1 00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: The volume. It's Hoops and I presented by FanDuel. The 2 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: NBA season is kicking into gear and there's no better 3 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: place to get in on the action than with FanDuel. 4 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: The app is safe and secure, getting your money out 5 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 1: is super easy. 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In l A visit www dot 20 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: m D gambling help dot org in Maryland dial one 21 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: eight seven seven eight hope and why, or text hope 22 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: and why to four six seven three six nine in 23 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: New York, called one five to two four seven zero 24 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: zero in Wyoming, or visit www Dot one gambler dot 25 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 1: net in West Virginia. All right, Welcome to Hoops Tonight, 26 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: presented by Fan Duel here at the volume. Happy Wednesday, everybody. 27 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: I hope all of you guys are having a great week. 28 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: We gotta jam packed show for you tonight. The Warriors 29 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: once again struggling on the road in the Minnesota Timberwolves 30 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 1: picking up their sixth win in eight tries without Rudy Gobert. 31 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: We're gonna spend some time talking about the Wolves, their 32 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 1: overall team structure, the Warriors, how what to make of 33 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: these struggles continuing on the road. Uh Draymond Green somehow 34 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: slipping beneath the radar with a quote to Taylor Taylor 35 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 1: Rooks a couple of weeks ago about his free agency. 36 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: I have some thoughts there. We're gonna do do a 37 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 1: little bit of a deep dive on the Portland Trailblazers 38 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 1: and how I think they can make one last attempt 39 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 1: to try to get Damian Lillard in a position where 40 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:43,079 Speaker 1: he can compete for championship, and then Last but not Least, 41 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: George Jamal Crawford had some thoughts about Luca and James 42 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: Harden that I wanted to dive into. You guys know 43 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 1: the drill before we get started. Subscribed to the Volumes 44 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,079 Speaker 1: YouTube channel so you don't miss any more of our videos. 45 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 1: Follow me on Twitter at Underscore Jason lts you guys 46 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:58,079 Speaker 1: don't miss any show announcements. And for whatever reason, you 47 00:02:58,080 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: guys miss one of these shows and you can't get 48 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,119 Speaker 1: back over to YouTube to finished. Remember you can find 49 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: them wherever you get your podcasts Under Hoops Tonight and 50 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: The Last but not Least UM. Today actually marks one 51 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: year since I started with the volume. UM, I am 52 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: gonna be here for a while longer. I want to 53 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 1: just take a second to thank you guys for supporting 54 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: the show. It's been a wild year. It's been a 55 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 1: ton of fun. It's been super fun to see it 56 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 1: grow and I've really enjoyed interacting with you guys and 57 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: finding out what you guys like in building the show 58 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: around the way that we like to talk about basketball. 59 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 1: And I'm really excited to continue to build that with 60 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 1: you guys over the next couple of years. So cheers 61 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: to one year and cheers to hopefully many more years 62 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: to come. Um, all right, let's talk some basketball. So 63 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: I thought the Warriors soundly outplayed the Wolves for the 64 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 1: most part tonight, but then they're right in the middle 65 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: of the fourth quarter, De'angelo Russell got just obnoxiously hot 66 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: from three to the point where it didn't matter what 67 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: defense the Warriors were playing. That last step three hit 68 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 1: was very well contested, and he just knocked it down. 69 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: And it's funny because, you know, as the league has changed, 70 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: one of the super unique ways that the league has 71 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: changed is because of the high volume of three point shots, 72 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: not just in catch and shoot situations, but primarily in uh, 73 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: you know, primary ball handler situations, pull up threes, or 74 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: the ability to get too spots and kick to wide 75 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:27,039 Speaker 1: open shooters. No game is ever over. You know, a 76 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: team that defends as well as Golden State does, and 77 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 1: I thought Golden State for the most part defended really 78 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: well tonight. For a team that defends as well as 79 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 1: they do, you expect that game to be over. If 80 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: you're up double digits in the fourth quarter in control 81 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: but in the n b A, all it takes now 82 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: is one guy getting hot. And that's the weird thing 83 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 1: is like, these shots are so difficult, but when the 84 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: footwork is dialed in, when the rhythm and the energy 85 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 1: transfers dialed in, when that release is dialed in, there's 86 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 1: not really anything you can do. And the Warriors basically 87 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: had their hands tied of buying their back is Dangel 88 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: Russell slapped them, uh to get back into the game. 89 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,479 Speaker 1: And then from there that's where they snapped into those 90 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: old Warriors where they were sloppy, you know, turning the 91 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: basketball over, taking bad shots. Um, a couple of missed 92 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 1: key rebounds there down the stretch. That's where it started 93 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 1: to look, you know, because I had one of my 94 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:27,839 Speaker 1: friends swipe. But who covers the Denver Nuggets huge Nicola 95 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 1: Yokich fan I went on his show last week. He said, 96 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: he asked me after the game, he goes, at what 97 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 1: point is this who the Warriors are? And it's funny because, 98 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:41,479 Speaker 1: you know, generally speaking, one of evaluating teams that don't 99 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 1: have a championship pedigree, I look a lot at what 100 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: you do during the regular season, But with the Warriors, 101 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 1: I do want to give them a lot more benefit 102 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 1: of the doubt. I feel like they've earned that over 103 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 1: the course of the last decade or so. Um. But 104 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: you know, the reality is that it is concerning that 105 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:02,359 Speaker 1: given the situation with the urgency, given the opportunity to 106 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 1: string together a wind streak that you know, basic details 107 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: at the end of the game got sloppy for the 108 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 1: Warriors and what was a very winnable game. I'm gonna 109 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 1: talk a lot about the Wolves, and the Wolves I 110 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 1: thought out played Golden State from an effort standpoint down 111 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: the stretch, I thought they deserved to win. And we're 112 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: gonna talk a little bit about their team structure, and 113 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 1: they have a lot of reasons to be optimistic. But 114 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: the reality is is like that, like Delo fouled out, 115 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:28,920 Speaker 1: Anthony Edwards more or less had an off night. You know, 116 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: Rudy go bears out, nobody really can create a shot. 117 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: You should win that game, and you didn't. And I thought, 118 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:38,479 Speaker 1: in a lot of ways that came down to those 119 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: specific details. I wanted to shout out a couple of 120 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 1: specific Wolves, and then we're gonna talk about um A, 121 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 1: Minnesota's team structure a little bit. Nazri when it was 122 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: getting trapped and being forced to give up a basketball 123 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: a lot. And then when Dillo finally cooled off after 124 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: his hot streak, somebody needed to create a shot for Minnesota, 125 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: and Nazare did. He had a really nice post move 126 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 1: on Draymond Green, a really nice left handed hook in 127 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 1: the lane, and then a picking pop possession on the 128 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 1: left wing. He pumped, baked, got Draymond to fly by, 129 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: and knocked down a three. It was a huge play. 130 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 1: And then unfortunately for Nasred, he got three additional wide 131 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 1: open looks, two at the end of regulation and one 132 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: in ot that he missed, and I'm sure he was 133 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 1: kicking himself and he missed that last three there in 134 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: the corner, but Draymond missed the box out and Nazrie 135 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: got the basketball, and I'm sure it felt good to 136 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: have that vicious one handed dunk along the baseline to 137 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 1: tie things off. I think Nazrie has done a really 138 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: nice job from Minnesota this year. It hasn't always showed 139 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 1: up on the scoreboard, but this team does have a 140 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: lot of funkiness going on, and don't I don't put 141 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: it all on him, um. And then Anthony Edwards in 142 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 1: ot again after d Low fouled out. Even despite the traps, 143 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:47,119 Speaker 1: he just said screw it, I'm just gonna attack Andrew 144 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: Wiggins and made a play to avoid those traps. When 145 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 1: you call in those screening actions, you know, there's a 146 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: one way to look at it, which is like, oh, 147 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: I'm creating an advantage for my team because I'm drawing 148 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: a second defender that gives me the ability to put 149 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: the other team in rotate in a four on three. 150 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: But you know, sometimes in a situation like that, especially 151 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: for a really good defensive team like the Warriors, you're 152 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: not gonna get great stuff out of that four on three. 153 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: So you're almost better off with your With Anthony Edwards, 154 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: you're superstar going head to head with their best perimeter 155 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 1: defender and trying to make a play. And he did, 156 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: and then he had another really nice left handed layup 157 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: uh in transition again, and with everything with him, I 158 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: think it's gonna come down to his pull up jump 159 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 1: shot in the long run. I think he's going to 160 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: have to get to the point where he is reliable 161 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: with that pull up jump shot. It has not been 162 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 1: this season, after it was towards the end of last 163 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 1: season and after he knocked down a bunch of him 164 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 1: in the playoffs. That's the thing. I'm gonna keep an 165 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:39,079 Speaker 1: eye on him with his development. So Minnesota's one six 166 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:41,679 Speaker 1: out of eight. You know, a lot of times when 167 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 1: I'm doing the show, I come up with a theme 168 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: that kind of ties a bunch of specific topics together. 169 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: Like yesterday we were talking about talent when teams have 170 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 1: to put their foot on the gas. Tonight, I want 171 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: to talk about defensive front courts and um, you know, 172 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,439 Speaker 1: when we when we look at Minnesota in particular, they 173 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: made a trade that I actually kind of fundamentally agree 174 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: with from the standpoint of strategy, which is we need 175 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 1: to get a lockdown, you know, anchor, like a foundational anchor. 176 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:12,839 Speaker 1: With Rudy Gobert. I just disagreed in the sense that 177 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 1: I thought they overpaid, And then the actual structure of 178 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: the team around Gobert reminded me of a bunch of 179 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 1: the Utah Jazzy. They their core lineup still featured a 180 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: bunch of poor perimeter defensive players, and I didn't think 181 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: they had the level of offensive skill they needed to 182 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 1: thrive with two bigs on the floor. But the Rudy 183 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,679 Speaker 1: Gobert piece is very important. And this is where I 184 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 1: want to take a look back, because we're gonna talk 185 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 1: about Rudy Gobert, We're gonna talk about um Draymond Green, 186 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:41,959 Speaker 1: and we're gonna talk about Usef Nurkics. Three centers in 187 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: the NBA today. And you know what's funny is if 188 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 1: you look back through NBA history and he's just look 189 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: at champions, Every single champion in recent NBA history has 190 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 1: a very very very good defensive front court, either at 191 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 1: the center position or both the center and the power 192 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: forward position. Right last year, I've got Draymond Green, one 193 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: of the top, you know, four or five defensive players 194 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:05,959 Speaker 1: of all time, alongside Kevon Looney. The year before, I've 195 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: got Brook Lopez and Jana Santenna Coupo, two of the 196 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 1: best rim protectors in the NBA. The year before that, 197 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 1: i've got Lebron James and Anthony Davis. The year before that, 198 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: I've got Kawhi Leonard, Serge Ibaka and Marcusol when they 199 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 1: would play big. The year before that, i've got Katie 200 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:22,960 Speaker 1: and Draymond. The year before that, I've got Katie and Draymond. 201 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 1: The year before that, I've got Lebron James and Tristan 202 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 1: Thompson and Kevin Love, and Lebron obviously defensively at that point, 203 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: was a much better player. Before that, I've got Draymond 204 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:33,559 Speaker 1: Green before that. I've got Tim Duncan before that. I've 205 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 1: got Lebron and Chris Bosh before that, I've got Tyson 206 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 1: Schaidler before that, Pau Gasol. You know, It's just the 207 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 1: reality is, as we go back through NBA history, you 208 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,839 Speaker 1: need to be not just good defensively in the front court, 209 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: but you need to be great defensively in the front court. 210 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 1: And that's an important theme that we're gonna keep coming 211 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 1: back to during tonight's show. So I understand and I 212 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: respect the move to go after Rudy Gobert. I just 213 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: disagreed with the overall team plan, and I'm really curious 214 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 1: to see which direction they go at this deadline and 215 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:07,320 Speaker 1: moving forward in the coming summers, because there's a bunch 216 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: of things As a Wolves fan to be very excited about. 217 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 1: Anthony Edwards is one of my favorite young players in 218 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: the league, and I think he is on a superstar trajectory. 219 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: He reminds me of the two guard version of Lebron 220 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 1: just an unstoppable, bullyball downhill player that hopefully we'll pick 221 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 1: up enough pull up shooting to be able to balance 222 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:27,719 Speaker 1: it all out when it comes to slow down half 223 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: court environments. But then I've also got that foundational defensive 224 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: center and Rudy Gobert. And yes, he's got offensive limitations, 225 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 1: We've talked about that, but he's so damn good defensively 226 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 1: that I think it's you know, worth it in the 227 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 1: aggregate as long as you have the right players around it. 228 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:44,839 Speaker 1: And then we look at the rest of the roster, 229 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: and you know, look at the job that Kyle Anderson 230 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 1: did tonight blocking shots at the rim and using his 231 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 1: length to cause problem for the problems for the Warriors. 232 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:57,120 Speaker 1: Look at the job Jada McDaniels did tonight on Steph Curry. 233 00:11:57,640 --> 00:11:59,599 Speaker 1: You know, by the end of that game, Steph was exhausted. 234 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: That last three that he took that could have tied 235 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: the game in overtime didn't get any lift on it. 236 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: You could see it look funky from the standpoint of 237 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:09,959 Speaker 1: his energy transfer. Now, a lot of that's because his 238 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 1: injury and he doesn't have the uh, you know, the 239 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 1: conditioning that he had before his injury. That's gonna take 240 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 1: another week or two. That's normal. But a lot of 241 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: it was that physicality and the ball pressure that Jada 242 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: McDaniels applied all night long. Both of those guys too, 243 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 1: represents two specific types of forwards that I always talked about, 244 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: Jade McDaniels that skinnier, faster forward and Kala Anderson a 245 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 1: little bit slower but bigger, taller, longer. They've got a 246 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 1: lot of things tied together. But you know, you guys know, 247 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 1: I'm not a huge d'angela Russell fan. His pull up 248 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: jump shot, you know, tends to fail him against really 249 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: good defenses, in large part because he's got a low release. 250 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 1: He doesn't elevate very high. He's kind of a set shooting, uh, 251 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 1: pull up jump shooters. So that's that's and then I 252 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 1: don't think he's very good defensive players. So I think 253 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: D'Angel Russell is a kind of a funky fit. And 254 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: then you've got this Carl Town's thing. But the way 255 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 1: that I would look at it, foundationally, I've got aunt 256 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:02,959 Speaker 1: found Nationally, i've got Rudy Gobert, I've got my wings. 257 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:07,200 Speaker 1: I need backup ball handling and shooting that fits within 258 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 1: what we what the Wolves are trying to do, within 259 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 1: their scheme. That's why I'd be looking at this deadline 260 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 1: for you know, there's a bunch of guys that are available. 261 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 1: Be looking at guys like Jordan Clarkson from the Utah Jazz. 262 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 1: I think he can be got um, you know, I 263 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 1: think he's achievable, like guys like Terry Rogier. You know. Um. 264 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: The other thing you could do is you could look 265 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 1: to be much more aggressive. I don't know if you're 266 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 1: gonna be able to do it at this deadline, but 267 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 1: maybe at some point in the future for a star 268 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 1: level ball handler and flip Carl Towns for him. There's 269 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 1: going to be some team around the league that's gonna 270 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 1: value what Carl Town's does. Um. That team will then 271 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: be dealing with the same front core defense problems that 272 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 1: we're talking about. But maybe they don't see it that 273 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: way and they see a bunch of value on Carl Towns. 274 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 1: But that type of flip might be something that allows 275 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: for the right amount of ball handling and shooting alongside 276 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: that core to make it work. But make no mistake 277 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 1: those two pieces that that uh Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert. 278 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 1: With the type of wing defense that they have, They're close. 279 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: They just need to figure out their backup ball handling. 280 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 1: So um, talking a little bit of Warriors again, I 281 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:09,320 Speaker 1: thought the Warriors actually played a great game until D'Angelo 282 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 1: Russell's hot streaks. So I don't want to be too 283 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:14,079 Speaker 1: negative as it pertains to their road struggles, because I 284 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 1: think they were a little shell shocked and then a 285 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:17,439 Speaker 1: bunch of things didn't go their way down the stretch. 286 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: I mean, even at the end of regulation, Steph comes 287 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: over a pick and roll gets a wide open pull 288 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 1: up fifteen foot or they got a lot of wide 289 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: open shots down the stretch in the fourth quarter for 290 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 1: Steph because of guard to guard actions and the fact 291 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: that UH Minnesota really did not want to switch Jaden 292 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 1: McDaniels in those screens because they weren't switching. He was 293 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: getting caught on those little ghost screens or guard to 294 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: guard screens, and Steff was getting a lot of really 295 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: good looks. I would venture to guess that on that 296 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 1: type of separation, Steff is shooting close to if not better, 297 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 1: on pull up twos when he's that open. So again, 298 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 1: I want to stay positive. He that's as good a 299 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: look as you're gonna get at the end of a game. 300 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 1: It just didn't go in, you know, and and it 301 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: sometimes it goes like that. But I am disappointed been 302 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 1: their overall execution down the stretch. But to um that question, 303 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: at what point do we accept the Warriors are the 304 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 1: Warriors are who they show us during the regular season. 305 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: I'm gonna wait till the playoffs. I'm sorry, as long 306 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: as they're in there. If they're in the I don't care. 307 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 1: If they're the eight seed, I don't care if they 308 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: have to win a playing game. If they're going on 309 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: the road and they're playing Denver and they're at full health, 310 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 1: I'll be picking Golden State to win that series. I'm sorry. 311 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: I've seen too much from Steph Clay, Jordan Pool, Draymond Green, 312 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: Kavan Looney, and Andrew Wiggins. I've seen too much from 313 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: that group to think that suddenly in the last year 314 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 1: they forgot how to play basketball. They have some urgency issues, 315 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 1: they got some execution issues, they got some things they 316 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 1: got ironed out, Make no mistake. But if if you 317 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: want to bet against them, be my guest. I'm not 318 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 1: gonna be that guy. I'm going to continue to give 319 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 1: the benefit of the doubt to the team that I've 320 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 1: seen time and time again do what it takes to 321 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 1: get the trophy. That said, there was a little interview 322 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: that was going around earlier today. It was either today 323 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 1: or yesterday, but Bob Myers is on local Golden State 324 00:15:55,240 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: Radio and uh, a really good interview question. Um, I 325 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: wish I should have wrote down who the gentleman was, 326 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 1: so I apologize on that front. But he said, do 327 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: you want to make a trade at the deadline or 328 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: do you need to make a trade at the deadline? 329 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 1: And Bob Meyer's basically said both, But when he elaborated 330 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 1: on it, what he said is I don't like our 331 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 1: margin for error right now. And you've heard me use 332 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 1: that phrase a lot on this show, and the concept 333 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:30,239 Speaker 1: behind that phrases these teams are all super good. Boston's amazing, 334 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 1: Milwaukee is amazing, Brooklyn when they're healthy is amazing, Philly 335 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:39,200 Speaker 1: is amazing, Denver is amazing. All these teams are good. 336 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 1: You're you're going to have to be very very good 337 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 1: to win, and even if you are, you're probably gonna 338 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: win by this much. So there is not a lot 339 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 1: of margin for error and what he talked about was 340 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: like back in two thousand seven and seventeen and two 341 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: thousand eighteen, if you would have asked me that same question, 342 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 1: I would have said, no, we don't need to make 343 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 1: a trade because our margin for error was where he 344 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:05,119 Speaker 1: was comfortable. And so that's where I look at this, Like, 345 00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 1: even if Steph and Raymond and Kevon Looney and Andrew 346 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:13,439 Speaker 1: Wiggins and all those guys get it together, they're not 347 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 1: as deep as they were last year, and some of 348 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:19,679 Speaker 1: the teams they played have gotten better, and some of 349 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 1: the teams they're going to play weren't in the mix 350 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:25,479 Speaker 1: last year, so their margin for air is significantly smaller. 351 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:28,200 Speaker 1: And that's why, like one bench piece here, I saw 352 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:30,679 Speaker 1: Jared Vanderbilt get thrown out as an option in the 353 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 1: trade market for the Warriors. I love that idea, just 354 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:37,679 Speaker 1: another big lanky, athletic forward, that big power forward mold 355 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:39,680 Speaker 1: that can help them a lot in their bench lineups 356 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: defensively and grabbing rebounds. I would like to see them 357 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:47,400 Speaker 1: make a deal because this margin for error isn't something 358 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:49,360 Speaker 1: that I would be comfortable with, and I understand why 359 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:53,159 Speaker 1: Bob Myers feels that way, but it is time for 360 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:55,399 Speaker 1: them to pick it up, because again, your margin for 361 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: air shrinks based on your matchup quality. I would pick 362 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,640 Speaker 1: Golden State to win against Denver in a one eight matchup, 363 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:07,399 Speaker 1: but that's a tough series. Maybe you come out of 364 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:10,440 Speaker 1: that series a little banged up, and now you gotta 365 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 1: go play Memphis, a big, physical team, and you could 366 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 1: have some problems there, right, So like if fatigue can 367 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: pile up and things can get harder and harder as 368 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 1: thing goes along, things go along. Now, I tweeted this 369 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:25,679 Speaker 1: this morning, and I truly believe it. I think Golden 370 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:28,199 Speaker 1: State has more talent, the Clippers have more talent, the 371 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 1: Lakers have more talent, and the Kings have built a 372 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 1: little bit of a gap. So my guess is that 373 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 1: the final six in the conference will go something like Denver, Memphis, Sacramento, 374 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 1: Golden State, the Clippers, and the Lakers, because those teams 375 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 1: are all gonna have to hit the jets here down 376 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 1: the stretch, and they all have the requisite talent. But 377 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:51,439 Speaker 1: it needs to happen eventually, and tonight you would have 378 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 1: expected it to happen. So it's a little discouraging and 379 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 1: I get that. Um I want to talk Draymond for 380 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 1: a second. Somehow this one under the radar. I I 381 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:02,960 Speaker 1: saw it somewhere on Twitter randomly and I said it 382 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 1: to Ryan, our producer, and he was like, how did 383 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:07,160 Speaker 1: we not see this over the last couple of weeks, 384 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:09,479 Speaker 1: And I was like, I don't know. The uh somehow 385 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 1: I didn't see it. But Taylor Rooks did an interview 386 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: with Raymond Green and he said, quote unquote, she asked 387 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 1: him to like basically about his pending free agency, and 388 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: he said, quote quite frankly, the writings on the wall, 389 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:24,679 Speaker 1: I understand the business end quote. He elaborated after that 390 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 1: to say, I would love to be a warrior. So 391 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 1: he wants to stay, but it seems like he's expecting, 392 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: or at least preparing himself for emotional, emotionally for something 393 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: for him to potentially have to go elsewhere. And just 394 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 1: in terms of life advice, I thought it was a 395 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 1: really really interesting clip from Draymond. He basically talked about how, 396 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:48,320 Speaker 1: like you, you set yourself up for disappointment when you 397 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: expect things, when you feel like you deserve things, And 398 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: the reality is, it is a business, and it's better 399 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: for you to learn the business so you can be 400 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 1: prepared to fight for yourself. Then it is for you 401 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 1: to just expect that you deserve something and to have 402 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:07,880 Speaker 1: it come your way. You're gonna get heartbroken if that happens, 403 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:10,200 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. And so I thought that 404 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 1: was a really interesting bit from Draymond Um. But anyway, 405 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:16,399 Speaker 1: this is why I wanted to bring this up tonight 406 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 1: to come back to our original topic. Be as we 407 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:21,439 Speaker 1: were talking about front court. Here's the reality. If you 408 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: let Draymond go, you're gonna be running back next year 409 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:30,240 Speaker 1: with what James Wiseman and Covan Luney. And he is 410 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 1: a good defensive player. I think he's better on switches. 411 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 1: He holds up better on switches compared to most centers 412 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 1: as opposed to as a shot blocker. I had a 413 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 1: big block down the stretch Toady against Jay McDaniels, But 414 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 1: he's not the best shot blocker in the world. But 415 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:46,440 Speaker 1: no matter what, a Wiseman Louney front court is going 416 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:48,640 Speaker 1: to overnight be one of the middle of the pack, 417 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:51,360 Speaker 1: if not worst defensive front courts in the Western Conference. 418 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:53,720 Speaker 1: And all we have to do is look at NBA 419 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:57,919 Speaker 1: history to know that that's not winning anything. And the 420 00:20:57,920 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 1: reason why it's so important foundationally, we talked about this 421 00:20:59,880 --> 00:21:02,440 Speaker 1: all time. Most NBA possessions begin with a pick and roll. 422 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: Your big man is the captain of the defense. He's 423 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: quarterback and calling out the plays, getting guys in the 424 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 1: right spot, calling out the coverages. His job in pick 425 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: and roll is extremely difficult. He has to guard multiple defenders. 426 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:14,639 Speaker 1: He has to contain a ball handler why dealing with 427 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:18,640 Speaker 1: the rim threat. He's gotta win contested rebound battles. He's 428 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:20,280 Speaker 1: got to run up and down the floor and transition. 429 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 1: There's so many things that a big nan has to 430 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:27,400 Speaker 1: do is vitally important. Joel Embiid, you're think last year 431 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 1: went on with J. J. Reddick and talked about how 432 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:32,240 Speaker 1: he thought as center absolutely must win defensive Player of 433 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: the Year of a year because of their intellectual responsibilities 434 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:39,080 Speaker 1: in the defense. That's why we see those names as 435 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 1: I'm listing the champions in in NBA history. But here's 436 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:46,679 Speaker 1: the thing, Kef, I'm Luni's fine, but the Warriors this 437 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 1: year with Loney on the floor and no Draymond, gave 438 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 1: up a one eight teen defensive rating. So if that's 439 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 1: your plan, it's gonna go poorly right now. So Here's 440 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 1: the thing lake Up is probably thinking man like Draymond 441 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,879 Speaker 1: probably wants four years, twenty five million a year or 442 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 1: something like that. I don't know exactly what he wants, 443 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:07,159 Speaker 1: but I would imagine Draymond would be comfortable around a 444 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,320 Speaker 1: hundred million in a four year deal. The thing that's 445 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: tricky with that is like lake Ups just thinking about 446 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: luxury tax and how you know, maybe it's time to 447 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: move on. But the reality is is right now, Draymond 448 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 1: is still a top three defender in the world. That's 449 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 1: a fact. He and Steph alone automatically make you a 450 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 1: championship contender. If there is a point where he declines 451 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:31,880 Speaker 1: and he's no longer worth twenty five million, it will 452 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:34,200 Speaker 1: probably be in the second half of that deal, third year, 453 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 1: fourth year, and there's and it's not like you're not 454 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: gonna be able to trade it. That's not a There's 455 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 1: no such thing as a bad contract to million in 456 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,680 Speaker 1: the modern NBA because that's just salary filler. That is 457 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 1: a vehicle with which to obtain other players. Now, if 458 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:52,959 Speaker 1: it's forty five million, yeah, that could be an albatross 459 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: and cause a bunch of problems. But Draymond, I don't know, 460 00:22:57,160 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 1: but I doubt Draymond is out here thinking he's gonna 461 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:03,479 Speaker 1: get forty five million year. So sign the damn guy signed. 462 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 1: He deserves it. He's still good enough, and it's the 463 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 1: smart asset management decision. Sign him for whatever he needs, 464 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:12,119 Speaker 1: four years a hundred, twenty four years, a hundred, whatever. 465 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:15,000 Speaker 1: It's a tradeable deal. He keeps you viable as a 466 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:18,239 Speaker 1: defensive front court in the immediate future. And if, for 467 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 1: whatever reason it goes south, all you've paid some luxury 468 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: tax because he's just gonna be a vehicle with which 469 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 1: you can get another player, like the Warriors have first 470 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:29,160 Speaker 1: round draft picks. He's a perfect salary vehicle to make 471 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: a trade. I just don't understand, uh, even considering letting 472 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 1: him walk, Joe Lacob cannot make this mistake. You have. 473 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 1: You have to pay Draymond and keep him around. All right, 474 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 1: We're gonna move on to the Blazers. So the Blazers 475 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 1: one in Memphis tonight twelve kind of a shocking outcome. 476 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 1: I saw this one going an entirely different way. Memphis 477 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:51,720 Speaker 1: finally ended their losing street the other night. I thought 478 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:53,879 Speaker 1: they were gonna be ready to kind of play some 479 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 1: more serious basketball. But what's funny is ever since, ever 480 00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:59,239 Speaker 1: since John Murand said nobody in the West scares him, 481 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 1: all they've done is is games to the Western Conference, 482 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 1: which is a whole other thing. Memphis I continue to 483 00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 1: just view as an un serious basketball team that is 484 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:09,400 Speaker 1: destined for a second round exit. But we will see 485 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 1: what happens. Maybe they'll prove me wrong. But Dames and 486 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:14,400 Speaker 1: I goes for eight and ten in his last eleven games. 487 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:16,679 Speaker 1: He's averaging thirty nine points per game in eight assists 488 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:20,639 Speaker 1: per game. But despite that absurd level of play, the 489 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:23,440 Speaker 1: Blazers are just six and five in the eleven game span. 490 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 1: They're still below five hundred, and they're still out of 491 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 1: the West, playing game at the eleven seat. And this 492 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 1: is not a team like the Lakers, where you're like, 493 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 1: it's cool. Anthony Davis is on the way, No, no, 494 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 1: no Dame has played in every game in this eleven 495 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:39,320 Speaker 1: game stretch. Anthony Simons is played in every game in 496 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,400 Speaker 1: this eleven game stretch. Jeremy Grant has played in every 497 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:43,359 Speaker 1: game in this eleven game stretch. Gary Payton the Second 498 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: is played in almost every game. Josh Hard has played 499 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 1: in almost every game. Use if Turkey has played in 500 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 1: almost every game. They are whole and bad. If you 501 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:55,280 Speaker 1: guys remember about a week or so ago, it is 502 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:57,040 Speaker 1: either a week or two go. I can't remember, but 503 00:24:57,080 --> 00:24:59,240 Speaker 1: I basically talked about how if there, if there was 504 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:02,360 Speaker 1: any way that Portland could try to save this thing, 505 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 1: it needed to start with Narkis. And again it goes 506 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:08,159 Speaker 1: back to everything I was just talking about with that 507 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 1: defensive front court, Dame. They have all the boxes checked 508 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:15,760 Speaker 1: except for that. They've got a super duper star. They 509 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:17,480 Speaker 1: can go toe to toe with any star in the league. 510 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 1: Damian Lillard. We've seen him do it time and time again. 511 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: They've got a good backup shot creator and Anthony Simmons. 512 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:29,359 Speaker 1: They've got another shot creator who's also that rim, pressuring 513 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:30,920 Speaker 1: forward that you guys know I like so much. And 514 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:38,560 Speaker 1: Jeremy Grant. They have outstanding perimeter defensive wings, Gary Payton 515 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 1: the second one of the best in the league. Jeremy 516 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:45,639 Speaker 1: Grant very very good, Josh Hart very very good defensive 517 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:48,960 Speaker 1: wing in this league. So why can't they get stops? 518 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 1: Because of everything that we talked about earlier in the 519 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:54,520 Speaker 1: show and the responsibilities that the big man has on 520 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:57,440 Speaker 1: the floor. Now there's a couple of different names that 521 00:25:57,480 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 1: I mentioned in that specific pod, but I keep coming 522 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:03,520 Speaker 1: back to one guy. They have to be the team 523 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:07,800 Speaker 1: that gets super aggressive with Miles Turner. The way that 524 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:11,640 Speaker 1: Indiana structured his extension um is set up in a way, 525 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 1: and it has something to do with the way they 526 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:15,439 Speaker 1: set up his declining salary structure. And I'm not a 527 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 1: topologist um, but the you know, like essentially, the way 528 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:21,880 Speaker 1: they structured it makes it so that he's still trade 529 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:24,480 Speaker 1: eligible before this deadline. Now, Rick har Lyle is reported 530 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:26,440 Speaker 1: didn't even report, just came out and said in a 531 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:29,040 Speaker 1: press conference that he's off the trading block. But you know, 532 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:32,119 Speaker 1: it's very clear that they set up the contract in 533 00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:36,400 Speaker 1: a way that you know, makes him tradeable. And while 534 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:39,639 Speaker 1: I do think they view him as a solid defensive 535 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:43,680 Speaker 1: centerpiece for their guard heavy rotation, I also think that 536 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:45,280 Speaker 1: if they were given the right off or that they 537 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:47,080 Speaker 1: would still pull the triggers. So whether it's at this 538 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:50,479 Speaker 1: deadline or it's this summer, I think that Portland has 539 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:52,639 Speaker 1: to put everything down to try to go get Myles Turner. 540 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 1: I think he's the best readily available guy in that category. 541 00:26:56,800 --> 00:26:59,040 Speaker 1: Or hey, maybe they're the team that ends up going 542 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:01,159 Speaker 1: for Draymond Grain if your lake up is foolish enough 543 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:03,000 Speaker 1: to let him go um. But they need to have 544 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:06,639 Speaker 1: somebody in that specific spot. Now, if you put Damian Lillard, 545 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:10,560 Speaker 1: Anthony Simon's, Josh Hart, Jeremy Grant, and Draymond or Miles Turner, 546 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:15,520 Speaker 1: now you're a serious basketball team. Not only that, you 547 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:18,960 Speaker 1: know they're really bad defensively in the backcourt. Right Dame 548 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:20,400 Speaker 1: is one of the worst guard defenders in the league. 549 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:23,480 Speaker 1: Anthreonny Simon's is only okay, you know, but you simplify 550 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:26,560 Speaker 1: their responsibilities with a really good center. The problem is 551 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 1: is when Damon, Anthony or basically just porous on the 552 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:33,800 Speaker 1: backcourt defensively, they don't have anybody on the back line 553 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: they can clean things up. But when you have a 554 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:40,400 Speaker 1: real back line defensive player, defensive anchor, you actually simplify 555 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:43,399 Speaker 1: the defensive responsibilities for Damon for anfreny. Now they can 556 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:47,320 Speaker 1: ball pressure knowing that they have safety on the back 557 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:49,440 Speaker 1: line as long as they're willing to make rotations after 558 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:52,240 Speaker 1: the fact. That's simple, Like just pressure the ball and 559 00:27:52,280 --> 00:27:54,360 Speaker 1: then rotate when you get beat is a lot easier 560 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:57,160 Speaker 1: than like, if you get beat, it's game over because 561 00:27:57,240 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 1: Usef Nurkic isn't stopping anybody at the rim. But from 562 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:03,000 Speaker 1: there then they would cross every box. They'd have the superstar, 563 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:05,120 Speaker 1: they'd have the backup shot creation, they'd have the rim 564 00:28:05,119 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 1: pressuring forward, they have the wing defenders, and they'd have 565 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 1: the defensive anchor, and they have plenty of shooting. So 566 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:11,919 Speaker 1: I think that needs to be the strategy that they 567 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:15,360 Speaker 1: go with, either at this deadline or heading into next offseason. 568 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:18,200 Speaker 1: They have to at one point give Dame a shot 569 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 1: with a real rim protector. All right, last take before 570 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:25,600 Speaker 1: we get out here tonight, Jamal Crawford basically came out 571 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:28,119 Speaker 1: and said that, um, James Harden was doing all the 572 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:30,840 Speaker 1: same stuff Luca don Chech was doing back in two 573 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:34,560 Speaker 1: thousand and eighteen and didn't get this kind of love. Um, 574 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:36,960 Speaker 1: And this, to me is one of my least favorite 575 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:39,760 Speaker 1: takes that I see flying around and and Jamal Crawford 576 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:44,920 Speaker 1: is not the first to do it, but I see 577 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 1: the I see the beginning of it. There are similarities 578 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:53,200 Speaker 1: in their approach, Like James Harden is a dribble the 579 00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 1: ball off the floor, spread floor, perfect spacing principles. I'm 580 00:28:57,880 --> 00:28:59,600 Speaker 1: gonna beat my man off the dribble with is so 581 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:02,200 Speaker 1: Er and can roll and basically determine the outcome of 582 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:05,560 Speaker 1: every single possession, and Luca does the same thing, although 583 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:07,000 Speaker 1: I do think Luca does it a little bit more 584 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 1: out of necessity because of the roster. And I'm really 585 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:11,960 Speaker 1: curious to see a phase of Luca's career where he's 586 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 1: playing alongside a bona fide co star, which all the 587 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:17,360 Speaker 1: reporting is that Mark Cuban is basically willing to sell 588 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 1: his soul for a star at this deadline, and that 589 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 1: everybody's available not named Luca, to try to get that done. 590 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:24,200 Speaker 1: So we'll see what ends up happening. I'm not sure 591 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:27,280 Speaker 1: which specific star they'd be targeting. Um, I don't think 592 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:29,600 Speaker 1: O g n and Obi moves the needle enough for them, 593 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 1: and and He's not good enough offensively to really justify it. 594 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 1: But we'll see what they end up doing. But like 595 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 1: the reality is is that's the only similarity. Luca controls 596 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 1: every possession, James Harden controls every possession. The reason why 597 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:45,479 Speaker 1: I see a huge chasm between those two guys is 598 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 1: James Harden in those years two thousand eighteen two thousand nineteen, 599 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:54,000 Speaker 1: he only did four things ever with the basketball, he 600 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: would either make a read, make a pass right, or 601 00:29:57,120 --> 00:29:59,160 Speaker 1: you should a step back three, or you get all 602 00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:00,840 Speaker 1: the way the rain for la up, or you take 603 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:02,800 Speaker 1: a short floater in the land. That was really more 604 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 1: kind of starting in that two thousand nineteen season when 605 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:09,040 Speaker 1: he added the floater, but it was extremely repetitive, and 606 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 1: so as a result, when they get to the postseason, 607 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:14,840 Speaker 1: it's different when you're on a random Tuesday in January 608 00:30:15,200 --> 00:30:17,920 Speaker 1: showing up in Houston to play the Rockets, and you 609 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:21,080 Speaker 1: know and you're you know, you're you know, a wing 610 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:23,400 Speaker 1: defender who has that that responsibility, and it's like, oh, 611 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 1: I gotta guard James Harden tonight. It's gonna be paid 612 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 1: in the ads. But in a seven game playoff series, 613 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:33,440 Speaker 1: what happens. You see him in game one, then you 614 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:34,800 Speaker 1: see him in game two, then you see him in 615 00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:36,840 Speaker 1: game three, then you see him in Game four, and 616 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:40,160 Speaker 1: in a hundred possession game, James Harden is starting eighty 617 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:43,360 Speaker 1: of those possessions in a playoff series, and you're seeing 618 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:45,840 Speaker 1: the same thing every single time, and so you start 619 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:48,560 Speaker 1: to kind of pick up on the little body language 620 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:51,240 Speaker 1: cues that set up specific shots or specific moves and 621 00:30:51,280 --> 00:30:54,760 Speaker 1: you start to guard him better. We think of James 622 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:57,800 Speaker 1: Harden as a playoff underperformer or someone who struggles. But 623 00:30:57,840 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 1: look a little deeper. I want you guys to go, 624 00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:02,720 Speaker 1: just for fun, go to James Harden's game logs in 625 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:05,720 Speaker 1: two thousand eighteen and two thousand nineteen. Look at how 626 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:09,479 Speaker 1: well he performs in game one of a playoff series 627 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:13,560 Speaker 1: compared to the rest of the series. That's exactly that effect. 628 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:17,600 Speaker 1: Early in the series, he's got the advantage. As the 629 00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:22,160 Speaker 1: series progresses, he becomes more predictable. People solve him, and 630 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:25,720 Speaker 1: that's why he has so many catastrophic flameouts late in 631 00:31:25,760 --> 00:31:29,240 Speaker 1: playoff series, especially when the series on the line. Now 632 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:32,440 Speaker 1: we look at Luca, he actually goes up a level 633 00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:36,280 Speaker 1: in the playoffs. Why do you guys think that is? Now? 634 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:39,160 Speaker 1: Luca takes step back threes, Luca goes all the way 635 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:43,200 Speaker 1: to the rim. Luca takes floaters, but he also takes 636 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:47,560 Speaker 1: dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens of other shots. 637 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:52,000 Speaker 1: He's got post up fadeaways over both shoulders. He's got 638 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:55,440 Speaker 1: like seventeen different types of push shots and pop shots, 639 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:58,440 Speaker 1: shots and hook shots and things in the short range. 640 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:02,280 Speaker 1: He can straight up just take a step back jumper 641 00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:04,680 Speaker 1: in the mid range, a lot in ISOs. If you 642 00:32:04,720 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 1: actually look at shot charts from Luca don John any 643 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:10,000 Speaker 1: given game. Just take a random Luca Donte shot chart 644 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:12,480 Speaker 1: from last week and compare it to a random shot 645 00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:15,080 Speaker 1: chart of James Harden in two thousand nineteen. And in 646 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:16,800 Speaker 1: James Harden, you see a lot of dots around the 647 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:18,840 Speaker 1: three point line, and you're gonna see a lot of 648 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:20,560 Speaker 1: dots right around the rim, and you're gonna see one 649 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:23,480 Speaker 1: or two dots in the paint from his floaters. Feel 650 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:26,040 Speaker 1: like a Luca. You're gonna see a bunch of shots 651 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:28,560 Speaker 1: around the top of the key. You're gonna see a 652 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:31,080 Speaker 1: few in that twenty foot range, You're gonna see a 653 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:33,360 Speaker 1: few in that fifteen foot range, You're gonna see a 654 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:35,200 Speaker 1: few in that ten foot range, and then you're gonna 655 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:38,520 Speaker 1: see a few in the restricted area. There's variety in 656 00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:42,680 Speaker 1: what he does. Now, A lot of people will say 657 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:45,960 Speaker 1: that play style can't win. I disagree. He just went 658 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 1: to the conference finals in his early twenties without a 659 00:32:48,840 --> 00:32:53,240 Speaker 1: legitimate co star Lebron James has done it several times 660 00:32:53,240 --> 00:32:56,160 Speaker 1: in his career with a similar style. I think every 661 00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:58,040 Speaker 1: single one of those guys when they win, has a 662 00:32:58,120 --> 00:33:01,080 Speaker 1: legit backup option. Lebron could throw down Anthony Davis, he 663 00:33:01,080 --> 00:33:03,200 Speaker 1: could get a basket. He could throw it to Kyrie Irving, 664 00:33:03,280 --> 00:33:04,880 Speaker 1: he could get a basket. He could throw to Bosh 665 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:09,240 Speaker 1: your Wade, they could get baskets. There's nobody at near 666 00:33:09,280 --> 00:33:13,200 Speaker 1: those levels playing for Dallas, and he still has had 667 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:16,640 Speaker 1: the playoff success that he has had. James Harden has 668 00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:21,240 Speaker 1: been on extremely good teams with Chris Paul at the 669 00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:25,320 Speaker 1: peak of his powers flanking him, and those series were 670 00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:31,120 Speaker 1: lost because James Harden could not mimic his regular season success. 671 00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:36,160 Speaker 1: That's why I look at variety a lot in that 672 00:33:36,360 --> 00:33:40,280 Speaker 1: intricate shot making, that improvisational shot making with the superstars, 673 00:33:40,920 --> 00:33:44,920 Speaker 1: because if you're improvisational, you're not predictable. If you're not predictable, 674 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:48,520 Speaker 1: you'll actually excel as series go longer because now you're 675 00:33:48,560 --> 00:33:51,720 Speaker 1: going to solve the defensive player instead of the defensive 676 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:55,840 Speaker 1: players solving you. That's what makes Luca Donche and James 677 00:33:55,840 --> 00:34:00,640 Speaker 1: Harden so different, and I really don't feel the comparisons 678 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:04,600 Speaker 1: with them like I I feel, we'll see what happens, 679 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:08,440 Speaker 1: but I feel almost certain that Luka Dante is just 680 00:34:08,440 --> 00:34:12,759 Speaker 1: gonna win multiple NBA championships. He's just too good, and 681 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:14,960 Speaker 1: he's got so many areas that he can easily improve 682 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:17,759 Speaker 1: as he matures, with his conditioning, with his effort on 683 00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:21,400 Speaker 1: the defensive end. Imagine right now he's doing all this 684 00:34:21,440 --> 00:34:25,319 Speaker 1: with an absurd usage rate. Imagine what will happen when 685 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:28,680 Speaker 1: he has a legitimate flanking co star and he can 686 00:34:28,680 --> 00:34:32,640 Speaker 1: be more selective with his shots and when he's tired, 687 00:34:33,480 --> 00:34:36,120 Speaker 1: Like there are possessions where lucas exhausted and everyone's looking 688 00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:39,040 Speaker 1: at him like you gotta make the play. If he's 689 00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:40,520 Speaker 1: on the right type of roster, he won't have to 690 00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:42,840 Speaker 1: do that. If he's with Chris Paul in two thousand eighteen, 691 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:46,000 Speaker 1: he doesn't have to do that. So I I think 692 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:48,759 Speaker 1: that I don't think it's fair to put those two 693 00:34:48,760 --> 00:34:50,480 Speaker 1: guys together, and I wanted to elaborate on that a 694 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:52,680 Speaker 1: little bit. All Right, guys, that is all I have 695 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:56,000 Speaker 1: for tonight. We may or may may not be back 696 00:34:56,000 --> 00:35:00,359 Speaker 1: tomorrow night covering Clippers, Bucks and Nuggets Warriors. It depends 697 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:01,719 Speaker 1: on a couple of things. Because I'm getting ready to 698 00:35:01,719 --> 00:35:03,719 Speaker 1: head out of town on Friday morning. But I'll keep 699 00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:05,719 Speaker 1: you guys posted. Just keep an eye on my Twitter feed. 700 00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:08,320 Speaker 1: As always, I appreciate you guys support. I'll see you 701 00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:19,320 Speaker 1: guys tomorrow or later this week. The volume