1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: All right, welcome to Hoops Tonight here at the Volume. 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: Happy Friday, everybody. I hope all of you guys had 3 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: an incredible week. We are live on AMPS, so if 4 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,960 Speaker 1: you're watching on YouTube or listening on the podcast fees, 5 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:11,319 Speaker 1: don't forget that AMP is the very first place that 6 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: you guys can get these shows. We are continuing our 7 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: player rankings today with number six Anthony Davis. A big 8 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: resurgent year from him. You guys know the drill before 9 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: we get started. Subscribe to the Volumes YouTube channel so 10 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 1: you don't miss any more of our videos. 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Last, but not least, 16 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:42,560 Speaker 1: before we get started, maybe the NBA offseason, and it's 17 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: definitely a little bit of a slower stretch of the 18 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: year when it comes to sports, although we still have baseball, 19 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: and with how difficult it is to find baseball games 20 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: on TV these days, sometimes you have to go to 21 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: an actual stadium to watch your favorite baseball team play. 22 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: But there's also plenty going on in the world world 23 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: of touring musicians and comedians, and the best way to 24 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: get tickets to any of these is on game Time, 25 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: the fastest scoring ticketing app in the United States, for 26 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 1: last minute, amazing deals on tickets to see your favorite 27 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: baseball team, your favorite band, or comedian. 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This is probably the ranking in 37 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: my top ten that's gonna have people disagree with the most, 38 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: although Luca was one that a lot of people disagreed with, 39 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: But I know that generally speaking around the league, people 40 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: are pretty low on Anthony Davis, and a big part 41 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: of that is he's not nearly the offensive player that 42 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 1: his peers are on this list. As we look at 43 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: the twelve guys from you know, Devin Booker at the 44 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,639 Speaker 1: twelve spot up the list, every one of those guys 45 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: is a better offensive player than Anthony Davis and it's 46 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:23,679 Speaker 1: not particularly close, to be honest, And I think that 47 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 1: that's the most easily digestible basketball trade, you know, the 48 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: ability to put the ball in the basket or to 49 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 1: help other people put the ball in the basket, and 50 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: so people focus on that a great deal. And it's 51 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 1: important to acknowledge that Ad is a good offensive player, 52 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: but he's not at the level of those guys. That said, 53 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: I thought he demonstrated after the trade deadline this year 54 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: pretty resoundingly that he is the very best defensive player 55 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:50,959 Speaker 1: in the league when he is healthy. And you could 56 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 1: argue that just Anthony Davis's individual value to the Lakers 57 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: as a defensive fulcrum is every bit as important to 58 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 1: that unit and the way they win basketball games as 59 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 1: on the offensive end, guys like Steph and Nikola jokichar 60 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: to their individual offenses. The Lakers were one of the 61 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: worst defenses in the league this year when Ad was 62 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: off the floor, they had a one eighteen defensive rating 63 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: to give you an idea that would follow in about 64 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: the twenty seven to twenty eight range out of the 65 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: thirty teams. And when AD was on the floor, they 66 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: were one of the very best defenses in the league. 67 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 1: For the entire season, regardless of roster makeup. They had 68 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:29,119 Speaker 1: a one to ten point seven defensive rating with AD 69 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 1: on the floor, which would have ranked third in the 70 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: NBA compared to the rest of the team. So basically, 71 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 1: eighties on the floor, top tierior league defense, eighties off 72 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: the floor, absolute garbage defense. That's the level of value 73 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: that Anthony Davis brings to that end of the floor. 74 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: And that is the entire season. As we zoom in, 75 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: and we will in a little bit on what happened 76 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: after the deadline, he was at even another level above that. 77 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 1: We're going to do a deeper dive into ads defense 78 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: in general as well, just some of the schematic things 79 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: that make him so dominant on that end of the floor. 80 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: But the general theme for today goes back to what 81 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: I was saying about Luka Doncic when I had him 82 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: at ten. I don't like theoretical basketball. We play the 83 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: games for a reason. We get results. It removes subjectivity 84 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: from the equation. Anthony Davis's defensive value wins basketball games, 85 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 1: end of story, so much so that even Steph Curry, 86 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: a guy who's way above him on this list and 87 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:27,160 Speaker 1: a guy who I think is the greatest offensive weapon 88 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: of the last decade of NBA basketball, even Steph couldn't 89 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 1: solve the Anthony Davis defensive puzzle in that second round 90 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: series for the Warriors. AD won that chess match. As 91 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: a matter of fact, Led by Ad, the Lakers held 92 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: Steph to a fifty five percent true shooting percentage in 93 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 1: that series, which was Steph's lowest mark in a playoff 94 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 1: series since the twenty nineteen series against the Houston Rockets. 95 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 1: Now is AD better than Steph? No, But the point 96 00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: is is ad superpower has an impact on basketball games 97 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: that was able to overcome even what Steph's superpower was 98 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,799 Speaker 1: within the context of all the other matchups in that series. 99 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,479 Speaker 1: And that is why, even though he's not the same 100 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:11,720 Speaker 1: level of offensive player as the other guys around him 101 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: on this list, I have him up at number six 102 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,719 Speaker 1: in this year's player rankings. We're going to do a big, 103 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 1: deep dive into what he accomplished this season, and I 104 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: think after we really look back and zoom in on 105 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: what he accomplished, you guys will probably start to see, 106 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: at least for those of you guys who didn't follow 107 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 1: the Lakers very closely this year, you'll start to see 108 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 1: in greater detail just how impactful he was on winning 109 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 1: this season. So quick season recap. He played in fifty 110 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: six games this year, which was the most he's played 111 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: in since the twenty twenty bubble season. Average twenty six 112 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: points and thirteen rebounds. Now twenty six points on sixty 113 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: three percent true shooting. So again, not the same quality 114 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: offensive player as his peers, no doubt, but still a 115 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,159 Speaker 1: very damn good offensive player. And especially when we zoom 116 00:05:58,200 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: in a little bit on some of the shot making stuff, 117 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 1: he still can't make a jump shot to save his life. 118 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 1: So with where he's at offensively, it's not like you're 119 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:08,719 Speaker 1: leaving a ton of gap there between his peers, but 120 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: he's just somewhat below them right, also averaged two blocks 121 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: in a steal per game. He was actually third in 122 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 1: the NBA in stocks that steals plus blocks. He was 123 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 1: third in the NBA in stocks per game behind Jaron Jackson. 124 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 1: And who do you guys think is number two? Quick trivia? 125 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 1: If you guessed Nick Claxton from the Brooklyn Nets, you 126 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:29,479 Speaker 1: were correct. As a shot creator, not a great year 127 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: as a half court shot creator. He was zero point 128 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 1: ninety two points per ISO, which is below average. One 129 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 1: point zero six points per post up among the high 130 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: volume guys. That was middle of the pack. So there's 131 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:41,599 Speaker 1: twenty players in the NBA last year who ran at 132 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: least two hundred post ups and ad finished eleventh on 133 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 1: that list and pretty much behind all of his peers 134 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: at the center position. The one guy who's one of 135 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: his peers at his position that he beat it out, 136 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:55,279 Speaker 1: that he beat out was bam at a bio. Shot 137 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: making was the biggest issue. Shot just thirty five percent 138 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: on jump shots, thirty nine percent when you waited that 139 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:04,039 Speaker 1: for threes, so thirty nine percent effective field goal percentage. 140 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: Just thirty six percent on pull up jump shots, all 141 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: from the mid range. So every single time you saw 142 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis take some sort of dribble, step back or 143 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 1: turn around jump shot or something like that out of 144 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 1: the post. Anytime he took a shot like that, it 145 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 1: had about a two out of three chance of missing, 146 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 1: And so if it felt like that when you were 147 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: watching the Lakers, you were right in the sense that 148 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: that was what the percentage landed out at. As a 149 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 1: matter of fact, his jumper was a big issue, particularly 150 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 1: in spot up situations when he was unguarded. He shot 151 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: just thirty one percent on jump shots. So it's starting 152 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: to look more and more like the bubble was a 153 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 1: big outlier for Anthony Davis. He had a to give 154 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: you an idea, in the bubble, he had a fifty 155 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: nine percent effective field goal percentage on catch and shoot 156 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: jump shots, in a forty five percent effective field goal 157 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 1: percentage on pull up jumper. So just not the same 158 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 1: type of shot maker really at any point of his 159 00:07:54,760 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: career outside of the bubble. There was definitely that thirty 160 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: five percent or thirty nine percent effective fielgal percentage overall 161 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 1: on jump shots. That's low compared to his career, Like 162 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 1: he's typically in the low forties and had a lot 163 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: of years there in New Orleans in particular, where he 164 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: was in the low forties, so definitely a bit below 165 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: what his career numbers were. But even as we zoom 166 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: in on the kind of zoom in on individual stretches 167 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: of his career, there never was a stretch where he 168 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: shot as well as he did in the bubble, so 169 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: I think we can pretty safely assume that that was 170 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: an outlier. He shot fifty one percent on floaters this year. 171 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: That's good, not great. It's it's good compared to guards 172 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,080 Speaker 1: who are taking floaters over the top of shot blockers 173 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: and stuff. But for Anthony Davis, with the quality of 174 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: looks he gets with those little pop shots in the paint, 175 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: that's actually pretty low and way below where his peers 176 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:47,959 Speaker 1: at the position are. As a matter of fact, Nikola 177 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: Jokic was almost seventy percent on floaters this year. It 178 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 1: goes to show you the difference between those two guys 179 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: in their touch. Ady was sixty one percent on hooks, 180 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: which is very good. As matter of fact, I'd say 181 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:01,679 Speaker 1: that's great. I mean, Jokic has him beat by about 182 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 1: five percent there. But again, Jokic has the best touch 183 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: in the league. I'd like to see Ad get the 184 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: floaters up to about sixty percent as well. I just 185 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 1: think that's such an important shot for him to be 186 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 1: able to demonstrate that he could score over the top 187 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 1: of the defense. He is incredible at the rim though, 188 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 1: five point six makes per game in the restricted area, 189 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 1: trailing just Yannis at one, Zion at two, and his 190 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: teammate Lebron James at three, so he's the fourth best 191 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: rim attacking player in the league. He was seventy six 192 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 1: percent in the restricted area on shot attempts, which is 193 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: higher than any of those three guys that are above him. So, like, 194 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 1: it's one of those things where he has all of 195 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,839 Speaker 1: the tools to be that top tier offensive player, does 196 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: a really good job scoring in all of the advantage 197 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: created situations, right, but when it's time for him to 198 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: create for himself, that touch over the top, particularly with 199 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,200 Speaker 1: his floater and his jump shot is the problem. If 200 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,320 Speaker 1: he improves that, if he gets his pull up jumper, 201 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 1: you know, that mid range pull up up in like 202 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:00,120 Speaker 1: where he's consistently making in the low forties and that 203 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 1: have in the mid thirties, that would be help a 204 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,559 Speaker 1: ton and get that floater up to sixty percent. I 205 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:07,239 Speaker 1: think if he got to there, all of his individual 206 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:10,559 Speaker 1: creation numbers would go up considerably. Not to mention, that 207 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: would open up things a lot for him to start 208 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: attacking the rim even more than he does. Anthony Davis 209 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: is a deadly roleman, and the Lakers used him a 210 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: lot as a roleman, especially with all of the guards 211 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 1: that they have that could run, pick and roll. Ad 212 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 1: shot the ball on the roll two hundred and forty 213 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: two times this year, leading to three hundred and eleven points. 214 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:33,080 Speaker 1: That one point twenty nine points per possession on roleman 215 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 1: shots was third out of the eleven players in the 216 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 1: league to log at least two hundred rollman possessions, which 217 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 1: you know when you watch the film. It's actually especially 218 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: impressive when you consider he's not a very good screener. 219 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 1: That's definitely a weakness of his compared to his peers. 220 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 1: He doesn't set good screens that free up the guard better, 221 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: which inherently free up him better when he's on his role. 222 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 1: It's just he's so damn quick, and he's got such 223 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 1: a good handle compared to other bigs, and his touch 224 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 1: at the rim is so good that Anthony Davis makes 225 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:07,199 Speaker 1: up for that and is still a great role man. 226 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 1: But I'd like to see him get a little bit 227 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: better as a screener. He is arguably the best vertical 228 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: spacer in the league. Just a huge target with great hands, 229 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: and dunks everything. And he's also a pretty good short 230 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: role passer. Not not quite as good as Bam, definitely 231 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: not as good as Jokis, but he's a solid short 232 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 1: role passer. It's not like he's hurting his team team 233 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 1: when teams kind of gather around him when he's catching 234 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 1: on the role. It was generally an up and down season. 235 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: Started the year really rough. He in the two to 236 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: ten stretch for the Lakers to start the year, he 237 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,080 Speaker 1: did not score thirty points a single time. He averaged 238 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: just twenty three and eleven during that stretch, which was 239 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:45,319 Speaker 1: just not good enough. But then he hit the Jets 240 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 1: for a month and was just absolutely unbelievable. If you 241 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: take out the game that he got hurt against the 242 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 1: Nuggets when he hurt his foot, if you take that 243 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:55,199 Speaker 1: game out because he left early, and then there was 244 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:58,080 Speaker 1: a game where he left early in Cleveland two sick, 245 00:11:58,200 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 1: where he played just a few minutes and then left 246 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,079 Speaker 1: he wasn't feeling well. If you take those two games out, 247 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,320 Speaker 1: there was a twelve game span there over the course 248 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 1: of that month where he scored thirty plus and nine 249 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: of the twelve games he averaged thirty five and fifteen. 250 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 1: In that twelve game stretch. The Lakers went eight and 251 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 1: four in that span, and again that was before the 252 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 1: trade deadline when the reinforcements came. The peak of the 253 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 1: run was a road game in Milwaukee where he dropped 254 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 1: forty four, going blow for blow with Giannis and Tenna 255 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 1: Kumpo in a win. And then he followed that up 256 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: two nights later in Washington, dropping fifty five on the 257 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 1: Wizards in a win. But then he suffers the foot 258 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: stress injury against the Nuggets. Huge bummer because like for years, 259 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:42,839 Speaker 1: Laker fans were just praying that Ad would be able 260 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: to get back to the level he was at in 261 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:46,679 Speaker 1: the bubble, and he kind of was at that level 262 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 1: during that twelve game stretch. Again, thirty five and fifteen 263 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 1: is like MVP of the league level production that he 264 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:54,959 Speaker 1: was putting out there before the injury. But then it 265 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,079 Speaker 1: was like man, here we go again, and he ended 266 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 1: up missing twenty games. And as you guys remember, Lebron 267 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 1: really carried the team over that stretch, and then Ad 268 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 1: comes back and then Lebron gets hurt, probably related to 269 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: the work at the workload he had to put in 270 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 1: at that point in time. But At that point it 271 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: became Anthony Davis's job to basically do what Lebron did 272 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 1: and carry the team, and he did that and then some. 273 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis, after coming back from the foot stress fracture 274 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 1: a foot stretch reaction, i should say, missed just three 275 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 1: games the entire rest of the season, and all of 276 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 1: them were back to backs. When he was forced to 277 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:32,199 Speaker 1: miss by the medical staff. He averaged twenty five and 278 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 1: thirteen overall in that stretch. There was a sixteen game 279 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 1: stretch from February twenty sixth to April second, where he 280 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 1: averaged twenty nine and thirteen on fifty nine percent shooting, 281 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:44,599 Speaker 1: so not quite the level he was at before the 282 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:48,439 Speaker 1: foot injury offensively, but still really really good. But most importantly, 283 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: this was the stretch post trade deadline where Anthony Davis 284 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: went up a level on defense and it completely re 285 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 1: established the Lakers as one of the very best defensive 286 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:03,839 Speaker 1: teams in the league. Over the course of the final 287 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: twenty six games of the season, which is the stretch 288 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 1: that represents every the game. Every game the Lakers played 289 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: after their trade reinforcements actually were in Jersey. In Jerseys, 290 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: the Lakers were second in the NBA and defensive rating 291 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 1: over that span. They took that like pick and roll 292 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 1: identity that they had, where it's like Lebron, James, the 293 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: Angelo Russell, Austin Reeves and Dennis Schroeder just running a 294 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: ton of pick and roll with Anthony Davis as the 295 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: folkrum on the offensive end, and then they added this 296 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 1: incredible defensive identity that they really haven't had since the 297 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one season, and suddenly they became one of 298 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 1: the better two way teams in the league. They finished 299 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: the league that stretch of the season, going eighteen to 300 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: eight and getting all the way back to being in 301 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 1: the playoff picture and having a legitimate path in front 302 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: of them to make a playoff runt and ad. Again, 303 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: this is not twenty twenty. You know. In twenty twenty, 304 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: Lebron was still running the show. I don't think people remember, 305 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 1: like especially Lebron fans in particular, because they just insist 306 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: on saying he's the best in the world all the time. 307 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: I don't think people realize how big of a drop 308 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: off there's been since twenty twenty for people who forgot. 309 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 1: In the twenty twenty playoffs, Lebron averaged twenty eight points, 310 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 1: eleven rebounds, and nine assists on sixty five percent true shooting. 311 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 1: That's unbelievable. Best player in the world production. In the finals, 312 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 1: Lebron averaged thirty points, twelve rebounds, and nine assists on 313 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: sixty seven percent true shooting. That was Lebron's team. He 314 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 1: was still the offensive fulkrum. Obviously, Anthony Davis was the 315 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: defensive folkrum, but Lebron was the best player on that team. 316 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: This is not the same Lebron. He's gone from being 317 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: the best player in the world to just a really 318 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: good number two. He's just another one of the superstars now. 319 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: He's not like on a tier by himself atop the 320 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 1: league the way he used to be. Ad is more 321 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 1: consistently impactful than him. He's the literal structure that the 322 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 1: team is built around, both in their pick and roll 323 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: attack offensively and as the rim protector on defense. This 324 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 1: is Anthony Davis's team now, and it continued into the postseason, 325 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: just until he ran into Nikoliokich. In the Memphis series, 326 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: he averaged four point three blocks per game, completely dominated 327 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: the series defensively. In the Lakers one. In the Golden 328 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: State Series, he completely shut down the Warriors motion offense 329 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 1: really in the first game. They ran it here and 330 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 1: there throughout the series, but it never was effect effective 331 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 1: really just by patrolling the paint. Every adjustment Steve Kerr 332 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: made over the rest of the series was designed to 333 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 1: try to pull Anthony Davis away from the paint, and 334 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: none of it worked. As we said before, this was 335 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 1: STEP's most inefficient series since the twenty nineteen series against 336 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 1: the Houston Rockets. They held both Klay Thompson and Jordan 337 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 1: Pool below one point per shot attempt, so they both 338 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: had more field goal attempts than points in the series. 339 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 1: Next thing you know, the two to ten Lakers all 340 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: is dead and the season is over. Lakers were in 341 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 1: the Conference finals. Now, before we talk about what happened 342 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: in the Conference finals, because I want to stay on 343 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 1: the positive with ad for just a little bit longer, 344 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:06,680 Speaker 1: let's talk about why Anthony Davis is the best defensive 345 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 1: player in the world. Because, if you remember, I talked 346 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 1: about how bam Adebio is probably the most versatile defender. 347 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: There are a couple of specific defensive things that bam 348 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 1: is better at that I think make him a little 349 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:20,919 Speaker 1: more versatile and makes him such a great fit with 350 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: the Miami Heat, But in terms of the ultimate top 351 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:27,199 Speaker 1: tier ceiling defensively, I don't think anybody can reach Anthony 352 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 1: Davis's level, even Giannis, who I thought was the best 353 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:31,679 Speaker 1: defensive player in the world during that stretch when Anthony 354 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 1: Davis was hurt all of the time. And it really 355 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:38,440 Speaker 1: hinges on three core skills that make Anthony Davis the 356 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:42,399 Speaker 1: best drop coverage big in the world. Number One, he's 357 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:45,200 Speaker 1: excellent at getting up to the level of the screen, 358 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 1: but also getting back to the rim after his guard recovers. Now, 359 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: remember in the NBA right now, all of these guards 360 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: are insane pull up jumpshooters. Right so you can no 361 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:57,399 Speaker 1: longer run a traditional drop coverage where you back all 362 00:17:57,440 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 1: the way back to the rim and let the guy 363 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:01,680 Speaker 1: just kind of you because he's not going to drive 364 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 1: into you. He's gonna rise up and take a jump shot. 365 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:06,639 Speaker 1: So a lot of people refer to this as the 366 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 1: yo yo. It's the job of the big to get 367 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 1: up to the level of the screen to dissuade the 368 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: pull up jump shot, recover back to the paint, up 369 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 1: to the level of the screen, recover back to the paint. 370 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 1: And the reason why they call it a yo yo 371 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 1: is now in the NBA, especially for fast paced teams. 372 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 1: They might run three pick and rolls on the same possession. 373 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 1: Shut down a pick and roll, they're just resetting and 374 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:27,959 Speaker 1: running another one. They might swing it to the perimeter 375 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 1: and have the big run up and set a quick screen, 376 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 1: and now he's defending a different player in pick and roll. 377 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 1: And so that's why they refer to as a As 378 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:36,240 Speaker 1: a yo yo, you have to get up and back 379 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:38,200 Speaker 1: and up and back, and it requires a great deal 380 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:42,679 Speaker 1: of mobility. And with AD's combination of mobility and just 381 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:45,879 Speaker 1: outrageous length, he's one of the best in the world 382 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:48,399 Speaker 1: at getting up and back in that yo yo to 383 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: dissuade the pull up shot and to get back to 384 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: the rim. Second when he's up at the level of 385 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 1: the screen, he's got super active hands. Now, the game 386 00:18:56,359 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 1: that I think best describes this skill as Game three 387 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: of Warriors series this year. So if you guys, remember 388 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 1: they run a lot of pick and roll in game two, 389 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: the Lakers bring a pretty poor defensive effort. They get 390 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: killed in game three. If you watch that game, look 391 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: at how many times Anthony Davis got deflections up at 392 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:17,880 Speaker 1: the screen because when AD's up, Steph's trying to get 393 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: rid of it to the roll man or if they're 394 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,720 Speaker 1: tagging the roller to the weak side right, and Anthony 395 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:27,440 Speaker 1: Davis is looking and tracking Steph as he's getting ready 396 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:30,399 Speaker 1: to make that pass, and he's getting deflections, which is 397 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: leading to turnovers and getting the Lakers out the other way. 398 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 1: The Lakers had a dominant game in Game three of 399 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: that series, and most of the damage was done by 400 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis and his active hands up at the level 401 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: of the screen. Again, if you're up there and you 402 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 1: don't have active hands, that's actually the worst place you 403 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:49,199 Speaker 1: can be because if the pass gets through, it's a 404 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 1: four on three now and you're at the top of 405 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:53,639 Speaker 1: the key and you're not in a position where you 406 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 1: can help defensively. But if you have active hands and 407 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: you dissuade the pass, hell, if you get him to 408 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:01,359 Speaker 1: pick up his dribble, then you get to recover. But 409 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 1: if you dissuade the pass, or if you deflect it 410 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 1: in some way, shape or form, that's when it's a 411 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:09,480 Speaker 1: defensive playmaking opportunity to go the opposite end and get 412 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 1: out in transition, which was such an important thing for 413 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: the Lakers in particular because of some of their half 414 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:17,680 Speaker 1: court offense struggles. But those are the first two things. 415 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:19,880 Speaker 1: Getting to the level of the screen, super active fans 416 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 1: at the level, and then lastly, when he's at the rim, 417 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:25,720 Speaker 1: there's nobody in the league that is better at blocking 418 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 1: and changing shots. So when you put those three traits together, 419 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,679 Speaker 1: it makes Anthony Davis the best drop coverage big in 420 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 1: the league, one of the few bigs that can consistently 421 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:38,480 Speaker 1: run drop coverage in the NBA playoffs without getting killed. Again, 422 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 1: drop coverage used to be suicide against Steph Curry. Ask 423 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 1: the Boston Celtics. That's what cost them the NBA Finals. 424 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 1: But with the Lakers, it worked. And that's the advantage 425 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:52,360 Speaker 1: of having Anthony Davis on your roster. Again, when we're 426 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 1: talking about why he's with the offensive limitations that he 427 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 1: has to be up at number six in the league, 428 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:02,200 Speaker 1: you have to be truly transcend it defensively, and Anthony 429 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:04,639 Speaker 1: Davis made a coverage that was there used to be 430 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:08,360 Speaker 1: a death sentence against Steph Curry into something that literally 431 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 1: caused him to have his most inefficient series since the 432 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen playoffs. And so that's the advantage of Anthony Davis. 433 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: Nothing is quite as difficult in the NBA as trying 434 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: to run pick and roll at Steph Curry. As a 435 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 1: matter of factor, excuse me at Anthony Davis. And you 436 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:28,360 Speaker 1: know what's funny is he shut down John Morant two. 437 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 1: John Moran averaged one point zero four points per possession 438 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 1: in pick and roll in the regular season ad and 439 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: the Lakers held him to zero point eighty seven points 440 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 1: per possession in pick and roll. So Anthony Davis, his 441 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:45,919 Speaker 1: ultimate superpower is shutting down pick and roll in the NBA, 442 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 1: and it is the foundation to what was a dominant 443 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 1: Laker defense that made it all the way to the 444 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 1: conference finals. But and again before we move on, like 445 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,200 Speaker 1: I said before, not quite as good on switches as 446 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 1: someone like for instance, but he's still pretty good in 447 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 1: those situations. Also not quite as good in box out 448 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 1: situations as some of the bigger, stronger players at his 449 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:11,200 Speaker 1: positions at his position, but he's not a perfect player. 450 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,280 Speaker 1: But I think overall, when you factor all of the 451 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 1: elements of defense in, I think that he is the 452 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,159 Speaker 1: best defender in the league. I was super disappointed in 453 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:21,600 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis in the Denver series, though not because he 454 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: lost to Yoki Jokic is the best player in the world, 455 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 1: and sometimes what happens in basketball is you run into 456 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:27,360 Speaker 1: a guy who's better than you and you just get 457 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 1: to lose. And I'm not trying to overthink that specific concept, 458 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,199 Speaker 1: but I didn't think Ad fought as hard as he 459 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 1: was capable of fighting. It was kind of, you know, 460 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:41,399 Speaker 1: especially visibly. Sometimes it looked as though Jokic kind of 461 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:44,439 Speaker 1: sapped Ad of his confidence and his like energy, and 462 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: he looked lifeless at times. The Nuggets absolutely shredded the 463 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 1: Lakers defense. I don't think people realize just how ineffectual 464 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 1: AD was. Ad in particular, was ineffectual defensively in that series. 465 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:00,240 Speaker 1: The Lakers had a one to sixteen defensive right in 466 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 1: that series against the Nuggets. That was by far the 467 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:05,199 Speaker 1: worst out of the three other opponents that Denver faced. 468 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:08,959 Speaker 1: With Ad on the floor in the Nuggets series, the Nuggets, 469 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:13,000 Speaker 1: the Nuggets scored one hundred and twenty five points per 470 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:15,520 Speaker 1: one hundred possessions. He couldn't stop jokicch in the post. 471 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 1: He couldn't stop Jokic in face up situations or ISOs, 472 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 1: including that pivotal basket in Game four, that ended up 473 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:23,160 Speaker 1: being the game winner. He couldn't slow down the two 474 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:27,640 Speaker 1: man game. Jokic just absolutely torched him, beat him in transition, 475 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:29,439 Speaker 1: just running up and down the floor like he always 476 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: does every time the two of him play. It was 477 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:35,119 Speaker 1: honestly a little embarrassing for Anthony Davis. And it wasn't 478 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:39,200 Speaker 1: just Denver's offense and an unguardability factor, because we saw 479 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: other teams in the playoffs do a better job. And 480 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:44,639 Speaker 1: that's where I look at the lack of fight and 481 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 1: the lethar g and that, like it just is like 482 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 1: it's one of those things where like you're on the ground, 483 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:50,639 Speaker 1: what are you gonna do. You're gonna lay there and 484 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 1: let the dude keep kicking you or are you gonna 485 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:53,960 Speaker 1: get up and try to fight? You know what I mean? 486 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 1: And I just wished that Ad was was a little 487 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 1: bit more willing to fight in that specific situation. The 488 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:03,560 Speaker 1: one thing I want to do to cut him some slack, though, 489 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:06,639 Speaker 1: is AD had been playing at a playoff level of 490 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:10,680 Speaker 1: intensity since February because of the predicament. The front office 491 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:13,920 Speaker 1: put them in, Hey, here's your reinforcements. There's some good 492 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:18,360 Speaker 1: basketball players. Go Oh, by the way, you're the thirteen seed, like, 493 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 1: and there's thirty games left, so let's see what you got. 494 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 1: That was the situation he was put in, and so 495 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:28,200 Speaker 1: as a result, he was on the Jets like NonStop 496 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:30,800 Speaker 1: from February all the way to March, all the way 497 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:33,800 Speaker 1: to April, all the way to May. And usually it's 498 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:36,480 Speaker 1: not like that, you know, Yo Kitchen, the Nuggets they 499 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:38,879 Speaker 1: got to chill the last third of the season and 500 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:41,000 Speaker 1: then hit the Jets for two months. Ad had to 501 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:43,640 Speaker 1: hit the Jets for four months, and I do think 502 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 1: that that played a role in the lack of energy 503 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:50,359 Speaker 1: that Ad had to fight against Jokic harder than he did. 504 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 1: The one thing that was just kind of a bummer, though, 505 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:56,160 Speaker 1: is like it just wasn't a good look to see 506 00:24:56,200 --> 00:25:00,280 Speaker 1: Game four and see Lebron like literally leaving his heart 507 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 1: and soul out on the floor trying to win the game, 508 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 1: and Ad is just kind of coasting through until the 509 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:06,560 Speaker 1: last He kind of turned it on in the fourth 510 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:08,199 Speaker 1: quarter a little bit, but that was it. So like, 511 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 1: I was definitely a little disappointed that he didn't put 512 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 1: up more of a fight against Jokic, even accounting for 513 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:17,919 Speaker 1: the fatigue. So in summary, Ady is a super flawed 514 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 1: offensive player, not a good jump shooter, but he is 515 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:24,080 Speaker 1: still a good volume scorer. It was very efficient. Biggest 516 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:25,720 Speaker 1: area of improvement there is he needs to work on 517 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:28,119 Speaker 1: making shots over the top of the defense. He's one 518 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 1: of the best role men in the league. Excellent finishing 519 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 1: at the rim, especially above the rim as a vertical spacer, 520 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 1: but he's got great touch as well. He's also a 521 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:37,680 Speaker 1: good passer in short role situations. Tends to be very 522 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:39,920 Speaker 1: up and down offensively. That was kind of the theme 523 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:43,160 Speaker 1: of this postseason was like the one night AD would 524 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 1: have thirty and one night AD would have fourteen the 525 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:48,359 Speaker 1: one thing I didn't I thought that was fair criticism 526 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:52,639 Speaker 1: for the record, because inconsistent inconsistency offensively certainly hurts the 527 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 1: basketball team. But there was important context there. Every conversation 528 00:25:56,640 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 1: surrounding AD's inconsistency needed to be framed around the idea 529 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:03,639 Speaker 1: that he was consistently great defensively, and so, yeah, can 530 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:06,320 Speaker 1: you be frustrated that he's not more consistent offensively? Sure? 531 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 1: Is it an area that he needs to work on improving? Yeah, 532 00:26:09,119 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 1: mainly conditioning. He needs to condition himself to the point 533 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 1: where he can devote those resources to the defensive end 534 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 1: of the floor while not getting cooked in transition, while 535 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:19,440 Speaker 1: also having the legs to get up and make shots 536 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:21,360 Speaker 1: on the offensive end of the floor. But when we're 537 00:26:21,359 --> 00:26:24,760 Speaker 1: having those discussions, let's make sure we remember and frame 538 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 1: it around the idea that he was the very best 539 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:30,200 Speaker 1: defensive player in the world that was completely anchoring that 540 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 1: Laker defense in the main reason why they were winning games. 541 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 1: And that fact ad being the best defensive player in 542 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:39,280 Speaker 1: the world, to me is what puts him up as 543 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 1: high as he is on this list. In order to 544 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:44,360 Speaker 1: really join conversations for best in the world, I think 545 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:46,879 Speaker 1: he needs to round out his offensive skill set, become 546 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:50,159 Speaker 1: a better shot maker over the top, improve his conditioning 547 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 1: so that he doesn't run into problems with inconsistency and 548 00:26:53,040 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 1: in transition. And then, last, but not least, take take 549 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:01,760 Speaker 1: the Jokic thing as an opportunity to motivate yourself, Like 550 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 1: that's the way that I would look at that, Like 551 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:08,440 Speaker 1: Jokic kicked your ass. But the beautiful thing about basketball, 552 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 1: my favorite thing about basketball is you live to fight 553 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:14,439 Speaker 1: another day. You know, one day it stops, Yeah, like 554 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:17,240 Speaker 1: Lebron one day won't be able to go anymore. But 555 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:20,399 Speaker 1: that's what's amazing about basketball. You have the ability to 556 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:24,240 Speaker 1: completely change the perception of yourself because you go back 557 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 1: and play the next day. Lebron James the most upsetting 558 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:32,160 Speaker 1: and disappointing playoff of failure in the of the probably 559 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:33,879 Speaker 1: you know, in terms of guys that are in the 560 00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:36,440 Speaker 1: top ten, it's one of the worst ever. Is twenty 561 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:40,119 Speaker 1: eleven Finals performance against the Dallas Mavericks. Went out the 562 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:43,960 Speaker 1: next year in Game six against Boston, has that big night, 563 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:48,040 Speaker 1: gets the trophy. All's forgiven at that point and then 564 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:50,400 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, you know, you look back now 565 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:53,000 Speaker 1: in twenty eleven, almost feels weird to talk about because 566 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:55,680 Speaker 1: it's like not even the same player. And that's the 567 00:27:55,760 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 1: way that I look at it. You got your ass 568 00:27:57,119 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 1: kicked by Nicole jokicch but you have a leg up 569 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:02,160 Speaker 1: on him on the defensive end of the floor. Make 570 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 1: some improvements on the defensive end of the floor or 571 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:06,720 Speaker 1: on the offensive end of the floor. Excuse me. You've 572 00:28:06,720 --> 00:28:09,520 Speaker 1: got a good roster, You've got the ability to make 573 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 1: a move at the deadline to improve. There's a good 574 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:15,880 Speaker 1: chance that you're gonna have another opportunity in earlier late 575 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:17,679 Speaker 1: May and the second or third round of the Western 576 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:21,080 Speaker 1: Conference playoffs to get another crack at jokicen the Nuggets. 577 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:24,639 Speaker 1: You're gonna get another chance, So take this summer as 578 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:26,800 Speaker 1: an opportunity to shore those things up and give yourself 579 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:29,119 Speaker 1: a better chance to win that fight. But right now, 580 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:30,760 Speaker 1: best defensive player in the world and is still a 581 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:34,000 Speaker 1: very very good offensive player. I have ad as the 582 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 1: sixth best basketball player in the world. All right, guys, 583 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:39,479 Speaker 1: that is all I have for today. We're gonna take 584 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: the rest of the weekend off and we will be 585 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:42,840 Speaker 1: back on Monday with number five.