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For additional terms 31 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 1: and responsible gaming resources, see dkang, dot co slash b ball. 32 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Best of Hoops Tonight, featuring my top 33 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: takes from recent shows that I wanted to talk a little 34 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 1: bit about the Nicol Jokis, Schaguillos Alexander MVP debate. So 35 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: this ends up being a constant debate over the course 36 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: of the years because there is a lack of consistent criteria. 37 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: In my time following the NBA, everything shifts back and forth. 38 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: Different voters value different things. There are huge portions of 39 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 1: the voting base for MVP that like dramatically consider, like 40 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: seriously consider catch all metrics, which I vehemently disagree with. 41 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 1: I think it's a bad way to try to make 42 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: a decision of this caliber that involves such NBA history. 43 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 1: There are a lot of different things about the MVP 44 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 1: that I don't like, and that's why I don't spend 45 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: too much time talking about it. That said, I think 46 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: there's a specific issue arising here that is probably not 47 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: that should not be an issue involving whether or not 48 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 1: Yokic has a real case. Is Yokich the best player 49 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: in the NBA? Yes? Why because that sort of thing 50 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: is determined in the playoffs when we get to the playoffs. 51 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: Over the course of the last few years, Jokic is 52 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 1: the indomitable force that I've seen. He is the one 53 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: guy that reaches a level that no team can reach. 54 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: And even back in that twenty twenty three season, he 55 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 1: had a very very good defensive season, and he is 56 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: very good defensively on the way to the title that year. 57 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: Jo Kisch is the best player in the league. There's 58 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 1: nothing that Shae could do in the regular season context 59 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: to take that away. In my opinion, that's it. There 60 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: is this idea that Oklahoma City is overwhelmingly talented and 61 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: that's why they're winning. And as a result, a lot 62 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: of people are writing off Shay and it's like, Shay's 63 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,239 Speaker 1: the guy that's on the overwhelmingly talented team. Jo Kich 64 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: is the guy that's carrying a bunch of bums. He's 65 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: the guy that deserves to win the MVP. Chet Holmgren's 66 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: been out most of the season. His secondary shot creator, 67 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: Jalen Williams, is very young by NBA standards. I saw 68 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: a lot of people saying, like, Shay is surrounded by 69 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: all this all world defensive talent. You're right, Shay is 70 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 1: surrounded by a very good defensive team. There's no offensive 71 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: player playing off of Shay that's as good as Jamal 72 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: Murray is. There's no shooter that plays for the thunder 73 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: who's as good as Michael Porter Junior is. They the 74 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: Denver's construct is built more around offensive talent. Ogoma City's 75 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: construct has built more around defensive talent. What Shay's job 76 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: this year has been has been to create every single 77 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: shot for his team throughout this entire season. With Jalen 78 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 1: Williams off the floor. Just playing with a bunch of 79 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 1: defensive minded young athletes, he's been able to consistently put 80 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,159 Speaker 1: the ball in the basket and keep his team afloat 81 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 1: on the offensive end. And when you really get down 82 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 1: to it, they are eleven games better, eleven games better 83 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: in the standings than Denver. Do you have any idea 84 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: how much better Yokich would have to be than Shay 85 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: in the regular season context for eleven games to be overcome. 86 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: At the end of the day, to me, MVP should 87 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: come down to three factors. It should come down to 88 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,919 Speaker 1: who's been the best player on the best team in 89 00:04:55,960 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 1: the league, so team success, value to your team, how 90 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: your team performs with or without you. And then lastly, 91 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 1: I personally think it should factor in somewhat what your 92 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 1: big picture reputation is in the league. Like if you're 93 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 1: a player that we know can't play in the playoffs 94 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 1: and is a merchant of regular season basketball, I think 95 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: that should factor in. If there's another player that's pretty 96 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:25,160 Speaker 1: close but that's a proven we know this is one 97 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: of the dudes in the NBA when we get to 98 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: the playoffs, I do believe that should factor in. I 99 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: do think Jokic has an advantage in that case. I'd 100 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 1: even argue Jokic is more valuable to the Nuggets than 101 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: Shae is to the Thunder, although I think Shay is 102 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: a lot more valuable to the Thunder than people give 103 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:48,279 Speaker 1: him credit for. They're a good team without Shay, they're 104 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: a fucking awesome team with Shae. He lifts them to 105 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: that level. I saw people say, like, oh, if you 106 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 1: take Yokic off the Nuggets, what does that team win 107 00:05:57,800 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 1: in take Shae off the Thunder? How many get there? 108 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: They're in the play it. So it really comes down 109 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: to that last piece, which is who's been the best team, 110 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: and there's just such a massive advantage there. The Nuggets 111 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: have very like the Nuggets have had substantial issues on defense. 112 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: They've consistently struggled against good teams in the league. They 113 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 1: have not been nearly as good as a basketball team 114 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: as the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the gap in value 115 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 1: and reputation between the two is too small in my 116 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,280 Speaker 1: opinion to make up that gap, And it gets a 117 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:32,160 Speaker 1: little bit deeper when you start to factor in the 118 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:36,159 Speaker 1: reasons why Denver has struggled. Denver has been a bad 119 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 1: defense this year, and it's not all Jokicha's fault. I 120 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: don't want to sit there and make it seem like 121 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: that's the case. There are a lot of guys that 122 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 1: are struggling defensively on this team. Jamal can be a 123 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 1: problem at times, Michael Porter Junior can be a problem 124 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: at times. Aaron Gordon's been banged up all year. It 125 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 1: hasn't been as good defensively. The young guys, guys like 126 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 1: Julian Strather's been a disaster on defense at times this year. 127 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: There are other guys at fault, but there is a 128 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:05,600 Speaker 1: simple concept, a simple reality about Denver's construct that limits 129 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 1: them on the defensive end of the floor. Jokic cannot 130 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: defend and drop coverage, and he cannot switch if he 131 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: defends in drop coverage. He's nowhere near good enough at 132 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 1: protecting the rim. A guy like that on his heels, 133 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: guys go right around into the basket, and if you 134 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: put him in space to switch, can't slide his feet 135 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: well enough. He'll just give up dribble penetration. So there's 136 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: like two coverages that the Nuggets can legitimately deploy, and 137 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 1: both of them involve putting two on the ball. They 138 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: can bring Yokic up to the level and they can 139 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: blitz with him. Those are really the only two things 140 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 1: they can do, and so they exist in rotation. They 141 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: exist in these four on threes off the ball, and 142 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: they're just not very good on the backside rotating out 143 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 1: of it. That is a reality of why Denver struggles 144 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: on the defensive end of the floor. Jokic is a 145 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: big part of it. That's why Phoenix continues to have 146 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 1: success against this team scoring the basketball, even though obviously 147 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 1: they've lost their last few against them. But Phoenix can score. 148 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: When the Lakers went in there and won, it was 149 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 1: just two on the ball, four on threes, easy, wide 150 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: open threes every single time down the floor. Their defense 151 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 1: struggles because their base concept demands excellent rotations on the 152 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 1: backside due to Jokic, and they haven't been very good 153 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: on the backside. I think that that is just too 154 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:34,439 Speaker 1: big of a factor in a gap that is eleven 155 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: games wide in the standings for me to just be like, well, 156 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: Jokic is the best player in the world, so therefore 157 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: he deserves MVP. It's never been that way. The best 158 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 1: player in the world deserve MVP. Lebron would have ten 159 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: of them. MJ would have ten of them, it'd be 160 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 1: a completely different story. Kobe'd have five or six of them. 161 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: That's just not how it works. It's never been how 162 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: it works. Shay's having a nearly as good season as 163 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:03,439 Speaker 1: Jokic for a much better team, and he may not 164 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 1: be as valuable to them as Yokic is, but he's 165 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:09,079 Speaker 1: valuable enough that I think he deserves to be the 166 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: favorite to win MVP. At this point, there's what twenty 167 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:14,839 Speaker 1: something games left. Maybe Shaye falls apart and Yokic is 168 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 1: amazing and Yokic snatches it, But if the season ends today, 169 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 1: I think Shaye deserves it, and I hope that he. 170 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: I hope that if the circumstances stay the same, that 171 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: he ends up getting it, because that's the way we've 172 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: done it throughout throughout NBA history. Once again, every time 173 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: I watch these kind of like middle tier teams in 174 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 1: the league, you know, I kind of I've talked about 175 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:38,319 Speaker 1: this last night with Colin Coward, but like I kind 176 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 1: of view the inner circle of the NBA as like 177 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: five teams that I think have like a real chance 178 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 1: to win the title, and in no particular order, because 179 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:50,199 Speaker 1: I'm gonna end up doing some stuff involving ordering them 180 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:52,320 Speaker 1: over the course of the next month. Jackson and I 181 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: were talking this morning about doing very, very in depth 182 00:09:56,280 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 1: breakdowns specifically on the Inner Circle contenders, some film and stuff, 183 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:02,559 Speaker 1: So we're thinking about doing that over the course of 184 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: the next month. But those five teams for me right now, 185 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 1: or in the Eastern Conference, Boston and Cleveland, and in 186 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 1: the Western Conference Oklahoma City, Denver and the Los Angeles Lakers. 187 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 1: If you look at those teams and you watch them 188 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 1: play every single night, there's a level of seriousness on 189 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 1: both ends of the floor and their execution and their 190 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: attention to detail and just their overall pursuit of maximizing 191 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 1: their talent and being the best basketball team that they 192 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 1: can be. And literally as soon as you go below that, 193 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 1: it's a drop off. Even with a team that has 194 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 1: a pretty damn good record like the New York Knicks, 195 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 1: they've been so inconsistent with their defensive execution this year. 196 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 1: Teams like Milwaukee, teams like Minnesota. There's so many teams 197 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 1: in that group that have been very, very inconsistent in 198 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 1: their attention to detail. The one team that's kind of 199 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 1: below there that I'm keeping my eye on, because I 200 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: don't really know where they're gonna fit. Once we see 201 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: a larger sample of them playing some tougher teams as 202 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: the Golden State Warriors, I think they have a chance 203 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,319 Speaker 1: to enter into the inner circle. There are some teams 204 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 1: in that group that I think I am keeping my 205 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 1: eye on over the course of the final month to see. 206 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: But those are the five teams that I see, and 207 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 1: when you go beyond that, there's a pretty substantial drop 208 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 1: off in terms of just the level of serious basketball 209 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: that they play. I thought it was really interesting as 210 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: I started to dig through the numbers, like, if you 211 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:21,440 Speaker 1: look at the margins, these are the areas where all 212 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 1: of the good teams are always good. The margins are 213 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 1: the little details that suck. They're hard to do, but 214 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 1: they're such an important part of winning basketball games, for instance, 215 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:35,439 Speaker 1: taking care of the basketball and making sure you don't 216 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 1: give up points off of turnovers. The Thunder, the Calves, 217 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 1: and the Celtics are all top five and opponent points 218 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 1: off of turnovers, and the Lakers are top ten giving 219 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 1: up points off of offensive rebounds. The Calves and Celtics 220 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: are both in the top ten. The Thunder have always 221 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 1: been a bad defensive rebounding team. That's their Achilles heel. 222 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: So they're out of that group. But the Calves and 223 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:59,079 Speaker 1: Celtics top ten, and the Lakers since January fifteenth, when 224 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: they kind of became a sit team, they're seventh in 225 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 1: that department giving up fast breakpoints. The Calves, the Celtics, 226 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,080 Speaker 1: and the Thunder are all in the top eleven in 227 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: limiting opponents fast breakpoints. This is the Lakers Achilles heel. 228 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: That's where they always get beat. They're unathletic in transition 229 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 1: at times, cleaning the glasses. Overall transition defense stat, the Calves, 230 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:20,719 Speaker 1: the Celtics, and the Thunder are all top ten. The 231 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:23,960 Speaker 1: Lakers are top ten since January fifteenth. Makes in the 232 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 1: restricted area allowed so giving up easy baskets right underneath 233 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:30,440 Speaker 1: the rim. The Calves, Celtics, and Thunder are all top ten. 234 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: The Lakers are seventh since January fifteenth, total number of 235 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,319 Speaker 1: contested shots this year. This is a hustle stat on 236 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:40,439 Speaker 1: NBA dot Com. The Calves, the Thunder, and the Celtics 237 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,960 Speaker 1: are all in the top four. These are non negotiables. 238 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: If you want to be a serious basketball team, you 239 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:50,199 Speaker 1: have to be committed to running the floor in transition, 240 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 1: making contact on box outs, competing for contested rebounds, making rotations, 241 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:59,959 Speaker 1: putting your body on the line, making extra efforts contesting shots. 242 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 1: These are non negotiables and they're hard. I get it. 243 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:05,839 Speaker 1: There's a reason why there's such a huge swath of 244 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 1: the league that's bad at this stuff on a nightly basis, 245 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: because it's eighty two games and you're all a bunch 246 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:15,439 Speaker 1: of millionaires, and it's really really hard to get yourself 247 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 1: to compete at that level in a night in a 248 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 1: night out basis. That said, like I said, it's a 249 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: non negotiable if you want to get to the finish line, 250 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: if you want to get the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Every 251 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 1: time I watch the Bucks, they seem to be heavily 252 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 1: lacking in these areas. They are mediocre to bad in 253 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: every single one of those statistical categories that I listed, 254 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 1: except for defensive rebounding. It was jarring again to watch 255 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 1: as the Cavs just dominated this game by out running 256 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 1: the Bucks all over the floor twenty four easy points 257 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: in transition, countless possessions where they would defend well and 258 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:51,719 Speaker 1: get a stop and rebound and run out the other 259 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: way and get an easy one against a Bucks team 260 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 1: that wasn't willing to run even in the half court. 261 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 1: It's the same sort of concept whether it was Darius 262 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,960 Speaker 1: Garland or Don and Mitchell or somebody else creating that 263 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 1: initial advantage. The Calves just sliced and diced the Bucks 264 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 1: defense with these beautiful drive and kick sequences that often 265 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 1: ended in wide open looks for very good shooters. You 266 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: could literally see them repeatedly knifing through the lane, not 267 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 1: just on that initial drive but on closeouts, and as 268 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 1: a result, they're able to grow that advantage so that 269 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 1: first close out's only a little bit of a close out, 270 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: that second close outs more of a close out, the 271 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 1: third one no chance the dudes wide open. The Calves 272 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: generated twenty two unguarded catch and shoot jump shots in 273 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 1: this game. The Milwaukee Bucks generated just nine. That's the difference. 274 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: The Calves have this beautiful ability to slice and dice 275 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: defenses for these super high quality catch and shoot looks 276 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 1: and at the same time, on the other end of 277 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: the floor keep their defense out of rotation against Milwaukee. 278 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: And it's not just the commitment to running, it's the 279 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: commitment off the ball on defense to track king shooters 280 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: being sharp with your closeouts. Cleveland was so attentive and sharp. 281 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: Every catch and shoot look for Milwaukee felt like it 282 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: was smothered with a quick and reactive close out. How 283 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 1: many times did you see Torrian Prince in the game 284 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: kind of lingering around five six feet away from Max 285 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:20,400 Speaker 1: Struce and just a quick swing pass and Max Struce 286 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: knocks down a shot. How many times did you see 287 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: Brook Lopez and Janisantana Kumbo just drifting off of Evan 288 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 1: Mobley and not in position to offer a closeout as 289 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,560 Speaker 1: Evan Mobley made them pay knocking down that catch and 290 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: shoot on the weak side. Prince in particular had a 291 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 1: really enough rough night in this regard, but as a team, 292 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: the Bucks were not attentive in their off ball defense. 293 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: That's how you end up with such a huge chasm 294 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 1: in the overall number of wide open catch and shoot 295 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: shots that they generated. The Bucks have a lot of talent, 296 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 1: but you can't even get to the point where you're 297 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 1: able to weaponize that talent until you're willing to commit 298 00:15:56,160 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: to the hard work that is consistent winning basketball that 299 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 1: is required to get to that level. There are some 300 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: realities with the Bucks regarding their age in overall foot speed. 301 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 1: This is a size team, not a speed team. We're 302 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: going to talk about the difference between the two here 303 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 1: in a minute, but at the same time, every time 304 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 1: I watch them, there's just so much fat that can 305 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: be trimmed simple transition defense principles like stopping the ball, 306 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 1: stopping the basket, and getting matched up. There's a big 307 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: one late in the game where Tory and Prince left 308 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 1: a wide open shooter right at the top of the key. 309 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 1: The on defense in the half court like simple ideas 310 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:35,840 Speaker 1: like making sure that when you're in help side defense, 311 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 1: positioning yourself in a way where you can see man 312 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 1: and ball, and make sure that if that pass goes, 313 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 1: you're already in the closeout while the ball's in the 314 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 1: air and you're there on the catch. These are details 315 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 1: that don't necessarily depend on their overall team speed that 316 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 1: can be cleaned up that they just haven't made the 317 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 1: requisite effort to do so. Now, getting to the game itself, 318 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 1: I want to talk about how the combination of speed 319 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: and jump shooting is what actually allows the Cleveland Cavaliers 320 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: to generate so many quality shots. This has been the 321 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:06,679 Speaker 1: best offense in the NBA this year. They're actually almost 322 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: three points per one hundred possessions ahead of the second 323 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:11,400 Speaker 1: place Boston Celtics. They're the only team in the league 324 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: getting over a one to twenty offensive rating. The Cavs 325 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 1: offense is unbelievable. Now, Like we talked about earlier, there's 326 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 1: a difference between size and speed. There are two easy 327 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: ways to get the defense into rotation through overwhelming speed 328 00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: and overwhelming size. For overwhelming size, think like Jokic. Sure, 329 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 1: guys like Lebron James luka Don said Chason Tatum. Some 330 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:33,240 Speaker 1: of these bigger, stronger players, they find a defender that's 331 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:35,680 Speaker 1: too small to guard them. Then they pressure the rim 332 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:38,439 Speaker 1: until they get easy twos, or they draw in that 333 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:42,199 Speaker 1: second defender. Speed works the exact same way when you 334 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: have guards that through transition or through ball screens, against switches, 335 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 1: whatever it is. When they can consistently get screaming downhill 336 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:52,880 Speaker 1: towards the rim, they either are going to get layups 337 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: or they're going to draw in multiple defenders. This is 338 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: the part of the Cavs roster construct that has really 339 00:17:58,280 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 1: shown through this year. And for the record, I was 340 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 1: originally a couple of years ago completely out on the 341 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: Darius Garland Donovan Mitchell Perry as like a foundation for 342 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 1: the Cavs. Why because it's two small guards, and when 343 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 1: you're building around two small guards, it just presents so 344 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: many issues for you on the defensive glass and just 345 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:18,160 Speaker 1: on the defensive end in general. And by the way, 346 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:21,440 Speaker 1: they still occasionally have rebounding issues and they still occasionally 347 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 1: have defense issues. But as Darius Garland has gotten healthy 348 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 1: this year and as he's blossomed into this like super 349 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 1: high level guard, we've gotten to see the other side 350 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:36,719 Speaker 1: of that dynamic, which is that they do have overwhelming speed. 351 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:40,480 Speaker 1: Garland this year, healthy with his legs underneath him, has 352 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:42,200 Speaker 1: been one of my favorite players to watch in the 353 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 1: league this year because of his combination of speed and 354 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 1: handle in shot making and playmaking, which gives him the 355 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:50,639 Speaker 1: ability to get wherever he wants to get on the floor. 356 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 1: His probing and transition off the dribble and in the 357 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:58,159 Speaker 1: half court is responsible for so much of Cleveland's offensive success. 358 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:00,200 Speaker 1: The Caves offense all year has been about two two 359 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:03,439 Speaker 1: points better per one hundred possessions when Darius Garland is 360 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:06,480 Speaker 1: on the floor versus off. Donovan Mitchell brings the same 361 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 1: thing He's not at the same level of quickness that 362 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 1: Darius Garland is at, but he's close, and he's bigger, 363 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 1: and he's more vertically athletic, and he's a better shot maker, 364 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: and he's got like a bunch of these really fancy 365 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: gatherer moves, like he's been putting on a clinic of 366 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 1: that like windmill over the top gather that Dwayne Wade popularized. 367 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 1: And then he's brought back the sham god with a 368 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:29,919 Speaker 1: vengeance this year. He had another nasty one the other 369 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:33,159 Speaker 1: nights or Donovan Mitchell's ball handling in the middle of 370 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: the floor has been unbelievable this year, but he also 371 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: has an amazing ability to get wherever he wants on 372 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: the floor. That's the initial first step for any driving 373 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 1: kick sequence. You've got to generate that initial advantage that 374 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: compromises the defense and generates those kickout opportunities for your 375 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: spot up guys. From there, they just have a bunch 376 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: of guys who are awesome at playing drive and kick basketball. 377 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 1: Max Tru's lightning quick release can do it on the 378 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:03,199 Speaker 1: move and is a really good driving kick player, can 379 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 1: make basic driving kick reads. Dean Wade is good at 380 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:08,000 Speaker 1: it too, DeAndre Hunter has been brilliant so far as 381 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: a calv as a spot up guy, as a guy 382 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 1: who can do some advanced scoring in the mid range, 383 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 1: attacking closeouts. Ti Jerome is good at it, Sam Merrill's 384 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 1: good at it. Mitchell and Garland can both do it 385 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:20,199 Speaker 1: when they're off the ball. Just give you an idea. 386 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 1: Here are some spot up efficiency numbers for Calves players 387 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:28,600 Speaker 1: according to Synergy. DeAndre Hunter one point three seven points 388 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 1: per possession. That's outrageous. Ty Jerome one point three to 389 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 1: six points per possession. That's outrageous. Craig Porter, obviously in 390 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:37,440 Speaker 1: a smaller role, one point two eight points per possession. 391 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:41,120 Speaker 1: Max Strew's one point twenty four, Donovan Mitchell one point 392 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:43,399 Speaker 1: one eight, Sam Marril one point one five. They have 393 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 1: six players logging over one point one five points per 394 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 1: possession and spot up situations. As a team, they get 395 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 1: one point one point one points per any spot up possession. 396 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:59,679 Speaker 1: Only the Celtics in the NBA are better at converting 397 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:03,240 Speaker 1: spot possessions than the Cleveland Cavaliers, and they generate so 398 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 1: many of them on the strength of their speed. It's 399 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:10,680 Speaker 1: that combination speed which is necessary to consistently get the 400 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: defense in rotation and then having players that can extend 401 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 1: advantages and pay them off. I wanted to just very 402 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:30,959 Speaker 1: briefly talk about the Lakers and no loss in Brooklyn 403 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 1: last night. I'm not worried about it at all. There's 404 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: not much margin for error with the injuries. Like you 405 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:43,000 Speaker 1: have no Lebron, no Rui, Hachi Mura, no Jackson Hayes, 406 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 1: and no Dorian Finney Smith. That's four of your core 407 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:52,119 Speaker 1: eight playoff rotation players. Lebron's your second best player, Rui's 408 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:55,359 Speaker 1: probably your fourth best player. So like, you don't have 409 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 1: much margin for error when you're down that many guys. 410 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 1: So if Austins and Luka Doncic are also gonna shoot 411 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:05,439 Speaker 1: eleven for forty from the field, you're gonna have a 412 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 1: hard time beating anyone. Right, It's just there's too much 413 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: going against you in that sort of situation, and so 414 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 1: some of this, like, honestly, it's just a really bad 415 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:19,920 Speaker 1: confluence of events. So Lebron happens to suffer his first 416 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:22,280 Speaker 1: injury of the year when you're already down two forwards 417 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 1: and your starting center right Luca happens to be having 418 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:28,480 Speaker 1: one of the worst shot making stretches of his career, 419 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 1: which we'll get to in a second. And Austin Reeves 420 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:32,479 Speaker 1: has always been a guy that takes a little bit 421 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:34,880 Speaker 1: of time to get his rhythm when he's been out 422 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,480 Speaker 1: of the lineup for a little bit, And so Austin's 423 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:39,480 Speaker 1: really struggling because he's been out of the lineup and 424 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 1: he's been out a rhythm. Luca's having this like brutal 425 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:45,080 Speaker 1: shot making stretch where he can't make any of the 426 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: jump shots that he typically makes in his it throughout 427 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 1: the rest of his career, and you're just absolutely brutalized 428 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 1: by injuries in the front court. It's just a rough spot, right, 429 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 1: And I actually kind of view it as a blessing 430 00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:00,920 Speaker 1: in disguise because the team had been winning a lot. Obviously, 431 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:03,879 Speaker 1: they've been the best team in the league for almost 432 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 1: two months, so like it's one of those things where 433 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 1: you had a little bit of slippage in your execution 434 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:13,680 Speaker 1: against Boston, right, And souse JJ was able to use 435 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 1: the Brooklyn loss last night to just basically rip his 436 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 1: team a new one and essentially like use it as 437 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 1: a motivator to refocus the team. Like it's not a 438 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:26,000 Speaker 1: big deal that they lost to the Nets. It's not 439 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 1: going to be some sort of dramatic issue with where 440 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 1: they're at in the standings. Like, I don't necessarily think 441 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,159 Speaker 1: getting any specific seed other than staying out of the 442 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 1: play in matters. I think getting to the getting the 443 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:39,640 Speaker 1: April healthy is really all that matters, and so it's 444 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:41,920 Speaker 1: more important for you to be sharp. And so if 445 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 1: you drop a game against the Nets, that is just 446 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:47,440 Speaker 1: a confluence of events, and you lose against the defending 447 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:49,679 Speaker 1: champions on their home floor, in a game where a 448 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:51,639 Speaker 1: bunch of down two starters and a bunch of other 449 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:54,879 Speaker 1: things don't go your way, it's really nothing to overreact to. 450 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:59,120 Speaker 1: But JJ can package that as a message to put 451 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 1: in front of the Lakers, like, we have to be 452 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 1: better at this stuff, because guess what, if they want 453 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 1: to win the trophy, they do kind of have to 454 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: be better at that stuff. And it's just a perfect 455 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:11,199 Speaker 1: excuse to use as a motivator for this team. The 456 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:12,920 Speaker 1: part that I want to keep an eye on, though, 457 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 1: is Luca's shot making, because like, this is the part 458 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 1: that has me most excited about the ultimate potential of 459 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:21,640 Speaker 1: this team. Austin's been out, he'll eventually get it. Back. 460 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:23,920 Speaker 1: That will go a long way towards helping this team. 461 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:28,040 Speaker 1: But we haven't even begun to scratch the surface of 462 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 1: how good the Lakers can be when Luca is Luca. 463 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 1: Here's a crazy stat to demonstrate for you guys, the 464 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 1: gap in shot making ability between this version of Luka 465 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,359 Speaker 1: Doncic in the version of Luka Doncic that took the 466 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:45,199 Speaker 1: Dallas Mavericks to the finals last year. In twelve games 467 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: with the Lakers, Luca has managed to make at least 468 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 1: ten field goals twice in twelve games. Last year with 469 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 1: the Dallas Mavericks, in seventy games, he made at least 470 00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 1: ten shots fifty times fifty of the seventy games. That's 471 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:06,560 Speaker 1: the level of shot making that Luca can still get 472 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 1: to relative to where he's been with the Lakers. That's 473 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:13,439 Speaker 1: where the excitement comes. Do I think the Lakers are 474 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:16,480 Speaker 1: actually the best defense in the NBA? No, they've been 475 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 1: defending like that, but I don't actually think they're the 476 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 1: best defense in the NBA. My guess is they're somewhere 477 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 1: in the five to ten range given the type of 478 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:28,159 Speaker 1: personnel that they have, But they can be so so, 479 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:31,439 Speaker 1: so much better on offense. That is the side of 480 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 1: the floor that they can make dramatic improvements through simplifying 481 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:38,879 Speaker 1: some of their spacing principles. JJ's been talking a lot 482 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 1: about this. I'm not going to get into it today, 483 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:43,000 Speaker 1: but one of our next few Laker videos, I'll do 484 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:45,919 Speaker 1: a deeper dive into just like how spacing is supposed 485 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:48,879 Speaker 1: to work and why JJ's been harping on that so much. 486 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 1: It mostly has to do with putting guys in the 487 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:54,160 Speaker 1: right spots so that you're tilting the offense to get 488 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 1: the kinds of shots you want from the players that 489 00:25:57,080 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 1: you want. That's basically the main purpose of spacing, right. 490 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:02,160 Speaker 1: There's a lot of improvement that they can still make 491 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 1: on that end, but just Luca getting back to where 492 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:07,439 Speaker 1: he can be as a shot maker while Lebron and 493 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:10,040 Speaker 1: Austin are both healthy and in rhythm, will go a 494 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:13,359 Speaker 1: long way towards lifting this team to a more elite 495 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 1: level on the offensive end of the floor. And that's 496 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:17,760 Speaker 1: why I'm not really concerned. I saw enough in the 497 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:20,360 Speaker 1: Boston game to think that they can beat Boston. I'm 498 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:24,119 Speaker 1: gonna pick Boston. I think everybody should pick Boston against everyone. 499 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 1: They're just the safer bet but I saw enough in 500 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 1: that game from Luca and Lebron attacking the Boston Smalls 501 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 1: to go like, oh, like, I think they can win 502 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:36,200 Speaker 1: that series. When I was scouting the Dallas Boston series 503 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:38,119 Speaker 1: last year, I literally came on the show in my 504 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:40,719 Speaker 1: series preview and said, I think Boston's gonna blow him out. 505 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:44,600 Speaker 1: I didn't see a pathway because of some specific issues 506 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:48,280 Speaker 1: with the matchups and the inability that Dallas had to 507 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: create space because of their non shooters on the floor. 508 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:53,280 Speaker 1: They're pour above the break shooters in the way that 509 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:57,440 Speaker 1: they could sit rim protection under the basket. The difference 510 00:26:57,440 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 1: with the Lakers is when they're healthy and they have 511 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:02,960 Speaker 1: Hatchamura in the lineup and Dorian Finney Smith, they don't 512 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:05,159 Speaker 1: have a single player in that five man grouping that 513 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:08,080 Speaker 1: you can help off of, and so they should be 514 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:10,480 Speaker 1: able to create more space. Lebron and Lucas should be 515 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:12,800 Speaker 1: able to punish the Smalls. Again, it was a loss. 516 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:14,520 Speaker 1: There was a lot of disappointment there, and I think 517 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:17,640 Speaker 1: they played well. Luca looked bad for most of that game. 518 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 1: There's a lot of negatives, but I saw enough out 519 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:21,440 Speaker 1: of that to be like, oh, I think they can 520 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:24,960 Speaker 1: beat Boston. That was an encouraging thing for me. The 521 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:27,359 Speaker 1: Nets game was literally a confluence of events. I'm not 522 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 1: worried about it, but it's a nice opportunity for JJ 523 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 1: to refocus the team, and it's a reminder for you 524 00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 1: guys that Luca can still come so so so far 525 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 1: as a shot maker. A brutal from Austin and Luca 526 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 1: last night eleven for forty from the field that they're 527 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:44,840 Speaker 1: not going to shoot like that very often. Steph played 528 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:47,560 Speaker 1: on some really talented teams in the heart of his 529 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:51,159 Speaker 1: prime with the Golden State Warriors, but it's been brutal 530 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 1: over the last five years. In the twenty twenty two 531 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:57,639 Speaker 1: title run, the Warriors had a championship level roster, but 532 00:27:57,760 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 1: there wasn't much margin for air. Those of you guys 533 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:02,760 Speaker 1: listen to the show at the time, We'll remember none 534 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:05,720 Speaker 1: of their young players were in their rotation. Even I 535 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 1: was advocating for Joe lacub and Bob Myers to cash 536 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:12,359 Speaker 1: them in, to trade them to create more margin for 537 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 1: error in that particular playoff runt. In the short term, 538 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 1: Joe lacob and Bob Myers were proven right because that 539 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:22,840 Speaker 1: team was good enough to win the championship. But the 540 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:25,680 Speaker 1: story in the long run is more complicated. It's become 541 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:30,119 Speaker 1: precarious because none of that young talent ended up being 542 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:34,359 Speaker 1: a foundational, cornerstone type of talent. James Wiseman was a 543 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:38,720 Speaker 1: complete bust, Jonathan Kaminga proved to be super raw, and 544 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 1: guess what now, Jonathan Minga's do a massive payday. And 545 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 1: as soon as you start talking about Jonathan Kaminga as 546 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 1: a thirty plus million dollar player, it becomes a more 547 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:50,720 Speaker 1: complicated discussion for any basketball team. And I like Moses Moody. 548 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:52,600 Speaker 1: I think he's a useful young player, but he's a 549 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:56,800 Speaker 1: role player. And then things got compounded as Andrew Wiggins 550 00:28:56,880 --> 00:28:58,800 Speaker 1: failed to ever get back to the level he was 551 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:01,760 Speaker 1: at in twenty twenty two. So the result was a 552 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 1: limited Warriors roster that didn't really accomplish much over the 553 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: next two and a half years, and honestly got pretty 554 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 1: sad as you looked around the rest of the league 555 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 1: at the other sets of stars. I used to earlier 556 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:14,120 Speaker 1: in the year, I'd do this in the show. I 557 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 1: would just list out the shop creators on every other 558 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:20,080 Speaker 1: team in the West, and it was crazy, like you know, okay, 559 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 1: see it's Shay and j dub and Chet. If you 560 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:26,400 Speaker 1: go to Denver, it's Jokichen Murray, It's John Morant and 561 00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:29,520 Speaker 1: Jaron Jackson. It's Lebron James and Anthony Davis. It's Anthony 562 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 1: Edwards and Julius Randall. It's Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. 563 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 1: It's Darren Fox and demartiros And it's Kyrie Irving and 564 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:38,880 Speaker 1: Luka Donca. Even James Harden had Norm Powell, who was 565 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:42,200 Speaker 1: great while Kawhi was out. Fred van Vliet with the 566 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:45,080 Speaker 1: Houston Rockets had Jalen Green and Opera and Shanggun and 567 00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:48,040 Speaker 1: Steph Curry had Andrew Wiggins and Buddy Heel and like, look, 568 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 1: I Andrew Wiggins got to a really high level in 569 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:52,480 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty two season. I thought he was, you know, 570 00:29:52,520 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 1: he's never been back at that level, but I thought 571 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:56,560 Speaker 1: he was really really good in that in that playoff run. 572 00:29:57,320 --> 00:30:00,360 Speaker 1: But like that's a lot to ask. Steph hurried to 573 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:05,600 Speaker 1: overcome and like to make matters even worse. The roster 574 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: limitations made them look bad. As they looked bad, everyone 575 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:15,160 Speaker 1: decided they were bad. As everyone decided they were bad, 576 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:18,040 Speaker 1: a lot of people just decided the trade wasn't worth it, 577 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 1: so they passed on Ogan and Obi, and they passed 578 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 1: on Pascal Siaka. And I mean they may not have 579 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:27,040 Speaker 1: been able to afford Mikael Bridges with how expensive it was, 580 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:29,400 Speaker 1: but they just started passing on guys. Even in the 581 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:31,080 Speaker 1: early part of the year, when Jimmy Butler and Zach 582 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:33,640 Speaker 1: Lavine were available. I had been hearing that the Warriors 583 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:36,400 Speaker 1: were not interested in those two, that they were holding 584 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:39,200 Speaker 1: out for Kevin Duran or Lebron James in a trade. 585 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:41,520 Speaker 1: They didn't want to have a flawed star. Why because 586 00:30:41,560 --> 00:30:45,719 Speaker 1: they thought they were bad all because of a roster imbalance. 587 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:47,880 Speaker 1: And part of the issue at that point is they 588 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:50,920 Speaker 1: had waited so long that their young players had lost 589 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:54,440 Speaker 1: some value relative to what it was in twenty twenty two. 590 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 1: Johnathan Comingia in twenty twenty two, three years left on 591 00:30:57,760 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 1: a rookie deal, young raw prospect, has a lot of intrigue. 592 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:05,240 Speaker 1: Trade for Johnathan Comingia when you gotta pay him, it's 593 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:09,080 Speaker 1: a completely different story. It really looked bleak, and you 594 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:12,240 Speaker 1: could see it in Steph's body language at times. He's 595 00:31:12,280 --> 00:31:14,239 Speaker 1: one of the great competitors in this league, and he 596 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 1: was losing belief that he'd ever get a chance to 597 00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:21,200 Speaker 1: truly compete for a championship again. There was even a 598 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:25,880 Speaker 1: press conference where Steph sounded so dejected and made comments 599 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:29,040 Speaker 1: surrounding the trade deadline that were so like bizarrely defeated 600 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:31,480 Speaker 1: sounding that he had to come out for his next 601 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:34,800 Speaker 1: press conference and remind everybody that he's a competitor that 602 00:31:34,840 --> 00:31:37,960 Speaker 1: wants to win a title. But then opportunity knocked. I 603 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:40,160 Speaker 1: don't know if it was the Luca trade that kicked 604 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:42,800 Speaker 1: them into gear or something else, or just their urgency 605 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:45,640 Speaker 1: of the moment, but shortly after the Luca trade it 606 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 1: was announced that there's a lot of intentionality behind Golden 607 00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:53,120 Speaker 1: State's pursuit of a star to bring next to Steph. 608 00:31:53,440 --> 00:31:56,040 Speaker 1: They end up pulling the trigger on Jimmy Butler, who 609 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:59,320 Speaker 1: had done his part by acting so crazy and playing 610 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 1: so poorly that he had tanked his value down to 611 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:04,400 Speaker 1: where he became a very achievable target for Golden State 612 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:07,040 Speaker 1: without having to give up much more than some salary 613 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:10,520 Speaker 1: filler to pick. One of the main reasons why I 614 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:12,880 Speaker 1: was such a big believer in a Jimmy Butler trade 615 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:15,240 Speaker 1: was that the Warriors were really good in a lot 616 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:18,120 Speaker 1: of areas. I talked a lot in the early part 617 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:19,440 Speaker 1: of the year about how they had a ton of 618 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:23,160 Speaker 1: team speed, which is how they are so excellent defensively. 619 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 1: Another great rotation team. They were top ten defense all year. 620 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:29,600 Speaker 1: Steph had shown signs of his superstar upside in some 621 00:32:29,640 --> 00:32:33,800 Speaker 1: high profile games. As a matter of fact, the Warriors 622 00:32:34,040 --> 00:32:35,880 Speaker 1: all year, even before the trade, were one of the 623 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:38,560 Speaker 1: best teams in the league against the best teams in 624 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:42,400 Speaker 1: the league. Some signature wins a win in Boston against 625 00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:46,440 Speaker 1: the Celtics, two wins against Oklahoma City Thunder. They had 626 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:49,960 Speaker 1: shown some real upside. They also had way more role 627 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:52,400 Speaker 1: player talent than they actually needed. They had fifteen guys 628 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:56,040 Speaker 1: who can play. They just needed someone to take on 629 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:59,880 Speaker 1: the responsibilities of a secondary star, and Jimmy Butler did 630 00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 1: that immediately. He fit the offense both with Steph and 631 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:09,160 Speaker 1: without Steph. They got even better defensively, and it shortened 632 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:12,200 Speaker 1: the rotation. It cut down on the number of options 633 00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 1: Steve Kerk had. It gave guys more consistent roles. Crystallized 634 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:18,120 Speaker 1: roles for guys like Moses Moody and Brandon Pajemsky have 635 00:33:18,200 --> 00:33:22,960 Speaker 1: been great with the starters but most importantly, it awakened 636 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:27,480 Speaker 1: a sleeping giant Steph had been clearly holding something in 637 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:30,720 Speaker 1: reserve as the team was floundering in mediocrity, and the 638 00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:35,120 Speaker 1: belief that his team could actually reach the mountaintop unlocked 639 00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:39,520 Speaker 1: his ceiling. Since the Jimmy Butler trade in fourteen games, 640 00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:43,880 Speaker 1: averaging thirty points per game, fifty forty two ninety two splits, 641 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:48,000 Speaker 1: sixty nine percent true shooting, again, thirty points on sixty 642 00:33:48,080 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 1: nine percent tru shooting since Jimmy joined the team, his 643 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:54,360 Speaker 1: MVP season was thirty points on sixty seven percent trough shooting. 644 00:33:55,840 --> 00:33:59,280 Speaker 1: Like it's insane. They're twelve to two in those games. 645 00:33:59,520 --> 00:34:02,920 Speaker 1: They look like a bona fide championship contender. He was 646 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:06,000 Speaker 1: one of the game's greatest players, hiding in playing sight 647 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:12,239 Speaker 1: completely like written off due to one roster weakness, an 648 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:15,960 Speaker 1: imbalance between role player talent and shot creation talent, one 649 00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:19,160 Speaker 1: that frankly was obvious to everyone in the world watching 650 00:34:19,160 --> 00:34:22,200 Speaker 1: this team over the last couple of years. But they 651 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:24,480 Speaker 1: took care of it. And now we're gonna get to 652 00:34:24,480 --> 00:34:26,239 Speaker 1: see what I wanted to see so badly out of 653 00:34:26,239 --> 00:34:29,480 Speaker 1: a Jimmy Butler trade. And that's Steph Curry playing in 654 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:36,839 Speaker 1: meaningful basketball games, which I'm very excited for. Volume what's up, guys, 655 00:34:36,880 --> 00:34:39,680 Speaker 1: As always, I appreciate you for listening to and supporting 656 00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:42,279 Speaker 1: OOPS tonight. They would actually be really helpful for us 657 00:34:42,320 --> 00:34:44,200 Speaker 1: if you guys would take a second and leave a 658 00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:46,879 Speaker 1: rating and a review. As always, I appreciate you guys 659 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:48,520 Speaker 1: supporting us, but if you could take a minute to 660 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:50,399 Speaker 1: do that, I'd really appreciate it.