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Then I have a bit for the 31 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: end of the show that I want to do about 32 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: shot quality and the role it plays in basketball analysis. 33 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: You guys know the Joe forberget started. Subscribe to the 34 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 1: brand new YouTube channel. I mean a lot to me 35 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:10,639 Speaker 1: if you guy would take a second to scroll down 36 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: and hit that subscribe button. Don't forget about our podcast feeds. 37 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: Wherever you get your podcasts under Hoops Tonight. Follow me 38 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 1: on Twitter at underscore JSNLT so you guys don't miss 39 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 1: the film threads that I do on most mornings as 40 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: well as show announcements, and the last, but not out 41 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: least keep dropping mail bag questions is more time because 42 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: we're gonna do a long mail bag in tomorrow's show. 43 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,839 Speaker 1: All right, let's talk some basketball. So the Lakers get 44 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:35,119 Speaker 1: another big win. What did I tell you guys after 45 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 1: the Clippers game? I was like, look forward to them 46 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:39,959 Speaker 1: over the rest of the month of January to look 47 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: really bad at times and really good at times. And 48 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,119 Speaker 1: that's the thing with this team right now. We're gonna 49 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 1: talk about it in a little bit. But the thunder 50 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 1: are a damn good team coming in on a winning streak, 51 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 1: and the Lakers kind of manhandled them physically again, sixty 52 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:56,639 Speaker 1: something points in the paint a really good defensive effort, 53 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: especially in helping recovery situations. You could see the effort 54 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 1: digging down and getting back out to shooters. The Lakers 55 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 1: always have a bunch of big forwards off the ball, 56 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: and that it makes it so that they can be 57 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: really good and helping recover situations when they are locked in. 58 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 1: Darvin Ham did a nice job mixing in some zone 59 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 1: defense in the second half that helps to further the 60 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: breaking of Oklahoma City's rhythm. They ran thirteen possessions of 61 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: zone in the second half and gave up just five points, 62 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: so it clearly had an impact on Oklahoma City. And 63 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,959 Speaker 1: then on offense, a lot of action from Lebron and 64 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis as cutters. As a matter of fact, the 65 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: Lakers scored twenty two points on cuts in this game, 66 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: and sixteen of them where Anthony Davis and Lebron. As 67 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 1: a team that can struggle with dribble penetration from time 68 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: to time, cutting and having passers that can hit the 69 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: cutters when they make those cuts is another way to 70 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: generate that kind of rim pressure and all the good 71 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: stuff that can happen happen off of that. One of 72 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 1: the things that they did a lot in this game 73 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: is have other guys set screens and have Anthony Davis 74 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: work in the dunker spot because if he can, shouldn't 75 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 1: go up with a head of steam with chet with 76 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: his attention turned elsewhere. He can either draw foul or 77 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: finish relatively easily. Another thing is Lebron with those swim 78 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: move back cuts that he always does. Lebron's backcuts are 79 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: almost a very physical play where you know he's standing 80 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: on the wing and the guy's pressing up a little 81 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:18,679 Speaker 1: bit to try to stop, you know, Lebron from catching 82 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 1: easily on the perimeter, and Lebron will just literally do 83 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 1: what a defensive end does, and he'll just do that 84 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:25,919 Speaker 1: angry swim move and just kind of go past the 85 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 1: dude and they'll lead him towards the basket for a 86 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: bucket that way, same sort of thing. It's just the 87 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:32,839 Speaker 1: Lakers are much much bigger than the Oklahoma City Thunder, 88 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 1: and when they make these aggressive back cuts and they 89 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:37,039 Speaker 1: can hit those guys with the head of steam, there's 90 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: just nobody on Oklahoma City that can really bother him 91 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: at the rim when they get to that point. I 92 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 1: thought Austin Reeves had a really good pick and roll game, 93 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,480 Speaker 1: ran nine of them, leading to ten points. He's now actually, 94 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: with last night, over one point per possession on pick 95 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,600 Speaker 1: and rolls for the season. He's one of only fifteen 96 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: players in the league to have run at least five 97 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 1: hundred pick and rolls this year, and he's creeping up 98 00:04:58,000 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 1: that list. At the start of the year, he's well 99 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 1: low point per possession and it's just getting better and 100 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: better and better. You can see Austin Reeves improving as 101 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: a pick and roll shot creator with each passing game 102 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: as he continues to get the reps. I thought he 103 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: made some really nice kickout passes to shooters too that 104 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: didn't go in, So I think it could have been 105 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: even better than what the numbers showed, and the numbers 106 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: were impressive. And then D'Angelo Russell. You know, I again, 107 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 1: I think it's one of the safest bets in the 108 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 1: NBA this year that he gets traded, and I still 109 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: feel pretty strongly about that. That said, like, that doesn't 110 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: mean he's not a good basketball player. It's just a 111 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: redundancy on the Lakers that they have to deal with. 112 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: And he's a very good basketball player. And one of 113 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: the gifts that he has is interior passing. He's one 114 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: of those players that's good at hitting Lebron James and 115 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis and others when they are cutting to the 116 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 1: basket with the head of steam, and like we mentioned earlier, 117 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: that's a great way to generate more rim pressure and 118 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: that was a big part of the offensive success of 119 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: the Lakers last night. And the last thing I wanted to 120 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: shout out rujatch Mura and Jared Vanderbilt, who both had 121 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 1: big games off the bench. These two guys have been 122 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: given a rough shake in terms of the rotation with 123 00:05:57,600 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 1: Darvin Ham who just continues to give thirty plus minutes 124 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 1: to Torrian Prince no matter what. And when cam reddis 125 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:04,040 Speaker 1: gets back, I'm sure he'll be getting a bunch of 126 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 1: minutes too. And one of the nice things, like one 127 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: of the bad things with that is Ruy and Jared 128 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: have had really inconsistent shifts and inconsistent minutes. It's just 129 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: made it hard for their rhythm. And both of those 130 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 1: guys have just kept a good attitude and kept playing 131 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: good basketball that Jared Vanderbilt had one of his most 132 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:22,479 Speaker 1: impactful defensive games last night, and Ruey Achamura, after a 133 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 1: rough first tap make and some bad decisions, really played 134 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: smart basketball in the second half. Hits, some big shots, 135 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: had some transition runouts, and some cuts. Really good all 136 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 1: around game for the Lakers is they notch a very 137 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 1: very important win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. So now 138 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 1: I want to talk about the Lakers in a big 139 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: picture sense because one of the themes of today's show 140 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,840 Speaker 1: is going to have to do with regular season malayise 141 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: And you know, I think you can go too far 142 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: in that direction when every game is like, oh, this 143 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: team played harder, this team didn't play hard, and there 144 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 1: are obviously basketball dynamics that take place, but we'd be 145 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: foolish to pretend like that stuff doesn't matter, right, I mean, like, 146 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 1: let's look at Sacramento Kings, for instance. The sacrament Kings 147 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,160 Speaker 1: are a team that have had an impressive list of 148 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 1: dominant wins this year against really good teams. But then 149 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: they'll just get their ass kicked, you know, once every 150 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: two weeks, like just straight up get throttled by like 151 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: thirty points, right, And so they're a team that, like, 152 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 1: depending on the night, sometimes they come out throw a 153 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 1: hllacious punch and sometimes they come out and they're unfocused 154 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 1: and they're unseious, unseerious, and they can lose, right, I mean, 155 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 1: look at the Lakers. Let's just zoom in on the 156 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 1: Lakers really quick. Lakers have given up one hundred and 157 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: eighteen points per one hundred possessions since winning the n 158 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: Season Tournament championship. That's awful. That's twenty first in the 159 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: league over that span. In that same span, the Clippers 160 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: have been the best offense in the league at one 161 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: hundred and twenty four points per one hundred possessions, and 162 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 1: the Thunder are fourth at one hundred and twenty four 163 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: points per one hundred possessions. I think they're like six 164 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: tenths of a point below the Clippers at this point. 165 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,119 Speaker 1: The Lakers, what like a week and a half ago, 166 00:07:57,320 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: held the Clippers to a one to oh three offensive rating, 167 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: literally twenty one points below their recent success in the 168 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: James harden Era right, held the Thunder last night two 169 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: one hundred and five points per one hundred possessions. Even 170 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 1: if we go back to some of their bigger wins 171 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: early in the years, they're on the strength of these big, 172 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 1: strong defensive runs, like the Pacers light up the Celtics, 173 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 1: and the Pacers light up the Bucks, and then the 174 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: Lakers throttle the Pacers and they get a win. We 175 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: know they have this defensive punch. What does that tell us? 176 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: They have that punch, they can throw it, but most 177 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: of the time they don't throw it. Let's make it 178 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 1: even more apparent. So the Lakers are twenty and twenty one. 179 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 1: They're a below five hundred team. Call them five hundred 180 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: if you give them the Pacers win in the regular 181 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 1: season which doesn't count towards the standings. In those twenty wins, 182 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 1: this below five hundred team has beat the thunder twice, 183 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 1: the Clippers twice, the Suns three times, they beat the 184 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: shit out of the Pelicans, they beat the Magic, they 185 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: beat the Rockets twice, they went to the to Cleveland 186 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: and beat the Cavs. They've won eleven games against teams 187 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: that are over five hundred. That's the eighth most in 188 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: the NBA right now. That's a pretty impressive list of 189 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 1: wins for a below five hundred team. It's very clear 190 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 1: that this is a team that has wildly oscillating effort 191 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: from night to night. So the question is why why 192 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: do the Lakers do that? And the reality, in my opinion, 193 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 1: is pretty simple. Defense is hard. This is a defensive team, 194 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,959 Speaker 1: and defense is hard. It takes hillacious effort and focus 195 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 1: and energy and extra efforts and out of area plays 196 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: and all these different things. And the Lakers completely relaxed 197 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 1: after winning the n Ceason Tournament, which was one of 198 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: my major concerns that I put out there right after 199 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: the Dallas Mavericks game, the first game after the tournament, 200 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 1: and I think there's a bunch of reasons for that. 201 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 1: For starters, they all decided they didn't like their coach. 202 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: I don't think Darvin is a very good NBA coach. 203 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 1: He doesn't know how to organize offense. He struggles with 204 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: lineup construction. He's super inconsistent with his rotations, which can 205 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 1: throw his young players for loops. But at the same time, 206 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: it's the player's fault too, because the players just also 207 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: aren't playing hard for it. So it's a combination of 208 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: like Darvin not doing a very good job, and the 209 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: players not really buying in or being invested or believing 210 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 1: in what Darvin's asking them to do. I mean again, 211 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 1: if we really break it down on a real simple level, 212 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 1: it's a team playing good basketball versus a team playing 213 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: bad basketball. And playing good basketball and bad basketball is 214 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 1: a combination of a bunch of factors. Right. It's a 215 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: combination of the talent you have on your roster. It 216 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: is a combination of lineup construction and making sure the 217 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 1: talent fits right. It's a combination of effort and execution. 218 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: It's a combination of like like rhythm and confidence right, 219 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 1: and like what causes rhythm and confidence to change? Rhythm 220 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: and confidence can be a combination of like offensive process, 221 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: like making sure you get guys in the right spots. 222 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: Like It could be a combination of off court work, 223 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 1: like not putting in the necessary off court daily shooting 224 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:02,679 Speaker 1: to make sure that you're in rhythm and ready to go. 225 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: It can be inconsistent rotation and a coach fucking with 226 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: your minutes too much, and how that can kind of 227 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: mess with things. Like all these different things lead to 228 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:14,599 Speaker 1: playing good basketball and bad basketball. And I think I 229 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: think another big factor that we don't really bring up 230 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: enough here is Lebron's thirty nine years old and he 231 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 1: plays one of the most important positions in the NBA 232 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 1: for any defense, which is that lowman position. Because of 233 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: the as pull up shooters have gotten better, the centers 234 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: had to come further out from the basket, which has 235 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: required that lowman to be more active on the back 236 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: side of the defense. And Lebron has played downright shitty 237 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:44,559 Speaker 1: defense since the n season tournament. He's capable of doing it, 238 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: he is choosing not to, probably a combination of saving 239 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: legs during the regular season, frustration at the situation with 240 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 1: the roster, frustration at the situation with the coach, right 241 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: because that's the other thing, there's an aura surrounding this 242 00:11:56,520 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: team knowing that someone's gonna get traded at probably at 243 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:03,840 Speaker 1: least d Angela Russell, if not more so. Like as 244 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: a result of that, there's just a lot of shit 245 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:09,479 Speaker 1: going on that is leading the Lakers to playing bad basketball, 246 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 1: poor lineup construction, inconsistent rotations, bad offensive process, frustration with 247 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 1: the coaching staff, and weirdness around the deadline, and a 248 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: thirty nine year old playing one of the most important 249 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:24,319 Speaker 1: defensive positions on the team. All of that is combining 250 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: to them being a really inconsistent, a really inconsistent a 251 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 1: team since the n season tournament. Right. Another thing with 252 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: Lebron being old too, is just with the offense, Like 253 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 1: he's the one guy on the team that can consistently 254 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: generate rim pressure, and so if he's not being super 255 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 1: physically aggressive on offense, their offense can fall apart. There's 256 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: been a lot of talk around the Lakers' offense this year. 257 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:52,199 Speaker 1: In seven in season tournament games, they have a one 258 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:55,559 Speaker 1: to twenty one offensive rating. Now, I still don't think 259 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: their offense is good enough to win the title, but 260 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 1: it's much better than it's look for most of the season. 261 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 1: Because of all of those reasons that I just talked about. Now, 262 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 1: this is one of the reasons why I feel pretty 263 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 1: strongly about this, and one of the reasons why my 264 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:13,520 Speaker 1: opinion on the Lakers hasn't changed really at all over 265 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 1: the course of this season, despite the ups and the downs, 266 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: even it didn't really change in the ups and it 267 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: didn't really change in the downs. And one of the 268 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: biggest reasons is I've just seen this so many times 269 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: over the course of Lebron James's career. I can think 270 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 1: of five examples of seasons that kind of had similar 271 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: vibes around this time of year. In twenty fifteen, when 272 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 1: the Cavs traded for j R. Smith, they were nineteen 273 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 1: and twenty at one point that season went on to 274 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 1: make the NBA Finals. In twenty sixteen, when they wanted 275 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:43,559 Speaker 1: to fire David Blatt, they were really really ugly right 276 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 1: around that end of December early January stretch. Not as 277 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: bad as some of these other teams, but they weren't 278 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 1: playing very very good basketball. They fired David Blatt. They 279 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: go on to run to the NBA Finals. Right twenty seventeen, 280 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: that team just knew that they could beat everybody in 281 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: the Eastern Conference, so they didn't try for most of 282 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 1: the regular season. In fact, they lost fourteen of their 283 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 1: final twenty five games going into the playoffs, and then 284 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: they swept everybody. If it wasn't for Avery Bradley making 285 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 1: a game winning shot in Cleveland, which they immediately followed 286 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: up by going down to Boston and beating the shit 287 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: out of them in Boston, they would have swept everybody. 288 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 1: So that team knew. This has been a consistent trait 289 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 1: in Lebron teams. They know Lebron deep down knows that 290 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: he doesn't need to necessarily live and die by every 291 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: single win in the regular season, which is something that 292 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 1: translates when he turns it on in the playoffs. Right. 293 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 1: I don't necessarily, I will talk about this a minute. 294 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: I don't necessarily think that's the best way to go 295 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: about things, but that is a thing that is definitely 296 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 1: a characteristic of Lebron James led teams over the years. 297 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: In by the way twenty seventeen team went to the finals. 298 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 1: Twenty eighteen, when Lebron was sick of Isaiah Thomas and 299 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: Jay Crowder and just frustrated with the roster, they went 300 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 1: seven to fourteen over the twenty one games before Lebron 301 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 1: was informed about the trade, and he was playing like 302 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 1: absolute dog shit twenty four points per game, five turnovers 303 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 1: per game immediately after that, thirty ten to ten the 304 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: rest of the way, fifty four percent from the field, 305 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: thirty nine percent from three, and he had eight forty 306 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: point games in the playoffs, clearly laying off in the 307 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: middle of the regular season right before the deadline, clearly 308 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: turning it up leading into the playoffs. That's and then 309 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: last year they start two to ten from day one 310 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 1: of training camp. Everyone knows Russell Westbrook's gonna get eventually 311 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: get traded. They look absolutely lifeless in January, drop a 312 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: couple of really ugly games before the deadline, and then 313 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 1: they go on a run and make the Western Conference Finals. 314 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 1: Four of those five examples they make the NBA Finals, 315 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 1: one of them they win the championship, and then the 316 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 1: one that's not in those four they make it to 317 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,240 Speaker 1: the Western Conference Finals. So again, this is not exactly 318 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 1: a super uncommon trend for Lebron James led teams in January. 319 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 1: Now there's a conversation to be had about Lebron's role 320 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 1: in all of that. And we'd had that conversation on 321 00:15:57,080 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: the show before, and so I'm not gonna do it 322 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: right here just for time sake, But this is just 323 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 1: kind of what it looks like. The point is, my 324 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 1: opinion on the Lakers is exactly where it was before 325 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 1: the season. I think they're a really good team that 326 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 1: isn't as good as Boston or Denver. I was wrong 327 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: about them as a regular season team. I thought they 328 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: would attack the regular season from start to finish, and 329 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 1: they did not. They took the It's very clear they 330 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 1: took the N season tournament very seriously and not everything else. 331 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: To break it down, guys, this team is literally thirteen 332 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 1: and twenty one in non inseason tournament games, or fourteen 333 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 1: and twenty one. They literally are fourteen and twenty one. Like, 334 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 1: think about that. What's that forty percent? They're winning forty 335 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: percent of their games? Like? Is this the kind of 336 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:49,840 Speaker 1: team that could? Is this team with Lebron James and 337 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis playing at the level they've been for most 338 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 1: of the season, right, and with the positive progression of 339 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 1: Austin Reeves and all of this athleticism, how are they 340 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 1: fourteen and twenty one in these other games? That's a 341 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:06,360 Speaker 1: really strong indicator of that thing I'm talking about. They've taked. 342 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:08,679 Speaker 1: They took the n Season Tournament seriously. They took a 343 00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 1: couple of high profile games seriously, and that's it. If 344 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 1: they hit with their deadline moves, that is what I 345 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 1: think will make them. That will our opinion the Lakers 346 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:23,639 Speaker 1: should change post headline, because at that point they should 347 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:25,439 Speaker 1: lock in. We'll have a better feel for where the 348 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 1: roster is Lebron and ad. It doesn't matter how sick 349 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 1: of Darvin Ham they are, they're gonna have to just 350 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 1: kind of deal with it for the rest of the season. 351 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:33,439 Speaker 1: So they'll put their head downs and they'll go to work, 352 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:35,240 Speaker 1: their heads down and they'll go to work. That's when 353 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:37,320 Speaker 1: we're gonna find out whether or not my take of 354 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:38,919 Speaker 1: the Lakers needs to go down a level or go 355 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 1: up a level. But we're not learning anything about this 356 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: team right now. I thoroughly expect them to look like 357 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: shit and then look amazing like another two or three 358 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 1: times before the deadline. They beat the Thunder, don't be 359 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: surprised if they drop that game to Dallas tomorrow. Don't 360 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 1: be surprised. They might win, but don't be surprised if 361 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:04,240 Speaker 1: they drop that game. One other thing, because again I've 362 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:07,680 Speaker 1: seen a lot of people in the comments like why 363 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 1: is it that you use the effort excuse so much 364 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:14,120 Speaker 1: for the Lakers in particular, And the long and short 365 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 1: of it is, it's just I'm referring specifically to my 366 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,679 Speaker 1: history rooting for Lebron James and my deep familiarity with 367 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 1: this kind of phenomenon. Right that said, you're not wrong, 368 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 1: and in my opinion, NBA history tells us that veteran 369 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:35,360 Speaker 1: teams with talent led by superstars win the title when 370 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:39,200 Speaker 1: they attack the regular season, not when they bullshit when 371 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: they attack the regular season. There's been so much talk 372 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: about the fatigue element of them going eighteen and eight 373 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 1: post deadline last year. I would argue them going eighteen 374 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 1: and eight post headline last year is why they went 375 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:56,399 Speaker 1: to the playoffs and made it to the Western Conference Finals. 376 00:18:57,040 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 1: They practiced playing really good basketball for a long time. 377 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 1: There was a clip going around on Instagram today or 378 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:09,199 Speaker 1: last night of Dan Campbell and it was in preseason, 379 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:11,919 Speaker 1: I believe, and I don't know what the background was, 380 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 1: but it seemed as though players were complaining about doing 381 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:20,239 Speaker 1: too much contact practice and Dan Campbell goes like, listen, like, 382 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:23,400 Speaker 1: I think about you guys every single day. I'm always 383 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 1: worried about where your bodies are at making sure you 384 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:32,160 Speaker 1: stay healthy. But we have to practice playing contact football. 385 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,199 Speaker 1: He's like, otherwise it'll take eight weeks for us to 386 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:39,639 Speaker 1: get used to hitting people. That kind of process is 387 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 1: a similar belief I have about winning championships in the NBA. Yes, 388 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:48,160 Speaker 1: it is smarter on your bodies to chill more during 389 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 1: the regular season, and even that's debatable by the way, 390 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,400 Speaker 1: even the NBA came out and was like, load management 391 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:57,000 Speaker 1: is not proven to decrease the risk of injuries, And 392 00:19:57,040 --> 00:20:00,440 Speaker 1: I would argue playing not hard is that a great 393 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 1: way to get yourself hurt. But like, at the end 394 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 1: of the day, even if we accepted that as a reality, 395 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 1: in my opinion, the benefits of building a championship identity, 396 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: of building championship habits, making it habitual for you to 397 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: focus and to give those extra efforts and to bring 398 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 1: it on a nightly basis is the kind of thing 399 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:26,679 Speaker 1: that will help you down the line when you get 400 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:29,919 Speaker 1: into the postseason. I mean, even in the playoffs last year, 401 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:31,960 Speaker 1: do you remember the first two series the Lakers literally 402 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 1: played the same every single game in the series. They'd 403 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:36,879 Speaker 1: come out in Game one with a hilatious effort and 404 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: they'd win. Then they'd punt game two. Then they'd come 405 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: out in Game three with a hilatious effort and they'd 406 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 1: win big at home. Then in game four be this 407 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: crazy rockfight of a game, they'd pull it out. Then 408 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:48,119 Speaker 1: in game five on the road, they'd punt, and then 409 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 1: they'd come home games in game six with a hilatious 410 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:53,399 Speaker 1: effort and they'd win convincingly. That's literally how both the 411 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 1: Grizzlies and Warrior series went. And then they ran into 412 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 1: a team that's better than them that it took the 413 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:03,480 Speaker 1: regular season far more seriously, and they weren't able to 414 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 1: play that game. It worked against the young team, it 415 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 1: worked against the other older veteran team that struggled in 416 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:12,159 Speaker 1: the regular season, and then it didn't work against the 417 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:15,879 Speaker 1: veteran team that attacked the regular season. So why am 418 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:19,159 Speaker 1: I saying all that? I won't think the Lakers have 419 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 1: a real chance to win the title unless they have 420 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:25,199 Speaker 1: a similar stretch before the playoffs this year. They need 421 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 1: to have like a twenty five game stretch where they win. 422 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 1: You know, sixteen seventeen, eighteen, nineteen games something like that, 423 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: where over an extended stretch they play really good basketball. 424 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:36,880 Speaker 1: That is a prerequisite, in my opinion, if they want 425 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:41,440 Speaker 1: to hoist the trophy, because otherwise they'll either lose in 426 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 1: the play in or they'll lose in the first round 427 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: because they will come into the playoffs playing bad basketball. 428 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 1: They have to again, they have to ramp up at 429 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 1: some point. We're now halfway through the season, and they 430 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:55,440 Speaker 1: did it briefly for the n Sason Tournament, and they've 431 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 1: basically punted since then, and so again, my opinion hasn't changed, 432 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,160 Speaker 1: but it will change post deadline based on the personnel 433 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 1: and whether or not they can put together an extended 434 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 1: stretch of good basketball to build the habits they need 435 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 1: to build in order to win an NBA championship. All right, 436 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 1: let's move on to Draymont and his return to the Warriors. 437 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:17,600 Speaker 1: So Dreiman had a quote after the game saying, we 438 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 1: can't check, we can't guard as really ugly loss for 439 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 1: the Warriors last night in Memphis against a team without 440 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 1: Desmond Baine, John Moran or Marcus Smart. But that was 441 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 1: kind of a vague answer from Draymond about their defense, 442 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:33,000 Speaker 1: and so I wanted to do a deep dive into 443 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:34,919 Speaker 1: the specific run of the game when they blew it 444 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 1: was a seventeen point swing. They went up seven in 445 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 1: the late third quarter on a Jonathan Kminga transition dunk. 446 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,720 Speaker 1: Yet they were down ten with about seven minutes left 447 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter. So they were outscored by seventeen 448 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 1: in a short window, and I wanted to zoom in 449 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 1: on the defensive possessions, each one, at least each one 450 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:56,919 Speaker 1: of the the buckets that Memphis got to see what 451 00:22:57,119 --> 00:23:00,679 Speaker 1: specifically was going wrong with Golden State's defense. Take a 452 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:04,120 Speaker 1: little bit of a deep dive there. So, first of all, 453 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:06,760 Speaker 1: when they were up seven on Kaminga's transition dunk, the 454 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:11,119 Speaker 1: Grizzlies got two quick threes to end the fourth quarter 455 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 1: based on overhelp situations. There was a double team of 456 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,919 Speaker 1: Jared Jackson that led to a rotation and lesser Kenona 457 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 1: has had a David Roddy contained literally cut him off, 458 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 1: but Jonathan kaminga strong side corner, for whatever reason, just 459 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 1: decided to double team David Roddy even though Kenonis didn't 460 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 1: not need help, and there was a quick easy kickout 461 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:32,119 Speaker 1: to the corner to Jacob Gilliard who made a three. 462 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 1: Very next possession, Jonathan Kmica, I think of Sarage turns 463 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: it over on the baseline and a Jaron Jackson kind 464 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:44,359 Speaker 1: of in transition is driving and they got him contained. 465 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 1: I think it was Tray Jackson. Davis at this point 466 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:50,439 Speaker 1: has him contained in Sarage overhelps and leaves David Roddy 467 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:54,439 Speaker 1: top of the key. And again there's a difference between 468 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 1: guy has an angle and you're swinging down to kind 469 00:23:56,840 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 1: of disrupt that angle, and like guy has chested the 470 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 1: off the player up and has him squared up and 471 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 1: he has no advantage, and now you're just helping for 472 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:07,520 Speaker 1: no reason. Right, two quick threes. Now it's a one 473 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 1: point game. Also, was a tough lineup offensively for Golden 474 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:14,400 Speaker 1: stated that stretch it was Jonathan Kaminga, Brandon Pazemski, dariosar 475 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:16,480 Speaker 1: Tray s Jackson, Davis, and Lester Knonez. There's not a 476 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:19,199 Speaker 1: single top one hundred NBA player in that group, so 477 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 1: there's a talent element there. That's a great example of 478 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:24,200 Speaker 1: why trading for a higher level player is so necessary 479 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 1: for this team, because it'll give him the ability to 480 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,359 Speaker 1: stagger and have more talent on the floor in some 481 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 1: of these lineups. Right then, to start the fourth quarter, 482 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 1: Draymond Green had a bad close out on Zaia Williams 483 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 1: on the right wing where he kind of chased him 484 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 1: off the line and then reached behind him, and as 485 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 1: a result, instead of closing out short and or shorter 486 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:47,160 Speaker 1: and containing, he reached zayre Drove, got a blocking foul, 487 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:50,360 Speaker 1: got two free throws. Grizzlies take the lead. Then there 488 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:53,600 Speaker 1: was a bomb over Dariosarge from Jacob Gilliard, really good 489 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:56,800 Speaker 1: defense the whole possession just a tough, like twenty seven 490 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 1: foot contested three, so you live with that one. Right 491 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:03,159 Speaker 1: after that, Brandon Pizemski was guarding Luke Canard out of 492 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 1: the left corner and fell asleep for a second, was 493 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 1: late chasing him off the screen, had to panic chase 494 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:11,200 Speaker 1: him and fouls a three point shooter that took away 495 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:12,920 Speaker 1: a three that steph had just made it three on 496 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:15,680 Speaker 1: the other end. Now Canard goes down and makes three 497 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 1: free throws. Then there was a transition possession where Clay 498 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 1: kind of faces faces up Jake Gilliard and he hits 499 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 1: a little jab step jumper, but he misses it off 500 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:27,240 Speaker 1: the back room. On the other side of the floor. 501 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 1: Pazemski was back screening for Steph below the foul line, 502 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:33,639 Speaker 1: and so the guy he was screening they switched it. 503 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:35,440 Speaker 1: The guy who was screening was on his top side 504 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 1: and the other guy went with Steph, so suddenly they 505 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:39,280 Speaker 1: just had a quick two on one the other way. 506 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:41,160 Speaker 1: Kamingo was the only one back. It was really bad 507 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:44,680 Speaker 1: floor balance, quick swing swing ahead passed. Zira Williams gets 508 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 1: a left handed layup. That's bad offense leading to transition, 509 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:53,359 Speaker 1: like an unbalanced floor leading to an easy transition layup. 510 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 1: Then there were a couple of plays here where Cavan 511 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: Looney came way too high out of his drive coverage. 512 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:04,160 Speaker 1: So Canard runs a dribble hand off with Xavier Tilman 513 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:07,440 Speaker 1: throws it to Canard, comes over the top Brandon Pazemski's 514 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:11,160 Speaker 1: in trail position. He's there, but Looney comes way up, 515 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:15,879 Speaker 1: which allows Tillman to get beneath him, which forces Kaminga 516 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 1: to tag the roller. There's a swing pass out to 517 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:21,280 Speaker 1: that corner. Gigi Jackson knocks down the three on the 518 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:24,159 Speaker 1: week side. Now Kaminga got a decent late contest on 519 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:26,960 Speaker 1: that one. But this season, Gigi Jackson is nine for 520 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:30,239 Speaker 1: eighteen on catch and shoot threes. That's a seventy five 521 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:34,720 Speaker 1: percent effective field goal percentage. So obviously not the guy 522 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: you want to leave open in that situation. You want 523 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 1: to not let the roller get behind. Your job there 524 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:42,199 Speaker 1: is Looney is to stay further back, trust Pazemski to 525 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:44,439 Speaker 1: be able to disrupt any mid range shot or floater 526 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 1: from the Canard. If as long as Looney stays back 527 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:52,200 Speaker 1: where he can see both of Tillman and Canard, then 528 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:54,360 Speaker 1: Kaminga doesn't have to tag the roller and he could 529 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:58,439 Speaker 1: stay home and prevent that shot. Right right after that shot, 530 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:00,960 Speaker 1: Steph dribbles up the floor and get it's ripped by JAKEM. 531 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 1: Gilliard for a pick six, which, by the way, Steph 532 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:05,800 Speaker 1: got ripped in the back court twice down the stretch, 533 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:08,200 Speaker 1: which is super bizarre. Now the Warriors are down six. 534 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:11,960 Speaker 1: Next defensive possession, same exact thing. The only difference is 535 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:17,320 Speaker 1: this time Cominga's on Canard and Steph is guarding Gigi Jackson. 536 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:23,880 Speaker 1: Same exact thing. Canard's over Kaminga's over the top great athlete. 537 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 1: Canard shoots a floater or a pull up jump shot. 538 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:29,640 Speaker 1: Kaminga is blocking that, but Loony comes way up out 539 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:31,919 Speaker 1: of his drop coverage, forces Steph to come down to 540 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:34,399 Speaker 1: tag the roller. Kaminga peels off to go down and 541 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:37,359 Speaker 1: crack Steph out of that position. Steph goes back to 542 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:39,959 Speaker 1: close out, but he's too slow. Gigi Jackson makes another 543 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:44,000 Speaker 1: three and again, making half of them this year. Then 544 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:46,879 Speaker 1: Kaminga is posting up on the left block. This is 545 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:49,400 Speaker 1: an offensive possession for the Warriors, and I actually clip 546 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 1: this plane put on my Twitter feed. Steph is screaming 547 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:54,360 Speaker 1: and pointing at Pazemski because he's wide open. He's drawn 548 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:56,960 Speaker 1: a double team. Kamina is not looking. The double team 549 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:58,639 Speaker 1: probably would have led to a rotation that would have 550 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 1: got Steph a wide open three in the right corner. Instead, 551 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,480 Speaker 1: Kaminga turns it over and they go down the floor 552 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:07,639 Speaker 1: in transition and Canard gets a three. Now it's a 553 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:11,679 Speaker 1: ten point lead with seven minutes left. You'll notice I 554 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:15,080 Speaker 1: didn't say anything about guys getting toasted off the dribble, 555 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:19,360 Speaker 1: did I? I didn't say anything about guys getting physically overwhelmed. 556 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:24,200 Speaker 1: This is execution stuff. That's a seventeen point swing mostly 557 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:28,080 Speaker 1: off of execution. Golden State has good defensive personnel. Draymond 558 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:29,920 Speaker 1: Green is still one of the best defensive anchors in 559 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:32,560 Speaker 1: the league. They have athletes on the perimeter like Andrew 560 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:36,000 Speaker 1: Wiggins and Jonathan Kminga and Moses Moody. Brandon Pazemski is 561 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:38,720 Speaker 1: a good young point of attack defender. Stephan Clay are 562 00:28:38,760 --> 00:28:42,720 Speaker 1: two really smart team defenders. Most of this is execution. 563 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:48,920 Speaker 1: It was bad offense putting them into misbalanced transition defense 564 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 1: situations to give up open shots. And then it was 565 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 1: mistakes over helping strong side corner one pass away Looney, 566 00:28:57,480 --> 00:29:00,640 Speaker 1: too high in his drop coverage, Brandon Pazemski falling asleep 567 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 1: off the ball and having to foul a three point shooter, 568 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 1: Dario Sarage, over helping in a transition situation, a bad 569 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:10,880 Speaker 1: close out from Draymond Green. These are all fixable problems, 570 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:12,720 Speaker 1: which takes me back to the theme that I was 571 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:15,120 Speaker 1: talking about in the Laker segment at the top of 572 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:20,719 Speaker 1: the show. Golden State has been playing bad basketball, like 573 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 1: from the top down that the lineup construction isn't working, 574 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 1: the effort in execution isn't there, the buying isn't there, 575 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:32,320 Speaker 1: the inconsistent rotation is leading to the young players struggling 576 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:35,120 Speaker 1: on a night to night basis. It's a coaching issue. 577 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:37,800 Speaker 1: Steph's playing like shit. Oh, They're three to eight in 578 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:40,040 Speaker 1: their last eleven games. Steph in that span twenty two 579 00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 1: point five points per game, only three rebounds, thirty eight 580 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 1: percent from the field, thirty three percent from three. Kurr's 581 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:49,240 Speaker 1: not doing a good enough job. Steph Curry's not doing 582 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:51,680 Speaker 1: a good enough job. Draymond Green took himself away from 583 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:54,080 Speaker 1: the team for a month, like this is a lot 584 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 1: of this is self inflicted. Three things need to happen 585 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 1: for Golden State to turn this year around. In my opinion, 586 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:05,680 Speaker 1: One line up, consistency until the deadline. Get Draymond back 587 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 1: in with the starters. I personally would go with Draymond, 588 00:30:08,160 --> 00:30:10,800 Speaker 1: Kmingo Wig and Steph Clay. I'd ride dead out until 589 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:14,600 Speaker 1: the deadline. But no matter what, get consistent rotation minutes 590 00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:17,560 Speaker 1: for the young players so that they can build confidence 591 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 1: and rhythm, not constantly staring at the bench terrified they're 592 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 1: gonna get taken out if they make a mistake. Let 593 00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:26,240 Speaker 1: them play free. Secondly, Steph's got to get it together. 594 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:30,200 Speaker 1: Went over the numbers earlier. I'm sure he's frustrated and 595 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:32,239 Speaker 1: annoyed at the situation. I'm sure there's a little bit 596 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:34,480 Speaker 1: of that Lebron stuff I'm talking about with mid season 597 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:37,520 Speaker 1: malaise and frustration with the roster. He's not been good 598 00:30:37,520 --> 00:30:41,240 Speaker 1: on defense or on the glass either, So like Steph 599 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:43,000 Speaker 1: at a certain point needs to kind of be like 600 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:44,880 Speaker 1: he needs to get some sort of assurance from the 601 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:46,800 Speaker 1: front office they're gonna do something. Then he needs to 602 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:48,400 Speaker 1: lock in and try to win as many games as 603 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:52,440 Speaker 1: possible until February eighth, and then lastly, they need to 604 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:55,480 Speaker 1: trade for a high level starter at the deadline. I 605 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:58,280 Speaker 1: actually think they have a decent shot at Siakam. I've 606 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:00,520 Speaker 1: seen some of the proposed offers. A lot of teams are 607 00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:05,320 Speaker 1: pulling punches. There's the extension thing. I think they have 608 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:07,240 Speaker 1: a decent shot to get him, and he'd face. He'd 609 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:09,360 Speaker 1: help in every single phase of the game. He'd help 610 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:12,080 Speaker 1: with their defensive front line, he'd help with slotting in 611 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 1: perimeter defense. He'd help with them on the glass. He'd 612 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 1: help them with slotting on offense so that you don't 613 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:21,000 Speaker 1: have guys above their pay grade on offense. He'd help 614 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:23,960 Speaker 1: them with staggering and non Steph lineups. He'd help lighten 615 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 1: Steph's workloads so he doesn't have to do as much offensively, 616 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:28,479 Speaker 1: especially over the course of a playoff series. A guy 617 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:31,360 Speaker 1: like Siakam would help with everything. And then from there, 618 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:32,840 Speaker 1: you do what the Lakers did last year, and you 619 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:35,360 Speaker 1: make a run. You play really good basketball for twenty 620 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 1: five games to end the season, and then you roll 621 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 1: that momentum into the playoffs. I mean, I just want 622 00:31:42,040 --> 00:31:44,600 Speaker 1: to see it. I don't know about you, guys. I'm 623 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:46,600 Speaker 1: a I'm a fan of the game, and I'm a 624 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:48,960 Speaker 1: fan of Steph. He's my second favorite player in the league. 625 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:51,120 Speaker 1: That said, I'm not one of those guys who has 626 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:55,120 Speaker 1: a deep rooting interest in the Warriors. That said, like, 627 00:31:55,520 --> 00:31:57,480 Speaker 1: I'm just not ready for this to be over. I 628 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 1: want to see them give it one more chance, especially 629 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:03,560 Speaker 1: with how frustrating last year was. I want to see 630 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:05,160 Speaker 1: them retool and I want to see them give it 631 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:07,360 Speaker 1: a chance. All right, before we get out of here, 632 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:09,760 Speaker 1: I wanted to talk. I wanted to rant for just 633 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:12,440 Speaker 1: a few minutes about the analytics side of things. This 634 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:14,840 Speaker 1: is something that I've seen throughout the season from every 635 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:19,120 Speaker 1: single team. I've seen Lakers fans talk about it. I've 636 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:22,240 Speaker 1: seen Lakers fans talk about it with their opponents, with 637 00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:24,560 Speaker 1: their own teammates. I've seen it around the league. I've 638 00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:26,840 Speaker 1: seen Clippers fans talk about it. I've seen Thunder fans 639 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:28,760 Speaker 1: talk about it. I've seen Warriors fans talk about it. I've 640 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:30,840 Speaker 1: seen everybody talk about it, this idea of like we're 641 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:35,000 Speaker 1: just making shots or we're just missing shots. And again, 642 00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:37,320 Speaker 1: I wanted to clarify this because I think it can 643 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:41,840 Speaker 1: get a little confusing. I don't think shot variants doesn't 644 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:43,800 Speaker 1: play a role in basketball games. Of course it does, 645 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:47,680 Speaker 1: like it would be foolish to pretend like it doesn't. 646 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 1: What my take is is that it's being overused in analysis. 647 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:54,960 Speaker 1: I saw someone tweeted this at me this morning, and 648 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:56,400 Speaker 1: I thought it was a really interesting thing. It was 649 00:32:56,440 --> 00:32:59,840 Speaker 1: Patrick Beverley, apparently in his podcast, talking about how, like 650 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:02,200 Speaker 1: I guess, Dame had a sixty point game. I think 651 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 1: it was a couple of years ago, and then Pat 652 00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:06,120 Speaker 1: Bev kind of like locked him up, I guess, And 653 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:09,240 Speaker 1: I haven't done the background research here, so he might 654 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:11,840 Speaker 1: literally be full of shit for all I know, But 655 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:14,640 Speaker 1: like I guess, Pat Bev was like like the discourse 656 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:16,800 Speaker 1: around the league is like, oh, Dame just missed shots 657 00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:18,959 Speaker 1: when he was guarding me, and that doesn't give me 658 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:21,920 Speaker 1: credit me being pat for the job that I did 659 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:24,600 Speaker 1: on him. And in general, I agree with Pat in 660 00:33:24,680 --> 00:33:27,959 Speaker 1: terms of the way the game is discussed. Way too frequently, 661 00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:31,840 Speaker 1: we just default back to make or miss league, did 662 00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:33,440 Speaker 1: you make your shots or did you miss your shots? 663 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:36,800 Speaker 1: And that becomes the biggest thing we talk about as 664 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 1: opposed to being one of the many things that we 665 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:42,760 Speaker 1: talk about. And you know, I use the phrase loser mentality, 666 00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:44,600 Speaker 1: and the main reason why I feel that way it 667 00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:47,120 Speaker 1: has to do with my kind of background, right Like, 668 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:49,479 Speaker 1: I helped coach high school kids and I played in college. 669 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:51,520 Speaker 1: So I'm always gonna look at it from the perspective 670 00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:53,520 Speaker 1: of inside the locker room. I'm always gonna look at 671 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:55,520 Speaker 1: it as the perspective of what a coach would think, 672 00:33:55,560 --> 00:33:58,320 Speaker 1: what a player would think. And a lot of it 673 00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:00,200 Speaker 1: is stuff that's changed for me over the years. When 674 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:04,520 Speaker 1: I was in my early twenties, I made excuses, blamed 675 00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:07,360 Speaker 1: the refs, blame shots not missing or not going in. 676 00:34:07,560 --> 00:34:09,279 Speaker 1: I was that kind of guy. Over the years, I've 677 00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:13,440 Speaker 1: kind of learned, like, hey, that's not helping me. Complaining 678 00:34:13,480 --> 00:34:15,399 Speaker 1: about the refs does not help me in any way 679 00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:19,800 Speaker 1: making and missing shots. Blaming that that based on variance 680 00:34:19,880 --> 00:34:22,800 Speaker 1: is not helping me in any way. You know, it's funny. 681 00:34:22,920 --> 00:34:24,839 Speaker 1: I'm coming back from this Achilles injury that I've told 682 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:28,000 Speaker 1: you guys about, and it's been a chore. It's been 683 00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:33,640 Speaker 1: an absolute chore dealing with conditioning issues like little muscle 684 00:34:33,680 --> 00:34:35,160 Speaker 1: strains here and there, as I had to take a 685 00:34:35,200 --> 00:34:36,960 Speaker 1: couple of months off and then you start moving again 686 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:39,880 Speaker 1: and you start suffering these old nagging injuries. Me not 687 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:42,400 Speaker 1: really trusting my right foot to like plant really heavily 688 00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:46,000 Speaker 1: and to take off on it. But like the biggest 689 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:48,080 Speaker 1: thing is like shooting and shooting and ball handling. My 690 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:50,200 Speaker 1: rhythms disrupted as I'm trying to get that back right. 691 00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:53,320 Speaker 1: And I've been recently going through a stretch where i 692 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:56,120 Speaker 1: haven't been shooting the ball very well. And you know, 693 00:34:56,120 --> 00:34:58,360 Speaker 1: it's funny. I was literally sitting in the truck today 694 00:34:58,640 --> 00:35:00,640 Speaker 1: and I was like, I knows actly why I'm not 695 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:04,960 Speaker 1: shooting well. Like I have a religious shooting routine that 696 00:35:05,040 --> 00:35:09,399 Speaker 1: I do, like when I'm in my groove, literally six 697 00:35:09,480 --> 00:35:11,799 Speaker 1: seven days a week, I do the same damn set 698 00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:15,160 Speaker 1: of shooting drills every single day. But I went skiing 699 00:35:15,239 --> 00:35:18,640 Speaker 1: last week, and before that, I heavily loaded up on 700 00:35:18,719 --> 00:35:23,040 Speaker 1: content in preparation for me going skiing, and so I 701 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:25,560 Speaker 1: only did the shooting workout like once in like a 702 00:35:25,600 --> 00:35:28,960 Speaker 1: six day span, and I'm sitting there and I'm like, no, wonder, 703 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:33,280 Speaker 1: I'm missing shots, Like I am not doing the process 704 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:35,760 Speaker 1: things I need to do to be a good shooter, 705 00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:38,080 Speaker 1: because I'm very much a rhythm shooter. I'm a guy 706 00:35:38,080 --> 00:35:40,520 Speaker 1: who has to work on it constantly in order to 707 00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:43,920 Speaker 1: be able to shoot. And again, like when you're looking 708 00:35:43,960 --> 00:35:48,960 Speaker 1: at all the different things that impact shooting in a game, confidence, rhythm, 709 00:35:49,160 --> 00:35:52,279 Speaker 1: the physicality of the game, your offensive process, the types 710 00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:54,920 Speaker 1: of shots are getting both on a team level and 711 00:35:54,960 --> 00:35:58,040 Speaker 1: on an individual shot selection level. What I just mentioned 712 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:01,000 Speaker 1: in terms of off court work, the dill to polish 713 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:03,640 Speaker 1: and to make sure you're ready. I think all of 714 00:36:03,680 --> 00:36:07,759 Speaker 1: that stuff comes before we get to Luck. But what 715 00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:10,520 Speaker 1: happens is is the way the game is discussed, Luck 716 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:14,120 Speaker 1: is first on that list, and I think that does 717 00:36:14,120 --> 00:36:16,880 Speaker 1: a disservice to fans everywhere. I think it's a I 718 00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:20,560 Speaker 1: think it is it limits our ability to digest what's 719 00:36:20,560 --> 00:36:25,040 Speaker 1: happening on the court. I saw on the Thunder game 720 00:36:25,120 --> 00:36:27,520 Speaker 1: last night, I was like, this is I watch so 721 00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:31,000 Speaker 1: many games right obviously as my job, and I'm always 722 00:36:31,080 --> 00:36:34,480 Speaker 1: listening to these local broadcasters. I'm listening to the Bucks broadcasters, 723 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:37,440 Speaker 1: I'm listening to the Clippers broadcasters. I'm listening to the 724 00:36:37,480 --> 00:36:40,480 Speaker 1: you know, Orlando Magic broadcasters, and you know, this morning, 725 00:36:40,520 --> 00:36:42,760 Speaker 1: I'm watching Lakers Thunder and I'm listening to the Thunder 726 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:45,120 Speaker 1: broadcasts and they're like, oh, they're just missing shots. They're 727 00:36:45,160 --> 00:36:47,760 Speaker 1: just missing shots. And I'm like, the Lakers have sixty 728 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 1: something points in the paint. They're literally pulverizing the Thunder 729 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:54,440 Speaker 1: on all these cuts. They're straight up alpha dogging them 730 00:36:54,440 --> 00:36:58,200 Speaker 1: and playing bullyball, so they're wearing them out. They're both 731 00:36:58,200 --> 00:37:00,560 Speaker 1: on a physical wear and tear level and like a 732 00:37:00,680 --> 00:37:04,839 Speaker 1: conditioning fatigue level. They're just bigger. So like defender proximity 733 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:07,880 Speaker 1: as it pertains to shot values different when it's a taller, 734 00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:11,120 Speaker 1: longer armed player contesting the shot right. And then there's 735 00:37:11,160 --> 00:37:13,680 Speaker 1: like a confidence piece, there's like an alpha dog piece. 736 00:37:13,719 --> 00:37:17,920 Speaker 1: There's like you tend to make more shots when you 737 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:20,280 Speaker 1: are in a better rhythm and flow, when you're controlling 738 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:22,200 Speaker 1: the physicality of the game and you look at the 739 00:37:22,200 --> 00:37:23,719 Speaker 1: stars of the other team and you're like, yeah, I'm 740 00:37:23,719 --> 00:37:27,120 Speaker 1: better than that guy. But when that that dynamic shifts, 741 00:37:27,880 --> 00:37:31,160 Speaker 1: shots do miss, and again, it's just amazing to me 742 00:37:31,239 --> 00:37:34,160 Speaker 1: that we don't factor in all that stuff. We go 743 00:37:34,360 --> 00:37:39,160 Speaker 1: straight to luck. I can't tell you how many times 744 00:37:39,160 --> 00:37:41,279 Speaker 1: I've seen Laker fans be like, I can't believe teams 745 00:37:41,320 --> 00:37:43,520 Speaker 1: are making all these shots against us. Have you watched 746 00:37:43,560 --> 00:37:46,000 Speaker 1: the Lakers play defense since in the N season tournament, 747 00:37:48,360 --> 00:37:50,920 Speaker 1: like I've seen I saw a Laker. Remember me early 748 00:37:50,920 --> 00:37:52,520 Speaker 1: in the season, when I was talking about the Lakers 749 00:37:52,560 --> 00:37:54,680 Speaker 1: bad shooting, I was like, it's bad process. They're not 750 00:37:54,719 --> 00:38:00,279 Speaker 1: getting really good looks. Like it's just it's just I 751 00:38:00,360 --> 00:38:05,040 Speaker 1: would like to, at least within this show, not do that. Like, 752 00:38:05,640 --> 00:38:08,200 Speaker 1: of course it's a factor. Of course it's part of 753 00:38:08,200 --> 00:38:11,640 Speaker 1: the game, but we lean on it way too heavily, 754 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:16,120 Speaker 1: and it's quite simply like the fifth or sixth most 755 00:38:16,120 --> 00:38:20,960 Speaker 1: important factor in a shot result is luck. Did that 756 00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:23,279 Speaker 1: dude hit the gym before the game and make his 757 00:38:23,280 --> 00:38:26,200 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty three pointers? Did he do it yesterday? 758 00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:31,160 Speaker 1: On his day off was the team running smart offense, 759 00:38:32,360 --> 00:38:38,200 Speaker 1: was the individual player taking smart shots. Was the opponent 760 00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:42,360 Speaker 1: doing anything to disrupt that defensively with their physicality, with 761 00:38:42,440 --> 00:38:46,040 Speaker 1: their alpha dog mentality, to disrupt confidence. All of that 762 00:38:46,160 --> 00:38:51,080 Speaker 1: comes first, and then we can talk about luck. It's 763 00:38:51,160 --> 00:38:52,719 Speaker 1: part of the game, but it's way too big of 764 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:54,919 Speaker 1: the of the way we cover it, way too big 765 00:38:54,920 --> 00:38:56,879 Speaker 1: of a part of the way we cover the game. 766 00:38:57,040 --> 00:38:58,600 Speaker 1: All right, guys, it's all hal for today. I want 767 00:38:58,600 --> 00:39:00,839 Speaker 1: to hit more games from last night. It's late, and 768 00:39:00,920 --> 00:39:02,879 Speaker 1: I talk some more stuff in general around the league, 769 00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:04,640 Speaker 1: but we're gonna hit it tomorrow. I had to get 770 00:39:04,640 --> 00:39:08,440 Speaker 1: this video in early because tonight the volume on the 771 00:39:08,480 --> 00:39:10,960 Speaker 1: East Coast is doing their annual party for all the 772 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:12,440 Speaker 1: staff that works on the East Coast, and a lot 773 00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:14,239 Speaker 1: of the staff that works on this show lives on 774 00:39:14,239 --> 00:39:15,440 Speaker 1: the East Coast, so I needed to get it in 775 00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:18,400 Speaker 1: early for those guys. That's why we rushed Lakers Warriors today. 776 00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:22,280 Speaker 1: We will hit a bunch more teams tomorrow, including the Mailbag. 777 00:39:22,760 --> 00:39:24,719 Speaker 1: My wife's out of town for a work trip, so 778 00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:27,040 Speaker 1: I plan on staying up at night to watch some games. 779 00:39:27,080 --> 00:39:29,960 Speaker 1: I plan on working tomorrow night to cover MAVs Lakers, 780 00:39:29,960 --> 00:39:32,000 Speaker 1: so it's gonna be a lot of content coming out 781 00:39:32,040 --> 00:39:34,000 Speaker 1: before I leave town on the ski trip on Saturday. 782 00:39:34,239 --> 00:39:38,120 Speaker 1: I genuinely appreciate you guys and everything you do to 783 00:39:38,120 --> 00:40:07,760 Speaker 1: support the show. I'll see you guys tomorrow. The volume