1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:02,120 Speaker 1: The volume. 2 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 2: The NBA Finals are here. This is your last chance 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 2: to bet on the NBA until next season, and DraftKings 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 2: Sportsbook and official sports betting partner of the NBA is 5 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 2: pulling out all the stops to make this a finals. 6 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 2: To remember, one team will be crown champ and the 7 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:22,240 Speaker 2: other will be lost to history. Who you got winning 8 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 2: at all? Put your hoops expertise to the test. All 9 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 2: season long, DraftKings has been the go to spot for 10 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 2: NBA player props and that doesn't stop now. Who's going 11 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 2: to carry their team to the chip? 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Please play responsibly on 29 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 2: behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort in Kansas twenty one plus. 30 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 2: Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction void in Ontario. Bet 31 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 2: must win to receive reward. Minimum minus five hundred odds required. 32 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 2: Bonus bets expire one hundred and sixty eight hours after issuance. 33 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 2: For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKG dot 34 00:01:46,160 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 2: co slash audio. All right, well, good hoops tonight you're 35 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 2: at the volume heavy sun to everybody. Hope all you 36 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 2: guys are having a great weekend. Well I was. I 37 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 2: saw a report this morning that my buddy Logan, who's 38 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 2: our head of content here as the Volume, sent me 39 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 2: saying that most likely the Kevin Durant trade was gonna 40 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,079 Speaker 2: go down either today or tomorrow, and I was secretly 41 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 2: hoping it would be tomorrow because we have Game seven 42 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 2: of the Finals today. I'm going live with Colin Coward 43 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 2: later this evening. We're gonna have playback. It was gonna 44 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 2: be celebrating a new champion. My first thought this morning 45 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 2: when I woke up was today we are crowning a 46 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,400 Speaker 2: new NBA champion, and now Kevin Durant's going to the 47 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 2: Houston Rockets, and that is our top story to start 48 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 2: this day. I'm gonna be breaking down this deal from 49 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 2: the perspective of both teams when we are done. Obviously 50 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 2: we're still planning on doing all of our NBAF NBA 51 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 2: Finals coverage tonight, and then obviously we go headlong into 52 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 2: the draft and everything next week. So it's gonna be 53 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 2: a little bit crazy. But we have our reaction to 54 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:52,119 Speaker 2: the Kevin Durant trade. You guys know the joke before 55 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 2: we get started. Subscribe to Hoops to Night YouTube channels. 56 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:55,639 Speaker 2: You don't miss any more of our videos. Follow me 57 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 2: on Twitter, underscore json lts, you guys don't miss you announcements. 58 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 2: Don't forget about a podcast fet where we gets podcast 59 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 2: on our Hoops tonight. It's also super helpful if you 60 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 2: leave a rating and a review on that front. Don't 61 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 2: forget about our social media feeds Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, 62 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 2: where we're making content throughout the rest of the year. 63 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 2: And the last but not least, keep dropping mailbag questions 64 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 2: in those YouTube comments so we can hit them in 65 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 2: our mail bags throughout the remainder of the year. All right, 66 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:21,079 Speaker 2: let's talk some basketball. So Kevin Urrant has been traded 67 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 2: to the Houston Rockets. Houston is sending back Jalen Green, 68 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 2: Dylan Brooks, the number ten pick in this year's draft, 69 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 2: and then five additional second round picks now for starters. 70 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 2: Everyone is dogging the Phoenix Suns today forgetting an awful 71 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 2: asset return and basically nuking their franchise over the course 72 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 2: of the last two years. I have a little bit 73 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 2: more of like a nuanced, positive ish kind of take 74 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 2: on that. We'll share more about it in a bit. 75 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 2: I'm a big believer in self awareness and not like 76 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 2: doubling down on your mistakes, so we'll get to that 77 00:03:57,760 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 2: in a little bit. But I want to start with 78 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 2: the Houston rocket This was my second favorite KD destination 79 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 2: behind the Minnesota Timberwolves. I think redundancy is where you 80 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 2: see teams that are on paper looking very talented, underachieved. 81 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 2: That's how things went south for Phoenix. It's very easy 82 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 2: to talk yourself into just shear in a vacuum talent 83 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 2: into a Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal team being 84 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 2: a very good basketball team. But the problem is, Kevin 85 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 2: Durant and Devin Booker basically do the same job, and 86 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 2: Bradley Beal, while not being as good as Devin Booker 87 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 2: and Kevin Durant, basically did the same job in Minnesota. 88 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 2: And so I always talk about this big picture concept 89 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 2: of needing to check boxes on a basketball court. You 90 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 2: need your lineup of five guys to check boxes on 91 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 2: both ends of the floor. An offense, it's like advantage creation, 92 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 2: play finishing, screening, you know, all these like different connective playmaking, 93 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 2: all these different things that you need of the perfect 94 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 2: concoction of for offense to work. Shooting ability, vertical spacing ability, 95 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 2: all these things kind of come together. On the defensive end, 96 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 2: guys that can guard on the perimeter, guys that can 97 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 2: guard multiple positions and different types of switches, Guys that 98 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 2: can protect the rim, Guys that can communicate like on 99 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 2: the back line, as like as basically the defensive coach, 100 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 2: so to speak, on the back line calling out coverages. 101 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 2: There's all these different things. Defensive rebounding, you need guards 102 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 2: in the NBA these days because of long rebounds to 103 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,160 Speaker 2: crack down off of the weak side or off of 104 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 2: the perimeter to help their bigs in long rebound situations. 105 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 2: You need all these boxes to be checked to be 106 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 2: a good basketball team. And so if Kevin, Devin Booker, 107 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 2: and Bradley Beal all checked the same boxes, there's gonna 108 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 2: be a lot of unchecked boxes. That is the redundancy effect. 109 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 2: That is what causes a team to not live up 110 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 2: to what their potential is on paper. There's no doubt 111 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 2: that Kevin Durant's life on offense in Houston will not 112 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 2: be as easy as it was in Phoenix, or as 113 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 2: it was in Brooklyn, or as it was in Golden State. 114 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 2: There are places where Kade could have gone where he 115 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 2: could have had an easier life on offense if you 116 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 2: would have chosen Miami. I think with the Tyler Harrow 117 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 2: and bam Adebayo as a screening folk from up top. 118 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 2: Things would have been a little easier for him an 119 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:19,720 Speaker 2: offense if you would have somehow made it to the Knicks, 120 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 2: but Had's skill set would have been less valuable in 121 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 2: those situations. If we've learned anything in this year's playoffs, 122 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 2: it's that the playoffs are a physical blood bath. Houston 123 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 2: dragged the Rockets. Excuse me, Houston dragged the Warriors to 124 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 2: a seventh game with that physicality. Minnesota bullied the Lakers 125 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 2: out of the playoffs with that physicality. Look at what 126 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:54,040 Speaker 2: Oklahoma City has done to everybody. Look at what Indiana 127 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 2: has done with their ball pressure in a different form 128 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 2: of physicality, in terms of just the way they can 129 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 2: wear you down by running. You win in the playoffs 130 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 2: by winning the physical battle. And the teams that KD 131 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 2: has been on in recent years have not been very 132 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 2: physical basketball teams, and that is where they have lost 133 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 2: the rope, which we'll get to when we talk a 134 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 2: little bit about Phoenix. The Rockets, though, are a team 135 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 2: that is perfectly built to thrive in that setting. A 136 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 2: bunch of really big, strong perimeter defenders, even without Dylan Brooks, 137 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 2: and then a power player on offense, a legitimate power 138 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 2: threat on offense in Alburn Shangoon that can draw into 139 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 2: a lot of defensive attention right around the basket. The 140 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 2: one thing that Houston lacked, despite being a two seed, 141 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:46,559 Speaker 2: despite being able to take that Warriors team to seven games, 142 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 2: the one thing they lacked was high end, refined offensive skill. 143 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 2: And I would argue KD is still one of the 144 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 2: most skilled and most refined offensive battle squall players in 145 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 2: the entire world. Last year, just this last the season 146 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 2: we're still finishing the one that ends today. He was 147 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 2: still the best jump shooter in the world this season. 148 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 2: Among fifty eight players in the NBA to take at 149 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 2: least five hundred jump shots. This season, Kevin Durant was 150 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 2: the only player in the league to shoot over fifty 151 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 2: percent from the field. Second place was Shay who was 152 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 2: at forty five percent of full five percent below and 153 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 2: even when you weiit it for threes, Kevin Durant's one 154 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 2: point two to two points per jump shot was number 155 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,719 Speaker 2: one in the NBA among the fifty eight players to 156 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 2: take at least five hundred. He was also far and 157 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:44,959 Speaker 2: away still the best one on one player in the 158 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 2: league last year. Out of the ten players ran at 159 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 2: least two hundred and fifty ISOs including passes. His one 160 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 2: point one six points per possession was number one in 161 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 2: the league and a full six points per one hundred 162 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 2: possessions better then shake Giljes Alexander, who was in second place. 163 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 2: He immediately comes in the door and provides a ton 164 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 2: of offensive utility for this team. The Rockets didn't have 165 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 2: a single player that you needed to show at the 166 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 2: level in screening action against. I've talked about this concept 167 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 2: a lot. We talked about it with Desmond Bane and 168 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 2: the Orlando Magic. One of the most valuable things you 169 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 2: can do in the NBA is via threat as a 170 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 2: jumpshooter coming off of a screen, because it inverts spacing. 171 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 2: If you can come off of a screen and knock 172 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 2: a shot down, you draw a lock and trail defender 173 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 2: who's gonna chase you over the top, and you're gonna 174 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 2: force the screen defender, the guy who's guarding the screener 175 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 2: to come up to contest you. On the other end, 176 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:47,560 Speaker 2: that means your screener can slip out behind it and 177 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 2: there's four on threes all day, every day. If you 178 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 2: have that type of player, he will immediately bring in 179 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 2: so much advantage creation with his ability to shoot off 180 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 2: of screens. This will open up all sorts of opportunities 181 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 2: on the roll on the skip. When rollers are tagged, 182 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 2: advantages will be much easier to come by for this 183 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 2: Houston team. Amen Thompson has already shown great utility as 184 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 2: a connective passer and as a vertical spacing threat out 185 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 2: of the dunker spot. Now we're going to get to 186 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:23,880 Speaker 2: see a ton of action where a men Thompson is 187 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:27,599 Speaker 2: getting four on three opportunities short rolling off of KD. 188 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:31,680 Speaker 2: I'm super excited to see a whole new level to 189 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 2: a men Thompson's offensive game. Just by playing two man 190 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 2: game with KD. In dictating that both defenders go with KD, 191 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 2: KD easily drops it over the top. Now, Amen Thompson 192 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 2: is screaming at you downhill with all of the playmaking talent, 193 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 2: the vertical talent, and the shot making talent close to 194 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 2: the basket to be a threat there, KD will score 195 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 2: an off ball action. He'll attract attention and off ball 196 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 2: like off ball like pin downs and stuff like that. KD. 197 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 2: I've created videos about this in the past. We did 198 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 2: a whole YouTube video about it. A couple of years ago. 199 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 2: Katie is a master at getting easy shots for himself 200 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 2: by setting up his man for screens and doing a 201 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 2: good job getting open in the flow of the offense, 202 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 2: He'll create space as a weak side spacer off of 203 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 2: Alburn Shangun post ups and face ups. He will immediately 204 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 2: come in the door and make things way easier for 205 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 2: the Rockets on offense. On defense, he provides an element 206 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 2: of functional rim protection that makes Shang Goon a more 207 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:36,959 Speaker 2: useful defensive player. There was one guy on the roster, 208 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 2: Jabari Smith Junior, didn't play as much as you'd think, 209 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 2: who brought some sort of vertical kind of length element 210 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:47,319 Speaker 2: at the rim for the Rockets as an athlete, obviously 211 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 2: Shangoon and Adams have length, but they're just not great jumpers, right, 212 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 2: They're not guys that are going to block a ton 213 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 2: of shots around the basket. Right. With Kevin Durant, you 214 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 2: now break out one of those classes two man dynamics 215 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:05,839 Speaker 2: in terms of screen defender in lowman that should allow 216 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 2: Shangoon to be more useful offensively. You can now bring 217 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 2: Shangon up to the level and have him be active 218 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 2: with his hands. Knowing that you've got a seven footer 219 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 2: standing underneath the basket in that lowman situation. I think 220 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 2: Kevin Durant has always been a pretty underrated defensive player. 221 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 2: His effort can wax and wane from time to time, 222 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:32,360 Speaker 2: but he legitimately has insane tools for the position. He's 223 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:34,199 Speaker 2: just gonna make life better for them on both ends 224 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:36,959 Speaker 2: of the floor. As I look at the Rockets new roster, 225 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 2: because again you're losing Dylan Brooks in this situation, You're 226 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 2: losing Jalen Green at the guard spot. You still have 227 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 2: Fred van Vliet, There's Reed Shepherd and Aaron Holliday. Definitely 228 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 2: a little light there. My first thought was, like, man, 229 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 2: you remember when Phoenix signed Tias Jones and I told 230 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 2: you guys that I thought it was redundant. That I 231 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:57,560 Speaker 2: didn't understand the point in wasting one of those five 232 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 2: key spots that you have in your star group or 233 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 2: closing group on a player who's again redundant. With Devin 234 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 2: Booker and Kevin Durant in this roster, if I was 235 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 2: Kevin Durant, I'd be calling Tiaest Jones and being like, hey, bro, 236 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 2: this is the set, this is the setting for you. 237 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 2: They actually need a backup guard, they actually need ball handling, 238 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 2: so why don't you come down here. It's definitely an 239 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 2: area where they're a little light on the wing, Amen Thompson, 240 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 2: Tarry Easton, Cam Whitmore, Jayshon Tate at the forward spot, 241 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:29,079 Speaker 2: Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Junior at the center spot, Shangoun 242 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 2: Adams and Landale. Again, I think they're pretty deep and 243 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 2: pretty solid at every position group. They're just light on 244 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 2: ball handling, and so if they can get a backup guard, 245 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:41,080 Speaker 2: a solid backup guard, and again I would literally like, 246 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 2: I think Tias Jones could help the Rockets in a 247 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 2: way that he couldn't help the Suns. That's the type 248 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 2: of fit where there's less redundancy. If you have Tias 249 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 2: Jones surrounded by a bunch of big, physical athletes, all 250 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 2: of a sudden, his ball handling and shooting becomes pretty valuable. 251 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,679 Speaker 2: If you have them alongside a bunch of other skinny 252 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 2: finesse players, it's a redundancy. You're getting a diminishing return there. 253 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,679 Speaker 2: Who's the starting slash closing five? So we know it's 254 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 2: gonna be Shanegun, Kevin Durant and Fred van Vliet most 255 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 2: likely a men Thompson, who's that fifth guy? Though that 256 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 2: fifth guy was Dylan Brooks. That was the spot that 257 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 2: he filled. You start to view a men Thompson because, again, 258 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 2: when it comes to positions offense, you can figure it out. Defense, 259 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 2: you gotta build your lineup spased on who you can guard. 260 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 2: Amen Thompson is defensively effectively a two guard. He's gonna 261 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 2: guard the other team's best guard. So I think Fred 262 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 2: Van Vliet and a Men Thompson that works defensively as 263 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 2: a backcourt Kevin Durant and Shane Goon works offense or 264 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 2: works defensively as a four to five. Who's gonna play 265 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 2: the three? Though? That's where it gets a little tricky. 266 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 2: Does this mean Jabari Smith Junior starts at the three? 267 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 2: I think both Jabari and Kevin Durant are pretty much 268 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 2: functionally fore men. Neither of them move their feet insanely well, 269 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 2: neither of them navigate screens insanely well. And specifically, Jabari 270 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 2: Smith is a little bit of a ball stopper on offense. 271 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 2: So I don't love the natural fit of that fifth guy. 272 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 2: They're going to have to figure that out and that'll 273 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 2: happen in time. Maybe it ends up being one of 274 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 2: the bench guys. Maybe Javari Smith ends up taking a 275 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 2: leap as a decision maker and as a connective playmaker 276 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 2: and as a guy who can move his feet on 277 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 2: the perimeter, and maybe it all comes together. But I 278 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 2: am curious to see how that starting closing five takes shape. 279 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 2: But they do have surpluses they can afford to move 280 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 2: a guy at a different position group like Jabari Smith Junior, 281 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 2: for instance, is a guy that I think has some 282 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 2: value around the league that you might be able to 283 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 2: flip for a player that stands more in line with 284 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 2: what you need out of that three spot. Like do 285 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 2: you call up a Brooklyn and see if you can 286 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 2: put together a deal that sends Jabari Smith Junior and 287 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 2: some additional draft compensation for Cam Johnson And now all 288 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 2: of a sudden, you're rocking Cam Johnson and Kevin Durant 289 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 2: alongside of men Thompson, Fred Van Vliet, and Alprin Shang 290 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 2: Gun with just a boatload of super athletes coming off 291 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 2: the bench to anchor everything. They're gonna have some stuff 292 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 2: they need to work out. But I always say, don't 293 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 2: overthink it. This is the two seed in the NBA. 294 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 2: Last year in the Western Conference that had a kick ass, 295 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 2: physical defense that had a huge problem when it came 296 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:33,360 Speaker 2: to generating offense. Kevin Durant seamlessly slides into that spot 297 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 2: and makes life a lot easier for them. My prediction 298 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 2: is that Kevin Durant right away makes a big impact 299 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 2: and that the Rockets look like a bona fide contender, 300 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 2: and that everyone starts becoming convinced that Kad somehow got 301 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 2: better or something, which is ridiculous to me. All the 302 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 2: stuff Katie has been saying on Twitter about how basketball 303 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 2: is a team sport and some of the realities of 304 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 2: what's gone wrong over the last few years is true. 305 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 2: Is every bit as good as the Lebron James that 306 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:07,200 Speaker 2: took the Lakers to the Western Conference finals in twenty 307 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 2: twenty three, or the Steph Curry that has done the 308 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 2: work that he's done with the Warriors over the last 309 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 2: few years. He's been on flawed rosters. Does Kad deserve 310 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 2: some blame for the types of teams that he's put 311 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,240 Speaker 2: himself in position with over the last couple of years 312 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:23,680 Speaker 2: and kind of putting him in a position of redundancy, 313 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 2: putting himself in a position of diminishing returns, sure, but 314 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 2: once you get there and you look at the rosters 315 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:30,679 Speaker 2: and you look at the way it works, there are 316 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 2: basketball reasons why those teams failed, and it wasn't because 317 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 2: Kevin Durant wasn't good enough at doing Kevin Durant things. 318 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:42,200 Speaker 2: Is here's the deal. Is Kevin Durant still a top 319 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 2: tier superstar that's a true needle mover. No, and that's 320 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,400 Speaker 2: why he didn't go for four or five first round 321 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:53,959 Speaker 2: picks this time around. But he is still a legitimate 322 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:57,160 Speaker 2: second tier superstar in this league that on any given 323 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:01,199 Speaker 2: night can play as well as the top guys in league, 324 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 2: and he will immediately address a specific need for the Rockets. 325 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:08,199 Speaker 2: And what I think is frustrating is We're gonna be 326 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 2: like watching KD in a second round playoff series having 327 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,720 Speaker 2: like thirty seven points and hitting three or four clutch 328 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 2: jump shots, and everyone's gonna be like, oh my god, 329 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 2: Kevin Durant, as if it's not the same damn guy 330 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 2: who floundered in Phoenix last year. It is the same guy. 331 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 2: Basketball is a team sport, it is, ultimately, and Kevin 332 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 2: Durant's gonna go play for a much better basketball team 333 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 2: and you guys are gonna pretty quickly see a lot 334 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 2: of success. That doesn't mean he's gonna win the title necessarily, 335 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:39,879 Speaker 2: it's hard to win a title in the NBA, but 336 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:44,159 Speaker 2: he's in the mix now, and I think that for 337 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:49,640 Speaker 2: most of us, it's just gonna be like such a 338 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:53,680 Speaker 2: pleasure to get to watch Kevin play in meaningful basketball 339 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 2: games again. That's what I'm looking forward to. These big 340 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:00,879 Speaker 2: spots or you see it's a Big West Conference finals 341 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:06,119 Speaker 2: game or semi finals game or finals game where there's 342 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 2: five minutes left in the scores ninety nine ninety nine, 343 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 2: We're gonna get to see KD in those moments again, 344 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 2: and that to me is the most exciting part. I'm 345 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:17,159 Speaker 2: I'm this was my second favorite KD destination because I 346 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 2: wanted to see him go play for a physical, ass 347 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 2: kicking team where his specific trait of you know, indomitable 348 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 2: offense would simply serve to lift them over the top, 349 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:36,199 Speaker 2: rather than him needing to carry everything. And that's what 350 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:37,480 Speaker 2: Houston is going to allow him to. 351 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:42,440 Speaker 1: Blending Vice's signature dynamic storytelling with the high octane world 352 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,920 Speaker 1: of sports, Vice Sports brings an exciting and diverse range 353 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:48,640 Speaker 1: of programming that goes beyond the game, from action pack 354 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,920 Speaker 1: live events to gripping behind the scenes documentaries to hard 355 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:56,920 Speaker 1: hitting investigative pieces and in depth profiles of athletes, coaches, teams. 356 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 1: Vice Sports captures the raw, energy, drama and pas that 357 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 1: makes sports truly unforgettable. Catch live events and other exclusive 358 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 1: sports programs only on Vice TV. Go to vicetv dot 359 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,399 Speaker 1: com to find your cable channel. 360 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:16,920 Speaker 2: On the Sun's front again, it's very easy to go 361 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 2: and look at where they were before the KD trade 362 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:24,359 Speaker 2: and be like, oh man, you trade McHale Bridges and 363 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 2: Cam Johnson and all this draft compensation, and all you're 364 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 2: getting back is Dylan Brooks, Jalen Green, a first round 365 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,880 Speaker 2: pick that's towards the tail end of the lottery, and 366 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:40,119 Speaker 2: five second round picks. I get it. I get that 367 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 2: that looks terrible, but unfortunately that's not actually how life works. 368 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 2: You don't make both of those trades in concert with 369 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 2: each other. You make them separately from each other. I'm 370 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 2: a big believer in taking risks, and I'm a big 371 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 2: believer in self awareness. And what happened to the Suns 372 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 2: is they took a risk that didn't pay off because 373 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:05,679 Speaker 2: they had self awareness, and now they're moving off of 374 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:10,879 Speaker 2: KD because they have self awareness. And to me, like, 375 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:16,119 Speaker 2: let's be real about what happened with the Suns in 376 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 2: twenty twenty one with Chris Paul and Devin Booker and 377 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:22,440 Speaker 2: a bunch of really good role players in a year 378 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 2: that was weird because of COVID and all of the 379 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:28,639 Speaker 2: top playoff teams in the league at the time, Miami, Denver, 380 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 2: the Lakers, Celtics, all of them were a beat broken, 381 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:37,399 Speaker 2: just not ready to compete in that season. All of 382 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 2: a sudden, we have this weird playoff run. There's a 383 00:21:39,960 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 2: Tray Young led team in the conference finals. There's a 384 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:46,680 Speaker 2: Paul George led team in the conference finals without Kawhi Leonard. 385 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:51,639 Speaker 2: There's this Suns team, and then there's obviously the Milwaukee Bucks, 386 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:55,360 Speaker 2: the one team in that mix that was actually led 387 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:58,720 Speaker 2: by a bona fide superstar that actually had the characteristics 388 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:01,400 Speaker 2: of a championship team. But they won the title. They 389 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,119 Speaker 2: won the title that year. But in the process, the 390 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 2: Suns end up going up in the finals two to zero, 391 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 2: and it looks exciting and it looks like they're there, 392 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 2: but as Draymond Green says, you can have two wins 393 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:20,399 Speaker 2: in the finals and still not be close. The Bucks 394 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 2: random four games in a row. Then you fast forward 395 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 2: to the next season, they get utterly humiliated by Luka 396 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:34,399 Speaker 2: Doncic in the second round, like straight up sunned by 397 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 2: Luka Doncic in the second round. And I think they 398 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 2: looked at the situation and they went, we're not good enough. 399 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 2: We are not good enough to win the title. That 400 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 2: is self awareness. Then they look at it and they go, well, 401 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 2: what if we get Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant is better 402 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 2: than Mikhale Bridges, is better than Cam Johnson. What if 403 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:03,640 Speaker 2: he puts us over the top. They took a gamble. 404 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 2: There are lots of teams in NBA history that have 405 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 2: taken gambles and it's paid off, And there are lots 406 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 2: of teams that have done it and it hasn't. Generally speaking, 407 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:17,200 Speaker 2: I'm in support of pushing your chips into the middle 408 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:21,520 Speaker 2: and trying to go for the title. You get one title, 409 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 2: you are immortal in the NBA. And by the way, 410 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:30,159 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty three when the Nuggets won the title, 411 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 2: who is the one team who like really actually kind 412 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 2: of made things kind of difficult for them? The Phoenix 413 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:40,200 Speaker 2: Suns and it wasn't enough and they weren't good enough 414 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:43,439 Speaker 2: and it didn't pay off. But you don't hang on 415 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 2: to Kevin Durant because you traded four first round draft 416 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:53,479 Speaker 2: picks for him self. Awareness again entered the equation, we 417 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 2: are not good enough with KD. He is our best 418 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:00,439 Speaker 2: vehicle with which to bring back draft compensation and to 419 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:02,240 Speaker 2: try to pivot and to try to make this thing 420 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:05,760 Speaker 2: tenable for the future. And this is what they did. 421 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 2: So they pushed their chips in and it didn't work. 422 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:13,479 Speaker 2: I don't think it's as bad as it looks on 423 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:17,399 Speaker 2: the surface strictly because that Sun's team from before the 424 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 2: KD trade was not good enough to win the title 425 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:24,840 Speaker 2: if they were, if they were a legitimate top tier 426 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 2: championship contender perennially, and then they did this totally different conversation. 427 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:34,400 Speaker 2: They weren't good enough, they pushed their chips in, they 428 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:40,160 Speaker 2: got worse. Now they're getting ready to potentially rebuild. Now. 429 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:44,159 Speaker 2: Jalen Green, I've talked about this with respect to him 430 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:49,120 Speaker 2: and Jonathan kaminga super flawed players, Guys that specifically struggle 431 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 2: with processing and reading the floor, Guys that are inconsistent 432 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 2: with their jump shooting, young players that make a lot 433 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 2: of mistakes, especially on the defensive end. It's a mixed 434 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:03,919 Speaker 2: bag with these guys. But in the modern MBA, with 435 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 2: how much of the league is played in transition, with 436 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:10,359 Speaker 2: how much of the league is shifting more towards physicality, 437 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 2: with the officiating, with all of these things, having a 438 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:18,720 Speaker 2: true S tier athlete that can get to his spot 439 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:22,200 Speaker 2: and elevate over the top to finish or elevate through 440 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:27,679 Speaker 2: traffic at the rim has a level of comfortability in 441 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 2: those settings that lesser athletes don't have. Again, does that 442 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:34,880 Speaker 2: mean that Jalen Green is gonna go be a top 443 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:36,840 Speaker 2: ten player in the NBA. No, I don't think that's 444 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 2: gonna happen. But I do think that Jalen Green and 445 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:43,120 Speaker 2: guys like Jonathan kaminga guys in this like super freaky 446 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 2: raw athlete category, have a lot of upside. And so 447 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:52,320 Speaker 2: again I as far as Jalen Green goes, you're getting 448 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 2: a chance with him. You're getting a chance with him 449 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:57,160 Speaker 2: in Phoenix to see if maybe he can develop into 450 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:59,520 Speaker 2: that type of player. Being around Devin Booker will be 451 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:03,640 Speaker 2: very good for him. Devin Booker has a lot of that, 452 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 2: you know, traditional two guard bag, so to speak. But 453 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,959 Speaker 2: he is an excellent passer. He is a guy who 454 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:13,680 Speaker 2: has developed into one of the better high pick and 455 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 2: roll playmakers in the league. Getting him with Jalen to 456 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:20,119 Speaker 2: help him learn about those reads, to get him to 457 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,200 Speaker 2: take a damn deep breath every once in a while 458 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 2: and relax, and to approach the game with a little 459 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 2: bit more of like a change of pace element, all 460 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 2: of that will be good for Jalen. And you know what, 461 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 2: maybe you can keep Devin Booker around Jalen for a 462 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:36,359 Speaker 2: year and just see how things go next year, and 463 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 2: then pivot off of Devin Booker when the time comes. 464 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 2: I don't like the idea of a Devin Booker Jalen 465 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:44,040 Speaker 2: Green backcourt. I don't think that's a championship backcourt. I 466 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 2: don't think that's a backcourt that compliments each other really well. 467 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 2: But in the short term I like the partnership because 468 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 2: I think Devin Booker has the ability to teach a 469 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 2: lot of higher level offensive basketball to Jalen. Not to mention, 470 00:26:56,680 --> 00:26:58,920 Speaker 2: Devin Booker on Team USA was their primary point of 471 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 2: attack defender, and he can help Jalen Green with his 472 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:05,879 Speaker 2: defensive discipline and his attention to detail. So ultimately, is 473 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 2: it ugly. Yeah, the Suns did get nuked over the 474 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:14,120 Speaker 2: last two years, but the nuking was a product of 475 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:17,240 Speaker 2: them being aware that they were not a championship team, 476 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:20,400 Speaker 2: gambling on one of the greatest players in NBA history 477 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:24,760 Speaker 2: it not working, and then being aware enough to acknowledge 478 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:27,159 Speaker 2: that it didn't work and to take the first step 479 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:30,920 Speaker 2: forward into the next era. You weren't getting four first 480 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:35,160 Speaker 2: round picks for Kevin Durant, not at his age. He's 481 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 2: not a true like needle moving, top tier superstar anymore. 482 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:43,080 Speaker 2: He is a second tier superstar that can help an 483 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:48,800 Speaker 2: already really good team go over the top. That's about 484 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:52,680 Speaker 2: what you get in return star with some upside, A 485 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 2: young guard with some upside, Dylan Brooks, who's legitimately one 486 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:58,520 Speaker 2: of the better three and D players in the league. 487 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:01,000 Speaker 2: I think Dylan Brooks is a really good Dylan Brooks 488 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:04,360 Speaker 2: is gonna help the Suns. Like Dylan Brooks will make 489 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 2: the Suns substantially more of a pain in the ass 490 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:12,320 Speaker 2: to beat next year. There's upside there, there's value there. 491 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:15,640 Speaker 2: Maybe it turns into you trading Dylan Brooks for draft 492 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:18,439 Speaker 2: picks and trading Devin Booker for draft picks. But this 493 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 2: was the first step into the direction of the next 494 00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:26,240 Speaker 2: era of Suns basketball. I don't think they were winning 495 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 2: a title with Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Michal Bridges 496 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 2: and Cam Johnson. I don't think they were close. I 497 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 2: don't think they were winning a title. They went for 498 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 2: it with KD. It didn't work. It's time to move on. 499 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 2: That's what they did today. All right, guys, that is 500 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 2: all I have for today. Again, we would be back 501 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 2: with Colin Coward tonight. I'm sure we'll have more thoughts 502 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:45,239 Speaker 2: on the KD trade as well. We'll have a new 503 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 2: NBA champion tonight. That's super exciting. I've already talked to 504 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:50,560 Speaker 2: Sam Vessini. He's coming on the show on Monday. We're 505 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 2: gonna be recording an NBA Draft preview. Tons of content 506 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 2: coming out over the next couple of days, and then 507 00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:58,920 Speaker 2: the Draft is literally on Wednesday, so the NBA never 508 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 2: stops thanks to a long NBA Finals. It's all running 509 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 2: into each other now. But we're gonna be with you 510 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:05,360 Speaker 2: guys every step of the way. I will see you 511 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:08,120 Speaker 2: guys tonight after game seven. What's up guys. As always, 512 00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:11,120 Speaker 2: I appreciate you for listening to and supporting OOPS tonight. 513 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:13,200 Speaker 2: They would actually be really helpful for us if you 514 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:15,840 Speaker 2: guys would take a second and leave a rating and 515 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 2: a review. As always, I appreciate you guys supporting us, 516 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:19,600 Speaker 2: but if you could take a minute to do that, 517 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 2: I'd really appreciate it. 518 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 1: The volume