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Dial one eight hundred five 29 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: two two forty seven hundred in Wyoming, or visit www 30 00:01:52,960 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: dot one eight hundred gambler dot net in West Virginia. 31 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,799 Speaker 1: All right, Welcome to Hoops Tonight, presented by Fan Duel 32 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 1: here at the volume Happy Tuesday, everybody. We are live 33 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: on AMP. Don't forget if you're watching on YouTube or 34 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 1: listening on the podcast feeds that AMP is the very 35 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: first place that you guys can get these shows. We're 36 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: just gonna hit two games from last night, the Warriors 37 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: impressive win over the Suns and the Bucks impressive win 38 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: over the Kings. And then at the Enda has some 39 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: thoughts about the role that advanced metrics should or should 40 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: not play in the MVP race. You guys could probably 41 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: guess where I stand there before we get started. Subscribe 42 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:35,679 Speaker 1: to the volumes YouTube channels. You don't miss any any 43 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 1: more of our videos. Follow me on Twitter at underscore 44 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: Jason lt. So you guys don't miss any show announcements. 45 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 1: And for whatever reason, you miss one of these videos 46 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: and you can't get back over to YouTube to finish, 47 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 1: don't forget. You can find them wherever you get your 48 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: podcasts Under Hoops Tonight, and you guys have heard me 49 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 1: talk about game Time, the fastest growing ticketing app in 50 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: the United States. If you're looking to get out to 51 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: an NBA game, an NHL game, and NCAA basketball game, 52 00:02:57,560 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: or a baseball game, or even a concert or a 53 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 1: comedy game, Time has amazing last minute deals on tickets 54 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 1: to all of these. 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First 73 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 1: of all, for merch while merch While March Madness takes 74 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 1: center stage this week here at the Volume, it's merch Madness. 75 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: Just head to the Volume's website and use promo code 76 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: merch Madness for twenty percent off all merchandise from your 77 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: favorite personalities at the Volume. And if you want a 78 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 1: chance to compete against Colin Coward and myself and the 79 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 1: rest of the Volumes team joined our bracket challenge, just 80 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: said to Yahoo and find the group the volume merch 81 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: Madness or type in bit Lee slash volume merch Madness. 82 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: Fill in your bracket and the top five finishers will 83 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,679 Speaker 1: receive free volume swag. So again you get to compete 84 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: against Colin Coward, myself, everybody else at the team. I'm 85 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: gonna be filling out my bracket later today. It'll be 86 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 1: some fun. Plus, if you finish in that top five, 87 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: you're gonna get some free volume swag. So celebrate the 88 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,599 Speaker 1: Big Dance with merch Madness all month long. All right, 89 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 1: let's talk some basketball. So the Warriors get another impressive 90 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:39,679 Speaker 1: win at home last night. Has been a theme throughout 91 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: the season. One twenty three, one twelve over the Signs. 92 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: It was never really in doubt. They went up twenty 93 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:45,159 Speaker 1: five in the first quarter. There was a brief moment 94 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: there in the third quarter where the Suns worked it 95 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: back to three, but then, as usually happens when that 96 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 1: sort of dynamic takes place, the Warriors immediately took control 97 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: of the game had it back up to double digits 98 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 1: in no time. Draymond talked a little bit about this 99 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: on his show last or this morning, but like it's 100 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: kind of an I've been flowing these basketball games, the 101 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:03,480 Speaker 1: better team gets out to a big leader, at least 102 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: the better team on that particular night, the other team 103 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: has to expend a ton of energy to get back 104 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:09,279 Speaker 1: into the game, and the other in the team that's 105 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:10,919 Speaker 1: in front probably let their foot off the gas a 106 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: little bit, and then when things start to enter a 107 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:16,720 Speaker 1: danger zone, the team locks back in and the team 108 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:18,479 Speaker 1: that came from behind gets fatigued a little bit, and 109 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: then we kind of get back to where we were 110 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 1: at the beginning. Clay Thompson really set the tone at 111 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: the beginning of this game. He at eighteen points just 112 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: in his first shift. I thought one of the biggest 113 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 1: dynamics that led to Clay thoms because Clay Thompson got 114 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 1: good looks to start this game. All four of his 115 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: threes that he made in his first shift were on 116 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:39,359 Speaker 1: defensive mistakes from Phoenix. And you know, it started with 117 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: miscommunications primarily between Joshua Cog and Clay Thompson. They had 118 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,119 Speaker 1: excuse me, josh Cog and Devin Booker. Booker was on Clay, 119 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 1: josh Cogi was on Steph. And one of the things 120 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 1: that the Warriors do really well to confuse teams is 121 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 1: they will run interchanges that lead into interchanges, and that 122 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 1: really punishes teams that like to switch. Now, we talked 123 00:05:57,560 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: about this a lot when we were talking about the 124 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: Lakers and the rap right. So like the Raptors were 125 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 1: hugging up on Anthony Davis and not switching that screen, 126 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 1: but they were switching everything before. So it puts the 127 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 1: switching defenders in a complicated position because if they have 128 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: to navigate a switch immediately before the ball screen, they're 129 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 1: out of position for that ball screen. And that was 130 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: happening a lot in the off ball actions with Klay 131 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: Thompson in this game. So imagine this. I'm Josh Akogi 132 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 1: and I'm guarding Steph Curry, and I'm preparing to deal 133 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: with Steph Curry as he's running around all these actions. 134 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,919 Speaker 1: Now as Steph is doing a dribble handoff with Clay, 135 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: I'm tied up with Steph. Now, Devin Booker's screaming at me, switch, switch, switch, 136 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: because Clay is coming off this dribble handoff. Now I'm 137 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: suddenly on Clay and Clay is immediately coming off of 138 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 1: a dribble handoff from Kevon Looney. Now, normally, if it's 139 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 1: a dribble handoff, and I'm guarding Clay and Kevon Looney 140 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:53,839 Speaker 1: is the screener. I'm in either a lock and trail 141 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 1: position or a top lock position, a top block position. 142 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: I'm trying to refuse Klay Thompson's ability to use the screen, 143 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: so I'm going to position myself between Clay and Kevan 144 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 1: Luney and try to force him to cut backdoor where 145 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: I'm probably gonna have help because Kevan Luney's not a shooter, 146 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 1: so the screen defender is probably gonna be further back right. 147 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: But in that position, I need to be in position 148 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: between Clay in the screen, or if I'm in a 149 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: lock in trail position, I'm in the exact opposite. I'm 150 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 1: positioning myself right behind Clay and I'm trying to stay 151 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: as close to him as possible so that when he's 152 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 1: flying off of that screen, he doesn't get separation from me, 153 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: and then I can chase him over the top and 154 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 1: funnel him into help in the paint. But in order 155 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: to lock in trail or top lock, I need to 156 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: be in position first, and if I'm out of position, 157 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 1: I'm not going to have much of a chance to 158 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 1: do my job. In either of those situations. So what 159 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: was so smart about what the Warriors were doing? And 160 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: Clay got threes on three of this specific type of 161 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 1: action in that first shift. If I am guarding another 162 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 1: player and I'm suddenly switching onto Clay, who then's going 163 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 1: into that dribble handoff, I'm out of position. And I 164 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 1: picked two plays like this that you guys can see 165 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: that are on my Twitter feeds or go to at 166 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 1: underscore Jason lt a clip two of these. You guys 167 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: can see what I'm talking about. But you'll see josh 168 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 1: Akogi gets suddenly switched on to Clay and then be 169 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 1: hopelessly out of position to chase him over that following screen. 170 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: You have to be so so sharp with the Warriors 171 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 1: in their offball actions and be so prepped for that 172 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 1: switch and be ready and in position for that next 173 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: action to have any chance. And there were times where 174 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: Booker wanted to switch, but there Josha Cogi didn't hear 175 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 1: him or they didn't communicate well, and then Booker was 176 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 1: out of position. And then there were plays where they 177 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: did switch and Joshua Cogi was out of position. There 178 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: was even on the I think it was the fourth 179 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: three of Clay's first shift. It was a transition play, 180 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 1: and Booker just was Booker's It's in transition, Clay's running through, 181 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: Booker's kind of trailing him underneath the basket, and I 182 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: think it was Draymond who ends up setting the pick 183 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 1: and Booker just kind of gives up on it and 184 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 1: doesn't even chase Clay out there. He gets a wide 185 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 1: open three. In order to deal with the blender that 186 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:00,120 Speaker 1: Golden State puts you in, you have to be oh 187 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: sharp defensively. And you know, we've talked a lot about 188 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: how I think that the biggest weakness for the Suns 189 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 1: with the trade they made for Kevin Durant is their 190 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 1: point of attack defense. And point of attack defense is 191 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: not just pick and roll defense. It's also all chasing 192 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: shooters around. It's locking and trailing, it's top locking, it's 193 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: chasing guards over ball screens. There's a bunch of responsibilities 194 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: that come to point of attack defense and the point 195 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 1: of attack guys. For the Suns last night, we're not 196 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 1: ready for the challenge. They got punched right in the 197 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 1: mouth eighteen points by Claying his first shift. Then once 198 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: he got going with the off ball stuff, he had 199 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 1: like a driving left handed layup on Devin Booker. He 200 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: had a nice post up on josh Akogi where he 201 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 1: took a drop step towards the baseline and hit a 202 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: nice bank shot. He just completely destroyed the Suns in 203 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:45,959 Speaker 1: the first shift and it completely changed the dynamic of 204 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: the game from the start, and it was basically over 205 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: at that point. You're not coming back to beat the Warriors. 206 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 1: When you're down twenty five in the first quarter in 207 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 1: Chase Center, it's a done deal at that point. Even 208 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 1: when they got close, like Draymond was talking about, there 209 00:09:57,720 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: was no real threat there. And I want to shout 210 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:01,839 Speaker 1: out competitiveness because you know, Clay has always had a 211 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 1: little thing with Devin Booker. And what I appreciate about 212 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 1: Clay is, you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt 213 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,480 Speaker 1: that he's gonna come out ready to play against the Suns. 214 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 1: And because I've talked a lot about Clay, like he's 215 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 1: kind of a funny guy and he's portrayed as a goofball, 216 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 1: but the dude is a savage competitor and it's one 217 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 1: of the most un underrated things about him as a 218 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 1: basketball player. He was the one that set the tone 219 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 1: early in that game and was a huge driving force 220 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:28,439 Speaker 1: throughout this whole season. Clay Thompson has been one of 221 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: the guys that has kept the ship afloat despite some 222 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 1: unfortunate circumstances. And then when he checked out, Gold State 223 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: was up fourteen and Steph took over from there and 224 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 1: they started running the same kind of stuff with Jordan 225 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 1: Pool and Steph Curry, and they had a same kind 226 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 1: of miscommunication that took place between Devin Booker and Damian Lee, 227 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 1: and Steph got a wide open three and then Steph 228 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: hit a nasty step back on Damian Lee. You know, 229 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 1: Steph kind of smelled blood in the water at that 230 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:56,199 Speaker 1: point and went for the kill because like, up fourteen, 231 00:10:56,520 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 1: that's manageable. Clay got you to fourteen, then Stephed over 232 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 1: got you up to twenty five. That when the game 233 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:05,719 Speaker 1: was really over. And then I was really impressed with 234 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:09,200 Speaker 1: Jordan Poole because when Phoenix made their run and got 235 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 1: it back to within two or three points there in 236 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,959 Speaker 1: the third quarter, Jordan Poole made two massive plays that 237 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 1: got them back up to their big advantage. He had 238 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: a nice driving left handed layup where he initiated contact 239 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 1: and went up strong on the left side of the rim. 240 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: He had a nasty step back three. He was a 241 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 1: big part of them getting that lead back up to 242 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 1: where it was comfortable. And you know, Jordan Pool. A 243 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 1: lot of Warriors fans have been critical of Jordan Pool 244 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 1: over the last couple of months, and I haven't talked 245 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:38,319 Speaker 1: a ton about him. And one of the main reasons 246 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: why is I'm a big believer in slotting and the 247 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 1: reality of Jordan Pool is he's a flawed basketball player. 248 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: Like offensively he's superhelter skelter. He kind of is like 249 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: a controlled chaos, like he plays out of control a lot, 250 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 1: and defensively he's very limited. Right, that kind of thing 251 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 1: doesn't matter as much when the Warriors are whole because 252 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:03,840 Speaker 1: usually he's the only weak defensive link on the floor 253 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 1: and the team can cover for him on offense. They 254 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:09,319 Speaker 1: kind of rain him in a little bit. With the 255 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:12,680 Speaker 1: overall collective basketball i Q on the floor, that gets 256 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:15,560 Speaker 1: him to make better decisions and he's attacking with more 257 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:18,320 Speaker 1: of an advantage. It all kind of works. But when 258 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:21,320 Speaker 1: guys are out of the lineup, that's where it's like, 259 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:26,080 Speaker 1: suddenly he's in lineups with lesser defensive personnel, his defensive 260 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: shortcomings become a bigger deal. He's playing in lineups with 261 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 1: lower basketball IQ. Suddenly his decision making becomes a bigger deal. Right, 262 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 1: That helter skelter thing becomes a bigger deal. That inconsistency 263 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:40,319 Speaker 1: thing becomes a bigger deal. The way that Jordan Poole's 264 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 1: gain is shaped actually makes a lot of sense when 265 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: the Warriors are whole, and makes less sense when they're 266 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:50,440 Speaker 1: dealing with personnel limitations. And so, you know, the big three, 267 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: Clay Thompson, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green were completely locked 268 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 1: in in this game, and I think that's a big 269 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 1: part of what made Jordan Poole's job easier and would 270 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: allowed him to impact the game well. From there, every 271 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: Warrior played well. It seemed like I thought Draymond Green 272 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:07,079 Speaker 1: was frightening defensively in his first shift. You can always 273 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 1: tell when Draymond's locked in defensively when he's closing out 274 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: to three point shooters with that reckless abandon. He's got 275 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:16,000 Speaker 1: ridiculously long arms. It's one of his best physical attributes. 276 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: And when you see him sprint out to a three 277 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 1: point shooter in the corner and he reaches that arm up. 278 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 1: It's ridiculous how much he can bother shooters even when 279 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: he seems like he's out of position. Jamichael Green had 280 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 1: a really nice burst there in the light second late 281 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,439 Speaker 1: first quarter, a slipped ball screen where he got a 282 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: lay up, and then on the very next possession he 283 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:34,679 Speaker 1: jumped a passing lane and got a dunk. He was great. 284 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: He's been ever since he came back from injury. He's 285 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 1: been awesome off the bench. I thought Andrea Guidala was 286 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 1: really good again. And what's interesting with Andrea Gudala hasn't 287 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 1: always been pretty since he came back. Like he's had 288 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 1: some nasty misses from threes from three, and he's been 289 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 1: a little bit of a liability there, and he's committed 290 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: some fouls you know, where he's gotten out of position defensively, 291 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,840 Speaker 1: But for the most part, he's been really good, and 292 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 1: just in the little things in the game, he's such 293 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 1: a connective tissue piece for them offensively. You know, there's 294 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:06,400 Speaker 1: a play in this game where Jamichael Green like kind 295 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 1: of caught on the right bass line and Andrea Gudalac 296 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: cut out of the week side corner, and so Michael 297 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 1: Green pushed it to Andre, and Andre through like a 298 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,040 Speaker 1: touch pass just right on the catch that hit Moses 299 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: Moody in stride for a nasty dunk in traffic. And 300 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: I'm sitting there thinking, I'm like, I'm like, that's just 301 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 1: a high basketball IQ, connective tissue type of piece play 302 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 1: that makes everything work. And I think he's been a 303 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:33,920 Speaker 1: good off ball defender for the Warriors since he came back, 304 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: and I think it's shown him plus minus in in 305 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 1: his minute since returning. He's been plus seventeen overall. Even 306 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 1: in the three losses that they had, he was a 307 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: positive in his shifts in two of those three games. 308 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 1: Like I think, I think his basketball IQ and both 309 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:53,360 Speaker 1: offensively and defensively have made him an impactful player for 310 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 1: the Warriors, even despite him still working his way kind 311 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 1: of back into his shape. And and you know, they 312 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: may not even end up needing him when they to 313 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: the postseason, if Gary Payton's healthy and if Andrew Wiggins 314 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 1: is healthy. But I still think it's good to have 315 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 1: him as an option out there just because he's not 316 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 1: going to be scared. He's gonna know where to be, 317 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: He's gonna know how to impact the game in his 318 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 1: own way. It was a really impressive, dominant win for 319 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 1: Golden State. They're heading on the road for five games, 320 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: so they're gonna have to figure out a way to 321 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: translate this to the road at Draymond talked about it 322 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 1: on this podcast. There's been a lot of talk, but 323 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: they haven't been able to translate it yet. So this 324 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 1: is gonna be a good way for us to learn. 325 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 1: I think their first game is the Clippers. That's gonna 326 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 1: be a tough one. There's a they have a lot 327 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: of perimeter size, which is a specific weakness for the 328 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 1: Warriors with Andrew Wiggins out, so that's gonna be a challenge. 329 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: But they're gonna have what it takes and I think 330 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: they'll find a way. I think you'll see Draymond Green 331 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: guard Russell Westbrook again and play off of him. It's 332 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: gonna be a good challenge. This road trip is going 333 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 1: to be an interesting one for the Warriors. And I 334 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: haven't looked at the schedule to see exactly who they 335 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 1: play yet, so I could be wrong about the Clippers first, 336 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: but I think I heard Draymond mentioned that in his podcast. 337 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 1: All right, let's move on to oh really quickly. Just 338 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: on the Sun's You know, I don't want to think 339 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 1: too much about them because they don't have Kevin Durant, 340 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 1: but like the reality is, their guards have to defend better. 341 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 1: There's a reasonable chance that it could be the Suns 342 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:10,680 Speaker 1: and Warriors that play in the four or five matchup 343 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: this year and they're gonna lose that series. If you 344 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: do not play better defensively in the backcourt. You have 345 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: to be prepared for Golden State's blender. They're gonna have 346 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 1: to sharpen some things up, all right, Milwaukee, Sacramento. This 347 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 1: was just an absolute master class from Jannis. Every once 348 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 1: in a while, there are these games where you see 349 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: a player reach a height that no one else really 350 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 1: can reach. I used to see this a lot with 351 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 1: Lebron when he was younger, or like Kobe Bryant back 352 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: in the early two in the mid two thousand and tens, 353 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 1: where it's like, oh, yeah, like that guy's just better, 354 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. And this, the first half 355 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 1: of this game was a great example. Sacramento came out 356 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: and through a great punch in this game. And we're 357 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 1: not going to talk a ton of Kings today because 358 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 1: we talked ton of Kings yesterday. But like like Demonis 359 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 1: Sabonis came out just attacking brook Lopez, even though he's 360 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: given up a lot of size there, just initiating contact 361 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 1: and finishing around the rim. Kevin Hurder came out guns blazing. 362 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: Keegan Murray came out guns blazing. Darren Fox was fantastic 363 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 1: in the second half. They offensively, to the King's credit, 364 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 1: everything they did worked pretty well against Milwaukee. You know, 365 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:15,439 Speaker 1: obviously their defense was a big problem to give up 366 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:17,439 Speaker 1: eighty points in the second half, but they came out 367 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,119 Speaker 1: and punched Milwaukee in the mouth with a great offensive 368 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: punch in the first half, and on the other end 369 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:27,440 Speaker 1: of the floor, everybody for Milwaukee was off except for Jannis. 370 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:31,679 Speaker 1: Joannis was had an outstanding playmaking game. He only had 371 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:34,200 Speaker 1: four assists, but I haven't looked up his potential assists, 372 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:37,400 Speaker 1: but he probably had ten to fifteen potential assists because 373 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,440 Speaker 1: guys just couldn't make shots. Though Bucks started like one 374 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 1: for ten from three, the only guy to make a 375 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 1: three in that first ten threes was Jannis and then 376 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 1: he was destroying Harrison Barnes in the post. He was 377 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 1: destroying Harrison Barnes on the offensive glass He hit like 378 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:55,680 Speaker 1: a pull up mid range jump shot, just had everything going, 379 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:58,680 Speaker 1: completely dominated the game on both ends of the floor. 380 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: It was just an absolute masterclass from Jannis and a 381 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 1: great example of like the level that he can get 382 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,640 Speaker 1: to when he really hits the jets in the problem 383 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: that that presents for other teams. We'll talk a little 384 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 1: bit about that more here in a little bit. Chris Middleton, 385 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 1: like he was one of the guys who was getting 386 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:16,720 Speaker 1: those wide open threes from Jannis in the first half, 387 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 1: just could not make them. Finally hit a shot there, 388 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 1: I believe in the mid second quarter, but I think 389 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:25,360 Speaker 1: he only hit one shot in the first half. Finally 390 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 1: in the second half he broke through and got some 391 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:30,240 Speaker 1: really good spot up looks from Jannis and Drew Holiday. 392 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 1: But you know, the big thing that you can tell 393 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:34,920 Speaker 1: when when Chris really has it going is that pull 394 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 1: up transition three. That's kind of like his bread and butter. 395 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 1: When Chris is really feeling good and in rhythm, he'll 396 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:43,480 Speaker 1: just bring the ball up the floor, get the ball 397 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,719 Speaker 1: into his left hand, high hesitation, rise up into that 398 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 1: transition three while the defender's back pedaling. He hit one 399 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:51,439 Speaker 1: of those early in the third quarter, and it was 400 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:53,840 Speaker 1: like that was it. It was like he clicked into gear. 401 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: He hit his he hit like a nice relocation like pump, 402 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,439 Speaker 1: fake and sidestep three d in the left corner. He 403 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 1: had a kick out three from Yannis on a nice 404 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 1: drive on the left wing. Then he started going to 405 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 1: work in the post, like spinning off of guys, and 406 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 1: he had a big and one in the fourth quarter 407 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 1: when the game was close to excuse me, pump, bake 408 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 1: and draw the contact and rise up and knock down 409 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 1: the shot. He's just so incredibly important to the high 410 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:20,399 Speaker 1: level half court offense element to the Bucks that can 411 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 1: be a little bit of an issue for them in 412 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 1: specific matchups, not really for the Kings, but in some 413 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 1: specific matchups. I don't think it was a coincidence that 414 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: the Bucks went for eighty points in the second half 415 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:31,960 Speaker 1: of this game when they when they really have it 416 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: going with their spot up shooting alongside a locked in 417 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 1: Jannis Antenna Kumbo, they're really difficult to guard, and way 418 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 1: too often when we're talking about Yannis, we talked about 419 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 1: him as an offensive player who's just a bullyball player 420 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:45,639 Speaker 1: who can't do much on the offensive end of the 421 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 1: four skill wise, compared to his peers, and that just 422 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: couldn't be further from the truth. The dude is at 423 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 1: like he is a much better playmaker than Kevin Durant. 424 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: He's a much better playmaker than Jason Tatum. He's a 425 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:57,199 Speaker 1: much better playmaker than Paul George or Kawhi Leonard of 426 00:19:57,240 --> 00:19:59,880 Speaker 1: all those guys who are those big forwards at that position, 427 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 1: other than maybe Lebron, He's the best passer. That's a 428 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: huge part of his game that goes underrated, and it 429 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:09,440 Speaker 1: just comes from reps year after year of him going 430 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 1: against walled up defenses that are trying to seal him 431 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:14,719 Speaker 1: off from the paint. He's just figured that part of 432 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 1: his game out, and you know, when you kind of 433 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 1: put it all together, that's why I have the bucks 434 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:22,640 Speaker 1: right now is the safest bet to win the title. 435 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 1: At this point, that could change. We're gonna reapproach it 436 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:27,640 Speaker 1: in mid April. You know, if teams are healthy. I'll 437 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 1: have to reconsider it certain teams right but right now, 438 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 1: I think they're the safest bet. Jannis is the best 439 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 1: player in the world. He's the best defensive player in 440 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: the world. He's a top five offensive player in the world, 441 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:40,360 Speaker 1: and his game translates to the playoffs at an extremely 442 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 1: high level. All of that is fact. Chris Middleton is 443 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:48,119 Speaker 1: the high level shot making piece and the spot up 444 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 1: piece that was severely missing him and Joe Ingles, although 445 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 1: Joe Ingles didn't play last night dealing with some injury management. 446 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 1: But you know, Chris has had a rough year. He's 447 00:20:56,840 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 1: been in and out the lineup with injuries, hasn't looked 448 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: like himself. But he's peaking, it seems like at the 449 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:03,399 Speaker 1: right time. Obviously, we'll see if last night was a 450 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 1: fluke or if he can continue that here down the stretch. 451 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 1: But if he can add just that little bit of 452 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:09,399 Speaker 1: high level shot making, and if he can add that 453 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 1: high level spot up shooting that they're missing, that's gonna 454 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 1: be just a game changer. That was the difference in 455 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 1: that Boston Celtics series last year. They just couldn't. It 456 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 1: was a lot of Wesley Matthews. It was a lot 457 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 1: of Grayson Allen, It's a lot of Bobby Portis, a 458 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 1: lot of guys that were just a little bit inconsistent 459 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 1: knocking down those kickout threes, and this year it's gonna 460 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 1: be different. Javon Carter is a Miles better spot up 461 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: shooter than he was last year. He couldn't play last 462 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: year because Bud didn't trust him to knock down shots. 463 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 1: He's gonna get those minutes this year. He's a much 464 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: better point of attack defender than guys like Grayson Allen 465 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:44,880 Speaker 1: or Pat Conatson. But Pat Countitton and Grayson Allen both 466 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 1: do their jobs. They're perfectly fine rotation players for a 467 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:52,520 Speaker 1: playoff team. Obviously, you know Jay Crowder is an option 468 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 1: for them, is that bigger, physical forward to throw at 469 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:57,679 Speaker 1: certain teams. Joe Ingles didn't play. He can run second 470 00:21:57,720 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 1: side action as an excellent passer, is a great spot 471 00:21:59,880 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 1: up shooter. Drew Holliday one of the best point of 472 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 1: attack defenders in the league. I get a little frustrated 473 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 1: with him offensively sometimes because he takes such difficult shots 474 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 1: seemingly unnecessary, but there are other nights when that can 475 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:13,400 Speaker 1: be a ceiling raiser for this team when he's making 476 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:16,879 Speaker 1: them right. So like, really, when I look at it, 477 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 1: they have they have every bit as high a defensive 478 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 1: ceiling as anybody in the team, except for maybe Boston, 479 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 1: just because Boston has a little bit more wing athleticism. 480 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 1: But even then, I would argue in just a different 481 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:31,680 Speaker 1: archetype of defense that Milwaukee's defense is every bit as good. 482 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:33,880 Speaker 1: And then on the offensive end of the floor, when 483 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:36,480 Speaker 1: they have Jannis surrounded by that level of offensive skill 484 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 1: and Chris Middleton playing at that level, they're not going 485 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:43,440 Speaker 1: to be that far behind the teams like Boston. They're 486 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 1: not gonna be that far behind. They're not gonna be 487 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:48,399 Speaker 1: that far behind the teams in the Western Conference, especially 488 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 1: if Jannis is playing at this level. So, I mean, 489 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 1: I think they're the safest bet to win the title. 490 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: They We'll see what happens over the course of the 491 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 1: next month or so if we need to adjust that. 492 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 1: But man, I think i'd take them defensively and offensively 493 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: over Boston right now. I'd have to think about it more. 494 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 1: But in Boston lost another tough one in Houston last night. 495 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:13,000 Speaker 1: Boston is going like this, in Milwaukee's going like this. 496 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 1: It's it's it's just I think I think it'd be 497 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:18,360 Speaker 1: foolish to bet on anybody else out of East right now. 498 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 1: All right, before we call it today, I want to 499 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 1: talk a little bit about the MVP in advanced metrics. 500 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 1: So this was a debate that I had with Matt 501 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:28,199 Speaker 1: Moore from the Action Network the other day, and then 502 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:30,199 Speaker 1: Draymond actually brought it up a little bit, not the 503 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 1: advanced metrics part, but brought up the MVP debate again 504 00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:36,879 Speaker 1: today and it got me thinking. So Chris Mannix, one 505 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:39,360 Speaker 1: of our co workers here at the Volume, said that 506 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 1: him and Nick Wright had a debate over Yoka chimbid 507 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:45,360 Speaker 1: and they talked a little bit about the advanced metrics thing. 508 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:49,480 Speaker 1: And I want to be clear, like, I'm in the 509 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 1: minority here. I do not have a vote. Obviously I 510 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:55,960 Speaker 1: hope to one day, but I do not have a vote. 511 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 1: And the people that do, the majority of them, do 512 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:05,080 Speaker 1: factor in advanced metrics. I completely disagree with that. There's 513 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:07,119 Speaker 1: a couple of reasons why. First of all, when it 514 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 1: comes to advanced metrics, I just find them to be 515 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: useless data. The comparison that I made was the zestimate 516 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:15,159 Speaker 1: on Zillo. I worked in real estate before I did this. 517 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:17,199 Speaker 1: It was the flexible job that I could do to 518 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 1: make money while I was trying to pursue this career. 519 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: And you know, all the time I get asked by 520 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 1: listing clients like, oh, but my estimate said this, you know, 521 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:29,320 Speaker 1: and this estimate was just a basic algorithm that would 522 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 1: take basically average sales prices from the neighborhood. Right. But 523 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 1: the reality is of real estate is no two houses 524 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 1: are alike unless you're in like real track home areas. 525 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:41,960 Speaker 1: Most houses are different, especially in Arizona because Arizona is 526 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:44,719 Speaker 1: kind of more spaced out. There's big pieces of dirt, right, 527 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 1: Like like my first home was on almost an acre. 528 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 1: That was my first home, like an inexpensive home that 529 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:53,440 Speaker 1: was on literally like two thirds of an acre. Right, 530 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:55,880 Speaker 1: You're not getting that in other areas, So like different, 531 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 1: every lot is different. What kind of views do you have? Pool? 532 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:02,240 Speaker 1: Pool is a big thing in Arizona because how hot 533 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:05,399 Speaker 1: it is. Like the houses are. There's there's old slop 534 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 1: bought combs that are six from the nineteen sixties, and 535 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:10,639 Speaker 1: then there's these brand new stick and stucco homes from 536 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:13,080 Speaker 1: the early two thousands. Like they're also different. So like 537 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 1: I would just tell my clients like, this estimate means nothing. 538 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: I have to run detailed comps of all these different 539 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 1: things that are similar to your home in order to 540 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 1: find a realistic valuation. So like what I would tell 541 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 1: them is like this estimate's fun it's fun to look at, 542 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 1: but the reality is is it doesn't actually mean anything 543 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 1: when it pertains to what your house is actually worth 544 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 1: and what someone's willing to pay. That's the way I 545 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:40,120 Speaker 1: look at advanced metrics. They're fun, you know, like it's 546 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:44,040 Speaker 1: cool looking to a player efficiency rating or raptor you know, 547 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:48,120 Speaker 1: ESPN real plus minus or any of these catchall metrics. 548 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 1: But the reality is is the game of basketball is 549 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:54,960 Speaker 1: so much more complicated than that, and you cannot hope 550 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: to assign a player's basketball value to a number. I 551 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 1: think it's I think it's blasphemous to the game of basketball. 552 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 1: And you know what was funny is is Matt More 553 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:07,440 Speaker 1: His point was like his point was like, you can't 554 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:10,200 Speaker 1: trust your eyes. Your eyes will deceive you. You need 555 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:14,120 Speaker 1: concrete data. And my counterpoint to him was, I don't 556 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 1: view that as concrete data. I agree that eyes are flawed, 557 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 1: there's no doubt, like I make mistakes with my analysis 558 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 1: all the time. That's big part why I read the comments. 559 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:27,439 Speaker 1: You guys do a good job providing different perspectives. If 560 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:29,760 Speaker 1: you're a fan of the Sacramento Kings, you watch more 561 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 1: Kings games than me. I might watch forty to forty 562 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:34,280 Speaker 1: five Kings games a year. You're gonna watch eighty two 563 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 1: Kings games every single year, so you're obviously, like, obviously, 564 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:41,399 Speaker 1: the eye test is a flawed concept, but so is 565 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: the data, and I think that it's a lost cause 566 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 1: you are never going to be able to assign basketball 567 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,159 Speaker 1: to a single number. I still believe in data, you 568 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 1: guys know, I look at data for you know, single 569 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 1: play types, like I like to look at pick and 570 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 1: roll points per possession, post up points per possession, lation 571 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:03,119 Speaker 1: points per possession. I like to look at defensive ratings, 572 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:06,560 Speaker 1: offensive ratings, all line up data, but all of those 573 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:10,720 Speaker 1: are directly associated to the scoreboard on a per possession basis, 574 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:13,240 Speaker 1: so they're much more accurate. But even those aren't one 575 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:18,679 Speaker 1: hundred percent accurate, because if a guy's got if you know, 576 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:22,440 Speaker 1: a player that's on a team that has tons of shooting, 577 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 1: his pick and roll points per possession is going to 578 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:27,200 Speaker 1: be swayed by the fact that he's got three great 579 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 1: spot up shooters off of him, Whereas you know, like Lebron, 580 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:32,479 Speaker 1: the work he was doing in pick and roll earlier 581 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:35,520 Speaker 1: in the season, surrounded by a bunch of garbage shooters 582 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 1: like it's different for him. So even the data I 583 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:41,720 Speaker 1: look at is not perfect, and I'll acknowledge that here. 584 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 1: But like the single metrics, the catch all metrics, they 585 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:48,960 Speaker 1: are hopeless and their endeavor to try to capture the 586 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:51,640 Speaker 1: game of basketball. So my thing is, like what you're 587 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:53,879 Speaker 1: considering to be concrete data, I don't consider to be 588 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:57,760 Speaker 1: concrete data. And I'm okay with the fact that we 589 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 1: can never some basketball up to an exact science. I'm 590 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 1: good with that. I love the organic nature of basketball games. 591 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:08,240 Speaker 1: I love that you can be the better team for 592 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:10,760 Speaker 1: one hundred possessions, but if you don't execute on two 593 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:12,520 Speaker 1: possessions at the end of the game, you can lose. 594 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:16,640 Speaker 1: I love those details about the game. And what I've 595 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:22,200 Speaker 1: always said is the counter to my eye test mistake, 596 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 1: the mistakes that I might make with the eye test, 597 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:29,919 Speaker 1: is that we have a huge voter pool. Like, if 598 00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:32,639 Speaker 1: I've got one hundred people that are watching the games 599 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:34,920 Speaker 1: with their eyes and voting based on their eyes, it's 600 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:37,919 Speaker 1: gonna average out to something that's closest to the truth. 601 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 1: And I would much rather fail with my eyes trying 602 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 1: to perceive the realness of the game of basketball than 603 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 1: to point to an algorithm and let them do the 604 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 1: work for me, not to mention like there are so 605 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 1: many Like, let's break it down from a math perspective. 606 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 1: What is an advanced metric. It's basically an equation with 607 00:29:02,680 --> 00:29:06,160 Speaker 1: variables and you're plugging in the variables and you're getting 608 00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:09,520 Speaker 1: out a result. Right, Maybe that's points per game. Maybe 609 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:12,760 Speaker 1: that's your plus minus waited for like they're super complicated 610 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 1: now like these, If you look at the formula for 611 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 1: like raptor, it's like, it's ridiculous the amount of detail 612 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:21,400 Speaker 1: that they put into it. They're trying, they're failing, but 613 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 1: they're trying. But here's the thing. Where is the variable 614 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 1: for a player's ability to move without the basketball to relocate? 615 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:35,840 Speaker 1: Where's the variable for a guy who sets better screens 616 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:40,160 Speaker 1: than his opponent. Where is the variable for the guy 617 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:43,240 Speaker 1: who runs his lane in transition every time and doesn't 618 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:48,200 Speaker 1: get the ball that occupies defenders. That's just like four examples. 619 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:50,720 Speaker 1: If I really thought about it, made a list, I 620 00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:54,080 Speaker 1: could probably make an like fifty or sixty different basketball 621 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:59,480 Speaker 1: skill set things that are literally impossible to measure statistically, 622 00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 1: And because of that, it will never be possible to 623 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:07,600 Speaker 1: capture the game of basketball in a single metric. So 624 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:10,200 Speaker 1: I know I'm in the minority. I know they disagree. 625 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:14,280 Speaker 1: But if if when I become a voter, if if 626 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:16,520 Speaker 1: it happens, if I'm lucky enough, if I'm blessed enough 627 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:20,120 Speaker 1: to become a voter on NBA Awards, I will do 628 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:23,239 Speaker 1: my very best to watch the games and come up 629 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:27,720 Speaker 1: with what I believe is my best guests who deserves what. 630 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:33,719 Speaker 1: And I will not allow myself to you to allow 631 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:37,479 Speaker 1: to use a flawed metric to cheat the work. And 632 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:41,600 Speaker 1: I'd rather fail with my eyes than fail by being lazy. 633 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:44,320 Speaker 1: And I know that I'm not calling those people lazy. 634 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:47,800 Speaker 1: Those people also watch the games, but I just think 635 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:52,840 Speaker 1: like they actually factor that stuff in a huge part. 636 00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:56,480 Speaker 1: A huge part of why Yokich is number one in 637 00:30:56,600 --> 00:30:59,520 Speaker 1: MVP voting is because of the the advantage he has 638 00:30:59,560 --> 00:31:04,040 Speaker 1: in the advant metrics. And I just don't think that 639 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:06,800 Speaker 1: that's good process. So again, that's just my that's just 640 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:08,360 Speaker 1: my two cents on it's a lot more complicated. You 641 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:10,040 Speaker 1: guys know how I feel about MVP. I'm a big 642 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:12,800 Speaker 1: thirds guy, Like, who's the best player in the world 643 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:14,400 Speaker 1: is a third of it? Who's the best player in 644 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:15,920 Speaker 1: the best team is a third of it. Who's the 645 00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:18,360 Speaker 1: most valuable is the third of it. That's kind of 646 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:20,320 Speaker 1: the way I break it down. That's just my thing. 647 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 1: Everyone's got a different opinion on it. I who's the 648 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:25,480 Speaker 1: best player in the world. Part is where I factor 649 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:28,960 Speaker 1: in postseason success. I believe postseason success shouldn't matter. Yes, 650 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:31,320 Speaker 1: it's a regular season award, but we're in pursuit of 651 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:36,240 Speaker 1: Hilarry O'Brien. That's the goal. So like I think that 652 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:41,200 Speaker 1: stuff matters. All right, I'm off my soapbox. Um, that's 653 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:43,240 Speaker 1: all I have for tonight. We're gonna be back tomorrow morning. Guys. 654 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:45,320 Speaker 1: We're gonna have a bunch of games to talk tonight. 655 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:47,840 Speaker 1: I'm gonna try to get into some more Eastern Conference 656 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:50,080 Speaker 1: teams tomorrow as well. As always, I sincerely appreciate your 657 00:31:50,120 --> 00:32:00,240 Speaker 1: sport now, so you guys tomorrow. Ali