1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: The volume. All I want for the holidays this year 2 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:10,480 Speaker 1: is some NBA action. This week, new customers can score 3 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty instantly in bonus bets just for 4 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: betting five bucks an instant dub just for you guys. 5 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: The MVP odds are heating ups. Just you guys know. 6 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:25,760 Speaker 1: On DraftKings to Day December eighteenth, Nikola jokicch plus two ten, 7 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: Luka Doncic plus four hundred, Joel Embiid plus four twenty 8 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: five shake kills Us, Alexander plus nine hundred, Yannis plus 9 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: nine hundred, Jason Tatum plus eighteen hundred. Download the Draftking 10 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: sports Book app now and use code hoops. 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Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino 21 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 1: and Resort in Kansas. Twenty one plus age varies by jurisdiction. 22 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 1: Void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire one hundred and sixty 23 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: eight hours after issuance. See dkang dot com slash basketball 24 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: for eligibility and deposit restrictions, terms and responsible gaming resources. 25 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: All right, welcome to hoops tonight here at the Volume. 26 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: Happy Tuesday, everybody, Happy New Year, Oh ball. The guys 27 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: are kicking the new year off right, having productive weeks. 28 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: We got a jam pack show for you today. I 29 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: wanted to cover Bradley Beal returning to the Suns, but 30 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: I wanted to cover a quality the opponent. In doing so, 31 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: We're gonna hit Magic Suns from a few days ago. 32 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: The Pacers got another win over the Bucks last night 33 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 1: in Milwaukee and really dominated them in the second half, 34 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: So we're gonna break down that game. I thought it 35 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 1: revealed a lot of stuff about both teams. I wanted 36 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 1: to talk a little bit about ogn and Obe's debut 37 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 1: with the New York Knicks, which was interesting in some 38 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: ways while also demonstrating some area of opportunity. And the 39 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: last but not least, we have our latest edition of 40 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: the Power Rankings. You guys are the joppopt we get started. 41 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: Subscribe to our brand new YouTube channel. It mean a 42 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 1: lot to me if you guys would take a second 43 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 1: to scroll down and hit that subscribe button. Don't forget 44 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 1: about our podcast feeds. Wherever you get your podcasts under 45 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: Hoops Tonight, follow me on Twitter at Underscore Jason LT 46 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: so you guys don't miss any show announcements or the 47 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: film threads that I do. I did a extensive film 48 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: thread this morning on the issues that the Milwaukee Bucks 49 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: were having at the point of attack. Also some highlights 50 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 1: of the Pacers guards barbecuing them. You can find that 51 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:58,919 Speaker 1: on my Twitter feed. In the last but not least, 52 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: keep dropping mailbag Russians in the YouTube comments so that 53 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: we can hit them later on in the week. All right, 54 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: let's talk some basketball. So there's a concept that I 55 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: talk about a lot on this show, the concept of 56 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: aggregate ball handling. What that means is like if you 57 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 1: take any five main grouping and you have one outstanding 58 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: ball handler, but the other four guys can't dribble, Well, 59 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: you have great top end ball handling, but you don't 60 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: have great down the roster like aggregate ball handling. Teams 61 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 1: like that that would to demonstrate that would be a 62 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: team like the Dallas Mavericks, for instance, right where you 63 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 1: know where Luka Doncic is this incredible ball handler, but 64 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: down the roster they don't have great ball handling. One 65 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: of the advantages of aggregate ball handling is it gives 66 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: you the ability to make multiple attacks at an elite defense, 67 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 1: which sometimes is the best way to beat an elite defense. 68 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 1: A lot of times when it comes to the top 69 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: tier defenses in the league, your first action is not 70 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 1: going to get the job done. Your first action might 71 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: get you a little bit of an advantage somewhere on 72 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: the floor, and you need to take that little advantage 73 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: and expanded into a greater advantage, and so on and 74 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: so forth until you get a great shot. And I 75 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: actually clipped two examples this morning on my Twitter feed 76 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: at underscore json lt, where you guys can see some 77 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: video examples of this where it's you know, Katie is 78 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 1: running a ball screen and he kind of gets downhill 79 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:22,840 Speaker 1: and he makes a kickback pass to Devin Booker on 80 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: the wing, who then rips to the left and gets 81 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: downhill and makes a kickout pass to Bradley Beale, who 82 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: makes one extra pass to the wing to Grayson Allen 83 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: who pump fakes and drives to the lane and finishes 84 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: at the rim. And it's like, if you watch the 85 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 1: defense on that possession, it's a very well defended play 86 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: by an Orlando Magic team that has a ton of 87 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: athletes and is excellent in help side. That is their strength. 88 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 1: That's what the Magic do best. Even in this recent 89 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: stretch where the Sun where the Magic are really struggling, 90 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: they're defending really well. They're huge, they're athletic, they have 91 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 1: high motor, they have excellent point of attack defenders, and 92 00:04:58,000 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 1: so you're not going to just get a lot of 93 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:03,039 Speaker 1: easy shot right And the Suns just did an immaculate 94 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: job in this particular game of that high level closeout attacking. 95 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,359 Speaker 1: And what helps is like we talk so much about 96 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: the off ball rolls and we focus so much on shooting, 97 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 1: and it's actually a misconception when it comes to spacing 98 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 1: where people just think, oh, I need to have a 99 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,600 Speaker 1: forty five three point shooter on the weak side, well, 100 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 1: if you've got a team, especially a defensive scheme that 101 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:28,840 Speaker 1: rotates really hard and chases guys off the line, all 102 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 1: of a sudden, spot up shooting doesn't mean nearly as 103 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: much as the actual ability to make reads and attack 104 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:41,480 Speaker 1: closeouts right that it becomes more valuable. And you know 105 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:44,479 Speaker 1: what's interesting is guys like Devin Booker and Bradley Beale 106 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: and Kevin Durant. Those are guys that we primarily see 107 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 1: in on ball rolls, but by virtue of having three 108 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: of them on the floor, you get to see lots 109 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 1: of examples of them playing with an advantage. And when 110 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:59,599 Speaker 1: you give top tier scorers like that in advantage, like 111 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 1: a defense under sprinting at them, they can make the 112 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 1: game look really easy at times. And they and they 113 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 1: did as they stiff armed the Magic throughout this game, 114 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: even when the Magic. The Magic briefly took a lead 115 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: in the early fourth quarter where franz Wagner was picking 116 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: on Chemezzi Metsu and switches and was just beating him 117 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: off the dribble, and then the Sons had to try 118 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: to blitz to try to prevent that switch, and then 119 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: franz Wagner hit the short role man which led to 120 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:24,840 Speaker 1: a quick kickout three I think for Gary Harris on 121 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: the left wing, and they briefly took a one point lead, 122 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 1: but then Bradley Beale got a couple of buckets and 123 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 1: the Sons just regained control of the game. Never really 124 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 1: felt like they didn't have the more functional half court 125 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: offense in this particular game, as they ran away with it, 126 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 1: and you even saw at stretches after the Sons were 127 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: driving kicking them to death early. Then you saw these 128 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 1: possessions where it's like Kevin Durant running a pick and 129 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: roll off of the right wing and getting downhill, and 130 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 1: it's Bradley Beal and Devin Booker on the left wing, 131 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,919 Speaker 1: left corner, and they're guys are just hugged up on them, 132 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 1: and so Kd's just working by himself getting into the lane. 133 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: And on this particular possession he ended up smoking the layup, 134 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: but he engaged Bitadze at the rim, and so Nurkich 135 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: ended up getting a put back. Anyway, But like if 136 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 1: you watch Bradley Beal and Devin Booker on the weak 137 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 1: side and the magic just aren't helping. There's another one 138 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,119 Speaker 1: where Bradley Beal is driving off of a left wing 139 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: pick and roll, and Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are 140 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: on the weak side on Kevin Durant's on the right 141 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: wing extended and he's been deadly with above the break 142 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: three point shooting this year right Devin Booker in the 143 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: right wing magic players glued up to him. As a result, 144 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 1: Bradley Beal got to get all the way downhill and 145 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: patiently worked to get a shot off at the rim 146 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 1: against Anthony Black. I actually trimmed both of those clips 147 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: as well. You guys can see them on the Twitter fee. 148 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: But the moral of the story here is is when 149 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 1: you have this much offensive skill on the floor, the 150 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: game gets a lot easier and again a lot of 151 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: the struggles that the Suns had earlier in the year. 152 00:07:57,200 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: You take brad Beale out of the equation, you put 153 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: in a much lesser offensive player. It starts to look 154 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: more like a traditional two star, you know, configuration like 155 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: we see everywhere around the league. And suddenly those weak 156 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: side players they don't seem like they have enough firepower 157 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: to make it work. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker fatigue. They 158 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: get into the fourth quarter, the aggressive defense starts to 159 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: force turnovers. The Suns start to miss even the open 160 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: shots that they get, and it can crater right. But 161 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: then you throw brad Beial into the equation. Even the 162 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 1: guys like Rayson Allen and Eric Gordon, Yusuf Nurkic Jamezi 163 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 1: Met who's actually been playing a lot for the group lately, 164 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 1: those guys suddenly get slotted into more achievable roles. You've 165 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 1: got Bradley Beal, Devin Booker consistently working in close out opportunities, 166 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 1: everything looks a lot easier. The other thing I like 167 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: about brad Beal is he brings a very different type 168 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,199 Speaker 1: of attack to what Kevin Durant Devin Booker brings to 169 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 1: the table. You know, Devin Booker is a good athlete, 170 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant is a has a great physical frame. But 171 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: neither of those guys are like outstanding slashers. But Bradley 172 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: Beal is actually a top tier athlete for his position 173 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 1: when he's healthy, and he brings a lot of downhill 174 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: forced to the table. And you know when Franz Wagner 175 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 1: went on that run in the fourth quarter as the 176 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 1: Magic took the lead, it was Bradley Beal's rim pressure 177 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 1: that actually got them back into the lead. There was 178 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: a possession where he got Wendell Carter Junior on a 179 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 1: switch and he was able to just beat him off 180 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 1: the dribble, like just toast him off the dribble and 181 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: get all the way to the rim. That's a downhill athlete. 182 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 1: Play like that probably ends up in a pull up 183 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:30,679 Speaker 1: jump shot if it's Kevin Durant or Devin Booker. Right. 184 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 1: There was another play where they picked him up full court. 185 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 1: It was like the very next possession and they're trying 186 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 1: to apply ball pressure. One of the best ways to 187 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: beat ball pressure is to just be the bigger, stronger 188 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 1: athlete and go past him to the rim. And Bradley 189 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: Beal just toasted him off the dribble and got all 190 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 1: the way to the rim. I think that fit makes 191 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: a ton of sense. You even saw. One of the 192 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 1: things I talked about a lot when the Sons were 193 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:53,319 Speaker 1: struggling was that Kd's defense wasn't as good as it 194 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: can be, and a lot of that came down to workload. 195 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:58,959 Speaker 1: I thought KD had one of his best defensive games 196 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 1: of the season against the Magic. Early in the game, 197 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 1: he had a couple of steals, and just the first 198 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 1: few possessions playing in passing lanes, he was bothering a 199 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: ton of shots at the rim. You have to have 200 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 1: the energy to do that, though, and when he's required 201 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 1: to do that much more offensively, you can expect his 202 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 1: defensive effort to wane. That's just normal, especially for a 203 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: guy in his late thirties. And so I thought all 204 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 1: of it just seems to make a lot more sense 205 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: with Bradley Beal in the group, a very very encouraging 206 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: sign and one of the big reasons why I've been 207 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: saying all year. But the Suns, like, my concerns with 208 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: them are still there as it pertains to the bigger 209 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 1: matchups in the Western Conference, right, teams like the Wolves, 210 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: teams like the Nuggets, teams like the Lakers. But I 211 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,679 Speaker 1: think writing them off was silly because the entire configuration 212 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,079 Speaker 1: of the team was designed to involve all three of 213 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 1: those guys. Like they know, they're not as big and 214 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: strong on the front, but they're gonna have a ton 215 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 1: of offensive skill on the floor, more offensive skill on 216 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: the floor than just about anybody they play, and that's 217 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 1: gonna be their advantage if they can play to that advantage. 218 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 1: If they can drive and for layups and threes more 219 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: often than they drive for tough mid range pull up 220 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 1: jump shots, and they fit that offensive shot profile that 221 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: they need to fit, they have a chance. They have 222 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 1: a chance with that kind of talent on the floor. 223 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,679 Speaker 1: On the magic front, Palo and Franz were both great. 224 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 1: Like I said, Franz had this really cool stretch in 225 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 1: the middle fourth quarter where he was picking apart the Suns, 226 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: particularly attacking him as he met to the major thing 227 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 1: that kind of got in the way for them, as 228 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 1: Jalen Suggs was really struggling to knock down spot up threes, 229 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 1: especially on the wings, and as a result, after he 230 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:32,319 Speaker 1: missed a couple, especially in the fourth quarter, the Suns 231 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: just started ignoring him and then throwing that third defender 232 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: and two man game or extra defender in ISOs and 233 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 1: they were able to slow down the Magic offense, which 234 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 1: the magic offense, which we'll get to when we get 235 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 1: to power rankings, is really really struggling as of late. 236 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 1: All right, moving on to the Pacers and the Bucks. 237 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:51,320 Speaker 1: Classic matchup of speed versus size, a matchup that we've 238 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 1: seen a lot over the last couple of weeks between 239 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 1: the Ncason Tournament the week after and then last night's game. 240 00:11:57,800 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: And you know, speed manifests in very different ways than 241 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 1: speed manifest beating the floor to the team down the 242 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 1: floor in transition, and manifests when a guy cuts to 243 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 1: the rim, like there's a late cut from Ben Matherin 244 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 1: down the stretch of this game, where like when he 245 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 1: hit the jets to cut into that opening, it just 246 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 1: caught everybody off guard because of how fast he is. 247 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 1: Right like speed attacking the glass, the Pacers performed better 248 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:23,959 Speaker 1: on the offensive glass than the Bucks did, which you 249 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:26,640 Speaker 1: would expect would be an advantage to the Bucks with 250 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:29,199 Speaker 1: their size, but with so much three point shooting in 251 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: the NBA now, rebounding is gone from a size game 252 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 1: to a ball pursuit game, and having speed on the 253 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 1: floor helps you pursue the ball easier, as the Pacers 254 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: outworped the Bucks in many cases. But the biggest example 255 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: of the speed advantage for the Pacers in this game 256 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: was at the point of attack, primarily Tyrese Halliburton and TJ. McConnell, 257 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,320 Speaker 1: but also Ben Matherin as well. All three of those 258 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: guys were just consistently nothing fancy, just go down the floor, 259 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 1: beat the guy off the dribble, play basketball from there. 260 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: TJ McConnell in particular, he's been doing this all year. 261 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 1: It's so funny because teams have been, you know, I 262 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 1: think overlooking him in a certain way as a bench guard, 263 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 1: but like TJ McConnell's been one of the best dribble 264 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 1: drive guys. Just beating that first line of defense and 265 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 1: getting the defense into rotation, combined with his ability to 266 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 1: pass and obviously everything that brings to the table. They 267 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 1: were they were running a little interchange there in the 268 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 1: fourth quarter where basically Tyres Saliburton would come and do 269 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: a little dribble handoff to TJ McConnell, and he'd get 270 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 1: Malik Beasley on a switch and just barrel right through 271 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 1: him to the basket and get all the way to 272 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 1: the ram. He had like a little short turnaround jumper 273 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 1: and drew a foul on him that way. He's also 274 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 1: like deceptively big and strong. They're just they're just they're 275 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 1: just really really fast, difficult to contain, and they have 276 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 1: guys that can finish plays and it makes them that 277 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 1: much tougher to guard. Tyre's Halliburton in his last five 278 00:13:56,240 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: games twenty six points, five rebounds, and sixteen assists with 279 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: only two turnovers per game on fifty two percent from 280 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 1: the field forty percent from three. They've won four games 281 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: in a row, all against really good teams. Nobody can 282 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: keep them from generating quality shots. It's funny because, like 283 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: a lot of people, you know, we're not gonna talk 284 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 1: about the Lakers today, but a lot of people have 285 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: been going on the Lakers and the Pacers since the 286 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: n season tournament as both teams obviously by virtue of 287 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 1: the tough schedule, they're kind of dipped a little bit. 288 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 1: I think people got off the Pacers sent again. I 289 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: think people are off the Lakers cent too. You know, 290 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: as bad as the Lakers have been, they're still top 291 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 1: ten in both half court offense and defense. They have 292 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: a trade to make, and they have two top ten 293 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: players in the league. I think it's foolish to write 294 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 1: them off. I think it's foolish to write the Pacers off. 295 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: These are teams that in season tournament schedule was brutal, 296 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 1: and to turn around and to play a tough schedule 297 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: the following week. The Pacers took a dip, but they 298 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 1: are a good team. They're not a serious championship contender 299 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 1: with the lack of frontline athleticism in size, but there 300 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: they could be a player in the trade deadline this year, 301 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 1: like Tyre's. Halliburton, in my opinion, is an all time 302 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: great in the making. I've said this on the show before, 303 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 1: but I don't look at him as just a guy 304 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 1: who could be a superstar. I look at him as 305 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 1: a guy who could be like Steph and Nikola Jokic, 306 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 1: as transformative offensive talents that are engines for top five 307 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: offenses for a decade and a half and just surefire 308 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: Hall of Famers, guys who could be in the pantheon 309 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 1: one day. That's what I look at as Tyres Haliburton. 310 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 1: As I know I'm on the high end there. I 311 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: know some people are a little bit lower on him, 312 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 1: but I think he's that special. He completely picked the 313 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 1: Bucks apart down the stretch, just taking a little fifteen 314 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: foot pull up jump shots over the top of Brook 315 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 1: Lopez in his drop coverage. He's just unbelievable and what 316 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: like we talked about all the time on the show, 317 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: step one in the process of team building for an 318 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 1: NBA Championship is find the guy, and he's got to 319 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 1: be one of the guys. Now, Tyre's Halliburton is not 320 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: that guy necessarily yet He's got to polish up some 321 00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 1: things defensively, and obviously we'll see how his game translates 322 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 1: to the postseason. But I think he's on a freight 323 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 1: train to that level and I'd be shocked if he 324 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: doesn't get there. It's super, super encouraging on the Bucks front, 325 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 1: just a complete and total lack of resistance at the 326 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 1: point of attack. The Bucks had a significant they had 327 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 1: were up fifteen in the middle of the third quarter, 328 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 1: and it was like, not only did the wheels come off, 329 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: it was like every single time down the floor, the 330 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: Pacers got whatever they wanted. It was one of the 331 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 1: most like problematic and concerning defensive performances I've seen from 332 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: a serious champion, a serious championship contender in a long time. 333 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: I clipped a thread of all the plays this morning, 334 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: and it's like twenty clips long of like, oh, you 335 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: guys got a bucket. Cool TJ McConnell brought the ball 336 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 1: up the floor and just beat his man off the 337 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 1: dribble for a layup. Oh you got another bucket. TJ 338 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 1: McConnell came up the floor, just toasted by Chris Middleton 339 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 1: and dropped it off to Ben Mathern at the basket. 340 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: Like they get a stop here. Here they come down 341 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 1: the floor. TJ McConnell attacking Malik Beasley. Again. Here's Tyres 342 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 1: Halliburton getting wherever he wants. Oh, Ben matherin left wing 343 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:08,360 Speaker 1: against Damian Lillard, cleared side. I'm just gonna dribble right 344 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: through him to the basket for a layup. It was 345 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:14,120 Speaker 1: kind of embarrassing. And one of the things that I've 346 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: said consistently with the Bucks is like I view them again. 347 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 1: I look at all the teams kind of in tiers, 348 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: and to me, the Celtics and the Nuggets are in 349 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:26,119 Speaker 1: the top tier as teams that, as currently constructed, have 350 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 1: serious chances to win the title. And even though the 351 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:31,639 Speaker 1: Bucks have been a very good regular season team, I 352 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 1: view a drop off from that tier to the Bucks, 353 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:37,920 Speaker 1: to the Lakers, to the Timberwolves to the Suns. That 354 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:41,200 Speaker 1: next group, to me is every one of those teams 355 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 1: needs to make a trade. They just do. I don't 356 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:46,440 Speaker 1: care how many regular season team games the Bucks win. 357 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 1: I don't care that the Lakers won the nd season Tournament. 358 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: I don't care that the Wolves are the number one 359 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 1: seed in the West. To me, the Wolves aren't good 360 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,479 Speaker 1: enough in half court defense. The Lakers don't have a 361 00:17:56,680 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: point of attack defenders that can also score, and the 362 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:03,679 Speaker 1: the Bucks have zero point of attack defenders. And so 363 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: it becomes a serious issue when like every single team 364 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:10,400 Speaker 1: you play against, their guards are just comfortable. And again 365 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:12,400 Speaker 1: there's a difference because a lot of times people buy 366 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:14,439 Speaker 1: into this like shot result thing. It's like, oh, we 367 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:18,159 Speaker 1: made Tyree s saliburt and take contested pull up twos 368 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 1: down the stretch of a close basketball game, and you 369 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 1: might have your analytics professionals telling you, like, oh, man, 370 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 1: contested pull up twos are only worth x points per shot. 371 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 1: We'll live with that. But there's again the statistic means 372 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 1: have you ever heard the expression the statistic means nothing 373 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: to the individual. The statistic means nothing to the individual possession, Like, 374 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:43,480 Speaker 1: it's not a contested fifteen footer as one of a 375 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:47,160 Speaker 1: thousand contested mid range pull ups that are all the same, 376 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 1: all of them are different. Sometimes there's really good ball 377 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 1: pressure and the guy has to work really hard to 378 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:56,679 Speaker 1: get separation over the screen, and the contest on the 379 00:18:56,680 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 1: mid range is better. Maybe there's back pressure. There's a 380 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:03,640 Speaker 1: lot of these things that make him uncomfortable that will 381 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 1: lead to a miss. Whereas if the dude's just walking 382 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:10,919 Speaker 1: into pull up jump shots with zero back pressure, with 383 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:14,960 Speaker 1: zero physical ball pressure with zero like a very mild 384 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:17,399 Speaker 1: contest from brook Lopez coming out of the drop. I 385 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: don't care what your analytical professionals say. That's a high 386 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,200 Speaker 1: percentage shot. And he made three of them down the 387 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:25,719 Speaker 1: stretch of the game and beat you guys, and you 388 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 1: can like again to me like that is why point 389 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:33,199 Speaker 1: of attack defense is such a vitally important part of 390 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 1: an NBA defense. Like, it's not just about forcing a 391 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 1: team to take the right shots from the opening tip 392 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:43,160 Speaker 1: of the game. You have to make the opposing ball 393 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 1: handler feel uncomfortable in some way, shape or form. If 394 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:49,959 Speaker 1: you do, he'll have to work harder and fight through it, 395 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 1: and he'll take some bad shots. He'll not feel as confident. 396 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:55,679 Speaker 1: And that's how you can force a guy into a 397 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: you know, a ten for twenty three night instead of 398 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 1: a fifteen for twenty three night. That's the difference, in 399 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 1: my opinion, it's comfort. It's rhythm, like when you go 400 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: to the gym and you do cone shooting if you're 401 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 1: a young basketball player that's working on perimeter shot creation. 402 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:13,359 Speaker 1: You know, like when I do my shooting drills, like 403 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:16,280 Speaker 1: I will that rip through pull up shooting drill that 404 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 1: I've told you guys about on the show before, Like 405 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: I catch and I rip to the right, and I 406 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 1: do a counter move and I go back to the 407 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 1: left and I take a pull up jump shot. You know, 408 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 1: it's great. When I'm shooting by myself, it's comfort. I 409 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:28,600 Speaker 1: feel like I'm doing a shooting drill right because I'm 410 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 1: by myself. When the defense in an NBA game is 411 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: allowing Tyrese Halliburton to feel like he's shooting in cone drills, 412 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,680 Speaker 1: he's gonna make shots at a much higher percentage relative 413 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 1: to what the giant sample size might tell you over 414 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:45,960 Speaker 1: the course of the season because the other pull up 415 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: fifteen footers Tyrese is taking is against better point of 416 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:52,440 Speaker 1: attack defense. It's a significant issue. To put it simply, 417 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:56,640 Speaker 1: you are not beating Boston unless you find a way 418 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:00,080 Speaker 1: to make ball handlers more uncomfortable, like Derek Is. Has 419 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:02,400 Speaker 1: anybody seen how well Derek White is playing this year. 420 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:06,479 Speaker 1: He's killing teams with the combination of beating guys off 421 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: the dribble and making reds finishing at the rim, and 422 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 1: he's shooting his pull up three point shot really really well. 423 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:14,159 Speaker 1: Like that's just Derek White. It's like, Okay, we have 424 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,920 Speaker 1: Giannis and we have Chris Middleton for Jalen Brown and 425 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum. Great who's guarding drew In and Derek White. Like, meanwhile, 426 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 1: on the other end of the floor, Derek White is 427 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:29,160 Speaker 1: going to be in Damian Lillard's personal space forty eight minutes. Well, 428 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:32,399 Speaker 1: however long he plays seven games in a seven game series, 429 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,639 Speaker 1: see how that one matchup could call it? Like, and 430 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 1: what will happen is at the end of the series, 431 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 1: people will be like, Dame didn't shoot very well. It's 432 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: shot variants And it's like, no, the Celtics are just 433 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 1: better at making your guards feel uncomfortable than the Bucks 434 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 1: are at making your guards feel uncomfortable. To me, it 435 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 1: is a it is a it is a fatal flaw. Like, 436 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 1: are the the teams in that other tier, the Suns 437 00:21:57,119 --> 00:21:59,920 Speaker 1: and the Timberwolves and the and the Bucks and the Lakers. 438 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 1: Can they win the titles currently constructed. Sure, but it's 439 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 1: a super long shot. You need a ton of stuff 440 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 1: to go well. You need a bunch of guys to 441 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 1: play above their pay grade, you need your opponents to 442 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: shoot poorly. You need a bunch of things to go 443 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 1: your way, and it's just unrealistic to expect it to 444 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 1: go that way. All those teams need upgrades. And for 445 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 1: the Bucks, they need an athletic guard that they can 446 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:28,159 Speaker 1: put next to Dame that's at least okay on the 447 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:29,920 Speaker 1: offensive end of the floor, to the point where he's 448 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:32,919 Speaker 1: not a liability. That's what they need. A guy that 449 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: can pick up primary point of attack assignments, that's what 450 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:39,080 Speaker 1: they need so that they always are slotted properly. And 451 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 1: that everything makes sense. I said in training camp, Malik 452 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 1: Beasley can shoot. Didn't shoot well for the Lakers. Maybe 453 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: he'll shoot well. He has shot well for the Bucks, 454 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:50,880 Speaker 1: but he was never at any point a reliable point 455 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:53,400 Speaker 1: of attack defender, and the Bucks were relying on him 456 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 1: to be that. It was doomed to fail. And again 457 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:59,679 Speaker 1: I understand that the standings look good, and the Bucks 458 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 1: have the second best record in the East, and the 459 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 1: you know, third or fourth best record, in the league. 460 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 1: But it's not about winning regular season games. It's can 461 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 1: you beat Boston in a seven game series? And right 462 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:13,200 Speaker 1: now I think that flaw gets them beat against Boston. 463 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:18,479 Speaker 1: One last thing on the Bucks. Damian Lillard had some 464 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:21,639 Speaker 1: comments after the game about his offensive role because the 465 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: Bucks offense really struggled down the stretch as well. They 466 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:25,720 Speaker 1: had a one oh five offensive rating in the second half, 467 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:28,399 Speaker 1: and Dame had this interesting comment after the game, basically 468 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 1: talking about him being off the ball more. And to 469 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:33,560 Speaker 1: be clear, he's right about that, Like there is a 470 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 1: reality to like when your touches change, like when you 471 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 1: go from feeling the ball in your hands all the 472 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 1: time to where like you're still involved a lot, but 473 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:45,480 Speaker 1: it's like a lot more like sometimes I'm giving the ball, 474 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 1: I'm giving the ball to Giannis and Chris a lot. 475 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:50,440 Speaker 1: Brooke is a guy that's pretty aggressive offensively, so like 476 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 1: it's much more of an equal opportunity type of offense. 477 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:56,120 Speaker 1: And it is a struggle for Dame and he's really struggling. 478 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 1: He's cratered again in his last you know, in shooting 479 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 1: over the list couple of weeks, we'll dive into that 480 00:24:01,359 --> 00:24:03,640 Speaker 1: a little bit further when we get into the power rankings. 481 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 1: But like he is right, like, this is a different 482 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: role and it does take time, and quite frankly, they 483 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: need to figure that out because I don't think this 484 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:15,440 Speaker 1: defense is gonna be good enough to be the foundation 485 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:17,439 Speaker 1: for them to win a championship. They're going to have 486 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 1: to enter into that Denver level of inevitability on offense, 487 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 1: and it's just gonna take time. They've got another fifty 488 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 1: games or so, but they're gonna have to figure out 489 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:29,800 Speaker 1: how to get Dame comfortable in his new role. All right. Lastly, 490 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 1: before we get to the power rankings, I wanted to 491 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 1: talk a little bit about og and Andobi's first game 492 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 1: with the Knicks. Impressive win. As the next beat the 493 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 1: Minnesota Timberwolves. On offense, you saw the benefit of og 494 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 1: and Andobi right away hit what three corner threes. I 495 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:46,679 Speaker 1: talked a lot about how so many Knicks games in 496 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 1: recent weeks or ended like it's like a tic tac 497 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:52,160 Speaker 1: toe right, Like it's like Jalen Brunson makes a play 498 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:55,199 Speaker 1: at the point of attack that draws multiple defenders. You know, 499 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:57,359 Speaker 1: he hits the role man, or hits the guy on 500 00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:59,400 Speaker 1: the wing who drives and kicks or the role man 501 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:01,360 Speaker 1: you know, makes a read out of the short role 502 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:04,200 Speaker 1: and then the ball just ends up in RJ. Barrett's 503 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 1: hands on the wing and he can't shoot, especially against 504 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 1: the closeout, and so just so many of those possessions 505 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 1: would end that way. And it's like og An Andobi 506 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:18,120 Speaker 1: is just a much better both contested and uncontested catch 507 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:21,360 Speaker 1: and shoot shooter, and it like he's going to make 508 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 1: the corner threes in a way that RJ. Barrett can't. 509 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:25,919 Speaker 1: The second big thing that stood out to me is 510 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:29,360 Speaker 1: just his athleticism. Again, this is a type of athlete 511 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:31,960 Speaker 1: that the Knicks just did not have on the roster, 512 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:37,399 Speaker 1: like an actually perimeter quick, tall guy. They just didn't 513 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 1: have this right and like you see, you saw it 514 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:42,119 Speaker 1: in a bunch of different ways. Specifically, they worked him 515 00:25:42,119 --> 00:25:44,480 Speaker 1: in the dunker spot a lot, where like he would 516 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 1: just kind of meander down there when he saw an opening, 517 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 1: and he has that ability to on the catch just 518 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 1: immediately go up and dunk it with two hands. And 519 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:55,240 Speaker 1: he's got the strength to fight through contact, which is 520 00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:57,800 Speaker 1: just a it's like a release valve in a lot 521 00:25:57,840 --> 00:26:00,439 Speaker 1: of ways. When he's cutting to the rim. He had 522 00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 1: a cut on like a little banana cut over the 523 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:05,200 Speaker 1: right into the middle of the floor, where he caught 524 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:06,600 Speaker 1: and went up and dunked it with two hands. I 525 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:08,479 Speaker 1: think he got a foul on that one too, Like 526 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:10,880 Speaker 1: he just has like it's almost like a real rim 527 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,920 Speaker 1: pressure from the off ball positions, you know what I mean. 528 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:16,399 Speaker 1: And then as just an athlete in transition, he had 529 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:18,680 Speaker 1: a big one handed dunkin transition where he was running 530 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:20,919 Speaker 1: his lane. I think he's just gonna make them so 531 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:22,680 Speaker 1: much better on the offensive end of the floor. And 532 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 1: I thought you saw that immediately. Now defensively was a chore. 533 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:28,720 Speaker 1: They put him on. Anthony I works to start the game, 534 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:33,160 Speaker 1: and the Timberwolves are an excellent screening team, and Og 535 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:35,800 Speaker 1: was really struggling to fight over the top of screens, 536 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 1: and so Ant did get downhill a lot. I've talked 537 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:40,920 Speaker 1: about this before, but like the Knicks might want to 538 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: experiment with switching just because of the size of their 539 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:47,280 Speaker 1: front line and Og and Andobi being a big body 540 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:50,240 Speaker 1: that can be easy to screen sometimes. And we'll see, 541 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 1: maybe it's just one game, so I don't want to overreact, 542 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 1: and we'll see what kind of scheme ends up working 543 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:58,200 Speaker 1: best for them. The other thing too, is the Knicks 544 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,720 Speaker 1: that's currently constructed or not a rim ptet team. They 545 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:03,960 Speaker 1: don't have like a big old rim protector, especially since 546 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 1: Mitchel Robinson's hurt and so an over the top chasing 547 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 1: kind of on ball scheme is serves to funnel, and 548 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 1: you only really want a funnel when you have excellent 549 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:17,280 Speaker 1: rim protections. So it might be interesting we'll see over 550 00:27:17,359 --> 00:27:19,399 Speaker 1: a larger sample size, but it might be interesting to 551 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:22,080 Speaker 1: see the Knicks try to do some more switching because 552 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 1: oj and Obe can guard bigger players because they can 553 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:27,359 Speaker 1: have like a team wide help and recover scheme to 554 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:31,600 Speaker 1: try to help them do okay in mismatches. They also 555 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:34,399 Speaker 1: have some guards that are like surprisingly big and strong, 556 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:37,280 Speaker 1: and that can be something that is useful in switching 557 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 1: as well. But we'll see in the big picture what 558 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:41,919 Speaker 1: they decide to do. Got in foul trouble too, a 559 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 1: couple of really bad causes of rebounding foul that I 560 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:46,879 Speaker 1: didn't like, and then his sixth voul is just an 561 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 1: atrocious call. He was just fighting through a gober screen 562 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:52,359 Speaker 1: and it was pretty innocuous contact and the ref just 563 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:54,639 Speaker 1: took him out of the game. Something I'm not a 564 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 1: huge fan of but it is what it is. But overall, 565 00:27:57,200 --> 00:27:59,280 Speaker 1: I thought it was an impressive debut for og And and 566 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:03,320 Speaker 1: Obi clear demonstration of the ceiling raising ability that he has. 567 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 1: All Right, moving on to our power rankings, So we 568 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:11,240 Speaker 1: have two teams dropping out this week. The Orlando Magic 569 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:13,639 Speaker 1: went one in two this week. They've lost eight of 570 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 1: their last thirteen games and their twenty sixth in offense 571 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,160 Speaker 1: over that span, so they're out of the power rankings 572 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:21,080 Speaker 1: for the time being. Also, the Dallas Mavericks, they went 573 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 1: one in two this week, lost seven of their last 574 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 1: eleven games in that span. It's weird. They're twenty fifth 575 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 1: in offense and sixteenth in defense over that span. But 576 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:32,760 Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving is back now that should help them settle down. 577 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:35,280 Speaker 1: He played his first game last night, looked rusty, but 578 00:28:36,240 --> 00:28:38,160 Speaker 1: with him coming back, that should help them get back 579 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:44,719 Speaker 1: on track offensively alrighty Number ten the New Orleans Pelicans. 580 00:28:44,760 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 1: They've won seven of their last ten games, culminating in 581 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:50,240 Speaker 1: a quality win over the Lakers on Sunday. Their top 582 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:52,960 Speaker 1: five in offense and defense over that span. Branding Ramsign 583 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:56,040 Speaker 1: Williamson and CJ. McCollum are all averaging over twenty points 584 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 1: per game very efficiently over that span. They're rebounding super well, 585 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:02,880 Speaker 1: the third in defensive rebound percentage over that span. And 586 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:04,800 Speaker 1: on defense, couple of guys I want to shout out. 587 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:08,959 Speaker 1: Brandon Ingram is having a ridiculous stretch of off ball defense, 588 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:11,600 Speaker 1: getting a ton of deflections and blocks and steals and 589 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:14,320 Speaker 1: blowing up plays. It's been a theme all season. Those 590 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:15,560 Speaker 1: of you guys who've been listening to the show have 591 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 1: heard me talk about it, but recently it's gone even 592 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:20,840 Speaker 1: up a level. Brandon Ingram has the tools, kind of 593 00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 1: like we've talked about with Kevin Durant, to be an 594 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:26,200 Speaker 1: outstanding defensive player. It's just a question of commitment, and 595 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:28,040 Speaker 1: there have been stretches where he does, in stretches where 596 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 1: he doesn't. He's in a stretch where he has been 597 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:33,400 Speaker 1: doing it and it's made them that much more formidable 598 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 1: on defense. Josey Alvarado was a menace in that Lakers 599 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:39,960 Speaker 1: game as well, just a literal wrecking ball, blowing things up, 600 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:44,480 Speaker 1: not just the from behind steels, but also just attacking 601 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:46,720 Speaker 1: the basketball when it's in front of him. In transition. 602 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:49,480 Speaker 1: He was having success there as well. Pelicans are playing 603 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:50,800 Speaker 1: some good ball right now the first time in the 604 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 1: first time under Power Rankings at number ten, number nine, 605 00:29:55,120 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 1: the Indiana Pacers. They've won four in a row, all 606 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 1: four wins against good teams. They went down to huge 607 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,720 Speaker 1: Houston and beat the Rockets in Houston, not easy to do. 608 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:05,640 Speaker 1: They went into Chicago and beat a red hot Bulls team, 609 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:08,200 Speaker 1: that's not easy to do. Then they beat the Knicks. 610 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 1: The Knicks are a good team. And then they went 611 00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:12,840 Speaker 1: into Milwaukee and beat the Bucks. Like we mentioned earlier, 612 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 1: ty Tyres Haliburton in his last five games twenty six points, 613 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:19,280 Speaker 1: five rebounds, and sixteen assists with only two turnovers per 614 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:21,760 Speaker 1: game on fifty two percent from the field and forty 615 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:23,680 Speaker 1: percent from three. And then I wanted to shout out 616 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:27,320 Speaker 1: TJ McConnell. He's just been such a good bench guard 617 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:31,200 Speaker 1: this year, not just at the point of attack offensively 618 00:30:31,200 --> 00:30:33,160 Speaker 1: beating people off the dribble and making plays, but he's 619 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 1: also been a very very good point of attack defensive player, 620 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 1: and just an overall disruptor and energizer bunny that just 621 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:43,800 Speaker 1: continues the wave the onslaught of what the Pacers bring. 622 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:46,840 Speaker 1: As part of that, Tyres Haliburton experience, and then they 623 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 1: even play the two of them together, and then they 624 00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:51,600 Speaker 1: just start to pick you apart, driving and kicking. I 625 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:54,120 Speaker 1: did a lot of Pacers talk earlier in the show. 626 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:56,200 Speaker 1: For those of you guys are watching the breakout clips, 627 00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:59,400 Speaker 1: so make sure you check out the Pacers Bruck Pacers 628 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 1: Bucks down from earlier today. Number eight the Denver Nuggets. 629 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:06,200 Speaker 1: They beat the Grizzlies and Hornets, but then they got 630 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 1: demolished by the Thunder at home. Now, Aaron Gordon was 631 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:12,200 Speaker 1: out for that game because of the unfortunate dog bite 632 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:15,320 Speaker 1: that he suffered over Christmas. But as I've said frequently 633 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:18,320 Speaker 1: about the Nuggets, you know, when it comes to their 634 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:21,200 Speaker 1: top five, I trust them more than anyone else in 635 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:23,720 Speaker 1: the league. That's why they're my number one championship favorite 636 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:27,440 Speaker 1: at this point. But their vulnerability is a lack of depth. 637 00:31:28,520 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 1: If you lose Aaron Gordon, you're nowhere near as physically 638 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:34,640 Speaker 1: imposing as you are with him. If you lose Michael 639 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:38,160 Speaker 1: Porter Junior, you're weak side shooting craters and suddenly it's 640 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:40,240 Speaker 1: a lot easier to throw multiple bodies at the Yokich 641 00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 1: Murray two man game. No. Kentavious called well, Pope, now 642 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:45,080 Speaker 1: you have to play your point of attack defenders that 643 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:47,920 Speaker 1: are nowhere near as good offensively. Same issue. You can 644 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:49,680 Speaker 1: start to load up on the two man game. No 645 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:52,360 Speaker 1: Jamal Murray, there is no two man game. The offense 646 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 1: becomes way easier to guard, or at least that you 647 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:56,400 Speaker 1: go to a much lower level two man game. So 648 00:31:56,440 --> 00:31:58,800 Speaker 1: the point is like, this is the best team in 649 00:31:58,840 --> 00:32:02,720 Speaker 1: the league, but great example. Like they I've always said 650 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:05,400 Speaker 1: that five man grouping is the most perfect assembly of 651 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:07,840 Speaker 1: basketball talent that I can remember seeing in terms of 652 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:12,040 Speaker 1: reaching the value higher than the sum of their parts. Right, 653 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:14,920 Speaker 1: and Jokic is the best player in the world, but 654 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:18,640 Speaker 1: each of those role players next to him is immaculately 655 00:32:19,080 --> 00:32:21,920 Speaker 1: a perfect fit for what they need out of that position. 656 00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:25,000 Speaker 1: And I thought, I thought the thunder just destroying the 657 00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:27,959 Speaker 1: Nuggets in Denver was a strong indicator of just how 658 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:32,040 Speaker 1: important Aaron Gordon is to this particular team. Number seven, 659 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:34,320 Speaker 1: the Sacramento Kings the loss of the Blazers, but they 660 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:38,120 Speaker 1: beat the Hawks and grizz easier stretching their schedules. So 661 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:39,920 Speaker 1: I wanted to just take a second to shout out, 662 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:44,400 Speaker 1: deer in Fox doesn't get nearly enough credit for massively 663 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:48,120 Speaker 1: increasing his scoring volume while not dropping inefficiency. Went from 664 00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:50,520 Speaker 1: twenty five points per game last year to thirty this year, 665 00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:53,400 Speaker 1: while staying at sixty percent true shooting. And it's on 666 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:56,960 Speaker 1: the strength of him just turning into a dead eye 667 00:32:57,160 --> 00:33:00,000 Speaker 1: jump shooter. Not just that, but like a high vault 668 00:33:00,360 --> 00:33:02,800 Speaker 1: guy who's hunting those shots. Like there was a clip 669 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:06,000 Speaker 1: going around on Twitter the other day of Darren Fox 670 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:08,960 Speaker 1: shooting like an early clock pull up thirty footer I 671 00:33:08,960 --> 00:33:11,360 Speaker 1: think against the Grizzlies, and it was in like the 672 00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:13,400 Speaker 1: early first quarter, and everyone's like, oh my gosh, what 673 00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:17,000 Speaker 1: is Darren Fox doing. People don't realize he's just hunting 674 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:20,600 Speaker 1: jump shots. Now He's attempting ten threes per game over 675 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:22,680 Speaker 1: his last eleven games and hitting them at a forty 676 00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:27,200 Speaker 1: five percent clip. Like not just off, not just off 677 00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:30,840 Speaker 1: the catch either. In that span six pull up threes 678 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:33,680 Speaker 1: a game, six of them, and he's making them at 679 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:36,560 Speaker 1: a forty one percent clip. This guy was already a 680 00:33:36,680 --> 00:33:40,200 Speaker 1: star based on his ability to beat people off the dribble, 681 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:42,920 Speaker 1: to make that floater, some of the mid range pull 682 00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:45,360 Speaker 1: up jump shooting in the finishing at the rim. If 683 00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:48,240 Speaker 1: this dude is now just like a dead eye pull 684 00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:51,400 Speaker 1: up three point shooter. Like. Now we're talking about a 685 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:54,280 Speaker 1: guy that can enter into the realm of top tier superstardom. 686 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:57,080 Speaker 1: He is a capable, if not excellent, point of attack 687 00:33:57,120 --> 00:33:59,360 Speaker 1: defender when he's locked in. This is a dude I've 688 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:01,400 Speaker 1: seen in the season. No one can keep him in 689 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:04,560 Speaker 1: front off the dribble. Now he's adding not just a 690 00:34:04,560 --> 00:34:06,520 Speaker 1: good jump shot, but the bet one of the most 691 00:34:06,560 --> 00:34:09,200 Speaker 1: effective jump shots in the league this year. He's up 692 00:34:09,200 --> 00:34:12,320 Speaker 1: over one point one points per points per shot attempt 693 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:14,600 Speaker 1: in both catch and shoots and pull up jump shots 694 00:34:14,640 --> 00:34:17,960 Speaker 1: this year. This is incredibly high level shooting paired with 695 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:19,880 Speaker 1: one of the best downhill athletes in the league. So 696 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:23,440 Speaker 1: shout out to Deerren Fox Like legitimately one of the 697 00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:27,080 Speaker 1: most improved players in the league this year. Number six 698 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:29,800 Speaker 1: the Philadelphia seventy six Ers. They beat the Magic Rogets 699 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:32,640 Speaker 1: Rockets and lost to the Bulls, but Embiid's been out, 700 00:34:32,840 --> 00:34:35,080 Speaker 1: but it looks like Joel Embid will be returning tonight 701 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:39,719 Speaker 1: against the against the Bulls again. Tyre Smax's efficiency is 702 00:34:39,760 --> 00:34:41,319 Speaker 1: tanked a little bit, but he's still scoring at a 703 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:45,200 Speaker 1: high volume. Number five the Milwaukee Bucks. They beat the 704 00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:48,160 Speaker 1: Nets and the Cavs, but lost to the Pacers. Giannis 705 00:34:48,200 --> 00:34:51,160 Speaker 1: continues to obliterate everyone, but Dame has cooled way off 706 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:53,879 Speaker 1: again in the last six games, twenty two points per game, 707 00:34:54,200 --> 00:34:56,520 Speaker 1: thirty nine percent from the field in thirty three percent 708 00:34:56,520 --> 00:34:59,680 Speaker 1: from three. As I mentioned in the Pacers Bucks breakdown 709 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:02,360 Speaker 1: early in today's show, I don't think their defense is 710 00:35:02,360 --> 00:35:04,000 Speaker 1: going to be very good, and so they need to 711 00:35:04,040 --> 00:35:06,080 Speaker 1: find a way to get Dame into a groove, a 712 00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:11,160 Speaker 1: consistent groove offensively. Number four the Los Angeles Clippers. Kawhi 713 00:35:11,239 --> 00:35:13,440 Speaker 1: Leonard is back and they are back to winning. They 714 00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:16,920 Speaker 1: have an undefeated week, capped off with an impressive handling 715 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:21,200 Speaker 1: of the Miami Heat yesterday. Seventeen and five since November sixteenth, 716 00:35:21,280 --> 00:35:24,520 Speaker 1: which is the second best record in the league, second 717 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:27,239 Speaker 1: to the Celtics over that span. The offense is coming around. 718 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:30,000 Speaker 1: Remember I was talking about early like the even when 719 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:32,000 Speaker 1: they were winning, I was like, watch out. Their offense 720 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:34,440 Speaker 1: hasn't even really gotten going well. They're third in offense 721 00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:38,560 Speaker 1: over their last ten games, seventh in offense since November sixteenth, 722 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 1: and that seventeen and five stretch. James Harden is the 723 00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:43,120 Speaker 1: guy I wanted to shout out here what I said 724 00:35:43,160 --> 00:35:45,520 Speaker 1: before the trade, and this is something I feel very 725 00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:48,440 Speaker 1: strongly about. James Harden has limitations when we get to 726 00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:50,600 Speaker 1: the postseason and they're real. Can't finish at the rim, 727 00:35:50,920 --> 00:35:52,799 Speaker 1: doesn't make enough pull up threes to be a super 728 00:35:52,840 --> 00:35:56,000 Speaker 1: efficient score, really inefficient in his impact on a night 729 00:35:56,040 --> 00:36:00,560 Speaker 1: to night basis bad defensive player, right, but he is 730 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:04,160 Speaker 1: still one of the very best regular season innings eaters 731 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:06,879 Speaker 1: in the league, and there is real value in there. 732 00:36:07,280 --> 00:36:11,840 Speaker 1: Twenty points five rebounds in tennysis per game since November sixteenth, 733 00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:15,200 Speaker 1: forty seven percent from the field, forty five percent from 734 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:20,279 Speaker 1: three in two point six stocks per game. Excellent basketball 735 00:36:20,360 --> 00:36:23,000 Speaker 1: from James Harden, especially helping to float the ship. While 736 00:36:23,719 --> 00:36:27,200 Speaker 1: Kawhi Leonard has been out number three the Minnesota Timberwolves. 737 00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:29,520 Speaker 1: They are starting to drop some games in this intense 738 00:36:29,560 --> 00:36:31,600 Speaker 1: stretch of their schedule. They're seven to four in their 739 00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:34,479 Speaker 1: last eleven, but all the losses are in really tough 740 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:37,800 Speaker 1: games at New Orleans, tough place to win at Philly, 741 00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:41,360 Speaker 1: tough place to win at Oklahoma City, tough place to 742 00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:45,040 Speaker 1: win in Madison Square Garden, tough place to win. I 743 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:48,200 Speaker 1: actually think all things considered, we knew this stretch was 744 00:36:48,239 --> 00:36:50,439 Speaker 1: really tough, but I think they've held up pretty well. 745 00:36:50,480 --> 00:36:53,600 Speaker 1: Like I talked about earlier, when right before this actual 746 00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:56,200 Speaker 1: stretch of their schedule, I was saying, don't expect him 747 00:36:56,200 --> 00:36:59,120 Speaker 1: to go undefeated, but if you're comfortably over five hundred 748 00:36:59,160 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 1: in that stretch, really strong indicator of a championship threat. 749 00:37:03,120 --> 00:37:06,200 Speaker 1: I thought they've demonstrated it to that point. Main concern, though, 750 00:37:06,280 --> 00:37:11,440 Speaker 1: is just their half court offense. They only score zero 751 00:37:11,520 --> 00:37:14,400 Speaker 1: point nine to nine points per half court possession or 752 00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:16,480 Speaker 1: zero point nine to eighty five excuse me, points per 753 00:37:16,480 --> 00:37:19,680 Speaker 1: half court possession. That ranks eighteenth in the NBA. I 754 00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:21,920 Speaker 1: would like to see them get that up over one hundred. 755 00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:23,960 Speaker 1: That to me is kind of like a prerequisite to 756 00:37:23,960 --> 00:37:25,799 Speaker 1: be able to score in the playoffs. That's my main 757 00:37:25,840 --> 00:37:28,440 Speaker 1: concern for them at this point. You've seen it before, 758 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:30,560 Speaker 1: like teams just can pack the paint on them and 759 00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:32,800 Speaker 1: force them into taking jump shots, and like win Ants 760 00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:34,839 Speaker 1: making all of his pull up jump shots. It looks good, 761 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:38,120 Speaker 1: but they can get into some ruts offensively. But holding 762 00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:41,880 Speaker 1: up pretty well over a tough schedule. Number two Oklahoma 763 00:37:41,880 --> 00:37:45,759 Speaker 1: City Thunder undefeated week with all quality wins. They beat 764 00:37:45,800 --> 00:37:48,320 Speaker 1: the Knicks, the Nets, and went into Denver and smacked 765 00:37:48,320 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 1: the Nuggets. So we've moved them all the way up 766 00:37:50,200 --> 00:37:52,960 Speaker 1: to number two. They have won seven of their last 767 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:55,080 Speaker 1: eight games. They beat the Nuggets twice in that span. 768 00:37:55,160 --> 00:37:57,040 Speaker 1: They beat the Timberwolves, they beat the Clippers, they beat 769 00:37:57,040 --> 00:38:00,320 Speaker 1: the Knicks. Playing excellent basketball, Shay Gills, Alexander's playing like 770 00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:03,480 Speaker 1: an MVP thirty two, six and six on fifty five 771 00:38:03,520 --> 00:38:06,160 Speaker 1: percent shooting over that span. Over the eight game span 772 00:38:06,760 --> 00:38:10,239 Speaker 1: chet last eight games, twenty points per game, fifty nine 773 00:38:10,280 --> 00:38:13,280 Speaker 1: percent shooting and forty seven percent from three. The dude 774 00:38:13,320 --> 00:38:15,839 Speaker 1: is exploding. I think he's a superstar in the making. 775 00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:17,120 Speaker 1: I think he has the potential to be one of 776 00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:19,080 Speaker 1: the best players in the league one day. And Jalen 777 00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:22,160 Speaker 1: Williams just quietly putting up twenty points per game on 778 00:38:22,239 --> 00:38:24,680 Speaker 1: fifty seven percent from the field and fifty two percent 779 00:38:24,680 --> 00:38:27,960 Speaker 1: from three. This team has a super super bright future. 780 00:38:28,280 --> 00:38:31,360 Speaker 1: Won twenty three offensive rating over the last eight games, 781 00:38:31,600 --> 00:38:34,440 Speaker 1: number one in half court offense for the season according 782 00:38:34,480 --> 00:38:37,280 Speaker 1: to Cleaning the last number three in half court defense. 783 00:38:37,960 --> 00:38:40,120 Speaker 1: Number one, where they always have been or for the 784 00:38:40,160 --> 00:38:42,239 Speaker 1: most part this year, the Boston Celtics They've had a 785 00:38:42,280 --> 00:38:44,800 Speaker 1: really weak schedule this week, but they handled their business. 786 00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:47,200 Speaker 1: They beat the Pistons, the Raptors in the Spurs. The 787 00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:50,200 Speaker 1: Celtics have played a much tougher schedule to this point 788 00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:54,759 Speaker 1: than both Philly and Milwaukee, and despite that, they are 789 00:38:54,800 --> 00:38:56,279 Speaker 1: two and a half games up on the Bucks and 790 00:38:56,320 --> 00:38:59,120 Speaker 1: four games up on the Sixers. They have the fifth 791 00:38:59,160 --> 00:39:02,480 Speaker 1: easiest remain schedule, So get ready for a lot more 792 00:39:02,520 --> 00:39:05,359 Speaker 1: weeks like this and look for the Celtics to run 793 00:39:05,400 --> 00:39:07,399 Speaker 1: away with the number one overall seed. As I said 794 00:39:07,440 --> 00:39:09,480 Speaker 1: before the season, I think you're going to see a 795 00:39:09,480 --> 00:39:11,719 Speaker 1: hefty gap between them and everybody else by the time 796 00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:13,839 Speaker 1: we get to the end. The only reason it's looked 797 00:39:13,880 --> 00:39:16,080 Speaker 1: as close as it has is the Celtics have had 798 00:39:16,080 --> 00:39:18,319 Speaker 1: a very front loaded schedule when it comes to the 799 00:39:18,360 --> 00:39:21,319 Speaker 1: tougher games and their peers the Sixers in the Bucks 800 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:23,760 Speaker 1: have played two of the easiest schedules in the league, 801 00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:25,799 Speaker 1: fueled in large part because the bottom of the Eastern 802 00:39:25,840 --> 00:39:28,239 Speaker 1: Conference is super weak. But Boston gets to take the 803 00:39:28,239 --> 00:39:31,200 Speaker 1: benefit of that down the stretch. So look for Boston 804 00:39:31,239 --> 00:39:33,960 Speaker 1: to run away in the standings for the rest of 805 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:36,560 Speaker 1: the For the rest of the year, we will be 806 00:39:36,600 --> 00:39:39,360 Speaker 1: back tomorrow, big time game. We got Thunder Celtics going 807 00:39:39,440 --> 00:39:42,280 Speaker 1: to be covering that one, a couple other games from 808 00:39:42,640 --> 00:39:45,720 Speaker 1: tonight as well as always. I appreciate your guys' support 809 00:39:45,800 --> 00:40:15,040 Speaker 1: and I will see you then. The volume