1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, Well, good to Hoops tonight. You're 2 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: at the volume heavy Monday, everybody. Hope all you guys 3 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 1: had a great weekend. Got a jam pack show for 4 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: you guys today, we're gonna hit two games from the 5 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: Sunday slate as the Houston Rockets came back late in 6 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: a game that Milwaukee controlled throughout to get a big 7 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: win as they continue their rise up through the Western Conference. 8 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 1: After that, the Detroit Pistons won a big game on 9 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:38,839 Speaker 1: the road against the Philadelphia seventy six ers. I want 10 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 1: to talk about how good Caid's been as well as 11 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: some of the lineup flexibility he gives them and what 12 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:45,279 Speaker 1: makes that team so difficult to deal with on the 13 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: defensive end of the floor. And then at the tail 14 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: end of the show, like we always do on Mondays, 15 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: we have our latest edition of power Rankings breaking down 16 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 1: the top ten teams in the league. You guys know 17 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: the joke before we get started. Subscribe to the Hoops 18 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: to YouTube channels you don't miss any more of our videos. 19 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: Follow me on Twitter at underscore json lt so you 20 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: guys don't miss show announcements. Don't forget about our podcast 21 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:04,559 Speaker 1: feed wherever you get your podcast on our Hoops Tonight. 22 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: It's also super helpful if you leave a rating and 23 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: a review on that front. Jackson's doing incredible work on 24 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 1: our social media feeds on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. 25 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: Make sure you guys follow us over there for more 26 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: content throughout the year. The last, but not least, if 27 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 1: you guys want to get a mail bag question in 28 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: and our Friday mail bags, drop them in our full 29 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:23,039 Speaker 1: episodes on YouTube in the comments right mail bag with 30 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 1: a colon, write your question. We'll get to them on 31 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: Fridays throughout the remainder of the season. All right, let's 32 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 1: talk some basketball, starting with Rockets Bucks again, a game 33 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 1: that the Bucks controlled for the most part up until 34 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 1: about the final five minutes, and it happens super fast. 35 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 1: Giannis gets a put back, They're up by eight, and 36 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: then all of a sudden, a Men Thompson gets an 37 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,320 Speaker 1: and one on a broken play where Kevin Durant's driving 38 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: on an iso. Ryan Rollins steps over to take a charge. 39 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: Ryan Rollins was guarding him in Thompson, so once Ryan 40 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: Rollins ends up on the ground and Men Thompson is 41 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: effectively unguarded under the basket, he gets a put back 42 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,120 Speaker 1: and one they go to the other end and the 43 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 1: Bucks run a really poorly executed two man action. We 44 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 1: talked about this a lot in the Nicks Pacers series 45 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 1: last year, but the concept of floor balance, when you're 46 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: trying to keep the floor balance for your transition defense, 47 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 1: you typically want to have at least one, if not 48 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 1: two players above the break that are not crashing whose 49 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: job it is to get back in transition defense in 50 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 1: case you miss or. He turned the basketball over and 51 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 1: they ran a little dribble hand off Giannis and Gary 52 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 1: Trent at the top of the key. But while they 53 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 1: ran that action, Giannis is rolling Gary Trent's curling off 54 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 1: of the dho so both guys are going downhill towards 55 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: the basket, and they had both corners in the dunker 56 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:42,640 Speaker 1: spot occupied. So when Reed Shepherd makes a really nice 57 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: back pressure play getting over the top and blocking Gary 58 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: Trent on his little shot, all five Bucks players are 59 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: south of the foul line, which led to a very 60 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: quick runout for Jabari Smith. So we get banging in 61 00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:00,640 Speaker 1: one from a Men Thompson little floor balance the Bucks. 62 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: All of a sudden, Jabari Smith's running out the other 63 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:05,359 Speaker 1: way for a foul, and that eight point game is 64 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: a three point game. Just like that next possession, Giannis 65 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:11,520 Speaker 1: forces a bad shot through a triple team along the 66 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 1: left lane line, falls to the ground when he's on 67 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:17,359 Speaker 1: the ground. That sparks a five on four for the Rockets. 68 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:20,079 Speaker 1: On the other end, Shangun beats Giannis down the floor 69 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 1: and gets a dunk. Now it's a one point game. 70 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: In less than two minutes a game clock, an eight 71 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 1: point game turned into a one point game. And then 72 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:31,520 Speaker 1: in the close game late, Kevin Durant just out executed 73 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: Giannis in the half court as Houston ended up getting 74 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 1: to win. Yiannis has been excellent all season, and he 75 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: was excellent most of this game last night, but he 76 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 1: made or I should say yes day in the afternoon. 77 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: But he made several critical errors late, including three missed 78 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 1: free throws, a pretty bad turnover where he misread Amen 79 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: Thompson and help. We'll talk about that play later. He 80 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: also goaltended offensive goaltended a Gary Trent junior jump shot 81 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: that I think might have gone in even if he 82 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 1: didn't touch it. So a couple of like just uncharacteristic 83 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: mistakes for Yannis down the stretch and then on the 84 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: other end, Kevin Durant just killed him. The Bucks tried 85 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: all sorts of configurations to try to slow down KD 86 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 1: and the KD Shangun two man game, which has predictably 87 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: become a staple for the Rockets down the stretch, and 88 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: none of it worked. They tried Gary Trent Junior on 89 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:16,039 Speaker 1: KD one on one. He easily got an and one 90 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: against him, a little short jumper along the left elbow 91 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:21,039 Speaker 1: left on an island. Gary Trent got too far up 92 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 1: underneath him, he got scrappy. KD just shot right over 93 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 1: the top of him, got an and one. They tried 94 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: they tried Giannis on him, so they moved Giannis over 95 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: to KD. Kd's got attacking from the left elbow, same 96 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: spot he was going against Gary Trent. Giannis is pressing 97 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: up on him, and Houston was in this really weird 98 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 1: spacing setup where they had Alburn Shangoun on the opposite 99 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 1: dunker spot and a men Thompson just a couple feet 100 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: away from him up the right lane line, so they 101 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 1: had two rockets kind of sitting right there in the lane. 102 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 1: Gary Trent was guarding Jabari Smith, who was off on 103 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 1: the right wing opposite side, and for whatever reason, even 104 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: though Ryan Rollins was already there, Miles Turner was already there, 105 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: they were both in the paint because Shanggoon and Thompson 106 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: were in the paint. Gary Trent sinks way in in 107 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 1: nail help and Kevin Durant just throws an easy swing 108 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: pass the Jabari Smith on the right wing, who nails 109 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:20,159 Speaker 1: a three. Another nice little bit of shot creation from KD, 110 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: but kind of a foolish set of help side defense 111 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: there from the Bucks. They tried switching. They put Giannis 112 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: on KD and Miles Turner on shangon They ran the 113 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 1: high ball screen. They tried switching, and guess what, Miles 114 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 1: on Kevin Durant. KD just promptly cooked him for a short, short, 115 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 1: little pull up jumper, mimicking something he had done to 116 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: Miles a couple times throughout the game. They tried, okay, 117 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: so we put Miles on KD. That doesn't work, So 118 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: we're gonna have to do some sort of traditional coverage. Well, 119 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:52,719 Speaker 1: we'd prefer to have Giannison help, So they move Giannis 120 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: off the ball. They put Kyle Kuzma on Kevin Durant 121 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 1: and then instead of switching with Miles Turner, they just 122 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 1: come up to the level. So Kuz chases over the top. 123 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: Up comes Miles Turner up to the level to get 124 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 1: the ball out of Kd's hands. What is the next 125 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 1: progression there? Little pocket pass to Shanguon in the short roll. 126 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: Shaneguon gets deep on the short roll catch against Yannis 127 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: and just patiently waits for a little angle and finishes 128 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: a little left shoulder hook over the top. And then 129 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 1: to close the game, Yannis tries ball pressuring KD. Yannis 130 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 1: tries ball pressuring Outproa and Shangon Shanggun ends up beating 131 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:31,479 Speaker 1: him with a little spin move or a little right 132 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: handed drive into his spin move and gets an and 133 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 1: one that ends up icing the game. So, you know, 134 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: on the one hand, there's a little bit of like 135 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: a thing that we saw with Milwaukee that I think 136 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: is a harsh reality for them down the stretch of 137 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 1: this game. So, for instance, everything that Milwaukee tried to 138 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 1: create offensively down the stretch of this game in the 139 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 1: half court was on the shoulders of Yannis against a 140 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:59,040 Speaker 1: very difficult Houston defense to try to score against. And 141 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: then on the other end of the floor, you know, 142 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:05,479 Speaker 1: I've been complimentary the Bucks and how the improvement from 143 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: Brook to Miles Turner, and the improvement from Dame to 144 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 1: Ryan Rollins, and the improvement from Torrian Prince to AJ 145 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:16,119 Speaker 1: Green in that starting lineup as athletes makes them better 146 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: as a defense in the larger sample. But ultimately against Houston, 147 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: they had three dudes on the court that couldn't guard 148 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: KD and that put them into some coverage binds. And 149 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: so there's some stuff with Milwaukee there that we'll get 150 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:31,120 Speaker 1: into in a little bit, But a really nice win 151 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: for Houston to come back from behind on the road 152 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 1: against a tough to beat Milwaukee team, snatching victory from 153 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: the jaws of defeat. Late. I want a couple key 154 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 1: callouts for Houston excellent defense. Late in the game, the 155 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: Bucks ran a bunch of that classic kind of Yannis 156 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: plus a shooter two man game at the top of 157 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: the key. They ran it some with Gary Trent, they 158 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 1: ran it some with AJ Green, and Shane Gun did 159 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: a great job not letting himself get screened so he 160 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: can stay with Yannis. The guards did a good job 161 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: staying attached to the shooters. They did not give up 162 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: any easy shots on those sequences down the stretch, and 163 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 1: then on Giannis's bullyball attacks, they swarmed him well and 164 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: they rotated well. Men Thompson had this amazing late game 165 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: steal on Yannis with about a minute left, where Yanis 166 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: draws two to the ball, so Yannis is driving. I 167 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: think he gets Kevin Durant on a switch. He gets 168 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: a little scream with Kuzma because Shanegun was originally guarding Yanis. 169 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 1: They switch it right, so Kuzma runs through to the 170 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: right corner trying to pull Shangun out of the play. 171 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: Yannis drives on KD and gets way deep down to 172 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 1: the left block. On that sequence, Shanggun leaves Kuzma and 173 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 1: goes and basically double teams Yiannis right. So Kyle Kuzma's 174 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 1: wide open in the right corner. But a men Thompson 175 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 1: who's guarding Ryan Rowlands Ryan Rollins on the right wing. 176 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 1: Ryan Rowlins goes and relocates to the opposite wing and 177 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:51,560 Speaker 1: shit and a men Thompson makes a really smart read. 178 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 1: He sees Ryan Rowlins going, but he knows that that's 179 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 1: behind Yannis. Like Yannas has his back turned to where 180 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: Ryan Rollins is and ku USMA's man is the man 181 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: double teaming, so men Thompson just goes he's probably gonna 182 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: try to throw it to Kuzma, not to Rolins, and 183 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:12,559 Speaker 1: so he peels off and switches to Kuzma in perfect 184 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 1: timing with when Yannis throws the pass and a men 185 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:18,960 Speaker 1: Thompson is right there in the passing lane to get 186 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 1: the steal. Just a huge defensive play from a Men Thompson. 187 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: A lot of those kinds of again staying glued to 188 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: Jannis in the two man game, with the guards not losing, 189 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: the shooters not giving up any easy shots in those sequences, 190 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 1: and then swarming Yanni slate for a bad miss on 191 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: a triple team along the left lane line, and then 192 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 1: forcing the turnover on the kickout on that play with 193 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:43,440 Speaker 1: a minute left. Really really nice defense. They use that 194 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 1: defense to get to transition as well. Again, we talked 195 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 1: about the Jabari Smith val, we talked about the Shangun dunk. 196 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: Just really impressive defense down the stretch from Houston and 197 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,439 Speaker 1: then lastly once again down the stretch, and we've talked 198 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 1: about this a lot this season. The Rockets just have 199 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 1: really reliable offensive options in many of them, and a 200 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: lot more than they did in the past, to say 201 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 1: the least, like kd was a real matchup problem for 202 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: the Bucks down the stretch. Their guards were too small 203 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 1: for him and their center was too slow for them, 204 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: and so as a result, there were basically only two 205 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 1: guys on the floor who had any shot to make 206 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:23,559 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant work hard, Yannis and Kyle Kuzma, and that 207 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: put the Bucks into a coverage bind. They couldn't switch 208 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:30,200 Speaker 1: without giving up a bad matchup, either against a guard 209 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: or against Miles Turner. And when they put two on 210 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: the ball, that allowed Shangun to work in the short 211 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: role where he's absolutely deadly. And as I mentioned, that's 212 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 1: a little bit revealing on the Bucks front, like we 213 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,320 Speaker 1: talked about earlier with some of their personnel, But that's 214 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: the difference. On one end of the floor, Yiannis has 215 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 1: to do everything offensively against an elite defense, while on 216 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:53,440 Speaker 1: the other end of the floor, Houston's got options. And 217 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: that's one of the bits that's been really like apparent 218 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: to me early in this season watching Houston. For whatever 219 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: you want to say about their shooting or whatever you 220 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: want to say about their collective lack of offensive polish, 221 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: they just have three legitimately awesome offensive players, two of 222 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 1: which are playing at or near the superstar level, which 223 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 1: is giving them just a lot of options to break 224 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: the defense down. At the beginning of Possessions, it just 225 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: seemed the juxtaposition of those two situations between Kevin Durayan 226 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: and Shangoon versus just Yannis, it was just fascinating to see. 227 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 1: And you know, honestly, like I was, I really like 228 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 1: this Bucks team. I like watching them. I think they're 229 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 1: fun watch. I was higher on them than most coming 230 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 1: into the season, even though I was probably still too 231 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 1: low on them, Like they're even better than I thought 232 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 1: they would be. But unfortunately, this is likely how their 233 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 1: story ends this year. They just ultimately have some personnel 234 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 1: limitations when they run into the best teams in the NBA. 235 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:54,679 Speaker 1: But another really nice win for the Rockets, who have 236 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: now won six out of seven twenty more offensive rebounds yesterday, 237 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:01,559 Speaker 1: the only team in the NBA right now to average 238 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 1: over twenty second chance points per game. They're up to 239 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:06,959 Speaker 1: eighth in defense to start the year that's been ticking 240 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 1: up over the last few games, still first in offense 241 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,440 Speaker 1: after nine games, third and net rating, and up to 242 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 1: fifth in the Western Conference standings, and obviously a lot 243 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: of negativity surrounding Milwaukee in this particular segment, So one 244 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: little bit of Bucks positivity to cleanse the bad game 245 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 1: from your memory. I still thought Ryan Rollins was amazing 246 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:30,720 Speaker 1: again yesterday. When the Wheels were coming off late in 247 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:33,719 Speaker 1: the game, he was the one bright spot that kept 248 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 1: them in the game. He had a huge three against 249 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 1: the soft closeout off the left wing. He toasted a 250 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 1: Men Thompson for a layup off the dribble one on 251 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 1: one on the left wing, a really impressive athletic play. 252 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 1: He had a huge offensive rebound late that got Giannis 253 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: to the foul line. He's just a really good player, 254 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 1: and he's a big part of what has made the 255 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: Bucks better this year than what they've looked like on paper. 256 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 1: Today's show is brought to you by our new presenting sponsor, 257 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 1: hard Rock Bet. 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Concerned about 286 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 1: gambling in Florida called one eight three to three play wise. 287 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 1: In Indiana, if you or someone you know has gambling 288 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 1: problem and wants help, call one eight hundred and nine 289 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: with it. Gambling problem called one eight hundred gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, 290 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, or Virginia. All right, moving on 291 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 1: a piston sixers? My goodness, is Kate Cunningham on a 292 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: crazy roll right now. You had twenty six points and 293 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: eleven assists last night. In his last six games, he's 294 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: averaging twenty nine points and eleven assists per game. His 295 00:14:57,240 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 1: fourth quarter run against Philly down the stretch of that 296 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 1: game was a damn highlight reel. He had this spin 297 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 1: move against Kelly Ubra. It was ridiculous. He's right at 298 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 1: the kind of foul line area and he wants to 299 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 1: set up the spin, so he sets it up with 300 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 1: like a right to left cross and then on the 301 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 1: right to left cross right when the ball hits his 302 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: left hand, he just whips over his left shoulder in 303 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: his spin move just toasts Kelly goes right down the 304 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: lane and just hits like a right handed like scooping 305 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: hook shot in the lane, just an unbelievable highlight, and 306 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: then he starts to kind of cook the sixers in 307 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 1: like basic pick and roll two on two scoring so 308 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 1: like getting over the top of the screen, having the 309 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: defender pinned on his backside, he kind of like works 310 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 1: into the lane and finds a little angle for a 311 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:43,880 Speaker 1: right handed bank shot over Andre Drummond similarly, same sort 312 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: of thing off the left side, gets the defender trapped 313 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 1: on his backside. Jalen Duran kind of clears a little 314 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 1: bit of space in the lane as he's rolling and 315 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 1: he finds a little angle for a left handed bank 316 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 1: shot off the glass, and so as a result, as 317 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: he's just cooking, Philly ends up having no choice but 318 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 1: to just blit kate all over the floor and at 319 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: some point sending straight up double teams even without a screen. 320 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 1: And that was just the damage that kid was doing, 321 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 1: which was breaking Philly's defense, and then honestly, like what 322 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: was really impressive was a lot of times you'll see 323 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 1: guys when the double teams start to come and the 324 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: blitzer start to come, they'll just stop being aggressive. They'll 325 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 1: be like, oh, I've done my job. I'm bringing the 326 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 1: second defender, just gonna get rid of the ball and 327 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 1: play basketball. But he found two opportunities to score against 328 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: double teams late in the game that were both really impressive. 329 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 1: One where he's targeting Tyrese Maxi calls for a ball 330 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 1: screen on the right side. Tyree's goes to the right 331 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: side like he's gonna go ahead and offer that blitz 332 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: as Caid comes off the screen, and all kid does 333 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 1: is just cross over right to left away from the 334 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 1: double team and goes down the lane and just dunks 335 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: all over Andre Drummond's face. Then there's another one late 336 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: in the game where they bring a double team, just 337 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 1: a straight up double team. This one was poorly executed 338 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 1: by Philly Caid standing up like left wing extended like 339 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: forty feet from the basket, Kelly Ubres shading him towards 340 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 1: his left hand, so he's like taking away his right hand, 341 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: leaving that left handed drive open, and Quentin Grimes brings 342 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 1: the double team from that right hand side from Caid, 343 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:15,240 Speaker 1: So essentially, Kelly's already taking away the right hand and 344 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:17,399 Speaker 1: yet you're bringing the double to the right hand and 345 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 1: so Kaid's like, all right, thanks, guys, just drives to 346 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: the left, goes right by Kelly, gets way down into 347 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 1: the teeth of the defense. Obviously the help is there. 348 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:29,360 Speaker 1: Just pounds a dribble over his left shoulder and hits 349 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 1: a little short left shoulder fade away in the lane 350 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 1: that basically ices the game. So torches the team into 351 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 1: double teaming him scores against the double team twice, makes 352 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:41,920 Speaker 1: a bunch of quality plays out of the double teams 353 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:44,639 Speaker 1: that led to close out opportunities for guys like Asar 354 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,399 Speaker 1: Thompson and Ron Holland, who both by the way, credits 355 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:50,400 Speaker 1: to those guys. They each hit massive mid range pull 356 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 1: up jump shots in crunch time that helped close the 357 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,880 Speaker 1: deal for them. But like Caid was just fantastic down 358 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 1: the stretch. And here's where I want to call attention 359 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 1: to the luxury of having a guy like Caid in 360 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 1: a way that you wouldn't think so, like, I know 361 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:07,200 Speaker 1: that the Caid Luca comparisons have been done to death, 362 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:11,680 Speaker 1: and I don't want to overly retread that ground here, 363 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: but one of the things I've noticed with Luca over 364 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:18,439 Speaker 1: the years is he's so good on offense that it 365 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 1: gives the coaching staff flexibility to surround him with defensive 366 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:27,200 Speaker 1: players that have offensive limitations, because on the one hand, 367 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 1: they have the ability to score in precarious situations when 368 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 1: multiple defenders are involved, which is what you're gonna face 369 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:36,920 Speaker 1: when you have limited offensive players around you. Guys are 370 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 1: gonna leave their men to come help, right. And then 371 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 1: the second piece of it is because of the advantages 372 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 1: that they create, even the limited offensive players can have 373 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 1: more success than you think because of like having a 374 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 1: close out. For instance, the Ron Holland little pull up 375 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: jumper he hits, he hits that driving a closeout. It's 376 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 1: not a jumper that he is going to hit as 377 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:02,120 Speaker 1: efficiently if he's facing a squared up defender. Right, that's 378 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:05,159 Speaker 1: the advantage. Down the stretch of this game, Detroit was 379 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 1: able to go with the lineup that had a Star Thompson, 380 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:11,199 Speaker 1: Ron Holland, and Javonte Green on the floor. That's a 381 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: really difficult group of guards and wings to score against. Now, 382 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 1: typically in lineup construction, you'd be worried about their ability 383 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: to score. But Cade finds a way to score with 384 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,720 Speaker 1: that group, which then gives you the ability to play 385 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: them all together on defense in that trio of players. 386 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:29,919 Speaker 1: In eighty eight possessions this year, according to the cleaning, 387 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:33,440 Speaker 1: the Glass has logged a one hundred and one defensive rating, 388 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 1: which is like off the charts good. And they did 389 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:38,880 Speaker 1: a number on the sixers. Down the stretch of this game. 390 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,639 Speaker 1: Everything was super tough for tyres Max. He had thirty 391 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:44,679 Speaker 1: three points. He's ten for twenty six from the field, 392 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 1: and look, he's an unbelievable player. He's gonna make some 393 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 1: unbelievable plays. He's gonna get downhill. He had a ridiculous 394 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 1: step back three over Javonte Green on the left wing. 395 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 1: That was nasty down the stretch of this game. But 396 00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 1: you made him work hard and he had several big 397 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 1: misses late. The big part of that was Detroit's guards 398 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:04,920 Speaker 1: starting to win some of those battles, starting to win 399 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:07,920 Speaker 1: that like point of attack battle so that the chest 400 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:11,400 Speaker 1: is squared up, walling up, so that some of these 401 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 1: floaters that Tyrese is taking are not open floaters, but 402 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:17,160 Speaker 1: are contested floaters, which is what's going to play him 403 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 1: into misses more frequently. Karris Lavert had a big possession 404 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,119 Speaker 1: in the second half where he slid his feet staying 405 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: in front. Instead of it being an open floater, it 406 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:27,399 Speaker 1: was a contested floater. By the way, Caris had a 407 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:29,639 Speaker 1: really nice game off the bench, looking more like the 408 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: guy that I hoped he would be for Detroit. Javonte 409 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:34,520 Speaker 1: Green had a similar repping crunch time where he slid 410 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 1: his feet, walled up, kept his chest in front of Tyres, 411 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:40,959 Speaker 1: and Tyree's missed the floater. As we talked about, you know, 412 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: Tyre's is gonna make some of those. He's gonna hit 413 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:45,479 Speaker 1: half of his floaters, maybe a little bit more. But like, 414 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: if you're gonna play him into more of the miss 415 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:50,120 Speaker 1: side of that spectrum, it's gonna be something under your 416 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 1: control in the form of whether or not you're positioning 417 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 1: yourself between him and the rim and making it into 418 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 1: a more difficult shot. We spent a lot of time 419 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 1: this year talking about how physical and strong Detroit is 420 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 1: on the front line, and they certainly are. Jalen Deurn 421 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: was amazing again last night, continuing his monster start to 422 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 1: the year. The two big lineup is something they've gone 423 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 1: to this year and had success with. But they also 424 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 1: just have an excellent core of perimeter defenders. And when 425 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: you've got that combination, when you've got your front court 426 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 1: playing the way that they're playing, as big and physical 427 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:25,360 Speaker 1: as they are, as resilient as they are to bully 428 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 1: ball players, but then you also have the speed on 429 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:31,240 Speaker 1: the perimeter to hang with the fastest guards in the league. 430 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 1: It just comes together to make a very strong defensive foundation. 431 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:37,240 Speaker 1: And when you anchor it on the other end of 432 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:40,679 Speaker 1: the floor with a transcendently great offensive player in Kate Cunningham, 433 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 1: that is just a proven formula in the NBA. And 434 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: for all to talk about Kate on offense again, I 435 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 1: would be remiss if I didn't mention the little bits 436 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:55,639 Speaker 1: of offensive contribution down the line. Kris Lavert hitting the threes, 437 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:58,400 Speaker 1: Duncan Robinson hits a big three in the second half, 438 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 1: Ron Holland and a Sar tom And hit those little 439 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:04,400 Speaker 1: mid range jump shots. You know, Jalen Duran doing work 440 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 1: on the offensive glass. They're just getting enough contributions down 441 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 1: the line. Big win for Detroit on the road up 442 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:15,919 Speaker 1: to eight and two on the season, sole possession of 443 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,640 Speaker 1: the one seed in the Eastern Conference, third best defense 444 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 1: in the NBA. In the early going, the offense is 445 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 1: starting to come around. Help will be on the way 446 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 1: at some point the season in the form of either Jayden, 447 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:29,440 Speaker 1: Ivy or trade. Has a lot to be excited about 448 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 1: if you're a Detroit Pistons fan. A couple of notes 449 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 1: on the sixers wasn't all bad this weekend. They got 450 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:37,640 Speaker 1: a nice win against Toronto on Saturday night. Who's feisty 451 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,360 Speaker 1: vj Edgecombe continued his ascent in that game with two 452 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:43,880 Speaker 1: massive crunch time baskets. He drove a close out out 453 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 1: of the left corner and crunch time where he caught 454 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:51,200 Speaker 1: on the move and jabbed going left and somehow changed 455 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,120 Speaker 1: direction at full speed back towards the middle and hit 456 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 1: like a shot in the lane. That was like an 457 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:58,880 Speaker 1: absurdly athletic play. Hit one of those patented little mid 458 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 1: range pull ups, one of the ones I've been talking 459 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:04,160 Speaker 1: about as like his ability to get to his spots 460 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:07,119 Speaker 1: because of his athleticism. But we did see some of 461 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 1: the team's personnel limitations in the Detroit game. The first 462 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 1: piece is that they're small. There were several sequences late 463 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 1: in the game where their best lineup, because it has 464 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 1: three guards, they'd end up with a guard in helpside. 465 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 1: You know, Drummond would get pulled out of the paint 466 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:24,840 Speaker 1: for one reason or another. Kelly Eubre is guarding the ball, 467 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: so you'd end up having somebody who's like six' three or, 468 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:30,199 Speaker 1: shorter six' four or shorter helping at. The rim and 469 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,879 Speaker 1: that's just a difficult job for a help side defender 470 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 1: who's giving up that. Much size AND all i kept 471 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:38,840 Speaker 1: thinking ABOUT as i was watching, IS like i think 472 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: it's silly to pretend that this team couldn't use a 473 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:44,160 Speaker 1: Guy Like. Paul george like there was a Pretty Rough 474 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 1: jabari walker shift there in the, second half AND all 475 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:49,960 Speaker 1: i could, Think, was yeah let's give those Minutes To 476 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:52,679 Speaker 1: paul george and let's see. WHAT happens, i mean we'll 477 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:54,879 Speaker 1: See If paul george ever plays. Basketball again but if 478 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 1: he's healthy and he's able, to play he's gonna help 479 00:23:57,560 --> 00:23:59,640 Speaker 1: them because there are some rotation minutes going to Guys 480 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: that paul was just a better basketball. Player then AND 481 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:04,119 Speaker 1: also i thought that was the type of the Game 482 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:06,679 Speaker 1: Where joel embiid could have been a, big service and 483 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 1: of course it was back to backs who, Wasn't playing 484 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: and we'll see if he ends up playing in the. 485 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:12,440 Speaker 1: Big picture but if you Look at philly in terms 486 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: of whether or not there any sort of, playoff threat 487 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 1: you run into teams that are super athletic on the 488 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 1: perimeter and it makes life Harder On. Tyrese maxi that's 489 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: not to say that he can't steal, generate offense but 490 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:25,720 Speaker 1: it's just harder. For him he has to work harder 491 00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:29,600 Speaker 1: to try to score against elite athletes every time down. 492 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:31,719 Speaker 1: The floor AND all i could think, of Is Like 493 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:35,240 Speaker 1: joel embiid is the release. Valve there he's a guy 494 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:37,840 Speaker 1: that you'd be able to give the ball to against, 495 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:40,639 Speaker 1: a smaller quicker team and be able to generate some. 496 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:43,120 Speaker 1: Quality shots I'd Argue paul george helps with, That Too 497 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 1: Like kelly oubre who's had some good offensive moments to start, 498 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 1: the season and there have been some plays where he's 499 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:53,040 Speaker 1: gotten downhill and hit those little short floaters and short 500 00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:55,960 Speaker 1: jump shots and has helped the, Team offensively but he 501 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:58,879 Speaker 1: had a really bad stretch offensively down the stretch of, 502 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 1: this game missing clean looks from three missing shots near. 503 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:04,879 Speaker 1: The basket that's usage that can go to better offensive 504 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 1: players when they're actually healthy and. Put together six are 505 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:10,199 Speaker 1: starting to lose. Some ground they've lost four out of 506 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:13,199 Speaker 1: six and the defense has been brutal over the course of. 507 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 1: That stretch, all right let's get into our. Power rankings 508 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:22,240 Speaker 1: you guys know. The drill we're just gonna work from 509 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:25,199 Speaker 1: ten up. To one this is focused strictly on the. 510 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: Regular season this is not. Contender rankings i'm also going 511 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:30,880 Speaker 1: to give you guys the championship lines as we work 512 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:34,120 Speaker 1: our way through. The list all of our lines are 513 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:39,200 Speaker 1: presented By Hard. Rock bet. Number Ten The milwaukee bucks 514 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:43,000 Speaker 1: currently On Hard rock bet at plus four thousand to win. 515 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 1: The title they're six and four to start. The year 516 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:47,880 Speaker 1: there were four teams that had six and, four records 517 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 1: and the tiebreaker for Me for milwaukee was that they 518 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 1: have the tougher strength of schedule out of. That group 519 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 1: they've won four games against teams that are five hundred. 520 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:59,440 Speaker 1: Or better the other six and Four, Teams, miami Minnesota, 521 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:03,760 Speaker 1: and philly they've combined to win four games against teams 522 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 1: that are five hundred. Or better so THAT'S why I 523 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:08,280 Speaker 1: gave milwaukee the nod here. At ten disappointing Collapse against 524 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:11,440 Speaker 1: houston yesterday in the afternoon obviously showed some of their matchup. 525 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:15,119 Speaker 1: Specific limitations yannis basically had to create everything down the 526 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 1: stretch Against that, houston defense and they had three guys on, 527 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:20,400 Speaker 1: the quarter had no shot To Guard, kevin durant which 528 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:22,919 Speaker 1: ended up being. A problem and some of those are 529 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:26,159 Speaker 1: Realities that milwaukee will have to contend with when they 530 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:30,360 Speaker 1: face the top level competition throughout. The season, but overall 531 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,720 Speaker 1: they continue to be much better than anybody expected to start. 532 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:36,679 Speaker 1: THE season a very complimentary team that has a strong 533 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: foundation on both ends of, the floor a good mix 534 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:42,440 Speaker 1: of rim pressure and shooting on offense and hard playing 535 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 1: athletic guards next to layered rim protection. On, defense again 536 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 1: if you want some more detail On, the bucks we 537 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 1: hit them in a segment earlier today in the show. 538 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:55,959 Speaker 1: Number Nine The New york knicks currently plus thirteen hundred 539 00:26:56,560 --> 00:26:58,879 Speaker 1: to win the title On Hard. Rock bet the offense 540 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 1: has caught fire in their four game. Winning streak they 541 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:04,000 Speaker 1: have a one thirty one offensive rating in that four, 542 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 1: game span six players averaging, double figures three players averaging 543 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:10,639 Speaker 1: over twenty points, per game really starting to reap some 544 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:13,639 Speaker 1: of the benefits of all that movement and passing that we, 545 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:16,720 Speaker 1: talked about as they've moved up into fifth in pass 546 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:20,560 Speaker 1: FREQUENCY among. Nba teams they're also starting to establish the 547 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:23,159 Speaker 1: transition habits that they talk so much about in, training 548 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 1: camp but that weren't really there to start. The season, 549 00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:28,359 Speaker 1: in fact in their first, five games According, to energy 550 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 1: they average is eighteen point six points per game. In 551 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:34,480 Speaker 1: transition in their four game, winning streak thirty four points 552 00:27:34,560 --> 00:27:37,640 Speaker 1: per game just in transition as they continue to run 553 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 1: everyone off. The floor they're up to third now In The, 554 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:44,760 Speaker 1: eastern conference. Number Eight The chicago bulls plus ten thousands 555 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:47,639 Speaker 1: to win the title On Hard, rock bet looked like 556 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:49,359 Speaker 1: they were on the verge of a signature Win in 557 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:52,480 Speaker 1: Cleveland Until donovan mitchell just went on an insane scoring 558 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 1: run down the stretch that snatched the. Win away hit 559 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: a huge three in the final minute along the right 560 00:27:57,280 --> 00:27:59,679 Speaker 1: side that ended up giving him. The Lead the bulls 561 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:01,800 Speaker 1: have now drop three out of four after their five to. 562 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 1: Zho start the offense has come back down to earth 563 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:06,280 Speaker 1: and the defense has. Been bad they have a one 564 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:10,160 Speaker 1: to twenty defensive rating in that four. Game stretch it's 565 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 1: basically transition or bust. For them. Right now they're averaging 566 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:17,199 Speaker 1: forty three transition points per game over that one in, 567 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 1: three stretch so maintaining, that identity but their half court 568 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 1: efficiency has been below a point per possession in each 569 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:26,239 Speaker 1: of the, four games in below nine tenths of a 570 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 1: point per possession in two of. Those games also having 571 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:32,199 Speaker 1: some issues with, transition defense which is undercutting some of that. 572 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:35,160 Speaker 1: Transition offense they're giving up twenty nine points per game 573 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 1: in transition over. That span on the other end of, 574 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 1: The floor number Seven The cleveland cavaliers plus seven point 575 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:44,720 Speaker 1: fifty right now On Hard rock bet to win. The 576 00:28:44,760 --> 00:28:48,760 Speaker 1: title huge Win That donovan mitchell snatched from the jaws 577 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 1: of defeat with late shot making Versus. The Bulls darius 578 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:53,360 Speaker 1: garland had to sit out because it was the second 579 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 1: end of a back to back and he's obviously working 580 00:28:55,040 --> 00:28:56,600 Speaker 1: his way back from a. Toe injury but that's a 581 00:28:56,640 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 1: tough game on a back to Back Without darius Garland 582 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 1: and iovann just got the job. Done late but the 583 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 1: real Story for cleveland is the Return Of. Darius garland 584 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:06,840 Speaker 1: i've talked for a while ABOUT how i view A 585 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 1: Healthy darius garland as the real engine of this offense 586 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:12,200 Speaker 1: because he's just very good at getting the ball quickly 587 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:14,520 Speaker 1: into the teeth of, the defense and he relentlessly makes 588 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 1: the kickout reads that get them into their drive and. 589 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:18,480 Speaker 1: Kick attack, and yeah he's a little bit rusty and 590 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:20,080 Speaker 1: he's got a ways to go to get back to one, 591 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:22,680 Speaker 1: hundred percent but you can already see how much he helps. 592 00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:24,920 Speaker 1: This offense. IT'S fun i was watching some footage this 593 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:28,400 Speaker 1: morning Him against washington and seeing him get blowbyes for 594 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:31,320 Speaker 1: layups And Hitting jared allen for dunks and pick and 595 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:34,240 Speaker 1: roll and just making simple reads out of screening actions 596 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:36,840 Speaker 1: as guy's slip whereas guys dig down off. Of corners 597 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:39,360 Speaker 1: and it's just great to have him back and it's paying. 598 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 1: Dividends Already the Calves have loggeday one thirty one offensive 599 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:47,560 Speaker 1: rating in fifty four Minutes With darius garland on. The floor, 600 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: So far calves have won four in a roerwo climbed 601 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:53,120 Speaker 1: all the way up to second In The eastern conference. 602 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:57,320 Speaker 1: Number Six The houston rockets plus one thousand right now 603 00:29:57,640 --> 00:30:00,840 Speaker 1: to win the title On hard rock bet of six 604 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 1: out of seven up to fifth In the east In The. 605 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 1: Western conference the story of the season For the rockets, 606 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:08,720 Speaker 1: for me continues to be. Their offense they're still number 607 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 1: one in offensive rating after, nine games and it just 608 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:13,760 Speaker 1: makes sense when you. Watch THEM The kd shangun pick, 609 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 1: and roll predictably has become their pet action and it 610 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:19,040 Speaker 1: continues to be a huge problem for teams, To guard 611 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 1: like if you, switch it you're gonna give a favorable 612 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:24,320 Speaker 1: matchup to one of those two guys who are just 613 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:26,640 Speaker 1: monster one on, one players and if you come up 614 00:30:26,680 --> 00:30:29,600 Speaker 1: to the LEVEL, against kd it Unlocks The shangun thompson 615 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:33,160 Speaker 1: short role combination which has been such a problem for 616 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:35,160 Speaker 1: teams to match. Up with And the bucks really had 617 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:37,640 Speaker 1: no good options down the stretch yesterday As the rockets 618 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 1: scored over and. Over again the only real option you 619 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:42,280 Speaker 1: have is the help Off of josha kog which worked 620 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:44,760 Speaker 1: on one Possession against milwaukee down the stretch as they 621 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:46,880 Speaker 1: forced a corner three out of the left side that. 622 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:50,000 Speaker 1: He missed but that's eventually Gonna Be Dorian, finney smith 623 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:52,560 Speaker 1: so good luck. With that houston's looking. Really good we 624 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:55,160 Speaker 1: talked in more Depth about houston at the top of the. 625 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 1: Show today you guys can find that in our full 626 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:00,640 Speaker 1: episode on YouTube if you're checking. This out in a breakout, 627 00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:04,360 Speaker 1: number Five The San antonio spurs currently plus three thousand 628 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:07,000 Speaker 1: to win the title On Hard. Rock bet things got 629 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:08,800 Speaker 1: a little dark for them as they dropped back to 630 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:11,080 Speaker 1: back games Against the Lakers and sons where they really 631 00:31:11,120 --> 00:31:13,400 Speaker 1: struggled with double Teams of Victor. Wemen yama but they 632 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:15,720 Speaker 1: started to figure that out down the stretch In the 633 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:17,720 Speaker 1: lakers game as they got a couple of scores and 634 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:21,440 Speaker 1: then a clean Look For devin Vessel before harrison, excuse 635 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 1: Me before Victor women yama, fouled out and a lot 636 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:26,320 Speaker 1: of those concepts translated To the. Houston game to make 637 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:28,680 Speaker 1: a long, story short They're having wemby work from the. 638 00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:32,440 Speaker 1: Elbows more they Always Have harrison Barnes Or julian champagne 639 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:34,240 Speaker 1: in that strong, side corner so he's got a really 640 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:36,640 Speaker 1: easy kickout read to a great corner three. Point shooter 641 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:39,640 Speaker 1: they're consistently keeping a good above the, break Shooter Usually 642 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:43,040 Speaker 1: devin Vassell Or harrison barnes on that, opposite wing and 643 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:45,280 Speaker 1: then They're Putting stephan castle in the, dunker spot which 644 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:47,000 Speaker 1: is putting him in a situation where he can be 645 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:50,240 Speaker 1: more of a threat while not being the one pass 646 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:52,760 Speaker 1: away three, point shooter which is going to be a 647 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:55,880 Speaker 1: lower value Kickout for Victor. Wemen yama and by, The 648 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 1: Way steph castle had a huge offensive rebound in crunch 649 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:01,520 Speaker 1: Time against houston that led to a kickout Three For 650 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:05,440 Speaker 1: Julian champagnee Julian And. Harrison barnes by, the way he 651 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:07,560 Speaker 1: hit eight threes in the second Half against houston as 652 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:10,120 Speaker 1: they got that. Big win, but Again, Like steph castle 653 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 1: is going to beat most of the smaller guards that 654 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:16,720 Speaker 1: are guarding him in jumping contests around. The rim that's 655 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:18,760 Speaker 1: a really good spot for him to be a threat 656 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:21,800 Speaker 1: while also not being the obvious one pass away read. 657 00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:24,720 Speaker 1: You want You want victor's one pass away reads to be, 658 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:27,560 Speaker 1: knockdown shooters so that if it's an easy Read, for 659 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:30,480 Speaker 1: wemby he's gonna make. You Pay put steph in a 660 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:32,440 Speaker 1: position where he's more of a threat there under. The 661 00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:34,800 Speaker 1: basket and now They Have darreon fox back to help 662 00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:37,480 Speaker 1: them generate, some clean cleaner Looks. For wemby off, The 663 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:41,080 Speaker 1: ball fox looked great in his. First game, Most importantly 664 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:43,880 Speaker 1: daron hit four of his eight, jump shots which is 665 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:46,640 Speaker 1: obviously going to be the biggest swing factor for him. 666 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:49,680 Speaker 1: This year nice little two two game win streak For 667 00:32:49,720 --> 00:32:52,120 Speaker 1: the spurs to get back on track in a really 668 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:56,800 Speaker 1: impressive win against a Very Good houston Rockets team. Number 669 00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:59,320 Speaker 1: Four The denver nuggets currently plus five point fifty to 670 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:03,120 Speaker 1: win the title on Hard. Rock bet just cruising to 671 00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:05,440 Speaker 1: wins last week against a pretty light phase of. Their 672 00:33:05,480 --> 00:33:08,720 Speaker 1: schedule still really struggling To Get cam. Johnson going he's 673 00:33:08,760 --> 00:33:11,040 Speaker 1: not aggressive as he needs to be and it's keeping 674 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:13,520 Speaker 1: him out of rhythm. Right now but Man Is Tim 675 00:33:13,560 --> 00:33:16,600 Speaker 1: hardaway junior having no problem at all fitting in another 676 00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:19,520 Speaker 1: monster game from him Against the pacers, seventeen points five 677 00:33:19,600 --> 00:33:23,520 Speaker 1: threes plus twenty four and twenty. Four minutes denver is 678 00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:26,080 Speaker 1: currently the only team IN the nba that is in 679 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:29,520 Speaker 1: the top three of both offensive rating and. Defensive rating, 680 00:33:29,560 --> 00:33:31,880 Speaker 1: that said they have played a very light schedule in the, 681 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:34,520 Speaker 1: early going and things will get much tougher for them, 682 00:33:34,520 --> 00:33:37,680 Speaker 1: this week all on the Road against Sacramento And los 683 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:41,000 Speaker 1: angeles For, the clippers And in minnesota Against a timberwolves 684 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:42,640 Speaker 1: team that has won four out. Of five so some 685 00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:46,040 Speaker 1: good testsget For the nuggets on the horizon after a 686 00:33:46,120 --> 00:33:48,160 Speaker 1: light schedule to start. The year, number Three The Los 687 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:51,920 Speaker 1: angeles lakers currently plus fifteen hundred to win the title 688 00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:54,160 Speaker 1: On Hard. Rock bet they got the nod. For me 689 00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:56,680 Speaker 1: we had four teams with. Seven Wins the lakers ended 690 00:33:56,720 --> 00:33:58,760 Speaker 1: up getting a nod for me over the other seven 691 00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:01,800 Speaker 1: win teams because of their. Strength schedule they've played the 692 00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:04,400 Speaker 1: fourth toughest schedule in the league to start and they 693 00:34:04,440 --> 00:34:06,560 Speaker 1: have five wins over teams that are five hundred, or 694 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:08,640 Speaker 1: better which is tied for the most IN the nba 695 00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:11,960 Speaker 1: to start. The season they did drop their first stinker 696 00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:14,759 Speaker 1: since opening night Against, the warriors they've been pretty, much 697 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:18,319 Speaker 1: excellent but they dropped their first Stinker on saturday Against The. 698 00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:21,080 Speaker 1: Atlanta hawks we covered that game on playback those of 699 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:23,040 Speaker 1: you guys who were there. With me kind of was 700 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:25,640 Speaker 1: a textbook. Trap game atlanta missing most of, their guys 701 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:27,520 Speaker 1: but they're still very athletic and they're going to play 702 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:30,080 Speaker 1: very hard at home and. Right away you could sell 703 00:34:30,120 --> 00:34:32,560 Speaker 1: in the opening minutes as they were giving up multiple 704 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:35,440 Speaker 1: back cuts and some easy. Transition layups when they didn't, 705 00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:38,239 Speaker 1: get Back the lakers just weren't ready to match the 706 00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:41,480 Speaker 1: level of intensity and transition and in their off ball 707 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:44,200 Speaker 1: attentiveness that they needed and they just got cut. To 708 00:34:44,200 --> 00:34:47,359 Speaker 1: pieces but fortunately that's been a rarity for them to start. 709 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:49,759 Speaker 1: The season still very high on. This team they've been 710 00:34:49,800 --> 00:34:54,000 Speaker 1: the third best half court offense in THE entire nba 711 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:58,360 Speaker 1: despite out of thirty possible games for Their, Stars lebron Luca, 712 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:03,480 Speaker 1: and austin they've got just thirteen games played combined between those, 713 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:06,239 Speaker 1: three guys and they're the third best half court offense IN. 714 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:08,080 Speaker 1: THE nba i think that might be one of the 715 00:35:08,080 --> 00:35:10,799 Speaker 1: best units IN, THE nba a very strong foundation for 716 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:13,040 Speaker 1: them to have success in the. Regular season we'll see 717 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:15,160 Speaker 1: if they can get back on track tonight Against The. 718 00:35:15,239 --> 00:35:18,239 Speaker 1: Charlotte hornets. Number Two The detroit piston's not gonna spend 719 00:35:18,239 --> 00:35:20,120 Speaker 1: too long here because we talked about them earlier in. 720 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:22,000 Speaker 1: The show we did a, full Segment so, pistons fans 721 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:23,960 Speaker 1: if you're checking this out in a, breakout clip go 722 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:26,879 Speaker 1: to our. Full episode you can find that a little 723 00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:28,920 Speaker 1: bit further back on our feet. On YouTube we did 724 00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:32,600 Speaker 1: a breakdown of their Win in philly from. Last night 725 00:35:32,600 --> 00:35:34,799 Speaker 1: but they looked phenomenal defensively down the stretch In that. 726 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:37,520 Speaker 1: Sixers game with their three guard Combination Of, Asar Thompson 727 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:40,879 Speaker 1: ron Hollin And, javonte green they've been the third best 728 00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:43,439 Speaker 1: defense IN the nba in the, early Going and kate 729 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:46,560 Speaker 1: is looking like a BONA fide mvp candidate twenty nine 730 00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:48,879 Speaker 1: points and eleven assists per game over his last six 731 00:35:48,920 --> 00:35:51,959 Speaker 1: games on sixty one percent. True, shooting again we covered 732 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:54,720 Speaker 1: them in more. DETAIL earlier a lot to be excited 733 00:35:54,719 --> 00:35:58,239 Speaker 1: about if You're A detroit. Pistons fan currently plus six 734 00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:00,919 Speaker 1: thousand on hard rock bet win, the title, and last 735 00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:04,439 Speaker 1: but not least number one for the second, straight Week 736 00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:07,759 Speaker 1: The Oklahoma city thunder currently plus two point thirty a 737 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:09,800 Speaker 1: hard rock bet to win. The title they dropped a 738 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:11,719 Speaker 1: game last Week in portland where they got picked apart 739 00:36:11,719 --> 00:36:14,520 Speaker 1: in the fourth Quarter By. Danny avdia shay also looked 740 00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:16,200 Speaker 1: a little bit tired in, that game as he left 741 00:36:16,239 --> 00:36:18,560 Speaker 1: several jumpers short off the front of. The rim but 742 00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:20,880 Speaker 1: they got back on track by Eviscerating, the kings and 743 00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:23,399 Speaker 1: then they got a nice Win, in Memphis where shaye 744 00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:26,000 Speaker 1: closed the deal with some shot making down. The stretch 745 00:36:26,040 --> 00:36:29,120 Speaker 1: there was this hilarious postgame Interview with Chet because shay 746 00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:31,200 Speaker 1: ends up hitting two step back threes off the, left 747 00:36:31,239 --> 00:36:33,320 Speaker 1: wing one really tough one and then another one of 748 00:36:33,360 --> 00:36:35,440 Speaker 1: those like kind of, text back little textbook little in 749 00:36:35,480 --> 00:36:38,000 Speaker 1: and out dribble step backs that. He hit and after, 750 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:39,960 Speaker 1: The Game chet holmer and talking about how he like 751 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:42,240 Speaker 1: basically went Up to shae and told him to, stop 752 00:36:42,239 --> 00:36:44,759 Speaker 1: settling And then shaye ended up closing the game with 753 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:48,520 Speaker 1: two step. Back, Threes anyway chet basically Said that shay 754 00:36:48,520 --> 00:36:50,560 Speaker 1: shut him up. With that but things are gonna get 755 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:53,000 Speaker 1: tougher For. The thunder it's been a good timing For 756 00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:55,320 Speaker 1: the thunder to deal with some injuries here early in. 757 00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:58,160 Speaker 1: The season they've had the second easiest schedule in the 758 00:36:58,239 --> 00:37:00,000 Speaker 1: league to start. The year as a matter, of fact 759 00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:02,640 Speaker 1: just one of their last nine wins have come against 760 00:37:02,680 --> 00:37:04,880 Speaker 1: teams that are five hundred. Or better they have a 761 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:07,799 Speaker 1: couple of tougher ones this week Against the warriors And, 762 00:37:07,840 --> 00:37:10,200 Speaker 1: the Lakers but steph's coming back from an illness that's 763 00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:12,200 Speaker 1: had them out for, a week And the lakers again 764 00:37:12,200 --> 00:37:14,799 Speaker 1: are probably not Gonna Have austin reeves and so it'll 765 00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:17,879 Speaker 1: Be no Austin. Or lebron and then after those, two 766 00:37:17,960 --> 00:37:21,600 Speaker 1: games things lighting up For the. Thunder again They, Play Charlotte, New, 767 00:37:21,719 --> 00:37:24,799 Speaker 1: orleans Sacramento. And utah so if they can get Through 768 00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:27,120 Speaker 1: the Warriors, and lakers who are both, banged UP so 769 00:37:27,160 --> 00:37:30,000 Speaker 1: i think, They will they're gonna be sitting at sixteen 770 00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:32,839 Speaker 1: and one in two weeks and we'll be talking about 771 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:35,000 Speaker 1: them as a legitimate threat to go seventy four. And eight, 772 00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:37,239 Speaker 1: and again this is why they've been. Banged up they've 773 00:37:37,239 --> 00:37:40,400 Speaker 1: got reinforcements on the way for when their schedule inevitably. 774 00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:42,600 Speaker 1: Gets tougher, there's again when it comes to the strength of, 775 00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:45,120 Speaker 1: schedule stuff it's all just, about, When right like if 776 00:37:45,160 --> 00:37:47,000 Speaker 1: you're In The, western conference you might have a light 777 00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:50,480 Speaker 1: stretch here, or there but it's gonna. Get tougher And 778 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:53,000 Speaker 1: the thunder are just getting the easy part out here 779 00:37:53,040 --> 00:37:55,200 Speaker 1: when they've got the guys out of. The lineup so 780 00:37:55,200 --> 00:37:57,279 Speaker 1: it's setting up nicely for them to make a run 781 00:37:57,640 --> 00:38:00,520 Speaker 1: at a real seventy win season here to add that 782 00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:04,040 Speaker 1: to their resume with this. Young core, all, right guys 783 00:38:04,080 --> 00:38:05,880 Speaker 1: IT'S all i have for today is always to sincerely 784 00:38:05,920 --> 00:38:08,520 Speaker 1: appreciate you guys for supporting us and supporting. The show 785 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:11,080 Speaker 1: we'll be back tomorrow with more. GAME reaction i will 786 00:38:11,120 --> 00:38:11,839 Speaker 1: see you guys then