1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: The volume NBA fans. The weight is over. Basketball is back. 2 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:12,320 Speaker 1: In DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NBA, 3 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: is celebrating with an unbeatable offer. New customers can score 4 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: two hundred dollars instantly in bonus bets for throwing down 5 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 1: five dollars on the NBA. Win or lose, it doesn't matter. 6 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: You'll start the season with an instant dub. And with 7 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: DraftKings parlays, everyone's got a shot at an even bigger 8 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: basketball win. Strain together multiple bets from the same game, 9 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: or build your parlay across multiple games for a shot 10 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: at making your payday even sweeter. Basketball is more fun 11 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:43,279 Speaker 1: when you're in on the action. Download the Draftking Sportsbook 12 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 1: AP now and use code hoops. That's hops. New customers 13 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: can get two hundred dollars in bonus bets instantly for 14 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: betting just five dollars only on Draftking Sportsbook with code hoops. 15 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: The crown is yours gambling problem called one eight hundred 16 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: gambler or visit www dot one eight hundred gambler dot 17 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: net in New York call eight seven seven eight hope 18 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 1: and why or text hope and Why to four six 19 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,959 Speaker 1: seven three sixt nine. In Connecticut. Help is available for 20 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:16,039 Speaker 1: problem gambling called eight eight eight seven eight nine seven 21 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 1: seven seven seven or visit CCPG dot org. Please play 22 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 1: responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort in Kansas. 23 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 1: License partner Golden Nugget, Lake Charles and Louisiana twenty one 24 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: plus age varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bonus bets 25 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 1: expire one hundred and sixty eight hours after issuance. See 26 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: Sportsbook dot DraftKings dot com, slash Basketball terms for eligibility 27 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: and deposit restrictions, terms and responsible gaming resources. All right, 28 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: welcome to tonight here at the volume, Happy Tuesday, everybody. 29 00:01:57,800 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 1: Hope all of you guys are having a great week 30 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: so far. Well, James Harden finally got traded to his 31 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: preferred destination and what was a shocking turn of events. 32 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: I had a feeling that Daryl Moriy would go to 33 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 1: great lengths to make that not happen, but Sham Sarai 34 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: reported this morning that the owners of both teams got 35 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 1: involved and got the deal done, and James Harden and PJ. 36 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:20,679 Speaker 1: Tucker are heading to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange 37 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: for Nick Batoom, Marcus Morris, and Robert Covington as well 38 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 1: as kJ Martin so a hal including two first round 39 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 1: draft picks and two second round draft picks and a 40 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: pick swap for the Sixers in return. We're gonna be 41 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 1: breaking that trade down from the perspective of both teams, 42 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: and then I'm gonna break down Lakers Magic from last night. 43 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,119 Speaker 1: This is the first of two shows today. We're gonna 44 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: hit hard in trade Lakers Magic here off the top. 45 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 1: This afternoon, we're going to hit Warriors Pelicans as well 46 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:55,399 Speaker 1: as Timberwolves Hawks. As the Hawks notched another impressive come 47 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,519 Speaker 1: from behind win. They're playing some really impressive defense right now, 48 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:02,799 Speaker 1: two impressive defensive teams from the Eastern Conference that we're 49 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:04,839 Speaker 1: going to be breaking down in today's show. You guys 50 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: are the job. Before we get started, subscribe to our 51 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:09,639 Speaker 1: brand new YouTube channel. I'd really appreciate it if you 52 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 1: guys would take a second to scroll down and hit 53 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 1: that subscribe button as we try to get this channel 54 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: off the ground, don't forget about our podcast feed where 55 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:19,639 Speaker 1: ever reach your podcasts under Hoops Tonight social media TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, 56 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: we're posting video content as well as show announcements throughout 57 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,079 Speaker 1: the season, and then, last but not least, drop mailbag 58 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 1: questions in the YouTube comments so we can keep hitting 59 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: them at the end of our shows, periodically throughout the year, 60 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: and the last minut least before we get started. Now 61 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: we have the NBA in full swing, the World Series 62 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: is still going on, We've got the NFL and college 63 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: football in full swing. And we still have concerts and 64 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: comedy shows all around the country that are still touring. 65 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: And the best way to get tickets to any of 66 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 1: these is on game Time, the fastest growing ticketing app 67 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: in the United States. So for amazing last minute deals 68 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: to see your favorite football team, baseball team, basketball team, 69 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,119 Speaker 1: download game Time. And again, it's not just sports, concerts 70 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: and comedy shows to around the country. Game Time has 71 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: you covered there as well. Download the game Time app 72 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 1: and redeem code Hoops for twenty dollars off your first 73 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 1: purchase terms ofply. Again, download the game Time app and 74 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: enter code Hoops. That's Hops for twenty dollars off. No 75 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: matter where you live, get out and have some fun 76 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: this week. Download game Time today, last minute tickets, lowest 77 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 1: price guaranteed. All right, let's talk some basketball, So a 78 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 1: little breakdown of the details of the trade. The Clippers 79 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 1: get James Harden and PJ Tucker. The Sixers get Nick 80 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: with too, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington kJ Martin an unprotected 81 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: twenty twenty eight first from the Clippers. It's a very 82 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: high quality pick, considering they've got a lot tied up 83 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 1: in some older, injury prone guys right now, so that 84 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: could very well end up being a lottery pick by 85 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 1: the time we get to twenty twenty eight some other 86 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 1: undetermined first round pick that's being re routed from another team. 87 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: From what I read, there's like three different picks are 88 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 1: considering there, and it's going to be the best of 89 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: those three two second round picks in a pick swap, 90 00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 1: so a draft compensation hall for Darryl Moriy and the Sixers, 91 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 1: which makes sense because you know, Nick Patum, Marcus Morris, 92 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 1: and Robert Covington kJ Martin, those are all bench players, 93 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: right that did not get a quality starter in return 94 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: for this trade. So we're going to talk about that 95 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 1: in a in a little bit, so uh. Like I 96 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: said at the beginning of the show, Sham's reported that 97 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: ownership got involved last night, made the deal. Again, like 98 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 1: I was under the impression that Darryl Mory would probably 99 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 1: take a sweet time to find the best possible deal 100 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 1: and try to not send James Hard into his preferred destination. 101 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: But sometimes you overpay and it gets done. And I 102 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 1: think when all those draft picks were on the table 103 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: it got really hard for Daryl Moray to say no. 104 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: I would imagine that Steve Balmer probably got involved and 105 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: was like, let's get this damn deal done so we 106 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 1: could see what this team looks like, because like that 107 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 1: is uh, it just it was hard to imagine again 108 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: if you're not going to do it at the start 109 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 1: of camp and you're not going to drag it out 110 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: to the deadline and try to get something significant in return, 111 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: especially since again like Nick Patum started for the Clippers, 112 00:05:57,520 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: but he's not what I would consider to be above 113 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: average starter quality player in the NBA. None of those 114 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: guys are. And so the only way to get Darryl 115 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 1: Moore to pull the trigger on this kind of in 116 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 1: this weird no man's land post camp, but well before 117 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 1: the trade deadline, is if you throw the entire kitchen 118 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:16,039 Speaker 1: cupboard full of draft picks at the situation and that 119 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: appears to have been the case, and that's value because 120 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: as we get to the sixers here in a minute, 121 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: two draft picks, including a highly valued one from the Clippers, 122 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: as well as two second round picks and a swap. 123 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 1: That's a lot of stuff that they can use to 124 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 1: throw at a star or a high quality starter down 125 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: the line, which we'll talk about in a little bit. 126 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 1: Now on the Clippers front, let's start with just what 127 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: is James Harden at this point in his career. Well, 128 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: as I've said all summer, he is an excellent regular 129 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 1: season innings eeter. We're gonna talk about his postseason shortcomings, 130 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 1: but I still believe that James Harden is one of 131 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: the twenty best regular season players in the NBA. Twenty 132 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: one points, six rebounds and eleven assists last year led 133 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: the league in assists, sixty one percent true shooting one 134 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 1: point zero eight points per pick and roll on huge 135 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,559 Speaker 1: volume one tho ninety four possessions. He was the fourth 136 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 1: most efficient pick and roll player out of the fifteen 137 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 1: guys to run at least one thousand last year, one 138 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: point one to one points per isolation possession, fourth out 139 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 1: of twenty five players to run at least two hundred 140 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: and fifty. He even scored twenty eight points on eighteen 141 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 1: post ups, which is basically over a point and a 142 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: half per possession. So within the context of the regular 143 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: season half court shot creation, he's one of the very 144 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: best players in the league still still to this day, 145 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 1: and again, that is what James Harden does. He is 146 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 1: a floor general that can get your defense into the 147 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: other team's defense into rotation, and you guys can make 148 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: plays out of that. He can feed guys in two 149 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: man game. He can beat switches with step back threes, 150 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: beating people off the dribble. He is still very, very 151 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: good in that regard, and I kind of had a 152 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: feeling that James Harden would have a bounce back season 153 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: last year, and he certainly did. Within the regular season context. 154 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: He has a very analytically sound scoring approach, takes a 155 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: lot of threes, especially off the dribble, to boost his 156 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 1: true shooting percentage. He had a fifty three percent effective 157 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: field goal percentage on pullup jumpers. That's one point zero 158 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: six points per possession, which is awesome. Did a nice 159 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 1: job of mixing in more mid range jump shots last year, 160 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 1: just kind of keep the defense off balance, not as 161 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 1: many as I'd like to see him take, but he 162 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: did take more than he used to, and he was 163 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 1: outstanding off the ball in catch and shoot situations sixty 164 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 1: five percent effective field goal percentage on catch and shoot 165 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: jump shots seventy two percent when he's unguarded. Like I 166 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: said before, still one of the best floor generals in 167 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: the league. Led the league and assists in large part 168 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 1: by setting up Joel Embiid for a shit ton of 169 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:37,959 Speaker 1: easy jump shots and close out opportunities in pick and 170 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,679 Speaker 1: rolls and picking pops. And that's kind of an interesting 171 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: thing to potentially see, especially with Kawhi Leonard, someone who's 172 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 1: capable of being a very good screener. You can imagine 173 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 1: a lot of ghost screens or just picking pops, picking 174 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 1: soft rolls for Kawhi Leonard with James Harden to try 175 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,599 Speaker 1: to just set him up with easier close out opportunities. 176 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: But the playoff struggles were real. Outside of the two 177 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 1: fantastic games in the Celtics series is where he had 178 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 1: forty plus point nights and hit two game winners, he 179 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: shot below thirty percent, and six of the eleven playoff 180 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 1: games in total, he had a two for fourteen game, 181 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: three for fourteen game, a four for eighteen game, a 182 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 1: three for thirteen game, a four for sixteen game, and 183 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:18,559 Speaker 1: a three for eleven game. That's pretty rough. So for 184 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 1: the two games he was awesome, he had six games 185 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: where he was absolutely terrible. He shot just thirty five 186 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: percent at the rim in the playoff run. That was 187 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 1: where the majority of his efficiency tank. He just could 188 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: not finish in traffic. He had four games with at 189 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 1: least five turnovers as well. The Sixers were twenty four 190 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: point four points better per one hundred possessions when James 191 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 1: was off the floor versus when he was on. For 192 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 1: the whole playoff runt, including the good games. When he 193 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 1: was on the floor, they were minus five per one 194 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 1: hundred possessions, a one oh nine offensive rating, a one 195 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: fourteen defensive rating in eight hundred and thirteen possessions, And 196 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 1: when he was off the floor, the Sixers were plus 197 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 1: twenty per one hundred possessions, a one to twenty four 198 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: offensive rating in a one zho five defensive rating in 199 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: one hundred and sixty four possession. So he was like 200 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 1: borderline and net negative within that context. Now, obviously he 201 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 1: played huge minutes those are bench groups that were doing 202 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: really well, but they were a pretty ad They were 203 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: a below average offense and a below average defense when 204 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: he was on the floor in the postseason, and he 205 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: was directly responsible for that in a lot of ways 206 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 1: on both ends of the floor. So here's how I 207 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:27,199 Speaker 1: viewed the trade from the Clippers perspective. PJ. Tucker is 208 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 1: a better perimeter defender than Nick Batoom, than Robert Covington 209 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: and Marcus Morris. He's a really good option to throw 210 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: out guys like Lebron and KD who at this phase 211 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 1: in the career aren't his latter really quick and easier 212 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 1: to kind of physically contain at the point of attack. 213 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:44,680 Speaker 1: But there's a trade off with PJ Tucker. He typically 214 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,120 Speaker 1: goes unguarded on the other end of the floor. You 215 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 1: just know the Lakers are going to do something like 216 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: put Anthony Davis on PJ Tucker and have him just 217 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: park his ass in the paint. Make everything more complicated, right, 218 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:56,080 Speaker 1: same thing goes for any of the teams that have 219 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 1: a legitimate rim protector, even for like Phoenix. You're going 220 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 1: to see them put on Nick on PJ Tucker and 221 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: he's just gonna park his ass underneath the basket, blocking 222 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: shots and grabbing rebounds. So, like PJ. Tucker, very good 223 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: option in that regard on the defensive end of the floor, 224 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 1: but still comes with offensive limitations. I do think that 225 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 1: James Harden now on the PJ. Tucker front. To be clear, 226 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,319 Speaker 1: Nick Patoum has his own issues. Robert Covington was borderline 227 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:23,679 Speaker 1: unplayable and Marcus Morris's borderline unplayable. So, like again PJ. Tucker, 228 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 1: for all his shortcomings, I believe is out of a 229 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 1: deal that has four forwards in it. I think he's 230 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 1: clearly the best forward. So they got the best forward 231 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: back in the deal, right, and then James Harden will 232 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 1: make the Clippers a much better regular season team. I 233 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:38,840 Speaker 1: genuinely believe he will. He's going to get them much higher, 234 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 1: higher quality shots in the half court. He's gonna shut 235 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: up the shut set up their stars for higher quality 236 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 1: isolation and close out attacking opportunities. He's going to be 237 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: able to control pace, He's going to be able to 238 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:52,560 Speaker 1: be really effective off the ball. All of that makes 239 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 1: sense to me, But I do think that he could 240 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,680 Speaker 1: potentially end up being a net negative in the playoffs 241 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 1: if he doesn't reverse that trend that's been going throughout 242 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 1: his career, especially compared to more athletic groupings that they 243 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 1: could throw out. There got groups like Westbrook, Man, Kawhi 244 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: PG and you know Zubak or something along those lines. 245 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 1: They're going to have groupings that I think are going 246 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 1: to be more successful in the playoffs. I also don't 247 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 1: understand the idea of bringing James Harden into the equation 248 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: with your commitment to Russell Westbrook. You signed him last year, 249 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 1: signed him again this year to a two year deal, 250 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: and he's been playing really well to start this year. 251 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: Eleven points, seven rebound, seven assists, sixty five percent true 252 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: shooting from Russell Westbrook so far. He's shooting his jump 253 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 1: shot well. He's five for eleven on jump shots. He's 254 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 1: been an awesome matchup attacker in ISOs and in the 255 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 1: post he just is so big and strong compared to 256 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: other guards. He scored twenty nine points on twenty one 257 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 1: post ups in ISOs, including passes. So like, if he's 258 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:51,280 Speaker 1: going to stay in the rotation, his role is going 259 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 1: to change basically from what it has been, which has 260 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: been a really natural fit with the Clippers pushing the 261 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: pace controlling the flow of the offense, applying pressure, getting 262 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 1: quality shots for his stars, and you know, doing some 263 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 1: stuff off the ball right, crashing the offensive glass and 264 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: stuff right. That's been his role, and the reason why 265 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 1: it's working is because the Clippers need his rim pressure 266 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 1: and his playmaking, right, that's what they've needed from him 267 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: in that position. Now you're taking the ball out of 268 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: his hands and giving it to James Harden to run 269 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 1: the show. Now, Russell Westbrook's role looks very similar to 270 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 1: the way it looked with the Lakers. Very rarely is 271 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: he going to get to run the show, like when 272 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 1: James is on the bench, Right, He's gonna have to 273 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 1: be in break rhythm situations constantly. We're suddenly in a 274 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 1: second quarter grouping. He's gonna be asked to run the 275 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,199 Speaker 1: show when he's out of rhythm because he's barely done 276 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: anything before that. And he's going to have to be 277 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 1: a deeply impactful off ball player on offense and on 278 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: ball player on defense. That was his role when he 279 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 1: was with the Lakers, and we all saw how that went. 280 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 1: And so whatever sort of positive kind of like influx 281 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:01,959 Speaker 1: of winning impact you've been getting from Russ with the 282 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:04,839 Speaker 1: basketball fit. I do think the James Harden piece kind 283 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 1: of directly counters that out, and I'm really curious in 284 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 1: the big picture if they're gonna find a way to 285 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 1: make that work. And again, like I've been saying since 286 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:16,000 Speaker 1: the minute Russell Westbrook put on a Lakers jersey, if 287 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: he can be really selective with his off ball shot selection, 288 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 1: meaning like taking the right type of stand still catch 289 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 1: and shoot threes, if he crashes the offensive glass, if 290 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: he operates as a ball screener, if he just works 291 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: his ass off on the defensive end, on the ball, 292 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: off the ball, crashing the defensive glass in switch situations 293 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 1: against bigger players, if he does all that stuff, it's 294 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: gonna go great. But keep an eye on that Russell 295 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 1: Westbrook situation taking a turn very similar to the Lakers, 296 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 1: because that's a possibility now that you've brought in in 297 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: the same way that Lebron James and Russell Westbrook were redundant, 298 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 1: James Harden and Russell Westbrook are redundant. And James Harden's 299 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 1: a better player than Russ right now. So at least 300 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: in the regular season context, I'd argue Russ is a 301 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 1: better playoff player. So I do you think that there's 302 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: some potential downside there as well, so to kind of 303 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 1: like tie a bow on it. From the Clippers' perspective, 304 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: unless James Harden reverses his postseason trend of cratering and efficiency, 305 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 1: the trade doesn't make the Clippers a better playoff team, 306 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 1: but it will make them a better regular season team. 307 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: The players are more the players involved in the deal 308 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: are more or less irrelevant, Like, yeah, you gave up 309 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 1: three forwards, but you got back the best forward in 310 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: the deal in PJ Tucker. And I do think PJ. 311 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 1: Tucker is a better playoff player than Nick Patum. So 312 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 1: there's on the PJ Tucker spot I viewed as a 313 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: slight upgrade for the postseason. On the James Harden spot, 314 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: it entirely comes down to how he plays. And you 315 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 1: guys know how that story has gone. Here's the reason 316 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 1: why I wouldn't have made the trade. When you factor 317 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 1: in James Harden's playoff limitations, when you factor in the 318 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook fit and how that complicates as a result 319 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 1: of this trade, and then lastly, you poured in the 320 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: rest of your draft compensation, so you've severely hindered your 321 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 1: ability to make another deal at the deadline based on 322 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 1: a specific need from a specific position group. So I 323 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 1: would argue that it would have been better to wait 324 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: for the deadline to see what kind of high level 325 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 1: role players become available at that point. Then you throw 326 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: the two picks, the two second round picks, the swap, 327 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 1: and those salaries at whoever that player is. But to 328 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: be clear, there is upside here. If James Harden plays 329 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 1: better in the playoffs, this will be a trade that 330 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 1: improves the Clippers. It's just you're effectively gambling on James 331 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 1: Harden's playoff performance. Moving on to the Sixers, I like 332 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: the deal again, like I didn't like the idea of 333 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 1: sending him for nothing, you know, like I wanted a 334 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: Daryl Morey to be patient for some sort of role 335 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 1: player return, quality role players, because I didn't think the 336 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: draft compensation was out there. But the Clippers showed you 337 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 1: that they were desperate. They were willing to give two 338 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 1: first round picks, a swap, and two seconds. You gotta 339 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: take that deal because at the end of the day, 340 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 1: it's those salaries that you have now, whether it's Tobias 341 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: Harris and some of these wings or just the wings again, 342 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 1: whatever the salary combination you need to put together, you 343 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:05,400 Speaker 1: could theoretically just take the same three guys and package 344 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: him with all the same picks and throw them at 345 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 1: the right player at this year's deadline. And again, that 346 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: twenty twenty eight Clippers first round pick is very likely 347 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 1: to be a high value pick with the kind of 348 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:20,160 Speaker 1: up and down nature of the way the Clippers throw 349 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:22,800 Speaker 1: all their money in free agency at expensive you know, 350 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:25,199 Speaker 1: kind of injury prone stars, right, and so it's on 351 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 1: the table that that could be a great pick. So 352 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:30,360 Speaker 1: who knows who it's going to be that comes available. 353 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 1: We talked about the Bulls guys Tomar de rozan or 354 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:36,439 Speaker 1: zach Lavine og Ananobi from the Thunder, from the Raptors, 355 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 1: Pascal Siakam. These are Raptors guys that used to play 356 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: with Nick Nurse. So don't be surprised if Nick Nurse 357 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 1: pushes for one of those guys. Good Jeremy Grant from 358 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:48,119 Speaker 1: the Portland Trailblazers. Who knows, But the Sixers are in 359 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 1: a position now where they can push their chips in 360 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:53,480 Speaker 1: the table and make some sort of bigger splash your 361 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: deal at this year's deadline, and in the short term, 362 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:00,399 Speaker 1: Tyree Smaxy's literally been incredible. I'm not gonna into it 363 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 1: right now because we just broke it down yesterday, but 364 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: for the Sixers, fans did a whole deep dive on 365 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 1: on Tyre's maxine how awesome he's been so far this 366 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 1: season in our last video, but like, he's demonstrating that 367 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 1: he can be the number one perimeter option for your 368 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 1: team and do it at a high level. Marcus Morris 369 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 1: and Robert Conington aren't going to play much in the 370 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:20,119 Speaker 1: short term. Maybe against you might see some Marcus Morris 371 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 1: against like power power wing teams like the Orlando Magic, 372 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 1: the Milwaukee Bucks, or the Toronto Raptors. Nick Batoum will 373 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: play right away. He's a solid regular season wing and 374 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 1: can shoot. Last season, he was fifty eight percent effective 375 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 1: fiegal percentage on jump shots one point one to one 376 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,159 Speaker 1: points per spot up attempt, which is great, and he 377 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 1: was an okay perimeter defender. Could make a shot in 378 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 1: the playoffs though, but I don't expect him to play 379 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 1: too much when they get to the postseason. Kelly Eubrey 380 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 1: is playing really well for the Sixers right now too, 381 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 1: so they're kind of looking good at forward. So I 382 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: think they'll be fine for the regular season and they're 383 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 1: ready to pounce on a potential star deal. Also, kJ Martin, 384 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:55,680 Speaker 1: you know they ended up going for Jalen McDaniels last 385 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 1: year in hopes of just finding another athletic forward that 386 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:00,680 Speaker 1: could help him. There. kJ Martin's other guy who could 387 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 1: see getting some of those minutes off the bench in 388 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: the big picture. So I really like the deal for 389 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:07,320 Speaker 1: the Sixers. It feels like they are fine for the 390 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: regular season and positioned to make a all end deal 391 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:15,680 Speaker 1: when they get towards the deadline. All right, let's move 392 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: on to Lakers' magic the Christian would effect. So we 393 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 1: talked about this after the loss to the Kings last 394 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:24,400 Speaker 1: or two nights ago, But the Lakers have a problem 395 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:28,159 Speaker 1: right now with defensive rebounding. Their backcourt is extremely unathletic, 396 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:30,920 Speaker 1: as I've been talking about all summer, and because Jared 397 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 1: Vanderbilt and Ruby Hachimura are both out with injuries right now, 398 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:36,880 Speaker 1: you're leaning heavily on Tory and Prints at the three, 399 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 1: and he's thin and not a good rebounder. He's a 400 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:43,679 Speaker 1: okay perimeter defender and a very good spot up player, 401 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 1: which brings advantages on the offensive end of the floor. 402 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 1: He's been one of the guys on offense that's actually 403 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:50,719 Speaker 1: played pretty well for the Lakers this season, but he 404 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 1: doesn't help you in those physicality areas of the game. 405 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 1: And so right now they're struggling with getting stops and 406 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: failing to secure defensive rebounds on the back end, especially 407 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,399 Speaker 1: a predicament where Anthony Davis. One of two things that 408 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:06,480 Speaker 1: is happening with Anthony Davis, he's either switching onto the 409 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: perimeter and getting a stop, but they can't get a 410 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 1: rebound on the backside after because he's pulled away from 411 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 1: the basket, or in pick and roll Ads getting too 412 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 1: consistently engaged on the ball because the perimeter defenders are 413 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: dying on screens and not doing a good job fighting 414 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 1: over the top. So AD's having to leave Wendell Carter Junior, 415 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 1: whoever it is, on the back line, and he's giving 416 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:28,439 Speaker 1: up solid rebound position in the process. As long as 417 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 1: they can get the shot over Ad, Wendell Carter Junior, 418 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 1: whoever it is that's in the back line, depending on 419 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:36,480 Speaker 1: who they're playing, is getting easy offensive rebounds. And so 420 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: one of the things that we pitched after what happened 421 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 1: in the Phoenix Sun series is hey, just play christian 422 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:43,959 Speaker 1: Wood more, because christian Wood kind of brings to you 423 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 1: the offensive potential of the ability to knock down an 424 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 1: open shot and make a play attacking close outs. He 425 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:51,440 Speaker 1: had a really smart play down the stretch on d 426 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:54,440 Speaker 1: Lo's kind of soon to be game winner that put 427 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 1: the Lakers up one four to one oh three, where 428 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis made a kickout pass to him out of 429 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 1: a double team, and he pump faked and then did 430 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 1: a wrap round pass to d Lo that hit him 431 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:06,640 Speaker 1: right in the shooting pocket for the shot that ended 432 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: up winning the game. Was a really smart, kind of 433 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 1: like offensive skill play from christian Wood. He's not hurting 434 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 1: you on offense, and he's providing some key elements on 435 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:18,680 Speaker 1: the defensive end of the floor, particularly defensive rebounding. So far, 436 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: christian Wood when he's playing with Anthony Davis and Lebron 437 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: in the front court, the Lakers are plus ten in 438 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 1: seven minutes, a one to twenty seven offensive rating, a 439 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:32,480 Speaker 1: fifty defensive rating. That's a plus seventy seven net rating. 440 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:36,479 Speaker 1: They're grabbing fifty five percent of available rebounds and almost 441 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:38,680 Speaker 1: all of those are in crunch time minutes when the 442 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:42,239 Speaker 1: game slows down against the opposing team's best players, and 443 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:47,360 Speaker 1: in really physical, intense, playoff esque basketball. Now again, will 444 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:49,440 Speaker 1: they outscore teams by seventy seven points per one hundre 445 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:52,679 Speaker 1: posessions all season with that trio? Obviously not, But to me, 446 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 1: that's a really encouraging example of a lineup they could 447 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:58,960 Speaker 1: use in late game situations to confront their rebounding issues, 448 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 1: at least in the short term until Jared Vanderbilt and 449 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: Ruey Hotcha Mura come back into the equation. Jared Vanderbilt 450 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: is kind of like the perfect guy theoretically in this 451 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:08,320 Speaker 1: position because he can provide a lot of that high 452 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 1: end perimeter defense and help you with crashing in defensive 453 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 1: rebound situations while at the same time just upping your 454 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 1: overall athleticism. And again, that will come down to his 455 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: offensive performance, and he made some strides in preseasons, so 456 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 1: we'll see how it actually shows up in the regular season. 457 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:27,879 Speaker 1: But I think in the big picture Vanderbilt ends up 458 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:30,119 Speaker 1: being the guy, but in the short term while you're 459 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:32,399 Speaker 1: waiting for him, and then maybe in the big picture 460 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:34,680 Speaker 1: if he continues to play this well. Christian Wood's a 461 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 1: really good option there at the three, and he's doing 462 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:40,440 Speaker 1: a lot. He's providing that defensive rebounding piece, right, he's 463 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 1: also providing secondary rim protection. Talked about after the game, 464 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,119 Speaker 1: how he's waiting for Ad to go up to block shots, 465 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: knowing that if they pump fake or if they get 466 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 1: an offensive rebound, he's there on the back end to 467 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:57,160 Speaker 1: either I shouldn't say, get an offensive rimund. He's there 468 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 1: after the shot over Ad to either get the defense 469 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:02,920 Speaker 1: rebound or if they pump fake Ad out of his shoes, 470 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: he can step over and provide that second layer of 471 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 1: rim protection. And then he's also been pretty solid on 472 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 1: the perimeter. He guarded KD down the stretch of that 473 00:23:10,359 --> 00:23:12,440 Speaker 1: game against the Suns, and then he also had a 474 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 1: couple of key perimeter stops, including a big one against 475 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:19,119 Speaker 1: Pala Boncaro down the stretch of this game. He's just 476 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 1: good at baiting guys into pull up jump shots and 477 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:25,359 Speaker 1: then using his deceptive length to contest shots. And basically 478 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 1: what it amounts to is it's a big lineup right 479 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:30,359 Speaker 1: with a second big next to Ad, but one that 480 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 1: can respectively respectably space the floor and attack close out, 481 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:36,879 Speaker 1: so you have the advantages rebounding and defensively that you 482 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 1: get from more size on the floor with the offensive 483 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:43,400 Speaker 1: advantages you get from more perimeter skill. Late game execution 484 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:45,520 Speaker 1: was solid in this game. Remember we talked a lot 485 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 1: after the Kings game about oh, they need to, you know, 486 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 1: run more through Ad because these guards are missing these shots. 487 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:54,280 Speaker 1: And what did I say. I pushed back, and I said, 488 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:57,800 Speaker 1: Lebron's doing his job. He's drawing multiple defenders and getting 489 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 1: the defense in rotation. And then the Lakers are generating 490 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:03,399 Speaker 1: wide open threes. Like against the Kings, it was like 491 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:07,119 Speaker 1: wide open. Gave Vincent threes, wide open Tory and Prince threes, 492 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 1: wide open D'Angelo Russell threes. Those are wide open threes 493 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: for great shooters, and they just missed them. And then 494 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 1: everyone's like, you gotta go through a d more, You 495 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:18,639 Speaker 1: gotta go through a d more. And I said, it 496 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 1: doesn't matter even if he gets a bucket in the post. 497 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 1: Whoever the coaches is gonna start throwing the kitchen sink 498 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:26,359 Speaker 1: at Ad and you're gonna have to make shots on 499 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:30,239 Speaker 1: the weak side. Well, what happened? Anthony Davis posed up 500 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:33,159 Speaker 1: left block one oh three to one oh two. Or 501 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:35,760 Speaker 1: one of three to one oh one, the magic double 502 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 1: along the baseline, ad has to get rid of the ball, 503 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 1: swings the ball to christian Wood. Christian Wood makes the 504 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:43,760 Speaker 1: extra pass to D'Angelo Russell. Same wide open three that 505 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 1: d Lo missed in overtime that would have put the 506 00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:48,960 Speaker 1: Lakers up by two. Same one, wide open a little 507 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:51,120 Speaker 1: bit on the right wing, and he knocked it down 508 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:54,720 Speaker 1: this time. Again. Like I told you, guys, settling for 509 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 1: jump shots off the bounce is totally different. Like when 510 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: Lebron James takes those step back threes and by the way, too, 511 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:01,400 Speaker 1: two of them down the stretch and he made one 512 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:03,680 Speaker 1: of them. So that's three points and two possessions. Right. 513 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:07,639 Speaker 1: But like when Lebron James is settling, that's settling. Right. Technically, 514 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,120 Speaker 1: he could make a more aggressive downhill move to try 515 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:12,480 Speaker 1: to draw multiple defenders for a kickout three or try 516 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:14,719 Speaker 1: to get all the way to the rim. Right, that's settling. 517 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 1: I'm one hundred percent with you, guys, And Lebron's going 518 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 1: to have to shoot the way he's been shooting, and 519 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 1: we're gonna talk about it in a second, because he's 520 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 1: shot really well in crunch time. He's going to have 521 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:24,240 Speaker 1: to shoot that well in order for that shot to 522 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 1: make any sense. But if they're drawing multiple defenders, the 523 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 1: right read is to kick to shooters. That's the team construct. 524 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 1: Lebron Anthony Davis rim pressure. Teams are gonna pack the paint. 525 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: Guys have to make shots. And again, like it's a 526 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:39,600 Speaker 1: make or miss league in a lot of ways. But 527 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,359 Speaker 1: like again, maker misses a lot about process and which 528 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:46,440 Speaker 1: players like. If you generate high quality shots for good 529 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:48,960 Speaker 1: shooters in the big picture, you're going to make them 530 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:51,440 Speaker 1: more frequently. And after I said after the Kings game, 531 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 1: if the Lakers continue to generate wide open threes for 532 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:57,560 Speaker 1: D'Angel Russell gave, Vincent, Andorian Prince and Austin Reeves or 533 00:25:57,600 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 1: whoever it is, if they keep generating wide open threes, 534 00:25:59,880 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 1: they're going to win a lot of games because those 535 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:04,119 Speaker 1: are good shooters and they should eventually get to the 536 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: point defensively where they can get enough stops on the 537 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:09,800 Speaker 1: other end of the floor. But Dilo made it, that's 538 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 1: the difference. They won this game because of that. It's 539 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:15,640 Speaker 1: not about who initiates. As long as Lebron or ad 540 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: are both drawing multiple defenders, it's going to be the 541 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:20,639 Speaker 1: same result, guys have to make shots. Lakers in the 542 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 1: clutch so far the season two to one a ninety 543 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 1: eight defensive rating, which is really excellent when you consider 544 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:27,719 Speaker 1: how bad they were in the King's game. They had 545 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 1: like a one to twenty four defensive rating in the 546 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 1: Kings game in clutch times, so they've been really good 547 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:35,280 Speaker 1: in the clutch when christian Wood's on the floor. The 548 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:37,639 Speaker 1: other two clutch games are the Suns game. In this 549 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:40,639 Speaker 1: magic game, christian Wood was out there for those ones. 550 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 1: They were excellent defensively in the clutch, so basically really 551 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:46,960 Speaker 1: good defensively in the clutch in the games where christian 552 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:48,520 Speaker 1: Wood played not so much. In the game where he 553 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:52,040 Speaker 1: didn't offensively, that also coincided with the game where all 554 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 1: the skilled players misshots. That's the perfect recipe for the 555 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:57,479 Speaker 1: Lakers to blow a four point fourth quarter lead as 556 00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 1: they lose to the Kings. Right, But the Lakers so 557 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 1: far are have a plus twenty net rating in clutch 558 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:07,200 Speaker 1: situations through three games. Lebron in the clutch so far 559 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 1: is twenty points when the game is within five with 560 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:11,920 Speaker 1: less than five minutes left. That is tied for Luka 561 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 1: Doncic for the most in the league. He's eight for 562 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: ten from the field, two for four from three, and 563 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:19,400 Speaker 1: two for four from the free throw line. And again, 564 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: I thought he did his job against the Kings too, 565 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 1: drawing multiple defenders and kicking to wide open shooters. This 566 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 1: is big because last year Lebron was not a good 567 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:29,160 Speaker 1: clutch player. He had a rough season in that regard. 568 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:32,400 Speaker 1: This is a small sample size, but so far this season, 569 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:35,200 Speaker 1: Lebron has been much better making shots and making decisions 570 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:39,160 Speaker 1: at the end of games in clutch situations for the Lakers. 571 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis. I don't remember where I put him in 572 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 1: my player rankings. It was either six or seven. I 573 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:45,880 Speaker 1: think I had him at six if I remember correctly, 574 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:48,560 Speaker 1: But a lot of people will reacted and said, you 575 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:51,159 Speaker 1: have him too high. And what I keep trying to 576 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 1: point out to everybody is like, you're pairing legitimate offensive 577 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 1: production with top tier defensive production. But let's look at 578 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:02,399 Speaker 1: the offen production first. Anthony Davis so far the season 579 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:05,840 Speaker 1: twenty six points, fourteen rebounds, and three assists. He's third 580 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:08,399 Speaker 1: in rebounding in the league, third in blocks in the 581 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:10,880 Speaker 1: league at two point eight per game, and he has 582 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:13,719 Speaker 1: a sixty one percent screw shooting percentage. So he's been 583 00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:17,200 Speaker 1: efficiently scoring twenty six points per game while also being 584 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 1: one of the best rebounders top three rebounder in the league. 585 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:23,200 Speaker 1: And he's putting together one of the best defensive seasons 586 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:25,880 Speaker 1: so far against some small sample size that you'll see. 587 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:28,159 Speaker 1: And the reason why I say that is this Laker 588 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:35,440 Speaker 1: team has been absolutely atrocious on the perimeter Defensively. Lebron 589 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 1: is still coast mode. Totally get why he's a million 590 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 1: years old, right, but Torrian Prince and gave Vincent are 591 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 1: helping you on. Torrian Prince, gave Vincent, D'Angelo Russell, and 592 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 1: Austin Reeves are all getting cooked on the perimeter consistently. 593 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:49,440 Speaker 1: They're dying on screens, they're not boxing out, they're not 594 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 1: paying attention to their man in the ball. A huge 595 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 1: problem in this particular Magic game was guys like Markel 596 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 1: Foltz and Jalen Suggs crashing from the perimeter, not just 597 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 1: on offensive rebound situations, but also on cuts. Like a 598 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:05,480 Speaker 1: guy'd be driving the lane and Torrean Prince would just 599 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:07,000 Speaker 1: kind of be standing looking like this, and the dude 600 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,640 Speaker 1: would just cut right behind him for a layup. That's 601 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:13,200 Speaker 1: happening way too much. The perimeter defense is atrocious for 602 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:16,360 Speaker 1: the Lakers, and yet they still have been the thirteenth 603 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:19,600 Speaker 1: best defense by defensive rating in the regular season so far, 604 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 1: in the seventh best defense in the clutch so far. 605 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 1: Literally because of Anthony Davis and what he can do 606 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 1: to clean up messes, to clean up the defensive glass. 607 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 1: He's putting on the mother of all cleanup jobs on 608 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:35,160 Speaker 1: the defensive end of the four while also putting up 609 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:38,080 Speaker 1: twenty six to fourteen twenty six points and fourteen rebounds, 610 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:41,240 Speaker 1: while also doing a really nice job creating his own shots. 611 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:43,960 Speaker 1: So far this season, he's rany. He's run thirty two 612 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 1: post tops in ISOs so far, leading to forty one points. 613 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:48,520 Speaker 1: That's a point in the third per possession. That's excellent. 614 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 1: He's finally starting to make his touch shots around the rim. 615 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 1: Coming into last night, he was just six for twenty 616 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,239 Speaker 1: in the paint outside of the restricted area, so like 617 00:29:57,440 --> 00:30:00,160 Speaker 1: short paint shots right, He's six for twenty going the 618 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:02,880 Speaker 1: last night. He was six for seven last night, starting 619 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:05,840 Speaker 1: to get his touch back there. I think he's the 620 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:08,920 Speaker 1: best defender in basketball. I think he's proving that he 621 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:12,520 Speaker 1: belongs in the conversation with the best players in the league. 622 00:30:12,560 --> 00:30:15,160 Speaker 1: But in the big picture, the Lakers are still playing 623 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:17,560 Speaker 1: pretty bad basketball, and they're gonna be in trouble if 624 00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:19,160 Speaker 1: they don't clean some things up before they see the 625 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:23,920 Speaker 1: Clippers on Wednesday. Austin Reeves is slumping hard. This is 626 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:26,720 Speaker 1: a guy who I thought was easily the third best 627 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 1: player on the Lakers last year and was probably the 628 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:32,360 Speaker 1: second or third best player on Team USA this summer, 629 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:36,560 Speaker 1: and he's playing like shit. He doesn't look explosive off 630 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:37,880 Speaker 1: the bounce. I don't know if he's dealing with a 631 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:41,000 Speaker 1: nagging injury or if he's just a little fatigued from 632 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 1: everything that went on this summer. D'Angelo Russell hinted in 633 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:46,440 Speaker 1: his postgame interview that Austin's kind of trying to get 634 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 1: his legs back underneath him, but it's affected him in 635 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:51,040 Speaker 1: a bunch of other ways. Because he's been a much 636 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 1: better defensive player in his career than he's been this season. 637 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 1: He's really struggling on that end. His rhythm and confidence 638 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:01,840 Speaker 1: looks shot. He's really struggling to be impactful offensively with 639 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:03,960 Speaker 1: the ball, and he's missing all of his catch and 640 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 1: shoot threes. It's been a rough season for ust now 641 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:10,200 Speaker 1: here's the thing. I don't think that players become bad overnight. 642 00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:12,280 Speaker 1: I think Austin's gonna get it together and he's going 643 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:14,479 Speaker 1: to be fine. But until he does get it together, 644 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:17,040 Speaker 1: that's the Lakers' third best player playing like shit, and 645 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:19,080 Speaker 1: that's gonna hurt them in the big picture in terms 646 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:23,960 Speaker 1: of their night to night ceiling. Overall as a team. 647 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:27,160 Speaker 1: The perimeter defense is awful. I've talked about this. Navigating 648 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:31,880 Speaker 1: screens has been bad. Handling perimeter athleticism from guys cutting 649 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:35,160 Speaker 1: and crashing the glasses bad. The transition defense has been bad. 650 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:38,720 Speaker 1: Everything has been really bad on the perimeter. Defensively, D'Angelo 651 00:31:38,760 --> 00:31:41,480 Speaker 1: Russell's the worst culprit. He had a really rough game 652 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:44,480 Speaker 1: last night. Jalen Suggs just took it to him. He 653 00:31:44,560 --> 00:31:46,120 Speaker 1: made up for it by making a bunch of big 654 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:47,920 Speaker 1: plays in the fourth quarter on the offensive end of 655 00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:49,840 Speaker 1: the floor, but he gave damn near just about all 656 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:51,520 Speaker 1: of it back on the defensive end. I mean, even 657 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:54,360 Speaker 1: his game winning shot came right after a play where 658 00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:56,720 Speaker 1: he lost Jalen Suggs on a basic dribble handoff for 659 00:31:56,760 --> 00:31:59,040 Speaker 1: a wide open three and so like d Loo is 660 00:31:59,080 --> 00:32:00,360 Speaker 1: still all over the place. This is this a guy 661 00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:02,080 Speaker 1: who said he wanted to be like Derek White on 662 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:04,480 Speaker 1: defense and he just hasn't put his money where his 663 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:06,600 Speaker 1: mouth is yet. And then lastly to shooting, this is 664 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 1: a team. I don't think they're gonna be a great 665 00:32:08,080 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 1: shooting team, but they also shouldn't be a bad shooting team. 666 00:32:11,040 --> 00:32:13,240 Speaker 1: I mean, the three of the starters they've been using 667 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:16,600 Speaker 1: are all well above average catch and shoot three point 668 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:19,200 Speaker 1: shooters that are all just not shooting particularly well. So 669 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:22,200 Speaker 1: when Osin Reeves gets it together, when as a team 670 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:25,720 Speaker 1: they start defending better, and when they start knocking down shots, 671 00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:28,000 Speaker 1: that's when things will go up a level from there. 672 00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:30,160 Speaker 1: But to be two and two in spite of all 673 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:32,600 Speaker 1: of that not a bad place to be for playing 674 00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:34,560 Speaker 1: really bad basketball. But they are going to drop to 675 00:32:34,560 --> 00:32:36,760 Speaker 1: two and three on Wednesday if they don't fix a 676 00:32:36,760 --> 00:32:38,720 Speaker 1: bunch of those issues quickly. Because the Clippers are playing 677 00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:41,760 Speaker 1: some good basketball right now, moving under the Orlando magic. 678 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:45,520 Speaker 1: I love this team. They can't shoot right now. The 679 00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:47,400 Speaker 1: twenty fourth and three is made per game in twenty 680 00:32:47,400 --> 00:32:49,800 Speaker 1: second and three point percentage, and that's definitely hurt their 681 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:52,160 Speaker 1: half court offense. At times, it's a lot of Franz 682 00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:57,280 Speaker 1: Wagner and Pala Bancaro, Wendell Carter and Markel Foltz missing 683 00:32:57,400 --> 00:33:01,400 Speaker 1: jump shots right now, But that again, like that's kind 684 00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:04,360 Speaker 1: of gonna be something they deal with throughout the season. However, 685 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:07,160 Speaker 1: They've got a lot of advantages, particularly with their size 686 00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:10,680 Speaker 1: and athleticism. They are huge, they are athletic at every 687 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:14,600 Speaker 1: position group. They play hard, they play physical. These are 688 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:17,440 Speaker 1: some crazy stats about their defense right now. They're the 689 00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:19,520 Speaker 1: best defense in the league in defensive rating and they're 690 00:33:19,520 --> 00:33:21,080 Speaker 1: the only team in the league allowing fewer than one 691 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:24,120 Speaker 1: hundred points per one hundred possessions. They are third in 692 00:33:24,320 --> 00:33:28,120 Speaker 1: rebounding percentage. They are sixth in offensive rebounds per one 693 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:31,400 Speaker 1: hundred possessions. They are fourth in opponents points in the 694 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:34,880 Speaker 1: paint per one hundred possessions. They are seventh in defending 695 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:37,320 Speaker 1: the three point line, both in three pointers made by 696 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:41,000 Speaker 1: opponents and opponent three point percentage. They are third in 697 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:43,920 Speaker 1: steals per one hundred possessions. And they are the second 698 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:47,000 Speaker 1: best transition defense in the league. So they are just 699 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:49,720 Speaker 1: cleaning house in all of the margins of the game, 700 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:52,560 Speaker 1: with all of their size and athleticism. Again, Wendell Carter 701 00:33:52,960 --> 00:33:55,600 Speaker 1: is a good starting center in this league. Palo and 702 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:59,320 Speaker 1: Franz bring this huge rim pressure element to the team. 703 00:33:59,520 --> 00:34:03,000 Speaker 1: Palo's a very good post player throughout his NBA career. 704 00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:06,440 Speaker 1: Franz as this big playmaking forward right, and then Folts 705 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:11,200 Speaker 1: and Suggs bring real downhill athleticism. D'Angelo Russell and Austin 706 00:34:11,239 --> 00:34:14,640 Speaker 1: Reeves got their asses kicked last night just by those 707 00:34:14,680 --> 00:34:17,359 Speaker 1: two guys beating them off the dribble, beating them off 708 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:20,720 Speaker 1: of cuts, beating them on the offensive glass. Markel Folts 709 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:22,960 Speaker 1: was even just picking them apart in pick and roll. 710 00:34:23,000 --> 00:34:24,960 Speaker 1: There was a sequence down the stretch where he actually 711 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:29,840 Speaker 1: played Austin Reeves off the floor where he basically gets 712 00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:33,960 Speaker 1: downhill and makes an easy layup over Anthony Davis. Then 713 00:34:34,120 --> 00:34:38,000 Speaker 1: he Anthony Davis steps up and they both go to 714 00:34:38,040 --> 00:34:39,919 Speaker 1: the ball and he throws a lob to Wendell Carter 715 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:43,800 Speaker 1: Junior for the easy dunk right. Then then Markel Foltz 716 00:34:43,920 --> 00:34:46,279 Speaker 1: just starts caving Austin's chest in for an easy hook 717 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:48,839 Speaker 1: shot in the lane. They were just getting bucket after 718 00:34:48,880 --> 00:34:52,520 Speaker 1: bucket after bucket. They couldn't do anything with that Markel 719 00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:55,560 Speaker 1: Folts Wendell Carter pick and roll and they actually played 720 00:34:55,560 --> 00:34:58,040 Speaker 1: Austin Reeves off the floor. And that's the cool part 721 00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:01,160 Speaker 1: is like Folts is your third best prim initiator and 722 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:03,560 Speaker 1: he took over the offense late and made a bunch 723 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:06,040 Speaker 1: of huge plays to get them back into this game. 724 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:08,440 Speaker 1: And they probably had a good chance to win that 725 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:10,640 Speaker 1: game if if Jalen Suggs just makes a better rim 726 00:35:10,640 --> 00:35:12,880 Speaker 1: decision there down in that final possession, he just decided 727 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:15,920 Speaker 1: to challenge ad big mistake. There's an easy drop off 728 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:17,880 Speaker 1: pass to Wendell Carter right in the dunker spot. It's 729 00:35:17,880 --> 00:35:20,040 Speaker 1: probably what he should have done. But this is a 730 00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:23,080 Speaker 1: fun team. They are two to one right now despite 731 00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:26,680 Speaker 1: both Franz Wagner and Paulo Bancaro playing poorly. They're both 732 00:35:26,680 --> 00:35:29,520 Speaker 1: shooting below forty percent from the field, and they bring 733 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:32,680 Speaker 1: a bunch of athleticism and size off the bench as well, 734 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:36,360 Speaker 1: like Cole Anthony and Gary Harris are a pretty athletic backcourt, 735 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:39,239 Speaker 1: especially for a bench group. Gary Harris is seven for 736 00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 1: eleven on catch and shoot three so far this season 737 00:35:41,920 --> 00:35:45,480 Speaker 1: catch shoot jumpers, I should say, and that lineup is 738 00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:48,480 Speaker 1: tied off, so you got Cole Anthony and Gary Harris, 739 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:50,840 Speaker 1: but then you've got Mo Wagner at the center position 740 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:53,400 Speaker 1: who's playing well. And then you have Joe Ingles and 741 00:35:53,680 --> 00:35:57,360 Speaker 1: Jonathan Isaac in there as like good lanky, rangey wings 742 00:35:57,400 --> 00:36:00,760 Speaker 1: on the perimeter. So that lineup right now is plus 743 00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:05,600 Speaker 1: twenty three points net in fifty three possessions, excellent on 744 00:36:05,680 --> 00:36:07,600 Speaker 1: both ends of the floor. They feel like a playoff 745 00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:09,880 Speaker 1: team to me. I mean like they're gonna win a 746 00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:12,239 Speaker 1: lot of games even if they don't shoot particularly well. 747 00:36:12,440 --> 00:36:15,279 Speaker 1: And if those guys start to take steps up as 748 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:18,960 Speaker 1: jump shooters, especially as Franz and Palos start playing better offensively, 749 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:21,000 Speaker 1: they're gonna be even tougher to beat. Don't be surprised 750 00:36:21,040 --> 00:36:23,239 Speaker 1: they play the Clippers tonight. Don't be surprised if they 751 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:25,239 Speaker 1: beat the Clippers tonight. That's on the table. That's something 752 00:36:25,239 --> 00:36:28,080 Speaker 1: that team is capable of doing. All right, guys, That 753 00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:30,120 Speaker 1: is all I have for this portion of the show. 754 00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:31,880 Speaker 1: Like I said, I'm gonna be back later this afternoon 755 00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:35,879 Speaker 1: breaking down Warriors, Pelicans and Wolves Hawks. I will see 756 00:36:35,920 --> 00:37:05,760 Speaker 1: you guys. Then the volume