1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: Hmmm here it was popping. What's up man? You are 2 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: officially locker room episil Oh, John, dude, We're good. We're 3 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: just we're trying not to dive too deep in anything, 4 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 1: so so we could wait for you to get on board. 5 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: But first of all, thank you all for coming to 6 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: hang out and join. I'm super stoked to have Mr 7 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: Jason Maples joining us tonight, one of my favorite Lakers guys. 8 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 1: I'm not afraid to tell the blunt and honest truth, 9 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 1: which I think is what is needed from time to time. 10 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: But I thought that was a super interesting game. Uh. 11 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: Rogers just asked, and Jason, I think we could start 12 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: with you. Uh. You know, I've been kind of onto 13 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: this for a while, but Dallas is a lot better 14 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:08,040 Speaker 1: than their record shows, and they've been winning about sixty 15 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:12,119 Speaker 1: five percent of their games for a while now, um, 16 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 1: and they're more or less kind of more on the 17 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: tier of what you know, Denver has been most of 18 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:18,960 Speaker 1: the season if you look at them through the lens 19 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: of what they've been lately. So I think people have 20 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: a little bit of a twisted interpretation how good they are. 21 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: What's your thought on Dallas? How good do you think 22 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: they are um and do you think that they pose 23 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: a threat to anybody? Uh? Yeah, I agree. Actually tweeted 24 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 1: in the first quarter, I was like, what is what 25 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 1: is Dallas missing to get to the next level? So 26 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 1: I think there are a lot better They started off 27 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: really slow. I think a lot of you have to 28 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: do with Lucas conditioning. You know, he kind of used 29 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: their engine and Porzingis was out also, Yeah, exactly, so 30 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: once Luca got in NBA game shape just kind of 31 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: took off. He's their engine. He's probably one of the 32 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: five best offensive players basketball as far as carrying team. 33 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: And uh yeah, but I just I don't think, well, 34 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: my I think they're gonna lose in the first round. 35 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: But that is more of a not to how good 36 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: the West is, not how bad their team is. Just 37 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:14,639 Speaker 1: it's just so deep in the West. Those top four 38 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: teams are just you know, either any one of the 39 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: four teams, you know, you could get to the finals. 40 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: So it's just tough for Dallas to break into that, 41 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 1: uh top four. The missing something I don't know whether 42 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:28,679 Speaker 1: it's a wing, uh, a reliable second option of the 43 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 1: size sports he gets, but they're missing something to break 44 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:35,399 Speaker 1: into that. You know, top four a lot of teams. Yeah, 45 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: they need like another ball handler right to go with Luca. 46 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: He's pretty much created everything. But man, they're gonna be 47 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: a tough cover I was saying it before you got 48 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: in here. I have to say Maples now because there's 49 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 1: two Jason's in here, Maples. But yeah, they're tough cover man. 50 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 1: The way that they space the floor right if their 51 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: shooters are going, and then the way that Luca he 52 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: gets the calls so you can't even really touch him, 53 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 1: and then he just controls off ball strings, pick and roll, 54 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:01,680 Speaker 1: be dry as he knows exactly where everyone is on 55 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: the floor. That they're tough cover man. There's a reason 56 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: why they took that Clippers team to I think six 57 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:08,799 Speaker 1: last year without porzingis Um. I feel like they could 58 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 1: do the same again this year if those two teams 59 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 1: are matched up like I think, they're just a really tough, 60 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:17,359 Speaker 1: tough team. And lucas a superstar already. What two It's crazy. 61 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 1: He's incredible that he'd even scored the first quarter and finish. Yeah, 62 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: he came in and controlled the game. He also poses 63 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: yet another one of those examples of like the bigger, 64 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: stronger win, like Cruso did a really good job with 65 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 1: him at the end of the fourth quarter, but there 66 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 1: were quite a few times in that game where he 67 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: got him into that ten fifteen foot zone and there's 68 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: a little bit of that Lebron effect where like you 69 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 1: can't help because Luca is just gonna burn you every 70 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: time if you do, and he would just kind of 71 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 1: bump Cruso and get to his little like one like 72 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: fade away or turn around a little push shot, and 73 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: like that's the kind of problem. That's the one week 74 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: spot and then otherwise super elite Laker defense is just 75 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: those bigger, like those bigger ball handlers that can take 76 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: advantage of the fact that the Lakers have kind of 77 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: prioritized quickness and effort in a little bit less size 78 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: on the perimeter as opposed to kind of a Clippers 79 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 1: esque you know, all wings everyone's six eight and above 80 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: kind of kind of yeah, but you know what, you 81 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 1: know what I know, and I tweeted at the end 82 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 1: of the game, you know the defensive issues that that 83 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: were raised, they get they get a race with with 84 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 1: a d at the five about it just he's just 85 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:26,239 Speaker 1: able to switch and Lucas not able to body him. Okay, 86 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 1: the same bout of space, and he just makes Luca's 87 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:31,719 Speaker 1: life a living hill off the switch in my opinion 88 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 1: when it matters. So I don't think they'll be seeing 89 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,039 Speaker 1: like Luca just rose to the Lakers drop coverage. But 90 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: that's all you can do with jumping the trails out there. 91 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: You know they're not gonna get up his switch. But 92 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 1: A d is going to give the Lakers a switching 93 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 1: option in a chappion option as well. So I think, 94 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 1: you know, the way the Lakers defend those type of 95 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: actions completely changes in the playoffs. You're right, And I 96 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 1: want I want to pay Denver Dallas a quick compliment 97 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: here because, like I think there are a couple of 98 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 1: teams recently that have made the you know, trades in 99 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: the off season that we're obviously going to hurt them 100 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 1: in the regular season, but that we're going to make 101 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: them better in the long run. Like Dallas kind of 102 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 1: overwent like an identity change, like hey, we're gonna trade 103 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:17,719 Speaker 1: Curry for Josh Richardson because we know we couldn't defend 104 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 1: well enough in the postseason to compete, you know, And 105 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: they understood that there was going to be growing pains 106 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,600 Speaker 1: because the the overall offensive, you know, identity of the 107 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: team changes with that. Casteth Curry is one of the 108 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 1: best shooters in the league, you know. And then it's 109 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,039 Speaker 1: no different than Milwaukee trading all those all their depth 110 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: for Drew Holiday. Like they knew that was going to 111 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 1: hurt them in the regular season because they thrived on 112 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,719 Speaker 1: their depth. But both of those teams now are starting 113 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: to peak because their identity is kind of built to 114 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 1: succeed at this phase of the season when the teams 115 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: all really know who they are and and they're going 116 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: for more of a postseason type of identity. Yeah, what 117 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: do you guys think of how they started the game, 118 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: because we kind of got a peak right into how 119 00:05:56,440 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: Bogo thinks about defending them. He put KCP on Perzingis 120 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 1: right to start, and then they just trapped Luca and 121 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: then had a d Like you said, Maple is kind 122 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 1: of free roaming around and be able to He got 123 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 1: some steals in the beginning, and then Luca kind of 124 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: was able to take over after that. But I thought 125 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: like that was a really good force quarter when they started. 126 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 1: They defended well to open. I think they went up 127 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: like fourteen or six or something like that. So what 128 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:20,280 Speaker 1: do you guys think about their kind of putting a 129 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: KCP on perzine is and then kind of trying to 130 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 1: scheme him out that way, um, trying to just trap 131 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: him every time. Uh well, I'll say a lot of 132 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 1: teams do that with Ports because then they don't think 133 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 1: he's the toughest guy. So a lot of teams go 134 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 1: small against it. I think it's kind of standard, but 135 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 1: I agree that that, you know, that's probably what it's 136 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: probably a smart thing to do, this smart small home 137 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: Ports gift his post up. I got a double check, 138 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: but it's I don't know how good it's post up, 139 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: you know, p P P is. So I think that 140 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 1: might have been trying to you know, force that action. 141 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 1: It bakes them be in the posting up because it's 142 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: not a strong sort of lagers are really good about, 143 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:00,040 Speaker 1: you know, making you do things that you're not comfortable with. 144 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 1: His office. That's why they're one of the you know, 145 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 1: the best defensive the NBA. So I think that's what, 146 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 1: you know, the latter thing he was there. He's been 147 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: a little bit better posting up this season. Zach What 148 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 1: was talking about it on one of his podcasts recently. Um, 149 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 1: it's it's not in a ton of volume, but he's 150 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 1: been relatively efficient compared like last year he was absolutely horrible. 151 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: But I mean you're right, like it's it's perception versus reality, 152 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 1: Like everybody on the floor, even though it may be 153 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 1: a successful play in the limited times that they actually 154 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: do it, you'd rather have that Dallas offense, which is 155 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: so difficult to guard when Lucas, you know, doing all 156 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 1: his wizardry. You'd rather have kp you know, posting up 157 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: with everyone else just kind of standing around and watching him. 158 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: It's like a stagnation kind of thing. Um. One of 159 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: the things that I thought was interesting and I'm interested 160 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 1: to hear you guys just take is like there was 161 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: a little bit of that vibe from the season opener 162 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: last year where it was like they just throw the 163 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 1: ball down to a D and everybody kind of kind 164 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: of stands around and and I don't understand why you 165 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: would ever do that with like Drummond on the floor, 166 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 1: because there's just no space for him to be physically aggressive. 167 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 1: And it's been it's been the most frustrating thing about 168 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 1: that for the last two years is when they post 169 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: up a D because we all want him to post 170 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: up a D, but they seem seemingly do it strategically 171 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: at the worst times. Well, I think tonight it was 172 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: more so. There was an emphasis on getting just Anthony's 173 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,559 Speaker 1: legs back. Yeah, getting a D back into the flow. 174 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: But I don't think that's gonna be a thing when 175 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: it when it when a history fan. But as you said, 176 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: it has been, let's just cross our figure. I thought 177 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: him going through for ten it was super predictable, like 178 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: and I don't mean that as like an eighties garbage 179 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 1: kind of thing. I just mean like he's a very 180 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 1: rhythm oriented type of player, and like you just gotta 181 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 1: let him get out there and get his reps until 182 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: it feels comfortable and confident. Again, absolutely agree with I 183 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: think I think they were just trying to get him, 184 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: like you said, Maples his legs under him right and 185 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: just try to get try to get a couple of 186 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 1: jump shots up. Um. I would like to him to 187 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 1: run a little bit more screen roll action with shooter, 188 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:13,440 Speaker 1: but I think they will come as we go here. 189 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 1: But it was good to see him just move around. 190 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 1: He had like a shot big drive on Willie Calli 191 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 1: Stein where I think showed like he was pretty comfortable 192 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 1: moving around today, So I think that's all that really 193 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: mattered today that he looked. He looked okay and didn't 194 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 1: get getting get hurt again, So he looked good. So 195 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: I got a question for you guys, So uh with 196 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: if you I, I personally have been super impressed by uh, 197 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: Dennis and KCP lately. And what I think is good 198 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 1: about that is the fact that you know, we've seen 199 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: th HTV up and down. We've seen Treads once again 200 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 1: kind of have a rough night tonight. You know, Drummond 201 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: has been up and down. But like I would argue, 202 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 1: and I'm interesting here, what you guys think, I would 203 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 1: argue that those guys are way less important for the 204 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 1: postseason run than Dennis and KCP. Those are two guys 205 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,960 Speaker 1: is that they're absolutely gonna have to lean on in 206 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 1: all of their best lineups and and wins or losses. 207 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 1: At this point, seeing those two guys both peaking is like, 208 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 1: absolutely amazingly encouraging. So what have you guys thought about 209 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: what you've seen from Dennis during the stretch will serve 210 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:22,680 Speaker 1: with Jason um Dennis. You know, James, we've talked before. 211 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 1: I've always been super high on Dennis, even through the 212 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 1: rough offensive uh stretch he went through. I just think 213 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: having somebody aside from Lebron who can put pressure pressure 214 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 1: of the rim constantly. I just think there's no there's 215 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: no way that's a negative, you know, regardless of sometimes 216 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 1: the turnovers or the you know, the tough finishing. I 217 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 1: just think have somebody besides the Brown who can do 218 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 1: that is good and it makes the non Lebron minutes 219 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: more manageable. Having somebody who could break down the defensive 220 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: of always gonna be teen Dennis's especially good to see 221 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 1: the jump shot come around lately. That's just actually going 222 00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 1: to the cake, you know, that's just you know, keeping 223 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: the floor spread. It makes his speed that much more, 224 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 1: you know, of a factor, because you can't just sack 225 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: off because he's making jump shots in k P. It's 226 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: just we'll see which one we get. Man. It's just 227 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 1: he's had his cold. He's had his cold. Hopefully, just 228 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 1: you have the playoffs, we get the just the correct 229 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 1: you know, tide volume version, the good version. Yeah, he's 230 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 1: speaking at the right time, right like the playoffs are 231 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 1: coming with like a month away. I think this is 232 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: his third strade game with I think at least five threes, 233 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 1: so that's really so he's really starting to pick it up. 234 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:36,839 Speaker 1: And then Dennis Man, he just he looks tired though 235 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:38,079 Speaker 1: at the end of the end of games, kind of 236 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 1: because he's kind of running everything. But yeah, when the 237 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:41,839 Speaker 1: brunt and he gets eight, you get back and you 238 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 1: have all the attention on them, and then he can 239 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 1: run high screening screen action and be able to get 240 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 1: to his mid range pull up. He looks a lot 241 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:50,240 Speaker 1: more aggressive nowadays. Right. He was really trying to get 242 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 1: the team going, and he got them back in it 243 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: after they could have really let that let that game away. 244 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:56,560 Speaker 1: So he's playing good, both of them. They got like 245 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 1: what fifties fifty five points out of the backcourt tonight, 246 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 1: which should have been enough, but they just didn't get 247 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:04,200 Speaker 1: enough shooting around them. But yeah, Dennis looked good going 248 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:06,320 Speaker 1: into the going into the playoffs too, So we get it. 249 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 1: Getting our back layer starting back layer going as the 250 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 1: two stars come back should be good. I thought you 251 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 1: played really well today, do you guys? What's what's the 252 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: timetable for Labron coming back? Is there anything? Officially? It 253 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 1: was just all speculation. So he said that they had 254 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: that report that came out that said he's doing light shooting. Um, 255 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: I don't know that anybody has an official timeline, but 256 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 1: like the thing is is that like things kind of 257 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 1: broke absolutely perfectly for the Lakers. And and I know 258 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 1: it sounds crazy to say, because I feel we obviously 259 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 1: you'd like to be the one seed, you'd like that 260 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: homeboard advantage, all that good stuff, But to catch Denver 261 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: in the first round, which it looks like the Lakers 262 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,200 Speaker 1: should be able to control that because there's enough of 263 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 1: a gap between them and uh in Dallas in Portland 264 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:52,079 Speaker 1: that even if it got a little closer, they could 265 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: put their foot on the gas and kind of build 266 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 1: that gap back up. They're going to catch Denver without 267 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: Murray in the first round, then they're going to get 268 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: one of the x Utah teams in the second round, 269 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 1: and they'll be able to play the Clippers late in 270 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: a series where they're basically gonna have home court advantage 271 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: the whole time. And like, and they're generally speaking, you 272 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:13,439 Speaker 1: trust Lebron on the road, so like they basically sacrificed 273 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 1: home court advantage as a result of these injuries. I 274 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: don't necessarily see the point. I think we would have 275 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 1: already seen Lebron if the situation is more dire, I 276 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: think if they were in the plan, he would have 277 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 1: been already playing. That's my opinion on it. And I 278 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:32,200 Speaker 1: think I think that like the example i'd us is 279 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 1: like Clay Thompson, Like Clay Thompson had a high ankle 280 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 1: sprain in the finals and played two nights later. And 281 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,719 Speaker 1: I'm not saying that Lebron's wasn't a little worse than that, 282 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: But I mean, he's pushing what like six weeks now, 283 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 1: like I think, I think, I think, I think he's 284 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 1: really been Like I think, I think they they've been 285 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 1: reading the situation in the standings, and they like where 286 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,319 Speaker 1: they are, and I think they realize now that like, 287 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:58,839 Speaker 1: why the hell not take it a little easy here 288 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: and bring back almost like you know, you know, Maple's. 289 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: You and I talked right before the bubble, if you remember, 290 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: we talked about that ramp up in those seeding games 291 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: and were worried about whether or not Lebron would be 292 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 1: able to do it because we said, he's never done 293 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 1: this before, if you remember, And ironically, it's basically shaping 294 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 1: up to be more or less the same thing Lebron 295 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 1: is gonna come back with eight or nine games left 296 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: in the season. He's gonna do this blitz end of 297 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 1: a regular season style and then drop right into a 298 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 1: postseason run. And weirdly he just did that. So like 299 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 1: it's almost perfect. But I think that's I think he's healthy. 300 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: I think he's just been taking his time for those reasons. 301 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 1: The standing's breaking out and the fact that he knows 302 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: he can do this type of physical ramp up timeline. Yeah, 303 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: I mean I agree with that. It's just I had 304 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: the same thing with the Nets. I just like at 305 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: some point there's you know, your touring online between continuity 306 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 1: and rest that they're only concerned like you got like 307 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 1: drumming is a big piece, Like he's only big piece 308 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 1: because you brought him in the start, so you have 309 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 1: to get there's gonna be an adjustment period with him 310 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 1: and Lebron and a D playing together. I'm a little 311 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 1: bit concerned with the space and you can aspected that 312 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: usually when there's a big another big in there, a 313 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: D tis to settle a little more for for some times. 314 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 1: So that's like one of the concerns I have. Also, 315 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: you know, Lebron lefs to put pressure on the rim, 316 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 1: so I think, you know, drummondeds and learn how to 317 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 1: work around that. So I think that's you know, the 318 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 1: things I need to the thing to you know, kind 319 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: of practice with with live bullets, you know, sort of 320 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: speak before we uh, you know, going right to the playoffs. 321 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 1: That's my only concern. This is everything I happened, And 322 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: I think it's why the netural toast actually because they 323 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: only played seven years their guys at least the Lakers 324 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: haven't playoff last year to bank on where their main 325 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: guys played together. And you still got KCP, who's Caruso. 326 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: You know, a bunch of guys who have been there, 327 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 1: so they have more of a found dation. So you know, 328 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: try this you know late push thing. Yeah, I'm with 329 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 1: I'm in Maples there. I feel like there's a continuity 330 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: that you have to try to build um with this 331 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: new team. And also Jason timp I know, yeah, there 332 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: you go. Lebron doesn't look like a guy who's gonna 333 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: just sit out if he's healthy, right, Like, I'm sure 334 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: they're being really careful. I'm sure they're really careful with it, 335 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: but I feel like he's a guy that wants to 336 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 1: play if you can. Um. I guess the good thing 337 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 1: about Lebron and a D is they build up all 338 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 1: their continuity last year. Right. We had a Charles Barkley 339 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: go on and say he picked the Blazers in Denver 340 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 1: to beat them. No cons no kind of there's no continuity. 341 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 1: But I mean they had a season's worth of it 342 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 1: last year, right, so that's what they can bank on 343 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: going forward. That's a difference to me to the Nets, 344 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 1: who I know you said they're cooked, but I still 345 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 1: think they make the finals. They're just too much talent there. 346 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 1: But like, at least the Lakers have that continuity they 347 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: built from a last season that the Nets don't really have, right, 348 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 1: I think they played like seven games together or something. 349 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 1: But deal man that that talent go ahead, it's just 350 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: so more or less. I I think that there's a 351 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:11,959 Speaker 1: difference between offensive continuity and defensive continuity. Like you know, 352 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: the Lakers already defend I checked right before the game 353 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 1: their fourth and defense since Lebron went down, and that's 354 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:21,640 Speaker 1: with a couple of recent not so great performances. They 355 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: already defend. Lebron and Nadi are already high i Q 356 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 1: defenders that can slot in and then Lebron is a 357 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,639 Speaker 1: really high i Q player that can slot in and 358 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 1: solve all of their problems. Like think, look at the 359 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:36,800 Speaker 1: post or the pick and roll passing. Tonight it was 360 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 1: mostly horrible, like like Shrewder does an okay job, but 361 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:44,400 Speaker 1: there's balls flying off a knees, there's balls flying off 362 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: a noses, like like Caruso sometimes doesn't know what to 363 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: do when he gets in there. They're gonna be switching 364 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:53,119 Speaker 1: from that to arguably one of the top two or 365 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:56,640 Speaker 1: three pick and roll passers of all time. Like literally, 366 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 1: so the the i Q fit is going to be 367 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 1: such an aatur fit. When I look at the nets, 368 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:03,159 Speaker 1: I think that think about it the same way. And 369 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 1: Katie said this on the on that podcast that he 370 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 1: did UH recently with with Banski. He basically said like, like, 371 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 1: I'm not worried about our fit because we're all high 372 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:16,720 Speaker 1: Q players, And I agree with him, I don't. I 373 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 1: don't worry about their ability to get it to go offensively. 374 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: It's just defensively, Like they that group because their core lineups, 375 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: when they're all paying playing forty minutes at night, their 376 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 1: core lineups are all gonna have harden kyree kd that 377 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:33,159 Speaker 1: trio has to learn how to guard and how to 378 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:36,800 Speaker 1: get stops, and they have that. That takes, like, dude, 379 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: that takes frustration. That takes you getting scored on a lot. 380 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 1: Before guys started looking at each other and holding each 381 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:46,720 Speaker 1: other accountable and starting to anticipate things and being in 382 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 1: the right spot at the right time, extra effort, plays, 383 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 1: all that stuff. Like, there's gonna be some growing pains there. 384 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 1: And I think that's what ends up getting them beat 385 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 1: in the postseason is just extremely sloppy defense from the 386 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: guys who haven't been playing much in this stretch. Yeah, 387 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 1: now you gotta be on a string man, and that 388 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 1: takes time. So that's why I think they're Their downfall 389 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:09,879 Speaker 1: would be you know, people are laughing at me, but 390 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 1: I just take it with Philly Bath. I got a 391 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: real quick question for you there at Maples. So, like, 392 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 1: we already know what Ben Simmons degenerates into in the postseason, 393 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: which is basically a dunker spot guy and a guy 394 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:25,919 Speaker 1: who can score in transition against bad teams in the 395 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 1: first round, but um, their other star is really really 396 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 1: dependent on getting to the free throw line, and like 397 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 1: you watch him when he gets a step on the dude, 398 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:41,920 Speaker 1: he's not trying to bump you off to go up. 399 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,680 Speaker 1: He's trying to get into you, extend his arms, trying 400 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,880 Speaker 1: to like do that crazy you know hard, and he's 401 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:50,439 Speaker 1: like post up hard and trying to do that like 402 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:53,159 Speaker 1: kind of ripped up, moved with both arms, trying to 403 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 1: draw fouls, and like, we just have so much evidence 404 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:59,679 Speaker 1: of that ship just not working in the postseason. And 405 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 1: so I do wonder if you if you see between 406 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 1: Ben Simmons limitations and and be it's leaning on fouling, 407 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:09,399 Speaker 1: if their offense is just gonna come to a halt 408 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 1: in the postseason. Well, you know, I said this earlier. 409 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 1: I was like, you can find a fatal, potentially fatal 410 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: flaw in any team, right, And I get Phillies a 411 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: little different because there's happened to be one of their 412 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:23,879 Speaker 1: core guys, one of the guys that they kind of 413 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 1: build everything around. But I just like it beat it. 414 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 1: It's a little different this year. Man. It's just he's 415 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: his post up you know, p p P. He's best 416 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 1: in the league. His isolation p p P, he's best 417 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:38,280 Speaker 1: in the league. So it's not even just a free 418 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:42,000 Speaker 1: throws thing. Like when he scores, he like he scores. Man, 419 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 1: It's like it's it's it's just different. This year he 420 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:46,040 Speaker 1: took a jump in all those areas, which I think 421 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:47,960 Speaker 1: is why he's you know, if it wasn't for injuries, 422 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:49,920 Speaker 1: he bet the m v P. I think Joe just 423 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:51,399 Speaker 1: kind of run away with it. But yeah, man, I 424 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: think it's a little different with with where and beat 425 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 1: is this year compared to last year as far as 426 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 1: you know, being more efficient it what he has the 427 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 1: ball is in. I guess more shooting than usual too. 428 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:07,920 Speaker 1: That's also true. Shooting is definitely helped in that regard. 429 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: That's a great point for sure. But like my question is, 430 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:13,400 Speaker 1: I feel like you need a perimeter ball handler, right, 431 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 1: I can shock create in the playoffs, like I think 432 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 1: in bid has been awesome, but I feel like it's 433 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 1: it's easier to trap him in the playoffs and like 434 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,639 Speaker 1: a perimeter wing ball handler. My question do you trust 435 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 1: like Tobias Hairs to kind of be in that role? 436 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 1: He had a game winner on the Lakers I seek 437 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 1: this year actually, but like do you trust him in 438 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 1: that role to uh to create enough for Philly, especially 439 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: when Ben sim is obviously in the half court in 440 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:36,920 Speaker 1: the playoffs is going to become a dunker spot guy 441 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 1: and then pretty much it's indeed creating shots primarily, right, 442 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:44,199 Speaker 1: I guess helps with that as well. But that's my question, 443 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 1: like do you think Tobias Hairs can kind of fit 444 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:49,679 Speaker 1: into that role which they'll need him, right, they'll need 445 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:58,199 Speaker 1: him to Chris Hilton or Tobias Harris or christ I mean, 446 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 1: it's like it's kind of like like a give to share, 447 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:02,920 Speaker 1: you know, if you just you know, I have to 448 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:07,439 Speaker 1: shout out first of all, shout out Tim and you know, 449 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: be ball your decks, like it's well worth the five 450 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:12,160 Speaker 1: hours about every mindy's listening, you know what I'm saying 451 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:15,679 Speaker 1: to get access to all this information. But just Tobias 452 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 1: is just having a career year like as well. And 453 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:22,680 Speaker 1: there Doc Rivers, that's with Philly. Is Doc Rivers worth anything, Jason, 454 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:25,720 Speaker 1: because I think what's hell Doc back is the same 455 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 1: thing that's hell Dan pony Back. It's just they don't adjust. 456 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:31,719 Speaker 1: It's like they're gonna do what they're gonna do. And 457 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:35,359 Speaker 1: if you messing up, they're so old school, they're just 458 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 1: like we execute. Will you to change? You think you 459 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:41,560 Speaker 1: gotta do with your job, right. So it's like, I 460 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,240 Speaker 1: think that's my issue with with Philly and it's why, 461 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 1: you know, the one time he worked out for Doc. 462 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:49,640 Speaker 1: You know they want a championship, but you know the Lakers, 463 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 1: he doesn't play rashid well until he has to, you know, 464 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 1: and they lose it seven, right, So it's like he's 465 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:57,680 Speaker 1: not a a jester. I think in the playoffs you 466 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:01,399 Speaker 1: gotta adjust. A Western talent gap is super high if 467 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 1: Philly's is not. So that's my one concern about the 468 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:06,200 Speaker 1: seventy six years more so open their own court talent. 469 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: I think Tobias is gonna be, you know big. The 470 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:11,919 Speaker 1: big thing for me is Sef Curry, like that Lea, 471 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:14,439 Speaker 1: that's a guy you can't because usually they've had guys 472 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:17,320 Speaker 1: like coving Ted or J. J. Reddick who've been played 473 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:19,440 Speaker 1: off the floor or they don't come through in those 474 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 1: situations because you know, coving team streaky, Reddick can't bid. 475 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 1: You know, Seth can stay on the floor. So I 476 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:27,359 Speaker 1: think that it's gonna be big for them going for 477 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 1: I said, this is all conjecture. There are somebody. Every 478 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:32,760 Speaker 1: team has a flaw man, every team is. It's just 479 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 1: gonna be a great playoffs in general for me, they do. 480 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 1: You're right, I mean, it's important to put that together. 481 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 1: And I mean, you know, the Lakers had a flaw 482 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:44,199 Speaker 1: going into last season as well. It was just a 483 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 1: flaw that no teams were able to exploit, and it 484 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:50,680 Speaker 1: mainly had to do with them being a bad offense 485 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 1: and a half court and the main reason why was 486 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 1: because they're shooting was inconsistent and more often than not, 487 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 1: the game to generated into a lot of Lebron and 488 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 1: I D. A D isolations with a center on the floor, 489 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 1: and it caused them to stagnate and to Lebron and 490 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:11,239 Speaker 1: A D got passive because they weren't able to get 491 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:12,679 Speaker 1: to the ram with ports facing and it was just 492 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 1: kind of like a you know, a waterfall effect that 493 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: led to that half court offense. But it all changed 494 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 1: when they got to the postseason. They dropped the center 495 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 1: for for the most part. And then God has just 496 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:25,920 Speaker 1: made shots like the Lakers just more and more often 497 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:28,360 Speaker 1: than that when it came down to it, Guys that 498 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: everybody would say on TV like, oh, they're gonna make crews, 499 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:33,200 Speaker 1: so make shots. So they're gonna make k CP makes shots, 500 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:36,440 Speaker 1: Well they did. You know and but but they but 501 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:38,880 Speaker 1: they might not have. And that's the point is like 502 00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:42,880 Speaker 1: the flaw, the fatal flaw in the Laker design didn't 503 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:45,919 Speaker 1: show its ugly head when the time came. And so 504 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 1: that's what it's going to be for all all of 505 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 1: these crews. Like for for both of those teams, for 506 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 1: the Sixers and the Clippers, I worry about their decision 507 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:54,720 Speaker 1: making because, you know, even like it's the same problem 508 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 1: Boston has been having all year. It's like they have 509 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 1: these super elite wings, right Tatum and Brown. They're so good, 510 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 1: they're so skilled, but they're not great decision makers. And 511 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:06,040 Speaker 1: so that offense has sputtered a lot this year, mainly 512 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 1: under the fact that you know, Tatum might be one 513 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:11,800 Speaker 1: of the best, you know, dribble creation wings in the league, 514 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:14,479 Speaker 1: but he's not a guy that understands the possession by 515 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:16,879 Speaker 1: possession flow of a game well enough to pick his 516 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 1: spots and to know when to be passive and want 517 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:21,399 Speaker 1: to be aggressive and so on and so forth. And 518 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:23,119 Speaker 1: those are the big group weaknesses that I see with 519 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 1: Philly in with the Clippers, as they just they have 520 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:30,919 Speaker 1: these like super supernova talents and embat in Kauai and 521 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:33,520 Speaker 1: guys who can make shots around them, like Paul George 522 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 1: liked byas Harris, but they just they lacked a like 523 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:39,240 Speaker 1: super high i Q decision making And that's why, like 524 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:41,880 Speaker 1: if Rondo you know, more or less ends up being 525 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:44,040 Speaker 1: what he's been as of late, which is weird because 526 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:49,920 Speaker 1: we watched for two years. But if he's like that, 527 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,240 Speaker 1: then that's a that's a game changer. Like he he 528 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:55,800 Speaker 1: was the net rating like nightmare. Last year. He was 529 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 1: the worst guy in the Lakers rotation that played legitimate minutes, 530 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 1: and this year all of the Clipper lineups are better 531 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:05,359 Speaker 1: with it. And well, I'll say that the difference is 532 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 1: is that with Lebron James on the court, he's the 533 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:12,240 Speaker 1: point guard and not into a spot he's not comfortable 534 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 1: with like the Clippers Kauai and Paul George. You know, 535 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 1: they don't mind him doing the traffic cop you know thing. 536 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:21,120 Speaker 1: You know he's not gonna you know, hold the ball 537 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:23,560 Speaker 1: direct traffer. They don't mind that. You know, Gwai wants 538 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:25,919 Speaker 1: to go fifty in the basket, get the ball and 539 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:28,239 Speaker 1: face up, the same thing with Paul George. So they 540 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 1: don't mind Rondo playing you know, traffic cop Also, the 541 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:34,320 Speaker 1: Clippers are going to break an NBA record for three 542 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:37,240 Speaker 1: points shooting, so they're facing on the floor that's basically 543 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,960 Speaker 1: on the floor. Is just absolutely ridiculous, right, they spread 544 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,240 Speaker 1: you out and the shooting gang of threes they shoot 545 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:45,280 Speaker 1: almost if I think they're at three for the season, 546 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:49,240 Speaker 1: which is equivalent to like six, Just ridiculous what they're 547 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:51,359 Speaker 1: doing from three point line. I don't know if it's sustainable, 548 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,320 Speaker 1: you know, obviously we will find out, but it's just 549 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:57,920 Speaker 1: Rondo fits exactly what they do and what they need. 550 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:00,880 Speaker 1: Like in the Lakers, he did not and I think 551 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 1: the Lakers, did you know Babe was playing Rondo with 552 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:08,280 Speaker 1: Lebron opposed to just le Venus. Lebron sat so a 553 00:27:08,359 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 1: lip kind of choppy when he was in there. Yeah, 554 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:12,560 Speaker 1: not just that he was playing with like the other 555 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:16,960 Speaker 1: center on the floor exactly. There's no spacing. And he 556 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:19,040 Speaker 1: looks he looks happy to be out of Atlanta, to 557 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:20,960 Speaker 1: be honest, like like looks happy to be on the 558 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:23,400 Speaker 1: championship level team, right, Like he looks like he's playing 559 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:25,480 Speaker 1: hard every night, which is like, why couldn't we get 560 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 1: this round? Right? But yeah, I think he helps them 561 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,680 Speaker 1: because Paul George and Kauai can get really mid range happy, right, 562 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:34,520 Speaker 1: even with all the threes that they that they that 563 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 1: they create, when teams just you know, go isolation against them, 564 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:41,040 Speaker 1: they can get really happy taking like really bad contested shots. 565 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 1: I think j T you say this a lot. You 566 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: say they take a lot of tough shots, right, like 567 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 1: the Clippers. Um, they'll take a lot of tough shot, 568 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 1: especially in the playoffs when the jump shots don't go 569 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:51,720 Speaker 1: down like they do in the regular season. Um, that 570 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:54,000 Speaker 1: that air that airspace is a little bit tighter, right. 571 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:57,159 Speaker 1: That's why they blew three games against Denver because the 572 00:27:57,520 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 1: jump shot just went away. They went up with like 573 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:01,399 Speaker 1: eighteen every game one of those. So I think that's 574 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:04,159 Speaker 1: why Rondo really helps them. Um, and their defense is 575 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:06,359 Speaker 1: starting to pick up as well. They're they're juggernaut. I 576 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 1: feel like they were talking. We talk about them a 577 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:10,800 Speaker 1: lot more if we didn't see what happened in Orlando, Right, 578 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:16,719 Speaker 1: nobody Georgian doc Rivers were like imagine being in heaven, right, 579 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:18,679 Speaker 1: Like they blame everyone but themselves. So it's like a 580 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 1: perfect like it's a really InSync fit. But he's he's 581 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 1: killing the league. I can't even be like Paul George 582 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:29,800 Speaker 1: is having a career another career year. But yeah, he's not. 583 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:34,560 Speaker 1: He's not a completely strange to late season, late regular 584 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:37,560 Speaker 1: season runs where he's super efficient and it looks like 585 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:41,080 Speaker 1: he's poised to finally break through in the posts and 586 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:43,240 Speaker 1: it's not uncommon for him. You will see and I say, 587 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 1: man ty lou Man, like I was like it were 588 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 1: made but just remade bafflely to me why he couldn't 589 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 1: get ahead coaching job. Man, he's just an offensive man. 590 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 1: He just knows how to get guys in the best positions, 591 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 1: you know, to succeed. So that's you know that people 592 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:02,960 Speaker 1: were you know, I understand that, you know, coaching Lebron, 593 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:05,480 Speaker 1: he's gonna get a joint our credit as he should 594 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: that Dave, you know, the best player on every team 595 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 1: he's played for. And I'm just saying, like lose kind 596 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 1: of beauties, got kind of lost and official what happened 597 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 1: at the and of the Cleveland tender. Man, But he 598 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 1: absolutely knows how to coach themselves of offense, you know, 599 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:22,400 Speaker 1: as you can see, man, the I think I think 600 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:26,200 Speaker 1: it's actually interesting what you brought up about Rondo and 601 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 1: Lebron and the way they fit. I've been watching through that. 602 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 1: I think his name is Ben Taylor, but that thinking 603 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:36,440 Speaker 1: Basketball series, um and what he did as like greatest 604 00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 1: Peak series. And I've made it through i want to say, 605 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 1: like four or five of the players, and then I've 606 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:43,480 Speaker 1: made it through his you know synopsis at the end. 607 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:46,200 Speaker 1: And one of the big things that he frequently tackles, 608 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:47,720 Speaker 1: and you can see it a lot in the Kevin 609 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 1: Durant video, which is the one I actually watched today, 610 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:52,760 Speaker 1: but the one that he frequently tackles is the difference 611 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:58,720 Speaker 1: between like a heliocentric offensive creator and then like a specialist, 612 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:02,040 Speaker 1: you know, which is basically what Hadie was and and 613 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:05,640 Speaker 1: the difference in their value is what people argue about, 614 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 1: like which one would you rather have? And the truth 615 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:11,640 Speaker 1: is it entirely depends on what's on the roster, you know. 616 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:15,680 Speaker 1: Like Rondo is such a seamless fit with Kawai and 617 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:19,560 Speaker 1: Paul George because he does what they don't do, and 618 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:23,680 Speaker 1: and with with the Lakers. It always was strange when 619 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:26,200 Speaker 1: Lebron and Nydie were ear Lebron and Rondo were on 620 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:30,200 Speaker 1: the floor together because because of the fact that it 621 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:32,480 Speaker 1: kind of seemed like a redundancy of what they brought 622 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:35,560 Speaker 1: to the table. And again, it doesn't mean I think 623 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:38,040 Speaker 1: I think the difference between which player is more valuable 624 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:40,960 Speaker 1: is entirely dependent on the roster. But I do I 625 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:43,080 Speaker 1: do think that's an interesting point. And I think the 626 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 1: Rondo uh renaissance here with the Clippers is a is 627 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:50,640 Speaker 1: the latest example of how that that may very well 628 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:57,560 Speaker 1: be the way that this all works. Um, So let's 629 00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:00,680 Speaker 1: let's hit one last Lakers topic before we started asking 630 00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 1: if anybody wants to hop in here and and and 631 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:06,920 Speaker 1: talk with us. So at this point, eight s back. 632 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:10,040 Speaker 1: He's gonna probably up it up to you know, twenty 633 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:12,960 Speaker 1: minutes the next night, the next whatever it is, work 634 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:14,600 Speaker 1: his way back. Ron will be back in a week 635 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:18,440 Speaker 1: or so. Um. In this stretch, the Lakers did what 636 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 1: they needed to do, which was avoid catastrophe in the standings. Um, 637 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:24,640 Speaker 1: they're in a position, like we mentioned earlier, which is 638 00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:28,120 Speaker 1: arguably the best possible situation they could be in under 639 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:31,920 Speaker 1: the circumstances, with a viable path to get through the West. 640 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:37,120 Speaker 1: So plainly put, and we'll start with you, Rod, how 641 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:40,040 Speaker 1: do you feel about the Lakers right now as currently 642 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:43,520 Speaker 1: constructed with Lebron and maybe coming back in their chances 643 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:46,960 Speaker 1: to go on and run. I think I feel good 644 00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:49,920 Speaker 1: like they They've stayed at the best defense of the league. Right, 645 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:52,720 Speaker 1: they're still number one, they've been top four since Lebron 646 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:56,200 Speaker 1: and Eady were both down. They added size and Andre Drummond. 647 00:31:56,280 --> 00:31:58,880 Speaker 1: I think they're deeper than last year. Um, just like 648 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 1: as a full roster, right, especially with the Marcus Alston 649 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:04,479 Speaker 1: on the bench treads, you have shooters, shock treating, and man, 650 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:06,360 Speaker 1: those two are healthy. I think I think they're going 651 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:08,160 Speaker 1: to be fine. I feel like that first round matchup, 652 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:10,520 Speaker 1: especially with Denver, um is gonna be kind of like 653 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:12,120 Speaker 1: a test run for both of them. Denver is a 654 00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:14,160 Speaker 1: tough team, but at least it's a it's a series 655 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:17,560 Speaker 1: where Lebron and d can like really about their intensity, right, 656 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:19,200 Speaker 1: so you don't have to play Utah or one of 657 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:22,480 Speaker 1: those fully healthy, healthy teams that I feel like that's 658 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:24,920 Speaker 1: where they'll have the advantage in that first round and 659 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:27,360 Speaker 1: then kind of build from there. So, yeah, if they're 660 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:31,440 Speaker 1: both healthy, I feel like we'll be We'll be fine. Maples, 661 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:36,080 Speaker 1: I'm good. I said before the season, this team is 662 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:40,360 Speaker 1: clearly better then the last year. My thing was just 663 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:43,959 Speaker 1: a mentioned earlier in the show here about the connuity. 664 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:48,520 Speaker 1: Are they able to hit any type of rhythm? They're 665 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:50,480 Speaker 1: the favorite to me. I just I think the team 666 00:32:50,560 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 1: is too deep. Lebron was playing, you know, way too 667 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 1: well in ad with the code part. They were so 668 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:59,120 Speaker 1: dominant and a D wasn't even in shape yet. So 669 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 1: just you said, Shank, do you get Lebron back? They 670 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:05,320 Speaker 1: catch a brother? I don't think thet beats them, you know, 671 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:09,640 Speaker 1: four times out of seven. Yeah. So I always say 672 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:11,200 Speaker 1: that you need to be able to win in multiple 673 00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:15,160 Speaker 1: ways because things rarely go as planned when you get 674 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:18,560 Speaker 1: into these these situations, like no one in the world 675 00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:21,600 Speaker 1: was planning on Jamal Murray turning into like, you know, 676 00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:26,000 Speaker 1: literally Devin Booker on steroids in the playoffs last year. 677 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:28,880 Speaker 1: You have to be able to kind of adjust on 678 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:31,680 Speaker 1: the fly, Like if you can only defend one way 679 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:35,400 Speaker 1: uh cough cough from Milwaukee Bucks, you're gonna you're gonna 680 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:37,840 Speaker 1: have a problem when a team attacks you and you 681 00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:40,200 Speaker 1: don't have an audible that you can go to. And 682 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:42,200 Speaker 1: what I love about this Laker team is I know 683 00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:45,840 Speaker 1: they can win in so many different ways. Like Anthony Davis, 684 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:49,040 Speaker 1: uh could go on a run like he did in 685 00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:51,680 Speaker 1: the second and third round last year in the playoffs, 686 00:33:52,160 --> 00:33:55,440 Speaker 1: where he's all of a sudden Kevin durant Um. But 687 00:33:55,520 --> 00:33:57,920 Speaker 1: he can also fall into a subsidiary role like he 688 00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:02,600 Speaker 1: did against Miami, where he's just this complete defensive nightmare 689 00:34:02,680 --> 00:34:05,880 Speaker 1: for the other team and he's nowhere near as effective 690 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:07,560 Speaker 1: as an isolation score just because of the way the 691 00:34:07,560 --> 00:34:09,600 Speaker 1: spacing worked out and they could audible out of that. 692 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:13,000 Speaker 1: Lebron can can go through these stretches where he's one 693 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:14,920 Speaker 1: of the best off the dribble shooters in the league 694 00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:16,800 Speaker 1: for whatever reason, and then he can go cold. And 695 00:34:16,880 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 1: when he goes cold, when he goes cold, he can 696 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,520 Speaker 1: impact the game as a as a defensive player like 697 00:34:21,520 --> 00:34:23,280 Speaker 1: he did in that Houston Rockets game that I tweeted 698 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:24,960 Speaker 1: out the other day where he had like thirty in 699 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:26,480 Speaker 1: the first half and then couldn't hit the side of 700 00:34:26,480 --> 00:34:28,880 Speaker 1: the backboard if he tried in the second half, but 701 00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:31,200 Speaker 1: then just became Dennis Rodman around the rim, you know, 702 00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:33,560 Speaker 1: Like he can audible into those different things. And then 703 00:34:33,560 --> 00:34:36,040 Speaker 1: as far as their team identity goes, they have all 704 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:38,359 Speaker 1: these different matchups they can attack with Montrez and within 705 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:41,440 Speaker 1: a Schroeder. They defended an extremely high level. They can 706 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:44,480 Speaker 1: go big, they can go small. They have all of 707 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:47,320 Speaker 1: these different audibles that they can hit, and most importantly, 708 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:49,840 Speaker 1: they have different defensive schemes that they repeatedly go to 709 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:52,720 Speaker 1: throughout throughout the regular season. They can trap and recover 710 00:34:53,200 --> 00:34:55,879 Speaker 1: in the existing rotation. They can play like a drop 711 00:34:55,920 --> 00:34:58,480 Speaker 1: coverage with the Drummond type of guy. They can do 712 00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:03,440 Speaker 1: um you know kind catchheads thing that that Cranees uh 713 00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:06,359 Speaker 1: Tim is always talking about on on his podcast, where 714 00:35:06,360 --> 00:35:08,239 Speaker 1: they basically it's kind of like in between a drop 715 00:35:08,280 --> 00:35:10,600 Speaker 1: and a trap. But they have all these different things 716 00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:12,560 Speaker 1: that they can do and all these different audibles that 717 00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:15,200 Speaker 1: they can go to. And then Frank Vogel, you know, 718 00:35:15,640 --> 00:35:18,040 Speaker 1: you say what you wanted about him. Offensively, the way 719 00:35:18,080 --> 00:35:20,880 Speaker 1: this team is put together makes sense. Lebron is basically 720 00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:25,200 Speaker 1: the offensive coordinator and and Frank is basically the defensive coordinator. 721 00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:28,160 Speaker 1: And he is arguably one of the best defensive coordinators 722 00:35:28,160 --> 00:35:30,759 Speaker 1: in the league. And and I just I like all 723 00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:33,040 Speaker 1: the different ways that they can win, and I think 724 00:35:33,080 --> 00:35:37,200 Speaker 1: that gives him versatility to go through different playoff matchups 725 00:35:37,239 --> 00:35:39,800 Speaker 1: because they're gonna face so many different archetypes of teams 726 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:43,400 Speaker 1: here along this stretch, and if anybody is equipped to 727 00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:47,040 Speaker 1: do it, it's them. And then lasting not least physicality 728 00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:49,480 Speaker 1: wins in the playoffs. It always has. It's the guys 729 00:35:49,520 --> 00:35:51,400 Speaker 1: that have the legs at the end of the series. 730 00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 1: It's the guy that have the guys that have the 731 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:57,399 Speaker 1: legs late third round, late fourth round. They're just they're 732 00:35:57,480 --> 00:35:59,640 Speaker 1: less banged up, they're more able to handle all the 733 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:02,640 Speaker 1: physical reality. And I just I think Lebron is built 734 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:05,720 Speaker 1: for that. And so I think I think right now, 735 00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:10,560 Speaker 1: although I think Brokelyn presents a super unique challenge and 736 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:15,000 Speaker 1: certainly a different type of a certain different archetype of contender, 737 00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:18,239 Speaker 1: I think the Lakers are a safe bet because of 738 00:36:18,280 --> 00:36:21,080 Speaker 1: all of those things. Yeah, I think next year is 739 00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:22,799 Speaker 1: the next year. Like I don't buy it this year, 740 00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:24,759 Speaker 1: And like everybody else's, man, it's just it's too many 741 00:36:24,760 --> 00:36:27,319 Speaker 1: moving parts, man, too many moving parts, and just they 742 00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:31,279 Speaker 1: would just break the concept of team building and kind 743 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:33,239 Speaker 1: of doing in chemistry. I just I don't see it. 744 00:36:33,719 --> 00:36:37,799 Speaker 1: Seven games played with your the low. Before that, it 745 00:36:37,880 --> 00:36:40,600 Speaker 1: was like forty that was a Michael Jordan, Scotty and 746 00:36:40,640 --> 00:36:43,080 Speaker 1: Rabbin Forty games play that was in the third year 747 00:36:43,080 --> 00:36:44,879 Speaker 1: of a three peak, so they had a whole bunch 748 00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:48,160 Speaker 1: of experience. So they're gonna play seven games together and 749 00:36:48,239 --> 00:36:53,120 Speaker 1: didn't participating in high leverage games and go to the finals. Man, 750 00:36:53,239 --> 00:36:57,080 Speaker 1: that's the that's a lat we'll see, yeah for sure. 751 00:36:57,080 --> 00:36:59,239 Speaker 1: And Lakers still have that trump card, right, which is 752 00:36:59,280 --> 00:37:01,480 Speaker 1: a D at the I might be even with the 753 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:04,080 Speaker 1: matchup against the Nets, like, that's their trump card that 754 00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:06,200 Speaker 1: no team has really got to figure out yet. So 755 00:37:06,520 --> 00:37:08,359 Speaker 1: it's still that in their back pocket that they haven't 756 00:37:08,360 --> 00:37:10,400 Speaker 1: really used this year very much. Right, I think a 757 00:37:10,520 --> 00:37:12,359 Speaker 1: D has like less than a hundred minutes or something 758 00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:15,239 Speaker 1: at the five this year. He's played so much with 759 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:19,520 Speaker 1: Marcusol and even with Tres another non spacer, right, Um, 760 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:21,960 Speaker 1: so they'll go to that and then Lebron A D 761 00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:24,680 Speaker 1: is still like plus fifteen on the year, which is 762 00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:27,560 Speaker 1: around all the other superstars that are they are playing 763 00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:29,279 Speaker 1: the league. So yeah, I think I think that would 764 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:31,719 Speaker 1: be the matchup. Labels like, I agree with you. I 765 00:37:31,760 --> 00:37:33,919 Speaker 1: think the Nest need continuity, But I just don't see 766 00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:36,759 Speaker 1: a team that maybe Philly yet or Milwalking, but I 767 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:38,319 Speaker 1: just don't see I feel like we're gonna get that 768 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:42,040 Speaker 1: star matchup in the finals going going over here, and 769 00:37:42,040 --> 00:37:45,440 Speaker 1: I'd like to see it. I would. I would like 770 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:47,880 Speaker 1: to see it like Lebron Katie a D. You know, 771 00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:52,480 Speaker 1: maybe you're not high on hardened though none of us 772 00:37:52,480 --> 00:37:55,560 Speaker 1: are really in the in the playoffs, but ill we'll 773 00:37:55,600 --> 00:37:58,160 Speaker 1: see how it goes. I don't think The last thing 774 00:37:58,200 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 1: I want to say about it is just I don't 775 00:37:59,640 --> 00:38:04,200 Speaker 1: think you will value enough what it's like having two 776 00:38:04,239 --> 00:38:07,520 Speaker 1: defensive weapons like Lebron in a D and what that does, 777 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:09,520 Speaker 1: what that does to what the other team can do 778 00:38:09,520 --> 00:38:12,279 Speaker 1: to attack, because like theoretically, what you'd like to do 779 00:38:12,320 --> 00:38:13,520 Speaker 1: all the time is you want to get the other 780 00:38:13,520 --> 00:38:15,640 Speaker 1: team's worst offender on you, and so you'll run like 781 00:38:15,640 --> 00:38:17,520 Speaker 1: a screening action to try to get a switch so 782 00:38:17,560 --> 00:38:19,919 Speaker 1: that you can attack. But the problem is as most 783 00:38:19,920 --> 00:38:22,839 Speaker 1: elite defenses like the Lakers are going to trap you 784 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:25,239 Speaker 1: in that case, and so you actually don't want to 785 00:38:25,239 --> 00:38:27,959 Speaker 1: call up your worst offensive player to get to set 786 00:38:27,960 --> 00:38:29,799 Speaker 1: the screen because now he's the guy that has to 787 00:38:29,840 --> 00:38:31,960 Speaker 1: make the read out of the trap. He's the guy 788 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:33,759 Speaker 1: that has to be your Draymond Green roll into the 789 00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:36,960 Speaker 1: basket like like the Warriors used to do. And so 790 00:38:37,160 --> 00:38:39,719 Speaker 1: what the Lakers can do by putting, and they don't 791 00:38:39,760 --> 00:38:42,080 Speaker 1: do it often because they don't want to waste their legs. 792 00:38:42,160 --> 00:38:44,719 Speaker 1: But when when when the ship hits the fan, they 793 00:38:44,760 --> 00:38:46,480 Speaker 1: can put Lebron and a d on your two best 794 00:38:46,520 --> 00:38:49,120 Speaker 1: players and put you in a situation where they can 795 00:38:49,120 --> 00:38:51,880 Speaker 1: switch that. And now any screen and roll action that 796 00:38:51,920 --> 00:38:53,880 Speaker 1: you do where they can trap, you're gonna be putting 797 00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:58,560 Speaker 1: a lesser offensive player having to make decisions. And that's 798 00:38:58,560 --> 00:39:02,799 Speaker 1: gonna exactly and make it. You're gonna make. You're gonna 799 00:39:02,840 --> 00:39:06,040 Speaker 1: make like a uh gosh, I'm blanking on his name? 800 00:39:06,080 --> 00:39:10,480 Speaker 1: What's that wing for the Mavericks? Not not the Hardaway, 801 00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:14,560 Speaker 1: not Hardaway, not Richardson the taller one, Bennie Smith, Jimmy Smith, 802 00:39:14,640 --> 00:39:18,280 Speaker 1: Like you're gonna make Dorian Fonny Smith make decisions because 803 00:39:18,680 --> 00:39:19,960 Speaker 1: he's going to be the guy that you're gonna have 804 00:39:19,960 --> 00:39:22,160 Speaker 1: to call up to set the screen because Lebron and 805 00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:23,600 Speaker 1: maybe you are going to be in a situation where 806 00:39:23,600 --> 00:39:25,200 Speaker 1: they can guard your two best players and you can't 807 00:39:25,239 --> 00:39:27,800 Speaker 1: run the screening actions with them because they'll just immediately 808 00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:30,200 Speaker 1: switch it and blow the action up. It's like such 809 00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:32,120 Speaker 1: a huge weapon to having a playoff series and the 810 00:39:32,160 --> 00:39:35,000 Speaker 1: Lakers used it relentlessly on Denver. At the end, he 811 00:39:35,120 --> 00:39:43,439 Speaker 1: took up Murray and Yoki chout go ahead and Roger 812 00:39:43,480 --> 00:39:44,640 Speaker 1: makes me most by the way, if you want to 813 00:39:44,640 --> 00:39:47,359 Speaker 1: start bringing people in, oh for sure, but yeah on 814 00:39:47,360 --> 00:39:50,080 Speaker 1: on Denver. Yeah, Lebron went eventually had to decide to 815 00:39:50,080 --> 00:39:52,600 Speaker 1: defend Jamal Murray right when he started just cooking all 816 00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:55,240 Speaker 1: of our guards. He was hitting like step back jumpers 817 00:39:55,280 --> 00:39:57,440 Speaker 1: and sidestep pull ups, and then Lebron just like I 818 00:39:57,440 --> 00:40:00,359 Speaker 1: got him. And then they tried to screen a your 819 00:40:00,400 --> 00:40:02,480 Speaker 1: kitchen Murray and just it didn't work because he put 820 00:40:02,520 --> 00:40:05,359 Speaker 1: Lebron on the Murray and a D on your kitchen. Um, 821 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:07,040 Speaker 1: So yeah, that's something they could do. And I think 822 00:40:07,040 --> 00:40:09,719 Speaker 1: they'll do something similar with like the nets, right, may 823 00:40:09,800 --> 00:40:12,440 Speaker 1: put like Lebron on Kyrie and a D on a 824 00:40:12,560 --> 00:40:14,960 Speaker 1: k D or something so that they can't switch or 825 00:40:15,360 --> 00:40:17,640 Speaker 1: or anything like that. But yeah, Well, if anyone wants 826 00:40:17,640 --> 00:40:21,799 Speaker 1: to come up and uh comment, ask questions, give ideas, uh, 827 00:40:22,200 --> 00:40:25,279 Speaker 1: read through the chat for now as well. Um, y'all, 828 00:40:25,440 --> 00:40:27,600 Speaker 1: do you guys think the Lakers are locked into playing 829 00:40:27,600 --> 00:40:29,960 Speaker 1: Denver in the first round? I think we discussed that right. 830 00:40:30,200 --> 00:40:31,839 Speaker 1: I feel like they are pretty much there are two 831 00:40:31,840 --> 00:40:33,920 Speaker 1: games up on Dallas, so they lose the next one 832 00:40:33,960 --> 00:40:36,200 Speaker 1: to kind of get tough. But I think they're like 833 00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:38,640 Speaker 1: there are three games up on Portland's and two games 834 00:40:38,680 --> 00:40:40,320 Speaker 1: up on Dallas. It feels like they're gonna be pretty 835 00:40:40,320 --> 00:40:43,080 Speaker 1: locked into that, to that five seed or four seed 836 00:40:43,080 --> 00:40:47,799 Speaker 1: if they're able to pass Denver. When you get this 837 00:40:47,960 --> 00:40:51,880 Speaker 1: far along uh into the season, like do you remember, 838 00:40:51,920 --> 00:40:54,440 Speaker 1: do you guys remember two years ago when the Lakers 839 00:40:54,440 --> 00:40:56,360 Speaker 1: were like three games back at the eighth seed, but 840 00:40:56,400 --> 00:40:58,640 Speaker 1: they were like twenty games left. Yet Vegas at them 841 00:40:58,719 --> 00:41:02,920 Speaker 1: is like a sieve underdog to make the playoffs. It's because, 842 00:41:03,000 --> 00:41:05,120 Speaker 1: like I know, two or three games seems like a 843 00:41:05,120 --> 00:41:08,320 Speaker 1: small gap, but with this few games left, it actually 844 00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:11,319 Speaker 1: is a huge gap, and so chances are they're going 845 00:41:11,360 --> 00:41:13,040 Speaker 1: to end up as the five seed. It would take 846 00:41:13,440 --> 00:41:19,960 Speaker 1: a rather spectacular collapse at this point. I agree. See 847 00:41:20,239 --> 00:41:23,960 Speaker 1: it says Kape is mostly likely out Saturday, so we 848 00:41:24,120 --> 00:41:26,600 Speaker 1: probably that's mostly likely a win. I'm not really sure. 849 00:41:26,640 --> 00:41:29,439 Speaker 1: I think Dallas actually looked really good. Maybe he really 850 00:41:29,440 --> 00:41:31,920 Speaker 1: like Bronson, right, I feel like Bronson came in and 851 00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:35,719 Speaker 1: just match Luca's kind of outbursts right, Like he came 852 00:41:35,760 --> 00:41:39,400 Speaker 1: in and he was really good, just you know, not 853 00:41:39,480 --> 00:41:44,560 Speaker 1: that he's eight, but the bigger role working working, he 854 00:41:44,680 --> 00:41:47,320 Speaker 1: was killing us. We'll see, man, I just you know, hopefully, 855 00:41:47,440 --> 00:41:49,560 Speaker 1: you know, the lake of shooting can stick all the 856 00:41:49,560 --> 00:41:54,279 Speaker 1: way through. I'll be big. So I think they can 857 00:41:54,320 --> 00:41:57,399 Speaker 1: defend better than they did tonight. I didn't like I said, 858 00:41:58,640 --> 00:42:01,360 Speaker 1: if Dallas is like the Lakers when they played with 859 00:42:01,640 --> 00:42:05,480 Speaker 1: dropping and transplay the pigger roll companies automatically a drop 860 00:42:05,520 --> 00:42:07,799 Speaker 1: and the Lakers like to rotate out and that's real 861 00:42:07,920 --> 00:42:10,880 Speaker 1: tough with Luca Dunks, man, it's just he's so good. 862 00:42:11,080 --> 00:42:12,960 Speaker 1: You saw do the thing when it comes off screens, 863 00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:15,279 Speaker 1: and with the defender and drop he puts the guy 864 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:18,640 Speaker 1: in jail behind him. It just kind of like waste 865 00:42:18,680 --> 00:42:20,640 Speaker 1: the playoffs to see what opens up. It's just hard 866 00:42:20,680 --> 00:42:24,120 Speaker 1: to play drop coverage and be successful going against Luca 867 00:42:24,120 --> 00:42:25,960 Speaker 1: and he tears that up and then the best man 868 00:42:26,080 --> 00:42:28,640 Speaker 1: is to make up coverages. But a consistent drop, look, 869 00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:34,000 Speaker 1: he's just gonna eat every every every time. Yeah, they 870 00:42:34,000 --> 00:42:36,080 Speaker 1: try to trap him, right, and then uh, they got 871 00:42:36,120 --> 00:42:38,200 Speaker 1: a bunch of Dunks tonight. I felt like the beverage 872 00:42:38,200 --> 00:42:39,760 Speaker 1: has got a bunch of ducks at the rim because 873 00:42:39,960 --> 00:42:42,280 Speaker 1: they were scared to tag right the rollman because Luca 874 00:42:42,360 --> 00:42:44,680 Speaker 1: is so good at that cross core pass. So like 875 00:42:44,760 --> 00:42:47,239 Speaker 1: once they tag even a second, that balls out to 876 00:42:47,280 --> 00:42:50,240 Speaker 1: Phinney Smith to uh Hardaway Jr. To all those guys. 877 00:42:50,239 --> 00:42:51,960 Speaker 1: But I feel like you still can't give up dunks, 878 00:42:51,960 --> 00:42:54,480 Speaker 1: like you gotta. Like they were leaving like kcp on 879 00:42:54,480 --> 00:42:56,840 Speaker 1: Willie Calli Stein and stuff like that. It was just easy. 880 00:42:57,280 --> 00:43:00,760 Speaker 1: It was like easy dunce uh all night for the maps. 881 00:43:01,520 --> 00:43:04,439 Speaker 1: Let's see, you know what was king Lakers figure teams 882 00:43:04,440 --> 00:43:07,160 Speaker 1: out defensively a series get deeper, said Gareman. That's kind 883 00:43:07,160 --> 00:43:10,160 Speaker 1: of that's true, right, they lost a game once twice, um, 884 00:43:10,200 --> 00:43:12,600 Speaker 1: I think against Houston and Portland's and then I can 885 00:43:12,640 --> 00:43:15,160 Speaker 1: kind of build out that um going forward to do 886 00:43:15,200 --> 00:43:17,000 Speaker 1: you agree with that? Maybe like the Lakers kind of 887 00:43:17,640 --> 00:43:19,800 Speaker 1: like figure teams out as they go in a series, 888 00:43:19,840 --> 00:43:21,839 Speaker 1: and Lebron does that too, right, he'll kind of just 889 00:43:21,920 --> 00:43:24,759 Speaker 1: relax and get not relaxed. We'll kind of like just 890 00:43:25,200 --> 00:43:27,239 Speaker 1: feel a team out in game one and they kind 891 00:43:27,239 --> 00:43:30,480 Speaker 1: of go from there. I think Frank has learned, you know, 892 00:43:30,760 --> 00:43:33,960 Speaker 1: he uh he adjusts now you know, he's one of 893 00:43:34,000 --> 00:43:37,040 Speaker 1: those guys that that stick with whatever you got them there. 894 00:43:37,040 --> 00:43:39,880 Speaker 1: He's going to adjust, you know, as far as you 895 00:43:39,880 --> 00:43:42,319 Speaker 1: know what coverage is going. So I think he's better. 896 00:43:42,840 --> 00:43:44,680 Speaker 1: You know, he's better Coaster was and he was with 897 00:43:45,320 --> 00:43:49,000 Speaker 1: Indiana and Orlando is going to adjust. So yeah, I agree, 898 00:43:49,040 --> 00:43:52,400 Speaker 1: that's the part of the figures teams out, you know. 899 00:43:52,640 --> 00:43:54,879 Speaker 1: And and on the Lebron and I tweeted this out 900 00:43:54,880 --> 00:43:57,319 Speaker 1: the other day, another one of those thinking basketball um 901 00:43:57,960 --> 00:44:01,560 Speaker 1: things that I that I was watching. He uh he 902 00:44:01,920 --> 00:44:03,640 Speaker 1: it always is. Well, you know, it's funny, like we 903 00:44:03,640 --> 00:44:05,640 Speaker 1: always talking about with analytics that you wanted to match 904 00:44:05,719 --> 00:44:07,160 Speaker 1: up with the eye test, you know, you never want 905 00:44:07,160 --> 00:44:10,279 Speaker 1: to trust them kind of outright. And it always was 906 00:44:10,320 --> 00:44:12,040 Speaker 1: interesting to me that Lebron seemed to peak at the 907 00:44:12,080 --> 00:44:14,279 Speaker 1: end of playoff series, you know, like he always just 908 00:44:14,320 --> 00:44:16,600 Speaker 1: seemed to play his best games in game five, six, 909 00:44:16,640 --> 00:44:19,759 Speaker 1: and seven of a series for whatever reason. And I think, 910 00:44:19,840 --> 00:44:21,640 Speaker 1: I think I think you can attribute it to his 911 00:44:22,200 --> 00:44:25,920 Speaker 1: his physicality and then also his brain. But then in 912 00:44:25,960 --> 00:44:28,080 Speaker 1: that thinking basketball thing, they showed the clip and like 913 00:44:28,760 --> 00:44:31,839 Speaker 1: his his scoring and efficiency goes up at the end 914 00:44:31,840 --> 00:44:33,799 Speaker 1: of playoff series throughout his entire career. It's like the 915 00:44:33,800 --> 00:44:35,759 Speaker 1: craziest thing Game five, six, and seven. He's just a 916 00:44:35,760 --> 00:44:37,440 Speaker 1: better player than he is in the first in the 917 00:44:37,480 --> 00:44:39,960 Speaker 1: first four and I think I think part of that is, 918 00:44:40,000 --> 00:44:42,360 Speaker 1: like you have to be willing to make mistakes and 919 00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:44,360 Speaker 1: see the grander vision. You know. It's one of the 920 00:44:44,360 --> 00:44:47,080 Speaker 1: biggest problems that I always had with James harden Um 921 00:44:47,239 --> 00:44:51,000 Speaker 1: was James harden his offensive attack, especially at the beginning 922 00:44:51,040 --> 00:44:56,319 Speaker 1: of games, seems predicated at at getting baskets at the 923 00:44:56,360 --> 00:44:59,279 Speaker 1: expense of of playing into the defense's hands in the 924 00:44:59,360 --> 00:45:03,440 Speaker 1: long run, whereas Lebron will go through passive stretches to 925 00:45:03,640 --> 00:45:06,040 Speaker 1: have stretches where he has turnovers. He he always turns 926 00:45:06,040 --> 00:45:07,480 Speaker 1: the ball over a lot in game one a game 927 00:45:07,520 --> 00:45:11,120 Speaker 1: two because he's just kind of poking and prodding at 928 00:45:11,120 --> 00:45:13,680 Speaker 1: the defense and getting a feel for what their tendencies are, 929 00:45:13,719 --> 00:45:16,319 Speaker 1: what they like to do, and then he just makes 930 00:45:16,360 --> 00:45:20,520 Speaker 1: all those adjustments at the right time. And there's just 931 00:45:20,600 --> 00:45:22,520 Speaker 1: that someone's rooted for him for his whole career. You 932 00:45:22,560 --> 00:45:25,360 Speaker 1: don't want anybody else as captain of the ship in 933 00:45:25,400 --> 00:45:27,960 Speaker 1: a playoff series because you can just trust him to 934 00:45:28,080 --> 00:45:30,960 Speaker 1: eventually come up with the best possible strategy to attack 935 00:45:31,000 --> 00:45:33,520 Speaker 1: the other team, and that's how to guarantee he's gonna win. 936 00:45:33,520 --> 00:45:36,200 Speaker 1: Obviously he's lost a lot, but that that is his 937 00:45:36,280 --> 00:45:42,600 Speaker 1: strength in my opinion. And yeah, and I'm really interested 938 00:45:42,640 --> 00:45:45,080 Speaker 1: in this one because I thought Tres had like an 939 00:45:45,120 --> 00:45:47,280 Speaker 1: interesting game tonight. I think he had a few baskets, 940 00:45:47,280 --> 00:45:50,000 Speaker 1: but I thought he really struggled on defense, and uh 941 00:45:50,280 --> 00:45:52,239 Speaker 1: we see ah'man shout out, h'm on, he says, do 942 00:45:52,239 --> 00:45:54,799 Speaker 1: you guys see trads getting bench alot in the playoffs? Exa? 943 00:45:57,920 --> 00:46:00,280 Speaker 1: I think the devail level, But I kind of agree 944 00:46:00,360 --> 00:46:02,759 Speaker 1: with that, Like, I just think Dallas is also not 945 00:46:02,800 --> 00:46:04,880 Speaker 1: a great team for him, right, They really take advantage 946 00:46:04,920 --> 00:46:07,040 Speaker 1: of the low threat more than a lot of teams do. 947 00:46:07,320 --> 00:46:09,279 Speaker 1: And tread just had a really tough time trying to 948 00:46:09,600 --> 00:46:11,440 Speaker 1: help and then recover back and he had a lot 949 00:46:11,440 --> 00:46:13,719 Speaker 1: of miscommunication with the Wings. But yeah, do you think 950 00:46:13,719 --> 00:46:17,719 Speaker 1: he gets benched? And he doesn't. He's a regular season guy, man, 951 00:46:17,760 --> 00:46:19,239 Speaker 1: I said, just what he acquired him. I was like, 952 00:46:19,280 --> 00:46:21,880 Speaker 1: I wasn't big on it because of the playoff inflation. 953 00:46:22,280 --> 00:46:24,480 Speaker 1: He's just not gonna play. So let's take a look 954 00:46:24,520 --> 00:46:26,839 Speaker 1: at it at the top four teams, Like in the West, 955 00:46:26,880 --> 00:46:29,839 Speaker 1: like against Utah, can't play against go Bear can keep 956 00:46:29,920 --> 00:46:32,920 Speaker 1: him up the glass. They play Ford shooters out space. 957 00:46:33,360 --> 00:46:35,719 Speaker 1: You know that's not a strength of his right you talk, 958 00:46:35,760 --> 00:46:37,680 Speaker 1: it's not gonna be big minutes. You go down to 959 00:46:37,719 --> 00:46:41,279 Speaker 1: the second seed Phoenix again, four out one in a 960 00:46:41,280 --> 00:46:43,560 Speaker 1: lot of high pick a role. He's gonna be against 961 00:46:43,600 --> 00:46:46,760 Speaker 1: you know, Bridges or kimber Jonason, you know, Jake Crowder 962 00:46:46,760 --> 00:46:49,560 Speaker 1: out space, lads who played the four there defending pick 963 00:46:49,560 --> 00:46:52,279 Speaker 1: a role, having a rotate camp, sit and dropped because 964 00:46:52,320 --> 00:46:54,560 Speaker 1: Chris Paul and Booker are gonna tear you up. Can't 965 00:46:54,560 --> 00:46:58,440 Speaker 1: play against you know, Phoenix, you go Clippers, you know, 966 00:46:58,600 --> 00:47:02,520 Speaker 1: four out one in you know old Marcus Morris read 967 00:47:02,560 --> 00:47:05,960 Speaker 1: you out plays before. What I'm saying, it's a lot 968 00:47:05,960 --> 00:47:07,640 Speaker 1: of hot a lot of them. Not not as much 969 00:47:07,640 --> 00:47:09,279 Speaker 1: pick a role, but a lot of you know, I 970 00:47:09,480 --> 00:47:12,319 Speaker 1: so and you know, being out space against certain guys 971 00:47:12,360 --> 00:47:14,920 Speaker 1: who can attack the rims not strength. He's a regular 972 00:47:14,920 --> 00:47:16,600 Speaker 1: season guy, which is good that you got. Like those 973 00:47:16,600 --> 00:47:19,000 Speaker 1: guys have a role. His energy is one of the 974 00:47:19,040 --> 00:47:20,759 Speaker 1: lakers a lot of games this season, you know, just 975 00:47:20,840 --> 00:47:23,440 Speaker 1: keep keeping us alive and uh, you know with the 976 00:47:23,480 --> 00:47:27,400 Speaker 1: games are getting, you know, the the drag of the season. 977 00:47:27,440 --> 00:47:29,520 Speaker 1: He brings his hard had every night, and I respect 978 00:47:29,560 --> 00:47:32,279 Speaker 1: that so much, But the playoffs scenario, I just I 979 00:47:32,280 --> 00:47:35,440 Speaker 1: don't see maybe minutes for him. Let's give him credit 980 00:47:35,480 --> 00:47:37,960 Speaker 1: where credits due. He did exactly what we wanted him 981 00:47:38,000 --> 00:47:41,160 Speaker 1: to do, exactly exactly. He came in and he ate 982 00:47:41,200 --> 00:47:44,440 Speaker 1: innings all year long and was an average to above 983 00:47:44,480 --> 00:47:47,799 Speaker 1: average forward in every match up. And and when and 984 00:47:47,840 --> 00:47:49,879 Speaker 1: we we predicted that Lebron and maybe he would miss 985 00:47:49,880 --> 00:47:51,400 Speaker 1: a lot of games now came in a different manner 986 00:47:51,440 --> 00:47:53,240 Speaker 1: than we thought. We thought Lebron would just be resting 987 00:47:53,280 --> 00:47:55,480 Speaker 1: all the time, but he ended up getting hurt, and 988 00:47:55,480 --> 00:47:57,360 Speaker 1: and then they he ended up getting hurt, and what 989 00:47:57,440 --> 00:48:00,000 Speaker 1: do you know, he ended up being like an absolute 990 00:48:00,080 --> 00:48:03,080 Speaker 1: cornerstone of this stretch. And so he deserves credit. But 991 00:48:03,200 --> 00:48:05,759 Speaker 1: but to me, it's even simpler than that. Like, like 992 00:48:06,120 --> 00:48:09,680 Speaker 1: you in the postseason, Lebron, and maybe you're gonna be 993 00:48:09,719 --> 00:48:11,560 Speaker 1: playing a lot of four and five not all the time. 994 00:48:11,680 --> 00:48:13,239 Speaker 1: It depends on the match up, you know, Like if 995 00:48:13,239 --> 00:48:15,040 Speaker 1: they end up playing Yokich, I think they'll throw a 996 00:48:15,040 --> 00:48:18,400 Speaker 1: lot of Marcosol and drama Dad him and uh Go 997 00:48:18,560 --> 00:48:21,799 Speaker 1: Bart depends, but like the reality is, it's like it's 998 00:48:21,800 --> 00:48:23,360 Speaker 1: gonna be a lot of Lebron at the four and 999 00:48:23,400 --> 00:48:25,439 Speaker 1: a d at the five. And if Lebron is playing 1000 00:48:25,480 --> 00:48:27,080 Speaker 1: forty two minutes a night, and maybe he's playing thirty 1001 00:48:27,080 --> 00:48:28,360 Speaker 1: eight minutes a night, there's just not a lot of 1002 00:48:28,400 --> 00:48:31,720 Speaker 1: center minutes available. And my guess is that that Treads 1003 00:48:31,760 --> 00:48:33,120 Speaker 1: is going to be the one who gets squeezed in 1004 00:48:33,120 --> 00:48:36,160 Speaker 1: a lot of those cases. Yeah. Yeah. The only thing 1005 00:48:36,160 --> 00:48:38,360 Speaker 1: with Treads I feel like he does have defensive talent. 1006 00:48:38,440 --> 00:48:41,000 Speaker 1: Like me and A. JT have have said this a lot, 1007 00:48:41,040 --> 00:48:43,440 Speaker 1: we don't like Treads and drop coverage because it feels 1008 00:48:43,440 --> 00:48:46,560 Speaker 1: like it takes the worst of both of what he does. Right, 1009 00:48:46,560 --> 00:48:49,000 Speaker 1: Like when he goes and drop covers, he's already not aggressive, 1010 00:48:49,200 --> 00:48:50,960 Speaker 1: he's already backing up, and then he's not a rim 1011 00:48:50,960 --> 00:48:53,560 Speaker 1: protector anyway, so he's not stopping the guard from getting 1012 00:48:53,680 --> 00:48:56,200 Speaker 1: the basket, and he's not stopping the baby if he 1013 00:48:56,239 --> 00:48:58,640 Speaker 1: gets the ball, he's not blocking that shot. So I'd 1014 00:48:58,760 --> 00:49:01,239 Speaker 1: rather him switch more, try to like trap. I like 1015 00:49:01,360 --> 00:49:02,880 Speaker 1: him in a trapping scheme. I feel like you can 1016 00:49:02,960 --> 00:49:05,640 Speaker 1: eat against second units right in the playoffs, like when 1017 00:49:05,640 --> 00:49:08,000 Speaker 1: Gobert is sitting or you know, if Aten's not in 1018 00:49:08,040 --> 00:49:10,400 Speaker 1: the game, just just those backup fives. I feel like 1019 00:49:10,400 --> 00:49:12,719 Speaker 1: he can really get in there change the energy of 1020 00:49:12,760 --> 00:49:14,680 Speaker 1: a game, right, just like he did in the regular season. 1021 00:49:15,160 --> 00:49:17,400 Speaker 1: I just don't see him bench like I just can't 1022 00:49:17,400 --> 00:49:19,640 Speaker 1: see them fully benching in full games. I think his 1023 00:49:19,760 --> 00:49:22,000 Speaker 1: minutes will be cut though they've already have been, right 1024 00:49:22,040 --> 00:49:24,520 Speaker 1: when drums with drumming here, his minutes already down to 1025 00:49:24,600 --> 00:49:27,200 Speaker 1: like fifteen and eighteen a game. They're probably gillows. But 1026 00:49:27,239 --> 00:49:29,200 Speaker 1: I do think he has some Like the way Doc 1027 00:49:29,320 --> 00:49:31,160 Speaker 1: Rivers used him, I thought just didn't make any sense. 1028 00:49:31,160 --> 00:49:33,520 Speaker 1: They had him in drop coverage against Nicola Yogis, which 1029 00:49:33,600 --> 00:49:38,440 Speaker 1: just he just he's asking to be destroyed. Um. But uh, 1030 00:49:38,760 --> 00:49:41,520 Speaker 1: we'll keep going here. Uh, Maples, really quick, what have 1031 00:49:41,560 --> 00:49:43,520 Speaker 1: you found a drum in so far? I haven't asked 1032 00:49:43,560 --> 00:49:46,359 Speaker 1: you yet. It's a bit's bad man, you know, so good, 1033 00:49:46,440 --> 00:49:49,719 Speaker 1: it's so bad, you know, overall death positive. But he's 1034 00:49:49,760 --> 00:49:51,800 Speaker 1: just he's just he's it's a mixed bag, like his 1035 00:49:51,920 --> 00:49:54,680 Speaker 1: whole career pretty much. You know, it's not really interesting 1036 00:49:54,719 --> 00:49:57,280 Speaker 1: to see how he fits when Lebron and Age together. 1037 00:49:57,480 --> 00:50:00,080 Speaker 1: I have a little worried about the spacing, but you know, 1038 00:50:00,600 --> 00:50:02,960 Speaker 1: I get the vision. They just really would have control 1039 00:50:03,560 --> 00:50:07,680 Speaker 1: the glass and maximize possessions. So I've seen the vision, 1040 00:50:07,719 --> 00:50:09,319 Speaker 1: but I just have to see. I'm a little worried 1041 00:50:09,360 --> 00:50:12,280 Speaker 1: about the space with all those three on the floor, 1042 00:50:13,000 --> 00:50:14,520 Speaker 1: you know, I like that. Know Lebron likes to work 1043 00:50:14,520 --> 00:50:16,600 Speaker 1: out the post sometimes it really likes to drive it. 1044 00:50:17,000 --> 00:50:19,040 Speaker 1: The jump shot. Is it going down? And I know 1045 00:50:19,280 --> 00:50:22,080 Speaker 1: your kind of you know, puts a cap on going now, 1046 00:50:22,200 --> 00:50:24,960 Speaker 1: freakent that could be used. So we'll see. I'm interested 1047 00:50:25,000 --> 00:50:27,719 Speaker 1: to see how Lebron tries to use him, because he's 1048 00:50:27,719 --> 00:50:30,120 Speaker 1: gonna try, he's gonna try to find some way to 1049 00:50:30,200 --> 00:50:32,840 Speaker 1: make him into a useful basketball player. I'm interested to 1050 00:50:32,840 --> 00:50:35,920 Speaker 1: see what he does. He has the loudest misses, right, 1051 00:50:36,000 --> 00:50:40,640 Speaker 1: I feel like it was he was he was four 1052 00:50:40,760 --> 00:50:43,840 Speaker 1: for seven tonight, but those three misses just felt like, 1053 00:50:43,840 --> 00:50:45,399 Speaker 1: like what are you doing? You know what I mean? 1054 00:50:45,440 --> 00:50:47,360 Speaker 1: Like so like when I saw the four percent, I 1055 00:50:47,400 --> 00:50:49,840 Speaker 1: was like, wow, that's not terrible. But he misses like 1056 00:50:49,920 --> 00:50:52,080 Speaker 1: jump hooks in the lane, like he gets it exactly 1057 00:50:52,120 --> 00:50:54,160 Speaker 1: to the right spot. He's just a really weird player. 1058 00:50:54,200 --> 00:50:56,240 Speaker 1: He tries for like one hand dunks for no reason 1059 00:50:56,320 --> 00:50:59,480 Speaker 1: like that one on that I do not persius whoever 1060 00:50:59,480 --> 00:51:00,840 Speaker 1: he tried to down con I think it was Willie 1061 00:51:00,840 --> 00:51:03,080 Speaker 1: Calli Stein, But yeah, that was. He has some really 1062 00:51:03,120 --> 00:51:06,480 Speaker 1: weird shot selection, so hopefully those post ups are gone. 1063 00:51:06,520 --> 00:51:09,640 Speaker 1: When Lebron and Ned held back, Um, he's a he's 1064 00:51:09,680 --> 00:51:14,080 Speaker 1: a he's a strange player. Uh, who wants who wants 1065 00:51:14,120 --> 00:51:15,440 Speaker 1: to hop in here and talk with us? I got 1066 00:51:15,440 --> 00:51:17,040 Speaker 1: about ten more minutes before I gotta go to bed. 1067 00:51:17,080 --> 00:51:19,360 Speaker 1: I'm waking up at four twenty to go play basketball, 1068 00:51:19,360 --> 00:51:23,400 Speaker 1: so I got about ten minutes. Guys, Jason is a 1069 00:51:23,400 --> 00:51:28,120 Speaker 1: real person that actually plays basketball. So it's not not 1070 00:51:28,200 --> 00:51:32,239 Speaker 1: a caffe guy actually plays basketball, so is Maples. Man, 1071 00:51:32,280 --> 00:51:36,759 Speaker 1: don't worry about don't don't sleep on Maple's Uh. And 1072 00:51:36,800 --> 00:51:38,400 Speaker 1: I'm not a five year old or a ten year 1073 00:51:38,440 --> 00:51:43,360 Speaker 1: old kid or whatever age I am there. Uh. Do 1074 00:51:43,400 --> 00:51:45,960 Speaker 1: you guys see th HD playing in the playoffs. I'm 1075 00:51:46,000 --> 00:51:47,759 Speaker 1: just a Maple's ill. Go. Do do you think THH 1076 00:51:47,960 --> 00:51:51,000 Speaker 1: gets I've talked about this a hundred times. I'm gonna 1077 00:51:51,040 --> 00:51:54,839 Speaker 1: let Maples take this one. I think. So as long 1078 00:51:54,880 --> 00:51:58,800 Speaker 1: as he at least becomes possible or his passable defense. 1079 00:51:58,840 --> 00:52:02,759 Speaker 1: I think he will be uh, particularly the you know 1080 00:52:04,160 --> 00:52:07,520 Speaker 1: eight eight or eight to ten minutes lebron Sits just 1081 00:52:07,560 --> 00:52:09,520 Speaker 1: having somebody who can create offense. I think that's the 1082 00:52:09,560 --> 00:52:12,080 Speaker 1: aveolue for him to play. Not too much more than that, 1083 00:52:12,160 --> 00:52:18,800 Speaker 1: but definitely. I see you get a bird in the playoffs, Jason. 1084 00:52:18,840 --> 00:52:21,319 Speaker 1: I think so almost said he did request, but I 1085 00:52:21,320 --> 00:52:23,960 Speaker 1: don't see here. Maybe it's on your end. Do you 1086 00:52:23,960 --> 00:52:28,799 Speaker 1: see a speaker request? I do not, But the room 1087 00:52:28,840 --> 00:52:30,719 Speaker 1: has been pretty frozen for me. Did I make you 1088 00:52:30,760 --> 00:52:40,560 Speaker 1: the host? I'm not sure. Let's try it again. That's 1089 00:52:40,560 --> 00:52:44,279 Speaker 1: really strange that it's not letting me do that. You're 1090 00:52:44,320 --> 00:52:46,440 Speaker 1: still getting updated stuff from the chat. I haven't even 1091 00:52:46,480 --> 00:52:49,719 Speaker 1: been getting so I keep reading the chat from here. Um, 1092 00:52:49,719 --> 00:52:52,000 Speaker 1: how confident with y'all being playing the Clippers in the 1093 00:52:52,080 --> 00:52:56,799 Speaker 1: first round? I would, you know, just they need some 1094 00:52:56,920 --> 00:52:59,080 Speaker 1: time to build up to that, in my opinion, And 1095 00:52:59,160 --> 00:53:02,520 Speaker 1: I know the funny of the joking, the joking you 1096 00:53:02,520 --> 00:53:05,920 Speaker 1: do brag with the Clippers, but when I'm watching, that's 1097 00:53:05,960 --> 00:53:07,279 Speaker 1: not something you want to deal with in the first 1098 00:53:07,360 --> 00:53:10,040 Speaker 1: round when you just got you know, star players coming 1099 00:53:10,080 --> 00:53:12,520 Speaker 1: back and trying to try to find themselves, so you know, 1100 00:53:12,680 --> 00:53:15,480 Speaker 1: I do. It's a running joke, but just honestly speaking, 1101 00:53:15,600 --> 00:53:17,279 Speaker 1: that's that's not something you want in the first round. 1102 00:53:17,320 --> 00:53:20,520 Speaker 1: The black picking, Yeah, I watched them more than any 1103 00:53:20,520 --> 00:53:23,680 Speaker 1: other team other than the Lakers, and they're legit good team, 1104 00:53:23,719 --> 00:53:25,640 Speaker 1: Like they run teams off the floor when they have 1105 00:53:25,760 --> 00:53:27,799 Speaker 1: it going right there, shooting can really just running out 1106 00:53:27,840 --> 00:53:30,400 Speaker 1: the gym. And then they really moved the ball and 1107 00:53:30,440 --> 00:53:32,640 Speaker 1: the defensive lot better. I think like zobach is going 1108 00:53:32,680 --> 00:53:36,040 Speaker 1: to start. Even when Ibaka comes back, he's putting out 1109 00:53:36,040 --> 00:53:38,239 Speaker 1: of his mind. He's playing out of his mind. Man, 1110 00:53:38,360 --> 00:53:42,239 Speaker 1: we gave him to him. I still parted if you 1111 00:53:42,320 --> 00:53:45,600 Speaker 1: keep Yeah, I'm saying there's no center problem with the 1112 00:53:45,640 --> 00:53:51,520 Speaker 1: Lakers right there. That's uh, it cannot be. It cannot 1113 00:53:51,520 --> 00:53:54,640 Speaker 1: be overstated how bad Duddy Johnson was. Yeah, I know, 1114 00:53:54,840 --> 00:53:57,080 Speaker 1: I know he's built up cloud with the franchise. I'm 1115 00:53:57,120 --> 00:54:02,799 Speaker 1: just saying, uh, alright, guys, this is where I had 1116 00:54:02,840 --> 00:54:06,080 Speaker 1: the technical difficulties where I couldn't get people to join 1117 00:54:06,160 --> 00:54:08,960 Speaker 1: the room. So I did go ahead and split this 1118 00:54:09,120 --> 00:54:12,640 Speaker 1: up into a second podcast that I will be releasing 1119 00:54:13,000 --> 00:54:17,040 Speaker 1: tomorrow um in which we did all of the guests 1120 00:54:17,080 --> 00:54:19,480 Speaker 1: that hopped in and we bounced around a bunch of 1121 00:54:19,520 --> 00:54:22,080 Speaker 1: other topics for almost a whole other hour, and then 1122 00:54:22,480 --> 00:54:24,439 Speaker 1: Rusche came to join us for a while as well. 1123 00:54:24,520 --> 00:54:27,920 Speaker 1: From from Houston Rockets Twitter, but I want to thank 1124 00:54:27,960 --> 00:54:30,719 Speaker 1: you guys so much for listening. As usual, these locker 1125 00:54:30,800 --> 00:54:33,160 Speaker 1: rooms are so much fun. Roger and I are planning 1126 00:54:33,200 --> 00:54:35,960 Speaker 1: on doing those at least once a week, and it's 1127 00:54:35,960 --> 00:54:39,399 Speaker 1: always great having the great Jason Maples on, So again, 1128 00:54:39,480 --> 00:54:41,760 Speaker 1: appreciate you guys with the sport. Stay tuned for tomorrow 1129 00:54:42,120 --> 00:54:43,600 Speaker 1: for the second half of this