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We're 36 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: hitting three games from last night as the Boston Celtics 37 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: get their seventh win and eight tries against the San 38 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: Antonio Spurs. After that, the Miami Heat are up ten 39 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 1: in their early fourth quarter in the Oklahoma City Thunder 40 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: demonstrate their upside with a dombin It twenty four to 41 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: zero run to start that quarter, and then after that 42 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: the Luka Doncics Lakers suffered their first loss on the 43 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: road in Utah, a game that mostly just came down 44 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: to a lackadaisical likers effort, but I did think kind 45 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: of mixed in there were some good examples of the 46 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 1: weaknesses of this new likers group, so I want to 47 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:26,959 Speaker 1: take some time to really get into those at the 48 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:28,359 Speaker 1: tail end of the show. You guys have the drip 49 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: before we get started. Subscribe to the Hoops Tonight YouTube channels. 50 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 1: You don't miss any more of our videos. Follow me 51 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: on Twitter at Underscore JCNLTC. You guys, don't miss announcements. 52 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: Don't forget about a podcast feed wherever you's your podcast 53 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: on our Hoops Tonight. It's also super helpful for you 54 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: leave a rating and a review on that front. Don't 55 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 1: forget about our new social media feeds on Twitter, Instagram, 56 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: and Facebook. We're releasing content throughout the year. The last 57 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: but not least, keep dropping mailbag questions in the YouTube 58 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: comments so that we can get to them in our 59 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 1: Friday mail bag tomorrow, All right, let's talk some basketball. 60 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: So I thought Jason Tatum just completely dominated the first 61 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: quarter of that's game. Set the tone, built that initial advantage, 62 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 1: and there was something that the Spurs just couldn't overcome. 63 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: On the defensive end of the floor. Boston had a 64 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: switching group out there that was just doing a really 65 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:16,399 Speaker 1: nice job just staying attacked, shutting down screening actions. Switching 66 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: puts an emphasis on running action, good action that confuses switching, 67 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: like three man action, lots of ball in player movement 68 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 1: to try to get guys to make mistakes, and then 69 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: when teams successfully switch, you've got to be aggressive against 70 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: those switches getting to the basket to get super high 71 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: value shots or to draw multiple defenders. You can run 72 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: into a trap where you start settling, and that was 73 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 1: what happened in that first quarter. There was a few 74 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: examples of good action. There was like a little Chicago 75 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: action like a downscreen into a dribble handoff where they 76 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 1: pitched it back to Julian Champagnee on the right wing 77 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: and knocked down a three. There were a couple examples 78 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: like that, but it was a lot of like Daron 79 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: Fox contested pull up jump shots, Victor Wim Benyama contested 80 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: pull up jump shots. They weren't doing a very good 81 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: job of attacking the switching. And then on the other 82 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: end of the floor in the first quarter, Jason Tatum 83 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: goes for fourteen points, six rebounds and three assists with 84 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: zero turnovers. Did a ton of scoring in that short 85 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: to mid range, attacking the spurs smaller players when they'd 86 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: get switched onto him mismatches. There was a stretch in 87 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: the late first quarter where they started spamming a stack, 88 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 1: pick and roll action with Luke Cornette and Peyton Pritchard. 89 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: Just a ball screen with Tatum and Cornette with Pritchard 90 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 1: backscreening generated a wide open three for Pritchard at the 91 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 1: top of the key that he happened to miss. He 92 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: ended up hitting a pull up three on the right 93 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 1: wing when they botched a switch again. Three man action 94 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:42,039 Speaker 1: is a great way to get teams to botch switches, 95 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:45,679 Speaker 1: and Victor Wenbinyamo was basically just sticking with the screen 96 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: the guy who was backscreening him in the action instead 97 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 1: of dealing with Tatum coming off of that screen. He 98 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: just stepped into it. Knocked down at three. He finished 99 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: the quarter off with a beautiful driving kick like sweeping 100 00:04:57,880 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: hook pass over to the left wing to al hor 101 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:05,159 Speaker 1: Tatum just immediately looked like by far, the best player 102 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 1: on the floor in a game that had two players 103 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: that are considered top twenty five players in the league 104 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:11,720 Speaker 1: in my opinion, in deer Fox and Deeran Fox and 105 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: Victor Weinbinyama, and Tatum was just completely outclassing them to 106 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:17,919 Speaker 1: start the game. And this is just the groove that 107 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum's in right now. During this three game winning streak, 108 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 1: He's averaging thirty five points per game on sixty one 109 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: percent true shooting. I thought Porzingis was the catalyst of 110 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 1: the early second group, the early second quarter group that 111 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:32,719 Speaker 1: had some success. They pushed the lead all the way 112 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: up to twenty three points. He was just running the 113 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: floor in transition. He had a play where he beat 114 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:39,279 Speaker 1: everyone down the floor for a Dunky had another play 115 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 1: where he ran his lane and transition on the right 116 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: wing and hit a three. Throughout the entire first half, 117 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,039 Speaker 1: he was doing a great job of posting switches the 118 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: same way that Jason Tatum was getting short range efficient shots. 119 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:51,919 Speaker 1: And then his rim protection was great. This is a 120 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 1: Spurs team that can struggle with driving kick decisions, and 121 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: so if you get Porzingis parked underneath the basket, he 122 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,359 Speaker 1: can do some real damage to a team that can 123 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 1: struggle to be surgical in the half court. The Celtics 124 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 1: really controlled the game throughout. They led by twenty ish 125 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 1: for most of the first half. The Spurs did cut 126 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: it down to eight in the early fourth quarter, but 127 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 1: then the Celtics immediately regained control. Chrisops Porzingis hit a three, 128 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: Peyton Pritchard hit a three, Sam Hauser hit a three, 129 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: or excuse me, Sam Howser got fouled on a runout 130 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: May two free throws. They had a couple of really 131 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: good defensive possessions mixed in there, and then all of 132 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:26,279 Speaker 1: a sudden, their back up sixteen in the game's basically over. 133 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 1: The Celtics seem to have regained their footing, though they 134 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 1: have won seven out of eight after a really uneven 135 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,039 Speaker 1: couple of months there. They're seventh in offense in that span, 136 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,359 Speaker 1: third in defense in that span, and that's despite a 137 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:40,600 Speaker 1: bunch of guys being out of the lineup. Jalen Brown 138 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 1: has missed two games in that stretched chrisops Porzingis has 139 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:46,039 Speaker 1: missed a game, Drew Hollidays missed four games in that span. 140 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: At Horford's missed a game, but a couple of guys 141 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,160 Speaker 1: stepping up. Jason Tatum has just been consistently great. I've 142 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 1: seen a lot of talk about I've seen a lot 143 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 1: of talk of late about like a Celtics fans calling 144 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum the best four since Lebron And when I 145 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 1: when I first heard that, I had this like kind 146 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,279 Speaker 1: of reflex that came up in me that it was like, well, 147 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 1: what about Kawhi And like what about Kevin Durant? And 148 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: I think Kevin Durant would be the guy that I'd 149 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 1: probably still put over Tatum in the sense that, like, 150 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: in that like twenty eighteen to twenty twenty one stretch, 151 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: he was just like and that's like spanning with an 152 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: achilles injury in the middle, but in that like I 153 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: should say, like twenty seventeen to twenty twenty one stretch, 154 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: he was just so incredibly good on both ends of 155 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 1: the floor. I'm not quite there, but I do think 156 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: he's been better than Kawhi if you like piece everything together, 157 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: because like what Tatum is to me is he's a 158 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: Swiss Army knife type of forward in the same vein 159 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: as a as a Lebron James. So, for instance, like 160 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant has a lot of impact, I think Kevin 161 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: Durant has arguably just as good of an impact on 162 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: the defensive end in terms of his ability to protect 163 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: the rim, defensive rebound, switch out onto the perimeter. But 164 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant has a little bit of a susceptibility to 165 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 1: size and strength. We saw that in the Memphis game 166 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 1: two nights ago when Jared Jackson was able to just 167 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 1: kind of toss Katie around at certain times and he 168 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: got two easy buckets on him in the post late 169 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: in the game, or an easy bucket and a foul 170 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 1: late in the game, where I think Tatum's a little 171 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: bit sturdier for that type of matchup. But I think 172 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: Katie also is a little bit longer, a little bit 173 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: better rimp protector, So like the two of them are 174 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: more or less even on the defensive end of the floor. 175 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: But I do think that Tatum has a certain Swiss 176 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 1: Army knife quality in terms of just his ability to 177 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 1: keep the ball moving, his playmaking ability. Jason Tatum has 178 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: become a really, really gifted playmaker in this league. And 179 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 1: so we can debate whether or not Tatum has reached 180 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: a level that's higher than Kawhi or higher than Katie. 181 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:45,839 Speaker 1: I'm hesitant to go that far, but what I will 182 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:49,560 Speaker 1: say is that Tatum is becoming the Swiss Army Knife 183 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:53,199 Speaker 1: of this generation, which is what Lebron was in his generation. 184 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: It's a type of player that I'm drawn to because 185 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,079 Speaker 1: I think it demonstrates a first of all, a versatility, 186 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: but also just to admit to winning. There's a lot 187 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: of stuff in there that guys aren't willing to do. 188 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: A simple example is like, as good as Kevin Durant 189 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: has been defensively, I think he's kind of underachieved on 190 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 1: that end over the course of his career, whereas Tatum, 191 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 1: you can tell, is maximizing his potential on that end 192 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:16,319 Speaker 1: of the floor. I think it's just a testament to 193 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: the type of leader he is, the type of competitor 194 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: that he is. Again, a lot of times we see 195 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:22,079 Speaker 1: guys like that that are a little bit more mellow 196 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: and not as like loud and boisterous with their personality, 197 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 1: and we or even guys that are boysterous that are 198 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: but that are positive. We think of them as like 199 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: not competitors because they're not Kobe Bryant type assholes. And 200 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 1: the truth of the matter is is like the work 201 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 1: that Jason Tatum does is a pretty clear demonstration of 202 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:43,440 Speaker 1: the type of competitor that he is, and he stepped 203 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 1: up big time over the course of this recent stretch. 204 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: Derek White is finally shooting the ball better again. They've 205 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:51,719 Speaker 1: been getting key contributions. Al Horford was talking about this 206 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 1: the other day in an interview, But Luke Cornett has 207 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 1: been so good as of late, getting those backup center minutes, 208 00:09:57,720 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 1: protecting the rim, just being in the right spot all 209 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:02,439 Speaker 1: the time. I'm doing his job in ballscreen actions on offense, 210 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 1: Sam Hauser is back to shooting the ball really well. 211 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 1: After a rough start to the season. Things are rounding 212 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 1: out for this Celtics group finally, after an uneven middle 213 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 1: portion of the season. Every single time I watched San 214 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:19,239 Speaker 1: Antonio play, their youth and inexperience still just like screams 215 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: off of the screen, like I'm watching early in the game, 216 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 1: and like Jeremy Sohan drives into the lane and Porzingis 217 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: is right there at the rim and Harrison Barnes is 218 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 1: just standing completely unguarded in the right corner, and instead 219 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:33,600 Speaker 1: of just making that simple kickout pass to a guy 220 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 1: that's one of the best three point shooters in the 221 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:37,560 Speaker 1: league this year, he tries to force his way through 222 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 1: Porzingis at the rim and misses, or like Steph Castle, 223 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: takes a wide open three at the top of the key. 224 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: This is in the early second quarter stretch. Like wide 225 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: open three at the top of the key. He's at 226 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 1: the top of the key. When you are at the 227 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 1: top of the key, your job as a guard is 228 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 1: as soon as the shot goes up, you're back in 229 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:56,440 Speaker 1: transition defense. Remember first two jobs in transition defense are 230 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: stop the ball and get to the basket right And 231 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 1: like literally takes the three to the top of the key, 232 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:04,719 Speaker 1: Porzingis just runs right by him as Steph Castle's just 233 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:07,719 Speaker 1: in a light little back pedal going back and Porzingis 234 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:11,080 Speaker 1: gets a dunk, like or even Victor Webbinyama just taking 235 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 1: really tough mid range jump shots early in the clock 236 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 1: when he can get that same shot later in the clock. Honestly, 237 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,680 Speaker 1: right now, I hate about half of the shots Wenby takes, 238 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: Like right after that leak out dunk that krisops Porzingis 239 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 1: got that put Boston up twenty. They were up twenty, 240 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: so like you need a good shot to like reset 241 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 1: things and get control of the game. In Victor Webinyama, 242 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 1: with nineteen seconds on the shot clock, takes a completely 243 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: smothered step back three against Al Horford, the one that 244 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: has like absolutely no chance of going in. Now. To 245 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: be clear, I'm choosing to view that as more of 246 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: a positive thing, just simply because most young basketball players 247 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: struggle with shots selection, especially ones that have a great 248 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: skill talent, because they trust their skill in a way 249 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: that it's like, oh, I can get to this shot 250 00:11:57,800 --> 00:11:59,599 Speaker 1: whenever I want, so why don't I just take it 251 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: when there should be a little bit more deliberate process. 252 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:05,079 Speaker 1: And that deliberate process comes as you get more experience 253 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:08,199 Speaker 1: as a basketball player. So I'm not particularly worried about it, 254 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 1: but there is some reality to the fact that this 255 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 1: team is really young. They've got a lot of young 256 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 1: players that still make a lot of mistakes, and it 257 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 1: just goes to show you that this is not a 258 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:21,319 Speaker 1: this year type of goal. This is a multi year 259 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 1: journey to try to figure out how to win with 260 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: this group, which takes me to the big thing I 261 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 1: wanted to get into with the Spurs today, which is 262 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 1: the reality of what it's going to take for dieron 263 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 1: Fox and Victor Wemenyama to beat teams that switch. Okay, 264 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 1: so they ran into a switching look today. We've talked 265 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 1: a lot in recent weeks about how the pick and 266 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: pop works. Right in a pick and pop action, any 267 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:45,200 Speaker 1: sort of traditional coverage where you use the screen defender 268 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: to contain the ball handler either in a deeper drop 269 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:50,839 Speaker 1: or up at the level. Anytime you do that, Victor 270 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 1: Wemenyama is going to be wide open, popping to the 271 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 1: three point line and whatever they run teams with traditional coverages, 272 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 1: they're going to get a lot of great stuff because 273 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 1: every possession that has Victor Wei Minyama standing at the 274 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaker 1: top of the key unguarded with like sixteen seventeen seconds 275 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,080 Speaker 1: left on the shot clock is probably going to end 276 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,679 Speaker 1: in a good shot for your team. Right. But again, 277 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 1: when we talk about the ultimate goal of winning an 278 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:17,959 Speaker 1: NBA championship, you've got to win four playoff rounds in 279 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 1: two months, meaning you've got to be four excellent teams 280 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: that are probably going to be very different. You're probably 281 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:24,560 Speaker 1: gonna have to go on the road at least one 282 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: like in have to win a must win game on 283 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 1: the road. At various points. There are going to be 284 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: challenges you face along the way. It's inevitable that in 285 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 1: that journey the Spurs are going to run into a 286 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:38,599 Speaker 1: team that can switch that screen, meaning they're going to 287 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: have Boston's a great example having a set of players 288 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 1: where they feel comfortable with the guy who's guarding Wemby 289 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 1: also guarding Fox, and the guy who's guarding Fox also 290 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 1: guarding Wemby. So like again, I was talking about the 291 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:52,680 Speaker 1: big picture goal over the next few years of the 292 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 1: Spurs rounding out their young talent, getting the experience they need, 293 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:59,680 Speaker 1: improving their decision making, getting to where they need to 294 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: win multiple playoff rounds. Part of that journey is going 295 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: to be deeron Fox and Victor Weman yam up beating 296 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:08,439 Speaker 1: a switching look. So one of the things that bothered 297 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 1: me watching that game last night was Fox and Wemby 298 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 1: attacking those switches, just taking bad jump shots early in 299 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:15,839 Speaker 1: the game. I've talked a lot about this as it 300 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: pertains to the Celtics during the times that they've struggled 301 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: this year. When you are matchup hunting against switches, there 302 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: is an important order of operations you need your attackers 303 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 1: to do in those situations, Right, you have to generate 304 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: a shot in one on one that is so valuable 305 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 1: that it's untenable for the defense. So if you go 306 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: out there and you shoot forty seven eight percent on 307 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: mid range jump shots, which by the way, deeron Fox 308 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: can do, like the team that's guarding that shot isn't 309 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 1: going to overreact to it. Why because, like, for instance, 310 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 1: Aaron Fox hit two contested mid range jump shots against 311 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 1: against ISOs or against switches early in that game. But 312 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 1: from the Celtics standpoint, it's like that's a shot that's 313 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: gonna be worth less than one point per attempt. Same 314 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 1: thing goes for Victor Wembinyama in the mid range, right, 315 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 1: So as soon as you do that, you're making Boston's 316 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 1: coverage worth it. As Boston is sitting in their locker 317 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: room talking about the game plan, they're thinking to themselves, 318 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 1: if we can switch all these actions and shut down 319 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 1: the picking pop, we can probably bait deeron Fox into 320 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 1: Victor Wembenyama into taking contested jump shots that they're not 321 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 1: gonna make enough of to beat us. That's the game plan, 322 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: and so as soon as you start doing that, you're 323 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: playing directly into their hands. So how do you flip 324 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 1: the script on that? Deeron Fox against bigger players needs 325 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: to get dribble penetration and get into the short range 326 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: where he's much more efficient on those short range floaters, 327 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 1: stuff right at the basket, getting to the foul line. 328 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: Victor Wembinyama, same sort of thing has to get too, 329 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: looks that are closer to the basket. Once you start 330 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 1: getting into the one point one points per attempt one 331 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 1: point two points per tempt again, those are like one 332 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 1: to twenty offensive rating. That's where it gets untenable for 333 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: the defense. Once it gets untenable for the defense, then 334 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: they will start sending additional defenders. If dearon Fox starts 335 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 1: toasting that guy off to dribble and getting dribble penetration 336 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 1: and spraying the ball out, now you're getting the defense 337 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: in rotation, you're gonna get a lot of great shots. 338 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: If Victor webbin Yama starts drawing double teams because he's 339 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: doing a lot of damage closer to the rim. Now 340 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 1: you're spraying the ball out. Now you're getting great shots. 341 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 1: Now you're accomplishing the same thing that you accomplish in 342 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: a pick and pop. When you get Victor Wembin Yama 343 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: standing completely unguarded out above the break, that's the ultimate goal. 344 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: When you're attacking a switching defense, you need to get 345 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: the defense into rotation. If you attack a switching defense 346 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 1: just playing one on one all night, it's going to 347 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 1: be a problem. You have to get so successful in 348 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: those one on one situations that the defense starts reacting 349 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: and you get them into rotation. Again, we talked about 350 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 1: action early. You want to run three man action. You 351 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 1: want to try to force as many mistakes as possible 352 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 1: to generate good looks. But inevitably you're going to run 353 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:05,400 Speaker 1: into an elite, well coached, well disciplined defense that can 354 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:08,160 Speaker 1: switch to dearon Fox Victor women Yama pick and pop, 355 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 1: and in that situation, it's going to be on Fox 356 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 1: and Wemby to beat it with aggression that is untenable 357 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:18,200 Speaker 1: for the defense instead of passively settling for jump shots 358 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,160 Speaker 1: that can get them into trouble. Just something to keep 359 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 1: an eye on with the development of that duo over 360 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 1: the course of the next few years. All right, Moving 361 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 1: on to Heat Thunder. Heat defense was giving Oklahoma City 362 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: a lot of issues early in this game. Andrew Wiggins 363 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: and Davion Mitchell just for putting up a bunch of 364 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 1: good ISO reps on Schegos Alexander forcing him into tough 365 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:52,440 Speaker 1: jumpers that line up with Bam and kell al Ware too. 366 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 1: They can really protect the rim well and think we're 367 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 1: awesome on offense. To start this game, Miami scored twenty 368 00:17:58,080 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 1: two points in the first six minutes. Bam had a boy, 369 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 1: I was cooking Isaiah Hartenstein in one on one situations. 370 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,440 Speaker 1: He dunked all over his head on a baseline drive. 371 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:08,399 Speaker 1: Tyler Harrow had it going, had his floater going early 372 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 1: in the game. They were getting runouts off their transition 373 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 1: defense really good early in the game. I also thought 374 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: the Heat were doing a great job of generating paint 375 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:20,920 Speaker 1: touches against Oklahoma Cities switching by slipping out of screens. Again, 376 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 1: that's another example that we were talking just a minute 377 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:25,639 Speaker 1: ago about how to beat switching. A great example is 378 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:28,119 Speaker 1: like just run up the screen and slip out of 379 00:18:28,119 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 1: it as quick as you can, and you might be 380 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: able to get little angles for over the top passes 381 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 1: that generate four on threes without you having to beat 382 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:37,440 Speaker 1: somebody off off the dribble right. So the Heat ended 383 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:40,119 Speaker 1: up going up by ten. They kind of hung around 384 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:43,159 Speaker 1: that area until about the middle second quarter, and then 385 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: they go on another run in the middle second quarter 386 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 1: and they end up going up by twenty one points. 387 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:49,400 Speaker 1: They had to switch everything group out there with Bam 388 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 1: at center. Continued defending really well. The Heat defended really 389 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 1: well for the most part in this game. Andrew Wiggins 390 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 1: got going a little bit. He had a movement jumper 391 00:18:57,800 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 1: going to the left, he scored out of the post. 392 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:03,159 Speaker 1: Pella Larson hit a couple of huge threes. They just 393 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: got going offensively. They ended up getting a bucket off 394 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 1: of a Nikola Yovich back back door cut out of 395 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,160 Speaker 1: a Harrow Bam two man game where Bam slipped out 396 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: of it four on three drop off to Yovich. Jovich 397 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 1: lays it up twenty one point lead. So looking like 398 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: they're in complete control of the game down in Oklahoma City. 399 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:23,919 Speaker 1: The comeback started in the late second quarter with a 400 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:28,199 Speaker 1: little three point shooting burst as Jalen Williams excuse me, 401 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:32,160 Speaker 1: lou Dort and Shake Gosounder Alexander each make threes. Before 402 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:34,160 Speaker 1: the end of the half, they cut it back to eleven, 403 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:37,639 Speaker 1: which again is just a much more achievable type of 404 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,439 Speaker 1: thing for them to overcome. In the second half. They 405 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:42,680 Speaker 1: go back and forth throughout the third quarter, and that's 406 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 1: where we end up with this fourth quarter run. So 407 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 1: it's ninety three to eighty three heater up to start 408 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:51,400 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter and Oklahoma City goes on a twenty 409 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: four to zero run over the next five and a 410 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: half minutes. I want to zoom in on the defensive 411 00:19:57,320 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: end because I've been really talking about this idea of like, 412 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:03,360 Speaker 1: what does your basketball team present that's an unsolvable problem, 413 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 1: something that like every team in the league is going 414 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: to struggle with to a certain extent. Now here's the thing. 415 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:10,200 Speaker 1: The thunder were great on offense in that stretch. The 416 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:12,719 Speaker 1: thunderscored twenty four points in five and a half minutes. 417 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:16,160 Speaker 1: It was a complete explosion. Shay was unbelievable, was hitting 418 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:18,439 Speaker 1: a ton of big shots, he was getting doubled a lot, 419 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 1: and guys were hitting threes off of it. But we 420 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 1: know Oklahoma City's offense is a bit streaky. It's a 421 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: bit prone to cold spells. That's how they ended up 422 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 1: down twenty to begin with, struggling against Miami switching like 423 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:32,679 Speaker 1: their offense has a little bit of a like a 424 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:34,920 Speaker 1: kind of a ricketiness to it, if that makes sense. 425 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 1: Their defense is their ace in the hole, that is 426 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:41,919 Speaker 1: their reliably great punch that there isn't much of an 427 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 1: answer for from any team in the league. I thought 428 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:46,720 Speaker 1: it started with lou Dort in the early fourth quarter. 429 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 1: Lou Dort just decided enough was enough with Tyler Harrow. 430 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:52,919 Speaker 1: He ratcheted up ball pressure and got super physical with 431 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:55,879 Speaker 1: him and Tyler like straight up peede down his leg, 432 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 1: like he couldn't even dribble within five feet of lou 433 00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 1: Dort without Dort either just taking the ball away from 434 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: him him dribbling the ball out of bounds, or getting 435 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 1: into trouble and just throwing the ball away to somebody 436 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: else on Oakley, Oklahoma City in a passing lane like 437 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:13,200 Speaker 1: lou Dort is just one of the apex perimeter defenders 438 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 1: in this league. He gives the very best offensive players 439 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:20,119 Speaker 1: in this league issues, even guys like Luka Doncic. But 440 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: Tyler Harrow is basically food to a guy like lou Dort, 441 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 1: and he just annihilated him to start the fourth quarter, 442 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:29,919 Speaker 1: cut the head off the snake. The other two guys 443 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:33,679 Speaker 1: that were super dominant in that stretch defensively Kenrich Williams 444 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 1: and jay Lynn Williams. Jay Will off the bench backup center, 445 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:39,640 Speaker 1: a couple of bench guys who came in and defended 446 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: extremely well. Jay Will was protecting the hell out of 447 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:45,159 Speaker 1: the rim, excellent rotations time and time again. Had a 448 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,399 Speaker 1: big block on a Andrew Wiggins pull up three against 449 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 1: a switch, and then Kenrich Williams just erased Andrew Wiggins 450 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:58,399 Speaker 1: physical absorbing contact, disrupting Wiggins's base and making him playoff balance, 451 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:01,919 Speaker 1: which makes his short range shot making less effective. And 452 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 1: the Thunder just took a Miami offense that was lighting 453 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: them up for three quarters and just put them in 454 00:22:07,119 --> 00:22:10,479 Speaker 1: an ice crip. And they were completely helpless. And it 455 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:13,400 Speaker 1: wasn't like they were just missing open shots. They couldn't 456 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 1: get anything decent. And even on the catch and shoot 457 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 1: looks they got, they were rushed. They barely made it 458 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 1: to the rim. They chewed up and spit out that 459 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:24,840 Speaker 1: Miami heat offense in that fourth quarter, And that's really 460 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 1: the exciting part even dating back to the Dallas series 461 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: last year, the way they almost won that series was 462 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 1: with their ability to truly make Luca uncomfortable and to 463 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:38,920 Speaker 1: go on these massive defensive runs. I thought last night 464 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 1: was one of those regular season moments that you'll look 465 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:43,239 Speaker 1: back at as kind of like a defining moment of 466 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:45,920 Speaker 1: this Thunder team if they ever do get the trophy. 467 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 1: They have become a truly dominant defense. The Thunder are 468 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 1: four point one points better per one hundred possessions and 469 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:57,399 Speaker 1: defensive rating than anyone in the league. This season. The 470 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:01,439 Speaker 1: gap between the Thunder and the second best defense is 471 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:04,120 Speaker 1: the same as the gap between the second best defense 472 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:07,439 Speaker 1: and the eleventh best defense. And that's with chet Holmgan 473 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 1: playing twelve games this year, seven wins in a row 474 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,280 Speaker 1: for the Oklahoma City Thunder playing some really special basketball 475 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:15,920 Speaker 1: right now. You know, I remember for you Thunder fans, 476 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:17,679 Speaker 1: like I remember when I was rooting for the Lakers 477 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty, the year that they won the title 478 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 1: and even the year after that, the defining characteristic of 479 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:27,199 Speaker 1: that team was defensive runs. They just about a dozen 480 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:29,400 Speaker 1: times in the regular season. You just see them, whether 481 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: it was against like who, regardless of who was against 482 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:34,280 Speaker 1: where they just be like, Hey, we're gonna lock in 483 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 1: on defense now and this team's just not gonna score 484 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 1: and then we're gonna win. And I get very similar 485 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 1: vibes from this Oklahoma City defense this season. All right, 486 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:48,480 Speaker 1: let's talk about the Lakers losing in Utah first and foremost, 487 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:52,680 Speaker 1: no reason to overreact to this at all. One, they 488 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:54,680 Speaker 1: just beat the living shit out of the same group 489 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:58,120 Speaker 1: of NBA players two nights ago, and they were clearly 490 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:01,880 Speaker 1: nowhere near as engaged. I was exacerbated by the fact 491 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:03,879 Speaker 1: that they were without two of their most important energy 492 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 1: guys and gave Vincent and Dorian Finney Smith two It's 493 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:11,119 Speaker 1: like the famous last game before a long break. I 494 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:13,200 Speaker 1: shared the story on Twitter this morning. But I remember 495 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: my last year in college. I was playing Anaia up 496 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:20,240 Speaker 1: in Phoenix at Arizona Christian University. We at various points 497 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 1: in the season were top five in the nation. We 498 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 1: were one of the best Anaia teams in the country. 499 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: We started the year twelve and zero and we even 500 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:28,879 Speaker 1: beat a Division One. Like a Division one team scheduled 501 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:31,120 Speaker 1: US as a team in the Big Sky Conference called 502 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:35,240 Speaker 1: Northern Arizona University scheduled US for like a tune up game, 503 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 1: and we just went into their house and handled them 504 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:39,640 Speaker 1: like wire to wire, just controlled the game from start 505 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 1: to finish. We were really good at Anaia. Team an 506 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:46,280 Speaker 1: Aia was weird because, like the age rules are different, 507 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:48,520 Speaker 1: so we like had like a twenty nine year old 508 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:50,680 Speaker 1: point guard and a thirty one year old shooting guard. 509 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 1: I was like one of the younger guys on the 510 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:54,479 Speaker 1: team at twenty two. At that point, we were just 511 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:57,439 Speaker 1: stacked with talent relative to the college level, and we 512 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 1: were really good team. But we had a break at winter, 513 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 1: like for the holidays, and it was like, you know, 514 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 1: an eight or nine day break. And the week before 515 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:08,119 Speaker 1: we went on the break, we had four games in 516 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:09,720 Speaker 1: a single week, and in that week we had to 517 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:12,440 Speaker 1: play two top five teams or two top ten teams 518 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 1: if I remember correctly, in the country, and like we 519 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 1: beat We start the week three and zero and we 520 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:20,880 Speaker 1: beat both of the top ten teams, and so we're 521 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:23,199 Speaker 1: twelve and oh and everything looks great, and we have 522 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:26,439 Speaker 1: a game on a Friday. I'm trying to remember. I 523 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 1: think it was called Great Falls. I think it was 524 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 1: Great Falls was the name of the school. But we 525 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 1: played in a five hundred NAIA team from the Midwest, 526 00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 1: and they just beat the shit out of us. And 527 00:25:38,359 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 1: we all had flights out of town the next day, 528 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:42,240 Speaker 1: and I remember our coach. We get in the locker 529 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 1: room and the coach is literally like the coach is 530 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: literally like half of you guys were already on the airplane. 531 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:48,840 Speaker 1: This total bullshit. He was chewing us out. And it 532 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 1: was just crazy because we started twelve and oh and 533 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 1: we were beating all these great teams, and then we 534 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:54,359 Speaker 1: ended up losing to a really bad team right before 535 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:55,960 Speaker 1: we went on a break. And I think it's just 536 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:58,640 Speaker 1: a classic case of like when you get to take 537 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:01,639 Speaker 1: a like basket is such a mental grind when you 538 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:05,320 Speaker 1: do it in an organized context, and you can imagine 539 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:06,880 Speaker 1: how much harder that is in the pros when you've 540 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:09,200 Speaker 1: got all these extended road trips and stuff like that. 541 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:11,760 Speaker 1: But like, it's a grind, it's a mental grind, and 542 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 1: when you see an opportunity to rest, it's hard to 543 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:16,200 Speaker 1: get that out of your mind. And I think again, 544 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:18,880 Speaker 1: like lots of teams were playing their last game before 545 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 1: the break last night and played better basketball. Not saying 546 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 1: it's the ultimate excuse. I just think it's one of 547 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:27,639 Speaker 1: the factors that led to that crappy effort. And then three, 548 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:29,359 Speaker 1: the Lakers have been one of the top teams in 549 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:30,760 Speaker 1: the league for a month and they were kind of 550 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,399 Speaker 1: do a bad night. Bad nights happen in the NBA, 551 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,639 Speaker 1: and they really don't concern me unless they become a 552 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:39,960 Speaker 1: recurring thing. Like earlier in the year. What you saw 553 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:42,400 Speaker 1: last night in Utah was like kind of like once 554 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:44,920 Speaker 1: a week, twice a week kind of thing that you'd 555 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:47,320 Speaker 1: see from the Lakers. That hasn't been the case over 556 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:49,440 Speaker 1: the course of the last month or so, so I'm 557 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 1: trying to cut them some slack. That's it was very 558 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:55,520 Speaker 1: clear that the Lakers were not close to their best. 559 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:58,640 Speaker 1: Luca was awful, which is equal parts in being out 560 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:00,639 Speaker 1: of rhythm and out of shape, but also him just 561 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:02,800 Speaker 1: trying to feel out his new teammates. He hasn't been 562 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 1: very aggressive since he joined the team, and I think 563 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:07,959 Speaker 1: that that's played a role in him just being at 564 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:12,240 Speaker 1: a rhythm. Austin Reeves is hilarious because, like he's such 565 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:15,920 Speaker 1: a dependable big game player, but yeah, he can throw 566 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:18,400 Speaker 1: out like an absolute stinker like he did last night 567 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:21,479 Speaker 1: against a team like the Jazz, So I'm not worried 568 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 1: about it. That said, regardless of who you are, even 569 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:26,879 Speaker 1: if you're a top tier team in this league, like 570 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:29,879 Speaker 1: the Celtics or the Thunder, there is value in taking 571 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:33,200 Speaker 1: a closer look at your losses just to remind yourself 572 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 1: of your own vulnerability. Even on nights when you have 573 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 1: poor effort, Eventually you find yourself down big and you're like, hey, 574 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 1: let's try to get this game, and you try to 575 00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:46,879 Speaker 1: assert control, but obviously you lose the game, right, So like, 576 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:50,040 Speaker 1: you fail to assert control and you still end up losing. 577 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 1: And usually in those moments there's a weakness or two 578 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 1: that you can at least look at and acknowledge exists, 579 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:00,760 Speaker 1: like even Bob. Let's just take Boston for example. A 580 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,159 Speaker 1: lot of the Boston losses this year, even when their 581 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:05,439 Speaker 1: effort has been poor, has had a lot to do 582 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:10,160 Speaker 1: with offensive process. They've had some relapses to older versions 583 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:12,320 Speaker 1: of themselves, or they settle for bad shots and they 584 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:14,160 Speaker 1: don't attack, they don't move the ball around, they don't 585 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:18,520 Speaker 1: generate great catch and shoot looks. It's good for the 586 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:22,439 Speaker 1: Celtics to be reminded that they're not invincible and that 587 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:25,680 Speaker 1: if they don't stay diligent in their offensive process. They 588 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:28,440 Speaker 1: can get beat with Oklahoma City. It's like the shooting 589 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 1: of their role players and some of their offensive process 590 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:33,439 Speaker 1: stuff as well, challenging rim protectors, not moving the ball around, 591 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 1: they can go super cold on offense. So here's the 592 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:40,560 Speaker 1: thing for last night. Even though we all obviously know 593 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:42,360 Speaker 1: that if the Lakers had to play the Jazz again 594 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:45,200 Speaker 1: tomorrow that they beat them by twenty plus. If they 595 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 1: needed to beat them, like if it was like you 596 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 1: gotta go beat you ta tomorrow, they'd handle them. But 597 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:53,840 Speaker 1: it's still important to acknowledge how the Jazz gave the 598 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 1: Lakers issues last night. So here are all the big 599 00:28:56,360 --> 00:28:59,400 Speaker 1: picture weaknesses that I noticed that were on display last 600 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 1: night that the Lake need to sharpen up if they 601 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:05,480 Speaker 1: want to achieve their big picture goals. First and foremost 602 00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:08,360 Speaker 1: point of attack defense. Part of this again last night 603 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:10,960 Speaker 1: was some unusual guys playing because Gabe and Dorian Finney 604 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:13,600 Speaker 1: Smith were out, like Daltonknact was getting cooked a lot 605 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:15,200 Speaker 1: one on one and he's not going to be in 606 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 1: the rotation when he's in the playoffs. But it was 607 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:20,560 Speaker 1: some core guys too. Austin Reeves had a really rough 608 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:22,480 Speaker 1: game on both ends, and he was giving up a 609 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:25,960 Speaker 1: ton of dribble penetration. Ruy Hatchamurro was getting blown by 610 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:29,560 Speaker 1: time and time again. Now here's the thing. During this 611 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 1: streak when the Lakers have been offens awesome on defense, 612 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:35,480 Speaker 1: both of those two guys have been fantastic on defense. 613 00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:39,920 Speaker 1: But it's just a reminder that those are two guys. 614 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 1: Really the whole team has to compete on the ball. 615 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 1: They're not so gifted athletically that they can give poor effort. 616 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:48,880 Speaker 1: They have to compete on the ball, and then the 617 00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:52,000 Speaker 1: Lakers have to support them by shrinking the floor around them, 618 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 1: flying around in rotation, and if they don't, this defense 619 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 1: can dip into being pretty bad For a team that 620 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:01,240 Speaker 1: was the number one defense in the league over the 621 00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:05,400 Speaker 1: previous thirteen games. They looked absolutely atrocious in that third quarter, 622 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:07,840 Speaker 1: as as a Collier was just beating them time and 623 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: time again downhill, Jordan Clarkson time and time again downhill 624 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 1: and just picking them apart. Second big thing that stood 625 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:17,280 Speaker 1: out to me Ruey tracking shooters. Ruey spent a good 626 00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 1: amount of time matched up on Lourie markmen, and Laurie 627 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:24,440 Speaker 1: burned him time and time again for helping and just 628 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:28,200 Speaker 1: knocking down threes off of skip passes. We all know 629 00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:31,320 Speaker 1: that Ruey is susceptible to that kind of thing when 630 00:30:31,360 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 1: he's not focused. He was the guy that really hurt 631 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:36,960 Speaker 1: the Lakers in the first round series last year by 632 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:40,320 Speaker 1: not tracking Michael Porter Junior. It was just a good 633 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:44,959 Speaker 1: reminder last night that Ruey can struggle sometimes with tracking 634 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:47,960 Speaker 1: shooters and that JJ might have to account for that 635 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:50,520 Speaker 1: by going with a guy like Dorian Finney Smith or 636 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:52,360 Speaker 1: keeping him in a matchup that doesn't have him tracking 637 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:54,360 Speaker 1: shooters around. That was something that stood out to me 638 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:58,080 Speaker 1: last night. The third issue the Lakers are super thin 639 00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:02,120 Speaker 1: at center. Jackson Hayes has been playing great, but he 640 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:04,400 Speaker 1: went down with a facial contusion in the middle of 641 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:07,320 Speaker 1: the first quarter and suddenly it was a large diet 642 00:31:07,320 --> 00:31:09,960 Speaker 1: of Alex Lynn and I gotta say, like, I knew 643 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:12,920 Speaker 1: Alex wasn't going to be a significant edition. I talked 644 00:31:12,920 --> 00:31:15,600 Speaker 1: about it when we talked about the signing, like he's 645 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:19,200 Speaker 1: barely played in the last five years. His coaches clearly 646 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:22,680 Speaker 1: don't trust him. I thought of him basically strictly as 647 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:24,720 Speaker 1: just a big two hundred and fifty pound body, to 648 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:27,560 Speaker 1: throw at Jokic from time to time maybe and not 649 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 1: much else. But my god, Alex Lynn was awful last night. 650 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:35,520 Speaker 1: He quite literally doesn't do anything well aside from being 651 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:39,240 Speaker 1: an okay rebounder for his size. Can't finish at the rim, 652 00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:42,120 Speaker 1: he can't finish away from the rim. He's awful on defense, 653 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:44,560 Speaker 1: both in space and at the rim. Doesn't offer any 654 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:47,440 Speaker 1: resistance there. Like, I don't really know how Alex lenn 655 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 1: is going to be able to help the Lakers much 656 00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:52,520 Speaker 1: at all, but maybe I'll be wrong. I thought Christian 657 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:55,760 Speaker 1: Kaloko did okay, but he also got tossed around by 658 00:31:55,840 --> 00:31:58,800 Speaker 1: Kessler quite a bit, got beat by Kessler in some 659 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:02,040 Speaker 1: vertical spacing situation. It was still clear that Christian Cloco 660 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:04,320 Speaker 1: is a two way type of talent and not a 661 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:06,600 Speaker 1: guy that can be playing big minutes in a big situation. 662 00:32:06,680 --> 00:32:10,640 Speaker 1: By the way, shout out to Walker Kessler. He absolutely 663 00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:13,760 Speaker 1: dominated this game on both ends of the floor. Sixteen 664 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:18,120 Speaker 1: points without missing a shot, six blocks. The entire NBA 665 00:32:18,240 --> 00:32:20,760 Speaker 1: world should be very thankful that Danny Ainge did not 666 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:24,080 Speaker 1: accept that Mark Williams package. I had heard from behind 667 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:26,920 Speaker 1: the scenes that the Lakers offered that exact same package 668 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:30,760 Speaker 1: Dalton the twenty thirty one first the pick swap. They 669 00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:33,240 Speaker 1: offered that to Utah and Danny Ainge turned it down. 670 00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:38,080 Speaker 1: The NBA world should be very thankful that Danny Age 671 00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:40,120 Speaker 1: said no to that, because if Walker Kessler was on 672 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:43,160 Speaker 1: this Lakers team, they would be an absolute force on 673 00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:45,680 Speaker 1: both ends and they'd probably enter into that same tier 674 00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:49,160 Speaker 1: with Oklahoma City in Boston. But that brings me to 675 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:51,600 Speaker 1: the last issue that was on display last night, which 676 00:32:51,640 --> 00:32:56,160 Speaker 1: is spacing. There's a reason why Kessler was able to 677 00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:57,840 Speaker 1: protect the rim the way he did and bogged down 678 00:32:57,880 --> 00:33:01,120 Speaker 1: the Laker offense. When Jack ex and Hayes is healthy, 679 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:05,120 Speaker 1: he can beat a guy like Kessler with that vertical spacing, right. 680 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:08,600 Speaker 1: That was how they picked apart Utahon Monday. When Dorian 681 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:11,680 Speaker 1: Phinney Smith is healthy, they can put together small ball 682 00:33:11,680 --> 00:33:15,080 Speaker 1: groups with Ruey and Dorian Phinney Smith and Lebron where 683 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:17,479 Speaker 1: they can still defend and rebound well enough, but they 684 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:20,080 Speaker 1: can put Kessler out in space, and that was another 685 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:24,760 Speaker 1: way they picked apart Utah Monday. But without those two guys, 686 00:33:25,720 --> 00:33:29,200 Speaker 1: one of Jared Vanderbilt or Christian KloCo or Alex lenn 687 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 1: was on the floor. At all times, and that allowed 688 00:33:32,280 --> 00:33:35,840 Speaker 1: Utah to park Kessler underneath the basket, and that really 689 00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:38,240 Speaker 1: made it hard for the Lakers to generate quality shots. 690 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:42,440 Speaker 1: What this means to me is that the Lakers are 691 00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:45,880 Speaker 1: one injury in a bad matchup against a team that 692 00:33:45,880 --> 00:33:49,160 Speaker 1: can protect the rim away from being very vulnerable in 693 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:52,440 Speaker 1: a playoff series. Now. Fortunately, they have space for another 694 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:55,680 Speaker 1: veteran minimum contract before the end of the season. So 695 00:33:55,760 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 1: if there is a big forward that can shoot, or 696 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:02,040 Speaker 1: a center with true spacing ability like whether it's popping 697 00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:05,360 Speaker 1: spacing or vertical spacing, if there is a player like 698 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:08,439 Speaker 1: that that becomes available, the Lakers getting that guy could 699 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:11,319 Speaker 1: make a huge difference in their potential this year. Just 700 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:13,680 Speaker 1: something to keep an eye on. Again, nothing to overreact to, 701 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:16,239 Speaker 1: but those were the obvious issues on display last night 702 00:34:16,280 --> 00:34:17,680 Speaker 1: that the Lakers are going to have to work on 703 00:34:17,719 --> 00:34:20,239 Speaker 1: improving to give themselves the best chance to win in 704 00:34:20,239 --> 00:34:22,759 Speaker 1: the playoffs this year. This is a team that has 705 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:25,319 Speaker 1: to compete on at the point of attack and they 706 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:28,080 Speaker 1: have to support their weaker perimeter defenders with help side 707 00:34:28,080 --> 00:34:31,080 Speaker 1: on the back right. This is a team that has 708 00:34:31,120 --> 00:34:34,359 Speaker 1: some young, flawed guys in their rotation. Guys like Ruy 709 00:34:34,400 --> 00:34:36,799 Speaker 1: Hachimura that JJ Redick is gonna have to be very 710 00:34:36,840 --> 00:34:39,400 Speaker 1: delicate with how he deploys him in the postseason to 711 00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:42,480 Speaker 1: prevent him from being damaging, especially on the defensive end 712 00:34:42,520 --> 00:34:45,879 Speaker 1: of the floor. Their center depth is an issue, and 713 00:34:46,160 --> 00:34:49,920 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, Jackson Hayes becomes really important to 714 00:34:49,920 --> 00:34:53,359 Speaker 1: this team, Dorian Finney Smith becomes really important to this team. 715 00:34:53,640 --> 00:34:56,520 Speaker 1: Ruby Hachimura becomes very important to this team. These big 716 00:34:56,800 --> 00:35:00,719 Speaker 1: players that can shoot in Jackson's vertical spacing are like 717 00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:04,200 Speaker 1: vitally important, and it's just it's just something to keep 718 00:35:04,239 --> 00:35:07,000 Speaker 1: in mind in terms of their margin for air as 719 00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:11,200 Speaker 1: it pertains to the injury front. And again, like they're 720 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:15,399 Speaker 1: they're this team has to be unguardable offensively because they're 721 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:17,759 Speaker 1: not gonna be good enough defensively. I think they're better 722 00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:19,840 Speaker 1: defensively than they showed last night. Again they've shown that 723 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:21,960 Speaker 1: for a month. But like if they're gonna get to 724 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:24,239 Speaker 1: where they want to go, they're going to have to 725 00:35:24,239 --> 00:35:26,719 Speaker 1: be able to score against everybody, and that means they're 726 00:35:26,719 --> 00:35:28,839 Speaker 1: gonna have to be able to space rim protectors out 727 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:32,920 Speaker 1: and last night without Jackson, without Dorian Finney Smith, they 728 00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:35,160 Speaker 1: really struggle to space rimt protectors out. That's something to 729 00:35:35,239 --> 00:35:38,120 Speaker 1: keep an eye on as we're tracking them through the postseason. 730 00:35:38,320 --> 00:35:39,960 Speaker 1: And again, like I always talk about how the playoffs 731 00:35:39,960 --> 00:35:43,279 Speaker 1: are about matchups when I do my series previews, the 732 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:45,360 Speaker 1: Lakers are playing a team that's got a rim protector 733 00:35:46,040 --> 00:35:48,319 Speaker 1: and they have an injury somewhere in the front court 734 00:35:48,440 --> 00:35:50,240 Speaker 1: to where a guy like Jackson, a guy like Dorian, 735 00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:54,360 Speaker 1: a guy like Rui's out. That infinitely cuts into the Lakers' 736 00:35:54,360 --> 00:35:56,200 Speaker 1: ability to be able to withstand a series like that. 737 00:35:56,360 --> 00:35:58,400 Speaker 1: Just something to keep in mind. All right, guys, that's 738 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:00,160 Speaker 1: all I have for today. As always a sincere. Really 739 00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:02,440 Speaker 1: appreciate you guys for supporting me and supporting the show. 740 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:05,239 Speaker 1: We will be back tomorrow with some more game breakdowns 741 00:36:05,239 --> 00:36:06,960 Speaker 1: as well as a mailbag. I will see you guys 742 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:12,800 Speaker 1: then the volume. What's up guys. As always, I appreciate 743 00:36:12,840 --> 00:36:15,600 Speaker 1: you for listening to and supporting OOPS tonight. It would 744 00:36:15,600 --> 00:36:17,719 Speaker 1: actually be really helpful for us if you guys would 745 00:36:17,719 --> 00:36:20,560 Speaker 1: take a second and leave a rating and a review. 746 00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:22,440 Speaker 1: As always, I appreciate you guys supporting us, but if 747 00:36:22,480 --> 00:36:24,480 Speaker 1: you could take a minute to do that, I'd really 748 00:36:24,520 --> 00:36:25,200 Speaker 1: appreciate it.