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Got another look at 39 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 2: Cooper Flag as well. I want to talk about Carter Bryant. 40 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 2: I'm from Tucson, Arizona obviously, so I'm of you a fan, 41 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 2: but I thought Carter has put on one heck of 42 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 2: a demonstration of his defensive capability through his first couple 43 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 2: Summer League games. We're going to talk a little bit 44 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 2: about that, and then at the tail end of the 45 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 2: show today, I want to talk a little bit about 46 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 2: Reed Shepherd's Summer League debut. And we've done some deep 47 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 2: evals of the contenders at the top of the Western 48 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 2: Conference over the course of the last week, involving Denver 49 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 2: and the Los Angeles Lakers. Obviously, we've covered Oklahoma City 50 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 2: extensively on their path to the NBA title, but there's 51 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,399 Speaker 2: another team at the top of the West that many 52 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:36,959 Speaker 2: people view in that tier, and that is the Houston Rocket. 53 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 2: So I want to talk a little bit about what 54 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 2: their pathway looks like, how they stack up with the 55 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:44,839 Speaker 2: teams at the top of the Western Conference. You guys 56 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 2: know the joke for we get started. Subscribed to the 57 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 2: Hoops Tonight YouTube channels. You don't miss any more of 58 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 2: our videos. Follow me on Twitter at underscore JSNLT so 59 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 2: you guys don't miss show announcements. Don't forget about a 60 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 2: podcast feed wherever each your podcast owner Hoops Tonight. It's 61 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 2: also super helpful if you leave a rating and review 62 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 2: on that front. Jackson's doing great work on our social 63 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,799 Speaker 2: media feeds on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Make sure 64 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,119 Speaker 2: you guys follow us over there. In last, but not least, 65 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:05,799 Speaker 2: if you want to get mailbag questions in on the show, 66 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 2: remember just underneath our full episodes, put mail bag with colon. 67 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 2: Write your question in. We'll get to our mail bags 68 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 2: once a week throughout the remainder of the season. All right, 69 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 2: let's talk some basketball, so really fun. First impression of 70 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 2: Dylan Harper. The first thing that flashed to me was 71 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 2: his defensive potential. You're not really expecting that this is 72 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 2: guy's famous for the dribble drive. He's a guy that's 73 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 2: drawn a lot of comparisons to Shae Gildas Alexander as 74 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 2: a bigger guard that can dribble through contact and can 75 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 2: consistently get paint touches. But right out the gates, he 76 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 2: was applying aggressive ball pressure, getting physical on the ball, 77 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 2: getting deflections. He had a crazy block on Ryan Emharten 78 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 2: transition where he elevated and swatted it away, just showing 79 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 2: a lot of that defensive upside. I've always been a 80 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 2: big believer that forward, aggressive, turnover forcing defenders fit well 81 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 2: with rim protection. And so guys like Darren Fox, guys 82 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 2: like Dylan Harper, I think they make a lot of 83 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 2: sense in the context of a partnership with Victor wemen Yama, 84 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 2: because forward aggression ball pressure that tends to give up 85 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 2: dribble penetration. And if you're giving up dribble penetration, you 86 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 2: need guys on the back line that can clean it up. 87 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 2: And there may not be a better player in NBA 88 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 2: history then Victor webmin Yama, who actually graced us with 89 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 2: his presence in the arena today. 90 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: It was funny when he was walking in. 91 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:21,039 Speaker 2: He actually was sitting in the seat and kicked his 92 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 2: legs out as he was like relaxing, and his legs 93 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 2: were on the court. 94 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: During the game. 95 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 2: And that's just a problem that Victor wemen Yama has 96 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:31,040 Speaker 2: that not many of us have. But that defensive potential 97 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 2: was flashing. And that second piece of it, and I 98 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 2: think this goes for both Cooper Flag and Dylan Harper, 99 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 2: is the dribbling through contact. For Cooper manifested a lot 100 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 2: through foul drawing which we'll talk about in a minute. 101 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 2: Dylan did draw some fouls in the fourth quarter as 102 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 2: the spur started to put some separation there, but for Dylan, 103 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:49,919 Speaker 2: it was just consistently getting into the paint. And this 104 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 2: is that Shay Gildes Alexander esque chaining together of dribble combinations. 105 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 2: Right like when you get into traffic, you make a move, 106 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,919 Speaker 2: the defender beats you to the spot, maybe he's plying 107 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 2: some physicalities putting his hands on you. You got to be 108 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:06,599 Speaker 2: able to dribble through that contact and change direction and 109 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 2: attack again, and then potentially even change direction and attack 110 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 2: a third time. And that's one of the things that's 111 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 2: made Shay such a gifted dribble penetrator in the NBA. 112 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 2: There's a chasm between the amount of drives per game 113 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 2: that Shae Gills Alexander puts together compared to other guards 114 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 2: around the league. And that just comes from that downhill, 115 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:30,280 Speaker 2: that relentless downhill force, constantly changing direction and being able 116 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 2: to control the basketball through that. And you saw that 117 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 2: with Dylan. The protected dribbles right like that between the legs. 118 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 2: Dribble is how you can protect the ball as you're 119 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 2: dribbling in traffic so the ball doesn't get swiped away, 120 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 2: and he showed. 121 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 1: A lot of that. He drew some fouls. 122 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 2: I just thought in general he was generating great offense, 123 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 2: especially in that fourth quarter run. The Spurs defense held 124 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 2: Dallas down most of the game, but in that fourth 125 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 2: quarter they went on a little offensive run, blew the 126 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 2: game open, and it got to the point where it 127 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 2: was too much for Dallas to overcome. You had a 128 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 2: really nice kickbackery to a lot of times when you're 129 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 2: running ball screens, they will use the guy out of 130 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 2: the weakside corner, out of the strong side corner to 131 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 2: tag the roller. He had a ball screen coming off 132 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 2: of the right wing where he got into the lane 133 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 2: the shooter in the right corner. His man tagged the roller, 134 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 2: and Dylan patiently pulled the ball out and pitched it 135 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 2: back to the right corner. One of the things you 136 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 2: notice a lot with NBA Summer League is poor decision making. Right, 137 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 2: it's a lot of young basketball players, it's a lot 138 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 2: of guys that are trying to make their imprint, the 139 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 2: guys that are trying to get a spot in the league, 140 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 2: and so that can come with the pressure of being 141 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 2: aggressive and a lot of times it's the guys that 142 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 2: can slow down and read the floor and not force 143 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 2: the issue to have the most success. And Dylan, I thought, 144 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 2: just similar to Cooper in the first game, just was patient, 145 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 2: took what the defense gave him, made the kickouts that 146 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:45,920 Speaker 2: were there, didn't get into the middle of the floor 147 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 2: without a plan, without an idea of what he was 148 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,479 Speaker 2: trying to accomplish. There's a pretty high floor for a 149 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 2: basketball player who can guard the ball, but that can 150 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 2: also get past the guy guarding the ball. It's such 151 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 2: a simple concept. But if you apply ball pressure and 152 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 2: make the opposing guard feel uncomfortable while also on the 153 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 2: other end of the floor handling ball pressure and consistently 154 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 2: getting into the paint, it's just such a strong foundation. 155 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 2: And then from there there's all the ceiling raising stuff, 156 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 2: the shot making. We saw him hitting off the dribble 157 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 2: three It got wiped or wiped out by a legal 158 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 2: screen call if I remember correctly, but showed some of 159 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 2: that more high level upside. 160 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: As a shot creater. 161 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 2: That's going to be the ceiling right Like, whether or 162 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 2: not Dylan can reach that all NBA level as a 163 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 2: player is going to come down to his development as 164 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 2: a jump shooter. And you know, one of the things 165 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 2: with Dylan that's different than most on ball guards is 166 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 2: he's a guy that typically on ball players, they struggle 167 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 2: to shoot off the catch, but they're comfortable shooting off 168 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 2: the dribble because throughout their entire youth basketball experience, they've 169 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 2: been the guy who's had to dribble and get to 170 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 2: their spots and they're not getting a ton of. 171 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: Clean catch and shoot looks. 172 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 2: And Dylan was kind of different in that regard in 173 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 2: college and that he was actually better off the catch 174 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 2: than he was off the dribble because his release was 175 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 2: a little drawn out. It's a little low down in 176 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 2: front of his face, and so as he kind of 177 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 2: sharpens those details, gets a little bit more of a 178 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 2: crisp and fluid release, that will make things easier for 179 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 2: him when he gets into the NBA level. Before we 180 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 2: move on to Cooper, I wanted to shout out Carter 181 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 2: Bryant real quick. Carter was one of the guys that 182 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 2: the Spurs put an absolute defensive clinic together in their 183 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 2: first two Summer League games. Just absolutely strangled the life 184 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 2: out of the Philadelphia seventy six ers. The other night, 185 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 2: did it again tonight to Dallas. Carter is a traditional 186 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 2: small forward type of prospect in the sense that he's 187 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 2: got great length and size for the position, but he's very, 188 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 2: very quick laterally, which gives him the flexibility to guard 189 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 2: a bunch of different types of players, and I think 190 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 2: that's specifically exciting for San Antonio team. I didn't really 191 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 2: have that type of player in their core rotation right now. 192 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:48,679 Speaker 2: They got a lot of guards, they got a lot 193 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 2: of forwards. You know, obviously when Harrison Barnes was there, 194 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 2: he was a slower forward. Jeremy Sohan has that ability 195 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 2: to guard out on the perimeter, but I view him 196 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:59,359 Speaker 2: as more of like a four than a three defensively. 197 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 2: I think Harder is going to bring that relentless ball 198 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 2: pursuit and quickness to be able to be out on 199 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 2: the perimeter, getting over the tops of screens and doing 200 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 2: some of the tougher perimeter defense work. And I think 201 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 2: that that's just a role that that team really needs, 202 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 2: and that's going to be a really interesting thing to 203 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:17,959 Speaker 2: watch with San Antonio this year. Shout out to the 204 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 2: Spurs Summer League team. They've put together a couple of 205 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 2: really nice defensive performances to start the tournament. Cooper for 206 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,320 Speaker 2: all of the quality work that he did on Thursday 207 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 2: and again, I thought he was a lot better than 208 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 2: his box score showed in terms of just all the 209 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 2: winning plays he was making on both ends of the floor. 210 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 2: It was not an efficient scoring game for him, right. 211 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 2: I think he had ten points. Who's five for twenty 212 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:41,959 Speaker 2: one from the field. He drew a lot of fouls, 213 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:43,959 Speaker 2: but they weren't shooting fouls. They were ball pressure fouls 214 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 2: out in near half court. Really nice bounce back game 215 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 2: from Cooper. From a scoring perspective. The Spurs, as we 216 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 2: talked about, have done a defensive number to everyone they 217 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:58,959 Speaker 2: faced in this Summer League so far. That's not an 218 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 2: easy team to put up thirty points on. That was 219 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 2: a pretty legit scoring performance there. The Spurs were doing 220 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 2: a lot more switching than the Lakers did on Thursday night. 221 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:10,319 Speaker 2: So like Maxwell Lewis was struggling a little bit, Jordan 222 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 2: Hall was struggling. Ryan Nemhart's a guy who capitalized on 223 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 2: all the drop coverage looks that he was getting against 224 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:18,559 Speaker 2: La And again, when you're facing a drop coverage, all 225 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 2: you got to do is go over the top of 226 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 2: the screen, and there's kind of like this baked in 227 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:24,679 Speaker 2: dribble penetration that is actually being conceded as part of 228 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 2: the coverage, and so there's room to operate in the 229 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 2: middle of the floor for a guy who can show 230 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:31,679 Speaker 2: some mid to short range shot making. 231 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 1: Right. 232 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 2: But then as soon as you bring switching into the equation, 233 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 2: that baked in dribble penetration going over the top of 234 00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 2: the screen isn't there anymore. Suddenly it turns into can 235 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 2: you get separation from elite athletes? It's just a much 236 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 2: tougher job, right, And so, to Cooper's credit, in a 237 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 2: matchup where a lot of guys were struggling to get loose, 238 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 2: he was able to get to the basket, he was 239 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:52,679 Speaker 2: able to drop fouts. I think he's drawn like fifteen 240 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:55,439 Speaker 2: fouls through the first two games, which I think is 241 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 2: a testament to his ability to dribble through contact without 242 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 2: turning the basketball over. And when you're facing a physical 243 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 2: defender is putting his hands on you, if you allow 244 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 2: that to make you retreat, you're not going to get 245 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 2: the call. But if you power through it, you actually 246 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 2: force the official to make a call. You actually put 247 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 2: the official in a position where there's too much contact 248 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 2: and now he has to make a decision about whether 249 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 2: or not he's going to let it go. And he 250 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 2: just was attacking Carter over and over again in fighting 251 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 2: through that contact, and he was drawing fouls. And I 252 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 2: think that's a strong sign of his ball handling, but 253 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 2: also his overall athleticism. In order to draw valves, you 254 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 2: have to get defenders out of position, and that's something 255 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 2: that he's done consistently through the first couple of games. 256 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 2: And again a Carter Brian, a defender who's done a 257 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 2: lot of damage to guys in the Summer League so far. 258 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 2: I keep getting excited with Cooper about the potential with 259 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 2: his jump shot. He hit a couple more. Three hit 260 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 2: three threes tonight, a couple more on the catch. She 261 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 2: hit a three at the top of the key in 262 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 2: the first half in a possession where Carter was They 263 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 2: were in a deeper drop coverage and Carter got caught 264 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:00,719 Speaker 2: on the screen, so he had a clean look off 265 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 2: the dribble at the top of the key. He knocked 266 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 2: it down. But the thing that I'm excited about were 267 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 2: they dunks or the miss dunk as well. In the 268 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 2: second half, both of them came off of the catch 269 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 2: out of action with the defender sprinting at him. One 270 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 2: of them, he was able to just kind of pump 271 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 2: fake and then dip his right shoulder, And when he 272 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:18,680 Speaker 2: dipped his right shoulder, he's able to get just a 273 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 2: tiny bit of an angle on the guy shot downhill, 274 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 2: got a big dunk, and then on the miss dunk 275 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:26,079 Speaker 2: where he was up plenty high, he just missed it. 276 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 2: But on the miss dunk very similarly, just caught its 277 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:30,720 Speaker 2: top of the key against the clothes out and just 278 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:33,559 Speaker 2: showed the ball just pump fake. Defender jumped out of 279 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 2: his shoes. All of a sudden, he had a lane 280 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,440 Speaker 2: to go downhill. Cooper is so good at the read 281 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:41,720 Speaker 2: and react stuff. He's so good at like the fundamentals 282 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 2: in terms of footwork and using those bodies shoulder fakes 283 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 2: to get that initial advantage that he if he can 284 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:52,319 Speaker 2: add the jump shot to where he's a real threat 285 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 2: there to where those shoulder fakes and head fakes get 286 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 2: the defender out of position consistently, that's where he has 287 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 2: real potential. Because again, as wealked about it, Summer League, 288 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 2: everyone's playing super hard, everyone's playing for their NBA career. 289 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 1: They're playing for. 290 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 2: Their NBA livelihood, and so there's a lot of jumpiness, 291 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:09,959 Speaker 2: and you know, going for those types of fakes, you're 292 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,280 Speaker 2: going to face more discipline defenders in the NBA. They're 293 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 2: going to be less willing to jump for those fakes. 294 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 2: That's where if he can add the threat of the 295 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 2: jump shot, that's where you can get more of that 296 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:22,839 Speaker 2: baked in dribble penetration. I think he's cleaned up his 297 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 2: release quite a bit. Remember, he used to have a 298 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 2: little bit of a hitch and his elbow would get 299 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 2: a little bit out to the side. It's much more 300 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 2: fluid now. He's able to get to it out of 301 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 2: more dribble combinations quicker and in a way that just 302 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 2: looks more smooth and easy for him. So if he 303 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:38,319 Speaker 2: can add the actual touch put it into the basket consistently, 304 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 2: I think there's a ton of upside there. I'm just 305 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:45,199 Speaker 2: super excited to watch him play in a winning context 306 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 2: right away. Not very often do we get to see 307 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 2: a real super star type of prospect go into a 308 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 2: situation where they're not carrying a bunch of, you know, 309 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 2: younger players in a rebuilding context. He's going to have 310 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 2: a long an immediate instead of a long runway of 311 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 2: bad basketball. He's going to step into a winning context 312 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:08,440 Speaker 2: right away, and that's really exciting for us as fans. 313 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 2: Let's talk a little Houston Rockets lean to start with 314 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:15,320 Speaker 2: Reach Sheepherd. Really fun first game in Vegas. Twenty eight points, 315 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 2: eight rebounds in, four assists, seven stocks, four steals in 316 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 2: three blocks in a single summer league game for a 317 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 2: guard is frankly outrageous. He was super aggressive. He took 318 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 2: twenty five shots, showed a variety of shot making hesitation threes, 319 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 2: snatched back threes off of hard, a dribble like a dribble, 320 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 2: drive off of some ball pressure. Hit a super tough 321 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 2: left shoulder fade away in the lane in the first 322 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 2: half where he drove left and then just hard pivoted 323 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 2: over his left shoulder, knocked down the shot. He hit 324 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 2: some tough scoop shots in the lane. He pushed his 325 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 2: three point shot further out. He end hit like a 326 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 2: thirty footer when he got hot in the second half 327 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 2: out above the break on the left side. Just really 328 00:14:57,600 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 2: showing some of that shot making piece from a bunch 329 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 2: of different angles and a bunch of different dribble combinations 330 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 2: and a bunch of different spots on the floor. Again, 331 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 2: the seven stocks just getting into passing lanes. Really good 332 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 2: at stripping drivers and cutters down low right around the basket, 333 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 2: which is what you got to do when you obviously 334 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 2: don't have that vertical size, but just a super feisty 335 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 2: guard with good hands that can do a lot of damage. 336 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 2: Raphaelstone has specifically come out and said this, but his 337 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 2: development is super important to Houston's short term goals and 338 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 2: their long term goals. Stone came out and said and 339 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 2: specifically said, Reid is going to have to be really 340 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 2: good for us. We've penciled him in for a big role. 341 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 2: Remember we talked about the ball handling shortage for Houston 342 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 2: right after the Kevin Durant trade. This was a team 343 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 2: we talked about like, this was a team that would 344 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 2: have made sense for a guy like Tyas Jones in 345 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 2: the same way that Tis Jones made no sense for 346 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 2: Phoenix because Phoenix had a glut of ball handling and 347 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 2: a deficit in like physical defense and rebounding ties Jones 348 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 2: you experience, it's diminishing returns there, right, But in a 349 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 2: context like Houston or Orlando, who ended up signing Ties Jones. 350 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 2: There's an absence of ball handling and refined offensive skill. 351 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 2: You get to experience more of the upside from having 352 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 2: Tiest Jones on your team. But they didn't sign Ties Jones. 353 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 2: They're allowing Read Shepherd the opportunity to fill this role. 354 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 2: And I actually really like this approach from Raphaelstone of 355 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 2: allowing Read that runway because like Houston has a large 356 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 2: margin for air in the regular season, right like they're young, 357 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 2: they're athletic, they're super deep. We already saw that exact 358 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 2: same combination last year get the second seed in the 359 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 2: Western Conference. So even if Reed Shepherd comes in in 360 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 2: that backup guard role and struggles, and you know, it 361 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 2: becomes abundantly clear during that time that they need to 362 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 2: upgrade that position. It's not like they're gonna slip way 363 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 2: down in the standings and be in some predicament where 364 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 2: the season is lost because they didn't sign a backup guard. 365 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 2: They're so good in terms of their their floor as 366 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:05,199 Speaker 2: a young athletic defense that they can afford to make 367 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:07,400 Speaker 2: some mistakes at that backup guard spot. And so what's 368 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,640 Speaker 2: perfect is you have the best of both worlds. The 369 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:15,639 Speaker 2: best case scenario is he fills that role admirably and 370 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 2: all of a sudden, you got yourself a great basketball 371 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:20,120 Speaker 2: team and a young player that can fill that role 372 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 2: for a long time, and you've got yourself a great 373 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 2: option there. But if he struggles, the worst case is 374 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 2: he still gets lots of valuable reps that will help 375 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 2: him become a better basketball player, and now you have 376 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:36,919 Speaker 2: a knowledge and understanding of what your team needs. Okay, 377 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:39,680 Speaker 2: we tried to read for forty games as our backup guard. 378 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:42,880 Speaker 2: It's not quite working, but I'm glad he got the reps. 379 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,439 Speaker 2: We have lots of draft compensation, We have salaries that 380 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:51,640 Speaker 2: we can package together to go find a veteran, experienced, 381 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:54,920 Speaker 2: more steady, more consistent ball handler. They don't need that 382 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 2: guy in October. They're not in that situation. They do 383 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,840 Speaker 2: need that guy for the players. Might as well see 384 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 2: if Reed can do it, and if not, you can 385 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 2: kind of pivot from there. But I want to zoom 386 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:09,640 Speaker 2: in on Houston for a minute, because they're rightfully being 387 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 2: penciled in as one of the top three teams in 388 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 2: the Western Conference. I think that's clear if you look 389 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:15,159 Speaker 2: at the West. To me, it's you know, you have Denver, Houston, 390 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:17,760 Speaker 2: and Oklahoma City in that top tier in some order, 391 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 2: and then I think there's a little drop off and 392 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 2: then you run into that second tier in the West 393 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 2: is where you're getting the Clippers, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the 394 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 2: Los Angeles Lakers. We'll see if a team like San 395 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 2: Antonio can get into that mix this year. We'll see 396 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 2: if a team like Memphis can bounce back this year. 397 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:34,160 Speaker 2: There's a lot of different potential teams in that tier. 398 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:36,439 Speaker 2: I think that's more or less that middle tier is 399 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 2: going to be Clippers, Lakers, and Timberwolves, right and so 400 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:43,679 Speaker 2: when we look at that group in the West, we 401 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:45,439 Speaker 2: kind of know what most of these teams are. We 402 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:47,440 Speaker 2: know what the Clippers are going to be that got 403 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 2: healthy to the postseason last year and ended up not 404 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 2: being enough to beat Denver. We more or less know 405 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 2: what the Lakers are going to be. We got a 406 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 2: good look at that last year. Denver obviously upgraded a 407 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 2: starting position and added depth, but they're more or less 408 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:02,639 Speaker 2: the same. You know, a continuous group that's been playing 409 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 2: for the last several years. Oklahoma City we've just covered 410 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,200 Speaker 2: in depth winning the title, so we know a lot 411 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 2: about what those teams are. With Houston, they kind of 412 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 2: have a wide range of potential outcomes because they're fundamentally 413 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 2: different basketball team. With Kevin Durant, they're going to play 414 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:19,399 Speaker 2: a different style on offense. This is a team that 415 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 2: ran a lot of their down the stretch go to 416 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,120 Speaker 2: action when things got tough in the playoffs last year, 417 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 2: was that inverted ballscreen with shangoon at the top of 418 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 2: the key. Fred Van Vliet would set the screen, he'd 419 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 2: slip out of it, and they would just play that 420 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:31,399 Speaker 2: two man game at the top of the key, and 421 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:33,439 Speaker 2: it worked a little bit, but eventually they got to 422 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 2: a point where Gary Payton and Draymond Green just refused 423 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 2: to allow the switch and they stayed attached and Draymond 424 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:40,920 Speaker 2: was able to get the stops he needed to get 425 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:43,240 Speaker 2: on Alburn Shangun and they ended up losing. Right, Kevin 426 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:45,120 Speaker 2: Durant's going to come in and just add a very 427 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:47,399 Speaker 2: different action that they're going to run in those situations 428 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 2: and give them a lot more variety that they can 429 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 2: go to in those spots on the defensive end. I'm 430 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:54,399 Speaker 2: a huge believer in a men Thompson. I think he's 431 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:57,119 Speaker 2: one of the best defensive prospects to ever grace the league, 432 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 2: but he doesn't have that like big frame that Dylan 433 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:04,359 Speaker 2: Brooks had, and Dylan Brooks gave them a great option 434 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 2: for some of the bigger forwards in the Western Conference, 435 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 2: guys like Lebron Luka, Doncic, Kawhi Leon or Jimmy Butler, 436 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,040 Speaker 2: Julius Randall. There's a bunch of those types of dudes 437 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 2: that Amen Thompson might be too small for right So 438 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 2: they're a different team in that sense, But at the 439 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:19,920 Speaker 2: same time, they never really had a rim protecting presence 440 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,159 Speaker 2: before Kevin Durant, And like, if we look back the 441 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 2: last time Kevin Durant played on, you know, a championship 442 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 2: quality team going back to Golden State, he functioned a 443 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 2: lot as a back end rim protector for them. We've 444 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 2: talked a lot about this concept with Shanggoon. When you 445 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 2: have bigs like Shanggoon and you can't protect the rim, 446 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 2: you run into these tough situations where you're either running 447 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:43,160 Speaker 2: like a deeper drop coverage with him and you're getting 448 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 2: picked a part in the mid range, or the guy's 449 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 2: getting downhill and Shanguon's not protecting the rim. Or you 450 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 2: bring shanguon out to the level and he's attacking the ball, 451 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:51,639 Speaker 2: but now you're giving up these four on threes and 452 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 2: you don't have any rim protecting presence on the back line, 453 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,679 Speaker 2: and that can cause problems. Right, Kevin Durant gives you 454 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:59,200 Speaker 2: a solution to that problem, which is you can now 455 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 2: bring shangu up to the level to be aggressive on 456 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 2: the ball handler, knowing that you have a rangey long 457 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:07,719 Speaker 2: athlete on the backside that can cover ground both at 458 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 2: the rim and out to the perimeter. Kevin Durant also 459 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:12,359 Speaker 2: has switch ability to get out onto perimeter players. 460 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 1: Right. 461 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 2: So they're a very different defense and a very different 462 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 2: offense than they were last year. So as we look, 463 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 2: we know what Oklahoma City is. There's this elite turnover 464 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:23,120 Speaker 2: forcing offense that can get out in transition. 465 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:24,360 Speaker 1: And then on offense, we. 466 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 2: Know that they're going to lean a lot on Shake 467 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 2: Gills with Alexander Dribbil penetration. 468 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 1: Right. Denver, we know what Denver is. 469 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 2: They're probably the most reliable playoff offense in the NBA 470 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 2: right now. But you add to it, they have a 471 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 2: very smart schematic approach on defense and they have a 472 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:41,960 Speaker 2: lot of high IQ defenders, and so they actually defend 473 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 2: better than you would expect for a team that puts 474 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 2: weak regular season defensive metrics up and that doesn't necessarily 475 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 2: have a ton of high level defensive personnel. But they're 476 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 2: just really smart. They're always in the right spots. They 477 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 2: actually got more stops against Oklahoma City than everybody this 478 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 2: last playoff run other than Indiana, and even then it 479 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 2: would influenced a lot by that Game six where Indiana 480 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:05,080 Speaker 2: really strangled Oklahoma City. So, like we know what Denver 481 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 2: is with Houston, I want to be clear, Kevin Durant 482 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 2: doesn't come in and just turn them into an elite, 483 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:15,120 Speaker 2: well oiled machine on offense. 484 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 1: It's not that easy. 485 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 2: Offense takes continuity, and that team still has a deficit 486 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:23,439 Speaker 2: of ball handling, that team still has a deficit of shooting, 487 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,400 Speaker 2: even with Dorian Finney Smith. I don't think it's necessarily 488 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:29,360 Speaker 2: gonna be like just smooth sailing on offense. I think 489 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 2: it's gonna be tough for I think they're gonna have 490 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:32,919 Speaker 2: to figure out ways to use Kevin Durant. I think 491 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:34,879 Speaker 2: they're gonna have to lean into more what Kevin Durant 492 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:36,920 Speaker 2: was in Brooklyn, which was more of like a high 493 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 2: pick and roll ball handler rather than like an off 494 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:42,160 Speaker 2: ball scorer playing off the catch more like he did 495 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 2: in Phoenix. I'd like if you guys remember he was 496 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,800 Speaker 2: super high volume in pick and roll in Brooklyn and 497 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 2: he had a year there. I think it was twenty 498 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:53,399 Speaker 2: twenty one. He did a year there where Kevin Durant 499 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:55,879 Speaker 2: ball screen including passes was over a one to twenty 500 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 2: offensive rating because he was just consistently drawing that second 501 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:01,919 Speaker 2: defender so tall you can see over the top and 502 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 2: easily drop it over the top to the role man, 503 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:06,439 Speaker 2: and then they're playing four on three out of it 504 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:09,280 Speaker 2: with great spacing. And because James Harden was on that team, 505 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:11,000 Speaker 2: Kyrie Irving was on that team, they just had a 506 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 2: lot offensive skill off the ball. Now again, it will 507 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:15,919 Speaker 2: be a little more clunky with Houston, it's a lot 508 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:19,080 Speaker 2: of young raw athletes. But I think I like the 509 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:21,360 Speaker 2: idea of using a men Thompson in the short role 510 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:23,879 Speaker 2: playing off of Kevin Durant coming out of high ball screens. 511 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:25,720 Speaker 2: Shan Gun too is a guy that can score in 512 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:27,119 Speaker 2: the middle of the floor and play make out of 513 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:29,480 Speaker 2: the middle of the floor. I like giving him more 514 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 2: opportunities there off of Kevin Durant as a ball handler, 515 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:34,680 Speaker 2: their ceiling on offense is going to be a work 516 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:37,600 Speaker 2: in progress, and it may be something that they don't 517 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:40,879 Speaker 2: achieve until close to the playoffs. Are potentially even in 518 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:43,280 Speaker 2: the playoffs, or if they get beat. If someone asked 519 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:45,360 Speaker 2: me how to shoot, like Houston loses in the playoffs 520 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 2: this year, how does it happen? I think it actually 521 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:51,000 Speaker 2: happens because their offense bogs down, right, But how can 522 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:53,959 Speaker 2: they separate themselves from Denver? How can they separate themselves 523 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 2: from Oklahoma City. It's the defensive end of the floor. 524 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:58,639 Speaker 2: If they can get to that point where kd has 525 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:02,280 Speaker 2: a throwback all defense type of season like he did 526 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:05,080 Speaker 2: in twenty seventeen with Golden State, where he's protecting the rim, 527 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:07,919 Speaker 2: he's doing defensive rebounding, he's doing all that stuff on 528 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:10,159 Speaker 2: the back line, and they have that depth of perimeter 529 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:13,639 Speaker 2: defense talent that they have. That's where they have some upside. 530 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:15,879 Speaker 2: And so for me, I look at Houston as more 531 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 2: the same kind of like defensive juggernaut that they were 532 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:22,280 Speaker 2: last year. Kevin Durant, if he can just provide a 533 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:27,399 Speaker 2: little more advantaged creation, rescue possessions like three four seconds 534 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:29,399 Speaker 2: on the shot clock. He's just a way better option 535 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 2: than anybody Houston had last year. Clutch situations no more 536 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 2: Fred van Vliet, Alpern shanggun two man game, a little 537 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 2: bit more of Kevin Durant, Fred Van Vliet two man game, 538 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 2: Kevin Durant, Alpern shangun two man game. I think that's 539 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 2: just a more reliable action there. It's like dragging teams 540 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 2: down into the mud, getting into close games, and then 541 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 2: in those close games just executing better because you have 542 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 2: Kevin Durant on the team. And I would argue, out 543 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:56,120 Speaker 2: of all these teams in the West, they're the team 544 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:59,159 Speaker 2: that has the widest range of possible outcomes because they 545 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:01,680 Speaker 2: are fundamentally different on both ends of the four. With KD, 546 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 2: We're gonna be tracking it NonStop throughout the year. It's 547 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:06,040 Speaker 2: going to be a team we covered very closely this year. 548 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:08,760 Speaker 2: But I'm very, very excited to watch Kevin Durant and 549 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 2: Houston Rockets play basketball. All right, guys, that is all 550 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:13,960 Speaker 2: we have for today is always as sincerely appreciate you 551 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:16,560 Speaker 2: guys for supporting us and supporting the show. Shout out 552 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:18,880 Speaker 2: again to the guys at Series XM for taking care 553 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 2: of us here at the win. 554 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:22,160 Speaker 1: We will see you guys next week. What's up guys. 555 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:24,960 Speaker 2: As always, I appreciate you for listening to and supporting 556 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:27,639 Speaker 2: OOPS tonight. It would actually be really helpful for us 557 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:29,520 Speaker 2: if you guys would take a second and leave a 558 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:31,080 Speaker 2: rating and a review. 559 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 1: As always, I appreciate you. 560 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:33,720 Speaker 2: Guys supporting us, but if you could take a minute 561 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 2: to do that, I really appreciate it. 562 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:38,400 Speaker 1: The volume