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Please play responsibly on behalf of 29 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: Boothill Casino and Resort in Kansas twenty one plus age 30 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: in eligibility varies by jurisdiction void in Ontario. Bonus bets 31 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: expire one hundred and sixty eight hours after issuance. For 32 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 1: additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKG dot co 33 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: slash ft ball. All right, welcome to hoop tonight here 34 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: at the volume heavy Tuesday. Everybody hope love you guys 35 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 1: are having a great week so far. Got a jampack 36 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: show for you today. We're continuing our season preview series 37 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: with number three, the Oklahoma City Thunder and number two 38 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: the Denver Nuggets, So two season previews today, You guys 39 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: have the trip before we get started subscribe to the 40 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: Hoops Tonight YouTube channels. You don't miss any more of 41 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: our videos. Follow me on Twitter at underscore JSNLT so 42 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 1: you guys don't miss show announcements. Don't forget about our 43 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: podcast feed wherever you podcast under Hoops Tonight, and then 44 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: keep dropping mail bag questions in those YouTube comments. We 45 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: keep hitting them throughout the rest of the season. Little 46 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: little update on how this week's going to go. Before 47 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,639 Speaker 1: we get to the regular season opener, which is literally 48 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: one week from tomorrow, we will be going live on 49 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 1: YouTube that night, but obviously we still have a bunch 50 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: of stuff we need to hit right. So I got 51 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: three more season previews to do. We're doing two of 52 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: those today. Number one obviously the Boston Celtics, we will 53 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: get to at some point later this week. There are 54 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 1: several preseason kind of like check ins that I want 55 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: to do on some of our contender tier teams, the 56 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: teams in that top eleven that we haven't touched yet 57 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: in preseason that I want to get to. I have 58 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: Sam Vessini coming on the show later this week. Every 59 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,919 Speaker 1: year we do like a debate of our tender rankings, 60 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:03,119 Speaker 1: and so he'll be coming on to do that at 61 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: some point later this week, so we will get some 62 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: If you're waiting on preseason reaction on one of the 63 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: teams that haven't hit yet, we will get to that 64 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:11,919 Speaker 1: later this week. And then obviously we'll have more of 65 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: a big picture debate with Sam, and then I've got 66 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:17,519 Speaker 1: these last three season previews, and then next Tuesday, we're 67 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 1: just getting back into the usual routine. Some a good 68 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 1: mix of instant reactions at night after games and then 69 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 1: a lot of that sort of thing in the morning, 70 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 1: a lot of film breakdowns, a lot of the usual 71 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: stuff that you are used to. So our last week 72 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 1: of preseason prep this week, and then we'll get into 73 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: our routine. So not any further, dude, let's get started. 74 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: Number three the Oklahoma City Thunder quick recap of their offseason. 75 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: They lost Josh Gitty, Gordon Hayward, and Mike Muscala. They 76 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: added Alex Cruso and Isaiah Hartenstein. Nicole a Topic their 77 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: first round pick, kind of like a shot creating guard. 78 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 1: I'm not sure how much he'll play this year, but 79 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 1: obviously added to the roster Crusoe and Hartenstein. Alex Crusoe 80 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: instantly gives Oklahoma City a perfect fitting five man lineup 81 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: for their Chet at center. Looks he's a much better 82 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 1: off ball offensive player than Josh Gitty was. Right. Josh 83 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: Kitty obviously is a very interesting on ball shot creator. 84 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 1: We're gonna find out a lot about him in Chicago 85 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: this year and what he can do getting better defenders 86 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 1: from the other teams, more of the game plan being 87 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: kind of centered around him. We're gonna learn more about 88 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:22,600 Speaker 1: Josh Kitty, but he wasn't necessarily the right fit for 89 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: this iteration of the Oklahoma City thunder Right. Alex Russeau 90 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 1: much better off ball offensive player, a better shooter. He's 91 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 1: shot thirty nine percent from three over his last four 92 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 1: seasons on about three attempts per game, and he's a 93 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: very active off ball screener and cutter. Those of you 94 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:43,559 Speaker 1: guys who watched our TIMPs tape segment on Friday, we'll 95 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:45,480 Speaker 1: remember some of the clips that I showed you guys 96 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 1: of just ways that Alex like always is moving. He's 97 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: always either like cutting into the dunker spot to make 98 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: himself available, or screening to get another shooter open, or 99 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:56,600 Speaker 1: relocating on the weak side to try to find an 100 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 1: opening for himself to get a catch and shoot shot. 101 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 1: He is just a very active and productive off ball 102 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 1: offensive players. Then on the other end of the floor, 103 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 1: he's one of the best perimeter defenders in all of basketball. 104 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: He's in that top tier of guys that you want 105 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: to put on opposing stars. He kind of fits into 106 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 1: this like new archetype that I actually like a little 107 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: bit more. I talked about this with Claire to Loon. 108 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 1: If you guys remember the other day when we were 109 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 1: discussing the Defensive Player of the Year stuff, and one 110 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 1: of the things that I was kind of venting about 111 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:31,479 Speaker 1: is like there's a lot of like there's there's a 112 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 1: lot of attention that goes to the lanky perimeter defenders. 113 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 1: Right these are the guys that are like six ' eight, 114 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 1: six ' nine, super long arms, and they're definitely is 115 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: advantage there. I'm not gonna sit here and pretend like 116 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: that's not an important type of defender, especially against like 117 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: pull up shooters, right, like guys that love to get 118 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 1: to their spots and shoot pull up jump shots over 119 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 1: the top. Length has real value. Length has real value 120 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,719 Speaker 1: off the ball, playing passing lanes, length has real value. 121 00:05:56,760 --> 00:06:01,480 Speaker 1: Covering ground in rotation, length has real value defensive rebounding, 122 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 1: but I've always been more drawn to like the bigger, stronger, 123 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: perhaps a little bit shorter types of perimeter athletes. One, 124 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:12,479 Speaker 1: they have the foot speed to still cover ground and 125 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: to still help in defensive rebounding situations, but they're more physical. 126 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: They're usually able to get away with more in terms 127 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 1: of officiating. And then when it comes to the best 128 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: players in the league, I tend to think most of 129 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: them are bothered more by physical ball pressure than they 130 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 1: are length in disruption using long arms, and so like, 131 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: we've seen this a lot in recent years, right like 132 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 1: the Bruce Brown archetype. Lou Dort is already kind of 133 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 1: doing this for Oklahoma City. Alex Cruso kind of fits 134 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:43,040 Speaker 1: into this mold Christian Brown with the Denver Nuggets, where 135 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 1: it's like six five six six, built like a truck, 136 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 1: can slide their feet and keep guys in front and 137 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 1: chest them up. And then in the more physical NBA 138 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 1: they've actually become a very valuable archetype, especially as the 139 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 1: league has kind of changed the way that they've officiated 140 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:02,559 Speaker 1: and let more of this type of contact go. Alex 141 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 1: Caruso fits that mold perfectly. He's gonna beat guys to spots. 142 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: He's gonna bring physicality, he's gonna force them to shoot 143 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: over the top, and he just brings that big, physical 144 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: perimeter athlete to the table. He's also just a super 145 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: smart defender within the team context. He understands game plan, 146 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 1: always does his job. Those are you guys who watched 147 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 1: the our film session last week will have remembered some 148 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: of these examples that I'm talking about. But he communicates 149 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: really well. He understands like defensive spacing, meaning like where 150 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: you want players in help side, like keeping Chet in 151 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: a low man position. He'll identify a switch and push 152 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 1: Chet down and make sure that he's in the right spot, 153 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: communicating coverages. He's just a massive connective piece, a leadership 154 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 1: piece within a defensive unit. I think he's one of 155 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: the best defensive players in the league. He's gonna help 156 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 1: the Thunder a lot. In addition, he just has an 157 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: incredibly high motor. He is consistently one of the best 158 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 1: plus minus guys in the league. I went over onto 159 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: cleaning the glass today and I just went back through 160 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 1: every single season of his career, every single team he's 161 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: ever been on in his entire NBA career has been 162 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 1: substantially better when he's on the floor versus when he's off. 163 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 1: The plus minus splits have been crazy. He is quite 164 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:14,679 Speaker 1: simply one of the very best role players in the NBA, 165 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 1: and it is a huge get for the Oklahoma City 166 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: Thunder Isaah Hartenstein. This is a rock solid, starting caliber 167 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: center On offense, He's a very good connective piece in 168 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 1: five out concepts. He's a great screener and seiler. As 169 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: he rolls to the rim, he seals rim protection away 170 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,560 Speaker 1: to create driving lanes. He makes quick decisions on the 171 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 1: ball as he's flowing from side to side in action 172 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 1: keeps the ball moving. He's great at making passing reads. 173 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 1: Like when you're playing in five out concepts, as the 174 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: big man is dribbling to one side, you usually have 175 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 1: like a pinned down into a screen or some sort 176 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: of like there's two perimetive players. One of them is 177 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: usually going to cut and one of them is usually 178 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: going to come off of that screen, and a lot 179 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: of times defenses will deny the ball or top lock 180 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: and it actually triggers those cuts. Right in those situations, 181 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: you need a big man who can consistently read and 182 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 1: make those passes. Hartenstein is very good at that sort 183 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: of thing. Those are he's good at beating the overplays 184 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: that you're gonna see, and then he has just enough 185 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:17,680 Speaker 1: scoring pop to keep the defense honest and to remain 186 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: a threat when he needs to score right like, he 187 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 1: can face up and give a really good, hard left 188 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 1: handed drive and get to the basket and finish. He's 189 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: got a good floater, like a little left handed floater 190 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: that he makes when he's finishing off of short roll 191 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: passes in pick and roll. And he's an excellent offensive rebounder. 192 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: These are ways that he can keep the defense honest 193 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:39,079 Speaker 1: when guys try to help off of him or overplay 194 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: what his teammates are doing. He is a rock solid 195 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 1: starting caliber center in this league. On defense, he's a 196 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: perfectly functional defensive center. He's not great at anything, but 197 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 1: he's pretty good at everything. He's a decent shot blocking 198 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 1: rim protector. He's a decent ball screen defender who gets 199 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 1: up to the level and is active with his hands. 200 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: He does have a tendency to commit fouls compared to 201 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 1: some of his peers at the center position, but he's 202 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 1: active with his hands. I'd rather be active with your 203 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 1: hands and commit more fouls than completely stand back with 204 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 1: your hands and just let dudes shoot open shots all 205 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 1: game long too. So again, he's not great at it, 206 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 1: but he's okay at it. He's decent on switches. He 207 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:16,439 Speaker 1: was really good statistically on switches in the regular season 208 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 1: last year, and only okay in the playoffs. But overall, 209 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: I think he's a fine switch defender. And then he's 210 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: a very good defensive rebounder. So these are all things 211 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: that make him into just a solid center, which in 212 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 1: the context of what Oklahoma City needs from him, is perfect. 213 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 1: He can anchor bench units, so like some of his 214 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: defensive limitations aren't as big of a deal because he's 215 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 1: anchoring bench units. And then when Chet is out there, 216 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: it gives okay see a big look. Puts Chet and 217 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: help and unlocks a whole other form of defense that 218 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:48,319 Speaker 1: they can get to that they wouldn't be able to 219 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: get to otherwise. What does that mean? Why is it 220 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 1: that Hartenstein can unlock more for Oklahoma City defensively because 221 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: it allows Chet to operate out of ball screens. Right, 222 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:01,559 Speaker 1: very simple way to put it. If Cheed is at 223 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 1: the five, he's probably going to be guarding fives. Chet 224 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 1: is guarding fives. They're going to bring fives into ball screens, 225 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 1: and his job is going to be to come up 226 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 1: to the level of the screen to handle the ball 227 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: handler coming downhill. Most teams now have to bring their 228 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 1: ball handler or their ball screen defender up a little 229 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,559 Speaker 1: bit more because so many perimeterive players in the NBA 230 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:23,719 Speaker 1: now are so good at coming over the top of 231 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 1: those screens and hitting shots like contested mid range shots, floaters, threes, 232 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 1: when guys die on screens, that sort of thing you like. 233 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 1: The guard play is just so good, especially in the 234 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: Western Conference. You gotta have guys that come up to 235 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: the level of the screen, right, And so if the 236 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:39,959 Speaker 1: big man has to come up to the level of 237 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: the screen, then he can't be in help. He's not 238 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: around the basket as much. Right. In a lot of cases, 239 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:47,199 Speaker 1: it forces you to defend the ball screen three round 240 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 1: two by bringing another defender over to handle the role 241 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 1: man as chet is up at the level and the 242 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 1: role man gets behind him, right, and that low man 243 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:58,439 Speaker 1: in a lot of situations for the Thunder in years past, 244 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 1: was a player that was either not particularly athletic like 245 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 1: Josh Gitty, or not particularly tall like the rest of 246 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,080 Speaker 1: the guys in the lineup, right, and that is just 247 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: a little bit difficult to work with as a defensive foundation. 248 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: Right when Hartenstein is on the floor, you can ask 249 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: him to defend the other team center, you can ask 250 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:21,560 Speaker 1: him to defend ball screens. This allows Chet to guard 251 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:25,520 Speaker 1: the weakest offensive player among the one through four spots, 252 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:29,199 Speaker 1: and then in most cases he can operate as a lowman. 253 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: What that means is when Hartenstein comes up to the 254 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:34,960 Speaker 1: level of the screen to guard the ball handler and 255 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 1: the screener gets behind him, Chet is the guy that's 256 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 1: on the backside. Very tall, very long, very athletic. He 257 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: can help on the role man while also having the 258 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 1: physical tools to be able to recover and guard that 259 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 1: corner shooter. Right. That is the dynamic we're talking about here. 260 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 1: This is what made Yannis one of the best defensive 261 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 1: players in the world. His ability to partner with Brook 262 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 1: Lopez as the hell defender, as the low man who 263 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: is not in the ball screen. That is a look 264 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 1: that Oklahoma City basically didn't have before this deal, and 265 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:12,079 Speaker 1: so it unlocks a lot in terms of defensive versatility 266 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:16,439 Speaker 1: for this Thunder team. So two massive role player upgrades 267 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: that specifically addressed the three biggest weaknesses that this Oklahoma 268 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 1: City roster had. The three biggest weaknesses were Josh Gitty 269 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: was a clunky fit with the starters, good player, just 270 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 1: kind of a bad fit teams regarding him with centers, 271 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: and sagging in the paint. It was an issue to 272 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 1: their frontline size. They were a horrific defensive rebounding team, 273 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:37,680 Speaker 1: and they were vulnerable to centers that could throw Chet 274 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 1: around because they were too big and strong for him. 275 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 1: And then three versatility, they just didn't have a ton 276 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 1: of flexibility to change the way they play on either 277 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 1: end of the floor. Crusoe and Hartenstein provide multiple answers 278 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 1: to all three of those issues, the Josh Gitty problem. 279 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: Now you have three different five man groups that all 280 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:59,439 Speaker 1: make perfect sense. Shay J. Dow Lou Dort, Crusoe, Chet, 281 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 1: shae jadab Cruso, Chet, Hartenstein, shae jadab Dort, Chet Hartenstein. 282 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,200 Speaker 1: All three of those five man groupings are substantially better 283 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: fits on both ends of the floor than what they 284 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 1: had to work with last year. Completely solves that problem 285 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: frontline size well. Hartenstein makes your front line substantially bigger, stronger, 286 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 1: and more physical. And gives you a two big look 287 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 1: just like fundamentally alters the physical profile of the team. 288 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: And then lastly, now you have all sorts of versatility 289 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 1: on both ends of the floor, Cruso gives you optionality 290 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: for guarding opposing stars. Like Cruso's a little bit quicker, 291 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 1: Dort is a little bit stronger, right, So like now 292 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 1: you can kind of tinker with who they guard based 293 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: on what actually suits their defensive skill sets. Not to 294 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: mention you now had Originally you had Lou Dort, let's 295 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: call it thirty five to forty minutes a night of 296 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 1: top tier perimeter defense, and then you had other good 297 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: perimeter defenders on the team, but not like top tier guys. 298 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: Now you have forty eight minutes to top tier perimeter 299 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:58,239 Speaker 1: defense held more than forty eight minutes. If Lou plays around, 300 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: you know, thirty thirty five minutes and so plays twenty 301 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 1: five ish minutes a game, you're looking at fifty five 302 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: ish minutes of top tier perimeter defense that you're able 303 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: to deploy over the course of a game. That's a 304 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: real asset. Isaiah Hartenstein unlocks several different styles on both 305 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: ends of the floor. On offense, there are five out 306 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 1: concepts you can run now that Hartenstein was better at. 307 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: Like Hartenstein, Chet's a better basketball player than Hartenstein. No 308 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: one's arguing that, But Hartenstein he's a better screener, he's 309 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: a better passers. He's just a little bit more used 310 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 1: to playing that like five out kind of folkrum on 311 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: the offensive end of the floor. And so he unlocks 312 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 1: some stuff in the five out concepts that Chet wasn't 313 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: able to do. Chet able to run action. Now you're 314 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: gonna have to guard Chet with certain types of players 315 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: that can deal with his tools. Those types of players 316 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: tend to struggle to navigate screens. Now you can have 317 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 1: Chet operating in screening action with the ball in his hands. 318 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: We saw an example of that in preseason where he 319 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: got a dunk out of it, right, So, like that's 320 00:15:57,160 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 1: a concept that you can get into Hartenstein high low come. 321 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: We saw examples of passers at the top of the 322 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 1: key and Chet and Isaiah Hartenstein screening for each other 323 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 1: underneath the basket to try to create advantage situations. Those 324 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 1: are looks that they didn't have in years past. Isaiah 325 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 1: is a professional big man. Chet is more of a 326 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: primitive player that can do big man's stuff. Hartenstein unlocks 327 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: some of the stuff that Chet's not particularly good at. 328 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: He gives him a bunch more scheme versatility. And then 329 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 1: on defense, as we talked about the two big look, 330 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: that's something that they might absolutely need for certain matchups. 331 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: Right teams like the Lakers, teams like the Denver Nuggets, 332 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 1: teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, teams with a lot of 333 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: physical power on that frontline, they're gonna need bigger looks. 334 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: That's something they can go against. Right bully ball centers 335 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:45,720 Speaker 1: Nikole Jokic, Usuf Nurkic, Demonis Sabonis, even ad to a 336 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: certain extent, these are guys that Hartenstein is a better 337 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 1: look for than Chet is. And so there's just so 338 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 1: much more versatility and malleyability with this team on both 339 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: ends of the floor. With the signings of Caruso or 340 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 1: the trade for Cruso and the signing of Isaiah Hartenstein. 341 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 1: Other things to watch with the Thunder this year. One 342 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 1: hunting more threes. The Thunder were number one in three 343 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: point percentage last year, but they were twentieth and three 344 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 1: point attempts per one hundred possessions. They were top ten 345 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:15,119 Speaker 1: in mid range volume they took eleven mid range shots 346 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 1: per game. So far in preseason, they've only taken eight 347 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: mid range shots per game, and they are sixth in 348 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 1: three point attempts per one hundred possessions so far among 349 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:27,399 Speaker 1: preseason teams. So like, they have clearly been trying to 350 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:30,160 Speaker 1: shift their shot profile a little bit. Shay and Jalen 351 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: Williams in particular looks like they're looking to take more 352 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 1: pull up threes off the dribble, and again, the pull 353 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: up twos are important. Those are big playoff shots. Those 354 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 1: are shots that you can get to consistently. They're coverage beaters. 355 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 1: We've seen Shay, even just in last year's playoff run, 356 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:45,879 Speaker 1: be able to lean on that skill in big moments 357 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: to generate offense. No one's saying stop taking mid range 358 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:51,160 Speaker 1: shots altogether, but if you can take it from eleven 359 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:54,400 Speaker 1: to eight and you turn those three into three point 360 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: shots or high quality grim attempts, that is an improvement 361 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 1: in your overall shot profile. And I think that that's 362 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 1: something we can keep an eye on. Specifically, Shay and 363 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 1: j Dubb looking for more pull up threes driving kick 364 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: decisions is something I want to keep an eye on 365 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 1: this year. The Thunder offense was not great in the postseason. 366 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:14,200 Speaker 1: They had just a one to ten point nine offensive 367 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: rating wasn't good in either round as it worse against 368 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 1: the Pelicans, was only one twelve against Dallas and down 369 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: substantially from where their regular season efficiency was. It actually 370 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:25,400 Speaker 1: reminds me of some of the stuff that we saw 371 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: from Boston in years past, where like they need to 372 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: get better at being more deliberate about passing up okay 373 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:35,679 Speaker 1: shots or good like ok ish shots early in the 374 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:38,880 Speaker 1: clock to try to find better shots and then lean 375 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:41,440 Speaker 1: more on the tougher shots in late clock situations when 376 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:44,679 Speaker 1: you have to rim decisions. Was a big issue in 377 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 1: the Dallas series, where guys would beat guys off the 378 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:49,479 Speaker 1: dribble and then try to go make some sort of 379 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 1: crazy contested finish in traffic when there were kickout reads 380 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:56,120 Speaker 1: that were available. Again, but there's a level that Boston 381 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:58,680 Speaker 1: got to last year in addition to their talent, where 382 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,879 Speaker 1: they got super deliberate about they're spacing and super deliberate 383 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: about their process. Let's beat somebody off the dribble, Let's 384 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 1: make a couple kickout reads, Let's get the ball driving 385 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:09,679 Speaker 1: and kicking and see if we can't get great shots 386 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 1: out of it. That made them more resilient as an offense, right. 387 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: I want to see some of that from Oklahoma City, 388 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 1: just getting a little bit more deliberate about chasing great shots. 389 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:22,360 Speaker 1: Chet's perimeter skill development. Two big lineups with Isaiah Harten 390 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 1: sign on the floor will put more stress on Chet's 391 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 1: ability to shoot, dribble or pass. In the playoffs, he 392 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 1: shot twenty six percent from three and had nineteen turnovers 393 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 1: to twenty one. As says he was a rookie. Not 394 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 1: trying to overreact to that, but his development in those 395 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:39,760 Speaker 1: areas will be an important factor in their ability to 396 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 1: actually go to two big looks when it matters, because 397 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:44,719 Speaker 1: if they go too big but they feel like they 398 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 1: can guard Chet, the opponents feel like they can guard 399 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,159 Speaker 1: Sheet relatively easily because he hasn't developed enough on the 400 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 1: skill front, then it kind of defeats the purpose if 401 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: you just suddenly can't score the basketball, right and as 402 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:57,719 Speaker 1: we saw, the Thunder offense did a bog down at 403 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 1: stretches in the playoffs last year. Keep an eye on 404 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: Chets perimeter skill development, and then lastly, what kind of 405 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:05,320 Speaker 1: leap are we gonna get out of j Dub this 406 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 1: year as a rookie, he had fourteen points per game 407 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:11,880 Speaker 1: on sixty percent true shooting. Last year, nineteen points per 408 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 1: game on sixty two percent true shooting in his second year, 409 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 1: and then nineteen points per game on fifty four percent 410 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 1: tru shooting in the playoffs. Where's he gonna get to 411 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:22,200 Speaker 1: this year? Is he gonna get up to twenty two 412 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 1: points a game? He's gonna get up to twenty four 413 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 1: points per game? Is he gonna make an All Star team? 414 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: Is he gonna make Is he gonna be in consideration 415 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: for All NBA at the tail end of the year. 416 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:33,680 Speaker 1: Probably not, But like, how how much of a development 417 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:35,640 Speaker 1: are we gonna get out of j Dub this year? 418 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 1: How much closer is he going to get to the 419 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: idealized version of himself. That's a big variable in how 420 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:44,680 Speaker 1: things turn out for the Thunder this year, because here's 421 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 1: the thing. When push comes to shove, he is the 422 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 1: number two option on a Bona FID Championship contender. A 423 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 1: lot of big moments this year, a lot of big stretches, 424 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:58,400 Speaker 1: a lot of big possessions are gonna rest in Jadubb's hands. 425 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:00,919 Speaker 1: So his development will be a big swing factor for 426 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 1: this team. In summary, on Oka see, I think this 427 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: is a total ass kicker of a regular season team. 428 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 1: They have six starting caliber players in a bunch of 429 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 1: different configurations. They have a deep bench of athletic young 430 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 1: players who all play on both ends of the floor 431 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:17,400 Speaker 1: pretty well. They have a bona fide MVP candidate leading 432 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,199 Speaker 1: the way in Shag Gildes. Alexander All goes far to 433 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 1: say I would be shocked if they weren't the number 434 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:24,440 Speaker 1: one seed in the West. Like I think they're gonna 435 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: be the number one seed. I wouldn't be surprised if 436 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:28,199 Speaker 1: they had a three to four game advantage over the 437 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:30,359 Speaker 1: rest of the field. As far as the playoffs go, 438 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:32,640 Speaker 1: they should feel internally like they have a good shot 439 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 1: to beat anybody out West. Now that they have this 440 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:38,400 Speaker 1: big look, the two big look, it gives them much 441 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:41,000 Speaker 1: more to deal with teams like Denver or Minnesota or 442 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:44,199 Speaker 1: the Lakers. They came extremely close to beating Dallas last year, 443 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 1: and they're more well equipped to beat them now. They 444 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: got another big, strong defender to throw at Luca. They 445 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:52,160 Speaker 1: got demolished on the glass in that series. Dallas rebounded 446 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:55,160 Speaker 1: a third of their own misses in that second round series. 447 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:57,439 Speaker 1: You can imagine how much Hartenstein could help with that. Like, 448 00:21:57,480 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 1: I think I would pick Oklahoma City to beat Dallas 449 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 1: they were to play again this year. They match up 450 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 1: super well with teams that have perimeter speed, like teams 451 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 1: like Golden State and Sacramento rely on like quick guards 452 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 1: to generate offense. Oklahoma City's bigger and faster on the 453 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: perimeter than those teams. They're built perfectly for that. They 454 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 1: have length for pull up shooting teams like Phoenix or 455 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 1: New Orleans that They're just built really well. I think 456 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:22,400 Speaker 1: they are a rock solid championship contender. I think they 457 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 1: have as good a chance to win the title as 458 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:27,399 Speaker 1: anybody in the league, aside from maybe Boston, and you 459 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:30,480 Speaker 1: could argue they have the best set of tools to 460 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: deal with Boston as well should they meet in the finals. 461 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 1: So I'm super interested to see where they can get to. 462 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,120 Speaker 1: I'm super excited to cover them closely this year. I've 463 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:40,680 Speaker 1: always been fascinated by the idea of scar tissue, too, 464 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 1: like how a team responds to a disappointing playoff loss, 465 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:46,680 Speaker 1: Like I mean, they had a lead in Game six 466 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:48,720 Speaker 1: that they could have had a Game seven at home 467 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 1: if they get a stop on that final possession. How 468 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:54,399 Speaker 1: much did that hurt those guys? How much is that 469 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,840 Speaker 1: scarring those guys emotionally in the way that they play, 470 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:00,160 Speaker 1: so that when they get out their next time, there's 471 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:04,159 Speaker 1: another layer of desperation and intensity that reflects in the 472 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:06,119 Speaker 1: way that they play like that. That's something I'm just 473 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 1: really curious to see and I to keep an eye 474 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 1: on this year and just how they look heading into 475 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:30,720 Speaker 1: this opportunity where there's some real pressure, all right. Number 476 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 1: two the Denver Nuggets quick off season recap. They lost 477 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:36,360 Speaker 1: in Pavis called Well Pope, Justin Holliday, and Reggie Jackson. 478 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 1: They added dal Ron Holmes. He's a backup center who 479 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 1: got hurt. He'll be out for the season, but a 480 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 1: backup center that I think is fascinating. I'm curious to 481 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:44,720 Speaker 1: see how he turns out in the long run. Dario 482 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: Sarch and Russell Westbrook on the Russell Westbrook front, I've 483 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:50,920 Speaker 1: talked about him extensively this preseason, and I'm not gonna 484 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: talk about him too much more. He's just a more 485 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:57,159 Speaker 1: volatile version of Reggie Jackson. He'll have higher highs and 486 00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 1: he'll have lower lows. That's just the Russell Westbrook experience. 487 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna talk very much about Russ this year. 488 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 1: Nobody can handle it. He's the biggest roarshacked test in 489 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:09,360 Speaker 1: the NBA. You either see it or you don't. I'm 490 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 1: not gonna get into those arguments with people. It's just 491 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 1: not a big enough deal too. I don't think Russ 492 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:17,679 Speaker 1: is gonna make that big of a difference for this 493 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 1: team either way, because they're not going to be closing 494 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:22,679 Speaker 1: games or going down in the playoffs with him on 495 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 1: the floor, and in all likelihood he's a backup guard. 496 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 1: But I just view him as a more volatile version 497 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:30,879 Speaker 1: of Reggie Jackson. If you're interested in more of a 498 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:33,560 Speaker 1: breakdown of Russ, just go back to my breakdown of 499 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 1: the Boston Celtics Denver Nuggets game from the first game 500 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 1: of preseason. Darios rich good backup center option. One of 501 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:41,840 Speaker 1: the things that I've always found interesting with Denver is 502 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:46,640 Speaker 1: their bench units. Most teams defend Denver bench units by switching, 503 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 1: so it kind of turns into Jamal Murray or Aaron 504 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:54,119 Speaker 1: Gordon match up hunting. Dario Sarich gives them another option 505 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:58,240 Speaker 1: to help hunt matchups in those situations. He personally shot 506 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:00,439 Speaker 1: fifty seven percent out of the post Lie year with 507 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:04,360 Speaker 1: Golden State was really good in post up situations, including passes. 508 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:08,800 Speaker 1: It just gives him another option to, you know, send 509 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 1: him up to run a ball scream with Jamal Murray 510 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:12,879 Speaker 1: that probably is going to lead to a switch, at 511 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:15,200 Speaker 1: which point Jamal doesn't have to just attack the big 512 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 1: on the switch, he can also dump it into Dario 513 00:25:17,119 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 1: Sarge and Darius Sarge can go to work in the post. 514 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 1: Hopefully that generates more rotation situations for them. Denver's bench 515 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:25,720 Speaker 1: has been bad even when they won the title, So like, 516 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:29,120 Speaker 1: there's not really they have nowhere to go but up 517 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 1: on that and on that side of things, and so like, 518 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:35,679 Speaker 1: it just kind of gives it a lot more margin 519 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 1: fair because they're already they've already been so bad on 520 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:41,680 Speaker 1: the bench. Christian Brown moving into the starting lineup, he's 521 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:45,400 Speaker 1: not the offensive player that KCP is. He was four 522 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:47,760 Speaker 1: for nineteen on jump shots in the playoffs. He's one 523 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:51,800 Speaker 1: for eight so far in preseason on jump shots. Most importantly, 524 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 1: the teams aren't guarding him out there when he catch 525 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:55,920 Speaker 1: in preseason, when he's coming off with the starters and 526 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 1: getting dribble handoffs, guys are going underneath the pick and 527 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:01,479 Speaker 1: just basically can seating the shot to him. So he's 528 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:03,920 Speaker 1: gonna need to eventually hit shots more consistently, especially in 529 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 1: terms of just the overall spacing, but he can be 530 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:09,239 Speaker 1: helpful in other ways. He's a big, strong athlete, right 531 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 1: so off ball screening, cutting corner crashes, he's the getting 532 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,239 Speaker 1: offensive rebounds just by being a better athlete running out 533 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:18,760 Speaker 1: of the corner, transition pushes, just kind of hitting the 534 00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 1: jets in transition when he sees angles. There are ways 535 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 1: for him to compensate for the KCP offensive gap, but 536 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:30,439 Speaker 1: he is a legitimate size and athleticism upgrade over KCP, 537 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:33,040 Speaker 1: and I think Christian Brown is overall a better and 538 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:35,280 Speaker 1: more versatile defender. One of the big things I've been 539 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 1: talking a lot about over the course of the summer 540 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:39,719 Speaker 1: is the concept of keeping Aaron Gordon in help. One 541 00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:42,159 Speaker 1: of the issues that Denver has had, especially in the 542 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:44,600 Speaker 1: Western Conference that has all these star forwards, right Like 543 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:47,800 Speaker 1: in the Western Conference, it's like here comes Lebron, you know, 544 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:51,200 Speaker 1: in years past, here comes Kawhi, here comes Kevin Durant. 545 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:54,600 Speaker 1: You know, it's just it's big star forward after big 546 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:57,520 Speaker 1: star forward, and so the option that Denver had in 547 00:26:57,520 --> 00:26:59,920 Speaker 1: those cases was to put Aaron Gordon on him because 548 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:02,640 Speaker 1: KCP just wasn't big and strong enough to guard those 549 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:04,880 Speaker 1: kinds of forwards. And as soon as you put Aaron 550 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: Gordon on a perimeter defender that is generating shots now 551 00:27:08,359 --> 00:27:12,440 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, if the defense skews that way 552 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 1: and you end up in rotation, now on the backside, 553 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 1: you don't have six ' ten Aaron Gordon and help 554 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: you have him on the ball, and so your help 555 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 1: side defense just becomes smaller, less athletic, less impactful. By 556 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:27,560 Speaker 1: virtue of Christian Brown being bigger and stronger than KCP 557 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:30,119 Speaker 1: and he is big and strong enough to guard forwards, 558 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:33,639 Speaker 1: that allows you to keep Aaron Gordon and help more frequently, 559 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:35,640 Speaker 1: which will help your defensive rebounding and help your help 560 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:37,960 Speaker 1: side defense and just in general make you bigger and 561 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:40,679 Speaker 1: more athletic a lot. There's a trade off going from 562 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:42,800 Speaker 1: KCP to Christian Brown. I think ACP is a better 563 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: player than Christian Brown at this point in his career, 564 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:47,639 Speaker 1: but that gap is smaller than I think people think, 565 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 1: and I don't think Christian Brown going into the starting 566 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:53,080 Speaker 1: lineup is that much of a downgrade. They definitely need 567 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:54,560 Speaker 1: some of these young guys to pop in terms of 568 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 1: just their depth for the regular season. Like Julian Strawther, 569 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:58,920 Speaker 1: he's been shooting the ball well in preseason, how well 570 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:00,560 Speaker 1: is he gonna play this year? Peyton Watson, he's been 571 00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:03,080 Speaker 1: dealing with the hamstring injury. Young guys popping will go 572 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 1: a long way towards helping them in the regular season. 573 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:09,280 Speaker 1: But there's no question that this Denver team is a 574 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 1: lot younger and not as deep as they were when 575 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:14,720 Speaker 1: they won the title. We can like hope for a 576 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 1: certain amount of development in progress, but there's really only 577 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:21,439 Speaker 1: one surefire way that Denver can maintain their high ceiling 578 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:25,000 Speaker 1: in this phase of their timeline. In terms of roster building, 579 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:27,879 Speaker 1: Yokich and Murray have to get back to what they 580 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:31,200 Speaker 1: were in twenty twenty three. Both guys declined last year. 581 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 1: Jokicch wasn't as good defensively in twenty twenty four as 582 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:36,560 Speaker 1: he was in twenty twenty three, and he completely lost 583 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 1: the ability to shoot the basketball relative to where he 584 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:42,560 Speaker 1: was a Yokics jump shot in the playoffs last year. 585 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 1: Each single jump shot was worth zero point three to 586 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 1: eight points less per shot than it was worth in 587 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:55,640 Speaker 1: the title year. Think about that, four tenths of a 588 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 1: point per shot worse than what it was when they 589 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:01,719 Speaker 1: won the title, and it became a massive problem, especially 590 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 1: in the Minnesota series, where like he started popping in 591 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:06,960 Speaker 1: ball screens and Minnesota was like, go ahead, shoot it 592 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:08,800 Speaker 1: out there, We're not worried about it. And again that 593 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 1: was a huge part of their offense in the title run. 594 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:14,200 Speaker 1: Yokitch made thirty five threes in the title run and 595 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 1: that doesn't even factor in the fact that he was 596 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:19,520 Speaker 1: driving closeouts in those situations as guys were chasing him 597 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:22,160 Speaker 1: off the line. One more stat to drive this home. 598 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:26,960 Speaker 1: In twenty twenty three, Jo Kich rolls which includes pops, 599 00:29:27,680 --> 00:29:31,719 Speaker 1: We're worth one point two six points per possession in 600 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:35,240 Speaker 1: this last playoff run one point zero seven, so two 601 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:39,800 Speaker 1: tenths of a point worse. Converting role possessions spot up 602 00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:43,480 Speaker 1: possessions in the title year one point one six last 603 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 1: year in the playoffs one point zero zero, so point 604 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 1: one six points per possession worse. Yo Kich with a 605 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 1: deadly jump shot is by far the best player in 606 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:58,000 Speaker 1: the NBA. Yo Kitch with a broken jump shot is 607 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:00,920 Speaker 1: the best player in the NBA, but by a slim margin, 608 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:03,520 Speaker 1: Like in my opinion, I haven't met number one, but 609 00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 1: I think Luca's right there. When you'll get to shooting 610 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 1: forty five percent from three, no one can mess with him. 611 00:30:10,480 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 1: He's just better than everybody by a wide margin. That's 612 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 1: the difference. And then lastly, obviously that defense and conditioning piece, 613 00:30:17,120 --> 00:30:18,960 Speaker 1: where it's like, looks like he ran out of gas 614 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:20,720 Speaker 1: a little bit in the last year's playoffs and guys 615 00:30:20,760 --> 00:30:22,240 Speaker 1: were just starting to beat him to the basket, beat 616 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:24,480 Speaker 1: him offensive rebounds, and some of that was He's just 617 00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:26,320 Speaker 1: played a ton of basketball over the course the last 618 00:30:26,360 --> 00:30:29,560 Speaker 1: couple of years, right, But like him getting back to 619 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:31,640 Speaker 1: defensively where he was in twenty twenty three and as 620 00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:34,400 Speaker 1: a shooter where he was in twenty twenty three, that's 621 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:37,600 Speaker 1: a massive influx of talent to this roster and their 622 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,480 Speaker 1: ability to win games. Jamal Murray will keep it real simple. 623 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 1: In the twenty twenty three playoffs, he averaged twenty six 624 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:44,960 Speaker 1: points on fifty nine percent true shooting. In the twenty 625 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:48,280 Speaker 1: twenty four playoffs, he averaged twenty one points on forty 626 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 1: seven percent true shooting. Yes, he heard his calf, but 627 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:54,520 Speaker 1: he was already struggling before that happened. The two game 628 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:57,480 Speaker 1: winners against the Lakers salvaged what was a pretty bad 629 00:30:57,520 --> 00:30:59,880 Speaker 1: playoff run for him. He had more shot at ten 630 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:04,120 Speaker 1: then points in this playoff runt. So like, if he 631 00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 1: can get back in shape, if he can get healthy 632 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:09,400 Speaker 1: and get back to that level, that goes a long 633 00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:13,280 Speaker 1: way towards buying them margin for air. So kind of 634 00:31:13,320 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 1: in synopsis here, everyone seems ready to give up on 635 00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:20,680 Speaker 1: the Denver Nuggets. I saw another anonymous executive quote the 636 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:23,280 Speaker 1: other day about how the Nuggets are stuck and overrated 637 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:25,400 Speaker 1: because Michael Porter Junior is a one way player and 638 00:31:25,480 --> 00:31:28,440 Speaker 1: Jamal Murray's on the decline and all this kind of stuff. 639 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:31,160 Speaker 1: I obviously still have them as my second best team 640 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:34,320 Speaker 1: in the entire league. So why am I still so 641 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:36,840 Speaker 1: high on the Denver Nuggets. I'm gonna put it in 642 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:39,880 Speaker 1: a very simple way to start. In twenty twenty three, 643 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:42,280 Speaker 1: when Yokich and Murray were at the top of their games, 644 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:47,080 Speaker 1: they demolished everyone. They played good teams loaded with stars 645 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 1: in every round, and they weren't even remotely threatened on 646 00:31:50,600 --> 00:31:53,000 Speaker 1: their way to getting the trophy. In twenty twenty four. 647 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:56,360 Speaker 1: Everything went wrong right. They lost depth, they lost Bruce Brown, 648 00:31:56,360 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 1: they lost Jeff Green. Jokic declined to a certain extent, 649 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 1: Jamal Murray declined to a certain extent. A bunch of 650 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:05,440 Speaker 1: stuff went south for them, and they were still up 651 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 1: by twenty in the second half of Game seven with 652 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:09,320 Speaker 1: a trip to the Western Conference Finals on the line. 653 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:11,760 Speaker 1: And if they would have gotten to the Western Conference Finals, 654 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:13,840 Speaker 1: I would have picked them to be Dallas. They certainly 655 00:32:13,880 --> 00:32:16,600 Speaker 1: would have been favored in Vegas. Dallas doesn't have the 656 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:18,920 Speaker 1: front line to deal with Jokic the way that Minnesota 657 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:21,240 Speaker 1: did in terms of like big strong athletes on the 658 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:24,400 Speaker 1: front line that can bang with him, like Denver would 659 00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:27,240 Speaker 1: have been favored. Maybe Dallas wins, who knows, but Denver 660 00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:29,920 Speaker 1: would have been favored. So, even with everything going south, 661 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:33,960 Speaker 1: they were this close to being favored in the conference 662 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:38,280 Speaker 1: finals to go to the NBA Finals. So, like, think 663 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:42,000 Speaker 1: about how high that is as a floor. The team 664 00:32:42,080 --> 00:32:44,600 Speaker 1: was worse by almost every measure, and they were basically 665 00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:47,840 Speaker 1: one bad run, a few minutes of bad basketball away 666 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:50,360 Speaker 1: from being favored to go to the finals. That was 667 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:53,560 Speaker 1: so much going wrong. Why is their floor that high? 668 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:55,960 Speaker 1: Because they have the best player in the world by 669 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:58,280 Speaker 1: some margin depending on how well he shoots the jump shot, 670 00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:01,320 Speaker 1: and they have a perfectly compliment and starting five Aaron 671 00:33:01,360 --> 00:33:02,960 Speaker 1: Gordon is still one of the best four men in 672 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:05,120 Speaker 1: the league. Michael Porter Junior is still one of the 673 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:08,480 Speaker 1: very best weak side spacers in the league who's also 674 00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:11,120 Speaker 1: a good health defender and a good defensive rebounder. Jamal 675 00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:14,040 Speaker 1: Murray still makes for a devastating two man game with 676 00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:18,360 Speaker 1: then Kol Jokich. It's a rock solid foundation and so 677 00:33:18,520 --> 00:33:22,320 Speaker 1: if Jokich and Murray can return to form, they can 678 00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:26,200 Speaker 1: just be that much better. People are wishing and hoping 679 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:28,440 Speaker 1: on the downfall of the Denver Nuggets, and I'm not 680 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:32,400 Speaker 1: there yet. They accomplished too much last year for so 681 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:35,000 Speaker 1: much going wrong, and I think a lot more is 682 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:37,080 Speaker 1: going to go right this season. They are my pick 683 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:39,760 Speaker 1: to win the Western Conference this year. All right, guys, 684 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:42,360 Speaker 1: that's all I have for today. We'll be back tomorrow 685 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:44,880 Speaker 1: with some preseason reaction, getting to some of the teams 686 00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:47,280 Speaker 1: we haven't hit yet. As always, I sincerely appreciate you 687 00:33:47,320 --> 00:33:49,160 Speaker 1: guys for supporting the show and I will see you 688 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:55,200 Speaker 1: then the volume. What's so, guys? As always, I appreciate 689 00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:58,000 Speaker 1: you for listening to and supporting OOPS tonight. It would 690 00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:00,000 Speaker 1: actually be really helpful for us if you guys would 691 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:02,960 Speaker 1: take a second and leave a rating and a review. 692 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:04,800 Speaker 1: As always, I appreciate you guys supporting us, but if 693 00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:06,840 Speaker 1: you could take a minute to do that, I'd really 694 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:07,600 Speaker 1: appreciate it.