 81 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: coverages with Jokic and deeper coverages deeper drop coverages with Jokic. Actually, 82 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: my guess is that the actual game plan is for 83 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: Jokic to go up to the level, but that there's 84 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: like kind of an understanding between and Mike Malone that 85 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: when he needs a break, when he's tired, that he 86 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: runs a deeper drop as basically an opportunity for him 87 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 1: to rest while he's on the court. That's my guess 88 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: as to how that keeps manifesting as a mix between 89 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: the two coverages. The game had a very similar feel 90 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: to the first game. To start, Denver had a little 91 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: lead early. Oklahoma City really controlled the middle portion of 92 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 1: the game, but they weren't really able to pull away, 93 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: and then in that third quarter, Mike Malone pulls the 94 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 1: zone card. Except for one little wrinkle. He said, if 95 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:32,719 Speaker 1: we're going to be a team that has to exist 96 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: in rotation, like we've talked to like we've talked about 97 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: a lot over the last couple of weeks, we might 98 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: as well exist in rotation on our terms in a 99 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: way that we can plan for. So what he did 100 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 1: is he just had the top two guys in the 101 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: zone just double team Shay as soon as he crossed 102 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 1: half court. Then they basically set up their back line 103 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: with Jokicic just sitting right under the rim and the 104 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 1: two bottom guys in the zone coming up and playing 105 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: passing lanes. There's a lot that you can do playing 106 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: passing lanes to prey on indecisiveness for the role player. 107 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: So there's four on three right and when you make 108 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 1: aggressive rotations, so like let's say, for instance, you double 109 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 1: team Shay and he floats the ball over the top 110 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: to you know, whoever it is that's on the right wing, 111 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: let's call it Aaron Wiggins. If Jamal Murray, who is 112 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 1: let's say on the bottom part of the zone where 113 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: Alex Caruso is hiding in the corner, if he just 114 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 1: sprints up and guards Aaron Wiggins on the wing, then 115 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: Aaron Wiggins can make a simple and easy swing pass 116 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,479 Speaker 1: to the corner and it's either a wide open three 117 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: for Alex Crusoe or you can drive the close out 118 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: if he wants. But what the Nuggets were consistently doing 119 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: in that zone is they were having those bottom guys 120 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 1: like kind of half close out. But in the lane, 121 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 1: in the passing lane, so that as Aaron Wiggins or 122 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:53,919 Speaker 1: whoever it was that would catch in that spot would 123 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 1: look to read the floor, they'd have this kind of 124 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,599 Speaker 1: hesitancy because they're like, well, I'm kind of open, but 125 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 1: I'm not really open, and I don't I'm sure that 126 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:04,919 Speaker 1: coach doesn't want me just shooting on the first pass 127 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: out of the trap, but like, I'm also gonna have 128 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 1: to throw like a floating pass over the top to 129 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 1: whoever it is that's in the corner because they're playing 130 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 1: in the passing lane. And it just prayed on that 131 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:19,280 Speaker 1: indecisiveness and prayed on some of that lack of refined 132 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: skill that you see from Oklahoma City's role players. And 133 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 1: again another important context here, Jalen Williams left the game 134 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: with a hip strain, and so it ended up being 135 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,040 Speaker 1: the perfect strategy to really turn that game because they 136 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: gave up seventy three points in the first half. Like 137 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: the Thunder defense eviscerated Denver again in the first half, 138 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: but under the circumstances in that second half with JDub 139 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 1: being out, it made a lot of sense to basically 140 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:47,840 Speaker 1: force Shay to give up the basketball early in these 141 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,559 Speaker 1: possessions out by half court and then have a plan 142 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: for how to rotate out of it. By the way, 143 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 1: the thunder did get some buckets out of those sequences, 144 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 1: but overall it worked really well. Oklahoma City got one 145 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,600 Speaker 1: point zero nine points per possession versus Denver's man de 146 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: man looks in seventeen possessions in the second half. Against 147 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: that double teaming zone look, they allowed just zero point 148 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: eight eight points per possession as they worked all the 149 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 1: way back into a two point lead heading into the 150 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 1: fourth quarter. That set up perfectly because in that middle 151 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: portion of the game, Okase had led by as much 152 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 1: as twelve. That zone allowed them to kind of get 153 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: back into a commanding position up by two. And then 154 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: what happens in the fourth quarter if Shake Gildos Alexander 155 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: leaves the game and Jay Dub's not in the game anymore, well, 156 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: now you have to throw out a bench look that 157 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: doesn't have Shay or Jay Dubb. All of a sudden, 158 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: it's going to be a lot of these lesser role players, 159 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: a lot of kise On Wallace on the ball, a 160 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: lot of chet Holm. We'ren taking tougher shots. It turned 161 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: into a very limited offensive group for Oklahoma City, and 162 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: Denver just immediately blitzed them to start the fourth quarter. 163 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 1: They were up by double figures before Gildess Alexander could 164 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:59,679 Speaker 1: get back into the game. Lots of really impressive shot 165 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: making from Denver in that run to start the fourth quarter. 166 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 1: MPJ hit a tough movement three running to his left 167 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 1: at the top of the key. Jamal Murray hit a 168 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: tough off the dribble three on the left wing. Jalen 169 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: Pickett confidently posting up in a really nice step through 170 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: move to get a bucket one on one. He had 171 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 1: a step back three on the right wing in this stretch. 172 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: Forget about just that run. The shot making for Denver 173 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: all night long was amazing. They converted spot up possessions 174 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: at one point eight five points per possession last night. 175 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: It was zero point seven to two on Sunday. That's 176 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,199 Speaker 1: a giant chasm. More than twice as efficient on catch 177 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: and shoot looks if you just refine it to catch 178 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: and shoot jump shots. Zero point nine to one points 179 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,319 Speaker 1: per shot on Sunday one point eight to two points 180 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:49,319 Speaker 1: per shot on Monday. That's double. Lots of key guys 181 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 1: made shots Westbrook, Peyton Watson and Jalen Pickett combined to 182 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: go nine for twelve from three. Watson and Westbrook in particular, 183 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 1: both hit multiple threes in the fourth quarters where OKC 184 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 1: was basically daring them to shoot. I call these coverage beaters, right, like, 185 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 1: if the coverage is we're gonna concede this. If you 186 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 1: don't show a willingness and an ability to make that shot, 187 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:14,839 Speaker 1: then they're gonna stay in that coverage. And they beat 188 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 1: that coverage consistently. Just Westbrook one pass away double teams 189 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: on Jokic, skip passes in their boss screen action that 190 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 1: ended up in Peyton Watson in his hands in the 191 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: left corner. Those threes are way more important than even 192 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: just the point value of that shot because they defeat 193 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: a specific coverage and Oklahoma City was never able to 194 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,440 Speaker 1: regain their footing in that fourth quarter, and Denver went 195 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 1: on to win comfortably by thirteen points. And this is 196 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: the main reason why I haven't been able to quit 197 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:45,319 Speaker 1: the Denver Nuggets. Jokic is so damn good, and their 198 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: ceiling on offense is outrageous. That's the best defense in 199 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 1: the league and they hung one forty on them. Their 200 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 1: defense is bad. Denver's defense is bad. They're down to 201 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 1: twentieth on the season. We talked earlier in a manna 202 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: man half. They gave up seventy three in the second 203 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 1: in the second game against Oklahoma City before that double 204 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 1: teaming zone, and again it's important context that Jadub was 205 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: out of the game when they were able to shut 206 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 1: them down in that second half. After last night, Denver 207 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 1: is still just five and thirteen this year, five wins 208 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 1: and thirteen losses against teams in the top ten in 209 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:22,440 Speaker 1: point differential according to Cleaning the Glass. And I think 210 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: that matters, like who are the four other teams? Who 211 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 1: are the Who's my inner circle of championship contenders? It's Denver, 212 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 1: but it's the Lakers, It's the Thunder, It's the Calves, 213 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 1: and it's the Celtics. If if you were to go 214 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 1: to Cleaning the Glass and look at the teams with 215 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 1: the best records against the teams in the top ten 216 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 1: in point differential, who do you think the top four are? 217 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: It's the Calves, the Thunder, the Celtics, and the Lakers. 218 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:48,559 Speaker 1: Like that, they have all year been consistently great against 219 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 1: the top teams and Denver has been terrible. Also, by 220 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: the way side, note for Warriors fans. They rank sixth 221 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: on that list in win percentage against teams in the 222 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 1: top ten in point differential. That's a big part of 223 00:10:58,559 --> 00:10:59,959 Speaker 1: why I have my eye on them as a tea 224 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: that could potentially join my inner circle of contenders before 225 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 1: the end of the season. But these are major red flags. 226 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 1: Twentieth in defense and can't beat good teams, are not 227 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 1: beating good teams often. There are not many teams in 228 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 1: NBA history who have postseason success when they suck on 229 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 1: defense and they struggle to beat the good teams. But 230 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 1: the Nuggets have three things going for them that keep 231 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: them in the inner circle. For me, one, you don't 232 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:25,599 Speaker 1: have to go any further than Nikola Jokic. He's the 233 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: best basketball player on planet Earth. He had thirty five, 234 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: eighteen and eight last night. This is how insane this is. 235 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 1: I was looking at his game log this morning, just 236 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:34,560 Speaker 1: like a list of all the games he's played this season, 237 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 1: and I was like, I wonder where this game ranks 238 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 1: among all of the games and all the individual performances 239 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,079 Speaker 1: he's had this year. I don't think it even registers 240 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: in the top ten, probably not even in the top fifteen. 241 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: He has four thirty five point triple doubles this year, 242 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:53,680 Speaker 1: countless forty point games, a fifty point game like he 243 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: had a thirty five eighteen and eight, And it's kind 244 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 1: of just like a whatever Jokic game this season. And 245 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 1: that's just the insane talent level and consistency that Jokic 246 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: brings to the table. The second piece of it is continuity. 247 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 1: The Jamal Murray connection with Jokich is at such a 248 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:11,719 Speaker 1: high level of comfortability at this point. He dropped a 249 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: smooth thirty four last night. Everyone off of those two 250 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:16,839 Speaker 1: knows where to be a threat. They know how to 251 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 1: be a threat off of Yokic post ups, but they 252 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 1: also know how to be a threat off of the 253 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 1: Jokich Murray two man yate. As much as I've talked 254 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: about Denver's defense this year, they're the second best offense 255 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 1: in the NBA, ahead of even the Boston Celtics. So 256 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 1: like it's important context that we bring into the picture 257 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 1: that they are one of the truly elite offenses in 258 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 1: this league. And the third piece of it, and this 259 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 1: is where the real optimism comes from. I don't think 260 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: this Nuggets team can be good defensively. They don't have 261 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 1: the personnel, but they can be better than they are, 262 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:47,680 Speaker 1: And there is a whole lot of like like kind 263 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: of realities at place here. They're an older veteran team 264 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 1: that's been playing together forever and that doesn't really care 265 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 1: about the regular season. Like think about how many times 266 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 1: Michael Porter, Junior, Jamal Murray and the Cole Jokic have 267 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 1: gone through the eighty two game regular season together just 268 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:06,319 Speaker 1: as a unit themselves, and they know all their opponents 269 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: really well. You know, they're not going to bring a 270 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 1: level of night to night commitment that other teams around 271 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: the league breaks. So like there's a certain amount of 272 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: scaleability for them in the postseason, especially when we've seen 273 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: like we have seen Jokic, Gordon Murray, Jamal an athletic 274 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: guard play good defense and be able to get stops 275 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 1: in the postseason. Now, they're older and a little slower now, 276 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 1: so I don't think they'll be able to get to 277 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 1: the level they were in twenty twenty three, but they've 278 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:35,320 Speaker 1: been at times this year even better offensively than they 279 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:37,320 Speaker 1: were in twenty twenty three. Yokic said last night, I'm 280 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 1: playing the best basketball of my career right. So, like, 281 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 1: if they can scale up defensively and they're one of 282 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: the top tier offenses in the NBA. There's absolutely a 283 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 1: version of this where it can all come together. You 284 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 1: can kind of imagine the scenario. Right they lock in 285 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 1: in April. They defend at basically an average level. Jokic, 286 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: Murray and Michael Porter Junior have like flamethrower postseason runs. 287 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:04,559 Speaker 1: And what if Gordon, Westbrook, Brown and Watson all just 288 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 1: shoot super well from three. And by the way, before 289 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 1: you tell me they're gonna miss fifteen games now, Christian 290 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 1: Brown forty one percent from three, Aaron Gordon fifty one 291 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 1: percent from three, Russell Westbrook thirty six percent from three. 292 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: He's confidently stepping into catch and shoot threes last night 293 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: off of Yokic double teams. Peyton Watson sixty four percent 294 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 1: from three. Hit some big ones last night. Like the 295 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 1: idea is you help off those guys and they just 296 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 1: keep hitting shots. Now, they might not in the postseason, 297 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: and that'll be the big challenge for the record. All 298 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 1: those things will have to come together. Yokichen Murray are 299 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 1: gonna have to average damn near thirty on high efficiency 300 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 1: if they're gonna get where they want to go. Michael 301 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: Porter Junior is gonna have to have a great playoff run. 302 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: All of those guys are gonna have to shoot super 303 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: well from three, and they're gonna have to get to 304 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: an average level defensively at minimum. But I think all 305 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 1: of those things are possible. And so point being, I 306 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:57,479 Speaker 1: can't quit the Nuggets. They have some stuff they absolutely 307 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: must get better at, but there are enough in greedy 308 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 1: there to win the title. All right, Let's move on 309 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: to the Atlanta Hawks. They beat the Sixers last night 310 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 1: without Trey Young or Karislovert, and I had watched both 311 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: of their games against the Indiana Pacers, a couple wins 312 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 1: that they got in the last week. They've won four 313 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: out of five. They have a one to twenty three 314 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 1: offensive rating in that span. It really starts with Trey 315 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 1: and Karris Lavert. The two of them has just been 316 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: playing at a really high level during this stretch. I 317 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 1: was watching Trey versus the Pacers in those two games, 318 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 1: and I was just amazed. Every time I watched Trey, 319 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 1: I'm amazed by his ability to throw passes on time 320 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 1: and on target with his left hand. I talked a 321 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 1: lot about this concept when we were talking about Steph 322 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 1: Curry yesterday. But the difficulties for right handed shooters going 323 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 1: either direction as they have to square up in mid air. Right, 324 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:03,520 Speaker 1: so you're running to the left, it's easier because you 325 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 1: can plant your right foot first and you're already kind 326 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: of naturally squared up to the basket. But if you're 327 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: running to your right hand, to your strong hand, you 328 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 1: have to like kind of square up in mid air 329 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 1: by getting more left, and all of those things combine 330 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: in ball handling situations to make things complicated. Right, So, like, 331 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: if you're a right handed player, where is it easiest 332 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: to throw passes. It's easiest to throw passes by swinging 333 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 1: that right hand around with like baseball passes right, We've 334 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 1: all since we were little kids thrown things with our 335 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 1: right hand. If we're right handed, it's easy enough to 336 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: make those passes similarly with ballhand like, most right handed 337 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 1: players are much stronger ball handling with their right hand, 338 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 1: so when they go to the right, they're better drivers 339 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 1: and passers, but they can sometimes struggle to shoot. When 340 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: they're going left, they can be better shooters, but they 341 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 1: can sometimes struggle to drive because they don't ribble as 342 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: well with their left hand. And it's really hard to 343 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 1: throw those passes with their left hand right But ironically 344 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 1: a lot of the passing reads are most available going 345 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 1: to your left because you're a more deadly jump shooter, 346 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:04,400 Speaker 1: and so the coverages will be more aggressive to try 347 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 1: to take away that jump shot. And so the ability 348 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 1: to actually throw these cross court passes in these on time, 349 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:15,439 Speaker 1: on target bullet passes right into the shooting pocket with 350 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 1: your left hand is such an incredibly valuable trait for 351 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 1: a ball handler. And I was watching Trey just pick 352 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 1: the pacers apart with his left hand as a passer 353 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:27,440 Speaker 1: in those games. One of the other things that really 354 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: stands out to me when I watch Trey is just 355 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 1: his relentless screening attack. He never really lets you off 356 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:35,120 Speaker 1: the hook until the end of the shot clock. He'll 357 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: run a ball screen and then he'll rescreen if he 358 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: doesn't get the separation he wants. If he doesn't get 359 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: the separation he wants on that one, he'll swing it 360 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: to the wing and he'll like cut through the lane 361 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: and he'll end up under the basket. He'll kind of 362 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 1: slow down and then all of a sudden he'll come 363 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 1: sprinting off of another dribble handoff, and it's like another 364 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:52,200 Speaker 1: kind of ball screen concept built out of that DHO 365 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:54,639 Speaker 1: and you might have to deal with Trey four or 366 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 1: five times on a single possession in a ball screen action. 367 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 1: And as all of that's happening, if you make a 368 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 1: single mistake anywhere along the way, you give a shooter 369 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:07,680 Speaker 1: too much space, you let a guy cut behind you, 370 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:10,640 Speaker 1: you leave the role man a runway towards the front 371 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 1: of the rim, he just makes you pay every single 372 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: time with those passes. Tray's averaging thirteen assists per game 373 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 1: over this four and one stretch. He's really having a 374 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: brilliant offensive season that I think has been underrated by 375 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 1: a lot of folks, as he's been setting up a 376 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:27,520 Speaker 1: lot of high quality shots for his young athlete corps 377 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 1: around him. Lavert's been very good in the stretch. He's 378 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 1: averaging seventeen points per game since joining the Hawks, twenty 379 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,080 Speaker 1: per game in this five game stretch for their four 380 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:37,159 Speaker 1: and one. But I want to focus on Dyson Daniels 381 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 1: here for a minute. Dyson has a reputation for being 382 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 1: one of the best defensive players in the league, which 383 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 1: is well deserved, but he's also blossoming into a very 384 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:49,880 Speaker 1: good offensive player. As of late, he's scored double figures 385 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 1: in seventeen straight games. That's pretty wild consistency. It'savaging sixteen 386 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 1: points per game over that span, fifty four percent from 387 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:05,359 Speaker 1: the field, fifty five percent from three six rebounds a game, 388 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 1: and this crazy part, five point four assists per game 389 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 1: with only two turnovers, basically a two and a half 390 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,199 Speaker 1: over a two and a half assist to turnover ratio. 391 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 1: He's got this lightning quick first step. He's really good 392 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:21,439 Speaker 1: at disguising it too, like he'll move slowly with like 393 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 1: change of pace where he'll kind of like lull the 394 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,399 Speaker 1: defender to sleep, and then he'll just explode forward. He 395 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,200 Speaker 1: can get dribble penetration on just about anyone. He's got 396 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: really good counter move footwork in the short range. These 397 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:34,360 Speaker 1: are like the he gets downhill and then he can 398 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 1: like euro back to the opposite side with either foot. 399 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: He's got a good spin move. He gets separation after 400 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: he gets downhill in that short range, and then he 401 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:45,680 Speaker 1: ties it all together with a floater, which is flat 402 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:49,120 Speaker 1: out deadly. He's made ninety six of them this year. 403 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 1: Here's a crazy stat for you, guys. Dyson Daniels has 404 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 1: made the fourth most floaters in the entire NBA this year, 405 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 1: more than Darius Garland, more than Ty Jerome. He's deadly 406 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 1: with it. He's at forty six percent on the season 407 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 1: in efficiency. But that's been trending way up. I was 408 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:12,160 Speaker 1: digging back through all the floaters he's been taken. As 409 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 1: of late. I have him for eighteen of his last 410 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: thirty three on floaters. That's fifty five percent. He's becoming 411 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:21,959 Speaker 1: a really dynamic shot maker, a shot maker in that 412 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: short range area in the middle of the floor, and 413 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 1: he's still just barely scratching the surface of what he 414 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 1: can do. The jump shots coming along, Like we talked about, 415 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 1: he's over fifty percent from three in this range. There's 416 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 1: real playmaking potential. He can become one of the better 417 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 1: two way guards in this league if he continues to 418 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: develop his offensive game. They put the ball in his 419 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:44,119 Speaker 1: hands a ton last night with against the Sixers, with 420 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:47,520 Speaker 1: Trey Young and Karis Lavert out, he went for twenty 421 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 1: five six and nine assists on ten for fourteen from 422 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 1: the field. They gave him the ball and said, hey, 423 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 1: can you be a star for us tonight? And he 424 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: was a star. He's a special young player. He's not 425 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:02,439 Speaker 1: even twenty two years old yet. What a huge swing 426 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:06,120 Speaker 1: in the franchise history of the Atlanta Hawks that they 427 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 1: were able to turn Dejonte Murray into draft compensation and 428 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: a player that has the potential to be better than 429 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:17,160 Speaker 1: Dejonte within a year or two. And then the last 430 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 1: guy that I wanted to shout out was Zachary Resachet. 431 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 1: He's coming on super strong as of late. In his 432 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:24,199 Speaker 1: last eighteen games is averaging fourteen points per game on 433 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:26,280 Speaker 1: fifty two percent from the field in forty seven percent 434 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: from three I've been talking a lot about this particular archetype, 435 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:31,119 Speaker 1: and this is the kind of guy that I think 436 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:33,199 Speaker 1: the Detroit Pistons should be hunting in the draft. I've 437 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 1: been talking about this quite a bit, but there are 438 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: different types of talents that you can go for to 439 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 1: try to kind of influence your offense. Right, there's ball handling, 440 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:45,440 Speaker 1: But one of the most common archetypes that I'm seeing 441 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:47,919 Speaker 1: kind of rise to the surface in the NBA is 442 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 1: the idea of this like weak side scoring forward. This 443 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:53,800 Speaker 1: is the guy that's catching the ball in the skip pass. 444 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: Because this guy's man is so frequently tagging rollers, so 445 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 1: you situate this guy in the week's corner. There's a 446 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:02,800 Speaker 1: bunch of the examples of this in the league. So 447 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:07,399 Speaker 1: for the Hawks, it's Zachary Rischet right. For the for 448 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:10,640 Speaker 1: the Nuggets forever, it was like Michael Porter Junior right. 449 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:13,480 Speaker 1: For the Lakers, it's Ruey Hatchi Mura, and now with 450 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:16,639 Speaker 1: Luca it's Lebron James too. This this idea of a 451 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 1: DeAndre Hunter does a lot of this. For the Cleveland Cavaliers, 452 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:21,920 Speaker 1: there's a bunch of these types of guys that are 453 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: like three four like the hybrid types of forwards who 454 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:27,240 Speaker 1: you're not going to run a ton of action for, 455 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 1: but they get so many close out opportunities. They are 456 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 1: professional closeout attackers. And all it requires is like a 457 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:37,160 Speaker 1: good catch and shoot jump shot, and then a couple 458 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 1: of basic scoring moves, the ability like a like a 459 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 1: rip through or a jab step, and then a couple 460 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: of basic counter moves euros, spin moves, being able to 461 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 1: finish with both hands. Zachary rische is like excellent with 462 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: his left hand, like little lefty hooks and lefty floaters. 463 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 1: That is the set of traits you need in order 464 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 1: to put it all together. And it was a little 465 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 1: rough to start the year, was a little rough with 466 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:58,679 Speaker 1: the shooting, it was a little rough with some of 467 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:01,440 Speaker 1: the scoring touch. But in his last eighteen games he's 468 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 1: really starting to put it together as a reliable weak 469 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:05,680 Speaker 1: side score. And here's the thing. The Hawks aren't gonna 470 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 1: make any noise this year, but the rise of Dyson 471 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 1: Daniels and Jalen Johnson, who obviously is hurt right now, 472 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 1: that gives the Hawks a super bright future. And where 473 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:16,639 Speaker 1: it looked like last summer, like, oh man, they might 474 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 1: have to trade Trey Young. Just getting a couple of 475 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:22,400 Speaker 1: these guys to pan out as young prospects has gone 476 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 1: a long way to changing the perspective on the Atlanta 477 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:28,800 Speaker 1: Hawks future. All Right, before we get out of here 478 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 1: tonight today, I should say I wanted to just very 479 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:33,679 Speaker 1: briefly talk about the Lakers and their loss in Brooklyn 480 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 1: last night. I'm not worried about it at all. There's 481 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:41,439 Speaker 1: not much margin for error with the injuries. Like you 482 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:45,719 Speaker 1: have no Lebron, no Rui Hacha Mura, no Jackson Hayes, 483 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,960 Speaker 1: and no Dorian Finney Smith. That's four of your core 484 00:23:50,119 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 1: eight playoff rotation players. Lebron's your second best player, Rui's 485 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 1: probably your fourth best player, So, like, you don't have 486 00:23:58,119 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 1: much margin for error when you're down on that many guys. 487 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:04,639 Speaker 1: So if Austin Reeves and Luka Doncic are also gonna 488 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 1: shoot eleven for forty from the field, you're gonna have 489 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:12,920 Speaker 1: a hard time beating anyone. Right, It's just there's too 490 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 1: much going against you in that sort of situation, and 491 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,200 Speaker 1: so some of this, like, honestly, it's just a really 492 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:22,280 Speaker 1: bad confluence of events. So Lebron happens to suffer his 493 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:24,600 Speaker 1: first injury of the year when you're already down two 494 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 1: forwards and your starting center. Right, Luca happens to be 495 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:31,200 Speaker 1: having one of the worst shot making stretches of his career, 496 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 1: which we'll get to in a second. And Austin Reeves 497 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:35,159 Speaker 1: has always been a guy that takes a little bit 498 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 1: of time to get his rhythm when he's been out 499 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:40,200 Speaker 1: of the lineup for a little bit, and so Austin's 500 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:42,199 Speaker 1: really struggling because he's been out of the lineup and 501 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 1: he's been out a rhythm. Luca's having this like brutal 502 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 1: shot making stretch where he can't make any of the 503 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:51,119 Speaker 1: jump shots that he typically makes in his throughout the 504 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:54,359 Speaker 1: rest of his career, and you're just absolutely brutalized by 505 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:57,640 Speaker 1: injuries in the front court. It's just a rough spot, right, 506 00:24:57,880 --> 00:24:59,480 Speaker 1: And I actually kind of view it as a blessing 507 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:03,639 Speaker 1: in the sky because the team had been winning a lot. Obviously, 508 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: they've been the best team in the league for almost 509 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:09,240 Speaker 1: two months. So like it's one of those things where 510 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 1: you had a little bit of slippage in your execution 511 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:16,400 Speaker 1: against Boston, right, and souse JJ was able to use 512 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 1: the Brooklyn loss last night to just basically rip his 513 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:22,680 Speaker 1: team a new one and essentially like use it as 514 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 1: a motivator to refocus the team. Like it's not a 515 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:28,679 Speaker 1: big deal that they lost to the Nets. It's not 516 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 1: going to be some sort of dramatic issue with where 517 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 1: they're at in the standings. Like I don't necessarily think 518 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 1: getting any specific seed other than staying out of the 519 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 1: play in matters. I think getting to their getting to 520 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:42,320 Speaker 1: April healthy is really all that matters, And so it's 521 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:44,600 Speaker 1: more important for you to be sharp. And so if 522 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:46,720 Speaker 1: you drop a game against the Nets, that is just 523 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:50,120 Speaker 1: a confluence of events and you lose against the defending 524 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:52,359 Speaker 1: champions on their home floor in a game where a 525 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:54,360 Speaker 1: bunch of down two starters and a bunch of other 526 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: things don't go your way. It's really nothing to overreact to. 527 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 1: But JJ can package that as a message to put 528 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:03,440 Speaker 1: in front of the Lakers, to be like, we have 529 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:05,840 Speaker 1: to be better at this stuff, because guess what, if 530 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:07,439 Speaker 1: they want to win the trophy, they do kind of 531 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:09,439 Speaker 1: have to be better at that stuff. And it's just 532 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:13,480 Speaker 1: a perfect excuse to use as a motivator for this team. 533 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 1: The part that I want to keep an eye on, though, 534 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 1: is Luca's shot making, because like, this is the part 535 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:20,439 Speaker 1: that has me most excited about the ultimate potential of 536 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 1: this team. Austin's been out, he'll eventually get it back. 537 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:26,639 Speaker 1: That will go a long way towards helping this team. 538 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:30,719 Speaker 1: But we haven't even begun to scratch the surface of 539 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 1: how good the Lakers can be when Luca is Luca. 540 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:37,240 Speaker 1: Here's a crazy stat to demonstrate for you guys, the 541 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:41,440 Speaker 1: gap in shop making ability between this version of Luka 542 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 1: Doncic in the version of Luka Doncic that took the 543 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:47,879 Speaker 1: Dallas Mavericks to the finals last year. In twelve games 544 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 1: with the Lakers, Luca has managed to make at least 545 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 1: ten field goals twice in twelve games. Last year with 546 00:26:56,560 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 1: the Dallas Mavericks, in seventy games, he may at least 547 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:06,640 Speaker 1: ten shots fifty times fifty of the seventy games. That's 548 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:09,240 Speaker 1: the level of shot making that Luca can still get 549 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:13,640 Speaker 1: to relative to where he's been with the Lakers. That's 550 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:16,119 Speaker 1: where the excitement comes. Do I think the Lakers are 551 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:19,239 Speaker 1: actually the best defense in the NBA? No, They've been 552 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:21,440 Speaker 1: defending like that, but I don't actually think they're the 553 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 1: best defense in the NBA. My guess is they're somewhere 554 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:26,240 Speaker 1: in the five to ten range given the type of 555 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 1: personnel that they have. But they can be so so 556 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:34,159 Speaker 1: so much better on offense. That is the side of 557 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:38,680 Speaker 1: the floor that they can make dramatic improvements through simplifying 558 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 1: some of their spacing principles. JJ's been talking a lot 559 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:43,159 Speaker 1: about this. I'm not going to get into it today, 560 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:45,680 Speaker 1: but one of our next few Laker videos, I'll do 561 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:48,640 Speaker 1: a deeper dive into just like how spacing is supposed 562 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,600 Speaker 1: to work and why JJ's been harping on that so much. 563 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:53,560 Speaker 1: It mostly has to do with putting guys in the 564 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 1: right spots so that you're tilting the offense to get 565 00:27:56,880 --> 00:27:59,679 Speaker 1: the kinds of shots you want from the players that 566 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:02,680 Speaker 1: you want. That's basically the main purpose of spacing right. 567 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 1: There's a lot of improvement that they can still make 568 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:07,680 Speaker 1: on that end, but just Luca getting back to where 569 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:10,119 Speaker 1: he can be as a shot maker while Lebron and 570 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:12,720 Speaker 1: Austin are both healthy and in rhythm, will go a 571 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 1: long way towards lifting this team to a more elite 572 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 1: level on the offensive end of the floor. And that's 573 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:20,480 Speaker 1: why I'm not really concerned. I saw enough in the 574 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:23,040 Speaker 1: Boston game to think that they can beat Boston. I'm 575 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:26,800 Speaker 1: gonna pick Boston. I think everybody should pick Boston against everyone. 576 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 1: They're just the safer bet. But I saw enough in 577 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:32,800 Speaker 1: that game from Luca and Lebron attacking the Boston smalls 578 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 1: to go like, oh, like, I think they can win 579 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:38,880 Speaker 1: that series. When I was scouting the Dallas Boston series 580 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: last year, I literally came on the show in my 581 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:43,440 Speaker 1: series preview and said, I think Boston's gonna blow him out. 582 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:47,280 Speaker 1: I didn't see a pathway because of some specific issues 583 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 1: with the matchups and the inability that Dallas had to 584 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 1: create space because of their non shooters on the floor. 585 00:28:53,760 --> 00:28:56,000 Speaker 1: They're pour above the break shooters in the way that 586 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 1: they could sit rim protection under the basket. Though different 587 00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:02,480 Speaker 1: with the Lakers is when they're healthy and they have 588 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 1: Ruy Hatchimura in the lineup and Dorian Finney Smith, they 589 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 1: don't have a single player in that five man grouping 590 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:10,720 Speaker 1: that you can help off of, and so they should 591 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:13,120 Speaker 1: be able to create more space. Lebron and Lucas should 592 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 1: be able to punish the Smalls. Again, it was a loss. 593 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:17,200 Speaker 1: There was a lot of disappointment there, and I think 594 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:20,360 Speaker 1: they played well. Luca looked bad for most of that game. 595 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 1: There's a lot of negatives, but I saw enough out 596 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 1: of that to be like, oh, I think they can 597 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 1: beat Boston. That was an encouraging thing for me. The 598 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:30,040 Speaker 1: Nets game was literally a confluence of events. I'm not 599 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:32,920 Speaker 1: worried about it, but it's a nice opportunity for JJ 600 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:35,760 Speaker 1: to refocus the team and it's a reminder for you 601 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:38,560 Speaker 1: guys that Luca can still come so so so far 602 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:41,520 Speaker 1: as a shot maker. A brutal from Austin and Luca 603 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,160 Speaker 1: last night eleven for forty from the field that they're 604 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:46,600 Speaker 1: not going to shoot like that very often. All right, guys, 605 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:48,640 Speaker 1: that's all I have for today. As always, as sincerely 606 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 1: appreciate you guys for supporting me and supporting the show. 607 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 1: We will be back tomorrow in the evening. We're going 608 00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:57,760 Speaker 1: live on YouTube. At the end, I think it's a Denver, Minnesota. 609 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:00,160 Speaker 1: If I remember correctly, then I think it is it 610 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:02,360 Speaker 1: Celtics Thunder. I think it's Celtics Thunder in the first 611 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 1: game so jam Packed ESPN Slate tomorrow that we're covering 612 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:09,000 Speaker 1: on YouTube live. I'm recording a mail bag tomorrow that 613 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:11,440 Speaker 1: will air on Thursday as well. But again, as always, 614 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:14,040 Speaker 1: I sincerely appreciate you guys for supporting me and supporting 615 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 1: the show, and I will see you tomorrow night the volume. 616 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 1: What's Up guys? As always, I appreciate you for listening 617 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:24,840 Speaker 1: to and supporting OOPS tonight. It would actually be really 618 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:26,760 Speaker 1: helpful for us if you guys would take a second 619 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:29,520 Speaker 1: and leave a rating and a review. As always, I 620 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:31,280 Speaker 1: appreciate you guys supporting us, but if you could take 621 00:30:31,280 --> 00:30:33,640 Speaker 1: a minute to do that, I'd really appreciate it.