WEBVTT - Power Rankings: Embiid Returns and Mavs vs. Clippers Part 3

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome into NBA pulsive production of iHeartRadio in the NBA.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm Sarah Coustack, NBA analyst for the Yes Network, and

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<v Speaker 1>today is Monday, April eighth. From our extraordinary core group

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<v Speaker 1>of NBA journalists, We're joined now by NBA dot Com

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<v Speaker 1>Senior writer John Schuman, and Shee has got his twenty

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<v Speaker 1>fifth week twenty five power ranking. Shoe, are we really

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<v Speaker 1>already here? We are in the final seven days of

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<v Speaker 1>the regular season. You got the Boston Celtics up at

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<v Speaker 1>that number one spot in Denver, Nuggets at Oklahoma City

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<v Speaker 1>Thunder at three, and then it's the Timberwolves and the

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<v Speaker 1>Dallas Mavericks rounding out the top five. But yeah, Sue,

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<v Speaker 1>I don't know if you feel like the season has flown.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't know if you're you seemingly never get never

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<v Speaker 1>get tired at all as we wake you up these

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<v Speaker 1>early mornings on a new fresh week. But Shoe, when

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<v Speaker 1>we are at this point of this season, obviously there's

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<v Speaker 1>a lot of moving parts still in the playoff picture.

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<v Speaker 1>It's made for a lot of excitement and intrigue for

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<v Speaker 1>us of what the post it might look like. But

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<v Speaker 1>as things set right now, what are you honing in

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<v Speaker 1>on of what we know when what we can be

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<v Speaker 1>somewhat certain of as we get ourselves set for the

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<v Speaker 1>next step of the season.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I think we know with one week to go,

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit more than we usually know at this

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<v Speaker 2>point in the season. First of all, we know the

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<v Speaker 2>twenty teams that are going to be in the playoffs

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<v Speaker 2>or the play in. The other ten have all been eliminated.

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<v Speaker 2>The Rockets made their little run, winning eleven straight games,

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<v Speaker 2>but then have since lost five straight, so they've been eliminated.

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<v Speaker 2>The Warriors are safely in the play in. The second

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<v Speaker 2>thing we know is that the Celtics have secured the

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<v Speaker 2>number one spot overall the number one overall seeds, so

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<v Speaker 2>they'll have home court advantage through the finals if they

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<v Speaker 2>reach it. If they reach the finals. Third thing is

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<v Speaker 2>that the Bulls and the Hawks will definitely face each

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<v Speaker 2>other in the nine to ten playing game in the

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<v Speaker 2>Eastern Conference. The Bulls are likely to be hosting, but

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<v Speaker 2>if things go wrong, then the Hawks could could host

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<v Speaker 2>that game, but we know it'll be Bulls and Hawks.

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<v Speaker 2>And then the fourth thing is that the Clippers and

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<v Speaker 2>the Dallas Mavericks are very likely to be meeting in

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<v Speaker 2>the four or five series in the West. A tiny,

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<v Speaker 2>tiny chance that that's not the four or five series,

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<v Speaker 2>but it's very likely to be the four or five series,

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<v Speaker 2>and the Clippers are almost certain to have home court

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<v Speaker 2>advantage in that series. So that's actually kind of a

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<v Speaker 2>lot for you know, there being still fifty seven games

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<v Speaker 2>left in the season, but everything after that is wide open,

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<v Speaker 2>where you know, the two through eight seeds in the

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<v Speaker 2>East are still wide open. The top seed in the

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<v Speaker 2>West is still you know open, going to be probably

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<v Speaker 2>maybe be determined by a Timberwolves Nuggets game on Wednesday.

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<v Speaker 2>And then further down the West, you have teams that

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<v Speaker 2>could go you know, could land in three or four

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<v Speaker 2>different spots.

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<v Speaker 1>Which is interesting on a lot of levels. And before

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<v Speaker 1>we get you mentioned that Clippers, the potential Clippers Dallas series.

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<v Speaker 1>We're going to get to that in just a little bit.

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<v Speaker 1>But the two through eight spots in the Eastern Conference,

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<v Speaker 1>and let's focus in on that number two spot. It's

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<v Speaker 1>been the Milwaukee Bucks. I think for a while, I

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<v Speaker 1>will at least speak for myself, I assume they would

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<v Speaker 1>be the ones that would be in that position, But

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<v Speaker 1>all of a sudden They've lost four st rate games,

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<v Speaker 1>six to seven. They're just one game in front of

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<v Speaker 1>both the Orlando Magic and the New York Knicks, a

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<v Speaker 1>Magic team which they see two times this week, and

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<v Speaker 1>they weren't easy losses. I think we've still been waiting

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<v Speaker 1>to see how things look under Doc Rivers, making sure

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<v Speaker 1>that Janstetakopo, Dame Lillard, those guys are healthy, what they

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<v Speaker 1>look like when they all are healthy. Chris Middleton, the

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<v Speaker 1>factor that he becomes. A Buck's gonna blow the two

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<v Speaker 1>seeds and potentially not close things out in that position.

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<v Speaker 2>If they continue playing like they have been. I mean yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>because the first three of those four straight losses were

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<v Speaker 2>to the Wizards, the Grizzlies, and the Raptors. Now, the

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<v Speaker 2>Bucks were without Damian Lillard in the first two of

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<v Speaker 2>those games, and without Giannis Ancetecunpo against Toronto. But those

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<v Speaker 2>teams that were playing were missing more starters than that.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, the Wizards were without Tyas Jones and Kyle Kuzma.

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<v Speaker 2>The Grizzlies were without like half their roster. The Raptors

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<v Speaker 2>have been pretty depleted as well. And those teams are

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<v Speaker 2>all bad and they've all been playing even worse, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, over the last month and a half or so,

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<v Speaker 2>So those are just inexcusable. Yeah, maybe you're missing one

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<v Speaker 2>of your best players, but if you're a good team,

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<v Speaker 2>you find a way to win those games. And then

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<v Speaker 2>on Sunday they just their defense just basically got eviscerated

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<v Speaker 2>by the Knicks. So yeah, they it's you know, they've

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<v Speaker 2>had some up and down, ups and downs, and but

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<v Speaker 2>mostly I think they've just been a sort of a

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<v Speaker 2>disappointing team. Given all the talent they have. They're generally

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<v Speaker 2>really good when Damian Lillard and jannisn Sekunpo and their

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<v Speaker 2>starters are on the floor together, but their bench hasn't

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<v Speaker 2>been great, their defense hasn't been great. So yeah, it's

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<v Speaker 2>it's crazy that they're six. They're you know, susceptible to

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<v Speaker 2>falling maybe to four, maybe even five. I think they

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<v Speaker 2>could fall as low in the East. And what's just

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<v Speaker 2>as crazy is that the Orlando Magic are the team

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<v Speaker 2>that could could unseat them and become the two seed

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<v Speaker 2>after missing the playoffs for the last couple of years.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, that's just amazing. You know, the Magic, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>still not a very good offensive team. They're about to

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<v Speaker 2>finish in the bottom ten offensively for the twelfth straight season.

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<v Speaker 2>I believe it is, which is just, you know, a

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<v Speaker 2>remarkable streak of offensive futility, but no, excuse me, the

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<v Speaker 2>eleventh straight season. This will be the eleventh straight season

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<v Speaker 2>that the Magic finished in the bottom ten offensively. But

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<v Speaker 2>as we know, they've become a terrific, terrific defensive team

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<v Speaker 2>and they could go in there. The Bucks are a

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<v Speaker 2>good offensive team, and it'll be fun to see those

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<v Speaker 2>two games this week with second place possibly on the

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<v Speaker 2>line and sort of a strength versus strength matchup.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I was gonna say the Magic are nasty defensively

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<v Speaker 1>and the numbers offensively are not pretty though. I think

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<v Speaker 1>they have their moments and they've got a lot of youth.

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<v Speaker 1>But I think it kind of it ebbs and flows

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<v Speaker 1>of how dominant they are in scoring in the paint

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<v Speaker 1>and sometimes at three point shooting, with that waning and

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<v Speaker 1>the lack of value of that in just watching them,

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<v Speaker 1>I think when they hit some threes they look like

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<v Speaker 1>and can get a rolling a little. I'm curious if

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<v Speaker 1>you think. And with that being said, how at times

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<v Speaker 1>meet yocre to bad the Bucks defense has been in

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<v Speaker 1>just taking a look at what they look like offensively

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<v Speaker 1>against this Orlando Magic defense this week, But just in general,

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<v Speaker 1>how do you think the Magic could and will fare

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<v Speaker 1>in the postseason given their their style of play and

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<v Speaker 1>given the fact that they are somewhat young and inexperienced

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<v Speaker 1>in that postseason play.

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<v Speaker 2>I think their style of play fits. Okay, you know

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<v Speaker 2>what they do, but it's funny. They're they're, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>a top five defense. They don't, you know, the most

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<v Speaker 2>important thing on both ends of the floor is shooting,

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<v Speaker 2>and they actually don't rank all that high and in

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<v Speaker 2>regard to opponent affective field goal percentage. But what they

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<v Speaker 2>do is they limit shooting opportunities, so they force a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of turnovers. And they're a great defensive rebounding team,

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<v Speaker 2>so they don't you know, they don't give you as

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<v Speaker 2>many shots as they're going to get. On the other

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<v Speaker 2>end of the floor because of the way they play,

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<v Speaker 2>they actually foul a lot too, you know, because they're

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<v Speaker 2>such an aggressive defensive team. The one thing is, I

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<v Speaker 2>just don't know what are they doing offensively in a

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<v Speaker 2>close playoff game down the stretch. You know, Paolo Bancaro

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<v Speaker 2>is like a terrific talent and he's going to be

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<v Speaker 2>maybe a top five player in this league at some point.

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<v Speaker 2>But you know, trying to count on him to create

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<v Speaker 2>offense down the stretch of close games is not a

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<v Speaker 2>great proposition.

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<v Speaker 1>Another team in the East that we are intrigued to

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<v Speaker 1>continue watching Philadelphia seventy six Ers. Joel Embiid came back

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<v Speaker 1>after missing the last two months, and not only have

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<v Speaker 1>the Sixers been rolling since he's returned, but Tyres Maxi

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<v Speaker 1>continues to show out. In the double overtime win that

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<v Speaker 1>they just had against the San Antonio Spurs, he had

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<v Speaker 1>fifty two points. They're currently sitting seventh in that playing game,

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<v Speaker 1>they're a game back of Indiana. But how do you

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<v Speaker 1>view this seventy six Ers team? I think it always

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<v Speaker 1>with Joel Embiid. It being out had been the question

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<v Speaker 1>of if he comes back, what does that look like

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<v Speaker 1>a dangerous team? With this seating they may have. Do

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<v Speaker 1>you have confidence that they could come in and be

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<v Speaker 1>a team that could play as well as we had

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<v Speaker 1>seen them playing in the early part of the season.

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<v Speaker 2>I think we still have to see more from Joel Embiid.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, he's looked fine enough, you know, in these

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<v Speaker 2>first three games that he's played, but I think you

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<v Speaker 2>still want to see, you know, in this last week

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<v Speaker 2>of the season, and you know, whenever they play after that,

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<v Speaker 2>how well is he moving defensively if you look at

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<v Speaker 2>like their numbers just in these three games, small sample size,

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<v Speaker 2>but they haven't played good offensive teams, two bottom ten

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<v Speaker 2>offensive teams and then the Thunder without Shay gildj Just

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<v Speaker 2>Alexander and Jalen Williams. And their defense has been much

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<v Speaker 2>better when he's been when Embiid has been off the

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<v Speaker 2>floor than it's been when he's been on the floor.

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<v Speaker 2>But offensively he's looked good. He's shot well from mid range,

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<v Speaker 2>he's been getting to the line a ton like he does.

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<v Speaker 2>He hasn't quite scored at a point per minute pace

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<v Speaker 2>like he was earlier in the season, but it's been

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<v Speaker 2>pretty close. And so now they are twenty eight and seven,

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<v Speaker 2>when they've had both Tyrese Maxi and Joel Embiide available,

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<v Speaker 2>that's an eight hundred winning past percentage, which is slightly

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<v Speaker 2>better than the Celtics have been this season. That's kind

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<v Speaker 2>of an unfair comparison because it's a small sample size

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<v Speaker 2>when the two best players have been there, but that

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<v Speaker 2>just tells you how good this team has been when

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<v Speaker 2>their two stars have been available. And I think when

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<v Speaker 2>you put Nicholas Batum on the floor with those two guys,

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<v Speaker 2>their numbers are terrific. By the way, Like going back

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<v Speaker 2>to that San Antonio win, can I just point out

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<v Speaker 2>the pass that Nicholas Batum made tree on the game

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<v Speaker 2>tying bucket at the end or that my one of

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<v Speaker 2>my I think my favorite word in the English language

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<v Speaker 2>Sarah is deft, and that was that was a incredibly

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<v Speaker 2>deft pass from Nicholas Batoom as he sort of just

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<v Speaker 2>loft at it to Maxi who was on the run.

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<v Speaker 2>I think it was Malachi Branham that just barely jumped

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<v Speaker 2>for the pass and just barely missed it. Maxi caught

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<v Speaker 2>it and had an easy layup. But the pass was

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<v Speaker 2>just immaculate. It was just a perfect, perfect pass from Batoom.

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<v Speaker 1>There's this basque's they're trying to catch it nextly again,

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<v Speaker 1>you could just you could see that coming nine tenths

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<v Speaker 1>of a second, no timeouts and we go over time.

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<v Speaker 2>And he is a he's a terrific passer. Like one

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<v Speaker 2>of the reasons why they're so good when he's on

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<v Speaker 2>the floor of em Beat is because he's a great

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<v Speaker 2>entry passer, like he could he can get the ball

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<v Speaker 2>to em Beat in the post better than anybody else.

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<v Speaker 2>But yeah, I think they are just really good. If

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<v Speaker 2>those two guys are healthy, they're really good. And then

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<v Speaker 2>obviously if they're in the seven or eight, or maybe

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<v Speaker 2>even if they somehow climb up into the sixth, they're

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<v Speaker 2>obviously a dangerous low seed that will be a scary

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<v Speaker 2>sort of matchup for for whoever faces them.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, surprise, I didn't think we were going to get

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<v Speaker 1>the surprise nugget That deft is your one of one.

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<v Speaker 2>I think it's my favorite favorite word. It's it's great.

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<v Speaker 2>It's not because the way it sounds and and and

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<v Speaker 2>and it's meaning, you know, just a great word.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, the death passing of Nicholas Batuba, I I'm I'm

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<v Speaker 1>very interested to see to your point on all of that.

0:12:39.840 --> 0:12:42.440
<v Speaker 1>I think just some semblance of you know, Kelly Ubray

0:12:43.200 --> 0:12:44.880
<v Speaker 1>was another one who had a big game that night

0:12:44.920 --> 0:12:47.360
<v Speaker 1>with Joe LMB not playing, but what he looks like

0:12:47.440 --> 0:12:49.320
<v Speaker 1>Buddy Heal coming off the bench. There's a lot of

0:12:49.320 --> 0:12:52.400
<v Speaker 1>aspects in terms of that reserve unit with how they

0:12:52.480 --> 0:12:55.640
<v Speaker 1>could play out. Nick Nurse of course now being the

0:12:55.720 --> 0:12:57.800
<v Speaker 1>head coach, and some of the creativity he could bring

0:12:57.880 --> 0:13:00.600
<v Speaker 1>to the table in the postseason, and just our conversation

0:13:00.679 --> 0:13:04.320
<v Speaker 1>about the two three, four fives, it's not other than

0:13:04.360 --> 0:13:07.199
<v Speaker 1>the Boston Celtics, and I feel like everything is wide

0:13:07.200 --> 0:13:10.840
<v Speaker 1>open in the East in more more than it has been.

0:13:10.960 --> 0:13:14.880
<v Speaker 1>So I think that also lends itself to some semblance

0:13:14.960 --> 0:13:17.520
<v Speaker 1>of I know Maxie is young, and I know this

0:13:17.640 --> 0:13:21.280
<v Speaker 1>is somewhat of a new group together, but an opportunity

0:13:21.320 --> 0:13:24.199
<v Speaker 1>for the seventy six ers team that I'm excited to see.

0:13:24.200 --> 0:13:27.679
<v Speaker 1>But as you had brought up Joel Embiid at his size,

0:13:28.160 --> 0:13:31.120
<v Speaker 1>with his track record, missing twenty nine games and being

0:13:31.160 --> 0:13:34.520
<v Speaker 1>gone for that long, how quickly can he return back

0:13:34.600 --> 0:13:37.400
<v Speaker 1>into game shape and get moving and get playing. I mean,

0:13:37.440 --> 0:13:39.680
<v Speaker 1>he was playing at an MVP level at the start

0:13:39.720 --> 0:13:42.560
<v Speaker 1>of the year in such a special way, So how

0:13:42.600 --> 0:13:44.280
<v Speaker 1>close can he get back to that? I think a

0:13:44.280 --> 0:13:46.520
<v Speaker 1>lot of that is going to be the questions more

0:13:46.600 --> 0:13:48.480
<v Speaker 1>questions as we head to the Western Conference. We're going

0:13:48.520 --> 0:13:50.640
<v Speaker 1>to take a quick break and get into what looks

0:13:50.679 --> 0:13:54.080
<v Speaker 1>to be another matchup in the postseason between the Los

0:13:54.120 --> 0:13:56.800
<v Speaker 1>Angeles Clippers, and the Dallas mavericks S don't go anywhere.

0:14:03.280 --> 0:14:06.440
<v Speaker 1>Welcome back to the Pulse. Sarahkustak joined by the great

0:14:06.520 --> 0:14:10.400
<v Speaker 1>John Schuman with another sets, the last set of power rankings. Shoe,

0:14:10.600 --> 0:14:12.480
<v Speaker 1>I should know this. Do you do power rankings in

0:14:12.480 --> 0:14:13.119
<v Speaker 1>the postseason?

0:14:14.080 --> 0:14:16.960
<v Speaker 2>I haven't in the past. Oh, guess what we're going

0:14:17.040 --> 0:14:18.640
<v Speaker 2>to be doing power rankings left.

0:14:19.680 --> 0:14:22.800
<v Speaker 1>Give the people what they want. That's what you do.

0:14:23.000 --> 0:14:25.880
<v Speaker 1>That is what you do. And what it seems like

0:14:26.000 --> 0:14:29.000
<v Speaker 1>as of late what the Clippers and the MAVs do

0:14:29.160 --> 0:14:32.200
<v Speaker 1>is meet up in the postseason. It very much looking

0:14:32.360 --> 0:14:34.760
<v Speaker 1>like they may be the four to five seeds here

0:14:34.880 --> 0:14:38.800
<v Speaker 1>in the Western Conference, and it's going to be interesting. Shue,

0:14:38.880 --> 0:14:41.640
<v Speaker 1>I am curious your take about just how things are

0:14:41.680 --> 0:14:45.800
<v Speaker 1>shaking out. Clippers currently sitting in the fourth spot in

0:14:45.840 --> 0:14:50.120
<v Speaker 1>the West, the Dallas Mavericks two games behind them in

0:14:50.160 --> 0:14:53.080
<v Speaker 1>the fifth spot. But Dallas has been playing so well.

0:14:53.720 --> 0:14:56.760
<v Speaker 1>They've won fourteen of their last sixteen games since the

0:14:56.800 --> 0:14:59.640
<v Speaker 1>trade deadline. They have been excellent. I know you've got

0:14:59.640 --> 0:15:01.400
<v Speaker 1>a lot of to back that up, and in what

0:15:01.400 --> 0:15:04.160
<v Speaker 1>they've done on the defensive side of things, I think

0:15:04.840 --> 0:15:08.640
<v Speaker 1>Kawhi Leonard incredible. But the Clippers. We've seen stretches and

0:15:08.640 --> 0:15:10.320
<v Speaker 1>moments where they look like they can be a title

0:15:10.320 --> 0:15:12.480
<v Speaker 1>contender and then others where it's kind of dropped off

0:15:12.520 --> 0:15:15.880
<v Speaker 1>a little bit. What is your perspective on what you

0:15:15.960 --> 0:15:18.560
<v Speaker 1>think this matchup could look like if they do once

0:15:18.600 --> 0:15:19.920
<v Speaker 1>again meet in the postseason.

0:15:20.880 --> 0:15:22.760
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, they're both kind of similar in a way, right

0:15:22.760 --> 0:15:26.000
<v Speaker 2>because they both made in season trades that sparked a

0:15:26.120 --> 0:15:29.280
<v Speaker 2>really strong run. You know, the Clippers run sort of

0:15:29.320 --> 0:15:31.400
<v Speaker 2>came to an end at the All Star break and

0:15:31.440 --> 0:15:34.440
<v Speaker 2>then they had a slubbish few weeks after the break,

0:15:35.520 --> 0:15:37.680
<v Speaker 2>but they have won six of their last seven, even

0:15:37.720 --> 0:15:41.600
<v Speaker 2>though Kawhi Leonard has missed the last four. And then

0:15:41.600 --> 0:15:44.080
<v Speaker 2>the MAVs, they're the most improved team in the league

0:15:44.080 --> 0:15:47.720
<v Speaker 2>since the trade deadline when they acquired PJ. Washington and

0:15:47.840 --> 0:15:57.000
<v Speaker 2>Daniel Gafford. They're starting lineup with Washington and Gafford in

0:15:57.080 --> 0:16:03.280
<v Speaker 2>there has been terrific. They're actually thirteen and one when

0:16:03.280 --> 0:16:10.160
<v Speaker 2>those five guys have started together. Lukadancis, Kyrie Irving, Derek Jones, Junior,

0:16:10.440 --> 0:16:15.720
<v Speaker 2>Washington and Gafford, and that lineup has allowed just ninety

0:16:15.800 --> 0:16:18.200
<v Speaker 2>seven point six points fo one hundred possessions. And it's

0:16:18.200 --> 0:16:22.280
<v Speaker 2>one hundred and fifty one minutes. That's elite defense. And

0:16:22.320 --> 0:16:24.240
<v Speaker 2>that's the thing, right, Like the MAVs have not been

0:16:24.400 --> 0:16:26.880
<v Speaker 2>a great defensive team the last few years. They're very

0:16:26.920 --> 0:16:29.560
<v Speaker 2>good in Jason Kidd's first year in Dallas, but since

0:16:29.600 --> 0:16:33.040
<v Speaker 2>then not so not so much. And so when you

0:16:33.080 --> 0:16:35.920
<v Speaker 2>look at that, you know, post deadline improvement, it's mostly

0:16:35.920 --> 0:16:39.800
<v Speaker 2>about the defensive end of the floor. You know, they

0:16:39.880 --> 0:16:41.880
<v Speaker 2>rank seventh on that end of the floor since the

0:16:41.920 --> 0:16:47.520
<v Speaker 2>deadline up from twenty something you know prior. So that's

0:16:48.080 --> 0:16:51.280
<v Speaker 2>really good. But obviously, just when you think about the

0:16:51.320 --> 0:16:55.360
<v Speaker 2>matchup between these two teams, you think Luka Doncic, Kyrie

0:16:55.360 --> 0:16:59.000
<v Speaker 2>Irving versus Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Paul George. That is

0:17:00.760 --> 0:17:03.680
<v Speaker 2>star power, right, And that's the thing about the Western

0:17:03.720 --> 0:17:06.160
<v Speaker 2>Conference playoffs. We're gonna have star power in every single

0:17:06.200 --> 0:17:10.879
<v Speaker 2>series no matter what they are. But I think right now,

0:17:10.960 --> 0:17:13.280
<v Speaker 2>like the main concern is, like, all right, what's going

0:17:13.280 --> 0:17:15.240
<v Speaker 2>on with Kawhi Leonard? Why has he missed the last

0:17:15.240 --> 0:17:18.680
<v Speaker 2>four games? He's got some sort of knee inflammation issue.

0:17:19.920 --> 0:17:24.680
<v Speaker 2>And that's story number one because I think in my mind,

0:17:24.800 --> 0:17:27.960
<v Speaker 2>Kawhi Leonard's basically been the best playoff performer in the

0:17:28.040 --> 0:17:31.439
<v Speaker 2>last several years. If you look at his sixty two

0:17:31.520 --> 0:17:34.960
<v Speaker 2>playoff games that he's played since twenty and seventeen, he's

0:17:35.000 --> 0:17:38.399
<v Speaker 2>averaged twenty nine point six points on a true shooting

0:17:38.400 --> 0:17:41.600
<v Speaker 2>percentage of sixty three point five percent, which is elite.

0:17:43.080 --> 0:17:45.639
<v Speaker 2>You know, we won a championship obviously in Toronto in

0:17:45.680 --> 0:17:48.840
<v Speaker 2>that stretch, but even in his playoff runs with the Clippers,

0:17:48.880 --> 0:17:52.600
<v Speaker 2>he's been just incredibly good. He's getting a little older,

0:17:52.640 --> 0:17:55.960
<v Speaker 2>but I feel like he still has the abilities to

0:17:56.359 --> 0:18:00.760
<v Speaker 2>turn it on. I just hope that, you know, for

0:18:00.760 --> 0:18:02.840
<v Speaker 2>for the Clipper's sake and for all our sake, just

0:18:02.880 --> 0:18:06.359
<v Speaker 2>so we can see this matchup at full strength. Is

0:18:06.400 --> 0:18:08.840
<v Speaker 2>that you know, he's back on the floor at some

0:18:08.920 --> 0:18:12.879
<v Speaker 2>point between now and when the series gets started, or

0:18:12.960 --> 0:18:15.960
<v Speaker 2>maybe they just keep him off the floor this following week,

0:18:16.040 --> 0:18:20.240
<v Speaker 2>knowing that he's gets an extra four or five days rest,

0:18:20.480 --> 0:18:21.879
<v Speaker 2>you know, while the playing is going on.

0:18:22.440 --> 0:18:25.840
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, and I'm curious what that looks like when you

0:18:25.880 --> 0:18:30.399
<v Speaker 1>look at the Clippers, you know, two games here before

0:18:30.440 --> 0:18:33.359
<v Speaker 1>they close things out this week against a Phoenix Suns

0:18:33.359 --> 0:18:36.439
<v Speaker 1>team that has been working to stay out of the

0:18:36.440 --> 0:18:39.879
<v Speaker 1>playing game and then they they have Utah in Houston

0:18:39.920 --> 0:18:43.480
<v Speaker 1>in their last two games. Meanwhile, Dallas will be at Charlotte,

0:18:43.520 --> 0:18:46.919
<v Speaker 1>at Miami Detroit, and then at Oklahoma City on that

0:18:46.960 --> 0:18:49.960
<v Speaker 1>final Sunday. So interesting to see kind of how they

0:18:50.000 --> 0:18:54.000
<v Speaker 1>play that out. What what do you predict if these

0:18:54.040 --> 0:18:57.159
<v Speaker 1>two teams meet in the postseason? What would your what

0:18:57.160 --> 0:19:00.600
<v Speaker 1>would your predictions be? Too too healthy? Too healthy teams

0:19:00.640 --> 0:19:04.720
<v Speaker 1>here playing one another, assuming the Kawhi Leonard is there

0:19:04.760 --> 0:19:07.119
<v Speaker 1>on the floor in back with them.

0:19:07.640 --> 0:19:11.800
<v Speaker 2>Geez, if they're healthy. I mean, I don't I would.

0:19:11.880 --> 0:19:15.720
<v Speaker 2>It would be hard to pick against Luka Doncic, especially

0:19:15.720 --> 0:19:17.920
<v Speaker 2>since you know this will be the first time he's

0:19:17.960 --> 0:19:21.480
<v Speaker 2>had Kyrie irving alongside him in the playoffs. But I

0:19:23.080 --> 0:19:25.840
<v Speaker 2>don't want to pick against it. Like a healthy Kawhi Leonard,

0:19:26.000 --> 0:19:29.040
<v Speaker 2>Like I think that may be the best player when

0:19:29.040 --> 0:19:31.480
<v Speaker 2>you take both sides of the floor into account in

0:19:31.560 --> 0:19:34.800
<v Speaker 2>the series. And then he's also got Paul George and

0:19:34.960 --> 0:19:40.360
<v Speaker 2>James Harden and a terrific supporting cast beyond that. So yeah,

0:19:40.560 --> 0:19:44.359
<v Speaker 2>I guess I would say like Clippers and seven in

0:19:44.400 --> 0:19:46.760
<v Speaker 2>part because they have home court advantage, in part because

0:19:46.800 --> 0:19:49.760
<v Speaker 2>I think Kawhi Leonard if he's healthy, is the best player.

0:19:50.760 --> 0:19:53.520
<v Speaker 1>I have to agree with you there. I think both

0:19:53.640 --> 0:19:56.000
<v Speaker 1>me and you do not like to make predictions because

0:19:56.000 --> 0:19:58.000
<v Speaker 1>there's a lot of variables that come into play. But

0:19:58.480 --> 0:20:00.879
<v Speaker 1>you said, you said the thing to me that stands

0:20:00.880 --> 0:20:04.520
<v Speaker 1>out most, which is is interesting because before I would

0:20:04.560 --> 0:20:08.080
<v Speaker 1>always say, Kawhi healthy, Kawhi. We forget what a monster.

0:20:08.160 --> 0:20:11.840
<v Speaker 1>Maybe we don't forget, but just what a absolute just

0:20:11.880 --> 0:20:14.160
<v Speaker 1>BC is on both ends of the floor in the postseason.

0:20:14.160 --> 0:20:16.639
<v Speaker 1>But man, Luca, like how Luca has been playing, what

0:20:16.720 --> 0:20:21.280
<v Speaker 1>Luca has been doing, the continuity and just like fluid

0:20:21.359 --> 0:20:24.119
<v Speaker 1>nature that he's found with Kyrie irv Irving in this

0:20:24.320 --> 0:20:27.600
<v Speaker 1>entire Dallas team, I do think there's something to be

0:20:27.600 --> 0:20:30.400
<v Speaker 1>said for a team playing this well. Is they heading

0:20:30.400 --> 0:20:31.800
<v Speaker 1>to the postseason.

0:20:32.480 --> 0:20:34.320
<v Speaker 2>It'll be amazing, Like, it's going to be amazing when

0:20:34.320 --> 0:20:37.800
<v Speaker 2>the West Series are set and we're gonna look at

0:20:37.840 --> 0:20:40.439
<v Speaker 2>like and we're gonna be like, four of these teams

0:20:40.440 --> 0:20:42.399
<v Speaker 2>are not going to make it to the second round.

0:20:42.440 --> 0:20:43.879
<v Speaker 2>That's crazy. It's crazy.

0:20:44.000 --> 0:20:44.840
<v Speaker 1>It's crazy to.

0:20:44.800 --> 0:20:46.840
<v Speaker 2>Think that, No, either the MAVs or the Clippers are

0:20:46.880 --> 0:20:48.600
<v Speaker 2>not going to make it to the second round or

0:20:48.640 --> 0:20:52.520
<v Speaker 2>either the you know, the Suns or the Wolves. If

0:20:52.520 --> 0:20:54.280
<v Speaker 2>that were a matchup, we're not going to make it

0:20:54.320 --> 0:20:56.720
<v Speaker 2>to the second round, you know, like that that's that'll

0:20:56.760 --> 0:20:59.440
<v Speaker 2>be you know, the Thunder, the Laker or whatever the

0:20:59.480 --> 0:21:01.280
<v Speaker 2>matchups are. We're going to look at it and be like,

0:21:01.320 --> 0:21:04.359
<v Speaker 2>oh my gosh, I can't believe one of the four

0:21:04.400 --> 0:21:07.199
<v Speaker 2>teams are going to come home, go home, really really disappointed.

0:21:07.320 --> 0:21:09.640
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, and even I mean, I know we've talked about

0:21:09.640 --> 0:21:13.040
<v Speaker 1>it quite a bit, but even to see a Lakers

0:21:13.080 --> 0:21:15.080
<v Speaker 1>Warriors nine to ten game and then just how that

0:21:15.160 --> 0:21:17.679
<v Speaker 1>all looks. I think all of it is going to

0:21:17.720 --> 0:21:20.520
<v Speaker 1>be fascinating and it's going to be fun for all

0:21:20.560 --> 0:21:23.000
<v Speaker 1>of us who love this league and in love this

0:21:23.080 --> 0:21:23.560
<v Speaker 1>time of year.

0:21:23.680 --> 0:21:23.920
<v Speaker 2>Shoo.

0:21:23.960 --> 0:21:27.960
<v Speaker 1>As always, we appreciate you your time and of course

0:21:28.040 --> 0:21:31.639
<v Speaker 1>your power rankings. We're talking about a handful of these teams,

0:21:31.680 --> 0:21:35.440
<v Speaker 1>but you got excellent, excellent deep dive stuff on how

0:21:35.520 --> 0:21:38.520
<v Speaker 1>all thirty of the teams in the association are playing

0:21:38.840 --> 0:21:41.159
<v Speaker 1>at this time of year. So until next time, we

0:21:41.200 --> 0:21:43.080
<v Speaker 1>appreciate you and we'll talk with you soon.

0:21:43.520 --> 0:21:44.440
<v Speaker 2>All right, Sarah. Thanks.

0:21:44.680 --> 0:21:47.399
<v Speaker 1>NBA Pulus with Sarahustak is a production of the NBA

0:21:47.440 --> 0:21:49.800
<v Speaker 1>and iHeart Radio. Please rate, review, and subscribe on the

0:21:49.840 --> 0:21:54.879
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