1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:16,920 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, Well, good to Hoops out here 2 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,319 Speaker 1: at the volume heavy Monday, everybody hopefull of you guys 3 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:21,599 Speaker 1: had an incredible weekend. Got a quick show for you 4 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,960 Speaker 1: guys today. We're gonna be going over five big takeaways 5 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: from this weekend. We will go through our power rankings, 6 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: but we're just gonna list them at the tail end 7 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: of the show. Primarily going to focus on the couple 8 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: of the national TV games from yesterday, as the Oklahoma 9 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 1: City Thunder got a huge win against the Cleveland Cavaliers 10 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:40,840 Speaker 1: without Shake Gildas Alexander and without Jalen Williams, an impressive 11 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 1: demonstration of their defensive ceiling, and then the Boston Celtics 12 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: just straight up out class the Lakers really and I 13 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 1: want to dive into several aspects from that game that 14 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 1: we'll go to in our takeaways as well as a 15 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: quick Minnesota Timberwolves taway and a Denver Nuggets takeaway. You 16 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: guys are the Joe. Before we get started, to subscribe 17 00:00:57,640 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: to the Hoops and YouTube channels you don't miss any 18 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: more of our videos. Don't for to like this video 19 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: as well as sign up for our post notifications. That 20 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 1: helps us a lot and last, but at least, if 21 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 1: you want to get mailbag questions into our Friday mailbag, 22 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: drop them into the YouTube comments underneath our full episodes 23 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:12,959 Speaker 1: and we'll get to them on Fridays throughout the remainder 24 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 1: of the season. All right, let's talk some basketball. So 25 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: five big takeaways from the weekend. Number One, the Oklahoma 26 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: City Thunder still have an absolutely frightening defensive punch. So 27 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: we had heard that maybe Shayis Alexander would be making 28 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: his return after the deadline from his abdominal issue taken 29 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: a little bit longer there. Going into this matchup obviously 30 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: a big measuring stick game for a Cleveland Cavaliers team 31 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 1: that I'm very high on. I've told you guys, I 32 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 1: view this Calves team as my current favorite to win 33 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: the Eastern Conference. I just view them as an incredibly 34 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: complete team. And you know, specifically as even with Shae, 35 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: Kis Alexander and Jadab being out of the lineup, I 36 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 1: was keyed in on the specific matchup of the Calves 37 00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 1: offense versus the Oklahoma City defense. And one of the 38 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: things that I like about this Cavs team is that 39 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 1: they're incredibly well rounded offensively. They've got these two excellent 40 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: shot creators, and Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. They've got 41 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: a ton of spot up shooting and jump shooting talent 42 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: in general. I mean, you guys saw that Sam Merrill 43 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: run in that second quarter yesterday. They just have a 44 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: ton of jump shooting talent. Then they have great role 45 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:23,639 Speaker 1: men in Evan Mobley and Jared Allen. They just everything 46 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 1: that you need to have a very high offensive floor. Now, 47 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:29,519 Speaker 1: one of the things that makes this a particularly different 48 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: type of matchup is one of the things I've talked 49 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: about with the Thunder is the kinds of offensive players 50 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: that give the Thunder issues are generally power players. They 51 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 1: tend to be big forwards that can post up their guards, 52 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:45,679 Speaker 1: or guys like Nikole Jokich who can punish them inside 53 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: and do damage as a playmaker. It's usually a combination 54 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: of big shot creators that can pass right. We've talked 55 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 1: about this a lot this season, with respect to the Lakers, 56 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 1: with respect to the Minnesota Timberwolves, with respect to Denver. 57 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: Over the years, like teams that just have big guys 58 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: that are bigger than all of Oklahoma City's defenders that 59 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 1: can kind of back them down and get to their 60 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 1: spots and pass out of it. So this is actually 61 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: a very interesting different type of matchup where it's kind 62 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 1: of predicated on guards breaking you down off the dribble, 63 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: and that ended up being the determining factor behind Oklahoma 64 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: City's massive early run. Right, So, even if you remove 65 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 1: Shay and you move Jdup, we have this unbelievable Oklahoma 66 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: City thunder defense versus this incredibly well rounded Cleveland Cavalier offense, 67 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 1: but an offense that is predicated on guards creating their shots. 68 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: And oh my god, did Cleveland completely decompose under that 69 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 1: pressure in that first quarter. They had ten turnovers just 70 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: in the first quarter that helped Oklahoma City build a 71 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: twenty point lead that they were able to again weather 72 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:52,839 Speaker 1: some Cleveland runs and sustain to get a win at 73 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: home without their two best stars. And I want to 74 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 1: specifically highlight two different types of covered dynamics that were 75 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: taking place that was causing Cleveland problems. First is this 76 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: shock and recover coverage. That one that we've seen quite 77 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: a bit throughout the league in recent years, essentially is 78 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 1: a variation of a blitz. So one of the things 79 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: that happens in a blitz is when a guard comes 80 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 1: off of a screen and the big man or whoever 81 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:20,839 Speaker 1: it is, if it's a guard guard screen, maybe the 82 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: second guard will you both attack the basketball and they'll 83 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 1: get their hands up high and they'll attempt to essentially 84 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 1: cause some sort of deflection or steal on the ball. Right. 85 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: But the problem is is that when you get that 86 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 1: pass off over, the topic can generate these four on threes. 87 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,040 Speaker 1: And so one of the things we've seen a lot 88 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: of NBA teams do in recent years is essentially just 89 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,720 Speaker 1: throw the blitz for only a split second and then 90 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: immediately rotate out of it. And the purpose there is 91 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: most offensive players have an immediate reaction when they get blitz. 92 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: They tend to pick up their dribble and hold it 93 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 1: up high as they start to look for that next pass. 94 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 1: A lot of guys will struggle to make maintain their 95 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 1: dribble and keep their options open as the blitz comes right, 96 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: and so they'll quickly pick up their dribble. And so 97 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 1: if you throw a blitz but then immediately rotate out 98 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: of it. So let's say I'm Isaiah Joe, and there 99 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,039 Speaker 1: was an example of this turnover in the first quarter 100 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,479 Speaker 1: that he got on Donovan Mitchell like, I throw the 101 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: aggressive blitz just until Donovan picks up his dribble, and 102 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: then I immediately rotate out of it. Now Donovan's trying 103 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 1: to throw it over the top to that guard that's 104 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 1: slipping out of the action, and Isaiah Joe's back and 105 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,919 Speaker 1: taking the ball away, So you're basically throwing it to 106 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: somebody that's guarded. But the entire dynamic works because you 107 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: can get the primary ball handler to pick up his dribble. 108 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: And there were so many different kinds of turnovers that 109 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 1: Oklahoma City was forcing. There were examples where that blitz 110 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:49,120 Speaker 1: hung around for a little while because the guard kept 111 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: his dribble alive, and maybe they just have active hands 112 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 1: in the pocket and you'd have turnovers on the pocket pass. 113 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 1: Both James Harden and Donovan Mitchell had turnovers like that 114 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 1: lob passes. James Harden had a pass turnover in the 115 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:03,359 Speaker 1: first half. There was in the first quarter. There was 116 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:06,479 Speaker 1: a ridiculous turnover that Chet home grenforced in that run 117 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: a transition play. Calves push the ball up the floor. 118 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: They get the ball up to the left wing and 119 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 1: Evan Mobley's running up the floor and he's wide open 120 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: underneath the basket, and here comes the lob pass, and 121 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 1: Chet just comes sprinting down the lane, jumps off that 122 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: left foot, and just high points it in mid air 123 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: to intercept the lob pass. These are unbelievable defensive plays, 124 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: and like again, one of the things that you'll see 125 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: that happens when you have a truly elite unit, as 126 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: you reach this point where whether it's an offensive unit, 127 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 1: it's like these dudes straight up cannot guard us, or 128 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:43,039 Speaker 1: it becomes like that these dudes are completely decomposing on 129 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 1: offense right And in this particular case, the defensive battle 130 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 1: went so heavily towards Oklahoma City that Cleveland decomposed. They 131 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: completely fell apart. There was like Jared Allen teeing up 132 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 1: underneath the basket, easy little shovel pass. It just bounces 133 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: off his hands and goes to the other team. It 134 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: can get to the point where the defense is so 135 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:04,280 Speaker 1: frightening that the team loses their confidence and they start 136 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: to just make a bunch of unforced errors. That to 137 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:09,159 Speaker 1: me is like the hallmark of a defense having a 138 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: more mental impact beyond what they're doing physically, is when 139 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: a team starts to make those unforced errors, and it 140 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 1: was just an unbelievable defensive punch from Oklahoma City that 141 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: Cleveland really struggled to recover from. We'll talk a little 142 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 1: bit more Calves here in just a minute, but Cason 143 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 1: Wallace had tennis sists in this game. This is one 144 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: of the things that I've talked about a lot as 145 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 1: it pertains to this Oklahoma City team. They're so predicated 146 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: on drill penetration, right, It's so dependent on Shay penetrating 147 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 1: that first layer of the defense, Jadub penetrating that first 148 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: layer of the defense. Aj Mitchell penetrating that first layer 149 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 1: of the defense, and when those guys are out, the 150 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: offense has been really bad this year, but there is 151 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 1: some budding young talent on the roster. One of the 152 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: big pieces of that dynamic is Cason Wallace. Cason Wallace 153 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: one of the things you'll notice on film, he's always 154 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: dribbling very low to the ground. He's very low in it, 155 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 1: very athletic stance as he's chaining together moves. Everything's a 156 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 1: protected dribble. Everything's between the legs and he's just going 157 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 1: side to side, just kind of probing into the lane 158 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 1: and he's drawing defenders, whether it's just defenders for an 159 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 1: easy drop off to Isaiah Hartenstein in the lane because 160 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: he just has a little drive off of the corner 161 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 1: that causes Jared Allen to sink down into help, or 162 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: whether it's a little probe that causes lou Dortzman to 163 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: sink off of him and here's a little swing up 164 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 1: to the top of the key. I think Cason Wallas 165 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 1: has become very gifted as an interior passer. He's got 166 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:33,079 Speaker 1: like just a good view of like touch and angles 167 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:35,959 Speaker 1: with guys cutting and guys rolling to the basket off 168 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: of actions. Really impressive playmaking game for him. I thought 169 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: he was critically important to Oklahoma City getting the baskets 170 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 1: in the half court that they needed to get in 171 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: this game. Jared McCain these like little microwave scoring bursts 172 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: him coming into the game, constantly moving without the basketball. 173 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: This is you know, I've heard a lot of people 174 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:56,839 Speaker 1: refer to Jared McCain as like kind of like a 175 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: Steph Curry light or like an evolutionary Steph Curry. I 176 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 1: think that it's always going to be blasphemous when you're 177 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: talking about a player of Steph Curry's caliber. But one 178 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 1: of the things that Jared McCain is doing that is 179 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: working is he is constantly moving without the basketball. There's 180 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 1: plays where he probes through the lane, gives it up 181 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 1: and then just runs out to the corner and he 182 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: happens to be open in that second attack. And a 183 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:19,960 Speaker 1: lot of that is the kind of stuff that Steph 184 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: Curry kills teams with. In terms of the tactical side 185 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: of it, I think it's a piece of scoring that 186 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,679 Speaker 1: most guards kind of leave on the table. They don't 187 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 1: take advantage of it, right Like we talked about this 188 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: with Damian Lillard over his career. It's one that Anthony 189 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: Edwards has frustrated me a little bit. I'd love to 190 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: see Aunt add a little bit more of an off 191 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 1: ball movement element to his game with how gifted he's 192 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 1: become as a jump shooter. But Jared McCain comes in. 193 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:47,560 Speaker 1: This is a different way to break down the defense. 194 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 1: You don't have to break down the defense through dribble penetration. 195 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 1: It's the primary way for Oklahoma City, but it's not 196 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:56,319 Speaker 1: the only way. And Jared McCain can help break down 197 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: the defense just with his shooting threat and running around 198 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 1: off the ball to continue to generate situations where defenders 199 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: can make mistakes. So really really impressive defensive punch from 200 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: the thunder last night shook Cleveland in that first quarter, 201 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 1: and they were never able to recover really quickly on 202 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 1: the caves before we moved on. I still was generally 203 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 1: impressed by them. After they settled down, they only had 204 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:20,079 Speaker 1: one turnover in the second quarter, and they were able 205 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 1: to methodically work their way back into the game. You 206 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 1: guys saw the Sam Merrill heat check. They started to 207 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 1: get some of their two main game stuff going, where 208 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: you're starting to hit Jared Allen around the basket for 209 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: easy baskets. James Harden and Donovan Mitchell did have some 210 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: really good offensive runs in this game. They just kept 211 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 1: losing their composure at various points, Like they have that 212 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 1: run where they end up going up by one in 213 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 1: the early second quarter and then you get a couple 214 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: of really bad turnovers and it ends up giving the 215 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,559 Speaker 1: momentum back to Oklahoma City. That's the kind of stuff 216 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: that they're gonna have to be careful with. And again, 217 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: like as we talk about Cleveland, I talked about this 218 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: even in the Darius Garland construct of the team. I 219 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:01,559 Speaker 1: was always worried about them, specific in the Oklahoma City matchup, 220 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 1: because they depend on the creation of smaller guards, at 221 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: least in the Darius Carland bild. Now, James Harden does 222 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: have a little bit more size, you know, he did. 223 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: There were some possessions yesterday where he looked a little 224 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:14,719 Speaker 1: too big for Cason Wallace, right, But like, ultimately this 225 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:19,840 Speaker 1: team kind of lacks that like matchup attacking forward that 226 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: can give Oklahoma City issues, you know, just as a 227 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: random aside, if this was a team that was available 228 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 1: for that Lebron James considered this offseason. One of the 229 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: reasons why I think the Calves would be smart to 230 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: consider taking Lebron on a veteran minimum contract, even though 231 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: he can come with some baggage, is the simple fact 232 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 1: that he represents something that the Calves don't have, which 233 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 1: is the big playmaking forward that can give them a 234 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: different method for breaking down the defense that doesn't necessarily 235 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 1: depend on a guard playing and pick and roll. 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Not only will you receive twenty percent off 266 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,839 Speaker 1: your first purchase, but enjoy free shipping on any US 267 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 1: orders over seventy five dollars in free returns. Go to 268 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 1: viory dot com slash hoops and discover the versatility of 269 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 1: Yori clothing. Exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms 270 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: and conditions. Number two big takeaway from the weekend. The 271 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 1: Boston Celtics are obsessed with finding every possible basketball advantage. 272 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: They absolutely dominated the Lakers yesterday. Not the first time 273 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 1: we've seen the Lakers get blown out by a really 274 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 1: good team, but it was the way that they did 275 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 1: it that I thought was particularly impressive. They won that 276 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 1: game on the margins. The difference in the game was 277 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: a seventeen to six second chance points advantage for Boston 278 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:02,839 Speaker 1: and a twenty to six points off of turnovers advantage 279 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: for Boston. So I want to zoom in on each 280 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: of these things individually, specifically starting with that twenty to 281 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 1: six points off of turnovers advantage. One of the things 282 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: that I thought was really fascinating from that game last 283 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:16,200 Speaker 1: night was the juxtaposition in the level of intensity and 284 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: ball pressure between the two teams. And it goes deeper 285 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: than just Okay, Boston's picking up full court and the 286 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 1: Lakers are not. It is very clearly a cultural dynamic 287 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 1: where Boston wants to and holds everybody accountable to this 288 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: idea that we are going to be a team that 289 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: makes your life extremely difficult on both ends of the 290 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: floor for forty eight minutes every single night. There's one 291 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: particular play that I want to draw attention to in 292 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 1: this example, even though obviously this dynamic was taking place 293 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: throughout the game, Boston's in the middle of a run. 294 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 1: They end up getting a bucket. I think it was 295 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 1: off of a turnover. I can't remember exactly what the 296 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: sequence was, but Luca ends up getting a quick inbound 297 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: from the Lakers and he starts dribbling it up the 298 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 1: floor in front of the Boston Celtic bench and nobody 299 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: picks him up, and you could literally see multiple assistants, 300 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: multiple players, and Joe Misula, Joe Missoula is literally like 301 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 1: like this at Luca, just like pointing at him, like 302 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: what the hell, guys, why isn't anybody picking up Luca? 303 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: And then somebody finally runs over and picks Luca up. 304 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: And I'm sitting there thinking like, this is a team 305 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: that had been picking up full court all game in 306 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: an NBA regular season game in mid February, for a 307 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 1: team that's literally the second seed in the East and 308 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: doesn't really have a ton to necessarily worry about game 309 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: to game throughout the regular season, and they've been playing awesome. 310 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 1: They're kicking a good team's ass on their home floor, 311 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 1: and one possession where someone didn't pick Luca up full 312 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 1: court and they're having a conniption fit on the sideline 313 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: because someone's not doing their job. That's the level of 314 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 1: attention to detail, the level of accountability, the level of 315 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: just care factor that you can see Boston has with 316 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: respect to these margins. Boston every single night is getting 317 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 1: a multiple point advantage in second chance points, in points 318 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: off of turnovers that is helping them win basketball games. 319 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: For one of the biggest things for me as I've 320 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:11,840 Speaker 1: learned more and more about the game as an adult, Like, 321 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 1: you know, obviously when I was in college, I learned 322 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: certain things schematically, and like, there's obviously a lot that 323 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 1: I learned through my time play in the game. But 324 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 1: as you get into like really really looking at the 325 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: way NBA teams are just trying to find ways to win, 326 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: this thing that I've become obsessed with is specifically the 327 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 1: possession battle. Why do we care so much about superstars 328 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 1: and what they can do on a points per possession 329 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 1: basis in the half court? Well, that certainly matters. Why 330 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 1: do we focus so much on that and not the 331 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 1: simple fact that if you get extra possessions that makes 332 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: up for the fact that you might have a little 333 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 1: bit of an advantage or disadvantage somewhere in a points 334 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 1: per possession context. Get more possessions and that buys you 335 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: more points. And one of the things that Boston looks 336 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 1: at their team like is they go, we we have 337 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 1: this dynamic on offense where we have these big forwards 338 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 1: that can create shots. Tatum eventually coming back Jalen Brown. 339 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:08,960 Speaker 1: Now we have these pet actions that we can run 340 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:12,119 Speaker 1: that can generate threes. We have a high percentage. We 341 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 1: have a bunch of high, highly skilled three point shooters 342 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:18,199 Speaker 1: on the roster. We have a bunch of guys that 343 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:19,879 Speaker 1: can drive close outs, a bunch of guys that can 344 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 1: play driving kick basketball. Nikola Vusevich can beat a post 345 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:26,880 Speaker 1: mismatch underneath the rim. You know, Nimi Kata provides your 346 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: vertical spacing. They have all these half court dynamics, but 347 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:31,880 Speaker 1: that's not the only way they're going to try to win. 348 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 1: They also want to try to win by controlling the margins, 349 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 1: and there is a level of effort and intensity that 350 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 1: you have to be willing to give in order to 351 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: do that on a night to night basis. And we 352 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:46,160 Speaker 1: watched two teams last night between the Celtics and the Lakers, 353 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 1: where one of them clearly really cared about being great 354 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 1: outside of the context of just their stars creating shots 355 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 1: in the half court, and another team that almost solely 356 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:01,440 Speaker 1: relies on it. So when Luca had a bad game 357 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 1: and Austin had a bad game, and Lebron had a 358 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:06,880 Speaker 1: bad game, they look terrible because they don't have anything 359 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:10,119 Speaker 1: else that they do great. They don't have anything that 360 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 1: is part of their basketball identity beyond Luca creating great shots, 361 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:18,880 Speaker 1: Austin creating great shots, Lebron creating great shots. That's why 362 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 1: when you look at the Lakers and you look at 363 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 1: all their metrics, they have this one strong metric, which 364 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 1: is their half court offense, and then they suck at 365 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:28,199 Speaker 1: everything else. And it's a big part of why they 366 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 1: can't beat any of the good teams, because the good 367 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 1: teams tend to have a strong base in their half 368 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:37,120 Speaker 1: court shot rate. Boston's over a one to twenty offensive 369 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 1: rating this year, the second in the league in offensive rating, right, 370 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:42,119 Speaker 1: But that's not the only way they go about winning 371 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 1: basketball games. And I just thought it was such a 372 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 1: brilliant exposition of Boston's basketball culture alongside the Lakers and 373 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 1: just seeing the dramatic difference between the two. That was 374 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 1: a team that was kicking the shit out of the 375 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 1: Lakers and getting on each other every single time one 376 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 1: of them would fail to do their job. Even though 377 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 1: they were for the most part doing their job, they 378 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:06,879 Speaker 1: won that game. Like Jalen Brown missed a lot of 379 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 1: shots last night. There were a lot of missshots around 380 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: the board last night in the half court. But they 381 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 1: got enough offensive rebounds, and they forced enough turnovers and 382 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 1: scored in transition off of those turnovers that they blew 383 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 1: out a very good Laker team. Peyton Pritchard unbelievable night 384 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 1: from him last night. One of the things that you know, 385 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: there was a lot of people complaining about the officiating 386 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 1: last night on the Lakers front. You guys know how 387 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 1: I am with that. I just think it's a loser mentality. 388 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 1: But like the specific dynamic that the Lakers and Celtics 389 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:39,679 Speaker 1: game that we saw in the game was Boston bringing 390 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 1: physical ball pressure right and then on the other end 391 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:45,400 Speaker 1: of the floor, Jalen Brown and Peyton Pritchard in particular, 392 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:50,520 Speaker 1: driving at Lakers defenders with physicality, getting into their bodies. 393 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: And yeah, you're right, pushing off a little. But guess what, 394 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: it is a known thing around the league that they 395 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:01,199 Speaker 1: probably won't call every time you put your hands on 396 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 1: an offensive player. They probably won't call every time you 397 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: drop your shoulder and initiate some contact offensively. The Celtics 398 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 1: know that they know they're fouling, they know that they're 399 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: using their off arm. They don't care they're doing the 400 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 1: same thing Oklahoma City does in Oklahoma City won a 401 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:24,680 Speaker 1: championship doing this last year. If we bring the physicality, yeah, 402 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 1: there will be some foul calls. Yeah, there will be 403 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 1: some times where we get overly aggressive and something bad happens. 404 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: But in the aggregate, they can't call all of them. 405 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:37,160 Speaker 1: A lot of them are gonna go uncalled. And when 406 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 1: they go uncalled, we're gonna force turnovers and we're gonna 407 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: get out in transition. When the off arm goes uncalled, 408 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:45,959 Speaker 1: we're gonna get separation and we're gonna get good looks. 409 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:48,439 Speaker 1: One of the consistent things that I talk about all 410 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 1: the time on this show is it's usually the team 411 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:54,439 Speaker 1: that brings the physical aggression that actually ends up getting 412 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 1: the better whistle. Why Because one, like we said, it's 413 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 1: impossible to call everything, and two, if you are the 414 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:05,200 Speaker 1: physical aggressor, the defensive team tends to be a little 415 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:08,199 Speaker 1: bit out of position, which can lead to fouls. And 416 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 1: that's a thing like, are there some bad uncalled off 417 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 1: arms from last night? Yeah? Are there some bad ball 418 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:18,199 Speaker 1: pressure possessions where Luca or Austin got fouled and it 419 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 1: didn't go called. Yeah, But that is a known thing 420 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,639 Speaker 1: that happens in basketball games. You have two options. You 421 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: can be like Boston and Oklahoma City and be like, 422 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 1: this is how we're going to try to help increase 423 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:31,560 Speaker 1: our chances of winning every single night, or you can 424 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 1: be like the Lakers and complain about it. The Lakers 425 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 1: have a physical strength. They are a big and strong team. 426 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:42,679 Speaker 1: That is one of their upsides, and a roster that 427 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:45,919 Speaker 1: doesn't have a lot of strengths. One of their strengths 428 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 1: is their strength. They could be the team that's initiating contact, 429 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:53,640 Speaker 1: that's playing super physical with their ball pressure. They don't 430 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:56,640 Speaker 1: want to. They have no interest in doing that, which 431 00:21:56,680 --> 00:22:00,160 Speaker 1: is fine, but all you're doing is decreasing your ability 432 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:03,399 Speaker 1: to win games. And lastly, just this is where the 433 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,360 Speaker 1: star power comes down to. The equation here, Like when 434 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:07,959 Speaker 1: you have a team like the Lakers that depends on it. 435 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:11,960 Speaker 1: Jalen Brown out played Luca last night, Peyton Pritchard out 436 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 1: played Austin Reeves last night. You add all that together, 437 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 1: that's how you get an embarrassing blowout victory on the 438 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 1: road like that from Boston last night. Again, Like, they've 439 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:24,399 Speaker 1: got some big question marks for me in terms of 440 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,359 Speaker 1: adding Jason Tatum and how well their front court can 441 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:29,639 Speaker 1: hold up against some of the higher level teams around 442 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:32,120 Speaker 1: the league. But this is a team that is obsessed 443 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 1: with the goal of finding every basketball advantage and maximizing 444 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:38,640 Speaker 1: their chances to win every single game. That's a big 445 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:42,879 Speaker 1: part of why they sustained success despite roster turnover. You 446 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 1: drop Drew Holliday, you drop Jason Tatum, you drop Christops Porzingis, 447 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 1: you drop Al Horford, and you literally are the second 448 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: best offense in the league. You know, just like fully 449 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 1: in the championship picture this year. It's because of that 450 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:01,399 Speaker 1: strong basketball culture. Today's show is brought to you by 451 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:04,399 Speaker 1: a presenting sponsor, hard Rock Bet, the official sportsbook partner 452 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 1: of the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic. What's better 453 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: than the sound of the ball on the hardwood, sneakers squeaking, 454 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:12,160 Speaker 1: and the switch of the net. 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Austin Reeves still has another leap 483 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:35,640 Speaker 1: to make. So Austin goes for fifteen points on four 484 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:37,679 Speaker 1: of ten shooting against the Celtics. Now again, to be 485 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:40,040 Speaker 1: clear upfront, I thought all of the Lakers stars were 486 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 1: bad by their standards in that particular game. Lebron is 487 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 1: forty one years old. He kinda is what he is 488 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 1: at this point. He's not going to get better. You know, 489 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 1: he might play better, but he's not going to add 490 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:51,920 Speaker 1: to his game at this point at age forty one. 491 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:54,880 Speaker 1: And last week when we did our NBA Awards kind 492 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 1: of check in, we talked about Luca and his next 493 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,679 Speaker 1: steps if he wants to become that next level player 494 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 1: that is actually competing for MVPs every year. So again 495 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 1: I'm gonna focus on Austin here for a minute. The 496 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:08,119 Speaker 1: specific trend I'm noticing with Austin actually has more to 497 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 1: do with that Oklahoma City game than the Celtics game. 498 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:13,399 Speaker 1: Like in this Celtics game, Austin was primarily being guarded 499 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 1: by Sam Hauser in a deep drop coverage with Nemi 500 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:18,679 Speaker 1: Keta or Nicole Vusavich on the other side of the screen. 501 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:22,880 Speaker 1: Austin typically torches some of these bigger, more upright wings 502 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:25,440 Speaker 1: like Sam Hauser, like Jada McDaniels is the big one. 503 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:27,639 Speaker 1: I think about like one of the reasons why against 504 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:29,880 Speaker 1: all the good teams that Austin's played this year, he's 505 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:33,119 Speaker 1: killed Minnesota is even though Jaden McDaniels is one of 506 00:25:33,119 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 1: the best perimeter defenders in the world, he's a little 507 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 1: too upright for Austin. Austin can beat him on the ground. 508 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 1: He's quicker, he can chain together moves that knock bigger 509 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:43,480 Speaker 1: wings off of balance, and then he can get past 510 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:45,199 Speaker 1: him and get where he wants. I just thought of 511 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:47,760 Speaker 1: Austin had a bad game against Boston. Now that's a 512 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: bigger picture issue, which we'll talk about in a minute, 513 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:52,360 Speaker 1: But I would expect Austin as he's coming back from 514 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:54,480 Speaker 1: his injury and regaining his rhythm, he's going to be 515 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:57,160 Speaker 1: more prone to bad games. But when there are players 516 00:25:57,160 --> 00:26:00,399 Speaker 1: that are quicker than Austin and that can beat him 517 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:03,000 Speaker 1: to spots and be physical on the ground, he can 518 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:05,720 Speaker 1: start to become turnover prone and he can struggle to 519 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 1: get that dribble penetration that's so important to him getting 520 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:10,919 Speaker 1: his game off. I thought Cason Wallace in the second 521 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 1: half of the Thunder game was the best example of 522 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:15,400 Speaker 1: that that I can think think of off the top 523 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:18,040 Speaker 1: of my head. Now, is this some sort of massive 524 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 1: referendum on Austin's career. No, Austin has conquered every demon 525 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:24,200 Speaker 1: in his game over the last few years, so we'd 526 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:26,320 Speaker 1: be foolish to pretend that he can't figure this out. 527 00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 1: Like there was a time at the beginning of last 528 00:26:28,119 --> 00:26:30,640 Speaker 1: year when D'Angelo Russell was still on the team where 529 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:33,639 Speaker 1: he looked like he, like Austin, was unqualified for this 530 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 1: super high usage guard role. And then he made that 531 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: idea look stupid before the end of the season and 532 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:41,159 Speaker 1: put it entirely to rest. At the beginning of this 533 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:43,080 Speaker 1: season with some of the crazy games that he had. 534 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 1: He struggled with catch and shoot shooting in the past. 535 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:49,919 Speaker 1: He's rectified that in this last season, in this particular season, 536 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:53,600 Speaker 1: he you know, like he's had trouble with physicality. He's 537 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:56,159 Speaker 1: at trouble with certain things defensively over the course of 538 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 1: his career. He just kind of solves these things when 539 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:02,399 Speaker 1: he works on them each individual offseason and levels up 540 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 1: little by little. So like Austin's gonna get in the 541 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 1: lab and he's gonna figure this out, but he has 542 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:10,160 Speaker 1: to find a way to be more productive against these 543 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 1: types of matchups. The bottom line is, at this exact 544 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:17,320 Speaker 1: point in time, Austin is way too prone to bad 545 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:20,439 Speaker 1: games against the top teams in the league because the 546 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:24,159 Speaker 1: top top teams tend to be more equipped with the 547 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:26,960 Speaker 1: types of quick, physical guards that can give him problems. 548 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 1: He was bad in both Boston games. I know he 549 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 1: put up big numbers in that game in Boston, but 550 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:33,359 Speaker 1: it was after the game was already had a reach. 551 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:37,159 Speaker 1: He was awful against Jordan Walsh in the opening stretch 552 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:39,679 Speaker 1: of that game, and the Celtics ended up going up 553 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:42,119 Speaker 1: by twenty and at that point you're just basically playing 554 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:44,360 Speaker 1: a full game of garbage time, right. He was bad 555 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:46,640 Speaker 1: in both Oklahoma City games. He was bad in both 556 00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 1: Phoenix games. He was bad in the one San Antonio 557 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 1: game that he played in. So teams that have deep 558 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 1: cores of perimeter defensive talent that can get up into him. Again, 559 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:57,440 Speaker 1: with exception of Minnesota, who probably would have been done 560 00:27:57,480 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 1: better if Chris Finch just took Jade McDaniels off of 561 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:02,440 Speaker 1: him and had Dante DiVincenzo or Jalen Clark guard him. 562 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 1: But he just has to find a way to figure 563 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:08,120 Speaker 1: out how to be more impactful in these matchups. I'd 564 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:11,680 Speaker 1: still max Austin. I still buy him as a perennial 565 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:14,919 Speaker 1: All Star candidate long term. This is just the next 566 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 1: step for him. The world of basketball always will present 567 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 1: you with another challenge. Austin has had a meteoric rise 568 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:24,160 Speaker 1: to this point, but there's more for him to figure out. 569 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:26,720 Speaker 1: This is the next step for him really quick. Before 570 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 1: we move on from the Lakers, they're two and three 571 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:30,760 Speaker 1: in their last five games. This is the trend them 572 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:33,920 Speaker 1: losing to these very very good teams at the top 573 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:36,360 Speaker 1: of the league. Two to zero against the Clippers team 574 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:39,520 Speaker 1: that tanked by sitting Kawhi down the stretch in a hospital, 575 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:42,720 Speaker 1: MAVs team oh to three against the Spurs, Thunder and Celtics. 576 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 1: And again, I know the Spurs game, they benched everybody, 577 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:47,280 Speaker 1: but they got pretty badly outplayed down the stretch by 578 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:50,080 Speaker 1: Oklahoma City without Shay, and then that Celtics game was 579 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 1: like a start to finish out classing. Here's a quick 580 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,560 Speaker 1: breakdown statistically of how they've performed by opponent this year. 581 00:28:56,840 --> 00:28:59,600 Speaker 1: Against the bottom ten in point differential, Lakers are eighteen 582 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:01,840 Speaker 1: and two, tied to Oklahoma City for the best record 583 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:04,280 Speaker 1: in the NBA. They have a plus eleven point differential 584 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:07,600 Speaker 1: in those games, which ranks eighth. Against the middle third 585 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 1: of the NBA, they're eleven and nine. That's the eleventh 586 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 1: best record in the NBA. Minus three point differential in 587 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:16,160 Speaker 1: those game that's twenty first in the league. And then 588 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:19,280 Speaker 1: against the top ten teams in point differential five and eleven, 589 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 1: that's the twentieth best record in the NBA, a minus 590 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:25,680 Speaker 1: thirteen point differential in those games, which ranks twenty eighth 591 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:29,960 Speaker 1: in the NBA. Only the Nets and the Wizards have 592 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 1: been worse. All right, Moving on number four, the Timberwolves 593 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 1: have a quick guard problem. Speaking of Minnesota struggling with 594 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:42,480 Speaker 1: quick guards, Jade McDaniels against the Minnesota frontline including Jaden 595 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:46,600 Speaker 1: McDaniels as an excuse me, Jada McDaniels and the entire 596 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:49,160 Speaker 1: Minnesota front line, so like we're talking like Julius Randall 597 00:29:49,240 --> 00:29:51,720 Speaker 1: and screen coverages, things along those lines. Rudy Gobert was 598 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: out of the lineup yesterday, so they didn't have their 599 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 1: traditional rim protector, but they looked stuck in the mud 600 00:29:57,280 --> 00:29:59,600 Speaker 1: against Tyrese Maxi last night, who just cut them to 601 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:03,640 Speaker 1: piece thirty nine points twelve for twenty one on twos, 602 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 1: Like thirty nine points with Tyrese Maxey only hitting four threes. 603 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:09,520 Speaker 1: That goes to show you how much he was winning 604 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:11,800 Speaker 1: the battle on the ground, And kind of like what 605 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:13,200 Speaker 1: I did in some of the earlier segments, I want 606 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:15,800 Speaker 1: to highlight an individual play here that kind of demonstrates 607 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:18,920 Speaker 1: what I'm talking about. So Tyres Maxie second half hits 608 00:30:18,920 --> 00:30:21,320 Speaker 1: a little pull up mid range jump shot at the elbow, 609 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 1: at the right elbow against Jade McDaniels in kind of 610 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:27,000 Speaker 1: a one on one sequence. Hits a left to right cross, 611 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 1: plants that left foot, right foot, elevates, gets great lift. 612 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:32,440 Speaker 1: Jade McDaniels is there and offers the contest, but he 613 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:34,840 Speaker 1: ends up hitting the shot. What do I always talk 614 00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:37,640 Speaker 1: about with pull up shooters, you have to disrupt their 615 00:30:37,720 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 1: rhythm on the ground when it comes to the contest, 616 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:42,720 Speaker 1: if you're not smothering them to where they have to 617 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:46,479 Speaker 1: shoot some JANKI release. If you're not smothering them, they 618 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 1: don't see the contest. These are guys that have been 619 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:51,240 Speaker 1: shooting contested jumpers their entire life. That's not a thing 620 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:54,120 Speaker 1: that bothers them if they can get into their bag, 621 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 1: into their rhythm. So in this case, if you see 622 00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:59,040 Speaker 1: Tyrese Maxey going left to right cross into a left 623 00:30:59,080 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 1: right pull up with his footwork, that is a shot 624 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:04,640 Speaker 1: that Tyrese Maxey has made in the gym by himself 625 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:08,000 Speaker 1: thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of times. 626 00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:11,400 Speaker 1: And so when you have a smaller quick guard defender 627 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:15,240 Speaker 1: that's on tyre Smaxi, that is, while he's making those 628 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 1: moves connected to Tyree Smaxy and using his hands to 629 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:23,480 Speaker 1: be disruptive of his gatherer and disruptive of his footwork, 630 00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 1: maybe you tangle his feet up a little bit. That's 631 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:27,440 Speaker 1: the kind of thing that's going to play him into 632 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:32,120 Speaker 1: a miss. Jaden McDaniel's being there but always being a 633 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:35,280 Speaker 1: step slow because he's giving up so much in speed 634 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:38,600 Speaker 1: to Tyrese. Yeah, he's getting that contest at the end, 635 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:41,880 Speaker 1: but the entire process, if you just kind of removed Jaden, 636 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:44,640 Speaker 1: like if you used AI to just like take Jaden 637 00:31:44,680 --> 00:31:47,400 Speaker 1: out of the picture and you just watch Tyrese, it 638 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:50,640 Speaker 1: looks like he's doing a drill in the gym by himself. 639 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:54,480 Speaker 1: There's not the speed element with Jaden to be able 640 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 1: to disrupt Tyree Maxey's rhythm on the ground. That is 641 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:01,120 Speaker 1: a matchup that I've seen concantly be a problem for 642 00:32:01,160 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 1: the Timberwolves over the years. I mean, even just look 643 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:05,720 Speaker 1: back last year in the postseason how much he struggled 644 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:08,360 Speaker 1: with Shake Kildes Alexander. And then you like take a 645 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:12,040 Speaker 1: guy like Andrew Nemhard who's nowhere near the perimeter defender 646 00:32:12,040 --> 00:32:15,160 Speaker 1: that Jayden McDaniels is in the aggregate, but against that 647 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,400 Speaker 1: specific type of matchup, Andrew Nemhard was able to win 648 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:20,880 Speaker 1: the battle on the ground a lot with Shae, and 649 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:24,440 Speaker 1: that was something that caused Shay some issues throughout that 650 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:28,800 Speaker 1: series that Jaden McDaniels was not able to cause for 651 00:32:28,840 --> 00:32:31,000 Speaker 1: a guy like shakekild just Alexander. It's just something to 652 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:34,360 Speaker 1: keep in mind, Like I understand that Jaden mcdaniels's role 653 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:36,160 Speaker 1: with this team is what it is. But if I 654 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:38,720 Speaker 1: was Chris Finch, I would strongly consider going with shorter 655 00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:43,680 Speaker 1: guard defenders like Dante DiVincenzo or you know, Jalen Clark 656 00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:47,480 Speaker 1: in specific matchups like this against the quicker guards around 657 00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:49,800 Speaker 1: the league. Turnovers were also an issue last night. They 658 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:52,200 Speaker 1: had twenty one turnovers against Philly. A lot of unforced 659 00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:55,520 Speaker 1: turnovers like swings and kickhead passes that went right to defenders, 660 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 1: really bad lob pass early in the game from Dante 661 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:01,400 Speaker 1: Devincenzo that was too low ooth and Julius had some 662 00:33:01,520 --> 00:33:04,840 Speaker 1: like over penetration turnovers where they would like drive into 663 00:33:04,840 --> 00:33:07,480 Speaker 1: a defender that's clearly in nail help, or just outright 664 00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:10,160 Speaker 1: sending a double on the drive and then trying to 665 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:12,800 Speaker 1: throw the pass as they're already in the double, which 666 00:33:12,840 --> 00:33:15,240 Speaker 1: that's when the pressure is there and can cause problems. 667 00:33:15,280 --> 00:33:17,400 Speaker 1: And it's like, dude, you're playing against a Nick Nurse team. 668 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:19,959 Speaker 1: You know what that means. Nick Nurse teams always are 669 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:23,000 Speaker 1: aggressive and they always send hard help on drives. Nick 670 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:25,800 Speaker 1: Nurse teams are going to put an emphasis on your 671 00:33:25,840 --> 00:33:29,040 Speaker 1: ability to identify where the aggression is coming from and 672 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:31,520 Speaker 1: pass through it. And I just think Ay and Julius 673 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:33,000 Speaker 1: did a poor job of it last night, and it's 674 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:34,880 Speaker 1: been an issue all year. The Wolves have been a 675 00:33:34,960 --> 00:33:37,760 Speaker 1: high turnover team in losses. They have the ninth worst 676 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:41,480 Speaker 1: turnovers per game number in losses in the entire league, 677 00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:44,760 Speaker 1: sixteen per game. The Wolves are also twenty fifth in 678 00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:47,080 Speaker 1: defense in this four and four stretch, a one to 679 00:33:47,160 --> 00:33:49,360 Speaker 1: twenty eight defensive rating in the four losses. I know 680 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:51,680 Speaker 1: Rudy Gobert wasn't there for that Philly game, but he 681 00:33:51,840 --> 00:33:54,240 Speaker 1: was there for the other three losses. This is just 682 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:56,680 Speaker 1: a team right now that is struggling to sustain effort 683 00:33:56,720 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 1: and focus throughout the season. And then, lastly, today number five, 684 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 1: the Nuggets are spiraling with Nikole Jokic back in the lineup. 685 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:08,360 Speaker 1: They're just four and six since Jokic made his return. 686 00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:11,239 Speaker 1: Their defense certainly hasn't been great in the stretch, and 687 00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:12,880 Speaker 1: it's been really bad in crunch time, which we'll talk 688 00:34:12,880 --> 00:34:14,840 Speaker 1: about in a minute. But ironically, it's been their offense 689 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:17,960 Speaker 1: that has risen to the surface as an issue of late. 690 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:20,880 Speaker 1: They have just a one to thirteen point five offensive 691 00:34:20,920 --> 00:34:23,360 Speaker 1: rating in those six losses, which is highly unusual for 692 00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:26,640 Speaker 1: Denver team that has very rarely struggled on offense over 693 00:34:26,640 --> 00:34:29,400 Speaker 1: the course of the last half decade. Jump shooting is 694 00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:31,360 Speaker 1: the primary issue that I want to talk about that 695 00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:34,520 Speaker 1: in turnovers, they're number like if you kind of dig 696 00:34:34,560 --> 00:34:37,000 Speaker 1: into it, like Jokic was talking in a postgame press 697 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:39,640 Speaker 1: or yesterday about their ability to generate good shots off 698 00:34:39,640 --> 00:34:41,759 Speaker 1: a ball movement, if you dig into the numbers, like 699 00:34:41,760 --> 00:34:45,000 Speaker 1: they're throwing about the same number of passes per game. 700 00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:48,080 Speaker 1: When when you look at wins versus losses in this 701 00:34:48,160 --> 00:34:52,239 Speaker 1: ten game span, their potential assists number has been basically 702 00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:55,440 Speaker 1: the same in wins and losses over these ten games, 703 00:34:55,760 --> 00:34:59,160 Speaker 1: but they've been completely unable to shoot jump shots in 704 00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:01,359 Speaker 1: the wins versus the loss or in the losses versus 705 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:04,800 Speaker 1: the wins. So here are the the in the four wins. 706 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:07,799 Speaker 1: Here is what Synergy logged them as points per jump 707 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:10,759 Speaker 1: shot attempt one point four to two, one point four 708 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:13,680 Speaker 1: to six, one point one nine, and one point four eight. 709 00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:17,160 Speaker 1: So very very very good to like like straight up 710 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:20,240 Speaker 1: elite jump shooting in the four wins. In the six losses, 711 00:35:20,239 --> 00:35:22,239 Speaker 1: they shot well against ok see one point one eight, 712 00:35:22,239 --> 00:35:24,719 Speaker 1: but the other five games zero point eight seven, zero 713 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:26,960 Speaker 1: point seven nine, zero point nine, zero point nine to 714 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:29,760 Speaker 1: five and one point zero. So one of the consistent 715 00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:32,799 Speaker 1: issues is they've been unable to make jump shots in 716 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:36,600 Speaker 1: these particular losses. Now, some of that is Yo Kitchen Murray, 717 00:35:36,640 --> 00:35:39,200 Speaker 1: like Yo Kitchen Murray have been ice cold from three 718 00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:41,120 Speaker 1: in those losses, but that's kind of been something that 719 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:43,120 Speaker 1: they've dealt with over the years, right, Like, both of 720 00:35:43,160 --> 00:35:45,360 Speaker 1: them are very good three point shooters and the aggregate, 721 00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:47,400 Speaker 1: but both of them are capable of having a two 722 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:49,319 Speaker 1: for ten night from the three point line or a 723 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:51,600 Speaker 1: one for eleven. You know, Yo Kitchen particular will have 724 00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:53,719 Speaker 1: these nights where he just pops out of three pick 725 00:35:53,760 --> 00:35:56,439 Speaker 1: and roll and he just miss miss miss miss miss, 726 00:35:56,520 --> 00:35:59,239 Speaker 1: And those two guys being so bad from three has 727 00:35:59,239 --> 00:36:02,720 Speaker 1: been a consistent trend in the losses. And then lastly, 728 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:05,359 Speaker 1: the turnover battle. They're just getting absolutely rocked in this 729 00:36:05,360 --> 00:36:09,040 Speaker 1: particular department department. In theirs six losses, they've been spotting 730 00:36:09,080 --> 00:36:11,680 Speaker 1: teams on average a six point per game advantage and 731 00:36:11,719 --> 00:36:14,880 Speaker 1: points off of turnovers. Jokich has been the primary culprit here. 732 00:36:14,920 --> 00:36:18,640 Speaker 1: He is twenty nine turnovers in the six losses, and 733 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:20,719 Speaker 1: this is showing up in the clutch stuff like five 734 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:23,760 Speaker 1: of these six losses took place in crunch time. Terrible 735 00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:27,040 Speaker 1: terrible defensive rating in those situations, and bad on the 736 00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:29,239 Speaker 1: offensive end by their standards. I talked about this in 737 00:36:29,280 --> 00:36:31,880 Speaker 1: the mailbag last week. This one in particular, I'm not 738 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:34,759 Speaker 1: overly concerned about because when I have it like a 739 00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:38,200 Speaker 1: historic trend, like year after year after year after year, 740 00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:40,279 Speaker 1: where a team is great at something and then they're 741 00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:43,080 Speaker 1: bad at it one year with like mostly the same players, 742 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:45,719 Speaker 1: I'm hesitant to overreact to it. I think some of 743 00:36:45,719 --> 00:36:47,360 Speaker 1: this has to do with Aaron Gordon being out of 744 00:36:47,360 --> 00:36:49,240 Speaker 1: the lineup as well. He's just such a pivotal player 745 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:51,279 Speaker 1: for them on both ends of the floor. He's your 746 00:36:51,280 --> 00:36:54,319 Speaker 1: best vertical spacer at the four spot and he is 747 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:57,200 Speaker 1: your best back line defender off of Nikola jokicch and 748 00:36:57,239 --> 00:36:59,520 Speaker 1: so you remove him from the equation, it just makes 749 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:02,160 Speaker 1: things hard. Or I do think that when push comes 750 00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:04,239 Speaker 1: to shove and they end up in big spots, the 751 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:05,960 Speaker 1: denver is going to be able to get the stops 752 00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:09,560 Speaker 1: that they need in crunch time or just in general 753 00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:11,160 Speaker 1: to be able to execute in crunch time the way 754 00:37:11,160 --> 00:37:13,600 Speaker 1: they need to. So again, like I mentioned off the top, 755 00:37:13,719 --> 00:37:15,759 Speaker 1: just listing power rankings today just for those of you 756 00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:19,960 Speaker 1: guys who come to our power rankings video every Monday. Again, 757 00:37:20,719 --> 00:37:22,239 Speaker 1: we just have so much that we need to catch 758 00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:25,799 Speaker 1: up on from the last like three or four nights 759 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:27,680 Speaker 1: of games. We're gonna be doing that periodically over the 760 00:37:27,719 --> 00:37:29,040 Speaker 1: course of the next week, and we'll be back to 761 00:37:29,080 --> 00:37:31,680 Speaker 1: our normal kind of power rankings format next week. But 762 00:37:31,760 --> 00:37:34,200 Speaker 1: for this week, Number one the Detroit Pistons