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Bonus bets expire one hundred and 29 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,119 Speaker 1: sixty eight hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible 30 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: gaming resources, see DKG dot co slash audio. All right, 31 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: welcome to hoops tonight. You're at the volume heavy Wednesday, everybody. 32 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: If all of you guys are having a great week, 33 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: it is good to be back. Felt could to get 34 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: some skiing in the northern Arizona. Here's the plan for 35 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: the rest of this week. Obviously I missed a bunch 36 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: of basketball over the course of the weekend. It's going 37 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: to take me about a day to get caught up. 38 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: But I wanted to get something out quickly, so this 39 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: morning I'm just gonna do a short show. We're going 40 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 1: to talk Celtics Thunder off the top of big deep 41 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: dive into Celtics Thunder, and then I'm gonna talk a 42 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: little bit about Mavericks Lakers from last night and this 43 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: oh and to Lakers road trip. That's all we're doing 44 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: in this morning's episode. As soon as I'm done, though, 45 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 1: I'm gonna start diving back into film. We're gonna have 46 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: a bunch of stuff coming out throughout the rest of 47 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: the week, including tomorrow. We got just a ridiculous game 48 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder to 49 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: get into that one's gonna be a lot of fun. 50 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: We also have a mail bag leader this week. Lots 51 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: of content we're gonna get into, but just in this 52 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 1: show today Celtics Thunder and Lakers maps. You guys know 53 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: the joke before we get started. Subscribe to Oops to 54 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:24,959 Speaker 1: Night YouTube channel so we don't miss any more of 55 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: our videos. Follow me on Twitter at underscore JCNLTS. You 56 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: guys don't ma show announcement. Still, forget about a podcast 57 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: feed Wherever you get your podcast under Hoops Tonight. It's 58 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: also helpful if you leave a rating and a review 59 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: on that front. We also have new social media feeds 60 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook where we're releasing content throughout 61 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:39,079 Speaker 1: the year. Make sure you guys follow us there and 62 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: the last night at least keep dropping mail bag questions. 63 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: We're gonna have a mail bag that's gonna come out 64 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 1: on either Friday or Saturday this week, so make sure 65 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: you drop those questions in the comments. All right, let's 66 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: talk some basketball. So it's always fun watching two really 67 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 1: damn good basketball teams because it's fun to watch teams 68 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: that consistently do all the things that good basketball teams do, 69 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,239 Speaker 1: meaning they don't just real on their talent. You know, 70 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: I think it's important for us to differentiate between super 71 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: talented and super talented and plays good basketball. There are 72 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 1: a lot of really talented teams in the league. I 73 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: do think Boston is the most talented roster in the league, 74 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:13,359 Speaker 1: but I also thought they were the most talented roster 75 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: in the league in twenty twenty two. They just weren't 76 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: playing as good a brand of basketball. There was growth 77 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: that occurred between then and now. It's too simple to 78 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: just say, oh, they're that talented. It's an important thing 79 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:27,079 Speaker 1: to bring up. They are the most talented team in 80 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: the league, but they also play one of the best 81 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:31,959 Speaker 1: brands of basketball that we see around the league. And 82 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 1: same goes for Okay. See, they don't just rely on 83 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: their talent. They hunt every single possible advantage, every single 84 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: possible margin that will help them win basketball games. Just 85 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: a couple examples to list, like pushing in transition off 86 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: of makes That's an important thing that all good teams do, 87 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: and it works, especially when they're cross matches, which is 88 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: something that's happening in this game, right Like if Hartenstein's 89 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: guarding Porzingis on offense, but Porzingis is guarding case on 90 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: Wallace on defense, there's a cross match there, right, Like 91 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: if guys are guarding different guys the opposite ends of 92 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: the floor when the ball transitions, meaning like when there's 93 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: a miss or when there's a steal, there is a 94 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 1: moment where the guy that you're supposed to be guarding 95 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: is far away, and so pushing in transition you can 96 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: get a lot of cross matches. You can get initial 97 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: advantages when a team just isn't back and you can 98 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: maybe get them in rotation. Sometimes you'll get a complete 99 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: breakdown and get a layup or dunk. There were several 100 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: at the beginning of this game where both the Celtics 101 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 1: and the Thunder were getting like dunks and easy shots 102 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: in transition just by pushing off of makes. That's something 103 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: that good teams do. You should you should push on 104 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,599 Speaker 1: a make because the entire purpose of why we run 105 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 1: offense is to get an advantage. And if you can 106 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: get an advantage without having to run offense, then by 107 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,479 Speaker 1: all means you should look to do that right. Generating 108 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: advantages with basic fundamentals in the half court, So like 109 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: quick moves off the catch, Derek White catching in the 110 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,919 Speaker 1: corner even though he's guarded, but just quickly ripping baseline 111 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: and beating his man off the dribble suddenly Drew Holliday's 112 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 1: going to wide open three at the top of the 113 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 1: key right, or case On Wallace did something similar to 114 00:04:57,240 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum caught in the wing, just quickly racked to 115 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:01,600 Speaker 1: the right, I got in the lane and made like 116 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: that lefty scoop shot that he made in the lane. 117 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 1: Those are things that good basketball teams do, Like, Okay, 118 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 1: nothing's open right now, somebody's got to create an advantage. 119 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: When I catch, I'm ripping and I'm going to see 120 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: if I can beat this dude off the dribble and 121 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 1: maybe make something good happen off ball player movement Again, 122 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 1: for both teams, guys are constantly cutting and relocating around 123 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: the three point line, crashing the offensive glass out of 124 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 1: the corner to get additional possessions ball pressure, Like, how 125 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: often in that second half, in particular, do you see 126 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 1: the Celtics end up in like a late clock situation 127 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: where they haven't run anything just because okay See's pressuring 128 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 1: the ball and not letting them get the ball up 129 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 1: the floor quickly. It's always fun watching two great basketball 130 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:40,479 Speaker 1: teams go at it, and I really enjoyed watching the 131 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 1: film and this one. I thought the story of the game, though, 132 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: was okay C's ability to contain the basketball in the 133 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 1: second half compared to the first half. I'll talk about 134 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: containing the basketball a lot in the NBA because it's 135 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,840 Speaker 1: a concept that reminds me of lying play in the NFL. 136 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: It's the push and pull that determines most possessions. Whether 137 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:00,919 Speaker 1: you can run the ball has everything to do with 138 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: whether or not your line can get a push. Whether 139 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 1: or not you can throw the ball has a lot 140 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 1: to do with your ability to protect the quarterback long 141 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 1: enough for receivers to get open so that you can 142 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 1: make a throw down the field, right, Like I just 143 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 1: the reason why I always fall back on this example 144 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 1: is like I was a Dallas Cowboys fan growing up. 145 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 1: All my families from the Dallas Fort Worth area, and 146 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: like I rooted for that team in the mid twenty 147 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: tens where it was like we were just running all 148 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 1: over everybody and the game was just easy. We could 149 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 1: go on the road to Green Bay, on the road 150 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: to Pittsburgh and we could just run the ball down 151 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 1: everyone's throat and it didn't matter, you know what advantages 152 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 1: the other team had because we just could control the 153 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 1: line of scrimmage. And then recent years it's the exact opposite, right, 154 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: Like guys get hurt, guys retire all of a sudden. 155 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: Tyron Smith, who was like the foundation of that line, 156 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 1: is like just getting beat by quicker players, you know, 157 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:51,840 Speaker 1: and it just all of a sudden things start to 158 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:53,839 Speaker 1: break down. They don't look as good's. It is the 159 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: push and pull that determines most possessions in football, and 160 00:06:56,839 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 1: the same thing goes for basketball. Like if you are 161 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: giving up straight line drives and guys are hard helping, 162 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: and you're existing in rotation, and every player is playing 163 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: with an advantage, the game looks really easy. But if 164 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 1: you're containing the ball and you're not allowing dribble penetration, 165 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: and you're not allowing and you're not getting into situations 166 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: where you have to hard help, and you're not existing 167 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: in rotation, and guys are constantly playing with a guy 168 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: in front of them instead of a guy closing out 169 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 1: at them, the entire situation can tilt in favor of 170 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 1: the defense, and most of it comes down to can 171 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 1: you contain the ball. In the first half of this game, 172 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and chrisops porzingis in particular through drives, 173 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: power drives, trying to go through people and post ups. 174 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: Just kept getting the ball into the paint, going through guys, 175 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: attacking switches with seals, winning that physicality battle at the 176 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: point of attack. Boston had forty points in the paint 177 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 1: in this game. Thirty four of them came in the 178 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: first half, and then in the second half started to 179 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: win that same battle. It shifted towards ok see. Mark 180 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: Dagenal attributed it to lou Dort moving over to Jalen 181 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: Brown happened in like the late first half, Jalen Brown 182 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: hit like another like little right shoulder fade away in 183 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 1: the lane. I think over Shae if I remember correctly, 184 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: and next thing you know, it's Lou Dort that's guarding 185 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: Jalen instead of Jason Tatum. I didn't. I think that 186 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: certainly played a role, but I thought it was everybody, 187 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 1: because there's just so much switching in this game. Like 188 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 1: it wasn't just Lou Dort on an Island, it was 189 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 1: really everyone in Oklahoma City, Jersey just competing and winning 190 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: that battle. Kenridge Williams standing Jalen Brown up and getting 191 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: the steal, Aaron Wiggins standing guys up, shake Gildas, Alexander 192 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: winning some of those post up battles that he had 193 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: been losing in the first half of the game. Case 194 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: on Wallace holding his ground better than he had been then. 195 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 1: Everyone pressuring the ball. Tatum and Brown were fumbling the 196 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: basketball everywhere, so even when they did draw and help, 197 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: they couldn't get the ball out quickly enough to the 198 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: guys that could make them pay for it. They okay, 199 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: So he started to dominate at the point of a 200 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:04,040 Speaker 1: the paint touches fell off a cliff, the quality shots 201 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 1: fell off of a cliff, and Okac completely took control 202 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: of the game. The stats that came out of that 203 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 1: Okac defensive effort and in the second half were crazy. 204 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: They allowed just twenty seven points, just six points allowed 205 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: in the paint after allowing thirty four in the first half. 206 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: Of the seventeen catch and shoot jump shots they allowed, 207 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 1: fourteen of them were classified by guarded percentergy. Again, this 208 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 1: is a team in Boston that generates sixteen unguarded catch 209 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: and shoot jump shots a game which ranked second in 210 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: the entire NBA. Believe it or not, the Chicago Bulls 211 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 1: get over twenty. That's actually number one in the league. 212 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 1: But a big part of that is like guys that 213 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 1: you concede shots too. But Boston again consistently generates open 214 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 1: shots against everybody. They only generated three unguarded catch and 215 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: shoot jump shots against the Thunder in the second half. 216 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: Boston could not generate good looks. And there's gonna be 217 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: talk about shooting. And for the record, there is definitely 218 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 1: a gap in shooting in this game. Like both teams 219 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: attempted thirty on one catch and shoot jump shots total, 220 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 1: but Boston made five in Oklahoma City made thirteen. Like 221 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 1: they definitely shot better. I'm not gonna sit here and 222 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 1: pretend that's not the case. But nineteen of Oklahoma City's 223 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:15,560 Speaker 1: thirty one catch and shoot jump shots were unguarded. Only 224 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:18,079 Speaker 1: eight of the thirty one catch and shoe jump shots 225 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: for Boston in the entire game were unguarded, including only 226 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: three in the second half when Oklahoma City took control. So, like, 227 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 1: if you leave that game as a Celtics fan or 228 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: as a Celtics player, as a Celtics coach thinking they 229 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 1: just outshot you, that would be a mistake. They outplayed you, 230 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: got better shots, and then they outshot you on those 231 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 1: better shots. And remember these things are all connected. You 232 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 1: build rhythm, you start to make the contested ones. When 233 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: you're getting open ones that you're also making, you build 234 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 1: rhythm and confidence you start to knock down shots. The 235 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 1: thunder were able to get out in transition off of 236 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: their defense in the second half. They had just five 237 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,680 Speaker 1: transition points in the first half. They had twenty transition 238 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: points in the second half. They forced Boston into ten 239 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 1: turnovers in the second half, scored seventeen points off of 240 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: them getting just five points in transition or off of 241 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 1: turnovers in that first half. Again, twenty of your fifty 242 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: points that you score in the second half, we're in transition. 243 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 1: That's forty percent of their offense. Oklahoma City at twenty 244 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:15,719 Speaker 1: transition points, Boston at twenty seven points total in the 245 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 1: second half, and then when they were in the half court. 246 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 1: Shay was able all game to get consistent dribble penetration. 247 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: Early in the game, he just made it clear, Like 248 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 1: first couple possessions, he beat Jalen Brown cleanly off the 249 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:29,319 Speaker 1: dribble with the straight line drive twice in the first 250 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 1: two minutes, did it to Jason Tatum a few times 251 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: in the game. He just was able to beat everybody 252 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:36,199 Speaker 1: off the dribble. He's got this move. Shae has this move. 253 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 1: It's like a between the legs dribble that flows into 254 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 1: a dribble drive. But there's like a change of pace 255 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 1: element to it, so like he'll be operating slowly off 256 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: that dribble and he'll slowly dribble through the legs. But 257 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:51,319 Speaker 1: then as soon as he's ready to go, like he'll 258 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 1: be slowly dribbling through his legs and as soon as 259 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:56,439 Speaker 1: that ball touches the right hand, he'll just explode forward 260 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 1: and it's almost like a It almost like lulls you 261 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 1: to sleep. But in addition to his elite first step, 262 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 1: it just makes them really really difficult to keep in front. 263 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 1: I thought his shot making was huge, especially at the 264 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:08,720 Speaker 1: start of the second half when he kind of like 265 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: began things as Oklahoma City started to take control. And 266 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: then I thought he made to play the game in 267 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter blocking Jason Tatum at the rim and 268 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: transition and then down on the other end feeding Isah 269 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: Hartenstein on the lob for that poster, Donk, what the hell? 270 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:25,920 Speaker 1: What a hell of an exclamation point for Oklahoma City 271 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:28,440 Speaker 1: to end that game. I thought he pretty clearly looked 272 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: like the best player on the floor in this one. Again, 273 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 1: Tatum will have another shot. These two teams play in 274 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 1: mid March in Boston, and they might play again in 275 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 1: the finals. That's certainly a possibility of maybe even one 276 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 1: of the most likely possibilities. But round one for this 277 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: matchup in the regular season went pretty resoundingly to Shay 278 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: in my opinion. A couple other thunder guys I wanted 279 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 1: to shout out. Lou Dort was just a physical, wrecking 280 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: ball all game. He's fighting dudes off of spots, pressuring 281 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: the ball, forcing turnovers, winning contested rebound battles. He's super 282 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:57,839 Speaker 1: valuable in this matchup because he's quick enough to beat 283 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 1: Tatum in Brown to spots, but he's also strong enough 284 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 1: that they can't go through him, which makes him unique 285 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 1: in that, like those guys almost have to get off 286 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 1: of dort in order to really create an advantage against 287 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 1: this team. Kase On Wallace, the Sea started porzingis on 288 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 1: him in this game. And again, the idea there is 289 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 1: you're trying to make Kayson Wallace make above the break threes. Theoretically, 290 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: that's like the idea behind it, right, and you know, 291 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 1: first possession it worked like kase On Wallace like caught 292 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 1: with you know, nine or eight seconds on the shot 293 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 1: clock and just dribbled into a contested mid range pull up, 294 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:29,080 Speaker 1: you know, like a bad shot. But for the rest 295 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:30,439 Speaker 1: of the game he settled down and you know he 296 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:32,439 Speaker 1: knocked down to catch and shoot three. He was driving 297 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: hard into openings like coming off of action, which is 298 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:37,680 Speaker 1: something I talked about with the Mavericks series last year, 299 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: Like when you have a guy like Derek Jones, it's 300 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 1: being guarded by Porzingis. Get him the ball so that 301 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,680 Speaker 1: he can go downhill and like in his screening action 302 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:47,680 Speaker 1: because Porzingis is going to struggle to navigate screens. Never 303 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 1: did that. Kason Wallace consistently involved attacking in transition. That 304 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 1: was a big thing in the second half. But also 305 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 1: just like coming off of dhos and getting into the lane, 306 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:01,679 Speaker 1: making floaters, making scoop shots, attacking be a threat. When 307 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 1: they put Porzingis on you like that, they're saying, we 308 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 1: don't think you're a threat to score. That's literally the 309 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:13,200 Speaker 1: idea there. That's why they put Jason Tatum on centers 310 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 1: typically so that they can switch that actual they actually 311 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:16,959 Speaker 1: started with Drew Holliday on Hartenstein in this one so 312 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 1: they can switch, but they do it with both heart 313 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: Holiday and Tatum. But like the idea is, they want 314 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 1: the Seas want to switch ball screens with your normal 315 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 1: ballscreen partners, and they want to take your weakest defensive 316 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 1: offensive player and put Porzingis on him. Case on Wallace 317 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 1: had to make him pay, and he did. Made six 318 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 1: shots in this game. Aaron Wiggins, this dude is such 319 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 1: a pro. He's sneaky. One of the older and more 320 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 1: experienced guys on this Thunder roster. But he just plays 321 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: in his role. He defends, he rebounds, he makes quick 322 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: decisions off the catch. He's been one of the more 323 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 1: reliable catch and shoot guys for the Thunder this year. 324 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: The Thunder just really resounding statement in that second half 325 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 1: against the Celtics. On the Celtics front, I didn't think 326 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: Tatum was bad, but I didn't think he was very 327 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: good either. His biggest job on this team is to 328 00:14:57,520 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 1: get the defense in rotation, and he just wasn't a 329 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: to do so. He had just one assists, which was 330 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 1: his lowest total of the season. And again, the Seas 331 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 1: just didn't generate open looks in this game, and that 332 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: was the main reason why shots didn't go in. Right. 333 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: If you're not gonna get open looks, they're probably not 334 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 1: going to go in. This particular matchup will test Tatum's ceiling. 335 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 1: Should these teams meet in the finals, Tatum is going 336 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 1: to have to in this matchup consistently get to matchups. 337 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 1: He likes beat that matchup and generate easy shots. If 338 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 1: he doesn't, the Thunder will beat them, and he's capable. 339 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 1: Here's a lot of size advantages on the floor. But 340 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 1: he's got to do a better job than he did 341 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 1: in that second half of getting compromising Oklahoma City's defense 342 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 1: to generate quality shots. Jalen Brown is just the tail 343 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: of two halves. Like first half he's going through guys 344 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 1: and causing problems for the Thunder and the Paint. But 345 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 1: then in the second half it's a lot of the 346 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: old Jalen, a lot of like losing his handle against pressure, 347 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:50,400 Speaker 1: tough shots, election, a couple of really bad turnovers in 348 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter where he's just driving into the teeth 349 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 1: of the defense and getting swiped, just like kind of 350 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: old school stuff that we used to deal with with 351 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: Jalen in the past. Right. Porzingis, on the one hand, 352 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: his post up mismatching looked good. They went to him 353 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: three times against Thunder. Smaller players in the post scored 354 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 1: every single time. But the Celtics defense could not get 355 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: stops against Oklahoma City with Porzingis on the floor. They 356 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: had a one twenty two defensive rating with Porzingis on 357 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 1: the floor in this game. So in the big picture, 358 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 1: this is good for the league, you know, especially with 359 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: where I was at a few a few months ago, 360 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: Like not even like one month ago, I thought Boston 361 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 1: was on a tier by themselves at the top of 362 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 1: the league. Now it feels like we have three completely 363 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: legit teams in our contender tier, in our top tier 364 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: contender tier, and they're all good in different ways. Like 365 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 1: Boston is the hyper versatile, older, more experienced team, right 366 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 1: they've won a championship. Cleveland is the insanely good offense, 367 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 1: and Oklahoma City is the insanely good defense. Right. Those 368 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 1: are like the three calling cards, but all three of 369 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 1: those teams have different approaches to win it. Each team 370 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 1: has a weakness, like Boston doesn't look as sharper as 371 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 1: focused as they were last year. But I think this 372 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:06,439 Speaker 1: okaysee in Cleveland run is gonna be a wake up 373 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:08,360 Speaker 1: call for them, and I think Boston's gonna play much 374 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 1: better in this next portion of the season. Oklahoma City's 375 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: shooting is still super unreliable. Even after shooting the lights 376 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 1: out last night, they're still just twentieth and three point 377 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 1: percentage on the season. Cleveland has some entry points into 378 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 1: their defense with a couple of small guards, and they're 379 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: not a good defensive rebounding team. I think they're twentieth 380 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 1: or twenty seconds. I think they're bottom ten in defensive rebounding, so, 381 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:29,639 Speaker 1: like all teams have their weaknesses as well. This is 382 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 1: why I would say, like, there's no point in taking 383 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 1: regular season victory laps Oklahoma City. You're about to go 384 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,200 Speaker 1: on the road to Cleveland. You can absolutely lose that game, 385 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 1: right Like Boston again is gonna play you again at home. 386 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 1: It's gonna be a different type of game. This is 387 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 1: This is a battle that's gonna be determined in the postseason. 388 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 1: This is not a battle that's gonna be determined in 389 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:49,160 Speaker 1: the regular season. All three of these teams can beat 390 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 1: each other again. Cleveland absolutely could beat Oklahoma City tonight. 391 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 1: Like this can go a bunch of different ways. I 392 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: will say though, again I used to view Boston in 393 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:58,439 Speaker 1: a tier by themselves on top of the league. I 394 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: no longer feel that way. I feel like Cleveland and 395 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 1: Oklahoma City absolutely deserve to be on the same tier 396 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: with them. Moving on to Lakers. Maps interesting game in 397 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:21,959 Speaker 1: the first half, the Lakers weren't really all that locked in, 398 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 1: but this is a MAVs offense that has struggled to 399 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 1: score when Luca and Kyrie have been out, and so 400 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:28,399 Speaker 1: the Lakers still kind of had a lead there in 401 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 1: that late first half, but I thought the Lakers lost 402 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:34,400 Speaker 1: this game in two particular stretches. First was the Clay 403 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 1: rundown in the first half, and the first three that 404 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:39,920 Speaker 1: he hit wasn't bad defense, but it was conservative defense. 405 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 1: He's running off of a screening action towards the left wing. 406 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:44,159 Speaker 1: Max Christy's trailing him, sprinting as hard as he can. 407 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:47,119 Speaker 1: He's a little detached, but he's trying, and Ad like 408 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 1: he could show up at the level. Probably should because 409 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 1: it's Klay Thompson, but like I think at that point 410 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: he hadn't hit a three yet and he would have 411 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,440 Speaker 1: given up an easy pocket pass if he had stepped up, 412 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:59,400 Speaker 1: So Ad just kind of token half shows basically, like, 413 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:01,120 Speaker 1: let's see Clay can make the shot, and he makes 414 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: a shot, so whatever he makes the first one, it's 415 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 1: a relatively tough shot. He gets a conservative defensive look. 416 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 1: But the next two threes he hit were just total 417 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 1: defensive breakdowns, like Ruey guarding I think Spencer Dinwoodie on 418 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:15,359 Speaker 1: the play and Austin Reeves is being guarded by Clay 419 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:17,639 Speaker 1: and there's a two man game. It's obviously a switch 420 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 1: It's just that should be a switch. Every single time 421 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:23,119 Speaker 1: Austin thinks it's a switch. Ruey just stands still and 422 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:24,880 Speaker 1: Clay slips out of it and knocks down to three. 423 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:27,640 Speaker 1: Just a complete defensive breakdown from Ruey. Ha Chamura gives 424 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: up a wide open three to Klay Thompson. He hits it, 425 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:31,400 Speaker 1: and then the one that he hit in the left 426 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 1: corner in transition was Lebron's fault. He just the rim 427 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:36,919 Speaker 1: was already accounted for. His job was to spray out 428 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 1: to shooters. He should have been on Clay in the 429 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: left corner. He wasn't there, and he knocked it down. 430 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: So gives up a shooting run to Klay Thompson. They 431 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: immediately go on this run. It's in twenty one to 432 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 1: three run spanning halftime. Now, all of a sudden, the 433 00:19:49,119 --> 00:19:51,879 Speaker 1: Lakers go from up by six to down by twelve. 434 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 1: But then the Lakers play a nice stretch of basketball 435 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 1: and they cut the lead down to five, and they 436 00:19:56,640 --> 00:20:00,360 Speaker 1: promptly give up another shooting run to Jaden Hardy once 437 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 1: again started in something that was a conservative look. It 438 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: was his own look. Ball gets swung to the left wing. 439 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:08,640 Speaker 1: Jaden Hardy is the right read to try to beat 440 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 1: the zone, and again the zone is designed to concede 441 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,359 Speaker 1: that sort of thing. He knocks down the shot whatever, 442 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: But on the very next possession, Max Christy just loses 443 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:18,639 Speaker 1: him in the same spot. I think he's trying to 444 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 1: check a cutter's like Max to Klebo was like cutting 445 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 1: down the lane, and Max was like trying to hit him, 446 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 1: but he like went way underneath him, like like way 447 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:28,679 Speaker 1: in the paint. And as a result, Jayden Hardy's just 448 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:30,679 Speaker 1: wide open for three on the left wing knocks it 449 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:32,200 Speaker 1: down again again. He had just hit one from the 450 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:34,639 Speaker 1: same spot. It's a defensive breakdown. You can't be like, 451 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: you can't be detached from the guy who just made 452 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,160 Speaker 1: a shot in that spot. And then on the next possession, 453 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:42,919 Speaker 1: Gabe and Max switch, presumably so that that mistake doesn't 454 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 1: happen again, and then Gabe makes the exact same mistake. 455 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:50,399 Speaker 1: Kleba cuts into the lane, Gabe tries to get up 456 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 1: underneath him to check him, and they just swing the 457 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:54,119 Speaker 1: ball up to Jaden Hardy and he knocks down to 458 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:55,879 Speaker 1: three again. I literally couldn't believe it when I was 459 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,960 Speaker 1: watching the tape, Like you just switched presumably to patch 460 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:00,919 Speaker 1: up this defensive bright down, and then you made the 461 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 1: exact same defensive breakdown right after that. On the next possession, 462 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: Ad smokes a little floater in the lane. Quentin Grimes 463 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:09,920 Speaker 1: dribbles into a transition three where Ad does not pick 464 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:11,960 Speaker 1: him up, knocks down to three. All of a sudden, 465 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 1: the leads back up to fifteen. Two stretches, two brief 466 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 1: stretches with a bunch of defensive breakdowns where you completely 467 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 1: lose control of the game. This MAV's offense has definitely 468 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:22,920 Speaker 1: struggled with the injuries. That's to be expected, but they're 469 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:25,439 Speaker 1: still a tough team. I've said this before, but I 470 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:27,679 Speaker 1: think the Mavericks have the second best roster in the 471 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,040 Speaker 1: Western Conference in terms of total talent on both ends 472 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 1: of the floor. They still have a ton of defensive 473 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 1: personnel and they have plenty of ball handling to run 474 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 1: a coherent offense without their stars. If you don't bring 475 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:41,600 Speaker 1: your a game against Dallas, you absolutely can lose. And 476 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 1: the Lakers made several runs in this game. They played 477 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:46,399 Speaker 1: beautiful basketball for stretches. I think Lebron's playing really well 478 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: right now. It's kind of crazy the level that Lebron's 479 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:50,680 Speaker 1: playing at right now, I feel like he's getting wherever 480 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,399 Speaker 1: he wants and generating quality shots whenever he wants. He's 481 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:55,600 Speaker 1: getting a lot of rim pressure. He looks better athletically 482 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:57,479 Speaker 1: than he did at any point in the season. But 483 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 1: as a team, they just have way too many defensive breakdowns. Again, 484 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: there's a difference between breakdowns and weaknesses. A defensive weaknesses 485 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 1: is like you do your job, but the guy scores 486 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 1: anyway because they haven't advantage. So like PJ. Washington and 487 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: Spencer Dinwoody driving through Austin reeves or Dalton connect and 488 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: getting buckets. Those are weaknesses Austin, usually on the road, 489 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 1: usually when he's been playing every night for a couple 490 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:26,439 Speaker 1: of weeks, we'll have a night like that where he 491 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: just doesn't hold up very well and teams attack him. Generally, 492 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 1: in the big picture, Austin holds up pretty well, but 493 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 1: he has nights like that sometimes where teams can go 494 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 1: through him. Dalton obviously not a very good defensive player. 495 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:39,120 Speaker 1: Those are just weaknesses. That kind of thing I think 496 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 1: you can account for and plan for in a defense. 497 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 1: The best defenses in the league still give up about 498 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 1: one hundred points per one hundred possessions. So it's not 499 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 1: like you can just stop teams and strangle him. You're 500 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 1: gonna give up points with your disadvantages and your mistakes, 501 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:52,640 Speaker 1: but you have to limit them as much as possible. 502 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:56,199 Speaker 1: Breakdowns are fundamentally different. That's like I didn't do my 503 00:22:56,440 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 1: job and now this guy's wide open. That is unacceptable. 504 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:03,159 Speaker 1: Those are the kinds of things that you have to 505 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:06,159 Speaker 1: fight against. Those are the things that will cost you games. 506 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:09,920 Speaker 1: You lost this game with two shooting runs from Klay 507 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 1: Thompson and Jaden Hardy that centered around defensive breakdowns, guys 508 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:19,240 Speaker 1: just not doing their jobs. And so as I look 509 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:21,880 Speaker 1: in the big picture, like in the three losses since 510 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 1: the Dori and Finney Smith trade, the Lakers have a 511 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 1: one to twenty six defensive rating that's abysmal. But then 512 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:31,920 Speaker 1: you watch them and it's like the third quarter run 513 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 1: against Houston, there's quarters stretches for five to six minutes 514 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:41,680 Speaker 1: where they look awesome on defense. The same team that's 515 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 1: giving up a one to twenty six defensive rating in 516 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 1: these three losses in those same games has looked very 517 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:53,359 Speaker 1: good defensively for stretches. That is a clear sign that 518 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:56,920 Speaker 1: this is an execution issue. And there are many reasons 519 00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 1: why Anthony Davis still doesn't look quite like the same 520 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 1: defender he was even a year ago. He's getting lost 521 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:05,359 Speaker 1: around the rim a lot. That was weird at the 522 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:07,159 Speaker 1: end of the Houston game, how everyone's just going right. 523 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:09,720 Speaker 1: Adam shang Gun's is going right at him, Jalen Green's 524 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 1: going right at him, Fred Van vliet'z going right at him, 525 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 1: and they're just shooting over the top of him and scoring. 526 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,360 Speaker 1: Like hey, dude, like I say, you're the best defensive 527 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:20,680 Speaker 1: player in the world. That's a standard, that's a standard 528 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:22,919 Speaker 1: that we hold you too, and you're not living up 529 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 1: to that standard right now. Right the Lebron still has 530 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:29,240 Speaker 1: his lackadaisical moments, but it mostly comes down to the 531 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 1: breakdowns for me, guys like Ruey who are just not 532 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:35,160 Speaker 1: good at tracking, guys on the perimeter who just are 533 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 1: lost within this scheme at times. And then Max like again, 534 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 1: like Max has all this talent and he's always playing hard, 535 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 1: but he's prone to a lot of breakdowns on defense, 536 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:46,439 Speaker 1: in large part because he's a young player. Young players 537 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:50,080 Speaker 1: make mistakes and so like interestingly enough, I think the 538 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:53,400 Speaker 1: Lakers are trying to be good when I was frustrated 539 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 1: with them in the early part of the season after 540 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:57,680 Speaker 1: that Miami Heat game. What specifically bothered me was the 541 00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: letting go of the rope for weeks on end, bad 542 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:05,919 Speaker 1: games happen. Even last night, I was not all that 543 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 1: worked up about that game. As a Lakers fan, I 544 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:10,679 Speaker 1: do think Dallas is dangerous. I know they haven't won 545 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:13,120 Speaker 1: a ton since the guys have been hurt. I think 546 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:15,400 Speaker 1: that's a good roster. I think that's a team that'll 547 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:17,439 Speaker 1: beat you on a bad night. And the Lakers had 548 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:19,960 Speaker 1: a bad night and they lost. But in the early 549 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 1: part of the season, it was like, you're two and 550 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,160 Speaker 1: five and you're on the road in a very winnable 551 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:27,240 Speaker 1: game against the Heat team that had just lost to 552 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 1: in a row, that's spiraling in their own way, and 553 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:33,199 Speaker 1: you quit in your first shift, Like that tells me 554 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:36,199 Speaker 1: you don't even want to be good. Ironically enough, and 555 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 1: this is where it's been weird, because I've never seen 556 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 1: this from this group in the last couple of years. 557 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:43,199 Speaker 1: Over the last month or two, three weeks, however long 558 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 1: it's been since Lebron came back, they actually look like 559 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:48,400 Speaker 1: they want to be good. They've it looks like they've 560 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:52,160 Speaker 1: been humiliated or they've felt their purpose. Finally, I don't 561 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:53,920 Speaker 1: know what it is, but mentally, it looks like a 562 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:55,879 Speaker 1: very different team than they did in the first fifteen 563 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 1: games or so. They look like they want to be good. 564 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:01,959 Speaker 1: It's not about the one, it's about stringing this together. 565 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:05,680 Speaker 1: JJ Redick is preaching constantly about attention to detail and 566 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 1: trying to work these things out. Lebron after the Houston game, 567 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:10,960 Speaker 1: said I want to be a great team. When I 568 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,360 Speaker 1: heard that, I'm like, Okay, he's parenting the same thing. 569 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:16,480 Speaker 1: JJ Reddick just said, clearly, these guys want it and 570 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 1: they're trying, but they're not there yet. They got a 571 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:21,560 Speaker 1: long way to go. There's still way too many breakdowns. 572 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 1: And then, lastly, when you're relying on guys like Ruy, 573 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:29,400 Speaker 1: like Max, young players that can struggle with attention to detail, 574 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 1: mistakes happen with those guys, which is why I've been 575 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:36,160 Speaker 1: advocating for bringing in more veteran options, preferably at the two, 576 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:39,680 Speaker 1: so that on nights when those guys are making mistakes, 577 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:41,239 Speaker 1: you have an option you can go to that has 578 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 1: a higher floor, that can avoid those sorts of mistakes. 579 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:46,160 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be talking to some Lakers today with Yovann. 580 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:47,960 Speaker 1: I'm actually about to hop off of this and go 581 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:51,399 Speaker 1: to see him right now. But when I'm done with Yovann, 582 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:52,800 Speaker 1: make sure you guys head over to his channel to 583 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:54,439 Speaker 1: check out that episode, and then we're gonna have yovonn 584 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:56,800 Speaker 1: On next week to talk more Lakers. Lots of content 585 00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:58,120 Speaker 1: coming out the rest of this week. I may even 586 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:00,239 Speaker 1: have something else coming out later today, depending on how 587 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:03,320 Speaker 1: my film sessions go. As always, sincerely appreciate you guys 588 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 1: for supporting me. Plenty of content. I'll see you guys 589 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:11,600 Speaker 1: tomorrow the volume What's Up guys? As always, I appreciate 590 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:14,400 Speaker 1: you for listening to and supporting Hoops tonight. It would 591 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 1: actually be really helpful for us if you guys would 592 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 1: take a second and leave a rating and a review. 593 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:21,239 Speaker 1: As always, I appreciate you guys supporting us, but if 594 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:23,240 Speaker 1: you could take a minute to do that, I'd really 595 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:24,000 Speaker 1: appreciate it.