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In Michigan one eight seven seven eight 24 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: hope and why or text hope and Why to four 25 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 1: six seven three six nine in New York. In tennessee 26 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: redline dial one eight hundred eight eight nine nine seven 27 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: eight nine in Tennessee visit www one eight dot one 28 00:01:44,840 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: eight hundred gambler dot net in West Virginia. All right, 29 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: welcome to Lakers Tonight, presented by Fan Duel here on 30 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:09,119 Speaker 1: the volume, I'm Jason timp Happy Tuesday, everybody. I hope 31 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 1: you're week is off to a good start. That was 32 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: a frustrating game in a lot of ways, but not 33 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: entirely unpredictable. I mean, it's a late game collapse, right, 34 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: but at the end of the day, when you're looking 35 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 1: at the two teams and you look at the fact 36 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: that the Lakers are trying to generate offense with an 37 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: injured version of Lebron and the meanwhile, Dallas has their 38 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: defense clicking on all cylinders and Luca playing as well 39 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: as he is, it's not entirely unpredictable. We're gonna break 40 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: down this game at least what what is worth breaking 41 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 1: down from a game like this? Uh, if you guys 42 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: stick around for the end. I have some notes on 43 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: the Golden State Warriors and their recent struggles. The Boston 44 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: Celtics big win on National TV tonight was as well 45 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 1: as the Clippers, who have won six out of seven. 46 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: So stick around for the end on that front. But 47 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: let's we're gonna get started by talking about is how 48 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 1: frustrating it is to see a team like this, in 49 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:06,799 Speaker 1: the circumstances that they find themselves in, be this inconsistent 50 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: with their effort. Because the Lakers came out with a 51 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:15,359 Speaker 1: certain level of focus and desperation that they were completely 52 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 1: and utterly lacking against the Pelicans the other night. And 53 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: that's what's frustrating, because you know, when you have a 54 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: talent limitation like the Lakers have right now, you're gonna 55 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: lose some games. Like I said in crunch time, there 56 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 1: Dallas had a huge advantage. It wasn't a huge shock 57 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 1: that things went down the way they did. But if 58 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: you play, if you package this effort, and you package 59 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 1: this overall performance from the Lakers, and you use that 60 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: on Sunday night against the Pelicans. You win. You win 61 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: that basketball game. You probably win that basketball game going 62 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 1: away by ten or fifteen points even tonight. Just within 63 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: the lens of this game, you know you fell apart 64 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: in crunch time, but you also had a period of 65 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 1: time there in the second quarter where you kind of 66 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: look like you were heading down the quit road again. 67 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 1: And if you could remove that seven or eight minute 68 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: stretch in the second quarter where you guys let go 69 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: of a rope, maybe you're up fifteen in the middle 70 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: of the fourth quarter, and maybe Luca isn't capable of 71 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,039 Speaker 1: overcoming that gap at the end of the night. And 72 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:20,040 Speaker 1: that's where the Lakers need to have some sort of 73 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: meeting or some some sort of hash out session where 74 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: they figure out whether or not they want to do this. 75 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: Because the basketball team that we saw for most of 76 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 1: the night tonight is good enough to hover around five 77 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 1: until Anthony Davis get back, gets back and make a 78 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: run at things in the playoffs. But if you're gonna 79 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: be inconsistent with the effort and completely mail it in 80 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 1: in a winnable game like the one against the Pelicans, 81 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:46,599 Speaker 1: and then bring it against the team, but that it's 82 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 1: not enough to win like it is against Dallas. Then 83 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: there's just no point in going through all of this. 84 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:54,479 Speaker 1: And that brings me to Lebron because I think he's 85 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: obviously injured. For those of you who are just joining us, 86 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 1: this is Ers Tonight, presented by Fandel here on the volume. 87 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: You know, I've been very critical of Lebron over the 88 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 1: course of the last couple of games, and I think 89 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 1: it's completely fair. Lebron fans can be crazy because he's 90 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 1: my favorite player. Literally, I'm into this sport because of him. 91 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,599 Speaker 1: I was not raised on basketball. Lebron got me into basketball. 92 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: He will always be my favorite player. I've loved watching 93 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: him throughout his entire career. I also, as a competitor 94 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: and as a fan of the game of basketball, I'm 95 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 1: gonna hold him to a certain standard, not just within that, 96 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 1: but because he's in the conversation for being the best 97 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: basketball player to ever play the game. That comes with 98 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 1: a standard and an expectation that I'm gonna hold him too. 99 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: But at the same time, I have to separate what 100 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: I'm criticizing him for for his effort from the obvious 101 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:54,360 Speaker 1: physical limitation that he's dealing with. Throughout that entire second half, 102 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: he was leaning entirely on his jump shot because he 103 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 1: couldn't get by people. There were a couple of these 104 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 1: jump sides. There's a step back that he hit over 105 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 1: Donny and Phinney Smith. Where he was he looked like 106 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: Boris dial when he was with the two thousand fourteen Spurs, 107 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:13,720 Speaker 1: like he just he doesn't have anywhere near the athleticism 108 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 1: he had even just one month ago just before this. 109 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: Whatever this knee swelling thing is, is clearly and severely 110 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 1: hampering him. So that's where that's where it complicates this 111 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 1: issue because outside of you know, this stretch tonight in 112 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: the second half where he really dialed it up, he's 113 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: struggled mightily over the course of the last three or 114 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:38,600 Speaker 1: four games, and it's obviously hampering him. And I don't 115 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 1: understand how it's gonna get better, because lebron Is explicitly 116 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: told us in a postgame presser he said, it's just 117 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: like my ankle last year. It's not ever going to 118 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 1: be better until I give it rest. It's not going 119 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:54,840 Speaker 1: to be better until the off season. So from that standpoint, 120 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: do I think this limited version of Lebron that has 121 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 1: no lift, that obviously can't unleash any of his basket 122 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: attacking part of his game. If I'm not getting that 123 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 1: in the conjunction with Anthony Davis, this team is not 124 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: going anywhere anyway. So you have to think about what 125 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: you're holding out for. If you're if you're gonna try 126 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: to make a run, to try to hover around five 127 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: hundred until Anthony Davis gets back, you better believe that 128 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 1: that group can make some noise, and they're not going 129 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: to if Lebron is this hurt again, Luca was flat 130 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: out better than Lebron at the end of this game, 131 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 1: and I don't think it was Lebron's fault. Luca is healthy, 132 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: Lucas in a groove, Lucas in a rhythm. Luca was cooking. 133 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 1: Lebron is clearly hampered. All he could go to was 134 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 1: deep threes, contested threes, and step back jump shots in 135 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: the mid range. He had one blow by to the 136 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: baseline where he barely got above the rim for a dunk, 137 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 1: but that was the rare exception to what was a 138 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 1: half of Lebron having to lean back on his jump 139 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: shot because he's obviously physically hampered. I want to cut 140 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 1: him slack on that front because that's out of his control. 141 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: But what is in his control is his overall effort 142 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: and demeanor, and in the in the in that second 143 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: quarter when things were going off the rails, a lot 144 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 1: of it was Lebron, and a lot of it was 145 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 1: his effort and focus and energy on that front. And 146 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 1: that's what really hammers home the fact, in my opinion, 147 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 1: that they need to consider shutting Lebron down for the 148 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: season because he's always going to struggle in these environments. 149 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 1: I talked about this a lot two nights ago. Lebron 150 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: struggles with motivation when the team's not good enough to 151 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: compete for a championship. That that fact, that fact that 152 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:38,439 Speaker 1: the Lakers are good enough to compete for a championship. 153 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 1: I think that is one thousand percent solid and evidenced 154 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: right now by what we're seeing on the court. They 155 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: can't do it. So at a certain point, you've got 156 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:50,319 Speaker 1: to read the writing on the wall. Lebron's hurt, He's 157 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 1: gonna struggle in this environment anyway. The team's not good enough. 158 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: I don't understand the point of trying to push him 159 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:01,200 Speaker 1: across this finish line when he's obviously not easically capable 160 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: of it. It's gonna be hard. It's gonna be difficult 161 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: for Lebron because he's got his personal goals right like 162 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:10,839 Speaker 1: he he's striving for all time NBA statistical achievements. And 163 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: I know some people want to poop poo that because 164 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 1: they're not winning, but hey, guess what, guys, Lebron's got 165 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:17,439 Speaker 1: enough of a winning resume that you guys can't say 166 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: anything about that. He's allowed to do whatever the heck 167 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,559 Speaker 1: he wants. The dude is as secure and solidified of 168 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 1: a winner that we have in the league today. And 169 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: I understand his ambitions on that front. He just has 170 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:31,079 Speaker 1: to weigh that against his health because if there, if 171 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 1: there's one more opportunity for him to win a title 172 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:38,199 Speaker 1: as an NBA player, it's gonna be some season after this, 173 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: not this season, and he has to factor that into 174 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 1: his calculation about how much stress and how much wear 175 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:46,679 Speaker 1: and tear he wants to put on his body. Not 176 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 1: to mention all of these, you know your a as 177 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: an athlete, your body is like a chain. Everything is connected. 178 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: If when you have an injury in one part of 179 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,679 Speaker 1: your body, you compensate for it elsewhere in your body. 180 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: My guests would be in these games, Lebron is probably 181 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: absorbing more contact on his right knee. He's probably when 182 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:07,679 Speaker 1: he lands on his left knee, he's probably landing a 183 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 1: little bit more straight legged. He is running the risk 184 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,680 Speaker 1: of a more serious injury materializing from this as well, 185 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: and so that's why I think he needs to have 186 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: a serious look in the mirror conversation with himself and 187 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:24,439 Speaker 1: with his team about whether or not this is worth it. 188 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,079 Speaker 1: For those of you who are just joining us, this 189 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:29,839 Speaker 1: is Lakers Tonight, presented by Fandel here on the volume. 190 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 1: I want to talk about Russ for a second because 191 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 1: I think it was an interesting game from him in 192 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 1: a lot of different ways. You know, uh, Twitter always 193 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 1: is gonna stick to low lights with him, and he 194 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 1: and I get it because particularly a lot of his 195 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 1: low lights this season have been centered around effort, and 196 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: those are inexcusable. It's kind of like the highlights I 197 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 1: was sharing of Lebron today when you are jogging back 198 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: on defense in Maxine Khaliba just sprints right by you 199 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 1: for a dunk. That's inexcusable. That's just an effort thing. 200 00:10:58,120 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: And then when you look at the end of the 201 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 1: game and it's this close and you're in crunch time, 202 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,199 Speaker 1: I'm gonna think about the time you didn't sprint back 203 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 1: on defense. Those things are inexcusable. But there were a 204 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 1: lot of highlights going around tonight of Russ getting blocked 205 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: at the rim by also by Max and Cleeb. I 206 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:14,960 Speaker 1: think it happened to him at least four times tonight. 207 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 1: And then obviously you look at the box score and 208 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:18,680 Speaker 1: you see he's five for seventeen and you think, okay, 209 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: he had a rough night. But this is a great 210 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:23,680 Speaker 1: example some of the stuff I've him talking about with Russ. 211 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:28,199 Speaker 1: Everything outside of that, everything outside of his field goal percentage. 212 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 1: He did his job tonight. He applied a great deal 213 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:34,200 Speaker 1: of rim pressure. He created a lot of really good 214 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: shots for his teammates. He had eight assists with no turnovers, 215 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: which is absolutely hilarious in the context of the fact 216 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 1: that before garbage time the other night against the Pelicans, 217 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 1: he had zero sists in seven turnovers. So I don't 218 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 1: even know how you could possibly have that. That is 219 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 1: about as far apart of a playmaking two performances that 220 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: you could possibly conceive. But he did a lot of 221 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: a good tonight. He generated a lot of rim pressure. 222 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 1: He created shots for his teammates. You have to look 223 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 1: beyond the five or seventeen because that five or seventeen 224 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 1: is part of what was caving in the defense. And 225 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:09,079 Speaker 1: created those wide open looks for Stanley Johnson, and created 226 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: those wide open looks for Carmelo Anthony and and for 227 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: Malik Monk that went in on the defensive end of 228 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: the ball. There was a handful of possessions that I 229 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: could get nit picky with him. There was one late 230 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 1: when the Mavericks got to one oh five where Lebron 231 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 1: is guarding Luca, and Luca threw up like kind of 232 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: kind of a garbage e lob and and he just 233 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 1: didn't even attempt to disrupt the lobby, just stood there 234 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: um while the Mavericks lay it into I can nit 235 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: pick a few things, but for the most part, Rust 236 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: did his job tonight. That's all you can ask. Yes, 237 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 1: we can trim down on his field goal attempts if 238 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: the team's all the way healthy, but in a night 239 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: like tonight, when it's just Lebron and Russ he's gonna 240 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,560 Speaker 1: have to shoot a lot, and most of his attempts 241 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: were at the rim. There were a handful of shots 242 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: we didn't like, but for the most part, Rust did 243 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: his job. He just had one of those nights where 244 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: the MAVs were all over him at the rim and 245 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:57,680 Speaker 1: he wasn't making anything that's going to happen. I think 246 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 1: those are the two things that's that like little gap 247 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: or lack of understanding that we have his fans. Sometimes 248 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 1: as we box score watch rather than watching what's happening 249 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: in the game. You look at the box score, looks 250 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 1: like an utterly disastrous game from Russ, But if you 251 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 1: actually watched the game, you could tell he was impacting 252 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 1: winning in a lot of ways beyond what was showing 253 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:20,959 Speaker 1: up in the box score. But again, if Lebron is 254 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,160 Speaker 1: at the point where his knee can't handle this, I 255 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 1: just don't see the point in in riding those guys 256 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 1: too hard. And at a certain point you have to 257 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,320 Speaker 1: think about what the long term future is for both 258 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: of these guys. And maybe for Russ that means playing, 259 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 1: but I think for Lebron it means not playing. And 260 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 1: then you look at the guy that they just signed 261 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 1: I really like when you in Gabriel, who did a 262 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 1: really nice job guarding Anthony Davis in the bubble in 263 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 1: that first round playoff series with the Portland Trailblazers. He's 264 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:48,320 Speaker 1: an example of a guy that, hey, it would be 265 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 1: great to give him a ton of NBA minutes for 266 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 1: the rest of the season to try to try to 267 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 1: get a feel for whether or not he could be 268 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 1: someone the Lakers use next year. He's a guy who's 269 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: out of the league, which means you could probably get 270 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: him for a discount. It's one of those deals where 271 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: if you if he shows some signs of life over 272 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 1: the next ten fifteen games, maybe you can sign him 273 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 1: to a team friendly deal that locks him up at 274 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: a discount for next season, when once again the Lakers 275 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 1: are gonna need to look for athleticism and talent on 276 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 1: the margins in the veteran minimum market. That's an example 277 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: of a direction that the Lakers can go. That's the 278 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 1: that is a more useful use of these last fifth 279 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: twenty games or so then breaking down Lebron's body, further 280 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: hurting his knee and potentially more and continuing this cycle 281 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: of poor effort and bad body language and all of 282 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: the negative consequences that come from that kind of thing. 283 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: Really quickly before we move on from the Lakers had 284 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 1: a couple of quick hitters that I wanted to hit, 285 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: just little notes that I had in the game that 286 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 1: it was really interesting that they went with the new 287 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: starting lineup, a lot of the guys that I've been 288 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: clamoring for all season long. They started mo League Monk, 289 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 1: they started Austin Reeves, started Stanley Johnson alongside Rust and Lebron. 290 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 1: Those are probably the next three best players on the roster. 291 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: You could argue Carmelo Anthony, but those are guys that 292 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 1: can play, and they should have been in the starting 293 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 1: lineup a long time ago, and they weren't because of 294 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 1: politics and Frank leading on veterans and things along those lines. 295 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: I'm not surprised that the starters performed really well tonight. 296 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 1: They came out the gates well. It was one of 297 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: the rare examples of it of a Laker team that 298 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 1: came out with energy to start a game this season. Next, 299 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 1: I wanted to hit on on on Luca's moves. This 300 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: has always been one of my most one of the 301 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 1: most fascinating things about Luca when Luca was coming out 302 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 1: of Europe. There was a lot of skepticism about whether 303 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 1: or not he'd be able to create his own shot 304 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: in the NBA because of the huge increase in athleticism 305 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: going from what he was dealing with in Europe to 306 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:53,800 Speaker 1: dealing with in the NBA. And he's had absolutely no problem. 307 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: In fact, he's been more dominant in the NBA, and 308 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 1: he's actually gone on the record and said it's easier 309 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 1: to score in the NBA, which I think has a 310 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 1: lot more to do with the fact that he's surrounded 311 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,200 Speaker 1: by more talented players and it's harder for teams to 312 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: send more help at him. But still Luca is doing fine, 313 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 1: and the reason why is because even though he's slow, 314 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:14,640 Speaker 1: does not have a quick first step, doesn't have quick 315 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 1: counter steps, doesn't have great lift. What he does have, though, is, 316 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,720 Speaker 1: in my opinion, the best arsenal of moves. You know 317 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 1: what he reminds me of. He reminds me of an 318 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: NFL wide receiver who's a great route runner but isn't 319 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 1: necessarily the best athlete. Luca sells every bit of every 320 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 1: single move with every part of his body, and as 321 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: a result of that, guys like Stanley. Stanley Johnson came 322 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 1: out and guarded Luca from the jump tonight. A guy 323 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 1: like Stanley Johnson's very aggressive, he likes to reach, he 324 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 1: gets out of position. Luca always utilizes that sort of 325 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 1: thing against the defender. He's very good at selling like 326 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 1: he's going one way to get a guy like Stanley 327 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 1: to lunge or to slide one direction before he goes 328 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 1: the other way. That's always going to do a better 329 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: job of generating separation then you just running up and 330 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:05,119 Speaker 1: going fast, because if you're running up and going fast, 331 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: if the guy guesses right, he's in front of you. 332 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: But if you can sell us change of direction or 333 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 1: a change of pace that gets the defender to either 334 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: gamble or get himself out of position, now you have 335 00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:18,879 Speaker 1: a wide open driving lane. Luca has made a killing 336 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 1: out of that in the n b A. It's my 337 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: favorite part of his game. I've nonstopped been trying to 338 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: figure out ways that I can learn that for myself 339 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 1: as well, and all of you kids growing up trying 340 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 1: to learn the game. He's the guy to watch because 341 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:35,240 Speaker 1: you can't control your athleticism. You can't control how tall 342 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:37,679 Speaker 1: you get, you can't control how fast you get, you 343 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 1: absolutely can control the way that you set up and 344 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: sell your moves, and Luca is literally turning himself into 345 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 1: an m b A like Pantheon superstar with that type 346 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:52,640 Speaker 1: of detention to detail with the way that he attacks offensively. 347 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 1: Vanduel Sports Book is an official sports betting partner of 348 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:58,680 Speaker 1: the NBA, and with FanDuel same game parlays, you can 349 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 1: turn little bets into big pay days. 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I think you've been 376 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 1: a great fine for the Lakers scouting department. You're absolutely 377 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:47,639 Speaker 1: gonna be in the rotation next year. You have a 378 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:49,480 Speaker 1: long NBA career ahead of you. Because of all the 379 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: things you do well, you gotta learn how to shoot. Man. 380 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: Austin Reave shot the ball really well. In college his 381 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: first two years, and then his shooting fell off in 382 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:03,439 Speaker 1: the last two years. He's been getting fantastic looks for 383 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:05,400 Speaker 1: the Lakers this year, and he's just not making them, 384 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,639 Speaker 1: especially of late, and you're starting to see teams catch 385 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 1: onto that. And it's also starting to affect the Lakers 386 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 1: in their psyche a little bit. When they run solid 387 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:17,240 Speaker 1: offense and the ball ends up in Austin's hands wide 388 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: open on the wing and he misses again, and he 389 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:22,639 Speaker 1: misses again. That needs to be his major attention to 390 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 1: detail this summer. Austin has to take the time to 391 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:29,119 Speaker 1: become a more proficient three point shooter. Last note, I 392 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 1: had a fan text me on Twitter and ask why 393 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:35,119 Speaker 1: don't the Lakers run more pick and roll with Russ 394 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: and Lebron? When they do, it seems to work. Why 395 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:40,480 Speaker 1: is it that they go away from that so often? 396 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:42,560 Speaker 1: It's a similar question that you here asked about Lebron. 397 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,360 Speaker 1: Why doesn't Lebron run more pick and roll with Anthony 398 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 1: Davis when back when Anthony Davis was healthy? And I 399 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 1: think it's a combination of two things. One, NBA teams 400 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 1: have figured out that they can guard Russ by putting 401 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 1: a bigger, more athletic forward, because Russ likes to try 402 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 1: to bully his way to the bass it and he's 403 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 1: very one dimensional. Now he's not scoring out of the 404 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:05,320 Speaker 1: midrange really much at all. So you saw that tonight 405 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 1: Russ could not finish around Maxine Cleeba around the basket. 406 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 1: You can guard a guy like Russ with Maxine cleban now. 407 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:14,879 Speaker 1: That certainly certainly was not the case when he was younger. 408 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 1: So part of it is if Russ is being guarded 409 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 1: by forward and Lebron's being guarded by forward, what do 410 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 1: you think is gonna happen? If Russ and Lebron run 411 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 1: a pick and roll, They're just gonna switch it. Now 412 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 1: you're in the exact same situation you were before the action, 413 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: and one of those guys has to beat somebody off 414 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 1: the dribble. But it's a similar matchup, so they're not 415 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 1: really gaining anything out of it. The second part of 416 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:36,000 Speaker 1: it has to do with fatigue. I think when you 417 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:39,879 Speaker 1: have to high level, high usage perimeter initiators and one 418 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 1: guy is doing a bunch of stuff and then he 419 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 1: throws the ball to the other guy, I think the 420 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 1: last thing he wants to do in that situation is 421 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 1: become a screener. He wants to rest, and so like 422 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 1: a guy like Lebron in particular on the possessions where 423 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 1: Russ has the ball, I think in Lebron's head, he's like, 424 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:57,439 Speaker 1: I'm better off spotting up because if I spot up, 425 00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 1: I'm saving my legs for the next time I need 426 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:03,200 Speaker 1: to do something. Whereas if he's on the ball doing 427 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 1: stuff as a point guard, but then as soon as 428 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:06,879 Speaker 1: he gives the ball to Rust now he's the pick 429 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:09,879 Speaker 1: and roll uh screener. That just adds a lot to 430 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: his workload. So I think a combination to that and 431 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:14,240 Speaker 1: the fact that teams are switching it so much has 432 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 1: made it so that action is not one that the 433 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 1: Lakers go to very often. So to put a ball 434 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 1: on it like it's as frustrating a game this season 435 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,639 Speaker 1: because that same effort would have won against the Pelicans, 436 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 1: and they for some reason didn't use it then and 437 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: then used it tonight, and then in the second quarter 438 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:32,640 Speaker 1: they let go with a rope for a while fell 439 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:36,640 Speaker 1: down by twenty one points. These are these are winnable 440 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 1: opportunities here that the Lakers are coughing up for a 441 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 1: variety of reasons that are mainly associated with effort and focus, 442 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:46,399 Speaker 1: and any time that happens, it's frustrating. It's gonna rub 443 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 1: you wrong as a fan because you have to get 444 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:51,399 Speaker 1: up and grind at work tomorrow. And how annoying is 445 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 1: that when you're grinding and the guys you're watching on 446 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:57,879 Speaker 1: TV for an entertainment product are not grinding. That's frustrating. 447 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 1: That gets that can that can grate on fans, And 448 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: and I hope that they come to some sort of 449 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: agreement on what their strategy is here for the rest 450 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 1: of the season, whether or not they're gonna go for 451 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:09,280 Speaker 1: this or they're gonna pack it in and rest. Because 452 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:11,359 Speaker 1: if they're gonna pack it in and rest, then you 453 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: can provide the fans with a product of young players 454 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 1: who will be in the future alongside Lebron and Anthony Davis. 455 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 1: They'll play hard every night, they'll play desperate, and you'll 456 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:24,879 Speaker 1: get a much better product out of that. All. Right, 457 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 1: before we get out of here tonight, I wanted to 458 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:28,400 Speaker 1: hit on a couple of things from around the league. 459 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 1: I wanna start with the Warriors. So the Warriors lost 460 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 1: again tonight. They lost by fifteen on the road in Minnesota, 461 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: who was a good team. As I've been telling you guys, 462 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:39,199 Speaker 1: they've lost six out of their last eight in that stretch, 463 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:43,359 Speaker 1: their nineteenth in offense in twenty one and defense. And 464 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 1: I was driving to the gym today and I was 465 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 1: literally thinking to myself, you know, in the same way 466 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:52,439 Speaker 1: that Laker fans in that whole season, we all felt 467 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: really good about the team, right, we all knew like 468 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 1: this is a real championship contender. And I was really 469 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:01,639 Speaker 1: interested as I was driving today, I'm like, I was thinking, 470 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:04,679 Speaker 1: I wonder how Warriors fans are thinking right now, because 471 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:07,680 Speaker 1: this team very much does not look like a championship contender. 472 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:10,119 Speaker 1: And I'm and I'm not even looking strictly at this 473 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 1: stretch of basketball. There's a couple of very distinct markers 474 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:16,639 Speaker 1: that are that are concerning Draymond Green is not yet 475 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:19,919 Speaker 1: been cleared for for contact. One of the big reasons 476 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:22,720 Speaker 1: why I'm not super bullish on Brooklyn, even though I 477 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:25,200 Speaker 1: do like the Ben Simmons fit. One of the reasons 478 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 1: why I'm not super bullish on them is those guys 479 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: haven't even played yet, and there's just not a lot 480 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:32,360 Speaker 1: of time left. I think there's still a threat but 481 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:34,719 Speaker 1: as soon as you cut into your continuity and your 482 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 1: opportunity to practice and build chemistry, that's gonna lower your chances. 483 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 1: It's gonna lower your odds a little bit. And the 484 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:42,400 Speaker 1: Warriors are running into a little bit of that. You 485 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 1: need you need Draymond at the absolute top of his game. 486 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 1: You need Draymond to put together an all time playoff 487 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:53,600 Speaker 1: run in order for this team to win. I mean defensively, 488 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,719 Speaker 1: you need Draymond to be vintage two thousand sixteen, two 489 00:24:56,760 --> 00:25:00,280 Speaker 1: thousand seventeen Draymond defensively, and that's gonna put a lot 490 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 1: of stress on his body. And he's hurt right now, 491 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 1: and especially with back stuff, that gets really tricky. Like 492 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: there's a chance that he comes back, but he's not 493 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 1: nearly as mobile as he is. I watched the video 494 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:12,440 Speaker 1: of him working out the other day. I know he's 495 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 1: in his ramp up period, so I'm not judging that 496 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:17,200 Speaker 1: as the final product, but he doesn't look super mobile yet, 497 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 1: and it's hard to imagine that he's going to sometime 498 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: in the next six weeks magically rediscover that. Then you 499 00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:26,200 Speaker 1: look at Steph. Steph is clearly having limitations. He was 500 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:29,399 Speaker 1: five for sixteen from three again tonight. Like I told you, guys, 501 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 1: uh into the show on Sunday night, he's shooting right 502 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 1: around thirty four percent from three in his last in 503 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:37,719 Speaker 1: his previous eight games before tonight. So you've got Steph 504 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:40,920 Speaker 1: undergoing some sort of decline, You've got Draymond a little hurt, 505 00:25:41,119 --> 00:25:46,000 Speaker 1: and this team does not have that big superstar wing 506 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:47,879 Speaker 1: that all of the best teams in the league have 507 00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 1: that can physically dominate on offense in a playoff series. 508 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 1: So they have some big, glaring shortcomings. They're small, they're young. 509 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:58,320 Speaker 1: When you take Draymond out of the equation, there's a 510 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:02,359 Speaker 1: lot of issues there, and they're fastly. For me, I 511 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 1: think they're a clear discernible tier below the Phoenixes and 512 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,400 Speaker 1: the Phillies in the in the Milwaukee's and teams like that. 513 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 1: I think those teams are very clearly a level above 514 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:17,720 Speaker 1: the Warriors, meaning if they were healthy, I think they 515 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,639 Speaker 1: I think they beat him soundly. So it's strange because 516 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 1: with how well the Warriors started the season, you would 517 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:25,320 Speaker 1: have thought of them as a bona fide championship contender. 518 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:28,919 Speaker 1: But I think they're fastly falling out of that group. 519 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 1: And the only way that I would consider them back 520 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:34,680 Speaker 1: in that group is if Steph regains his form and 521 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 1: proves to us that this was just a slump and 522 00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:40,399 Speaker 1: not a decline, and if Draymond can recover what he 523 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:44,040 Speaker 1: was physically and be able to put together a defensive 524 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 1: playoff run like he did in the golden years of 525 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 1: the Warriors. Next, I wanted to hit on the Clippers. 526 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 1: So they've won six out of seven. They have the 527 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:54,439 Speaker 1: best defense in the league in this stretch over the 528 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:56,959 Speaker 1: last seven games, and their seventh and defense for the season. 529 00:26:57,280 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 1: What fascinates me so much about this team because one 530 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 1: of my producers asked me earlier, they go, why are 531 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 1: the Clippers better than the Lakers? And I think it's 532 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:07,159 Speaker 1: one of the most fascinating topics that's going on in 533 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:10,119 Speaker 1: the NBA right now. They are the definition of a 534 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:16,200 Speaker 1: team that is manufacturing wins with the talent disadvantage. How 535 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:19,320 Speaker 1: do you manufacture wins with a talent disadvantage the same 536 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 1: way Bill Belichick does it with the Patriots without Tom Brady. 537 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:26,920 Speaker 1: It's about scheming. It's about being ahead of your opponent 538 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 1: on the tactical side of things. That's the only way 539 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 1: you can make up that gap. Now that I want 540 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,520 Speaker 1: to be clear, the Clippers do have some talent, Okay, 541 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:38,119 Speaker 1: Reggie Jackson is having a fantastic season. Again, He's one 542 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:40,720 Speaker 1: of the best five outguards that you could have because 543 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:42,719 Speaker 1: of his ability to beat people off the dribble and 544 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: to shoot off the dribble. You have all these other 545 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 1: guys that could do so much on the wing, like 546 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:50,160 Speaker 1: a Marcus Morris. Nicholas Patuma is kind of blossomed into 547 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 1: a pretty reliable and valuable defensive player. I like their 548 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:57,119 Speaker 1: center's hearten side and Zoobach. They have talent. I'm not 549 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:00,679 Speaker 1: undercutting that by any stretch, but relative to other teams 550 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:02,960 Speaker 1: that are at their level in the league, they don't 551 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:05,920 Speaker 1: have as much talent. Why do they win? They win 552 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 1: because tactically they are as advanced as any team in 553 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:12,639 Speaker 1: the NBA. That's a credit to Tylo, That's a credit 554 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 1: to their general management. The way that team is put 555 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:18,880 Speaker 1: together is built for modern basketball. They're getting a ton 556 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:21,600 Speaker 1: of stops without Kawai and Paul George. Like I said, 557 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:24,200 Speaker 1: number one in defense in their last seven games without 558 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:28,399 Speaker 1: Kawai and Paul George. Why switching everything? Being very good 559 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:32,800 Speaker 1: at switching everything, stagnating the opponent, getting them to attack 560 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: you in isolation, where you're just better at that because 561 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:37,880 Speaker 1: Reggie Jackson is so fast, because you have all these 562 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:41,959 Speaker 1: wings that can attack matchups, they are manufacturing wins on 563 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 1: the tactical side of things, whereas the Lakers have been 564 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:48,200 Speaker 1: like the exact opposite of that this year. They've been 565 00:28:48,320 --> 00:28:53,280 Speaker 1: tactically holding themselves back. They've been actively and not intentionally, 566 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 1: but they've been actively playing to their weaknesses rather than 567 00:28:56,920 --> 00:28:59,400 Speaker 1: playing to their strengths. That's why the Clippers have better 568 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:02,240 Speaker 1: been better than the Lakers this year, and it's arguably 569 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:06,600 Speaker 1: the biggest thing that the Lakers have to address this offseason. Lastly, 570 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:08,400 Speaker 1: really quick before we get out of here. Tonight, the 571 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 1: Boston Celtics, they were on this is just the nature 572 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:13,840 Speaker 1: of the way this business works. I come on this 573 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:15,440 Speaker 1: show and I tell you guys that I think the 574 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:18,360 Speaker 1: Celtics are a bona fide championship contender. And then they 575 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:20,840 Speaker 1: promptly cough a game, a cough up a game at 576 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:23,000 Speaker 1: home to the Detroit Pistons, and then a couple of 577 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:25,640 Speaker 1: nights later they get blown out on the road by 578 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:28,520 Speaker 1: the Indiana Pacers. But what this was was a classic 579 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 1: case of mid season malaise, especially in a weak part 580 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 1: of your schedule. Indian Detroit are not good teams that 581 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:40,360 Speaker 1: mid season malaise leading to a defensive slit in the 582 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 1: four games before tonight. The Celtics had a defensive rating 583 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:47,320 Speaker 1: of one thirteen point one before that in their stretch, 584 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 1: uh in the stretch that I was talking about in 585 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:51,680 Speaker 1: the in the show where I highlighted them as a 586 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:54,400 Speaker 1: championship contender, their defensive rating was below one hundred, So 587 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:57,720 Speaker 1: that's a huge gap. And then tonight in the first 588 00:29:57,760 --> 00:29:59,719 Speaker 1: half it looked like a continuation of the same thing 589 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:02,160 Speaker 1: at and I was getting whatever they wanted, a hundred 590 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:05,480 Speaker 1: and twenty five defensive rating in the first half tonight 591 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 1: for Boston. But it finally clicked. And that's what happens 592 00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:10,760 Speaker 1: for these really good teams when they're in one of 593 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:14,600 Speaker 1: these down stretches. Eventually their competitive nature kicks in and 594 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:17,160 Speaker 1: eventually they rise back to the level that they were 595 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:20,720 Speaker 1: at before that slump. They had a seventies six point 596 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:25,400 Speaker 1: seven defensive rating in the second half utterly strangled the 597 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:27,400 Speaker 1: Atlanta Hawks, and when you watched it, you could see 598 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 1: the effects of their switching defense constantly getting the ball 599 00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:34,000 Speaker 1: into situations where the pick and roll actions weren't working. 600 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:35,880 Speaker 1: And now all of a sudden, it's like, can Kevin 601 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 1: Werder create a shot against Jalen Brown? You know, can 602 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:42,280 Speaker 1: Trey Young shooting another step back jump shot? You know, 603 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:46,160 Speaker 1: like here comes DeAndrea. They just they were forcing them 604 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:49,360 Speaker 1: to play isolation basketball and that team just doesn't have 605 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:51,520 Speaker 1: a lot of guys who are graded isolation basketball. And 606 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:53,800 Speaker 1: the Hawks couldn't score, and next thing you know, the 607 00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 1: Celtics e race that big deficit and came back to 608 00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:58,960 Speaker 1: win the game. I still am a firm believer that 609 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:01,000 Speaker 1: that team can win a Chain Mpionship. They're definitely in 610 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:03,920 Speaker 1: that second tier. They're more like a Warriors, in my 611 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:06,960 Speaker 1: opinion than they are like a Bucks or a Sixers 612 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 1: or a Sons. But they absolutely are still a threat 613 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:13,080 Speaker 1: in order to do that. And I'm happy to see 614 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:14,800 Speaker 1: that they were able to get back to that level 615 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:17,480 Speaker 1: because because it was a little unfortunate that they hit 616 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:21,360 Speaker 1: that stretch right after I started advocating for them. All right, guys, 617 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:23,400 Speaker 1: that is all I have for tonight. I appreciate you 618 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:26,440 Speaker 1: guys support. As always, We will be back on Thursday 619 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:44,280 Speaker 1: for our usual postgame show, U