1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: The volume, from the football playoffs to college and pro 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: basketball to the rush of hockey. What a time to 3 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:10,239 Speaker 1: be a sports fan. It's all happening and you can 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:11,959 Speaker 1: get in on all the action of all the sports 5 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: you love at Draft Kings Sportsbook. But so many sports. 6 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: Every day is game day at DraftKings. That means unlimited 7 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:20,279 Speaker 1: opportunities to place your first bet, and DraftKings makes it easy. 8 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: How easy? Try betting on something simple like picking a 9 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 1: team to win. Go to the Draft Kings Sportsbook app 10 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: and pick your team and place your bet. One of 11 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: my favorite bets to look at right now is the 12 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:32,200 Speaker 1: NBA Championship picture. I have three teams in the same tier. 13 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 1: I have Boston, Oklahoma City, and Cleveland all in the 14 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,160 Speaker 1: same tier. But Boston's at plus two fifty, the Thunder 15 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: at plus two sixty five. The Cavs are at plus 16 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 1: eleven hundred, So some nice value there to help get 17 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: you started. Here's something special for all new customers. Bet 18 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: five dollars to get two hundred dollars in bonus bets. 19 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: Instantly download the Draft Kings Sportsbook app and use code hoops. 20 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: That's code hoops, that's hoops. For new customers, to get 21 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 1: two hundred dollars in bonus bets instantly when you bet 22 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: just five bucks DraftKings, the crown is yours. Gamble problem 23 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: called one eight hundred gambler in New York call eight 24 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: seven seven eight hope and why, or text hope and 25 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: why to four six seven three six nine Connecticut help 26 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: us available for problem gambling Call eight eight eight seven 27 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 1: eight nine seven seven seven seven or visit CCPG dot org. 28 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort 29 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: in Kansas twenty one plus. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. 30 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:23,320 Speaker 1: Void in Ontario, New customers only. Bonus bets expire one 31 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,119 Speaker 1: hundred and sixty eight hours after issuance. For additional terms 32 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 1: and responsible gaming resources, see DKNG dot co slash audio. 33 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 1: All right, well, Condobe tonight here at the volume evy Friday. Everybody, 34 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: it is mail bag Day. I got a bunch of 35 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: good questions. If you guys want to drop mailbag questions 36 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: for the show in the YouTube comments, put mailbag colon. 37 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: Write your question and we'll get to it on Fridays 38 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: throughout the rest of the season. You guys knowe the 39 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: joke before we get started. Subscribe to the Hoops Tonight youtubechannels. 40 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: You don't miss any more of our videos. Follow me 41 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: on Twitter at underscore JCNLTS you guys don't miss any 42 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: show announcements. Don't forget about our podcast feed where you 43 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: get your podcast on our Hoops Tonight. It's also super 44 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 1: helpful for you leave a rating and a review on 45 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: that front. We also have social media feeds on Twitter, Instagram, 46 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: and Facebook where we're releasing content throughout the season. Make 47 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 1: sure you guys follow us there now. Like I mentioned 48 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: off the top, last but not least, keepdropping mail bad 49 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: questions in those YouTube comment Every few weeks, I feel 50 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: like I have to say this, and part of it 51 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: is just because we still, thanks to the YouTube algorithm, 52 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 1: get exposed to a lot of new people that haven't 53 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: seen the show. I'm a Lakers fan, more accurately, a 54 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 1: Lebron James fan that roots for the Lakers, and when 55 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: Lebron retires, I won't have any of that nostalgic emotional 56 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: fanhood from my childhood, which will be probably better for 57 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: my job. But I am a Lakers fan and so 58 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: I watch almost every Lakers game, and of course I'm 59 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 1: going to talk about it on my show. Why wouldn't 60 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 1: I have opinions. They're my favorite team, right, And so 61 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: some of that is going to come through in the show. 62 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:56,919 Speaker 1: That said, I work extremely hard to cover the rest 63 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,679 Speaker 1: of the league this week. After this show, we'll have 64 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: like over three hours of non Lakers content that will 65 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: be released in this week. I spend a great deal 66 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 1: of time covering the rest of the teams, and so 67 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,360 Speaker 1: what we do to try to make that easier for 68 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:16,799 Speaker 1: you guys is we put chapters and we do breakout clips, 69 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: so it's pretty clear to see where what we're going 70 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 1: to be covering on any given show. And so if 71 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: you don't want to watch any Lakers content, don't watch 72 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 1: any Lakers content. I totally get that. I sympathize with it. 73 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: I understand. I get that there's a lot of people 74 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 1: out there that hate the Lakers for the obvious reasons 75 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 1: involving the Laker franchise, and you may not want to 76 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: hear me talk about them. I don't blame you skip 77 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 1: over it. But there's a lot of good stuff covering 78 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: the rest of the league beyond that if you just 79 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 1: look at our channel. And so that's just a little 80 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: disclaimer for our new listeners that I've joined the show 81 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: within the last couple of weeks couple of months. Yes, 82 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: we're going to talk about the Lakers and my favorite team, 83 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: but that's really in the big picture, doesn't come close 84 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 1: to encapsulating what we do on this show. Fantasy mailbag question. 85 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: If you're the Warriors, are you doing a similar deal 86 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: for Beal? Maybe in that scenario you keep kaminga and 87 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 1: at Kyle Anderson talking about Bradley Beal instead of trading 88 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: for Kevin Durant. I would not make a deal for 89 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:19,279 Speaker 1: Bradley Bial. I don't think the Warriors really have a 90 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 1: need of in guard depth. I think that they've got 91 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: a lot of guards that can do different things, and 92 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 1: they've got a skill guard already. Bradley bial is an 93 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: excellent athlete who should in theory be a guy that 94 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: can help in a lot of ways. But he's just 95 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: such a bad off ball defender and just in general 96 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: off ball role player that I on the defensive end 97 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,159 Speaker 1: of the floor that I don't think it actually solves 98 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: many problems for Golden State. I think for them, especially 99 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: at that salary point. I think for them, if they 100 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: were going to make a big swing for you know, 101 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 1: a high powered player, it'd be in the front court. 102 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: Jason Nets fan here saving the obvious. The Nets are rebuilding. 103 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: They are set to have the most cap room in 104 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 1: the NBA next season, and they're tanking to get a 105 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: high pick. Clearly they want to get a star or 106 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:02,720 Speaker 1: two in free agency or a trade. In order to 107 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 1: have a bottom three record and likely a top three pick, 108 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 1: They're going to have to start losing even more. The 109 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: Nets offload Cam Johnson and Nick Claxton, they won't have 110 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,720 Speaker 1: any good role players on the roster. Won't that lack 111 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: of decent starters make it harder to recruit free agents 112 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,039 Speaker 1: and or entice a star to demand a trade to 113 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: the Nets. I think the Nets should hang on Cam 114 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:22,040 Speaker 1: Johnson and Nick Claxton in order to be an attractive 115 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: destination and hopefully they get lucky in the lottery and 116 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: snag a top four or five pick. What do you 117 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: think is the best case for course forward for the Nets? So? 118 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: I think the idea of building through free agency doesn't 119 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 1: make a lot of sense, certainly not in this coming 120 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:36,119 Speaker 1: summer one. It just hasn't been the way that people 121 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: have done it as of late stars have renewed deals 122 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: on their current teams and then asked for trades. That's 123 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 1: how player movement has happened for the most part. Also, 124 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:46,919 Speaker 1: if you look at free agency this year, there's just 125 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 1: not a lot in the way of great options. Like 126 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: Lebron could be a free agent, he's not going to Brooklyn. 127 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 1: I think Jimmy Butler might go if you offer him 128 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 1: a max contract, just if no one else does. If 129 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 1: he just opts out and go and Bok offers him 130 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: a max I think Jimmy would probably go, just because 131 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: I think he's gonna have hard time getting a max 132 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 1: contract elsewhere. But I don't know how that makes any 133 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:07,840 Speaker 1: sense for Brooklyn, Like, why would Brooklyn do that? What 134 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler is gonna put you in the same position 135 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: Miami's in, if that makes sense. So, like, I think 136 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 1: the Clippers will probably try to resign James harden I, 137 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,599 Speaker 1: especially since they still have Kwhi Leonard under contract. I 138 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 1: don't see any point in going after a guy like 139 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: a Fred Van Vliet, maybe Brandon Ingram. He's a guy that, like, 140 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: if you're gonna throw a big max offer because you 141 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,119 Speaker 1: wanted to, Brandon's the kind of guy that I would 142 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:33,600 Speaker 1: I would go after. Like, he's only twenty seven years old, 143 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: and Brandon is actually at his best when he's not 144 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,359 Speaker 1: on a team with a ton of ball handling, but 145 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,039 Speaker 1: on a team where he kind of gets to run 146 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: the show. I think he's better and more of a 147 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 1: heliocentric role than in like a read and react type 148 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: of role. I think he's one of the better among 149 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: the forwards in the league. I think he's one of 150 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,720 Speaker 1: the better kind of like pick and roll passers that 151 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 1: we have very good at throwing skip passes and getting 152 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: the defense into rotation. So Brandon Ingram's an interesting option. 153 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 1: But then again, I mean, if Brandon Ingram's your best player, 154 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 1: I don't think you're necessarily going anywhere a special at 155 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: that point either. So, like I think i'd use the 156 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: cap space to try to win bidding wars for proven 157 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: role players, especially ones that are do big raises, because 158 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: those are the kinds of guys that you can turn 159 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 1: around in trade for more asset return. Most of the 160 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: guys that you sign you can turn around and trade 161 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: by like December fifteenth or January fifteenth, in the middle 162 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: of the season. I think it's December fifteenth, if I 163 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: remember the date. But like it's one of those things 164 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:35,239 Speaker 1: where like, for instance, like remember when Indiana signed Bruce Brown, 165 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: you know, like you end up getting a guy like that. 166 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:39,679 Speaker 1: Now they intended him to more be a role player 167 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 1: on that team and they ended up using him as 168 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: salary ballast to go get a Pascal Siakam. But it's 169 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: very possible that somebody turns around and trades a first 170 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 1: round pick for Bruce Brown this year even though he 171 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: makes twenty something million. Nobody wants to pay Bruce Brown 172 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: twenty seven million or twenty something million to be a 173 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: role player on their team. But like, if you have 174 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: other bad contracts that are not that are not contributing 175 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: to your team, you will happily take a higher paid 176 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 1: role player that'll help you and you can get multiple 177 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: second round picks, protected first round picks, things like that. 178 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 1: So like you could try to get into the free 179 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 1: agent conversation with specific guys to try to drive like 180 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: just basically bringing in assets that you can turn around 181 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: and flip. But I mean, self awareness is a big 182 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: deal in these sorts of situations, And to me, like 183 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: it's pretty obvious that the nets are years and years 184 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: away from serious contention. So at this point, I actually 185 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: go the Oklahoma City route, which is take on as 186 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 1: much young talent as possible, getting as many cracks at 187 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: the first round as you can get. Look for in 188 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: the trade market, lottery picks that failed for other teams, 189 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: guys that are in their third fourth year that didn't 190 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: pan out, but it might have something to do with 191 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 1: situation or role that might have a better chance. Like 192 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 1: those are the kinds of like if I think they 193 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 1: should be calling a Golden State and trying to get 194 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:01,560 Speaker 1: a Jonathan Kaminga, I would make more sense for a 195 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 1: team like Brooklyn to get a guy like Jonathan Kaminga 196 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 1: and like really just give him the keys to the 197 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 1: offense and just see what he's capable of. Then go 198 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: after a guy like Brandon Ingram, who we know exactly 199 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 1: what he's capable of and exactly where the ceiling is there, right, 200 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:17,839 Speaker 1: Like there's just at this point, if you're gonna be bad, 201 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: be bad with a purpose, don't be bad without a purpose. 202 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 1: But like, as long as you have as many first 203 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: round picks as possible and you're bringing in those younger 204 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: cast offs from elsewhere in the league, you just get 205 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: a bunch of opportunities to evaluate young talent, and then 206 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: once you hit on one or two of those guys, 207 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: then you have a good idea, like, Okay, this guy 208 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 1: can be the best player on a championship team, or like, 209 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:40,959 Speaker 1: this guy can be the second best player on a 210 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 1: championship team, So now we need the best guy, or 211 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 1: like whatever it is. You get like a couple of 212 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:46,719 Speaker 1: guys that are like rock solid guys that you get 213 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 1: out of your draft and development system. Then from there 214 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 1: you take a strategy approach to what are our strengths 215 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 1: and weaknesses. Okay, well with this group, we really need 216 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 1: to anchor him with this sort of thing. Oh like, 217 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 1: this guy's really gonna need a five that can shoot. 218 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 1: Oh no, this guy's gonna really need this this guy's 219 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: this guy's gonna really need a ball handler that can 220 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:07,320 Speaker 1: free him up and make him more of like a 221 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: screening threat. Whatever it might be. Right, there's all of 222 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 1: these different directions you can go with team building, but 223 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:14,960 Speaker 1: you can't really make that decision until you know what 224 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 1: your foundation is. And if you make your foundation brandon Ingram, 225 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 1: you'll know what your foundation is, but you won't have 226 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:24,959 Speaker 1: any real upside there. The better option there is to 227 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:27,559 Speaker 1: to look for younger talent. Once you identify what they 228 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: are capable of, then you can build around their strengths 229 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 1: and weaknesses. Last thing I'll say on that front is 230 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 1: just you got to establish basketball culture. It's just so important. 231 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 1: You need to from the ground up in your franchise, 232 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: from the coaching staff to the development staff, even the 233 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 1: front office with the types of guys that they go after. 234 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 1: You need to establish a basketball culture that permeates from 235 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 1: year to year so that as you're building in that direction, 236 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 1: you don't become a bad team. Right Like it's okay 237 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: to be a bad team in terms of like your 238 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: talent level and your ability to win games. You don't 239 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,599 Speaker 1: want to be a bad team in terms of the 240 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:06,959 Speaker 1: style of basketball you're playing. You want to play solid 241 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 1: basketball on both ends of the floor, so that as 242 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: the talent grows, the ecosystem is already there for the 243 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: talent to thrive in. How come teams in the NBA 244 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 1: overlook G League players and even overseas European players. Example, 245 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:20,319 Speaker 1: Jay Huff was in the G League for years and 246 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: never got an opportunity, but now he's a decent backup center. 247 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: So why don't teams look outside current rosters for backup 248 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: Biggs exclaimer or disclaimer, I know that they will have 249 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 1: certain flaws, and they are backups for a reason. First 250 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 1: of all, the good teams do you know Memphis has 251 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 1: been finding this kind of guy just about every year. 252 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:38,959 Speaker 1: Golden State has done it again with this gee Santos, 253 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 1: who's been doing some really useful stuff for them. Biggs, 254 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: I think, in particular, translate better. Bigger forwards, bigger athletes 255 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 1: translate better because simple athleticism focused jobs. You can find 256 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: a lot of young, useful talent around the world, but 257 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 1: some of your perimeter, especially shot creation talent, they rely 258 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:58,559 Speaker 1: so much on skill and decision making and there's like 259 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,560 Speaker 1: a huge drop off the NBA level to sub NBA 260 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 1: levels in that regard. And so I again like teams 261 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 1: do some teams are better at it than others. But 262 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,199 Speaker 1: like I think there's certain types of players where that's 263 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 1: an advantageous way to look, and there are other types 264 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: of players where it's not. Can you break down how 265 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: Amen Thompson, a non shooter starting for Jabari Smith, has 266 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 1: not negatively impacted the Rockets offense with his cutting and 267 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 1: fast breaking, his fast breakability. I would also say his 268 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 1: offensive rebounding ability. You know, the inability to convert spot 269 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 1: up possessions is an issue for a man, right Like, 270 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 1: he gets zero point seven to four points per spot up, 271 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: that's in the eleventh percentile. But he actually logs more 272 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 1: cuts than he does spot ups. Houston does a good 273 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 1: job of not putting him in that position very often. 274 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 1: Like most players like Amn Thompson that are bad shooters 275 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: still log a lot of spot up possessions. The reason 276 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:50,720 Speaker 1: why is they just somehow end up with the ball 277 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: because people aren't guarding him, right Like, that's usually how 278 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: it ends up going. But he logs more cuts than 279 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 1: spot ups because of the way that the offense is organized. 280 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 1: Like look at the end the Memphis game, for instance, 281 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,439 Speaker 1: so steady diet of Fred van Vliet, Jalen Green, high 282 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,800 Speaker 1: ballscreens that sort of thing, high ball screens, high ISOs. 283 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 1: They put Jaron Jackson on him for a good chunk 284 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:11,719 Speaker 1: of that, and they put Brandon Clark on him for 285 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:13,680 Speaker 1: a good chunk of that. But where is he always sitting. 286 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:15,199 Speaker 1: He's just sitting in the dunker spot on the left 287 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: side of the paint, where if the guy steps up, 288 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 1: he can get in there and get a quick drop 289 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:23,160 Speaker 1: off passer a lob and dunk it. Or if someone 290 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: shoots something, he can crash the offensive glass. He can 291 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 1: just do damage there. And that's really the thing. Like 292 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 1: if you miss a spot up three, of course it 293 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: hurts your team. That's an opportunity that you couldn't convert, 294 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 1: but you can make up for it by overwhelming impact 295 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 1: as an athlete running in transion transition where a men 296 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: Thompson is amazing crashing the last cutting to the rim. 297 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:46,200 Speaker 1: Like we talked about defending on the perimeter, he had 298 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 1: a huge stop against John Morant at the end of 299 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: that game. You can turn yourself into a net positive 300 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 1: while being a bad shooter. This is again it's all 301 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: about organization and being the right type of high motor 302 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 1: athlete that can really make teams pay for leaving him. 303 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 1: I think part of it too, as far as the 304 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: swap for Jabari Smith has been that Jabari Smith has 305 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 1: been a blow average spot up shooter spot up player 306 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 1: this year himself. He shoots forty percent on unguarded catch 307 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: and shoot three, so he'll knock down the wide open ones, 308 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:16,000 Speaker 1: but he misses quite a bit when he gets closed 309 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: out at and then he'll drive into long twos. Like 310 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 1: he's taken forty three mid range jump shots this year, 311 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: only made sixteen of them, only gotten thirty two points. 312 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 1: Thirty two points on forty three shots is not good. 313 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: That undercuts his success. So like again, like the realities is, 314 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 1: it's not that much of a drop off in spot 315 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: up capability and there's just so few of those opportunities 316 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 1: because of the way that they use him in a 317 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: man was so good at the end of that second 318 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: Rockets win against Memphis. They were down eight middle of 319 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter and he had three dunks out of 320 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: the dunker spot, including a pretty nasty alley loop off 321 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: of a play where Jaren Jackson overhelped on Shan Gun. 322 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 1: His vertical spacing is legit. He's an easy target and 323 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 1: he'll pop up off the ground quickly. Again, like to 324 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 1: finish in the dunker spot, you have to be able 325 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: to quickly come off of two feet around the basket, 326 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: like Lakers fans. You'll notice this with Max Christy as 327 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 1: of late, who does it more like cutting to the 328 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: rim off of inverted ball screens with Lebron But like 329 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: if you're gonna finish among the trees. You got to 330 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 1: use speed off the ground, like quickly popping off the 331 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: ground off of two feet and finishing and men Thompson 332 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:19,040 Speaker 1: is really really good at that. He blocked Jalen Wells 333 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: at the rim and a help side possession. He spooked 334 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 1: Jalen Wells on a close out that forced him into 335 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: an air ball on a catch and shoot possession down 336 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 1: the stretch. He got the stop of the game on 337 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: a hard John Moran drive where he stripped him down 338 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: low and forced him out of bounds. He had two 339 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: free throws after getting fouled out of another catch in 340 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: the dunker spot, and then he got the biggest rebound 341 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 1: of the game after John missed two free throws. It 342 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 1: came flying in from above the break and grab the rebound. 343 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: So like, just did so much good and never ended 344 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 1: up in a position where it was a problem that 345 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: he was being helped off of. The Grizzlies put centers 346 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 1: on him and helped off him all game and a 347 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: man just made him pay for it. And that's really 348 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 1: all that you have to do to be a useful 349 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: role player in this league. I also want to shout 350 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: out Jaalen Green. The Rockets had been playing really, really well. 351 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 1: They're on a five game winning streak, and in this 352 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: five game winning streak, Jalen Green has been averaging thirty 353 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 1: three points per game on fifty five percent from the field, 354 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 1: fifty three percent from three to ninety six percent from 355 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 1: the line. That's just outrageous. I've talked a lot about 356 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 1: how this team is so good defensively and they compete 357 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: so hard, and they're so good in transition that like, 358 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 1: if they just get good shot creation from Jalen and Fred, 359 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 1: they win. Like I've pulled the stats in the past 360 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: and don't have him in front of me, but there's 361 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: like a pretty clear through line for the Rockets between 362 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 1: their shot creation from Jalen and Fred and whether or 363 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 1: not they win games. One last thing I'll say about 364 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 1: Jalen Green too, Like I talked about this long time 365 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: ago with respect it was about a month and a 366 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 1: half ago with respect to Jalen and to Jonathan Kamingo, 367 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 1: which is like, guys that their respective fan bases has 368 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 1: been pretty low on. There's a chunk of Warriors fans 369 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 1: that think Jonathan k ming is like the second coming 370 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 1: of like Lebron James, but a lot of Warriors fans, 371 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: most of the Warriors fans that I talk to are 372 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 1: are kind of like they think he's fine. I think 373 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 1: he's fine. I don't think he's anything special. Rockets fans 374 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: have been mostly out on Jalen Green over the last 375 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: couple of years, and I just I can't quit on 376 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:20,440 Speaker 1: guys like him and John or Jonathan because that freaky 377 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:24,439 Speaker 1: rangey athleticism with size, not like a small guard like 378 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 1: Jalen Green's big, He's a decent sized guard or two guard. 379 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:31,680 Speaker 1: And when you have the ability to cover ground and 380 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 1: to beat people off the dribble and to do athletic things, 381 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 1: when games become super physical and become more about leveraging athleticism, 382 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:45,120 Speaker 1: I'm always gonna be high on that type of guy. 383 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 1: And like I understand, Jalen Green comes with a lot 384 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:52,679 Speaker 1: of poor decision making, inconsistent defensive effort and execution. There's 385 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:55,639 Speaker 1: stuff with Jalen that undercuts his success, but the talent 386 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:57,959 Speaker 1: is undeniable. And like going on a five and oh 387 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: streak averaging thirty three points per game on the level 388 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: of efficients, again, that's fifty five, fifty three to ninety six. 389 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:07,480 Speaker 1: That's outrageous that that's just a really exciting stretch of 390 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 1: asking all the Dalen Green, Hey, Jason, absolutely love your 391 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:22,879 Speaker 1: show and the way you break down the game has 392 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 1: helped me understand so much more about it since I've 393 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: been listening, since I've been listening in this past year. 394 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: My question for you is when you say reeling about 395 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: the Spurs. I've always thought reeling was a term used 396 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 1: as a good term. Can you explain why you use 397 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 1: that term to describe why they have been not doing 398 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 1: so great? So they're four and seven in their last 399 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,880 Speaker 1: eleven games, their fifth in defense in that span. It's 400 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:48,120 Speaker 1: all about the offense. In their seven losses, they're twenty 401 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:52,760 Speaker 1: first in offense. It's been brutally bad. In the losses. 402 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,119 Speaker 1: They have a actually that's that twenty first in offense 403 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 1: numbers through the entire eleven games. I need to fix that. 404 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 1: In my notes, four and seven in their last eleven games, 405 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:05,920 Speaker 1: fifth and defense, twenty first in offense in the seven losses, 406 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 1: they have an offensive rating at one oh eight, which 407 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:10,639 Speaker 1: is really really bad. It's been especially a bad in 408 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: the clutch situations. It's been kind of an ironic shift 409 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: because the Spurs actually started the season winning eight of 410 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 1: their first eleven games that went to clutch situations, but 411 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:24,640 Speaker 1: they're one in six in clutch situations during this four 412 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 1: and seven stretch. In those seven clutch games, they have 413 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 1: an eighty three offensive rating, which is just in the gutter. 414 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:33,200 Speaker 1: And it's a combination a lot of things. I've talked 415 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 1: a lot about settling for tough shots with Wemby. I 416 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 1: won't get into that again today because I've harped on 417 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:39,399 Speaker 1: it like four times in the last couple of weeks. 418 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:41,720 Speaker 1: But some of it is decision making, like late in 419 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:44,399 Speaker 1: the Grizzlies game, like Steph Castle was in like kind 420 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 1: of a one on one with Jaron Jackson at the 421 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:49,159 Speaker 1: rim and was clearly kind of engaged with him and 422 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: tried to like go through him and shoot out to 423 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 1: the side. It went exactly as you would expect. Jaron 424 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:56,640 Speaker 1: Jackson just swallowed the shot up. Like Victor women Yama 425 00:19:56,640 --> 00:19:59,000 Speaker 1: had a play where he drove right into Jaron Jackson 426 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:01,359 Speaker 1: and got blocked like that. It's just poor decision making. 427 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 1: Some of it, too, is just that they're shooting really, 428 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:06,120 Speaker 1: really poorly, like Chris Paul and Victor wemen Yama are 429 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 1: two for sixteen on clutch threes in those seven clutch situations, 430 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:12,880 Speaker 1: the rest of the team is only three for nine, 431 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:15,159 Speaker 1: so like they're not making any shots. And there's been 432 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 1: some sloppy defense in there too, like some really bad 433 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 1: backside rotations. Victor wemen Yama was getting pretty pissed off 434 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 1: at the end of the Grizzlies game. Where of their 435 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:28,160 Speaker 1: Grizzlies game where there was a couple of plays where 436 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 1: they got burned, there was a play where like Santi 437 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:33,400 Speaker 1: al Dama was being guarded by Wemby, and Santi's set 438 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: like a ghost screen for Desmond Baine and went out 439 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:39,199 Speaker 1: to the left corner and Keldon Johnson was on Desmond 440 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,639 Speaker 1: Baine and fell for the ghost screen. Falling for the 441 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: ghost screen is like he opened up like preparing to 442 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: run into the screen instead of just sliding with Bain. 443 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,359 Speaker 1: And so when he opened up and there was no screen, 444 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 1: Bain just went around, and which is what happens in 445 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: ghost screens. Like ghost screens are really effective because it 446 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 1: tricks people into thinking there's going to be a screen 447 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:58,160 Speaker 1: when there's not going to be a screen, which can 448 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: breed a relax like maybe we're gonna get switched here, 449 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 1: or maybe I'll just be able to chase over to 450 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:06,800 Speaker 1: the top because I'll have drop coverage help. But on 451 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 1: that possession, Aldama went to the corner. Wenby didn't want 452 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,199 Speaker 1: to help, so because obviously he's guarding a shooter, so 453 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:15,280 Speaker 1: dest maywell right to the basket. Nobody else in his 454 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:17,680 Speaker 1: Spurs Jeers he helped at the rim. Wenby's looking around, like, 455 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:20,399 Speaker 1: what the hell are you guys doing. And then there 456 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 1: was another play a couple of plays later where he 457 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:25,239 Speaker 1: showed up at the level against Bain, and obviously when 458 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 1: you show up at the level, the role man is 459 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:30,400 Speaker 1: going to get open on the backside, and Desmond Bain 460 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 1: through the pass. Wenby tried to deflect it, but it 461 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:35,679 Speaker 1: got through. Well, there's a scheme for that, right if 462 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:37,560 Speaker 1: the big shows at the level, that's where the lowman 463 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:40,920 Speaker 1: steps over to rotate. The Spurs had no lowman step 464 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 1: over on that play and gave up another dunk, and so, like, 465 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 1: Wenby was pissed off, but like it's just sloppy defense 466 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:49,360 Speaker 1: right at the end of a game. CP three can help, 467 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:51,160 Speaker 1: Harrison Barnes can help, but at the end of the day, 468 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:53,359 Speaker 1: this team is still relying on a lot of young 469 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 1: players that will make mistakes. I don't think Steph Castle 470 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:01,000 Speaker 1: and Victor Wemenyamo will be foolishly challenging RIM detectors in 471 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:03,680 Speaker 1: a few years after they learned their lesson. This is 472 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:06,400 Speaker 1: this is like just kind of part of the process 473 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:09,879 Speaker 1: of developing as a basketball player. Yo, Jason, keep up 474 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 1: the great videos and great content. Do you think the 475 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,360 Speaker 1: Spurs should make a win now move while Victor's contract 476 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:16,679 Speaker 1: is low and he's playing at an all NBA level. Personally, 477 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: I think if you gave Victor Adierre in Fox right 478 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:20,160 Speaker 1: now we are a playoff team. The guys that would 479 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 1: keep untouchable are Vic and Castle. I've already talked about 480 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 1: this before, but I agree with you. I think vic 481 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 1: Vick obviously is untouchable. I think Devin Vessel has been 482 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 1: impressing me in some other ways, Like I think he's 483 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:36,160 Speaker 1: got some ability to cover ground in rotation, his closeouts 484 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 1: are sharp, and obviously he's a capable offensive player. I'm 485 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 1: with you, though, like Steph Castle, I think is just 486 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:43,639 Speaker 1: going to be really damn good in the big picture. 487 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:47,880 Speaker 1: But like remember when I was talking in the last 488 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 1: question about young players and making mistakes. There's a development 489 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:53,639 Speaker 1: process that takes place, and some players are going to 490 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 1: be faster than others, Like like I think Steph Castle 491 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:58,960 Speaker 1: is gonna develop faster, Victor wemin Yam is gonna develop faster, 492 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:01,680 Speaker 1: but other young players are going to develop slower, like 493 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:03,359 Speaker 1: Kelt Johnson has been in the league for a while 494 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:06,160 Speaker 1: now and he's still making mistakes. And so like, if 495 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 1: you put yourself on the trajectory of, like, let's just 496 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:11,360 Speaker 1: be patient and hope all these guys, you know, pan 497 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:13,680 Speaker 1: out the way they're supposed to, you're going to run 498 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 1: into issues where some of the guys are ready but 499 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:19,360 Speaker 1: other guys are not, and then you're not good enough, 500 00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:21,200 Speaker 1: and then Victor is going to be pissed and you're 501 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 1: not going to be competitive the way that you need 502 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 1: to be. So like, in my opinion, because of Victor's trajectory, 503 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:30,440 Speaker 1: which is like he's already playing at a top ten 504 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:33,639 Speaker 1: level for most of this season, probably will be a 505 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:37,720 Speaker 1: consensus top five player as soon as next season, would 506 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 1: that being the case, Like, like you gotta get on 507 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 1: his schedule, and that would involve you being more picky 508 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:47,639 Speaker 1: and choosy about which young players you're willing to wait 509 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 1: and watch develop. Darren Fox is a super interesting option 510 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:53,959 Speaker 1: for this team. It's one that I think is a 511 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:56,200 Speaker 1: shoe in natural fit with Victor women Yam on both 512 00:23:56,280 --> 00:24:00,440 Speaker 1: ends of the floor. Darren Fox because of his offensive load, 513 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:03,640 Speaker 1: like his workload. He is a guy that gets kind 514 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:05,880 Speaker 1: of physically aggressive at the point of attack, like at 515 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:07,439 Speaker 1: the ball, like tries to swipe at the ball and 516 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:10,160 Speaker 1: force turnovers. But he's not the best like contained guard 517 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 1: in the league because that just takes a lot of 518 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: work and he's got a lot of work on the 519 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:14,879 Speaker 1: other end of the floor. Well, if you're gonna partner 520 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 1: a guy like that and a ford aggressive defender, like 521 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 1: a gambling aggressive, try to force turnovers type of defender, 522 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: you want rim protection behind it. Victor wmen Yam and 523 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:26,119 Speaker 1: can support him in a way that Demonda simonas cannot. 524 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:29,919 Speaker 1: And it's just a guard, a real perimeter shot creator 525 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 1: that is ready to be at VIX level in big 526 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:38,280 Speaker 1: spots that can like actually hang instead of relying on 527 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 1: a very old Chris Paul to be the guy that's 528 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 1: setting him up in those situations. So, like, if you 529 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:45,679 Speaker 1: can do it at the deadline this year, great, If 530 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:47,920 Speaker 1: it's something that you do over the summer. Great, whatever 531 00:24:47,960 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 1: it is you need to do, but I would love 532 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:53,080 Speaker 1: to pair Dearon Fox with Victor women Yam. I think 533 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 1: I think it's the kind of move that is aggressive 534 00:24:56,440 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: while also like cognizant of a of a more extended timeline, 535 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:01,400 Speaker 1: because I think Daron Fox has a lot of good 536 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 1: basketball left. Hey, Jason loved the show. With Russell Westbrook's resurgence, 537 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: Aaron Gordon returning from injury, and Peyton Watson looking like 538 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:10,480 Speaker 1: a better perimeter defense option at times? Is it time 539 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:12,360 Speaker 1: to think about moving Christian Brown to the bench. Also, 540 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:14,119 Speaker 1: if you're Mike Malone in a playoff series, who are 541 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 1: the four you want on the floor next to Yokich? 542 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:18,399 Speaker 1: We actually just talked about this. Was it yesterday? I 543 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 1: think it was yesterday's show, Well, that would have been 544 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 1: Wednesdays show because I'm recording this on Thursday. But I'm 545 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 1: of the opinion that you need to keep Russell Westbrook 546 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:29,440 Speaker 1: in the starting lineup because you need to maintain this 547 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 1: set of circumstances to see if you can ride this 548 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:34,119 Speaker 1: wave of really good Russell Westbrook basketball as long as 549 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 1: you can. Aaron Gordon, I think you have to have 550 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 1: out on the floor in terms of lowman help for 551 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 1: Jokic so that he can get up to the level 552 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:43,399 Speaker 1: of ball screens. So I think those guys have to 553 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:45,920 Speaker 1: be out there in the short term. If Russ starts 554 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 1: to struggle, then by all means, bump him out of 555 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:49,919 Speaker 1: the starting lineup put Christian Brown back in there. But 556 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 1: I absolutely would bench Christian Brown at this point he 557 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:55,320 Speaker 1: came Westbrook in the starting lineup. Hey, Jason, not so 558 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:57,440 Speaker 1: much a basketball question, but more of a podcasting one. 559 00:25:57,480 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 1: When you make appearances on other shows, for example, Koc's 560 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:02,120 Speaker 1: a while back, can you walk us through the behind 561 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 1: the scenes about how you organize these guest appearances? Is 562 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 1: it a conversation between Colin and whoever? The bosses of Yeah? 563 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:09,880 Speaker 1: Who sports are? Is a lot more informal here in Australia. 564 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 1: I'm friends with someone that runs one of the biggest 565 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 1: podcasts of OSSI Rules Footy, And because there aren't a 566 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:17,560 Speaker 1: whole lot of podcasts compared to NBA and NFL, everyone 567 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:19,399 Speaker 1: sort of knows everyone else and it's really easy to 568 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:22,160 Speaker 1: schedule appearances on other shows. Just curious how things work 569 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 1: in the US and the fact that the NBA is 570 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:26,720 Speaker 1: a lot bigger than the AFL, so there's way more 571 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:30,320 Speaker 1: podcast slash shows for consumers, thinks. Fun fact, one of 572 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:33,960 Speaker 1: my former high school teammates, guy who played at the 573 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:36,920 Speaker 1: University of Arizona. One of the grooms men in my wedding, 574 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 1: a guy named Mat Korchik. He actually played in the 575 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:44,480 Speaker 1: AFL for Carlton. There was this. I don't know if 576 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:46,919 Speaker 1: they're still doing it, but apparently the AFL comes and 577 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:50,600 Speaker 1: recruits like d one big men that don't play in 578 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:53,720 Speaker 1: the NBA because they're just the kinds of guys that 579 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:56,480 Speaker 1: can fill the ruckman position, where I guess is like 580 00:26:56,520 --> 00:26:58,080 Speaker 1: a jump ball that they throw in the middle of 581 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 1: the field where you basically just have to the two 582 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: biggest guys in either team just like fight like hell 583 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:05,119 Speaker 1: to try to get the get the ball. So that 584 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:08,359 Speaker 1: was interesting. But so I have a just a rough 585 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:12,200 Speaker 1: understanding of the AFL for my buddy Matt's journey over there. 586 00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:18,080 Speaker 1: But anyway, as far as the guest appearances, I it's 587 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 1: a lot simpler than you'd think. First of all, the 588 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:23,919 Speaker 1: volume doesn't care if I do guest appearances with anybody. 589 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 1: I don't have to clear that with anybody as long 590 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:29,520 Speaker 1: as I do my job and like produce my show 591 00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:31,720 Speaker 1: the way that it's supposed to and put in a 592 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:35,359 Speaker 1: certain amount of effort for guest appearances with other volume shows, 593 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 1: like they'll let me do whatever I want. Outside outside 594 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:41,520 Speaker 1: of that, I pretty much say yes to everybody who asks, 595 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:45,920 Speaker 1: and it usually just results in like a text message 596 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 1: like Chaos will text me, or Colin's producer will text me, 597 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:51,480 Speaker 1: or whatever it is that that wants to have me 598 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:53,679 Speaker 1: on the show. And yeah, there's like a there's like 599 00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:57,480 Speaker 1: a common courtesy and I provide this in reverse when 600 00:27:57,520 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 1: I have guests on my show, but there's a common 601 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 1: courtesy to send him a rundown like hey, here's what 602 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:05,159 Speaker 1: I want to talk about. But it's really simple. It's like, 603 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:08,040 Speaker 1: well what works for your schedule this time? Okay, great, 604 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:09,520 Speaker 1: Well what do you want to talk about? Well we're 605 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:11,800 Speaker 1: gonna talk about this okay. Cool, Like it's really not 606 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:14,399 Speaker 1: as complicated as you think. And then it works just 607 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 1: like any other guest appearance where it just becomes more conversational, 608 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 1: which I enjoy as a mix up from what I 609 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,600 Speaker 1: do on this show. Long time listener, thanks for all 610 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:24,440 Speaker 1: the work you put in for us. Two Part question one, 611 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:26,560 Speaker 1: do you think it's worth it for the Pistons to 612 00:28:26,560 --> 00:28:29,160 Speaker 1: make a deadline move this year, ideally for Cam Johnson 613 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:30,520 Speaker 1: or do you think they ride out the year and 614 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:33,040 Speaker 1: build through the draft and free agency. I've been coaching 615 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: a freshman high school team. We are routinely less talented 616 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 1: and athletic than the majority of teams on our schedule. 617 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:40,560 Speaker 1: Are there certain offensive philosophies or sets you would suggest 618 00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 1: implementing to get the most out of my roster? Sorry 619 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:44,680 Speaker 1: for the length and comment. Thanks again, keep up the 620 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:47,280 Speaker 1: great work for number one. As far as the Pistons go, Like, 621 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 1: here's the thing, you call up Detroit, and if you 622 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:53,320 Speaker 1: can do something like Tim Hardaway Junior and Simone Fontechio 623 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 1: and get Cam Johnson er, or maybe you can get 624 00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:58,840 Speaker 1: it with just Tim Hardway Junior. But if you do 625 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 1: some sort of deal like that and you don't have 626 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:04,400 Speaker 1: to include a ton of draft compensation, sure, by all means, 627 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:05,560 Speaker 1: I just think it's going to be more of a 628 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:07,719 Speaker 1: bidding war. And what I would not do is give 629 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:11,240 Speaker 1: two first round picks for Cam Johnson because that first 630 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:13,600 Speaker 1: round draft compensation you need to save just in case 631 00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:15,720 Speaker 1: you need to make a more aggressive trade down the 632 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:18,280 Speaker 1: line for a more elite talent, especially for an off 633 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:20,960 Speaker 1: ball score like Cam Johnson. There's a lot of opportunity, 634 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 1: in my opinion, in the middle of the first round 635 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 1: to find wings that can shoot and defend a little bit. 636 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:29,080 Speaker 1: And so I'd rather build that sort of talent side 637 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:32,080 Speaker 1: out through the draft because it's discounted and it keeps 638 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:34,440 Speaker 1: you on a timeline that doesn't disrupt your ability to 639 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:38,360 Speaker 1: adjust the team and the roster moving forward. But again, 640 00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:40,160 Speaker 1: like if you can get Cam Johnson for Tim Hartovia 641 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:43,560 Speaker 1: jor not include a ton by all means, like, just 642 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 1: do it. But I just wouldn't be super aggressive in 643 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 1: terms of draft compensation as far as your high school 644 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 1: team goes. In terms of like sets, it's just really 645 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,280 Speaker 1: difficult because I don't know what players are on your team. 646 00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:58,760 Speaker 1: And the reality is is like there are certain like 647 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:03,400 Speaker 1: structures that work best for certain teams and not for others. Right, Like, 648 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:07,120 Speaker 1: if you have a supreme ball handler but you don't 649 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:10,160 Speaker 1: have a lot of surrounding talent, you need to generate 650 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:13,440 Speaker 1: space for him to work. But if you have a 651 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:16,600 Speaker 1: conglomeration of talent, then you need to play with more 652 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:19,480 Speaker 1: five out concepts, more three man action, more motion, side 653 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:22,840 Speaker 1: to side stuff that's going to get everybody the ball, 654 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:26,080 Speaker 1: where your decision making and your aggregate skill can kind 655 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:28,200 Speaker 1: of take over. Right, But like, I don't want to 656 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:30,280 Speaker 1: get into sets for any more than that, just because 657 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:32,560 Speaker 1: I don't know about your team. As far as like 658 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:36,000 Speaker 1: competing with more athletic and more talented teams, the best 659 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:38,600 Speaker 1: thing you can do is win the margins. If you're 660 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:41,920 Speaker 1: in better shape and your guys sprint the floor an 661 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:46,160 Speaker 1: offensive transition and defensive transition every time. If in defensive transition, 662 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:49,080 Speaker 1: they stop the ball, protect the rim, spray out to shooters. 663 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:52,080 Speaker 1: If in offensive transition, they run their lanes, Meaning you 664 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:56,600 Speaker 1: have your best athlete forward or center run to the rim, 665 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 1: your best shooting forward trail to play, and you have 666 00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 1: your wing run to the corners, and you run early offense, 667 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:06,360 Speaker 1: and you on defense if you have a good shell 668 00:31:06,440 --> 00:31:09,000 Speaker 1: drill where you're loading up on the strong side and 669 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:13,360 Speaker 1: you have good principles like that also is contingent on 670 00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:15,120 Speaker 1: the roster, Like if you have a center, you don't 671 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:17,120 Speaker 1: want to be switching a lot, But most high school 672 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:18,640 Speaker 1: teams don't have a center, so they do a lot 673 00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:21,959 Speaker 1: more switching. Like I coach high school and there's almost 674 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:25,880 Speaker 1: every team is doing a ton of switching among the 675 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 1: teams that we compete with. So like again, like those 676 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:30,640 Speaker 1: the more schematic stuff on either end of the floor 677 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:32,280 Speaker 1: is just really difficult for me to get into because 678 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 1: I don't know your roster. But just win the margins. Like, 679 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:37,480 Speaker 1: make sure your team competes on the glass. Make sure 680 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:40,800 Speaker 1: your team like is good at setting their man up 681 00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:43,239 Speaker 1: for screens, and make sure your screeners are really good 682 00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:45,760 Speaker 1: at setting good, fundamentally sound screens. Make sure that guys 683 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:48,400 Speaker 1: are running and sprinting into their cuts. If you're running 684 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:51,080 Speaker 1: ball screens, don't let your big jog up into the screen. 685 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:53,360 Speaker 1: Make sure he sprints up into the screen. All of 686 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:57,400 Speaker 1: those little things will go a long way towards decreasing 687 00:31:57,440 --> 00:32:00,440 Speaker 1: the gap in the talent and athleticism between you and 688 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:03,280 Speaker 1: your opponents. How do you think Clay is fit in Dallas? 689 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:05,640 Speaker 1: So far? He's averaging the least amount of points since 690 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:08,239 Speaker 1: his rookie season, and his three point percentage is near 691 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:10,280 Speaker 1: the lowest of his career as well. But the Mavericks 692 00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:12,800 Speaker 1: are winning and look strong when healthy, and the defense 693 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 1: is held up as well. Even when Luka, Kyrie, and 694 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:17,440 Speaker 1: Clay all play together. What's working in Dallas that didn't 695 00:32:17,440 --> 00:32:19,680 Speaker 1: work in Golden State? Thanks love the show. I think 696 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 1: he's mostly been really good. I was looking at the 697 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:23,400 Speaker 1: numbers today. He's still at one point two points per 698 00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:25,800 Speaker 1: catch and shoot this season, one point twenty six when 699 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:28,040 Speaker 1: he's unguarded, one point one to six when he's guarded. 700 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 1: Those are both excellent numbers. His number of unguarded attempts 701 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:33,640 Speaker 1: is down. I think that has mostly to do with 702 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:36,240 Speaker 1: the injuries, though. Like in Golden State he got three 703 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:39,840 Speaker 1: point six unguarded catch and shoots per game, he's getting 704 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:42,840 Speaker 1: two point six with Dallas. Again, that's to be expected 705 00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:44,920 Speaker 1: when Kyrie and Luca have missed as much time as 706 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 1: they have. The trio of guys have actually played seven 707 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:50,400 Speaker 1: hundred and eighty four possessions, which is not a big 708 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 1: sample size, but it's not a tiny sample size either. 709 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:55,240 Speaker 1: They have a one to twenty offensive rating with that group, 710 00:32:55,280 --> 00:32:57,600 Speaker 1: which is really good, and they have a one thirteen 711 00:32:57,680 --> 00:32:59,720 Speaker 1: defensive rating with that group, which is above average. It's 712 00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:02,000 Speaker 1: not to write home about, but it's above average. I 713 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:03,400 Speaker 1: still think they could use a lot in the way 714 00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:05,360 Speaker 1: of reps and Luca wasn't close to healthy in the 715 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:06,920 Speaker 1: time they played, so I think that could look better 716 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:09,400 Speaker 1: down the line. I still just really like the roster. 717 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:11,080 Speaker 1: I've talked about this a lot, but I think Dallas 718 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:13,360 Speaker 1: is the best roster in the West behind Oklahoma City. 719 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:16,000 Speaker 1: And what I like about the Clay thing is it's 720 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:18,760 Speaker 1: about options. Like, there will be situations where Clay makes 721 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:21,040 Speaker 1: the most sense. There will be situations where they need 722 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:23,400 Speaker 1: more ball handling and Spencer din what he makes more sense. 723 00:33:23,640 --> 00:33:26,080 Speaker 1: There will be situations where they need better defense on 724 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:29,280 Speaker 1: the perimeter but also need spot up shooting. They'll go 725 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:31,840 Speaker 1: with someone like Quentin Grimes, right Like there will be 726 00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:36,160 Speaker 1: situations where between Quenton Grimes and Naji Marshall, Naji Marshall 727 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:38,960 Speaker 1: is playing better. Nausee probably gives you the best combination 728 00:33:39,080 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 1: of defense, ball handling, and spot up shooting. But again, 729 00:33:43,360 --> 00:33:45,280 Speaker 1: a lot of it you can feel out from night 730 00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:48,840 Speaker 1: to night. Like this guy is feeling it tonight, Let's 731 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:51,640 Speaker 1: go with him. Clay's body is feeling great, and he's 732 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:54,160 Speaker 1: sliding his feet and he's guarding tonight. Okay, we're leaning 733 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:57,200 Speaker 1: on Clay. That sort of flexibility to me is what 734 00:33:57,480 --> 00:33:59,640 Speaker 1: like that? To me? Is what makes this Dallas roster 735 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:03,240 Speaker 1: is like they just have depth at every position group. Okay, 736 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 1: you need a primary shot creator, Well, guess what. Kyrie 737 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:09,240 Speaker 1: and Luke are two of the very best in the NBA. Okay, well, 738 00:34:09,640 --> 00:34:11,400 Speaker 1: one of them is down. We need somebody to step 739 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:14,480 Speaker 1: into that spot. Well, we have Spencer Dinwiddie who can 740 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:18,000 Speaker 1: really create shots in that system. Jaden Hardy, Naji Marshall 741 00:34:18,040 --> 00:34:19,680 Speaker 1: can put the ball on the floor, Klay Thompson can 742 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:22,160 Speaker 1: run action. Like, there's just a lot of depth there 743 00:34:22,680 --> 00:34:24,960 Speaker 1: off ball shooting. There's just a ton of off ball shooting. 744 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:27,399 Speaker 1: For depth, you have PJ Washington, you have Maxic Kleb 745 00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:31,040 Speaker 1: the center position. You have to just literally rock solid 746 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:34,640 Speaker 1: starting caliber NBA centers. Like that team is just loaded 747 00:34:34,640 --> 00:34:36,160 Speaker 1: with talent. And I know that they've been losing a 748 00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:38,200 Speaker 1: lot of games since Kyrie and Luca got out, and 749 00:34:38,280 --> 00:34:39,760 Speaker 1: I know that they may not be in this situation 750 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:42,000 Speaker 1: and the standings that you would have thought this year. 751 00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:44,839 Speaker 1: But I mean, this is one of those teams where, like, 752 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:47,239 Speaker 1: very rarely an NBA history, is there a team where 753 00:34:47,239 --> 00:34:48,759 Speaker 1: I'm like, if they get healthy and they get right 754 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:50,279 Speaker 1: for the end of the of the season, they can 755 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:51,879 Speaker 1: really make a run in Dallas is one of those 756 00:34:51,880 --> 00:35:09,400 Speaker 1: teams for me. For more, what do you think is 757 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:11,839 Speaker 1: the biggest reason for westbrook success with the Nuggets. Would 758 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:14,040 Speaker 1: you have credit it to Yokic's amazing passing ability or 759 00:35:14,080 --> 00:35:16,520 Speaker 1: do you think it's more Westbrook's doing. I've noticed Westbrook 760 00:35:16,520 --> 00:35:17,719 Speaker 1: has been very good at cutting off the ball and 761 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:19,720 Speaker 1: seems to be hitting more catch and shoot threes. Absolutely 762 00:35:19,719 --> 00:35:22,000 Speaker 1: love the show. I watch almost ever every episode. Never 763 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:23,719 Speaker 1: stopped doing this. Thank you. That's very kind of you. 764 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:26,160 Speaker 1: I talked to it. I did a deep dive breakdown 765 00:35:26,200 --> 00:35:27,480 Speaker 1: of this the other day, so I don't want to 766 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:29,680 Speaker 1: get too far into it. You can actually find it 767 00:35:30,440 --> 00:35:33,000 Speaker 1: on our YouTube channel. It's like Westbrook's return. It's a 768 00:35:33,080 --> 00:35:36,680 Speaker 1: big thumbnail with Russell Westbrook on it. But I think 769 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:38,520 Speaker 1: it's a combination of a lot of factors. I've seen 770 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:40,400 Speaker 1: a lot of Nuggets fans that are like kind of 771 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:44,160 Speaker 1: victory lapping over, like the well we fixed Russ no 772 00:35:44,160 --> 00:35:49,080 Speaker 1: one else could. And I think that's disrespectful to the 773 00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:52,799 Speaker 1: multiple fan bases that watched and rooted for Russ. He's 774 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:55,840 Speaker 1: on his sixth team in seven years. Guys like it 775 00:35:55,880 --> 00:35:58,400 Speaker 1: can't all be the Laker's fault if he's on his 776 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:02,160 Speaker 1: sixth team and seven years. Here's the thing, there's blame 777 00:36:02,239 --> 00:36:05,040 Speaker 1: to go all the way around in all of these situations. 778 00:36:05,360 --> 00:36:07,280 Speaker 1: Russ is not the only reason why the Lakers sucked 779 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:09,880 Speaker 1: in that twenty twenty two season and missed the playoffs. 780 00:36:10,200 --> 00:36:13,640 Speaker 1: He's like, he's not the only reason why things we 781 00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:16,120 Speaker 1: were bad in that period, which by the way, they 782 00:36:16,200 --> 00:36:18,120 Speaker 1: traded Russ and went to the Western Conference finals, Like 783 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:20,560 Speaker 1: it was clearly a bad fit. They brought in better 784 00:36:20,560 --> 00:36:22,920 Speaker 1: fitting talent and they went on a run. But like 785 00:36:24,320 --> 00:36:26,719 Speaker 1: during that time, like other people were to blame as well. 786 00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:30,120 Speaker 1: It wasn't just Russ's fault. That said, Like it was 787 00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:33,920 Speaker 1: also Russ's fault. Like Russ was not hitting catch and 788 00:36:33,920 --> 00:36:37,240 Speaker 1: shoot threes, he was not cutting. I shared the numbers, 789 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:40,200 Speaker 1: but like he's already had almost three times as many 790 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:43,280 Speaker 1: buckets off of cuts this season, just in this small 791 00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:46,279 Speaker 1: half of a season then he did his last year 792 00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:49,560 Speaker 1: in Los Angeles with the Lakers. I mean, so like there, 793 00:36:50,160 --> 00:36:53,600 Speaker 1: it's a combination of factors. Jokic definitely makes it easier. 794 00:36:53,920 --> 00:36:56,279 Speaker 1: He's the best player in the world and as good 795 00:36:56,320 --> 00:36:58,200 Speaker 1: as Lebron and Adr neither of them were the best 796 00:36:58,200 --> 00:36:59,719 Speaker 1: player in the world in twenty twenty two or twenty 797 00:36:59,719 --> 00:37:03,319 Speaker 1: twenty right, the Nuggets in general, I think are a better, 798 00:37:03,360 --> 00:37:06,280 Speaker 1: more organized basketball team than the Lakers. That definitely helps. 799 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:09,000 Speaker 1: But a big chunk of it is Russ is starting 800 00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:12,640 Speaker 1: to hit threes when he didn't, and Russ is being 801 00:37:12,719 --> 00:37:16,080 Speaker 1: willing to move off the ball and to cut and 802 00:37:16,160 --> 00:37:18,920 Speaker 1: to be a threat without just standing around on the perimeter. 803 00:37:19,960 --> 00:37:24,160 Speaker 1: It's Russ, through the humiliation of the last few years, 804 00:37:24,719 --> 00:37:27,799 Speaker 1: has become an active participant in his own survival in 805 00:37:27,840 --> 00:37:30,399 Speaker 1: this league. He's put in the work, and so it's 806 00:37:30,400 --> 00:37:32,959 Speaker 1: a combination of all those factors. I think Nuggets fans 807 00:37:32,960 --> 00:37:35,640 Speaker 1: should feel a certain amount of pride in the way 808 00:37:35,640 --> 00:37:39,880 Speaker 1: that they've been able to weaponize Russell Westbrook but making 809 00:37:39,920 --> 00:37:42,560 Speaker 1: it so that everyone else was terrible and Russ was 810 00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:46,279 Speaker 1: never to blame and here we are finally giving Russ's opportunity. 811 00:37:46,480 --> 00:37:51,000 Speaker 1: That's just not reality. And guys, I watched every single 812 00:37:51,080 --> 00:37:54,239 Speaker 1: game he played with the Lakers. I promise you he 813 00:37:54,360 --> 00:37:56,959 Speaker 1: was to blame too for how things went during that span. 814 00:37:57,800 --> 00:37:59,680 Speaker 1: Do you think the concept of a tough shot maker 815 00:37:59,719 --> 00:38:01,279 Speaker 1: is real? And if so, how valuable is it to 816 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:02,920 Speaker 1: a team? I find it hard to understand how a 817 00:38:02,920 --> 00:38:05,360 Speaker 1: tough shot maker or clutch player averaging twenty one points 818 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:07,680 Speaker 1: per game will be seen as a more valuable piece 819 00:38:07,719 --> 00:38:10,000 Speaker 1: on a team compared to someone else who averages the 820 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:12,400 Speaker 1: same amount of points doing it with less tough shots. 821 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:15,279 Speaker 1: Tough shot making is a skill in basketball, just like 822 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:19,120 Speaker 1: anything else's. But if it's your foundational skill, I don't 823 00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:22,799 Speaker 1: think it's a good foundational skill. I'll use myself as 824 00:38:22,840 --> 00:38:24,759 Speaker 1: an example here for a minute. Like one of my 825 00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:28,000 Speaker 1: best traits as a basketball players, I'm a tough shot maker, 826 00:38:28,480 --> 00:38:31,920 Speaker 1: and I've had that since i was young. I'm a 827 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:34,880 Speaker 1: good athlete, and I'm tall, i have long arms, and 828 00:38:35,120 --> 00:38:38,120 Speaker 1: I've just I've worked really hard behind the scenes on 829 00:38:38,239 --> 00:38:41,600 Speaker 1: like right shoulder fade aways, left shoulder fadeaways, one leg fadeaway, 830 00:38:41,640 --> 00:38:44,040 Speaker 1: step back's going right, step back's going left, all this 831 00:38:44,160 --> 00:38:48,839 Speaker 1: different footwork, and those shots were useful for me when 832 00:38:48,880 --> 00:38:51,319 Speaker 1: I was younger. But when I was younger, and I 833 00:38:51,320 --> 00:38:53,640 Speaker 1: could make tough shots, but I couldn't do much else. 834 00:38:54,440 --> 00:38:57,520 Speaker 1: It wasn't I wasn't a good basketball player, not nearly 835 00:38:57,560 --> 00:39:00,480 Speaker 1: as good as I am when I'm older, now, tough 836 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:02,520 Speaker 1: shot making still helps me to this day if there's 837 00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:06,800 Speaker 1: spots where like I need to get a bucket in 838 00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:09,560 Speaker 1: a in my men's league or in a pickup game, 839 00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:12,600 Speaker 1: like I like having the ability to create my own shot. 840 00:39:12,960 --> 00:39:16,360 Speaker 1: That that's something that is a useful skill. But what 841 00:39:16,520 --> 00:39:18,920 Speaker 1: made me a good basketball a better basketball player in 842 00:39:18,920 --> 00:39:21,920 Speaker 1: the later in this later phase of my time playing 843 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:26,360 Speaker 1: is all of the other stuff, you know, like defending, rebounding, 844 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:30,000 Speaker 1: playing within a team concept as an offensive player. So 845 00:39:30,160 --> 00:39:32,279 Speaker 1: like when it comes to tough shot making, like having 846 00:39:32,320 --> 00:39:34,680 Speaker 1: a tough shot making is a shot maker on your 847 00:39:34,800 --> 00:39:38,760 Speaker 1: NBA team is super useful, But like if your entire 848 00:39:38,880 --> 00:39:42,319 Speaker 1: offense is predicated on guys hitting tough, contested pull up 849 00:39:42,360 --> 00:39:45,200 Speaker 1: jump shots, it just puts a certain ceiling on your 850 00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:48,760 Speaker 1: team offensively, especially when things get grinded down to halt 851 00:39:49,400 --> 00:39:53,080 Speaker 1: in playoff games. This has been something I've seen with 852 00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:55,000 Speaker 1: some of the best pull up shooters in the league 853 00:39:55,040 --> 00:39:57,960 Speaker 1: in recent years. I've seen this happen to James Harden. 854 00:39:58,120 --> 00:40:00,359 Speaker 1: I saw it happened to Kevin Durant in twenty twenty too, 855 00:40:00,400 --> 00:40:03,240 Speaker 1: if you remember when he lost to Boston. There's there's 856 00:40:03,600 --> 00:40:06,480 Speaker 1: a lot of examples of this where like it gets 857 00:40:06,560 --> 00:40:10,719 Speaker 1: so physical that you're so tired that it's hard to 858 00:40:10,719 --> 00:40:14,360 Speaker 1: make the tough shots. Tough shots are like fifty percent 859 00:40:14,440 --> 00:40:18,080 Speaker 1: footwork and then or I should say thirty three percent footwork, 860 00:40:18,520 --> 00:40:22,880 Speaker 1: thirty three percent touch, but thirty three percent is leg strength. 861 00:40:23,480 --> 00:40:26,759 Speaker 1: Like if I'm looking at a good defender and I 862 00:40:26,880 --> 00:40:30,040 Speaker 1: go in and out cross between the legs and I 863 00:40:30,160 --> 00:40:32,520 Speaker 1: cover ground on the side step to the right and 864 00:40:32,640 --> 00:40:37,160 Speaker 1: rise up and shoot, I have to on that side 865 00:40:37,160 --> 00:40:40,520 Speaker 1: step cover enough ground to get separation while also having 866 00:40:40,520 --> 00:40:44,120 Speaker 1: the leg strength to stop my sideway's momentum and get 867 00:40:44,160 --> 00:40:46,600 Speaker 1: straight up and down and get the lift I need 868 00:40:47,040 --> 00:40:49,239 Speaker 1: to shoot over a contest and get the ball to 869 00:40:49,280 --> 00:40:53,880 Speaker 1: the rim. It's hard to do in a knockdown, drag 870 00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:57,239 Speaker 1: out fistfight of a playoff series. And so I just 871 00:40:57,239 --> 00:40:59,200 Speaker 1: think I've even seen this with me, like where like 872 00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:02,799 Speaker 1: when I'm playing and like tough money tournaments and it's 873 00:41:03,480 --> 00:41:06,160 Speaker 1: like the money's on the line and I'm playing my 874 00:41:06,239 --> 00:41:08,480 Speaker 1: fifth game in the same day, Like I can't be 875 00:41:08,600 --> 00:41:11,040 Speaker 1: leaning on my right shoulder fade or my left shoulder 876 00:41:11,080 --> 00:41:13,120 Speaker 1: fade in that situation. I'm just not gonna get enough 877 00:41:13,200 --> 00:41:16,120 Speaker 1: lift to knock it down. In those sorts of situations, 878 00:41:16,160 --> 00:41:17,840 Speaker 1: that's where I've got to use more of my size 879 00:41:17,880 --> 00:41:20,799 Speaker 1: and strength to get closer to the basket and try 880 00:41:20,800 --> 00:41:24,760 Speaker 1: to win bully ball battles. I had a money tournament 881 00:41:25,840 --> 00:41:28,280 Speaker 1: just a couple of months ago in the fall where 882 00:41:28,760 --> 00:41:31,040 Speaker 1: in the last we played six games in the same 883 00:41:31,120 --> 00:41:34,200 Speaker 1: day because we ended up dropping the first game to 884 00:41:33,719 --> 00:41:36,120 Speaker 1: the to the team from Phoenix that came down and 885 00:41:36,239 --> 00:41:38,040 Speaker 1: we had to go down and beat the loser's bracket 886 00:41:38,040 --> 00:41:39,960 Speaker 1: and then go back up and beat the team from Phoenix. 887 00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:41,920 Speaker 1: And like, I didn't do much work in the post 888 00:41:41,960 --> 00:41:43,960 Speaker 1: all day. I'd been doing a lot more shooting from 889 00:41:43,960 --> 00:41:46,480 Speaker 1: the perimeter, operating as a ball handler, that kind of stuff. 890 00:41:47,120 --> 00:41:50,720 Speaker 1: And in that final game, I was like, I'm dead. 891 00:41:51,440 --> 00:41:53,120 Speaker 1: I need to just use my size, and I just 892 00:41:53,160 --> 00:41:54,799 Speaker 1: went down to the block and worked out of the 893 00:41:54,840 --> 00:41:58,560 Speaker 1: post during the championship game. And it's just more reliable 894 00:41:58,640 --> 00:42:00,759 Speaker 1: in those sorts of situations. And that's kind of what 895 00:42:00,800 --> 00:42:03,040 Speaker 1: I've always been drawn to Jokic about as in more 896 00:42:03,080 --> 00:42:04,800 Speaker 1: in the NBA concept. And by the way, when I 897 00:42:04,840 --> 00:42:06,919 Speaker 1: talk about myself as a player, most of you guys 898 00:42:06,920 --> 00:42:09,000 Speaker 1: take it the right way, but like it's just how 899 00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:11,760 Speaker 1: I relate to the game. I don't have delusions of grangeur. 900 00:42:11,840 --> 00:42:13,480 Speaker 1: I'm not here sitting here thinking I should be in 901 00:42:13,520 --> 00:42:15,440 Speaker 1: the NBA. As a matter of fact, I think I'm 902 00:42:15,440 --> 00:42:18,360 Speaker 1: far from that level. But I've worked really hard to 903 00:42:18,360 --> 00:42:20,120 Speaker 1: become a good basketball player, and it's how I relate 904 00:42:20,120 --> 00:42:22,160 Speaker 1: to these situations. It's how I think about the game. 905 00:42:22,719 --> 00:42:26,920 Speaker 1: And like Jokic, for instance, one of the things that's 906 00:42:26,920 --> 00:42:28,680 Speaker 1: always drawn me to him as a player is like 907 00:42:28,760 --> 00:42:31,799 Speaker 1: he thrives in those situations because his game is predicated 908 00:42:32,080 --> 00:42:35,279 Speaker 1: on close to the basket shot making, which doesn't rely 909 00:42:35,360 --> 00:42:38,600 Speaker 1: as much on his like strength and is less susceptible 910 00:42:38,600 --> 00:42:42,520 Speaker 1: to fatigue related decline. If that makes sense. All right, 911 00:42:42,520 --> 00:42:44,359 Speaker 1: Two more quick ones, Hi, Jason, I had a question 912 00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:46,000 Speaker 1: about the comments here. I feel like there's always a 913 00:42:46,040 --> 00:42:47,919 Speaker 1: loud minority that just wants to hate on the show. 914 00:42:47,960 --> 00:42:49,680 Speaker 1: I was wondering how you managed to deal with comments 915 00:42:49,719 --> 00:42:52,080 Speaker 1: like that so professionally and not let it get to you. 916 00:42:52,160 --> 00:42:54,400 Speaker 1: When I tried making stuff on YouTube, I had a 917 00:42:54,440 --> 00:42:57,040 Speaker 1: similar situation on a much smaller scale, and the hate 918 00:42:57,040 --> 00:42:59,200 Speaker 1: comments really got under my skin. Thanks for your content. 919 00:42:59,239 --> 00:43:01,279 Speaker 1: You enrich mikes with basketball thank you for the kind 920 00:43:01,280 --> 00:43:07,479 Speaker 1: of words. It's it's not easy. Like I was talking 921 00:43:07,480 --> 00:43:09,080 Speaker 1: about this with my wife actually the other night. It's 922 00:43:09,120 --> 00:43:12,840 Speaker 1: it's really bizarre actually to have a lot of people 923 00:43:12,920 --> 00:43:17,160 Speaker 1: talking shit about you on the internet every day. I 924 00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:19,239 Speaker 1: really struggled with it a lot in the first like 925 00:43:19,400 --> 00:43:22,200 Speaker 1: year or two. I've got a lot better at it 926 00:43:22,320 --> 00:43:26,080 Speaker 1: more just compartmentalizing The reality is, though, is it never 927 00:43:26,160 --> 00:43:28,879 Speaker 1: it never goes like the icky feeling you get when 928 00:43:28,920 --> 00:43:32,200 Speaker 1: you read someone who says something bad about you doesn't 929 00:43:32,200 --> 00:43:35,480 Speaker 1: go away like it h every time I read a 930 00:43:35,520 --> 00:43:39,840 Speaker 1: comment like that, it still feels funky, right. I've just 931 00:43:39,880 --> 00:43:43,440 Speaker 1: gotten better at quickly compartmentalizing it and moving on. But 932 00:43:43,520 --> 00:43:47,359 Speaker 1: it's just an important part of the space. And something 933 00:43:47,440 --> 00:43:49,279 Speaker 1: I would say with this sort of thing is like 934 00:43:49,880 --> 00:43:52,360 Speaker 1: anytime you do anything that has you in the public sphere, 935 00:43:53,200 --> 00:43:55,120 Speaker 1: and some of this is like the reality. I've seen 936 00:43:55,160 --> 00:43:57,319 Speaker 1: some like professional athletes complaining about this, and I want 937 00:43:57,320 --> 00:43:58,759 Speaker 1: to be like, you're a professional athlete, You're in the 938 00:43:58,760 --> 00:44:01,520 Speaker 1: public sphere. This is what comes the space. But like 939 00:44:01,880 --> 00:44:05,040 Speaker 1: everybody that exists in this space of whether it's media, 940 00:44:05,120 --> 00:44:07,000 Speaker 1: whether it's just being a public figure, whether it's being 941 00:44:07,000 --> 00:44:10,319 Speaker 1: an influencer, whether it's being a professional athlete that has 942 00:44:10,440 --> 00:44:14,440 Speaker 1: big social media profiles, whatever it is, the Internet is 943 00:44:14,480 --> 00:44:16,799 Speaker 1: just going to bring a certain amount of nastiness to you, 944 00:44:17,400 --> 00:44:19,040 Speaker 1: and you just got to find a way to deal 945 00:44:19,040 --> 00:44:21,640 Speaker 1: with it as best as you can. I think of 946 00:44:21,640 --> 00:44:23,640 Speaker 1: the real part of it is the self awareness to 947 00:44:23,760 --> 00:44:26,880 Speaker 1: just know that it's never going to stop, like will 948 00:44:27,120 --> 00:44:29,239 Speaker 1: no matter what I do. Even if I tried so hard, 949 00:44:29,239 --> 00:44:31,560 Speaker 1: even if I identified every single thing that people are 950 00:44:31,600 --> 00:44:33,840 Speaker 1: upset about and I tried to cater my analysis to 951 00:44:34,440 --> 00:44:38,080 Speaker 1: fit into this like perfect zone, there would still be 952 00:44:38,480 --> 00:44:40,080 Speaker 1: hundreds of people who would be pissed off at me. 953 00:44:40,239 --> 00:44:42,520 Speaker 1: So like part of it is understanding that no matter 954 00:44:42,560 --> 00:44:44,160 Speaker 1: what you do, you're gonna piss people off and there's 955 00:44:44,160 --> 00:44:47,279 Speaker 1: gonna be negativity. And once you accept that reality, it 956 00:44:47,320 --> 00:44:50,000 Speaker 1: becomes about navigating it within your own mental health as 957 00:44:50,040 --> 00:44:53,680 Speaker 1: best as you can. And I know that certain people 958 00:44:53,800 --> 00:44:55,920 Speaker 1: deal with it in different ways than others. So what 959 00:44:56,040 --> 00:44:59,520 Speaker 1: works for me may not work for you. I'll tell you, guys, 960 00:44:59,520 --> 00:45:01,160 Speaker 1: to be honest with you, the big one that works 961 00:45:01,160 --> 00:45:03,960 Speaker 1: for me is zooming out and looking at the big picture, 962 00:45:04,080 --> 00:45:08,600 Speaker 1: which is that when I have a video that or 963 00:45:08,640 --> 00:45:11,040 Speaker 1: like if we have a week where we get two 964 00:45:11,120 --> 00:45:13,720 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty thousand views or three hundred thousand views, 965 00:45:14,600 --> 00:45:19,480 Speaker 1: and there's you know, three or four hundred really nasty comments, 966 00:45:19,160 --> 00:45:24,200 Speaker 1: there's usually like way more very positive comments, like really 967 00:45:24,239 --> 00:45:28,480 Speaker 1: positive comments, and there's the viewership. You can't deny the 968 00:45:28,560 --> 00:45:34,040 Speaker 1: viewership is what is two hundred assholes in the mix 969 00:45:34,160 --> 00:45:37,880 Speaker 1: of two hundred and fifty thousand views? Right? And so, 970 00:45:38,000 --> 00:45:41,000 Speaker 1: like zooming out and like looking at the big picture 971 00:45:41,040 --> 00:45:43,239 Speaker 1: helps me compartmentalize it a little bit. But yeah, like 972 00:45:43,280 --> 00:45:44,600 Speaker 1: i'd be lying to you if I said it just 973 00:45:45,200 --> 00:45:46,919 Speaker 1: I don't just look at it and just feel great 974 00:45:46,960 --> 00:45:49,279 Speaker 1: and rolls off the back. It sucks, and you just 975 00:45:49,640 --> 00:45:52,760 Speaker 1: get better at handling it as you get older. Jason, 976 00:45:52,800 --> 00:45:54,480 Speaker 1: you are the man. I've been reading some of these comments, 977 00:45:55,040 --> 00:45:56,680 Speaker 1: and I was wondering, as a reporter, what do you 978 00:45:56,680 --> 00:45:58,880 Speaker 1: think about comments from people that give you directives on 979 00:45:58,920 --> 00:46:00,560 Speaker 1: how you should report on things? Is when they don't 980 00:46:00,560 --> 00:46:03,319 Speaker 1: study or know nearly as much as you. I think 981 00:46:03,360 --> 00:46:07,640 Speaker 1: part of the the issue is not having ego within 982 00:46:07,680 --> 00:46:11,160 Speaker 1: this space, which is like I work really hard behind 983 00:46:11,160 --> 00:46:13,239 Speaker 1: the scenes. I watch a ton of film and I 984 00:46:13,280 --> 00:46:14,920 Speaker 1: try to learn as much about the NBA as I can. 985 00:46:14,960 --> 00:46:17,600 Speaker 1: I'm on this like side mission that runs hand in 986 00:46:17,640 --> 00:46:21,279 Speaker 1: hand with this job, which is I want to run 987 00:46:21,280 --> 00:46:23,000 Speaker 1: the best show that I can, but I also want 988 00:46:23,000 --> 00:46:25,920 Speaker 1: to learn as much about NBA basketball as I possibly can. 989 00:46:26,000 --> 00:46:29,520 Speaker 1: I want to be an expert on NBA basketball, and 990 00:46:30,000 --> 00:46:33,080 Speaker 1: so I have a certain confidence in my analysis based 991 00:46:33,120 --> 00:46:34,920 Speaker 1: out of the work that I do behind the scenes. 992 00:46:35,440 --> 00:46:38,040 Speaker 1: But I also think it's important to not feel like 993 00:46:38,120 --> 00:46:40,879 Speaker 1: you've got it all figured out. And and so that's 994 00:46:40,920 --> 00:46:44,000 Speaker 1: the thing is like when people disagree with me, I 995 00:46:44,840 --> 00:46:48,520 Speaker 1: look at it as just additional perspective, another opportunity to 996 00:46:49,840 --> 00:46:54,439 Speaker 1: another opportunity to learn about the game from somebody who've 997 00:46:54,520 --> 00:46:57,759 Speaker 1: used it differently. And so that with that with within 998 00:46:57,880 --> 00:47:00,320 Speaker 1: that context, like when I see people that comment stuff 999 00:47:00,320 --> 00:47:04,719 Speaker 1: and they argue or say you're wrong, that's stupid, I 1000 00:47:04,719 --> 00:47:07,480 Speaker 1: think it's this Like there are times, of course, there 1001 00:47:07,520 --> 00:47:09,000 Speaker 1: are times where I look at it and I go, yeah, 1002 00:47:09,000 --> 00:47:11,080 Speaker 1: I disagree with that, But there are other times where 1003 00:47:11,080 --> 00:47:13,200 Speaker 1: I see that's why I read the comments. I read 1004 00:47:13,200 --> 00:47:14,960 Speaker 1: the comments because I want you guys as perspective. And 1005 00:47:14,960 --> 00:47:17,360 Speaker 1: there are times where like I've listened to a or 1006 00:47:17,360 --> 00:47:20,040 Speaker 1: read a comment and someone will have like a hey, actually, 1007 00:47:20,080 --> 00:47:23,480 Speaker 1: you know, you know with the pacers, I've noticed this, 1008 00:47:23,800 --> 00:47:25,759 Speaker 1: and I'll be like, oh, that's super interesting, and then 1009 00:47:25,800 --> 00:47:27,560 Speaker 1: like I'll do my own digging into it and come 1010 00:47:27,600 --> 00:47:30,160 Speaker 1: to another conclusion. And like I was actually talking about 1011 00:47:30,160 --> 00:47:31,719 Speaker 1: this with a couple of Celtics guys the other day. 1012 00:47:32,360 --> 00:47:35,799 Speaker 1: I think that everybody that has the intention of being 1013 00:47:35,840 --> 00:47:38,120 Speaker 1: an expert and anything should try to listen to as 1014 00:47:38,160 --> 00:47:41,160 Speaker 1: many people as possible, to gain as many perspectives as 1015 00:47:41,160 --> 00:47:45,080 Speaker 1: you can, and to just increase the just the total 1016 00:47:45,080 --> 00:47:48,799 Speaker 1: amount that you can learn from something like this. But again, 1017 00:47:48,880 --> 00:47:50,719 Speaker 1: like I don't take it personally when people disagree with 1018 00:47:50,719 --> 00:47:52,279 Speaker 1: me about basketball takes, I just look at it as 1019 00:47:52,280 --> 00:47:55,400 Speaker 1: an opportunity to get additional perspective. All right, guys, it's 1020 00:47:55,400 --> 00:47:57,720 Speaker 1: all I have for today. As always, I sincerely appreciate 1021 00:47:57,760 --> 00:47:59,880 Speaker 1: you guys for supporting me and supporting the show. Tomorrow, 1022 00:48:00,000 --> 00:48:02,720 Speaker 1: I got the special I recorded with Jova on yesterday 1023 00:48:02,719 --> 00:48:04,880 Speaker 1: that's going to be running just kind of a Lakers 1024 00:48:04,920 --> 00:48:08,120 Speaker 1: deadline centric piece, and then we'll be back on Monday 1025 00:48:08,440 --> 00:48:10,799 Speaker 1: with our power rankings and everything like usual. I'll see 1026 00:48:10,800 --> 00:48:17,040 Speaker 1: you guys then the volume. What's up guys. As always, 1027 00:48:17,080 --> 00:48:20,080 Speaker 1: I appreciate you for listening to and supporting hoops tonight. 1028 00:48:20,200 --> 00:48:22,200 Speaker 1: It would actually be really helpful for us if you 1029 00:48:22,200 --> 00:48:24,919 Speaker 1: guys would take a second and leave a rating and 1030 00:48:25,000 --> 00:48:27,120 Speaker 1: a review. As always, I appreciate you guys supporting us, 1031 00:48:27,160 --> 00:48:28,600 Speaker 1: but if you could take a minute to do that, 1032 00:48:28,880 --> 00:48:30,120 Speaker 1: I'd really appreciate it.