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Here at the volume heavy Tuesday. 35 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 2: Everybody. 36 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: Hope all you guys are having a great week. This 37 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: is our second new episode of the day for those 38 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: of you guys who missed it earlier. Today we did 39 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: a deep dive into Luca's debut with the Los Angeles Lakers, 40 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: against the Jazz, So scroll back into our feed and 41 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: you'll find that one. 42 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 2: In this video. 43 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: Today, we're doing deep dives into three teams. Some early 44 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,919 Speaker 1: returns on Jimmy Butler with the Warriors, some early returns 45 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:11,679 Speaker 1: on Kyle Kuzma with the Milwaukee Bucks. I want to 46 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 1: talk a lot about how that will look when Giannis 47 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:16,799 Speaker 1: is in the picture. Then, we haven't talked about the 48 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: Philadelphia seventy six ers in a while, and I'm kind 49 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: of annoyed and confused as to what they're trying to 50 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: accomplish this season, So I want to talk about that 51 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: in the tail end of the show. 52 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:27,679 Speaker 2: You guys know the job before we get started. To 53 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 2: subscribe to the. 54 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: Hoops Tonight YouTube channel so you don't miss any more 55 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 1: of our videos. Follow me on Twitter and underscore jsonlts. 56 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 1: You guys don't miss any show announcements. Don't forget about 57 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 1: our podcast feed revation your podcast under Hoops Tonight. It's 58 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,079 Speaker 1: also super helpful if you leave a rating and a 59 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: review on that front. Don't forget about our new social 60 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: media feeds on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. We're releasing content 61 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 1: throughout the year and then, last but not least, keep 62 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 1: dropping mail bag questions in the YouTube comments that we 63 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: keep get to them on Fridays throughout the remainder of 64 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: the season. All right, let's talk some basketball. So on 65 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 1: the Warriors front, I'm talking a lot with respect to 66 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:03,919 Speaker 1: Lebron about the concept of right, Like, playing championship level 67 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:08,639 Speaker 1: basketball is really hard and takes a pretty desperate commitment 68 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:12,360 Speaker 1: to work. That's not even necessarily fun. It's fun in 69 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: the context of winning, but playing championship basketball includes a 70 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 1: lot of really difficult things to do on the court, 71 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: a certain level of exertion that is difficult, And so 72 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: if you don't actually think you're gonna get rewarded for 73 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: it by actually believing there's an opportunity to accomplish something, 74 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 1: it's going to be difficult even for the best players 75 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: in the world to really get invested in that context. 76 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: About four games ago, early last week, it became abundantly 77 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: clear that the Warriors were going to trade for somebody. 78 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 1: I don't know if it was just the humiliation of 79 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: missing out on Kevin Durant or what the deal was, 80 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: but it became clear that they were going to get somebody. 81 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: In the four games since then, since that Intel came 82 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: down Steph is averaging thirty five points, five rebounds, and 83 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,120 Speaker 1: five assists per game in the two games since Jiman 84 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 1: Butler actually started playing and making life easier for Steph. 85 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 1: He just logged back to back games with at least 86 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 1: thirty points on at least fifty percent shooting for the 87 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: first time since the Dallas and Oklahoma City wins. Way 88 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: back in early November, I talked about how the thing 89 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: I was most excited about this deal. I do think 90 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: that this Warriors team has a small window to maybe 91 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 1: capitalize on an opportunity to win a championship here. But 92 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: more than anything, it went from a team that was 93 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 1: most likely not going to play any meaningful basketball, Like 94 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:33,479 Speaker 1: without a trade, that team is probably going to lose 95 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 1: in the play in just like last year. But with 96 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler in the mix, they're almost certainly going to 97 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: get out of that mess and get into a first 98 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: round series, which means we're going to get another opportunity 99 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: to watch Steph Curry play meaningful basketball. That's what I'm 100 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: excited about, Steph said after the game. We've got an 101 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: opportunity to do something pretty special considering where we've been 102 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 1: this season, and he's right, there are lineups that they 103 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 1: can put together now that have Steph, that have Jimmy, 104 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 1: that have Draymond, to have Jonathan Kaminga when he comes back, 105 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 1: and it looks like he's probably gonna be coming back 106 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 1: after the All Star Break, where they have enough talent 107 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: now to actually present some problems to some of these teams. 108 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: And that's like when it comes to the playoffs, so 109 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 1: much of it comes down to, like, what do we 110 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: do that the other team sucks at? What do they 111 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: do that we suck at? What can they capitalize on 112 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 1: in terms of weaknesses and vice versa, And just bringing 113 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 1: in a weapon like Jimmy Butler just puts them in 114 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: a situation where they're gonna be a more precarious type 115 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: of matchup to deal with. And like, God, if we 116 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 1: can get if the Warriors end up matching up with 117 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 1: somebody like the two seed, if they end up getting 118 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: a Memphis, that's a matchup that they're capable of winning. 119 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: And how great would it be if we got to 120 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: see another month of high level playoff basketball out of 121 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 1: Steph Curry, even with an opportunity to potentially do more. 122 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,239 Speaker 1: Like I said, it's not guaranteed there could be injuries, 123 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:57,159 Speaker 1: there could be things that go wrong, they could miss 124 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: the playoffs, right, But by virtue of me making this deal, 125 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: I find it far more likely than not that they're 126 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 1: going to make it out of the play in tournament 127 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:09,479 Speaker 1: and get into a legitimate playoff series and give me Steph, 128 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 1: Jimmy and Draymond in a playoff series, and I think 129 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 1: that that's going to be a fascinating couple of weeks. 130 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: And if they win, we could get to see another 131 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: extended playoff runt from one of the greatest players in 132 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: the history of the game. And that's why I'm excited. 133 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 1: It's about belief. Like Steph looks engaged, he doesn't say 134 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: that after the game unless he believes that this team 135 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 1: can do something. Jimmy Butler, I think has been an 136 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:36,479 Speaker 1: amazing fit right away. I wasn't worried about it. I 137 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 1: know there were some Warriors fans that were. I just 138 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 1: think Jimmy's too smart of a basketball player that brings 139 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: too many complimentary traits to what Steph Curry does. I 140 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: want to talk a little bit about middle of the 141 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: floor processing. This is something that I've talked a lot 142 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 1: about on this show with respect to like mediocre playmakers 143 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: in the sense that when you're in the middle of 144 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 1: the floor, there's just you can only see, you know, 145 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 1: maybe one fourth of what's happening around you. Uh, there's 146 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: always like a lot of moving parts that can get 147 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 1: confusing in the middle of the floor. 148 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 2: It's a spot where a lot of players struggle. 149 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 1: And it's why, like, when it comes to the mediocre playmakers, 150 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: you kind of want to clear the side then have 151 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: them operate so the whole floors in front of them, 152 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 1: just so that they have an easier time making reads. 153 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 1: But when you have a player who knows what to 154 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: do there, when you have a player that doesn't panic, 155 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: it's like that famous basketball you know, ism, whatever you 156 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: want to call it. 157 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 2: Be quick but don't hurry. Right. 158 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 1: If you can get a player that can quickly process 159 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 1: without rushing and making mistakes in the middle of the floor, 160 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: all sorts of good things can happen to your offense. 161 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: An example from late first half last night against the Bucks, 162 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: Steph Jimmy two man game. Top of the key. Kuzma 163 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: goes out with Steph. There's two guys on Steph. Jimmy 164 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 1: catches in the middle of the floor when he catches 165 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: in the middle of the floor. Draymond's man steps up 166 00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: closer to Jimmy, and now there's a two on one 167 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 1: that's for with Draymond underneath the basket, Buddy Healed on 168 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: the wing with Damian Lillard kind of splitting the difference 169 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 1: between the two. Jimmy just calmly turns in pivots and 170 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: looks at Buddy Healed. When he turns and pivots and 171 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: looks at Buddy Healed, there goes Dame running out to 172 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 1: go to Buddy because he's biting on that headfake or 173 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: pass fake whatever. You just just Jimmy acknowledging Buddy's presence 174 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: gets Dame to jump out. Then he just pivots again 175 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: and looks and there's Draymond boot bounced past easy layup 176 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 1: right under underneath the basket. He just looks so calm 177 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:36,079 Speaker 1: and comfortable operating there. Here's why that's important. Last night, 178 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,319 Speaker 1: you actually saw it in some zone. Looks got to 179 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: get the ball in the middle of the zone, and 180 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: the Warriors consistently got it to Jimmy there. They scored 181 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 1: eight points on four zone possessions in that game, and 182 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: the Bucks just stopped stop trying it. You can't can't 183 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 1: run his zone if they're getting two points per possession. 184 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:52,679 Speaker 1: So that's part of it. But the biggest part, the 185 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 1: most meaningful part within the playoff context, is the Steph 186 00:08:56,679 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: Jimmy two man game. When you run the Steph Jimmy 187 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: two man game, it's going to create advantages in three 188 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 1: different ways. One is, like that sequence I just told 189 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:08,079 Speaker 1: you about, Jimmy sets a screen, both guys run with Steph. 190 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: Now Jimmy's the role man, and it's a four on 191 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:13,959 Speaker 1: three where Draymond is absolutely an offensive threat in the 192 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: dunker spot. Jimmy is a threat to score in the 193 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: middle of the floor and to play make. 194 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 2: Out of it. 195 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 1: And you've got guys like Moses Moody in the corner 196 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 1: who has just been fantastic since Andrew Wiggins injury it 197 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 1: just or injury, excuse me trade. Since the Andrew Wiggins trade, 198 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: it's given Moses Moody opportunity and he's just been capitalizing 199 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 1: on it as a big, rangy wing on the perimeter 200 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 1: that can knock down threes, drive close outs, and play 201 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 1: defense and rebound. And it's just it's he's taken advantage 202 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 1: of his opportunity and he's crushing. But like you get 203 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 1: into those four on threes, if they put two on 204 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,079 Speaker 1: the ball with Steph, that's where Jimmy can operate in 205 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 1: the middle of the floor. The second thing that will 206 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 1: happen with the Steph Jimmy two main game is inside 207 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 1: position ceiling on switches. So imagine a guy's guarding Steph 208 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: one on one faced up with him and Jimmy. 209 00:09:58,720 --> 00:09:59,319 Speaker 2: This is the defender. 210 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: Jimmy comes up up and screens on the backside and 211 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 1: it triggers a switch. Okay, if they switch, Jimmy can 212 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,839 Speaker 1: then seal and create that over the top passing angle. 213 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: We talked I believe in Yester on the Sunday Show 214 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 1: about just how dynamic Jimmy is in those inside seals 215 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 1: at creating a passing angle and high pointing the basketball 216 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:22,559 Speaker 1: and catching it. That accomplishes the same goal, the same 217 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 1: four on three. So like if you screen for Steph 218 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 1: and your defender runs out onto Steph, but now you've 219 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 1: got Steph's defender sealed on your top side and you 220 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 1: get a catch over the top, it is an identical 221 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 1: four on three because when you catch, all of a sudden, 222 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,199 Speaker 1: your defender's behind you so you can just go right 223 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 1: to the rim, which is going to force somebody to 224 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:45,559 Speaker 1: step up. There's your four on three. Now you have 225 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,320 Speaker 1: a three on two on the backside once that guy 226 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 1: steps up to you after you catch on that inside seal. 227 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 1: So you can get four on threes out of getting 228 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:56,440 Speaker 1: two onto Steph and just slipping out of it. You 229 00:10:56,480 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: can get four on threes out of inside seals on switches. Now, 230 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: what about when they well execute a switch, so they switch, 231 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: but the guy who's guarding Steph just quickly dives around 232 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: with some good swim move or something and gets behind Jimmy. Well, 233 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:15,319 Speaker 1: who's the guard that's quick enough to guard Steph? Now 234 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: he's gonna guard Jimmy in the post? Wait until Jonathan 235 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 1: Kaminga's back out there, and again it looks like he's 236 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 1: gonna be coming back sometime shortly after the All Star break, 237 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:29,439 Speaker 1: Jonathan Kamenka comes back. Where are the athletes at? Where 238 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: are you putting your athletes? Well, if you put your 239 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: best forward athlete on Jimmy, that means your second best 240 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 1: forward athlete is now guarding Jonathan Kaminga. Who's gonna just 241 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:42,959 Speaker 1: be a massive athletic mismatch. That you can attack if 242 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: you have the best forward athlete on Jonathan Kminga. Now 243 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:52,559 Speaker 1: you got your third best perimeter defender overall guarding Jimmy Butler, Like, 244 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 1: that's gonna put you in a bind in terms of matchups. 245 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 1: That's gonna make that Steph Jimmy two man game even 246 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 1: harder to account for. But again, what unlocks all of 247 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: it is anytime they put two on the ball, anytime 248 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 1: they botch a switch or they get sealed top side 249 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 1: on Jimmy, He's going to be able to operate out 250 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 1: of the middle of the floor better than any other 251 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 1: player on this roster could. Draymond could do all the 252 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 1: playmaking out of that position, but he couldn't bring the 253 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 1: scoring out of that position. There are going to be 254 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:25,960 Speaker 1: times where Jimmy catches on the roll and everyone stays 255 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: home and he's going to have to attack the rim 256 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 1: and maybe finish in a little bit of traffic or 257 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: hit something there in the middle of the floor. He 258 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 1: can do that. He can do that at a really 259 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 1: high rate. But I think the early returns from this 260 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: have been beautiful in terms of just demonstrating the simple 261 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 1: fact that Jimmy is not only a very complimentary athlete 262 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: to Steph, but he also represents a gaping hole in 263 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:51,680 Speaker 1: the roster that was there before the deal, which is 264 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:54,959 Speaker 1: just having a really high level dribble a guy who 265 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:58,559 Speaker 1: can dribble, shoot, and pass on the floor that just 266 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 1: greases the wheels for everything that you try to do 267 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 1: on offense. Before we get done with the Warriors, I 268 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 1: wanted to just share some lineup data from the early 269 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:10,079 Speaker 1: going here. So the starting group from last night that 270 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: was Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green with Buddy Held 271 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: and Moses Moody, which again, Moses Moody continues to just 272 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 1: be fantastic with that group. They've played thirteen minutes. They've 273 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 1: struggled to guard so far as a smaller group, but 274 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: they have a one to fifty seven offensive rating with 275 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:29,440 Speaker 1: that group. That's really impressive. Then there's this lineup that 276 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 1: they've been using with Jimmy Butler on the floor and 277 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 1: Steph Curry off the floor. This is Jimmy Butler with Draymond, 278 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,319 Speaker 1: which I think has been interesting because Raymond has almost 279 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: always been partnered with Steph, but now they're partnering him 280 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: with Draymond just to kind of operate as like a 281 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:43,560 Speaker 1: guy who can feed the post and help that like 282 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: make post entry passes and help that group defensively. Jimmy, Draymond, 283 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: Quentin Post, Buddy Heald, and Brandon Pajemski. That group has 284 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 1: played nine minutes in the last two games. They have 285 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: a one to seventy five offensive rating and a fifty 286 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 1: nine defensive rating. Again, but that's one hundred and sixteen 287 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 1: net rating. They are plus eighteen points in nine minutes. 288 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 1: They have been blowing out the opponent in nine minutes 289 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:12,679 Speaker 1: of action, just completely dominating. Then there's this group that 290 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: they've been going to because Draymond's off the floor with Steph, 291 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:18,559 Speaker 1: so it's a group with Steph, but Jimmy and Draymond 292 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: both off. It's Steph Curry with Kevon Looney, Gary Payton, 293 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: Moses Moody and Brandon Pazemski. So three really scrappy wings, 294 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: a bruising five, and Steph. They're plus three so far 295 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: in seven minutes. The defense has struggled, but they've scored 296 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: the ball super well because Steph is playing so incredibly well. 297 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: And again it's been so abundantly clear to me that 298 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 1: Steph just has a pep in his step. You could 299 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: tell his life is easier now. You could tell he 300 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 1: believes now, and he's playing his best basketball since the 301 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: beginning of the season. I think it's super exciting. And 302 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 1: one last note on the Warriors. I just wanted to 303 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,400 Speaker 1: shout out Quinton Post. He took a three on the 304 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 1: right wing last night that put the Warriors up. I 305 00:14:57,640 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: can't I think it put him up fourteen if I 306 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: remember correctly, in the early fourth quarter, but it was 307 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: like nineteen on the shot So he took a contested 308 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: three on the right wing, like a hand in the face, 309 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: not open, just like I'm hot. I know this thing 310 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 1: is going in. I'm taking it. Literally, before the ball 311 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 1: even went through the net, I'm watching the game live, 312 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: Quinton shoots it. I immediately looked down at the scoreboard 313 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 1: and I'm like, how much time is on the shot clock? 314 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: It was nineteen seconds. There were nineteen seconds on the 315 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: shot clock, and Quinton Post took a contested three on 316 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 1: the right wing and just swished it. He's nine for 317 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 1: sixteen from three in the last three games. He's basically 318 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: snatched that job from Tray Jackson Davis and brings an 319 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: interesting dynamic to this team with his ability to legitimately 320 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 1: stretch the floor from the five spot. Really exciting stuff 321 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 1: for the Warriors out of the early games with Jimmy 322 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 1: Butler on the Milwaukee Bucks, and I'm gonna be talking 323 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 1: a lot about a couple of games that they played recently. 324 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: I did a full deep dive on their game with 325 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 1: the Philadelphia Seventies the other night. I did like a 326 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 1: forty clip film thread on my Twitter feeds. You can 327 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: go to my twitter feed at underscore Jason LT and 328 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: see a bunch of video examples of some of the 329 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 1: stuff I'm going to be talking about. We have three 330 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 1: games since Kyle ku'sma trade, No yoh Honis, but I'm 331 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 1: already completely sold on the fit. It's abundant. It's abundantly 332 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: clear to me in the early returns that he is 333 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 1: committed to playing winning basketball, which was the biggest question 334 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 1: mark surrounding that trade. He's been in Washington, he's been 335 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 1: playing in a bad team, some unserious basketball. How quickly 336 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 1: will he be able to kind of like snap back 337 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: into the player that he was at the end with 338 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 1: the Lakers, which was a really good role player. I 339 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: think it's been obvious to me that he's been committed 340 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: to playing winning basketball. He's grabbing rebounds at the highest 341 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 1: rate for him since twenty twenty two. He's grabbing eight 342 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 1: rebounds per thirty six minutes. He's really competing on defense. 343 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: I thought he was great in the Philly game. He 344 00:16:56,080 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 1: was winning battles with Embiid, like beating Embiid to contested rebound. Again. 345 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: I have videos of a lot of this stuff on 346 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: my Twitter feed. You guys can see beating and beat 347 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 1: to contested rebounds. He had a play where I got switched 348 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 1: on to Himbiad and fronted the post and got low 349 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: and was like backing them beat down, and when the 350 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: pass came, he like battled and went up and got 351 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: the pass and forced a turnover. He had this crazy 352 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:18,880 Speaker 1: recovery block on Tyrese Maxey where they're running stack, pick 353 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:21,440 Speaker 1: and roll, which again is where you have a guy 354 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 1: backscreen for the role man as you're running a ball screen. 355 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:28,200 Speaker 1: So Kuzm's man sets a great screen right on brook Lopez, 356 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 1: and brook Lopez just dies on the screen, and so 357 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: Tyrese Maxey's screaming downhill for a left handed layup. Kuzma 358 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: gets a little caught off guard by it, but just 359 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:40,959 Speaker 1: drop steps and jumps and blocks Tyrese Maxey off the glass, 360 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: just like a really rangy and athletic defensive play. And 361 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:49,119 Speaker 1: like it's just so clear to me that he is 362 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: a much more dynamic athlete than Chris Middleton is at 363 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 1: this point in their careers. I am particularly excited about 364 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 1: layering that with Jannis and Brook. Again, like everything's got 365 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 1: to be looked at through the context of Yannis, because again, 366 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:08,439 Speaker 1: it hasn't been pretty. They're what one and two in 367 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 1: the three games that Kuzma's played without without Yanis, the 368 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: net ratings haven't looked good. Kuzma has had to do 369 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 1: a little bit more offensively where he's been inefficient, there 370 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 1: have been It hasn't exactly been like some sort of 371 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 1: amazing sort of display. But I'm trying to pick out 372 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 1: the specifics that Kyle Kuzma has been bringing and how 373 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:30,160 Speaker 1: they fit within the context of Yannis. Like Brook's been 374 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,159 Speaker 1: looking a little rough on defense this year, if you 375 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 1: flank him with two rangey forwards like Yannis and Kyle Kuzma, 376 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 1: you make his life easier. That group is going to 377 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 1: be a dominant defensive, rebounding group. That group is going 378 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 1: to be able to protect the rim at an extremely 379 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 1: high level. 380 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 2: I think. 381 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: I think the commitment to the work from Kus is 382 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: already there. And that's the most exciting part, because that 383 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 1: was the part that was the biggest question mark coming 384 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 1: into this deal. You guys have already seen the full 385 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 1: Kyle Kuzma experience on offense. Is gonna take some bad shots. 386 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:03,639 Speaker 1: He's gotta miss a lot of them. He's at forty 387 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:05,679 Speaker 1: three percent from the field in twenty seven percent from 388 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 1: three so far. It's kind of to be expected. But 389 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:10,239 Speaker 1: he can hit some tough ones too. He had a 390 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 1: contested catch and shoot three late in the clock on 391 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 1: the left wing against Philly where it was like a 392 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: twenty seven footer hand right in his face end of 393 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:21,880 Speaker 1: the clock. Like his like kind of audacious scoring ability 394 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 1: will rescue possessions for the Bucks. It will lead to 395 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:27,439 Speaker 1: extra points. But the most important part is even though 396 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:29,680 Speaker 1: he's inefficient. We talked about this right after the trade, 397 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:32,880 Speaker 1: watch the way he's guarded. I trimmed like a half 398 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: dozen examples of this in that Twitter feed that I'm 399 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 1: telling you guys about where Kyle Kuzma is just like 400 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: showing the ball on the perimeter and dudes are flying 401 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:42,639 Speaker 1: at him and he's getting to the basket. Because of 402 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: the way teams react to him, teams respect him as 403 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,360 Speaker 1: a high level scorer because they know he is a 404 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 1: threat to be a high level scorer, even though he's 405 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:56,159 Speaker 1: not necessarily very efficient. He's had some decent on ball reps. 406 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,000 Speaker 1: He like posted Tyres Maxi on a switch and hit 407 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 1: a short little fade whil He's made some nice ball 408 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:04,160 Speaker 1: screen reads he's run. He's had six ball screens where 409 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 1: he's passed out of it that have led to six points, 410 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: some nice kickouts to three point shooters that have gone well. 411 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 1: The biggest thing that's been exciting to me though, with 412 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:14,120 Speaker 1: him on offense is him as a screener. He's done 413 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:17,200 Speaker 1: a really nice job with Dame reading when to slip 414 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: out of screens. There's a very thing, there's a very 415 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 1: specific thing you want to do when you're reading when 416 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 1: to slip out of a screen. So, like, what's the 417 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:27,479 Speaker 1: purpose of a screen? The purpose of a screen is 418 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 1: if I hit the guy that's guarding the ball handler 419 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:32,920 Speaker 1: and no one helps he, my ball handler is just 420 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: gonna drive to the basket. 421 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 2: That's the upside. 422 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:37,480 Speaker 1: But when you go up to set a screen and 423 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:41,720 Speaker 1: you see your man leave you to show on the 424 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:44,440 Speaker 1: ball handler, there's no purpose for the screen anymore. There's 425 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,520 Speaker 1: there's no reason to stay there a split second longer. 426 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: Why because the only purpose for the screen is to 427 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 1: get him free of his defender. And if he's just 428 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 1: going to run into your defender, then there's no purpose 429 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: to the screen anymore. So when you run up and 430 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 1: you set a screen and you see your man and show, 431 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,119 Speaker 1: get the hell out as fast as possible and make 432 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:07,399 Speaker 1: yourself available. Kusma's been doing a brilliant job of getting 433 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:09,679 Speaker 1: out of those screens as soon as he sees his 434 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:14,720 Speaker 1: man leave and quickly making himself available. He's had finishes 435 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:17,960 Speaker 1: in traffic with the left hand. He's had multiple high 436 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:20,159 Speaker 1: quality short roll reads. He had one where he like 437 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 1: did a head fake to the guy on the wing 438 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:23,760 Speaker 1: and then hit the corner and he was wide open. 439 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: Another one where the head fake didn't go and the 440 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 1: guy kind of stayed and he still made the right 441 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 1: pass to the wing. He's going to be a very 442 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 1: useful screening threat on this team. Again, I keep thinking 443 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:36,440 Speaker 1: about all of this in the context of Yannis being 444 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: out there with those guys. 445 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 2: I just think it's gonna work really well. 446 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:44,199 Speaker 1: I think it was a legitimate talent ad But most importantly, 447 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: I think it alters the physical profile of this team 448 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:51,360 Speaker 1: in a real way. You go from Chris Middleton kind 449 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 1: of a creaky older six ' eight guy to a 450 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 1: six ' nine, younger athlete with longer arms who can 451 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:02,320 Speaker 1: like really cover ground. That is a very very useful 452 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:02,960 Speaker 1: player to have. 453 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 2: In this context. 454 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 1: I always talk about how like, especially when I get 455 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 1: to the postseason, do you have something a problem that 456 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:15,720 Speaker 1: you can present to teams that they cannot solve? And 457 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:19,160 Speaker 1: I actually do think the Bucks have a frontline now 458 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:23,720 Speaker 1: that is physically incredibly difficult to deal with having Kuzmannianis 459 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:27,120 Speaker 1: and Brooke together. You're not getting offensive rebounds and you're 460 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 1: not getting to the rim when all those guys are together, 461 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:32,439 Speaker 1: And that's gonna be a real problem for teams, especially 462 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:34,440 Speaker 1: when they run into teams in the postseason that are 463 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:38,399 Speaker 1: questionable jump shooting teams. Like if Milwaukee were to run 464 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 1: into an Orlando, for instance, in a playoff series, is 465 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: Orlando gonna be able to make nearly enough jump shots 466 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:48,120 Speaker 1: to win that kind of series? I don't think so. 467 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:51,480 Speaker 1: That's part of the physical element that you've added to 468 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 1: this team by bringing in Kyle Kuzma a couple other 469 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 1: quick ones. Gary, Trent and Dame have been playing really 470 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:01,200 Speaker 1: well together lately. They've been playing a lot more together 471 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 1: and Gary's really gotten his three point shot going, and 472 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 1: they even scoring the shit out of the ball. In 473 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 1: the last eleven games, the Gary Tren Junior Dame duo 474 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,879 Speaker 1: has a one to twenty offensive rating. And then lastly, 475 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 1: I just wanted to shout out Bobby Portis. I was 476 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 1: watching him in that Philly game and Nick Nurse, who 477 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 1: always has kind of an aggressive defensive philosophy and it's 478 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,119 Speaker 1: been like that ever since the Toronto days, but he 479 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 1: was basically double teaming Bobby Portis every single time he 480 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:26,600 Speaker 1: caught the ball in the post, and he scored over 481 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:29,680 Speaker 1: double teams twice by just driving away from the double team. 482 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:32,160 Speaker 1: He made great passes out of the double team. Late 483 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:34,200 Speaker 1: in the game, Nurse had to bail on the double 484 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 1: team and leave him one on one and he just 485 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:37,440 Speaker 1: little jabstep. 486 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:38,120 Speaker 2: Jumper knocked it down. 487 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 1: Like Bobby was playing really really well on offense in 488 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 1: that Phildy game. 489 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 2: I just wanted to shout him out. 490 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 1: I do want to talk a little bit about the 491 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:58,760 Speaker 1: Philadelphia seventy six ers though, before we get out of 492 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 1: here to day. On the one hand, there's like some 493 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 1: stuff that I've found really fascinating watching them as of late, Like, 494 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 1: for instance, Tyres Maxi is just hooping his ass off. 495 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 1: Last eighteen games for Tyrese Maxy, thirty two points per game, 496 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 1: seven assists per game, sixty two percent true shooting, just 497 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:24,920 Speaker 1: incredible dribble penetration. There's this thing that happens with Tyrese 498 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:27,679 Speaker 1: Maxi where everybody in the world knows he wants to 499 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:30,919 Speaker 1: drive to the basket, and there's still absolutely nothing you can. 500 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:32,440 Speaker 2: Do about it. 501 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:36,399 Speaker 1: It's like a legitimate bonafide superpower, which is always the 502 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 1: foundational trade. If you're gonna be a guy who averages 503 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 1: over thirty points per game, or I think Tyre's is 504 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:43,159 Speaker 1: averaging about twenty eight on the season, but he's been 505 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:45,680 Speaker 1: averaging over thirty thirty two points per game for over 506 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:48,960 Speaker 1: a month now. When if you're gonna average that on 507 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:51,679 Speaker 1: over sixty percent true shooting, you better have a legit. 508 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:55,359 Speaker 1: You have to have a legitimate superpower, something that nobody 509 00:24:55,359 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 1: can hang with. So for like Luka and Jokic. Its size. 510 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 1: Right with Shay, it's ballham and shooting in his quick 511 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:06,120 Speaker 1: first step. Right with Tyree Masey, it's just that downhill speed, 512 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 1: like no one can keep him in front. There is 513 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:13,160 Speaker 1: a play where he came sprinting into a catch off 514 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 1: of a post split right. I think it was I 515 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:19,160 Speaker 1: think it was Embeedd who caught on the post and 516 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:21,360 Speaker 1: they ran just a typical split cut action. 517 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 2: So like. 518 00:25:23,280 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 1: Tyres comes off of a wide screen into a catch 519 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:28,639 Speaker 1: off of the guy from the post. Andre Jackson is 520 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:32,760 Speaker 1: another really good athlete in this league. He sprints over 521 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:34,680 Speaker 1: to get there to tyrease because one of the big 522 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 1: things that's happened with Tyree over the last couple of years, 523 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:41,720 Speaker 1: He's become a great movement shooter. He can sprint into 524 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 1: three point shots going both directions. He can plant right 525 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: left and shoot, and then he can plant left right 526 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:49,119 Speaker 1: and like pivot in mid air and square up and 527 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:51,720 Speaker 1: knock down the shot. Like he's an elite movement shooter now. 528 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:55,440 Speaker 1: So you've got to stay attached as he's sprinting into 529 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:59,640 Speaker 1: these catches. Andre Jackson sprints into it, gets there. Tyree's 530 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:03,760 Speaker 1: just and rips back to the right, gets past Andre Jackson, 531 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:07,879 Speaker 1: Brook Lopez abandons, Joel Embian goes over to help, and 532 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 1: Max he just gets right into the lane and brings 533 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:12,359 Speaker 1: out this big, sweeping scoop shot in the lane that 534 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 1: goes in and I'm like, you quite literally cannot defend 535 00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 1: that any better than he did. And he still got 536 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:20,760 Speaker 1: to the rim. And even though you contested him at 537 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:23,919 Speaker 1: the rim, He's still made a difficult shot over everybody. 538 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 1: It's just a ridiculously talented player. But him getting that 539 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 1: movement shooting piece to help him counter ball pressure, to 540 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 1: make it so that he can operate off the ball 541 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:40,919 Speaker 1: while also having his dominant on ball ability as a 542 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:42,199 Speaker 1: pull up shooter and a is a guy who can 543 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 1: get downhill to the rim. He's just been a rare 544 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 1: bright spot and a sixers team that has looked lost 545 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 1: for large portions of this year. This is where I 546 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:53,959 Speaker 1: want to talk about me not understanding what the hell 547 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,359 Speaker 1: they're doing. I don't think Joel Ebid's been very good 548 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:59,879 Speaker 1: when he's played. They've been getting smashed when he's on 549 00:26:59,920 --> 00:27:02,920 Speaker 1: the floor as of late. A couple big things that 550 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:06,400 Speaker 1: are standing out to me, like in space, like when 551 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:09,040 Speaker 1: he has to defend in ball screens up at the level, 552 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:13,200 Speaker 1: he just looks lost. He'll jump to the wrong side 553 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 1: of the screen and a guy will just reject the 554 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:17,880 Speaker 1: screen and go the other way. Sometimes he just gets 555 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 1: tired and lazy and doesn't even go up to the level. 556 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:23,639 Speaker 1: He'll just like kind of recklessly pursue the basketball and 557 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:26,880 Speaker 1: just give up dribble penetration going right around him. He'll 558 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:29,439 Speaker 1: like botch rotations where he ends up in the wrong spot. 559 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:33,200 Speaker 1: He's been really, really bad on defense. He's been almost 560 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:36,480 Speaker 1: exclusively popping and pick and roll instead of like working 561 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:38,960 Speaker 1: closer to the basket. And when he's popping and pick 562 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 1: and roll, like teams like the Bucks will just rotate 563 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: to him from off ball, and like he won't make 564 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:47,280 Speaker 1: just the simple passing read like, if they rotate to 565 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:49,000 Speaker 1: you off ball, just swing the damn ball to the 566 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:51,960 Speaker 1: next guy he's open. It'll start the defense. In rotation. 567 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:54,160 Speaker 1: He had to play against the Bucks where he picked 568 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 1: him popped caught at the top of the key, there's 569 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:58,399 Speaker 1: a wide open swing pass to the left. Instead he 570 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: ripped right into all the tracks and just ran over 571 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:03,800 Speaker 1: a dude and picked up an offensive foul and here's 572 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:08,560 Speaker 1: the thing. I know, Embiid's better than this. Even though 573 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:10,879 Speaker 1: Embiid has always struggled to guard in space and to 574 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:15,200 Speaker 1: garden transition, he's better than this. Even though he can 575 00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:18,119 Speaker 1: struggle in space and in transition, he's elite at the 576 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:21,240 Speaker 1: rim and he can be very impactful there. He's better 577 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:26,679 Speaker 1: than this. Even on offense, he's better than this. And 578 00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:28,800 Speaker 1: so this is where I'm wondering, like what the hell 579 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 1: is he doing? Because I see a quote where it's 580 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:35,439 Speaker 1: like Joel Embiid believes or report that says Joel Embiid 581 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 1: believes he's gonna need another surgery in this offseason. Just 582 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:42,480 Speaker 1: give him the surgery. What's the point of having him 583 00:28:42,520 --> 00:28:45,960 Speaker 1: play on a knee that needs another surgery while he's 584 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 1: playing bad basketball, while the team is getting thrashed while 585 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:53,160 Speaker 1: he's on the floor. And realistically, there's not a version 586 00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 1: of this that comes together and leads to a championship 587 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 1: this season. Get embad the surgery. I mean, I heard 588 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:01,400 Speaker 1: Darren or say, like, we still believe that there's a 589 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 1: championship ceiling here. I don't necessarily disagree, but it's not 590 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 1: gonna be with this version of him. Beat get whatever 591 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:12,719 Speaker 1: he needs to get to one hundred percent by October. 592 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 1: Then you go through a whole camp with him and 593 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 1: with Paul and with Tyree's all healthy, another summer to 594 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:21,720 Speaker 1: bring in another piece or two, and then you go 595 00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:24,920 Speaker 1: for it. But what are you gonna do, like where 596 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:28,200 Speaker 1: Embiid's knee down worse by having him play on a 597 00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:30,880 Speaker 1: knee that needs to be surgically repaired so that you 598 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 1: can crawl into the playoffs in a bad seed and 599 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:36,560 Speaker 1: end up having to play an elite team in every 600 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:41,120 Speaker 1: round and just and just probably end up losing and 601 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:44,640 Speaker 1: doing more damage in the process. I just I just 602 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 1: don't really see what the goal is here, even when 603 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:49,760 Speaker 1: I'm watching Paul George. Like we've been a lot of 604 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:52,080 Speaker 1: people have been giving Paul George shit for not producing 605 00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 1: this year, myself included, But like he's also mostly uninvolved 606 00:29:56,280 --> 00:30:00,960 Speaker 1: on offense. He's competing on defense, he's playing lanes, he's 607 00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:05,640 Speaker 1: doing his job, but like he's mostly uninvolved on offense. 608 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:08,600 Speaker 1: And it's like, why did you pay that kind of 609 00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 1: money two hundred million to Paul George if you weren't 610 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 1: gonna like actually make use of his talents. It just 611 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:18,640 Speaker 1: and again, some of it's on Paul to be clear, 612 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 1: he needs to demand the basketball more, he needs to 613 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:23,440 Speaker 1: be more effective. But they also don't seem to be 614 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:27,120 Speaker 1: really trying to get him going either. I just wonder 615 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:31,080 Speaker 1: what the Sixers are trying to accomplish. It all seems 616 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: to me like there's a lack of self awareness here 617 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:39,040 Speaker 1: in the sense that this season is lost. You're not 618 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:43,480 Speaker 1: gonna get anything done this year. There's no point in 619 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 1: doing something that's just gonna further risk your chances in 620 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:49,960 Speaker 1: seasons in the future. I will say I did I 621 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:52,480 Speaker 1: do like seeing Quentin Grimes there. Love Quentin Grimes. He 622 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:56,240 Speaker 1: came in and was just attacking Gary Trent, attacking Dame Lillard, 623 00:30:56,600 --> 00:30:59,560 Speaker 1: just bringing that kind of like athleticism in a little 624 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:01,840 Speaker 1: bit of score. I think he's gonna be useful player 625 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:04,640 Speaker 1: for them in the long run. Again, I'm not gonna 626 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 1: sit here and pretend like they don't have a chance 627 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 1: in the future. But their chance isn't gonna be this season, 628 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:11,719 Speaker 1: and they just need to read the tea leaves here 629 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 1: and be more honest about their predicament. Shut him, beat down, 630 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:18,360 Speaker 1: get him the surgery he needs, have him. This is 631 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:21,760 Speaker 1: the beauty of this kind of timeline, it's February. If 632 00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 1: you shut him bead now and you get him and 633 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 1: beat down now, and you get him the surgery, maybe 634 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:30,280 Speaker 1: he's recovered by July and then he can have a 635 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:35,320 Speaker 1: full summer to getting great cardiophysical shape so that he 636 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:39,040 Speaker 1: comes into the season with really low body fat, really 637 00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:42,680 Speaker 1: good cardio conditioning, and then when you start to ramp 638 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:45,920 Speaker 1: him up really heavily into regular season shape, he's just 639 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:46,640 Speaker 1: ready for it. 640 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:48,600 Speaker 2: But instead, like, what are you gonna do? 641 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:52,160 Speaker 1: Run him through it until early May when they get 642 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:56,120 Speaker 1: eliminated in the first round, and then his knees even worse, 643 00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:58,760 Speaker 1: and you get the surgery then and you've lost three 644 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 1: months on your timeline, Like, is that the alternative here? 645 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:06,239 Speaker 2: It's not like I would get it. 646 00:32:06,280 --> 00:32:09,600 Speaker 1: I would understand if embiid was going out there and 647 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:12,120 Speaker 1: smashing everybody and your team was kicking ass when he's 648 00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:15,040 Speaker 1: on the floor. That's not what's happening here. Just show 649 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 1: some self awareness, shut him down, let him get healthy 650 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:21,200 Speaker 1: for next season, all right, guys, As all I have 651 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 1: for today is always as sincerely appreciate you guys for 652 00:32:23,240 --> 00:32:25,600 Speaker 1: supporting me and supporting the show. I believe tonight I'm 653 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:27,200 Speaker 1: going on with Colin cow Hurt, so you'll get a 654 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:29,800 Speaker 1: little bit around the league kind of big picture stuff 655 00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:32,400 Speaker 1: with that, and then we'll be back tomorrow with some 656 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 1: more game breakdowns, talking about some other debuts for other 657 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:38,000 Speaker 1: players after the trade deadline. I will see you guys. 658 00:32:37,760 --> 00:32:42,520 Speaker 2: Then the volume What's So Guys? 659 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:45,280 Speaker 1: As always, I appreciate you for listening to and supporting 660 00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:47,920 Speaker 1: OOPS tonight. It would actually be really helpful for us 661 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:49,840 Speaker 1: if you guys would take a second and leave a 662 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:52,520 Speaker 1: rating and a review. As always, I appreciate you guys 663 00:32:52,520 --> 00:32:54,120 Speaker 1: supporting us, but if you could take a minute to 664 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 1: do that, I'd really appreciate it.