WEBVTT - Young Players Carving Out Steady Roles 0:00:09.160 --> 0:00:10.440 And you mentioned point guards. 0:00:10.480 --> 0:00:12.800 Another piece I thought was super interesting was your last 0:00:12.800 --> 0:00:17.200 piece on Jose Alvarado and I was reading it and 0:00:17.239 --> 0:00:20.200 there's a bunch of different guards in the mix that 0:00:20.800 --> 0:00:25.919 you interviewed and that we're referenced, And I guess the 0:00:25.960 --> 0:00:27.520 first question that I have is, do you think that 0:00:27.800 --> 0:00:30.240 his success, because I think it came out of nowhere, 0:00:30.720 --> 0:00:34.720 and you know he was acc defensive player. 0:00:35.960 --> 0:00:38.080 But still undrafted. 0:00:38.120 --> 0:00:41.760 Do you think that this success that he's had, success 0:00:41.800 --> 0:00:44.400 that guards like bred van Fleet. 0:00:44.080 --> 0:00:46.839 Have had, does that pave the way? Is this like 0:00:46.880 --> 0:00:47.440 a trend? 0:00:47.960 --> 0:00:51.600 Do you think that's happening we're undersized players can come 0:00:51.640 --> 0:00:54.440 in and be really valuable role players. 0:00:55.160 --> 0:00:57.400 I hope so, because I love those kinds of players. 0:00:58.000 --> 0:01:01.040 But I think the trend is not to me about 0:01:01.160 --> 0:01:04.240 undersized players exactly, because I think it's getting harder and 0:01:04.280 --> 0:01:09.080 harder for smaller guards to stay in the league. But 0:01:09.319 --> 0:01:11.360 I think if you are one of those guys that 0:01:11.480 --> 0:01:15.319 plays taller, if you're one of those guys that can 0:01:15.640 --> 0:01:18.399 switch a little bit and compete against bigger players it 0:01:18.400 --> 0:01:21.400 can hold their own, then yeah, it's just like the 0:01:21.400 --> 0:01:23.440 bar is getting higher. And I think probably one of 0:01:23.440 --> 0:01:26.120 the reasons why he went and drafteds. People just looked 0:01:26.120 --> 0:01:28.480 at him as a small guard, and now that he's 0:01:28.520 --> 0:01:30.440 in the NBA, it's like, well, he plays if he 0:01:30.480 --> 0:01:32.440 has no idea that he's a small guard. He plays 0:01:32.480 --> 0:01:37.280 as if he thinks he's six'. Nine and that's exactly 0:01:37.280 --> 0:01:40.880 How Van vliet. Plays that's how you. KNOW i, like 0:01:40.920 --> 0:01:42.959 that's How Alex gruccio is one of the guys that 0:01:43.200 --> 0:01:45.880 was quoted in the story THAT i think that's Who 0:01:46.000 --> 0:01:48.160 alvarado had told, him like you paved the way for, 0:01:48.280 --> 0:01:50.800 Me LIKE i saw what you did to go from 0:01:50.800 --> 0:01:53.960 a two way to like being a rotation player in 0:01:54.000 --> 0:01:57.080 the league and all of. THAT i Think fred Van 0:01:57.120 --> 0:02:00.200 vliet didn't tell me exactly What alvarado told him when they, 0:02:00.200 --> 0:02:02.360 spoke but it sounds like a kind of similar. Deal 0:02:02.400 --> 0:02:06.200 LIKE i Think alvarado saw in those guys a kind 0:02:06.200 --> 0:02:09.880 of path for. Himself AND i think there's a. Reason 0:02:09.880 --> 0:02:12.880 it's like those guys defend like crazy and they have 0:02:12.960 --> 0:02:14.760 offensive skills as, well And fred Van vleet's An All 0:02:14.760 --> 0:02:18.840 star at this. Point BUT i think the idea is 0:02:19.360 --> 0:02:22.480 if you can be an elite defender at the guard, 0:02:22.600 --> 0:02:25.200 spot then you can survive if your teammates have to 0:02:25.200 --> 0:02:27.079 cover for you all the, time and if you can't 0:02:27.600 --> 0:02:30.320 guard multiple positions and all of, that then like you 0:02:30.480 --> 0:02:33.919 basically have to be a superstar now on the offensive 0:02:34.000 --> 0:02:37.960 end to. Survive BUT i do think at least in 0:02:38.040 --> 0:02:43.040 terms of like defense, first like really really intense competitive, 0:02:43.160 --> 0:02:47.880 smart like the guys that are in the right places 0:02:47.919 --> 0:02:50.680 and manage to affect a game on both, Ends like 0:02:50.720 --> 0:02:52.639 if those guys are coming out of, college if those 0:02:52.639 --> 0:02:54.880 guys are coming out of, wherever and teams can get 0:02:54.880 --> 0:02:56.320 a scout on, them they at least have guys that 0:02:56.320 --> 0:02:58.520 compare them, to, Right like if they say we think 0:02:58.560 --> 0:03:00.920 he can be sort of like A VanVleet or like 0:03:00.960 --> 0:03:04.560 In alvarado or, WHOEVER i think that. Helps it's just 0:03:04.600 --> 0:03:07.560 LIKE i think you have to sort of be careful 0:03:07.639 --> 0:03:09.600 when LIKE i DON'T i don't want to start to 0:03:09.600 --> 0:03:12.639 say like every Guy alvarado size can do, that because 0:03:13.560 --> 0:03:15.920 if they, could Then alvorado wouldn't stand out that much 0:03:15.960 --> 0:03:18.720 and and we'd be seeing more guys that size kind 0:03:18.720 --> 0:03:20.239 of make. It AND i think we're actually seeing as the, 0:03:20.240 --> 0:03:22.600 Opposite like the bar is getting higher and higher and 0:03:22.639 --> 0:03:23.799 higher if you're a small, guy. 0:03:24.160 --> 0:03:25.560 Yeah which makes him even more of a. 0:03:25.639 --> 0:03:28.600 UNICORN i think that's what makes and his Teammate Herb 0:03:28.680 --> 0:03:31.720 jones so fascinating, too is all the things that he 0:03:31.760 --> 0:03:33.959 can do, defensively and. 0:03:33.919 --> 0:03:37.160 His Scottie, Barnes alvarado And. 0:03:38.600 --> 0:03:42.120 Herb jones all guys that lead the way with defense 0:03:42.240 --> 0:03:45.720 really and that our good passers and and can kind 0:03:45.720 --> 0:03:48.520 of be unicorns in their own way and haven't been 0:03:48.560 --> 0:03:52.200 seen as these like offensive you, know fire. 0:03:52.640 --> 0:03:53.640 Firepowers you. 0:03:53.680 --> 0:03:57.280 Know, YEAH i THINK i love when When Herb jones 0:03:57.280 --> 0:03:59.280 And alvarado are on the court, Together LIKE i JUST 0:03:59.440 --> 0:04:02.680 i think of those especially when like when The pelicans 0:04:02.720 --> 0:04:04.840 Have Larry nance at the five, spot like they're closing 0:04:04.840 --> 0:04:07.520 the games most of the time With nance of the. Five, 0:04:07.560 --> 0:04:10.440 now last few, Games jose's played the whole fourth quarter 0:04:10.760 --> 0:04:14.560 and started with That houston game where he basically dominated. 0:04:14.560 --> 0:04:18.000 It but The pelicans are like they have a ton of, 0:04:18.040 --> 0:04:20.760 Firepower like their team is built to be an elite, 0:04:20.839 --> 0:04:22.880 offense even though the shooting isn't that, greatly they just 0:04:22.920 --> 0:04:25.720 destroy teams on the. Inside AND i think what you're 0:04:25.760 --> 0:04:27.840 looking at from now until the end of the season 0:04:28.120 --> 0:04:32.120 is like can they find that balance of like all 0:04:32.160 --> 0:04:35.159 that firepower being that efficient offensive team while also getting 0:04:35.279 --> 0:04:37.640 enough stops to beat the best teams in THE. Nba 0:04:37.760 --> 0:04:40.839 AND i Think Willie green's playing around with the lineups 0:04:40.880 --> 0:04:44.839 to try to get to that. Point AND i really 0:04:44.960 --> 0:04:46.800 like the look that they've been going with lately in 0:04:46.839 --> 0:04:48.760 the fourth quarter Where alvarado has been in the court 0:04:48.760 --> 0:04:51.760 And nance has been on the. Court it gets trickier 0:04:51.839 --> 0:04:55.839 to like Slot Herb jones into that lineup when it's 0:04:55.880 --> 0:04:58.680 like crunch time because you Have ingram AND cj And 0:04:58.800 --> 0:05:01.880 zion on The but like throughout the, game you can 0:05:01.920 --> 0:05:04.440 see The pelicans get to some really good defensive lineups 0:05:04.480 --> 0:05:07.440 even if they're not like a top flight defensive. 0:05:07.440 --> 0:05:10.600 Team is it more difficult For Willie, green in your 0:05:10.600 --> 0:05:15.360 opinion to make decisions now That zion and When zion 0:05:15.560 --> 0:05:16.520 is healthy. 0:05:17.560 --> 0:05:20.680 In a, WAY i think he enhances what they. Do 0:05:20.720 --> 0:05:22.440 he lets them do a lot. More BUT i think 0:05:22.480 --> 0:05:26.480 they're still doing a lot of experimenting the Point zion 0:05:26.839 --> 0:05:30.159 stuff that we saw from you, know the last time 0:05:30.200 --> 0:05:32.479 he was, healthy When Van gundy was was the, COACH 0:05:32.720 --> 0:05:36.599 i was like so, exciting but it was obviously going 0:05:36.640 --> 0:05:38.720 to look different when he came, back because like it's 0:05:38.760 --> 0:05:41.520 a completely different team now it's a new. COACH. Cj 0:05:41.600 --> 0:05:43.960 McCollum was not on the team. Before the bench is 0:05:44.000 --> 0:05:48.480 like totally different. Now BUT i mean just finding the 0:05:48.560 --> 0:05:53.800 space within a, game even finding a space within just 0:05:53.880 --> 0:05:56.719 a possession to be, like all, right we're Empowering zion 0:05:56.800 --> 0:05:59.719 to be the decision maker, here the playmaker. Here like it. 0:05:59.760 --> 0:06:04.200 Gets it's a little trickier BECAUSE cj needs his possessions doing, 0:06:04.279 --> 0:06:07.560 that Brandon ingram needs his possessions doing. That you have 0:06:07.680 --> 0:06:12.680 other guys Like Jose, Alvarado, DeVante, Graham Dyson daniels all 0:06:12.720 --> 0:06:15.279 think of themselves as point. Guards they are not always 0:06:15.320 --> 0:06:17.920 the guy bringing the ball up at court when they're 0:06:17.960 --> 0:06:19.520 on the. Floor but just by virtue of the fact 0:06:19.520 --> 0:06:21.040 that all these guys are on the team and getting, 0:06:21.080 --> 0:06:23.240 minutes it means there's going to be fewer. Possessions Zion 0:06:23.279 --> 0:06:25.640 williamson is like bringing the ball up and doing, that 0:06:25.680 --> 0:06:28.760 and we know he's so bit at. That and it's 0:06:28.800 --> 0:06:31.560 only in recent games That zion has gotten to do 0:06:31.600 --> 0:06:34.520 that stuff a little bit. More AND i still don't 0:06:34.520 --> 0:06:40.120 think they have found the just natural easy rhythm of 0:06:40.160 --> 0:06:43.320 like we are just flowing from one action to another 0:06:43.440 --> 0:06:46.320 where Like zion AND cj are playing in harmony and 0:06:46.360 --> 0:06:48.040 making each other better and all of this. STUFF i 0:06:48.040 --> 0:06:50.200 think they're still working through all of, that AND i 0:06:50.240 --> 0:06:52.640 think where their offensive numbers are despite that is like 0:06:52.640 --> 0:06:56.719 pretty impressive because they're it's they're kind of still in preseason, 0:06:56.760 --> 0:06:59.559 mode like they're still in experimentation. Mode They zion missed 0:06:59.560 --> 0:07:02.920 some time or miss some. TIME cj was shooting like 0:07:03.080 --> 0:07:06.280 terribly to start the year for some. Reason BUT i 0:07:06.279 --> 0:07:09.600 think the ceiling's really. High it's just they have that 0:07:09.680 --> 0:07:11.520 stuff to, balance and they just have a lot of 0:07:11.560 --> 0:07:15.040 good players so that the rotation is not obvious and. 0:07:15.080 --> 0:07:16.960 Simple it's a good problem to, have but it's also 0:07:17.040 --> 0:07:20.280 like a legit. Problem and like those decisions once you 0:07:20.360 --> 0:07:22.320 start talking later in the, season once they've had the 0:07:22.320 --> 0:07:24.280 time and once they kind of know what's, What like 0:07:24.320 --> 0:07:26.320 when you're in a playoff series and you're figuring out 0:07:26.320 --> 0:07:28.160 who you're gonna, start you're gonna close games, with who's 0:07:28.160 --> 0:07:30.320 gonna play with, Whom like that stuff can like swing 0:07:30.360 --> 0:07:32.680 an entire game and like swing an entire. Series so 0:07:33.160 --> 0:07:37.840 they they do have like a sort of serious thing 0:07:37.880 --> 0:07:41.040 to do, here which is like basically figuring out like 0:07:41.120 --> 0:07:42.760 how the chemistry is going to. 0:07:42.800 --> 0:07:46.680 Work there's like a lot of one sided players on this, 0:07:46.760 --> 0:07:48.880 team a lot of good. Players you put them together 0:07:48.920 --> 0:07:51.080 in a different way and they really compliment each other. 0:07:51.120 --> 0:07:55.080 Well but you, KNOW i Guess Brendan ingram's probably the 0:07:55.120 --> 0:07:59.600 best guy who's in terms of like balanced offensively and, 0:07:59.680 --> 0:08:02.920 defense and that makes things, TRICKY i think in terms 0:08:02.960 --> 0:08:05.720 of just what that lineup looks. Like another really great 0:08:05.760 --> 0:08:08.720 defender that you featured With. SHAY i Love shay so. 0:08:08.840 --> 0:08:11.040 MUCH i think he's one of the most underrated players 0:08:11.280 --> 0:08:14.080 in the. League this, year he's FINALLY i feel like 0:08:14.160 --> 0:08:18.040 getting he's broken through to. Mainstream you, KNOW i feel 0:08:18.080 --> 0:08:21.920 like he Was he was every like, hoopheads you, know 0:08:22.520 --> 0:08:25.520 one of their favorite watches last year until he got shut, 0:08:25.560 --> 0:08:30.200 down you know, whatever injury or tanking or. Both and 0:08:30.280 --> 0:08:34.480 now it's, like, yeah he's, there you, know forty point, 0:08:34.640 --> 0:08:38.000 games game. Winners what was the process of you deciding 0:08:38.040 --> 0:08:40.480 he wanted to feature? Him and like when did that 0:08:40.679 --> 0:08:41.400 pop into your? 0:08:41.480 --> 0:08:44.520 Mind so that one wasn't as like intensive as some 0:08:44.520 --> 0:08:46.360 of the others we talked. About that was basically like 0:08:46.440 --> 0:08:50.199 the thunder in, town AND i KNEW i wanted to 0:08:50.200 --> 0:08:53.679 write about his. Defense he is maybe the most improved 0:08:53.720 --> 0:08:56.840 player in THE nba right, now even without the defensive, 0:08:56.840 --> 0:09:01.600 Improvement like he's been so, crazy like the reason why 0:09:01.640 --> 0:09:04.199 it seems like he is getting all his attention he 0:09:04.240 --> 0:09:05.920 didn't used, to even though he was so great last. 0:09:06.000 --> 0:09:07.960 Year like he's third in the league in, Scoring like 0:09:08.000 --> 0:09:11.959 he's Like John morant isn't averaging as many points in 0:09:12.000 --> 0:09:15.120 the paint As shay is this. Year And jaw was, 0:09:15.160 --> 0:09:18.679 LIKE i think drives per, game you, KNOW i, mean 0:09:18.920 --> 0:09:21.040 but he, Has LIKE i think this is the third 0:09:21.040 --> 0:09:22.880 straight year he's led the league in drives per, Game 0:09:23.240 --> 0:09:26.160 but he is so much better in terms of like 0:09:26.200 --> 0:09:30.120 the finishing. Numbers he's actually weirdly like he's shooting far fewer, 0:09:30.200 --> 0:09:32.920 threes but it doesn't matter because his mid rated numbers 0:09:32.920 --> 0:09:37.040 are completely. Insane his usage is like near the top 0:09:37.080 --> 0:09:40.840 of the. League just what he's doing night tonight is so, 0:09:41.240 --> 0:09:44.240 difficult but yet he makes it look so easy on 0:09:44.640 --> 0:09:46.880 the offensive, end where where it looks like it's hard 0:09:47.000 --> 0:09:50.680 is the other end WHERE i think he, Clearly like 0:09:50.720 --> 0:09:52.400 if you go and watch the tape from his rookie 0:09:52.440 --> 0:09:54.439 year or The clippers versus what he was doing most 0:09:54.559 --> 0:09:56.480 nights with The thunder the last few, Years like it 0:09:56.520 --> 0:10:00.840 was different and it was, understandable but he always had 0:10:00.880 --> 0:10:04.720 this defensive potentially just wasn't quite doing, It AND i, 0:10:04.720 --> 0:10:06.480 MEAN i just wanted to kind of ask him some 0:10:06.559 --> 0:10:09.800 questions about, that ask you, know Ask Mark digno about, 0:10:09.840 --> 0:10:13.760 that ask teammates about, that BECAUSE i, thought, like it's 0:10:13.840 --> 0:10:15.880 just so impressive that he's doing both at the same. 0:10:15.920 --> 0:10:18.439 Time you don't you don't usually see the big jump 0:10:18.480 --> 0:10:22.720 on both, ends and he is just he has been on, 0:10:22.760 --> 0:10:24.520 it like he's been locked in pretty much every. Game 0:10:24.559 --> 0:10:26.920 The thunder have not been amazing defensively every, game but 0:10:27.040 --> 0:10:31.079 they have overall had a really good, defense especially in 0:10:31.120 --> 0:10:31.480 the half. 0:10:31.520 --> 0:10:36.640 Court wet al for Down poku. 0:10:36.520 --> 0:10:39.280 Is like so fun to watch right. Now and it's 0:10:39.320 --> 0:10:41.920 not even it's not even because he's doing all this like, 0:10:42.480 --> 0:10:44.520 crazy like oh my, god like how did this guy do. 0:10:44.559 --> 0:10:47.760 That it's just like he's just being, solid WHICH i 0:10:47.800 --> 0:10:50.760 don't think is like what people were always anticipating out Of, 0:10:50.760 --> 0:10:52.839 poku is it he'd be like a good complimentary role 0:10:52.840 --> 0:10:55.720 player because he just looked like such a weird prospect 0:10:55.800 --> 0:10:57.360 with such a high ceiling and like he still has that. 0:10:57.400 --> 0:10:59.520 Ceiling BUT i think it's cool that he has like 0:10:59.559 --> 0:11:01.720 settled into being like a kind of normal player right. 0:11:01.760 --> 0:11:03.360 Now that's actually somebody ELSE i want to write. 0:11:03.360 --> 0:11:06.199 About BUT i literally in my head was, like that'd 0:11:06.200 --> 0:11:07.480 be a Perfect James. 0:11:07.480 --> 0:11:12.240 Herbert i'm, true we're. Trying we're trying, here, Yeah but 0:11:12.240 --> 0:11:14.679 but whether or NOT i get to write, That, like 0:11:15.040 --> 0:11:16.720 it has been fun watching him do, that and like 0:11:16.760 --> 0:11:19.600 What shay is doing just like being disruptive off the, 0:11:19.600 --> 0:11:21.600 ball giving more effort on the. Ball it's kind of 0:11:21.640 --> 0:11:25.160 like a little bit of. Everything and then the numbers 0:11:25.160 --> 0:11:27.240 are not like he's like second in the league in 0:11:27.360 --> 0:11:29.600 stocks if that were a real. Category it's up there in, 0:11:29.600 --> 0:11:34.520 deflections it's second in. Steals like it's the work he's 0:11:34.559 --> 0:11:36.840 putting in on that end in addition to just the 0:11:36.960 --> 0:11:40.240 like ridiculous load that he's carrying offensively is really. Impressive 0:11:40.240 --> 0:11:41.880 and like you just you don't see a lot of 0:11:41.920 --> 0:11:42.480 guys doing. 0:11:42.520 --> 0:11:46.880 That and they brought Over Chip england From San, antonio 0:11:47.440 --> 0:11:52.160 the shot doctor who's just known for improving players three 0:11:52.200 --> 0:11:55.840 point shots by like three percent period pretty much everywhere 0:11:55.840 --> 0:11:58.880 he goes everything he, Does, right what do you Think 0:11:58.920 --> 0:12:03.520 shay is if he has like a consistent three. 0:12:01.280 --> 0:12:06.440 POINT i, mean it's it's funny because it's LIKE i 0:12:06.440 --> 0:12:08.520 want to, say, like, oh he's, unguardable but LIKE i 0:12:08.559 --> 0:12:12.200 sort of think he's unguardable now now like, Now so 0:12:12.400 --> 0:12:16.280 it's like does IT i guess it makes guys close 0:12:16.320 --> 0:12:19.280 out a little hard on. Him it makes guys like 0:12:19.559 --> 0:12:22.559 basically never go under. SCREENS i guess that would. Help 0:12:22.600 --> 0:12:25.360 but it's like he's he's just such a unique like 0:12:25.400 --> 0:12:26.960 he's just so such a different, Player like what he 0:12:27.000 --> 0:12:31.240 does is distinct from what like somebody Like jaw even. 0:12:31.480 --> 0:12:34.079 Does what he does is is probably a little more 0:12:34.120 --> 0:12:37.800 similar to What Chris paul, does who he surely learned 0:12:37.800 --> 0:12:40.240 from when they when they were teammates for a. Year 0:12:40.280 --> 0:12:42.880 but it's just it is even different from that because 0:12:42.960 --> 0:12:46.520 it's all about like, angles it's this herky jerky thing 0:12:46.600 --> 0:12:51.040 to keep defenses off. Guard it's not about like getting 0:12:51.040 --> 0:12:53.840 a step and then like just full on accelerating blowing by. 0:12:53.920 --> 0:12:56.839 Guys like he's not he's not not, fast but he's 0:12:56.880 --> 0:13:01.920 usually not going super. Fast he's making quick. Moves BUT 0:13:02.320 --> 0:13:05.160 i don't even think he needs like a lights out 0:13:05.480 --> 0:13:07.720 pull up jumper or anything like he is a good 0:13:07.720 --> 0:13:11.600 spot up shooter now and it's just you're seeing him 0:13:11.600 --> 0:13:14.000 take fewer of those spot up shots because he's usually 0:13:14.080 --> 0:13:17.679 the one creating the offense this. Year BUT i mean 0:13:17.720 --> 0:13:20.240 that that could change depending on who's on the. Team 0:13:20.280 --> 0:13:22.840 BUT i, think, YEAH i think you've seen him basically 0:13:22.880 --> 0:13:25.480 make a conscious choice this, Year LIKE i don't need 0:13:25.559 --> 0:13:29.920 to look for that pull up three BECAUSE i can 0:13:30.000 --> 0:13:32.600 get wherever the HELL i. WANT i can get a 0:13:32.600 --> 0:13:33.920 bucket whenever might he needs. 0:13:33.920 --> 0:13:38.160 It, yeah, well lost like derozen esque in some ways 0:13:38.200 --> 0:13:40.480 in terms of angles in mid. Range but a lot 0:13:40.520 --> 0:13:43.600 of people do Compare shay And jaw to one. Another 0:13:43.640 --> 0:13:44.280 why do you think that? 0:13:44.440 --> 0:13:48.520 IS i think because they they're both such good, finishers 0:13:48.559 --> 0:13:51.520 they're both really, young they're both. Exciting BUT i do 0:13:51.559 --> 0:13:53.920 think they're like key differences in terms of their, Style 0:13:54.040 --> 0:13:56.920 LIKE I shake would never be the kind of athlete 0:13:57.000 --> 0:13:59.680 that That jaw could. Be and, well they're both like 0:13:59.720 --> 0:14:04.520 crack and smart and cerebral players for. Sure she's just 0:14:04.559 --> 0:14:07.920 like there's just kind of nobody like, HIM i think, honestly, 0:14:08.000 --> 0:14:12.240 like Besides James, HARDEN i can't think of another like 0:14:12.320 --> 0:14:16.000 downhill driver as good As shaye and, like LIKE i don't, 0:14:16.000 --> 0:14:20.440 know like, decades the numbers sort of speak for, themselves 0:14:20.480 --> 0:14:23.880 like you can't there's not really a defense equipped to 0:14:23.920 --> 0:14:26.400 deal with him right. NOW i thought it spoke volumes 0:14:26.400 --> 0:14:29.480 when The celtics were just throwing double teams at him 0:14:29.480 --> 0:14:32.800 the other, day because they never do. That BUT i 0:14:32.800 --> 0:14:35.800 think combination of the fact, that like they that was 0:14:35.880 --> 0:14:38.800 their best strategy because nobody was shutting him down one on, 0:14:38.800 --> 0:14:41.080 one and the fact that they're basically like all, right 0:14:41.120 --> 0:14:42.840 like he is their number, one two and three. Option 0:14:42.960 --> 0:14:45.320 it's not like somebody, else like we're scared of, them 0:14:45.400 --> 0:14:46.560 so we're just gonna get the ball out of his. 0:14:46.600 --> 0:14:49.720 Hands like that led them down that. Path BUT i 0:14:49.720 --> 0:14:51.720 think that was like the ultimate sign of respect that 0:14:51.760 --> 0:14:55.520 like The Boston, celtics who Have Marcus smart And Jalen 0:14:55.560 --> 0:14:58.040 brown And Jason tatum and all of these guys are just, like, 0:14:58.480 --> 0:15:00.200 actually we're gonna do. Is we're gonna put two those 0:15:00.240 --> 0:15:00.520 guys on. 0:15:00.640 --> 0:15:04.920 You you talk about just sort of how hard it 0:15:04.960 --> 0:15:08.360 is for small players to be in this, league because you, 0:15:08.360 --> 0:15:12.040 know the league's getting it's getting like more. VERSATILE i 0:15:12.400 --> 0:15:15.000 Interviewed Nick nurse During Summer League we spent about an 0:15:15.000 --> 0:15:18.200 hour together and he mentioned to me kind of in 0:15:18.240 --> 0:15:21.640 detail what he wants from a. Player and six seven 0:15:21.680 --> 0:15:24.880 to six' nine with a positive wingspan that can do 0:15:24.920 --> 0:15:27.160 all the things that a point guard can do and 0:15:27.240 --> 0:15:29.680 all the things that a big can do is SOMETHING 0:15:29.720 --> 0:15:32.800 that i think you know in. Your article it's you 0:15:32.840 --> 0:15:36.040 know HOW the nba is. Resizing again leads me now 0:15:36.080 --> 0:15:40.440 to Think About POWELLO and i watched him At the 0:15:40.480 --> 0:15:43.920 GARDEN and i saw him and They Had franz wagner 0:15:44.000 --> 0:15:46.280 running the point and everyone on the. 0:15:46.200 --> 0:15:50.400 Floor was like. Six' nine they don't win a, lot 0:15:50.440 --> 0:15:55.320 of games but do you think that size? Could? 0:15:55.360 --> 0:15:58.920 Actually contend that is that a winning lineup NOW? 0:15:59.320 --> 0:16:04.040 In, the Nba well, not ORLANDO'S version but i think 0:16:04.800 --> 0:16:07.800 that idea is like can. WIN games Now i think 0:16:08.360 --> 0:16:09.560 toronto overachieved. 0:16:09.560 --> 0:16:09.760 For that. 0:16:09.840 --> 0:16:13.080 REASON last year i Was, like that GARDEN that's where 0:16:13.080 --> 0:16:14.960 i did, All THOSE interviews like i was at that 0:16:15.000 --> 0:16:17.080 game and LIKE that's where I, spoke to pallo AND 0:16:17.120 --> 0:16:20.160 that's where I spoke To Wendell and Tarren Tross and cold, 0:16:20.200 --> 0:16:23.960 Anthony all that like that was, Not unusual though like 0:16:24.000 --> 0:16:27.760 they that's every game this year and part of that Is. Based, 0:16:27.760 --> 0:16:31.720 ON anthony yeah. I, didn't, anticipate yes Yes so like 0:16:31.760 --> 0:16:33.720 markel hasn't, Played This, YEAR gary harris i think is 0:16:33.760 --> 0:16:37.480 about to make. His season, Debut You know jalen suggs 0:16:37.520 --> 0:16:40.560 missed a game or Two Earlier on cole anthony's been 0:16:40.600 --> 0:16:43.120 out for. A little while like this has been their 0:16:43.120 --> 0:16:44.840 best option because they haven't had a lot. Of OTHER 0:16:44.880 --> 0:16:48.000 options but i think, in the PAST like even i 0:16:48.000 --> 0:16:50.160 don't think that, That LONG ago like i think four or, 0:16:50.200 --> 0:16:51.960 five years ago if a team was dealing with this, 0:16:52.040 --> 0:16:54.120 kind of thing you would see them call up a 0:16:54.520 --> 0:16:57.440 like traditional point GUARD From the g. League, or something yeah, 0:16:57.480 --> 0:16:59.000 they just know we don't need. To do that why 0:16:59.200 --> 0:17:01.200 like why people just Give, it to wagner Give, It 0:17:01.240 --> 0:17:04.160 to paolo like we need to get those guys. Play, 0:17:04.240 --> 0:17:07.879 Making reps anyway like they're gonna maybe lose some games, 0:17:07.920 --> 0:17:10.639 because of it but this is what they're trying to 0:17:10.680 --> 0:17:13.680 develop in, their guys regardless and, it's to me it's 0:17:13.840 --> 0:17:17.280 very similar To what the. Raptors were doing it's just 0:17:17.280 --> 0:17:19.440 some of the lineups are even bigger because they happen 0:17:19.520 --> 0:17:21.920 to have A Seventy two bowl bowl. On their team 0:17:21.960 --> 0:17:25.560 who plays like a wing and like basically like believes. 0:17:25.560 --> 0:17:27.320 He's a wing like if you watch the stuff, that 0:17:27.320 --> 0:17:30.600 he does like it it. Makes perfect sense and then 0:17:30.640 --> 0:17:34.160 also there, Are other bigs, like on offense they're all 0:17:34.160 --> 0:17:37.320 stationed along the three point line and, they're you know 0:17:37.520 --> 0:17:40.239 it's not that they are, knocked down guys but if 0:17:40.240 --> 0:17:41.960 their feet are set and if, they're in rhythm like 0:17:42.000 --> 0:17:45.680 there's no why would Mostly not Allow Mobamba and wendell carter? 0:17:45.720 --> 0:17:47.919 To shoot three is? You should? Like that is that 0:17:48.040 --> 0:17:51.640 is where the. League IS going and, i think defensively 0:17:51.840 --> 0:17:55.320 the upside of having that much length and that much 0:17:55.320 --> 0:17:59.359 size is. Like pretty obvious these guys, are very young 0:17:59.480 --> 0:18:01.679 so the or not an elite. Defense RIGHT now but 0:18:01.720 --> 0:18:03.439 i think even when it, wasn't so extreme like, like 0:18:03.640 --> 0:18:06.399 last year just seeing the the front line Before, they 0:18:06.400 --> 0:18:09.160 got paolo like When they had Wagner And wen Del 0:18:09.280 --> 0:18:12.119 carter and mobamba in, the front court like that was 0:18:12.160 --> 0:18:14.360 a really good defensive unit and that was an interesting 0:18:14.600 --> 0:18:17.919 like front. Court, to watch offensively it's just you you 0:18:17.960 --> 0:18:20.560 introduce A talent like paolo who's just insane and like 0:18:20.880 --> 0:18:23.720 might be the best passer on the team as well 0:18:23.720 --> 0:18:26.320 as being a guy that is like. A walking mismatch 0:18:26.320 --> 0:18:28.119 he can go, in the post, he can isolate like 0:18:28.160 --> 0:18:30.679 do all. Of this stuff like that's just that is 0:18:30.720 --> 0:18:34.160 really everybody is looking FOR. IN the nbia i don't 0:18:34.160 --> 0:18:38.000 think people think of him as like this like, crazy unicorn, 0:18:38.400 --> 0:18:42.040 Freak like generational like what even is this the way 0:18:42.520 --> 0:18:44.480 that people Talk about like wemby or even the way 0:18:44.520 --> 0:18:46.200 people like when They first saw chet a few years 0:18:46.240 --> 0:18:48.800 ago would. Have said, it but, like to me like 0:18:48.840 --> 0:18:51.440 the skill package that he has as an offensive player 0:18:51.480 --> 0:18:53.520 at that size is kind, Of mind blowing like he 0:18:53.600 --> 0:18:55.880 is an enormous guy when you stand next to him 0:18:55.880 --> 0:18:57.720 and he plays exactly. 0:18:57.760 --> 0:19:01.159 Like, A guard yeah i don't see people realize that 0:19:01.400 --> 0:19:06.719 because he's so proportional and you hear the size like 0:19:06.800 --> 0:19:11.320 you hear six, ten two fifty but seeing six ten 0:19:11.960 --> 0:19:17.480 to fifty, is, Just different RIGHT like WHEN i, he's i, 0:19:17.480 --> 0:19:19.479 mean HE'S bigger and i always do it, like all 0:19:19.560 --> 0:19:21.560 right well he's two. 0:19:21.480 --> 0:19:22.239 Inches, bigger than. 0:19:22.280 --> 0:19:26.000 Lebron, you know yeah he's like just a Little Shorter, 0:19:26.200 --> 0:19:30.159 than mitchell robinson like maybe even. The same height like 0:19:30.960 --> 0:19:33.959 it's just sort of nuts or, What, Was it hartenstein 0:19:34.040 --> 0:19:36.920 he was just like a little bit shorter than when 0:19:36.960 --> 0:19:38.919 you actually got in front of him. 0:19:38.960 --> 0:19:42.359 Face to face can you sort, of Explain. 0:19:43.480 --> 0:19:47.439 That because i've never had that with any player, in 0:19:47.480 --> 0:19:49.800 the league because they're all sort of out of Proportion. 0:19:50.200 --> 0:19:52.639 Except for lebron but it's it's just. Somehow. 0:19:52.680 --> 0:19:56.560 IT'S different yeah i think THE way that i put 0:19:56.560 --> 0:19:59.760 it is there certain rookies that just do not look like. Rookies, 0:19:59.800 --> 0:20:03.440 What soever honestly scotty is kind of like. That LAST 0:20:03.520 --> 0:20:08.480 year like i remember watching him just like not, even 0:20:08.520 --> 0:20:10.520