WEBVTT - Award Previews, Thunder vs Knicks Reaction and LeBron Retirement Talk

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome into NBA pulsive production of iHeart Ratio in the NBA.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm Sarahcusetak, NBA analyst for the s Networking. Today is Monday,

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<v Speaker 1>April first. From our extraordinary core group of NBA journalists

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<v Speaker 1>were joined now by NBA dot Com senior writer Sean Paul,

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<v Speaker 1>who already got me on the April first joke, Sean,

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<v Speaker 1>April Fool's Day is not is not for me. It

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<v Speaker 1>is not for me. I am often got, I am

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<v Speaker 1>often got. But what I am interested in is the

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<v Speaker 1>fact that we are really near in the home strutch

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<v Speaker 1>of this regular season for the NBA seven or eight

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<v Speaker 1>games remaining for most of these teams. Not much, though,

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<v Speaker 1>is solidifying in some of these Western Conference standing races.

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<v Speaker 1>We're gonna touch on some of the games last night,

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<v Speaker 1>But you you hold votes for many of the awards

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<v Speaker 1>that some seem a little clear of of who may

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<v Speaker 1>be winners, others not so much. You're looking at the MVP.

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<v Speaker 1>I think, by by all accounts, and especially with some

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<v Speaker 1>of the regulations of games played rules in sixty five games,

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<v Speaker 1>it appears as though Nicola Jokic will likely return back

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<v Speaker 1>to that reign of being the MVP. Curious your thoughts

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<v Speaker 1>MVP Rookie of the Year is it? In fact, Wenby

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<v Speaker 1>Coach of the Year is one that I think is

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<v Speaker 1>very interesting. Where are your thoughts at when you start

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<v Speaker 1>to put together what you're going to do in regards

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<v Speaker 1>to these awards and just how you approach your evaluation

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<v Speaker 1>in just kind of seeing where things are at.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, that's a very interesting question, Sarah, because everybody

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<v Speaker 2>brings something different to the table. I mean, if you

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<v Speaker 2>talk to a lot of voters, it's like, Wow, what

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<v Speaker 2>were the expectations? You know, who is a cut above

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<v Speaker 2>everyone else? Blah blah blah. But this year, for the

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<v Speaker 2>most part, I think the answers are pretty clear cut.

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<v Speaker 2>I think once Joe went down with an injury and

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<v Speaker 2>therefore ineligible in the first year of the sixty five

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<v Speaker 2>game rule to be eligible for major awards, I think

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<v Speaker 2>Nicola Jokic pretty much became the clear front runner. And

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<v Speaker 2>that's not to say that he would not have won

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<v Speaker 2>it if Mbat stayed healthy. But Mbat was on such

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<v Speaker 2>a historic tare before you went down, so I thought

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<v Speaker 2>he was a favorite back then. But for now Nicola Yogic, who,

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<v Speaker 2>by the way, this four year stretch with him, You

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<v Speaker 2>could put that up with a four year stretch of

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<v Speaker 2>any player in recent history, because you know, considering he

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<v Speaker 2>won two MVPs and finished runner up and another one

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<v Speaker 2>is going to win a third. I mean, how many

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<v Speaker 2>players in the NBA And you could just say in history.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't leave it in recent history, but how many

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<v Speaker 2>players in the NBA have had that stretch? You know?

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<v Speaker 2>Obviously you know Michael the Great, Michael Jordan, Bron James,

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<v Speaker 2>but it's a very small class. So yeah, and I.

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<v Speaker 1>Think too, just the way in which he's elevated his

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<v Speaker 1>play in a lot of years and coming back from

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<v Speaker 1>a championship.

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<v Speaker 2>Yep, yep. Absolutely, And just when you think that you

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<v Speaker 2>know he's going to plateau, you know, he might drop

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<v Speaker 2>a bit and everything. He just you know, just has

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<v Speaker 2>a year that and again, very team oriented to he

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<v Speaker 2>doesn't really care, you know, he just wants to go

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<v Speaker 2>ride his horses, you know. But yeah, he'll say, okay,

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<v Speaker 2>I'll take it, only on behalf of my team. So

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<v Speaker 2>that's the beauty of Nicola Jokic is that he's not

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<v Speaker 2>out there campaigning. He just wants to win games, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>And so that's pretty much clear cut, and you know,

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<v Speaker 2>Rookie of the Year win Manyama, and I know a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of people said, well, the moment he stepped in

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<v Speaker 2>the NBA, he was going to be a rookie year,

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<v Speaker 2>not none, not necessarily. So I thought chet Houngan has

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<v Speaker 2>had and still is having a very good year. I

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<v Speaker 2>think that when Byama is just doing some crazy stuff,

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<v Speaker 2>particularly lately in that forty point twenty rebound game and

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<v Speaker 2>to win against the Knicks and other games that his

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<v Speaker 2>block shots, you know, again just he's but he's gonna

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<v Speaker 2>win Defensive Player of the Year maybe once or twice,

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<v Speaker 2>do you think before it's all over with. And I

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<v Speaker 2>just think he's had a kind of year that most

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<v Speaker 2>rookies just really don't have.

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<v Speaker 1>So we've hit the obvious ones. The Coach of the

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<v Speaker 1>Year is interesting. We've seen some surprises in terms of

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<v Speaker 1>what teams are accomplishing, some that have youthful teams, whether

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<v Speaker 1>you look at what Oklahoma City is doing, what the

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<v Speaker 1>Orlando Magic are doing, Minnesota Timberwolves and just how they've

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<v Speaker 1>been performing. And obviously a lot of teams dealing with injury.

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<v Speaker 1>Who are some of your top candidates at the front

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<v Speaker 1>line of who may be your coach of the year.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, again, I think in this situation, we come back

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<v Speaker 2>to expectations. You know, did you expect Boston to be

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<v Speaker 2>where they are pretty much? So that cancels out you know,

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<v Speaker 2>one coach, and you expect Denver to be the defending champions.

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<v Speaker 2>We are okay, Well that cancels out of coach again,

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<v Speaker 2>so we're weighing, you know, that sort of thing. But

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<v Speaker 2>I think that uh, you know, you got you have

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<v Speaker 2>to look at the West. You have to look near

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<v Speaker 2>the top of the West. Oklahoma City, Minnesota, two teams

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<v Speaker 2>that you know, based on last year versus this year,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, it's been quite a leap. You know, Mark

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<v Speaker 2>Dagnol who's just been tremendous with a very young core,

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<v Speaker 2>and I know he has Shay who's an MVP candidate,

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<v Speaker 2>and I know he's had some good health for the

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<v Speaker 2>most of the year. But they're still they're young players,

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<v Speaker 2>and you know, a young team rarely rises to the

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<v Speaker 2>top that quickly, particularly over a defending NBA champion still

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<v Speaker 2>in its prime. That's the Denver Nuggets.

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<v Speaker 1>Uh.

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<v Speaker 2>Then you look at Chris Bench with Minnesota. See, to me,

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<v Speaker 2>I think it comes down to those two uh coaches,

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<v Speaker 2>who's going to finish first? And you know, weirdly, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>you don't have your mind made up with two weeks left.

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<v Speaker 2>But look at Chris Finch being able to coach this team.

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<v Speaker 2>Team can't score, you know, but it plays great defense.

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<v Speaker 2>They bought into that philosophy. You know, Kling Anthony Towns

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<v Speaker 2>has been out and yet they still find ways to win.

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<v Speaker 2>Pretty much all season. They've either been in first place

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<v Speaker 2>or a game game and a half out of the

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<v Speaker 2>first place. Definitely in the top three all season. So

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<v Speaker 2>you have to salute someone like that to be able

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<v Speaker 2>to get his team to buy in, particularly defensively, and

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<v Speaker 2>to keep winning in a very difficult conference.

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<v Speaker 1>So you've mentioned how they finish. Is it as simple

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<v Speaker 1>as that? I mean, you're looking with these coaches and

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<v Speaker 1>what other distinguishing factors within a team do you take

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<v Speaker 1>into accounts because it is different situations in Minnesota, for example,

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<v Speaker 1>and Chris Finch, I look at him in the impressive

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<v Speaker 1>nature of thinking about what those expectations were with that

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<v Speaker 1>trade going into last season, the way in which it

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<v Speaker 1>looked like it may not work with Rudy Gobert or

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<v Speaker 1>Karl Anthony towns. How they figure that out? Obviously the

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<v Speaker 1>ascension of what Anthony Edwards is doing. But now you

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<v Speaker 1>deal with injuries, with towns being out, what factors in

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<v Speaker 1>for you more than if there is more than just

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<v Speaker 1>the way these teams finish.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, again, like I said, it gets tricky and a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of voters will bring in their own philosophies. There

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<v Speaker 2>are no guidelines when it comes through voting for these awards.

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<v Speaker 2>The NBA doesn't doesn't give out a set of instructions

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<v Speaker 2>that like, for example, the MVP. The NBA doesn't say, well,

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<v Speaker 2>the MVP winner must come from a player whose team

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<v Speaker 2>has won x amount of games. The only guideline now

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<v Speaker 2>is players have to play sixty five games. As far

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<v Speaker 2>as the Coach of the Year, you know, I kind

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<v Speaker 2>of weigh a lot of different things. Number one, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>where the team was last year versus this year. Number two,

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<v Speaker 2>many like really star players they have. You know, if

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<v Speaker 2>you look at a team like Boston, I mean, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>they they're loaded, and that's probably more reflection on you know,

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<v Speaker 2>the man who put them together general manner than the coach.

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<v Speaker 2>No offense, but you know, you know, yeah, so maybe

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<v Speaker 2>Brad Stevens is up for Executive of the Year, probably

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<v Speaker 2>more deserving. But yeah, I look at, you know, last

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<v Speaker 2>year versus this year, the amount of stars and All Stars,

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<v Speaker 2>and way of improvement and the other things more like discipline,

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<v Speaker 2>how smart the team is and clutch situations, do they

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<v Speaker 2>beat themselves? They play hard? And of course winning obviously

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<v Speaker 2>is a factor. So I kind of factor all that

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<v Speaker 2>in whenever I look at who would be the most deserving,

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<v Speaker 2>and I still come down to, you know, two coaches

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<v Speaker 2>who have their team right near the top and the

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<v Speaker 2>West against the defending champion Nuggets.

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<v Speaker 1>All right, then this is the tough one because there

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<v Speaker 1>really are no guidelines of what most improved Player is,

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<v Speaker 1>and I think everyone looks at it in different ways.

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<v Speaker 1>Everyone has different thoughts about the age is a player,

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<v Speaker 1>which should be the natural progression of improvement for a

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<v Speaker 1>player getting used to the league, accustomed to the league,

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<v Speaker 1>making that jump from let's say rookie year to second year,

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<v Speaker 1>second a third year for most improved player who jumps

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<v Speaker 1>out to you as a couple of the top candidates

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<v Speaker 1>to win that award.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, See, Sarah, this is the award that you know,

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<v Speaker 2>really has me a little bit frustrated because you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I think a lot of voters misinterpret the spirit of

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<v Speaker 2>the award, And to me, the spirit of the ward

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<v Speaker 2>is someone who just has who maybe no one really

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<v Speaker 2>gave too much thought of, who was maybe drafted low,

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<v Speaker 2>didn't have a lot of you know, hope coming into

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<v Speaker 2>the league, and just was a self made productive player.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, sometimes you give it to that guy who

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<v Speaker 2>was drafting the T six that started off slow and

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<v Speaker 2>all of a sudden, you know, was great. Well, he

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<v Speaker 2>should have been there anyway. Or a guy who was

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<v Speaker 2>actually pretty good last year and just took it up

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<v Speaker 2>a notch. Oh, we should give him. I mean I

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<v Speaker 2>look at a guy like appron Chagun. I mean a

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<v Speaker 2>guy who you know last year was like, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>third option on the Rockets, you know, really trying to,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, really get some tracks in the NBA, trying

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<v Speaker 2>to learn about his body a little bit, and comes

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<v Speaker 2>in this year and before he got hurt, its rockets

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<v Speaker 2>leading scorer, good rebounder, again, very self made. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>got a nickname, baby Yokitch. Anytime you can have a

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<v Speaker 2>nickname with Yokich in the middle of it, that's got

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<v Speaker 2>to be a pretty a pretty good sign. Of course,

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<v Speaker 2>it gets hurt and then you got to look at

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<v Speaker 2>someone like Jaylen Brunson, who again, you know, I know

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<v Speaker 2>he won a couple of national championships Villanova, but you know,

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<v Speaker 2>second round pick, second option in Dallas, comes to New York.

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<v Speaker 2>Last year was pretty good. This year the top five scoring,

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<v Speaker 2>All Star all that. So, uh, it's going to be

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<v Speaker 2>one of those two players on my scorecard. I think

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<v Speaker 2>they're both deserving. Neither of them came into the NBA

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<v Speaker 2>but a lot of fanfare, and yet they were both

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<v Speaker 2>pretty much so made very productive players.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah. Well, Jalen Williams jumps out to me for Oklahoma City.

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<v Speaker 1>We're talking a lot about winning, impacting winning, what players

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<v Speaker 1>have been doing, and he, to me, has been someone

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<v Speaker 1>that his I don't. I don't think for as much

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<v Speaker 1>as we talk about Oklahoma City, I think a lot

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<v Speaker 1>of people, if they're not watching in a game in

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<v Speaker 1>game out, basis fully understand the impact because because everyone's

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<v Speaker 1>contributing so much, and obviously SGA is having an mv

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<v Speaker 1>MVP type caliber season. I know Kobe White has gotten

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<v Speaker 1>a lot of buzz from the Chicago Bulls. Tyrese Maxie

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<v Speaker 1>is well, the jump. He's made. I think by nature

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<v Speaker 1>you've seen his progression and knowing when that James Harden

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<v Speaker 1>trade happened with him having balvedmore and his usage right

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<v Speaker 1>obviously skyrocket. But gonna be fun, gonna be interesting, Sean.

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<v Speaker 1>We will continue to watch because now, as we had mentioned,

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<v Speaker 1>only seven eight games remaining, but we had some good

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<v Speaker 1>ones last night, including talking Oklahoma City thunder SGA game winner,

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<v Speaker 1>a win over the Knicks. We'll get to that right

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<v Speaker 1>after break.

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<v Speaker 2>Kitty looking looking inside the past jump, Shawn is up.

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<v Speaker 2>That's good.

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<v Speaker 1>At one point eight remainings, Keljas Alexander nails it and

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<v Speaker 1>the Thunder go up by one. Welcome back to me, Paul, Sarahkustaik,

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<v Speaker 1>joined by the Great Sean Poll and Sean. We had

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<v Speaker 1>some fun games going last night, including a tremendous finish

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<v Speaker 1>in just a tremendous game between the Oklahoma City Thunder

0:12:47.160 --> 0:12:50.040
<v Speaker 1>and the New York Knicks at the Garden thanks to

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<v Speaker 1>a game winner by Shake Gildes Alexander, a one point

0:12:53.280 --> 0:12:57.760
<v Speaker 1>win by the Thunder. I had mentioned Jalen Williams, Maryland.

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<v Speaker 2>Williams close over, pull up.

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<v Speaker 1>Jumper, got it again. Tyler Williams putting on a show.

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<v Speaker 1>He comes away with thirty three points, eight assists, four rebounds.

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<v Speaker 1>You had a big night for Jalen Brunson, thirty points,

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<v Speaker 1>seven assists.

0:13:14.040 --> 0:13:17.440
<v Speaker 2>Up top to Brunson nine seconds to go. Brunson looks

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<v Speaker 2>up Brunson on the drive to the rain off.

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<v Speaker 1>The classic back next leave by one with four seconds frommaining.

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<v Speaker 1>And it's interesting watching you look at where these two

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<v Speaker 1>teams are at, what they're trying to accomplish, the NIXT

0:13:30.320 --> 0:13:33.280
<v Speaker 1>dealing with a good amount of injuries or some injuries

0:13:33.320 --> 0:13:35.959
<v Speaker 1>here is they go down the final stretch of the season.

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<v Speaker 1>But looking back at that game last night, what stands

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<v Speaker 1>out to you just with where these Western Conference standings sit,

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<v Speaker 1>those top couple teams between the Nuggets, the Oklahoma City Thunder,

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<v Speaker 1>Minnesota Timberwolves, what that means for them and also the

0:13:49.559 --> 0:13:53.000
<v Speaker 1>next team that's battling still potentially feeling like they could

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<v Speaker 1>jump up to that number two spot in the East.

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<v Speaker 2>I think you had a contrast. You had one team

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<v Speaker 2>that's been pretty much healthy all year, that's Oklahoma City

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<v Speaker 2>against a team that's, you know, least in this game,

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<v Speaker 2>was missing three starters, you know. And also what I

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<v Speaker 2>took away from that is Jayden Brunson. I mean, what

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<v Speaker 2>a role. Last couple of games, sixty one points and

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<v Speaker 2>a loss against Spurs, and then you know, another terrific game.

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<v Speaker 2>Although he did miss a couple of free throws down

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<v Speaker 2>the stretch, he still played very well and just been

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<v Speaker 2>tremendous for the Knicks all season. I'm with you with

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<v Speaker 2>Jayden Williams. I think this, first of all, he's not scared.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, you give him the ball, and you know

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<v Speaker 2>if Shay gives Alexander doesn't want the ball, and Jed

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<v Speaker 2>Williams to take the ball, and I think you saw

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit of that. But Shade really didn't shoot

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<v Speaker 2>well except for the game winning shot, of course, and

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<v Speaker 2>then Jay Williams kind of carried that team on the

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<v Speaker 2>road in a tough place to play, even even though

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<v Speaker 2>the Knick still without og Anobi, Julius Rando, Mitchell Robinson. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>going back to those three players, you wonder for the

0:15:01.280 --> 0:15:03.680
<v Speaker 2>Knicks whether or not they're going to come back. I mean,

0:15:04.760 --> 0:15:07.920
<v Speaker 2>with og and that elbow, that was really a strange

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<v Speaker 2>thing because he did come back and then he went

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<v Speaker 2>out again back to rehab. Julius rand Over his shoulder,

0:15:14.560 --> 0:15:17.720
<v Speaker 2>didn't have any surgery on that shoulder and really has

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<v Speaker 2>been stuck in rehab, and Mitchell Robbins has a problematic ankle.

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<v Speaker 2>This team has played well all things considered, but you

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<v Speaker 2>wonder how much of it's going to wear down a

0:15:27.080 --> 0:15:30.720
<v Speaker 2>guy like Jalen Brunson, who has been tremendous. As I said,

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<v Speaker 2>And by the way, can defenders really understand that Jaylen

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<v Speaker 2>Brunson is left handed? He always wants to go to

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<v Speaker 2>his left. How does he still get to the rim? Sarah?

0:15:37.920 --> 0:15:40.720
<v Speaker 2>Every single time I was watching that Spurs game, he's

0:15:40.760 --> 0:15:42.920
<v Speaker 2>just blowing by Spurs left and right going to his left.

0:15:42.920 --> 0:15:44.320
<v Speaker 2>You would think they would figure it out or at

0:15:44.360 --> 0:15:46.480
<v Speaker 2>least double them. But you know, I know we're a

0:15:46.520 --> 0:15:49.560
<v Speaker 2>little bit off track there, but just frustrating me. No,

0:15:49.880 --> 0:15:53.400
<v Speaker 2>your opponent, Oh my god, I get it. Jaylen Brunson

0:15:53.440 --> 0:15:54.840
<v Speaker 2>is good, so he's probably going to do that more

0:15:54.880 --> 0:15:56.800
<v Speaker 2>often than not. But still, you know, though, a double

0:15:56.840 --> 0:16:00.520
<v Speaker 2>team anyway. Yeah, I just think he just saw a

0:16:00.520 --> 0:16:04.480
<v Speaker 2>contrast line last night. One team injured and somewhat desperate,

0:16:04.840 --> 0:16:07.640
<v Speaker 2>and another team really wants to establish itself as a

0:16:07.680 --> 0:16:11.760
<v Speaker 2>title contender, goes on the road and the world's most glamorous, fantastic,

0:16:11.760 --> 0:16:14.480
<v Speaker 2>what is it, Sarah Greatest Arena and comes out with

0:16:14.560 --> 0:16:14.800
<v Speaker 2>the win.

0:16:16.560 --> 0:16:19.440
<v Speaker 1>Well, you want to talk about double teams. And there

0:16:19.440 --> 0:16:21.920
<v Speaker 1>was another game happening in New York last night in

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<v Speaker 1>Brooklyn against the Brooklyn Nets, and Lebron James is not

0:16:26.720 --> 0:16:29.000
<v Speaker 1>forty yet, but he dropped forty and he did so

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<v Speaker 1>in an absolutely extraordinary manner. I know Brooklyn is had

0:16:33.240 --> 0:16:35.880
<v Speaker 1>a struggle this season trying to piece things together, but

0:16:36.280 --> 0:16:40.360
<v Speaker 1>for the Lakers and Lebron James, he was exquisite. Thirteen

0:16:40.400 --> 0:16:44.520
<v Speaker 1>of seventeen, including nine of ten from the three point line,

0:16:45.440 --> 0:16:49.680
<v Speaker 1>seven rebounds, five assists. Lebron down the midley goes, how

0:16:49.680 --> 0:16:50.880
<v Speaker 1>are you gonna stop it?

0:16:51.320 --> 0:16:52.080
<v Speaker 2>He's got the care.

0:16:52.120 --> 0:16:55.560
<v Speaker 1>I'm Lebron doing little dance out on front, out on

0:16:55.640 --> 0:16:59.200
<v Speaker 1>top now in the corner, look at him looking to

0:16:59.280 --> 0:17:03.280
<v Speaker 1>take a seaton. Lebron, Come on, what we're going with?

0:17:03.400 --> 0:17:06.879
<v Speaker 1>Blasting in front of him? Scoring up Lebron here, God.

0:17:07.480 --> 0:17:16.760
<v Speaker 2>Yes, Lebron, stop showing off. Lebron.

0:17:17.440 --> 0:17:20.320
<v Speaker 1>I was able to see that, Uh see that live

0:17:20.400 --> 0:17:22.960
<v Speaker 1>and living color, and it was just take over time.

0:17:23.040 --> 0:17:25.120
<v Speaker 1>The Lakers jumped out to a seventeen to nothing lead,

0:17:25.560 --> 0:17:29.120
<v Speaker 1>and as the nets started to come back and make

0:17:29.160 --> 0:17:32.280
<v Speaker 1>a little bit of a push, Uh, Lebron just shut

0:17:32.280 --> 0:17:35.960
<v Speaker 1>it down. And he was extraordinary. Watching the power and

0:17:36.280 --> 0:17:39.359
<v Speaker 1>the force that he still plays with to go along

0:17:39.480 --> 0:17:41.879
<v Speaker 1>with that touch, what he's doing from the three point

0:17:41.880 --> 0:17:45.439
<v Speaker 1>line this season. Uh where I know we run out

0:17:45.480 --> 0:17:48.920
<v Speaker 1>of words and descriptions of James, but does it? Does

0:17:48.920 --> 0:17:50.560
<v Speaker 1>it surprise you in any case? And I know he

0:17:51.000 --> 0:17:53.720
<v Speaker 1>had some comments after the game of talking about being

0:17:53.720 --> 0:17:56.639
<v Speaker 1>on the back end of his career, not knowing how

0:17:56.760 --> 0:17:59.800
<v Speaker 1>much longer he may still be doing this. As we're

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<v Speaker 1>watching this and seeing this and not taking it for

0:18:02.320 --> 0:18:05.600
<v Speaker 1>granted because it is his twenty first year and we've

0:18:05.640 --> 0:18:09.359
<v Speaker 1>become so accustomed to him being such a stable part

0:18:09.480 --> 0:18:12.439
<v Speaker 1>of what we see night in, night out, how do

0:18:12.520 --> 0:18:14.439
<v Speaker 1>you view this and in view games like this.

0:18:15.359 --> 0:18:18.360
<v Speaker 2>I'm sorry, Sarah, whenever I watch Lebron James, I take

0:18:18.400 --> 0:18:22.159
<v Speaker 2>everything for granted. I'm sorry. He got me man, you know,

0:18:23.880 --> 0:18:26.200
<v Speaker 2>because I have not seen this guy hit a wall,

0:18:27.359 --> 0:18:29.280
<v Speaker 2>And until I see him hit a wall, I'm gonna

0:18:29.280 --> 0:18:31.040
<v Speaker 2>think he's gonna be able to do this every night.

0:18:31.720 --> 0:18:35.280
<v Speaker 2>I will say this about Lebron James's game, you know, here,

0:18:35.400 --> 0:18:38.359
<v Speaker 2>as you said, you know, twenty first year, the one

0:18:38.520 --> 0:18:41.760
<v Speaker 2>area where he has improved on is his three point shooting.

0:18:42.600 --> 0:18:44.679
<v Speaker 2>You know, he the rest of his game, you know,

0:18:44.720 --> 0:18:48.000
<v Speaker 2>it's pretty much been okay, a little slippage here there, whatever, defense,

0:18:48.240 --> 0:18:51.680
<v Speaker 2>maybe rebound, whatever, it might be, not much, but the

0:18:51.720 --> 0:18:54.680
<v Speaker 2>one era where you can say, ah, you know this

0:18:54.760 --> 0:18:57.560
<v Speaker 2>is what he's been working on. That three point shooting

0:18:57.680 --> 0:19:00.480
<v Speaker 2>is given him basically is buying him time, and it's

0:19:00.600 --> 0:19:03.640
<v Speaker 2>and not only that, it's making him be even more

0:19:03.680 --> 0:19:08.200
<v Speaker 2>relevant in today's game when he can consistently, well not consistently,

0:19:08.280 --> 0:19:11.080
<v Speaker 2>but better than ever in his career drop that three

0:19:11.080 --> 0:19:13.280
<v Speaker 2>point shot. Now he has some cold he has some

0:19:13.320 --> 0:19:16.040
<v Speaker 2>cold spells here and there from that distance, but you

0:19:16.080 --> 0:19:19.320
<v Speaker 2>know this this year I can say that's the one

0:19:19.440 --> 0:19:21.600
<v Speaker 2>area of his game he has definitely improved on. And

0:19:21.600 --> 0:19:23.680
<v Speaker 2>how many players can you say that you know this,

0:19:24.000 --> 0:19:25.840
<v Speaker 2>but first of all, not to me players are playing

0:19:26.280 --> 0:19:30.080
<v Speaker 2>twenty one years, but even late in your careers, how

0:19:30.119 --> 0:19:33.199
<v Speaker 2>many players can you can you say are improving on

0:19:33.359 --> 0:19:36.040
<v Speaker 2>an important part of their game as Lebron James in

0:19:36.080 --> 0:19:38.439
<v Speaker 2>three point shooting. And as far as whether or not

0:19:39.280 --> 0:19:42.480
<v Speaker 2>he has that much time left and everything I still

0:19:42.600 --> 0:19:46.520
<v Speaker 2>think that there's something inside Lebron James who just wants

0:19:46.520 --> 0:19:49.080
<v Speaker 2>to save a little bit for maybe if, if, and

0:19:49.119 --> 0:19:51.680
<v Speaker 2>I know this is a conversation for another day, if

0:19:51.760 --> 0:19:55.080
<v Speaker 2>Bronni James is able to play in the NBA, you know,

0:19:55.240 --> 0:19:58.359
<v Speaker 2>just to have that father son moment, that Ken Griffy

0:19:58.440 --> 0:20:01.320
<v Speaker 2>junior Ken Griffy Senior moment. Again, that's a conversation for

0:20:01.359 --> 0:20:04.959
<v Speaker 2>another day. We got to see if you can play draft,

0:20:05.000 --> 0:20:07.679
<v Speaker 2>all that stuff. But I just I see that in

0:20:07.800 --> 0:20:10.040
<v Speaker 2>Lebron James as sort of something that's.

0:20:09.920 --> 0:20:12.520
<v Speaker 1>Driving him without a doubt. I mean, and you said,

0:20:12.600 --> 0:20:15.800
<v Speaker 1>shooting over forty percent from three for a three point

0:20:15.800 --> 0:20:19.000
<v Speaker 1>shooter that at his career is right around thirty five

0:20:19.119 --> 0:20:21.840
<v Speaker 1>just under he's taken some more three. So the adjustment

0:20:21.880 --> 0:20:26.040
<v Speaker 1>of that to his game, I also think it's evident

0:20:26.320 --> 0:20:29.400
<v Speaker 1>watching and we'll see where the Lakers, you know, how

0:20:29.440 --> 0:20:31.280
<v Speaker 1>they finish. Obviously, it looks like they're going to be

0:20:31.320 --> 0:20:33.560
<v Speaker 1>the playing game again this year. Last year they were

0:20:33.560 --> 0:20:35.640
<v Speaker 1>seven seats, only having to win one game. Not sure

0:20:35.680 --> 0:20:37.879
<v Speaker 1>if they can there's any chance they could jump up

0:20:38.040 --> 0:20:40.760
<v Speaker 1>and get to that eight spot still at this point,

0:20:40.880 --> 0:20:44.800
<v Speaker 1>but they can turn it on and the complimentary pieces

0:20:44.800 --> 0:20:47.600
<v Speaker 1>and the confidence when when they play the way Ruy

0:20:47.680 --> 0:20:51.480
<v Speaker 1>is playing in certain moments, Austin reeves putting it together.

0:20:51.960 --> 0:20:56.200
<v Speaker 1>You know what, D'Angelo Russell. If there's any level of consistency,

0:20:56.359 --> 0:20:59.360
<v Speaker 1>Anthony Davis has been tremendous. But you saw it. I'm

0:20:59.400 --> 0:21:01.920
<v Speaker 1>sitting there watching and when Lebron James wants to turn

0:21:01.960 --> 0:21:05.080
<v Speaker 1>it on, he just absolutely dominates. And that's both in

0:21:05.200 --> 0:21:08.000
<v Speaker 1>So it's still in spurts. I think he's figured out

0:21:08.040 --> 0:21:10.640
<v Speaker 1>how to pace himself and where to pace himself. So

0:21:10.760 --> 0:21:13.560
<v Speaker 1>to me, I do not Sean take it for granted,

0:21:13.640 --> 0:21:17.959
<v Speaker 1>because it is. It is a whole nother level and

0:21:18.000 --> 0:21:20.119
<v Speaker 1>we will see. But but yeah, I don't know. It

0:21:20.160 --> 0:21:22.359
<v Speaker 1>doesn't look like I know. He may say that it

0:21:22.359 --> 0:21:24.600
<v Speaker 1>doesn't look like that. It's it's going to be ending

0:21:24.640 --> 0:21:27.720
<v Speaker 1>anytime soon. But we'll be fun to watch. You know

0:21:27.760 --> 0:21:30.480
<v Speaker 1>what is ending, Sean. Our podcast here and we always

0:21:30.760 --> 0:21:34.040
<v Speaker 1>appreciate your time, will continue to read watch you on

0:21:34.200 --> 0:21:37.800
<v Speaker 1>NBA TV, NBA dot Com, and until the next time,

0:21:37.840 --> 0:21:38.960
<v Speaker 1>we look forward to saying.

0:21:38.680 --> 0:21:39.439
<v Speaker 2>You appreciate it.

0:21:39.480 --> 0:21:42.560
<v Speaker 1>Sarah NBA pauls So Sarahusack is production of iHeart Radio

0:21:42.600 --> 0:21:44.720
<v Speaker 1>in the NBA Please write review and subscribe on the

0:21:44.760 --> 0:21:47.359
<v Speaker 1>iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.