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In La visit www 20 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: dot MD gambling heelp dot org in Maryland, dial one 21 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: eight seven seven eight Hope and Why, or text Hope 22 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: and Why to four six seven three six nine in 23 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 1: New York, call one eight hundred and five two two 24 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 1: four seven zero zero in Wyoming, or visit www Dot 25 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 1: one eight hundred gambler dot net in West Virginia. All right, 26 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 1: welcome to Hoops Tonight, presented by FanDuel here at the Volume. 27 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: Happy Tuesday, everybody. I hope all of you guys are 28 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: having a great week so far. We're gonna take a 29 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: break from our daily instant reactions to all of the 30 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: games to go over the top five duos in the NBA. 31 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: Right now, you guys know the drill. Before we get started, 32 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: subscribe to the Volumes YouTube channels. You don't miss any 33 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 1: more of our videos. Follow me on Twitter at underscore 34 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: Jason lt so you guys don't miss any show announcements. 35 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 1: And if, for whatever reason, you guys miss one of 36 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: these videos and you can't get back over to YouTube 37 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,080 Speaker 1: to finish, don't forget. You can find them wherever you 38 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:23,679 Speaker 1: get your podcasts under Hoops Tonight. 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So what 58 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: I did when I started this project, and I've seen 59 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: a bunch of different people around MBA Media make a 60 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: specific their version of this. Top duos in the NBA 61 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: type of list I want to focus down on five 62 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: so that we can go into a little bit more detail. 63 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: But what I did to start is I put down 64 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: a list of duos that I would consider, And so 65 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna list the kind 66 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: of like that initial list that I had of all 67 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: the duos that I thought were in the running, and 68 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: then we'll work our way from five up to one. 69 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: So I had, in no particular order, I had lebron In, 70 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: ad PG and Kawi Luca and Kyrie, Stephen Draymond, Jimmy Butler, 71 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 1: bam At a Bio, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, Jaylen 72 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: Brunson and Julius Randall, Darren Fox and Demonisa Bonis, John 73 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: Rant and Jaren Jackson, Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, James 74 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: Harden and Joel Embiid, Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Nicola 75 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: Yokich and Jamal Murray and Janni Santannakoombo and Drew Holiday. 76 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 1: So that's where I kind of started from. And then 77 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:27,799 Speaker 1: I did two rounds of cuts to get down to five, 78 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:31,840 Speaker 1: and obviously I focused on duos that I thought had 79 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 1: the most playoff impact. Just like I always do. You 80 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 1: guys know my favorite playoff basketball over anything during the 81 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 1: regular season. So number five I have Lebron James and 82 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis. I actually think they have the highest ceiling 83 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 1: of any duo in the league if the two of 84 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:51,159 Speaker 1: them are healthy, their ability to impact the game on 85 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: both ends of the floor, whether regardless of the type 86 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 1: of game it is, if it's an open floor kind 87 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,039 Speaker 1: of skill based game or if it's a slow down 88 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: rock fight type of game. There snow duo in the 89 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: league that can impact the game on both ends the 90 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 1: way that those two guys are. When they're both dialed 91 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 1: in defensively, they are a menace with their ability to 92 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 1: switch on to the perimeter while bothering shots around the rim. 93 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 1: I think Anthony Davis, when he's at his best, is 94 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 1: actually the best defensive player in the league. He just 95 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 1: doesn't really get to have that title because he's not 96 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 1: at his best often enough. But like I said, they 97 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:24,360 Speaker 1: can win rock fights that can win with skill. Lebron 98 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: is arguably the best playoff like the best reliable playoff 99 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 1: player of this era. He's one of the great chess masters. 100 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:34,839 Speaker 1: He's so good at navigating that you know up and 101 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: down nature of the NBA playoffs as you navigate through 102 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: multiple series, and we saw that on display a little 103 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: over two years ago when they ran through back to 104 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 1: back to back to back Damian Lillard and c J. McCollum, 105 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: James Harden and Russell Westbrook, Nicola Yokitch and Jamal Murray 106 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: and Jimmy Butler in Bay at a BAIO and one 107 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 1: of the more dominant playoff runs in recent history. They 108 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: were never truly threatened. But the problem is is over 109 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: the last three seasons since that run, they've only managed 110 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:08,039 Speaker 1: to play just seventy seven games together. To give you 111 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: some perspective, Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown have played together 112 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: in one hundred and sixty two games, so more than twice. 113 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 1: As frequently. Ad has suffered a string of injuries. Some 114 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: of them are bad luck. I think some of them 115 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: are attributed to the fact that he bulked up too much, 116 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: which affected his mobility and his ability to withstand the 117 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 1: long grind of an NBA season. And Lebron is just 118 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 1: getting old. Last year his knee just started swelling for 119 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: no particular reason at all, and this year he suffered 120 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: a non contact injury on his right foot after dealing 121 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: with a non contact stress injury and playing on it 122 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: for most of the season on his left foot, so 123 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: he's just starting to get kind of old. So as 124 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 1: a result, I cannot put them any higher than number five, 125 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: even if they do have the highest ceiling, because your 126 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 1: highest ceiling doesn't matter if you can't actually get there 127 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 1: or statistically improbable that you'll be there when you need it. 128 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 1: All right, Moving on to number four, Devin Booker Kevin Durant. 129 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 1: This is a new pairing, so we don't have a 130 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: ton of prior playoff experience to fall back on, but 131 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 1: we can kind of piece two and two together just 132 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: based on their skill sets. Katie has been the best 133 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: basketball player that I've watched in this regular season. Yes, 134 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: I think he's been better than Yoki. I think he's 135 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: been better than than Janis. I think he's been better 136 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: than Joel Embiid. Also, you guys know that I typically 137 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 1: have always gravitated towards perimeter initiators over Biggs anyway, but 138 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 1: he's the best pick and roll shot creator in the league. 139 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: This year. He's having his best playmaking season. That's gone 140 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 1: completely under the radar because everyone just thinks of him 141 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: as a score, and he's still the best three level 142 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: scorer in the league. Pair him with Devin Booker, who's 143 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 1: a very similar archetype, just at a different position at 144 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: the two guard. He's also been one of the better 145 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: pick and roll shot creators in the league this year, 146 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,239 Speaker 1: and he's still one of the best three level scores 147 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 1: in the league despite dealing with some injuries this year. 148 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 1: And this is the most important part that puts them 149 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 1: above of some of the other pairs that didn't even 150 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: make my list. They are both excellent off ball player. 151 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 1: In fact, among two hundred and nineteen players in the 152 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: league this year to attempt at least one hundred spot 153 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 1: up possessions, Kevin Durant is second out of two hundred 154 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 1: nineteen players and Devin Booker is fourth out of two 155 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: hundred nineteen players in points per possessions. So there are 156 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 1: two of the top four spot up players in the 157 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 1: entire league. That allows them to impact a game at 158 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: a high level regardless of whether or not the other 159 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: person is more involved in an on ball role. The 160 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: only thing really holding them back on this list compared 161 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: to some of the guys above them is their defensive prowess. 162 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:36,439 Speaker 1: Devin Booker has worked hard to become an above average 163 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: defender at his position, but he's not a good or 164 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:43,199 Speaker 1: great defender at his position. And Kevin Durant, even though 165 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 1: he's been an all defense level help defender this year, 166 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:49,199 Speaker 1: he does have some weaknesses, specifically with guys that are 167 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 1: bigger and stronger than him, and he can struggle a 168 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: little bit with perimeter contain on short or faster players. 169 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:57,200 Speaker 1: So there are just you know, when it comes to 170 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 1: specific matchups. They don't have the same defensive versus as 171 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 1: some of the groupings that are above them on this list, 172 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: But we are going to learn a ton about Booker 173 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 1: and Kadi over the next couple of years. Number three 174 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum and Jaln Brown. This is the quintessential modern 175 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 1: wing duo. Two freak athletes, both with great size, length 176 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: and athleticism, both with modern skill sets that balance perimeter 177 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 1: prowess with downhill aggression. They're both young and on the 178 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 1: same timeline. They should, in theory be playing together for 179 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 1: a long time. Jason Tatum's a little bit of a 180 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:36,079 Speaker 1: better passer, but Jaylen Brown's a little bit more versatile 181 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:38,719 Speaker 1: of his score, and they've combined to play in a 182 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:42,479 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty nine playoff games. They're super super experience, 183 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 1: which is not what you would expect for a group 184 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: that age, you know, to give you some perspective, that's 185 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:50,599 Speaker 1: almost twice as many playoff games as Nicola Yokich and 186 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 1: Jamal Murray have combined. And they're an older duo, so 187 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 1: you know, for being younger players, these guys have been 188 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: through some wars. They've been on some big stages. They've 189 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: played in some really big games, which I think is valuable, 190 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:05,679 Speaker 1: especially when it comes to feeling comfortable again when they 191 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:07,679 Speaker 1: get to that stage. This year. They've been to the 192 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: conference finals three times. They made us to the NBA 193 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: Finals last year and put up a decent fight against 194 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 1: a perennial NBA Finals contender in the Warriors. They've been 195 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: through a lot, and I put that as a notch 196 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: in the pro factor for them. What keeps them lower 197 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 1: on this list than the two duos ahead of them 198 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 1: is that neither Jason Tatum or Jalen Brown are great 199 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: at anything offensively, like truly great. They are truly great 200 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 1: players as total packages, like Jason Tatum, for instance, like 201 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: his best skill ironically, like I think Jayson Tatum is 202 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:42,840 Speaker 1: a top tier, like top of the top tier perimeter 203 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 1: defensive player that to me is like one of the 204 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: skills that you can say he's truly great at. But 205 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 1: on the offensive end of the floor, he produces at 206 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,640 Speaker 1: a superstar level, like he's putting up volume scoring. His 207 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 1: true shooting percentage is sixty percent, which is excellent, but 208 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:01,079 Speaker 1: he's kind of going into that James Harden one dimensional 209 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 1: offensive approach is just taking a lot of threes and 210 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: getting all the way to the rim. That to me, 211 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 1: I think makes him not a truly great score. In 212 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: terms of his versatility, I think Jaylen Brown has actually 213 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 1: demonstrated a little bit more you know, improvisational shot making, 214 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: which I think is a big part of why on 215 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 1: many nights he's actually been a better crunch time player 216 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 1: for them than Jason Tatum have been. However, Jason Tatum 217 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: is a better playmaker than Jalen Brown, but even then 218 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 1: he's not exactly a good playmaker. He's still below five 219 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: assists per game this season. And then on Jaylen Brown, like, yes, 220 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: he's a much more versatile scorer than Jason Tatum, which 221 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: has helped him in a lot of ways, but you're 222 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: not putting him in the same ballpark there as a 223 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 1: guy like Kevin Durant, right, and he's superlimited as a 224 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: playmaker for his career. He's basically a one to one 225 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 1: assist a turnover guy. So again, like when I'm looking 226 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 1: at Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown, they're both very good 227 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 1: offensive players, but neither of them has this like truly 228 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: great skill, like I'm a truly great playmaker or I'm 229 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 1: a truly great versatile score or whatever it is. There 230 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 1: are guys in the league that are better than them 231 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 1: at all of those things, and I think that's a 232 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 1: big part of why they've struggled with late game execution, 233 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 1: specifically against stars that are better than those two guys 234 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 1: are still third best duo in the NBA. That's just 235 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: the specific reason why I have these other two duos 236 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: ahead of them, And I don't think it's a coincidence 237 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 1: that they've struggled specifically in those situations and with their confidence, 238 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: Like both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum were completely shook 239 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 1: in terms of their confidence by the end of the 240 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:32,719 Speaker 1: twenty two NBA twenty twenty two NBA Finals, and I 241 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:34,840 Speaker 1: think a big part of that was that lack of 242 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:38,959 Speaker 1: that truly great offensive skill. Number two Steph Curry and 243 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 1: Draymond Green, the duo that beat Jayson Tatum and Jylen 244 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: Brown in the finals last year. They are the most 245 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 1: accomplished duo of this era. They have four championships and 246 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 1: six finals appearances in the last eight years. Steph is also, 247 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 1: like Kevin Durant, a candidate for being the best player 248 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 1: in the world depending on who you ask. He's absolutely 249 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 1: the best offensive player of this era. Draymond Green is 250 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 1: the best defensive player of this era in terms of 251 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: consistent defensive greatness on a year and year out basis. 252 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: So you have the best offensive player in this era 253 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: and the best defensive player in this era on the 254 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: same team, and they also have natural offensive synergy. Draymond 255 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: Green has learned how to weaponize the way teams ignore 256 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: him to be in an on ball roll, creating shots 257 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 1: for his teammates as a playmaker, weaponizing quick dribble handoffs 258 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: are locating Steph Curry off the ball. He's done an admirable, 259 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 1: admirable job making himself playable on the offensive end so 260 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 1: that his defensive greatness can be realized in the impact 261 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 1: of the game. Their combination of championship experience and continuity 262 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 1: over a decade of basketball has allowed them to consistently 263 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:42,680 Speaker 1: perform better than pairings that are actually more talented than 264 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 1: them that are beneath them on this list. At the 265 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 1: end of the day, the scoreboard is all that matters, 266 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 1: and Stephen Draymond in any sort of playoffs setting are 267 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,839 Speaker 1: more dangerous than any of the duos that are behind 268 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: them on this list. The only reason they're not on 269 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 1: the top of the list is that Steph Curry can 270 00:13:57,520 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: still struggle a little bit in some specific matchups with 271 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 1: his lack of size defensively, although he is an above 272 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: average defensive player, and Draymond Green can still have some 273 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: problems on the offensive end in specific matchups when teams 274 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: really start to ignore him, even though he's worked a 275 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: lot to mitigate that. So that gives them a slightly 276 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: lower ceiling than the duo that I have above them. 277 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 1: But they did win the title and outplay the two 278 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: J's last year, which is why I have them above 279 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 1: those guys. But I do think Jannis and Drew at 280 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: number one are just a touch better, So my number 281 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 1: one duo in the NBA is Jannis Antenna Coompo and 282 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: Drew Holiday. It was an easy choice for me. They're 283 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 1: consistently available. Those two have played in one hundred and 284 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,360 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty two games excuse me, one hundred 285 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: and fifty games over the last three seasons together. Both 286 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 1: are consistent offensive forces. They combined to average fifty one 287 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: points per game this year on just under sixty percent 288 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: trough shooting. They combine to average thirteen assists per game. 289 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: Jannis is a better playmaker than Jayson Tatum and Kevin Durant. 290 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: They are both top tier defensive players at their position. 291 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: They are both nial All Defense selections. I think Giannis 292 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 1: is a case to be the best defensive player in 293 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 1: the world depending on who you ask, and they have 294 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 1: the versatility to guard in different ways. They can run 295 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 1: a traditional drop coverage, but Drew is big and strong 296 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: enough to switch on too forwards and Yannis is quick 297 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 1: and smart enough to switch onto guards. So they are 298 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 1: miles better in terms of consistency, availability, and talent defensively 299 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 1: than any duo in the rest of the league, even 300 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 1: Lebron James and Anthony Davis, who are good when they 301 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 1: can get to that level, but they don't get to 302 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: that level nearly frequently a lef enough, and that is 303 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: what makes them such a pain in the assid duo 304 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: to deal with, especially in a playoff series. And then 305 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: with Jannis, I think he's the best player in the world, 306 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 1: which means he'll be the best player in any potential 307 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:45,800 Speaker 1: playoffs series. He's averaging thirty one points, thirteen rebounds, and 308 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: six assists with two point one stocks per game in 309 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: each of it. In total in his last two playoff 310 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 1: runs on sixty two percent true shooting, which is outrageous. 311 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: His play style is perfectly constructed for the NBA Playoffs 312 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: in the way that the game is aid. When the 313 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: rest swallow their whistle and they let physicality go on 314 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: both ends of the floor. It directly elevates Janis's individual 315 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 1: impact and that's why he's the best possible guy that 316 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 1: you could have in those rock fight situations. You know, 317 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: it's funny. When I was thinking about this this morning, 318 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 1: I thought about pool basketball. For any of you guys 319 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 1: have ever played basketball in a pool. I had some 320 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 1: buddies when I was growing up, and we would go 321 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: to like my parents' house, and we'd get into pool. 322 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: We'd play basketball, and I had a buddy named Matt 323 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: who played Division one for the University of ARIZONI was 324 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: the center and my other two buddies that we would 325 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: play with, like we were good basketball players, right, And 326 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: like I'm pretty big and strong like him, six six, 327 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: two hundred and twenty pounds, but Matt is like six ten, 328 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 1: two hundred and sixty pounds of just solid muscle. The 329 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: dude is just a unit. He actually went on after 330 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 1: playing in college to play professional football in the AFL 331 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: in Australia. And if you guys ever know what who 332 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 1: know what AFL football is, it's like a whole different 333 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: incredibly physical or it's kind of like rugby mixed with 334 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 1: some football principles too. But he was just a beast 335 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 1: of a human being. And when we would play pool basketball, 336 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: like a lot of contact happens, Like it's a very 337 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 1: physical game because you're not dribbling, right, and you can't 338 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 1: really go around people, so you're trying to like fight 339 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 1: through people to get to the rim. And we just 340 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,680 Speaker 1: couldn't handle that guy because he was so damn big 341 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 1: and strong. He was just a monster in a game 342 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:26,160 Speaker 1: of pool basketball. That's a totally random anecdote, but that's 343 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:28,200 Speaker 1: just what I thought about when I was thinking about 344 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 1: Jannis in the playoffs this year. It's like during the 345 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 1: regular season, when the game is a little more fast 346 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:36,639 Speaker 1: and loose, you know, sometimes he looks a little bit 347 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:38,719 Speaker 1: more like one of the guys. But you get him 348 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:41,719 Speaker 1: into that setting where the refs are allowing him to 349 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: just drop his shoulder and plow through people every single possession, 350 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 1: and on the defensive end, he's allowed to use the 351 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,440 Speaker 1: size and strength to grab and hold people around the rim. 352 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 1: Suddenly his impact just skyrockets. And when everyone's stuck in 353 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:56,520 Speaker 1: the mud of the physical NBA Playoffs, Yannis is the 354 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: dude that just suddenly is the biggest, strongest, most impactful athlete, 355 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 1: and I think that's a huge part of why he 356 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: is the best player in the world. He desperately needed 357 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 1: a counter to his rim assault. That was a problem 358 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 1: for him in twenty nineteen twenty twenty, but we found out. 359 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:15,400 Speaker 1: We thought it would be his shooting, but it ended 360 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: up being his passing. He's turned himself into a very 361 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 1: good playmaker at his position, which has allowed his rim 362 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: assault to feel truly impactful. On that stage, no duo 363 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 1: in the NBA represents more challenges for an opponent in 364 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:31,880 Speaker 1: a playoff series than jannas Antana Coombo and Drew Holiday. 365 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:33,640 Speaker 1: All right, guys, that's all I haf for tonight. We're 366 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: gonna hit on Celtics Cavs from last night as well 367 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,119 Speaker 1: as all of tonight's games tomorrow morning, so keep an 368 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:40,399 Speaker 1: eye on the feed Wednesday morning obviously you guys then, 369 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 1: as always, a pursuit your support, the volume