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I want to talk about what 38 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 1: a one on one tournament would look like in the NBA. 39 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: I actually put together like a sample tournament and like 40 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: talked through it bracket style, which will be a one 41 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 1: for us. We're talking a little bit about Lebron showing 42 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: up late. We're gonna talk a little bit about the 43 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: Dunk contest, and then Draymond Green just went on a 44 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: rampage just shitting on the NBA over the weekend. I 45 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: want to talk a little bit about that at the 46 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: tail end, you guys know the jrip before we get started. 47 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 1: Subscribe to the Hoops Tonight YouTube channels. You don't miss 48 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: any more of our videos. Follow me on Twitter at 49 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: underscore json lt so you guys don't miss any show announcements. 50 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: Don't forget about our podcast feed wherever you get wherever 51 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: you get your podcast on our Hoops Tonight. It's also 52 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: super helpful if you leave a rating and a review 53 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: on that front. We also have brand new social media 54 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: feeds on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. We're releasing content throughout 55 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 1: the year. Make sure you guys follow us there. In 56 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: the last but not least, keep dropping mailbag questions and 57 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 1: the YouTube comments. We're gonna be hitting mail bags on 58 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 1: Fridays throughout the remainder of the season. All right, let's 59 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 1: talk some basketball. So first major takeaway out of five today. 60 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 1: Thoughts on the new format. I actually really liked the 61 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: tournament format with shorter elam ending style games. I'm generally 62 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: a huge fan of the elam ending. I think that 63 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: it turns it into a contest of basketball instead of 64 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 1: some weird gamesmanship at the tail end of games. I 65 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: also think shortening the games makes it so that there's 66 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: less opportunity for cheap baskets. You know, you're out there 67 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: for a shorter period of time. It just kind of 68 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: like naturally breeds a tiny bit of urgency, and as 69 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: far as the tournament format goes, it advances the teams 70 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: that are playing harder. So like, I think that makes sense. 71 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: Like if there's a couple of All Stars out there 72 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 1: that don't give a shit, get them eliminated in the 73 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: first game, and then have the guys that want to 74 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: play hard play in the second game, I think the 75 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 1: format makes sense. I saw Sam Amaco tweet a quote 76 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: from an NBA GM that said, quote, Adam Silver is 77 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 1: obsessed with tournaments playing in season now All Star They've 78 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: not proven to benefit our league, and I just completely 79 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: disagree with that line of thinking. I think the play 80 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 1: in tournament is great because it just gives us more 81 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 1: high leverage basketball. Those have been excellent games. When the 82 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: play in tournament is on, we all want to watch. 83 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: And I think that that is just a case enough 84 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: for it. It gives you just a little bit of 85 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: of interesting basketball to kind of bridge that gap between 86 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 1: the regular season and the playoffs. The N Season Tournament 87 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: is only two years old, but I already like it, 88 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: and I wish they'd expand it. I'd make it a 89 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: sixteen team tournament, just add another round, same sort of thing. 90 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: I think we get high leverage basketball in December. It's 91 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:19,919 Speaker 1: a great way to like scratch that itch, so to speak, 92 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: our desire to watch high leverage basketball in the middle 93 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: of a regular season that can drag on like it 94 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 1: goes October, November, December, January, February, March, April. We're talking 95 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: six months here solid if you count the cut off, 96 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 1: the half of April and the half of October, six 97 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: straight months of basketball. And if you can bridge it 98 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 1: so that two months in we have the N Season 99 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 1: Tournament and two months in we have trade deadline, All 100 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: Star break type of stuff. It just kind of like 101 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:47,479 Speaker 1: provide some tent poles. You don't have as much slack 102 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:49,919 Speaker 1: there in the middle where we all get bored, right, So, like, 103 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 1: I'm a big believer that the n season tournament is 104 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: good for the NBA. And as for All Star I mean, 105 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:56,919 Speaker 1: here's the thing. Last night was by far the hardest 106 00:04:57,000 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 1: that those guys have played in the last few years. 107 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,159 Speaker 1: Two things that cheapened it a little bit for me, 108 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 1: Like I agree with Draymond, Like I just don't see 109 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 1: the point in letting non All Stars play with the 110 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: All Stars, Like I was intrigued by it, like I 111 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 1: wanted to see what it would what would look Like 112 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:13,919 Speaker 1: I just wanted to see the young kids come in 113 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 1: there and play super hard and see if that would 114 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 1: trigger something. And it did to a certain extent. But 115 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 1: they're not All Stars. And I think there's a way 116 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: to do the exact same format and instead of doing 117 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: three eight man All Star teams, just do four to 118 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: six man All Star teams and let them run that 119 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: same exact format and you get to see all all 120 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: stars playing. And then also I just get rid of 121 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,040 Speaker 1: the gimmicks, like I was watching Victor wemin Yama and 122 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:39,680 Speaker 1: Jared Jackson play super hard and try to change the 123 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: dynamic of the All Star game and I'm listening to 124 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: Kevin Hart do stand up in the background or like 125 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: the inside the NBA crew just like shooting the shit. 126 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: I was actually embarrassed for the league during some of 127 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,479 Speaker 1: that stuff, especially the Mister Beast one, where like Mister 128 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 1: Beasts is out there like distracting the kid while he's 129 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 1: trying to shoot. He's like making these weird comments about 130 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: Dame missing a couple of jump shots like that. It 131 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: was all just really weird. I saw someone on Twitter 132 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 1: say the NBA has lost the plot because we just 133 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: want to see the best players in the world play basketball, 134 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,359 Speaker 1: and I couldn't. I could not agree more. Get rid 135 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: of the lower level players, get rid of the gimmicks, 136 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 1: or at least move them to the periphery if you 137 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: want to do the musical performances and the jokes from 138 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: the studio crew. And here's Kevin Hart given a stand 139 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:25,359 Speaker 1: up routine. Put them before the event or after the 140 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: event instead of in the middle. Actually have the event 141 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: start on time. Make it to your fans know if 142 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 1: I turn on the TV at this time, within ten 143 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: to fifteen minutes, I'm going to get to watch my 144 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 1: favorite players play basketball. Streamline it and again The beauty 145 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: of the tournament style is it helps breed competition. The 146 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: lazier teams will lose in the first round and we'll 147 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: get the two more competitive teams of All Stars playing 148 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 1: in the in the final. And again, the short the 149 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 1: shortened games get rid of some of the cheaper baskets. 150 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 1: You want to bring basketball back to the forefront and 151 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 1: put the onus on the players to entertain us. Now, 152 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 1: will it ever be a monument told basketball event? Again, 153 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 1: probably not, But then again, the All Star Game is 154 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,280 Speaker 1: trash in pretty much every sports league, and it's not 155 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 1: really a fixable problem. I just am saying that I'd 156 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: rather go down with basketball than go down with gimmicks, 157 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: and I'd put the onus on the players in that regard. 158 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 1: Second biggest takeaway my thoughts on Mac McClung and the 159 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 1: Dunk Contest. This is probably one of the biggest things 160 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: that I disagree with the masses about. Like the masses 161 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 1: are obsessed with this idea, Like we got to convince 162 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 1: stars to participate in the Dunk Contest, And I think 163 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,679 Speaker 1: even if the NBA could convince John Morant and Anthony 164 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 1: Edwards and Zion Williamson and someone like Donovan Mitchell or 165 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: whoever it is to do the dunk contest. It would 166 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: have some intrigue because of the stars, but the actual 167 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: dunk contest itself would be lacking because game dunking and 168 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: contest dunking are two entirely different sports in my opinion, 169 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: and like there are certain there are certain players in 170 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: the NBA that are good at contest dunking, but they 171 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: tend to not be superstars, and there's just not enough 172 00:07:56,480 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: of them. Professional dunking is like an entirely separate as 173 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 1: a massive following. There are dozens of excellent professional dunkers 174 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 1: all over the world. I've seen three of them come 175 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: through Arizona over the years. Two of them I've seen 176 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: them do practice sessions before, and like they just dunk 177 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: over and over and over and over again. They're constantly 178 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: trying new dunks. They'll miss a hundred times before they 179 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 1: actually master a dunk. It's like, and that's the thing too, 180 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: it's like twenty five percent vertical leap, and like seventy 181 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: five percent of it is like intricacies of coordination and 182 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: timing and creativity and all these different things. It's a 183 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 1: different sport and it's basically impossible to find four NBA 184 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 1: All Star level players that can reach that level of 185 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: art in professional dunking. There are a handful of players in 186 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:45,679 Speaker 1: the NBA that had that gift, right, Like, I thought 187 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: Stefan Cassel last night had a little bit of that 188 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 1: fla on Saturday Night had a little bit of that 189 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 1: flare when he had that East Bay where he put 190 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: it through his legs off of the ball coming through 191 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: the net, Like that was a really, really impressive dunk. 192 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:58,559 Speaker 1: We even had a few years back where had the 193 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: Zach Lavine and Aaron Gordon showdown, Right, But that was 194 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 1: kind of a flash in the pan kind of thing. 195 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 1: It was just kind of a confluence of events where 196 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,560 Speaker 1: two of the very best contest style dunkers in the 197 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: NBA happened to kind of meet in that situation. Like, 198 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 1: that's not a thing that's going to organically happen very often, right, Like, 199 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: and even those guys were like, a, we don't want 200 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: to do this anymore. Right. Mac McClung is an NBA player. 201 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:22,719 Speaker 1: I saw a lot of people talking about how he's 202 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 1: not an NBA player, he's a fringe NBA player, but 203 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: he is an NBA player. He's played in five games 204 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 1: for four different teams. I'm of the opinion that once 205 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: you put the jersey on and you step on the floor, 206 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:36,079 Speaker 1: you're an NBA player. That's sacred to me. If you've 207 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 1: accomplished that, no one can ever take that away from you. 208 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: I think that that matters. But his main talent, the 209 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:46,719 Speaker 1: thing that he's best at compared to most people in 210 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 1: the world, is he is a professional contest dunker type 211 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 1: of athlete, and he's one of the very best in 212 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: the world at it. And he's kept the event afloat 213 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: in recent years because people are amazed by his creativity 214 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 1: in his athleticism. I would actually just lean into that 215 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:06,199 Speaker 1: concept instead of trying to get NBA superstars to participate. 216 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 1: Going back to that comment I saw earlier in the 217 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:10,599 Speaker 1: same way that the NBA All Star Game should just 218 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 1: be the best basketball players in the world playing basketball. 219 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:17,840 Speaker 1: Let's make the NBA Dunk Contest the best contest dunkers 220 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:20,959 Speaker 1: in the world competing in a dunk contest. Get Mac 221 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 1: McClung in there, get seven more of the greatest contest 222 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 1: dunkers in the world, and hold a contest absolutely loaded 223 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 1: with the wildest and craziest dunks with real NBA All 224 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 1: stars standing all around the sideline celebrating and celebrate that sport, 225 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 1: which is a different sport that probably should be showcased 226 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: as the as a completely separate sport with these different athletes, 227 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 1: I think it has way more potential to be like 228 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: a must see event every year if you have all 229 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: the best contest hunkers in the world instead of four 230 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 1: NBA superstars that don't really have the time to practice 231 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:58,199 Speaker 1: anything other than a windmill or a three sixty or 232 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:00,559 Speaker 1: a eest bay through the like whatever you want to 233 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: call it. Like, I think like that's the thing. You 234 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:05,319 Speaker 1: go back, go back and look at the stars old dunks. 235 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: Like at the time, we didn't even know what contest 236 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:11,320 Speaker 1: dunkers looked like. And you know, Kobe'd go through his 237 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: legs or Michael Jordan would jump from the free throw line, 238 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: and it was this beautiful, iconic thing. But now we've 239 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 1: just seen too much, we've seen too much of the 240 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: top end of real dunking talent, and I think that 241 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: that would be the direction I'd go if I was 242 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:25,319 Speaker 1: the NBA, I'd be like, Hey, we're doing it. We're 243 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 1: having all the best contest dunkers in the world on 244 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,680 Speaker 1: Saturday night, come play like I think that. I think 245 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 1: that makes the most sense, And I mean mac McClung 246 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: in the success he's had there to me as a 247 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 1: perfect example of that. Number three thoughts on Lebron showing 248 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: up late and then not playing. Here's my take on 249 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 1: what Lebron was thinking. The Lakers just got Luka Doncic 250 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 1: and they haven't had any opportunity to really practice and 251 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 1: implement him into their system. They have a makeup game 252 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 1: from the Fires this Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets. They're 253 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 1: the only team that plays on Wednesday. Everyone else is 254 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 1: waiting until Thursday. I bet they're practicing today, and if 255 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 1: they're not, they're certainly practicing Tuesday. So Lebron his only 256 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: opportunity to take a break with his family was that 257 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 1: stretch right before the All Star Game, from Thursday through 258 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: like Saturday night. Right. I don't blame him at all for, 259 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: at forty years old, trying to maximize that time, especially 260 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 1: since we're probably going to see a more engaged version 261 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: of Lebron than we've seen since twenty twenty once we 262 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: get to the other side of this break. So It 263 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:28,599 Speaker 1: made sense to me that if he was going to 264 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 1: try to take a rest, he would do it Thursday, 265 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:33,199 Speaker 1: Friday Saturday there, right after the Jazz game, And that 266 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 1: was going to imply that he would be traveling back 267 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: into the Bay Area on Sunday before the game. Right. 268 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 1: As for not playing in the game, I think he 269 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 1: was kind of protesting the format. I think he looked 270 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,319 Speaker 1: at it and he thought, why the hell when I'm 271 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 1: so damn old, am I going to go out and 272 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:52,679 Speaker 1: play in an exhibition game against Zach Edie and Dalton connect. 273 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 1: I don't blame him for that at all either. I 274 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 1: personally didn't agree with that idea from the league. Now 275 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 1: here's the thing. If you want to criticize Lebron for 276 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:04,959 Speaker 1: getting stars to stop participating in the dunk contest over 277 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 1: the years, I think that's fair criticism. He was kind 278 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: of the first guy. Now, I mean, I think he's 279 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 1: maybe started that trend, but you could argue it would 280 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: have inevitably happened. Right. But as far as far as 281 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 1: the game goes, this isn't even the first year he 282 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:19,679 Speaker 1: waited till Sunday to show up. It isn't even the 283 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: first year he sat out part of the game, Like 284 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: there was a year recently where he barely played at all. 285 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 1: So to me, this is like kind of a Lebron 286 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 1: Rorschach test, Like, if you don't like Lebron, you're gonna 287 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: cling to this. You're gonna make him the villain, and 288 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 1: he's gonna be the sole reason no one cares about 289 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: the All Star Game. I'm sure we'll see a clip 290 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: of Rob Parker or somebody like that later today, just 291 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 1: blaming Lebron for the death of the All Star Game. 292 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 1: But like, if you don't dislike Lebron for whatever reason, 293 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 1: I bet you just don't care. And I'm right there 294 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: with you, guys, I just don't care that Lebron showed 295 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: up Layt and didn't really want to play in that 296 00:13:51,920 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 1: specific fort. Let's get to the fun stuff, the one 297 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: on one tournament. I think this is such an interesting 298 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: concept and one that I want to get a little 299 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:14,960 Speaker 1: deeper into today. First of all, I want to shout 300 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: out in a Visa Collier, who won the WNBA or 301 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 1: the unrivaled tournament, the one on one tournament against a 302 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 1: bunch of WNBA players. I was so impressed by her 303 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: in the WNBA finals. I thought she was clearly the 304 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 1: best player in that series. And then she dropped the 305 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: bar after she won the one on one tournament where 306 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: she said NBA players need to be willing to put 307 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 1: their name on the line in a tournament like that. 308 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 1: So someone needs to just like photoshop a cigarette into 309 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:38,120 Speaker 1: the FISA's mouth just so that she's just one of 310 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 1: the coolest hoopers on the planet. And she just keeps 311 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 1: she just keeps showing that time and time again. But 312 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: I wanted to try out this theoretical concept, so we're 313 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: gonna run a simulated tournament today. I chose eight players, 314 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: and I used a list randomizer for seating. First of all, 315 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: some preliminary stuff. I went based on the top ten 316 00:14:57,400 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: players in the league because I think that's more interesting. 317 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: But in all likelihood, a guy like Jokis would not 318 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 1: participate in this tournament. Lebron probably would not participate. You're 319 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: going to see a lot more of guys like lower 320 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 1: level players in the NBA, like a Kyrie Irving, like 321 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: a James Harden, instead of like a Jokich or a Lebron. 322 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: But I want to just for the sake of like 323 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 1: actually making it look closer to what the WNBA did, 324 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: I wanted to do all the top players in the league. Okay, 325 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 1: I went with make it, take it, meaning if you score, 326 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 1: you get the ball back. That's generally the rule for 327 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 1: one on one basketball around the world, and that's how 328 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:33,440 Speaker 1: the Unrival Tournament went. And I went with no dribble limit, 329 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 1: mimicking what the WNBA or the Unrival Tournament did with 330 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 1: a seven second shot clock, which on that front, like 331 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,680 Speaker 1: on lower levels, like even high major D one and 332 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 1: like lower level pro hoops, you'll work on a dribble limit, 333 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 1: like a two dribble limit or a three dribble limit, 334 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 1: because you're practicing being efficient with movement. Why, Because there's 335 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 1: only a few dozen players in the world who are 336 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: good enough to just dribble the air out of the 337 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 1: basketball without having it hurt their basketball team. Right, Like 338 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 1: most players need to be able to score quickly and 339 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 1: efficiently as part of a five man context. Right. But 340 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: these guys, the guys who would be playing in this tournament, 341 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: are absolutely in the group of guys who would regularly 342 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 1: use lots of dribbles to get to their spots. So 343 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: no dribble limit, seven second shot clock. Random list top 344 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: ten players in the world. Make it, take it, you guys, 345 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: get the drill. Here's how the order came out after 346 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 1: I use the randomizer. So our number one seed is 347 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 1: Nikola Jokicic two seed is Anthony Edwards, three seed is 348 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 1: Jannison Tenacumbo, the four seed is Luka Doncic, the five 349 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 1: seed is Jason Tatum, the sixth seed is Kevin Durant, 350 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: the seventh seed is Lebron James, and the eight seed 351 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 1: is Shay gilgis Alexander. So our one verse eight is 352 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 1: Jokic versus SGA. I think Jokic takes this matchup relatively easily. 353 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 1: I think he just plays back off of Sga and 354 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 1: tries to bait him into jump shots, and as long 355 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 1: as he doesn't literally make six mid range jump shots 356 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 1: in a row, Jokic will get the ball. And Shay 357 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: shoots fifty four percent on jumpers inside of seventeen feet, 358 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 1: but he's probably not going to go six for six, 359 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:04,640 Speaker 1: So Jokich is going to get the ball. Once Jokic 360 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:08,160 Speaker 1: gets the ball, Shay has like quite literally no way 361 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:10,959 Speaker 1: of stopping him from getting just a bunch of layups 362 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:13,399 Speaker 1: in a row. Like there's no variance, no chance for 363 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 1: a miss there. So I think Yokich advances relatively easily 364 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:20,120 Speaker 1: against SGA. Our four versus five matchup Luka Doncics first, 365 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum. This is a much closer matchup in my opinion, 366 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: Like Luca would basically have to concede pull up jump 367 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 1: shots to Tatum because if he plays up on him, 368 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 1: he'll get blown by just constantly for layups. I mean, 369 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: we saw that a dozen times in the NBA Finals, right, 370 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:38,160 Speaker 1: But we also saw Luca repeatedly cook Jason Tatum one 371 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:40,439 Speaker 1: on one in the finals. He's too strong for Tatum, 372 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 1: and once he gets an angle, he can just work 373 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:44,639 Speaker 1: closer to the rim and give him issues. I'm going 374 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 1: to go with Luca here slightly. I think Tatum's value 375 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 1: is in his versatility, but I just think Luca is 376 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: a more gifted one on one score who would be 377 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: able to work Tatum closer to the rim for higher 378 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 1: percentage shots. And Tatum, as far as his jump shooting 379 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 1: goes off the dribble, he's actually a low field goal 380 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: percentage guy. He's a high effective field goal percentage guy 381 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:06,199 Speaker 1: because he takes a lot of pull up threes, but 382 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:10,160 Speaker 1: he will miss pull up jump shots, and Luca's going 383 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: to force him into some misses by playing more, playing 384 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,239 Speaker 1: the drive more, and forcing him to shoot. I think 385 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: it would be a very close game. But I think 386 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 1: Luca is just a more gifted craft yer one on 387 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:23,439 Speaker 1: one score, a much more reliable shot maker when he 388 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: gets into that short to mid range area. So I 389 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:29,360 Speaker 1: would go with Luca advancing in that four to five 390 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:33,439 Speaker 1: matchup are two versus seven. Anthony Edwards versus Lebron James. 391 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:38,199 Speaker 1: I think Ant takes this one. With Lebron in his prime, 392 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 1: he would have been able to match ants athleticism in 393 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 1: a way that would have allowed Lebron's size to carry 394 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:46,719 Speaker 1: the day. But there are two reasons why I'd take 395 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 1: Ant at this point. With Lebron at age forty one, 396 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: Ann has put all defenders in the league into a 397 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:54,640 Speaker 1: bind because he's become one of the best three point 398 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: shooters in the league. You basically have to choose between 399 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 1: taking away the drive or conceding the jumper, or taking 400 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:05,160 Speaker 1: away the drive. In conceding the jumper or taking away 401 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: the jumper and conceding the drive, Ant would get great 402 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: looks every single possession. And then two, Ant is a 403 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 1: bad defender. In a lot of ways, like he's really 404 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 1: bad at navigating screens, he loses shooters and rebounders off 405 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 1: ball constantly. But he's absolutely awesome at one thing on defense, 406 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 1: and that's one on one defense. He's one of the 407 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 1: most laterally quick players in the league. So you're not 408 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: gonna go around him. You're gonna have to go through him. 409 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 1: And he's an absolute fire hydrant. It's basically impossible to 410 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 1: go through him unless you're absolutely massive. And for the record, 411 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:36,160 Speaker 1: Lebron's a big dude. He would try to bully Ant. 412 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 1: He would win some of those battles, but I think 413 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:40,239 Speaker 1: Ant would also win some of those battles. And then 414 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:42,240 Speaker 1: on the other end, I think Lebron basically has to 415 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: concede jump shots to him, and Ant's one of the 416 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 1: best jump shooters in the league. So to be clear, 417 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:50,239 Speaker 1: I would take prime Lebron over Ant, But in this 418 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 1: format in the year twenty twenty six, I'm gonna take 419 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:57,160 Speaker 1: Ant to advance in a somewhat close game three versus six, 420 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,919 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant versus Giannis and Tenna Kombo. This is very interesting. 421 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 1: On the one hand, this is a terrible format for 422 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 1: Yannis because He's the opposite of Ant in that like 423 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: he is very little in the way of shot making. 424 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: If guys actually take away the drive and make him 425 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 1: mix shots over the top, that's not a strength of his. 426 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:15,919 Speaker 1: And while Ant is great on the ball but terrible 427 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:18,919 Speaker 1: and everything else on defense, Jannis is great at everything 428 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 1: else on defense, but he can struggle a little bit 429 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:23,920 Speaker 1: guarding in space. He's especially struggled guarding KD over the 430 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:26,120 Speaker 1: years because KD knows how to get him up out 431 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: of his stance with hesitation dribbles or get him leaning 432 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 1: one way before crossing over and getting dribble penetration. It's 433 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:34,400 Speaker 1: a matchup that KDE's had a lot of success against. 434 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 1: But on the flip side, Jannis is probably the best 435 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 1: power player in the league not named Jokic, and KD 436 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 1: can struggle with power sometimes. We just talked the other 437 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:44,680 Speaker 1: day about how Jared Jackson gave him some issues by 438 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:46,680 Speaker 1: ducking in in the post in that game that they 439 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 1: lost to Memphis the other night. So I actually do 440 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: think Giannis would give KAD some issues when Giannis had 441 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:54,920 Speaker 1: the ball. But KD does have the length to bother 442 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: Janis around the rim a bit. We've even seen skinnier, 443 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 1: longer players like Wemby give Jannis shoes now ONEB be 444 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:03,240 Speaker 1: obviously a different challenge than KD, but I do think 445 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:05,919 Speaker 1: Katie would win some of those battles, and I just 446 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: think Katie would do more damage to Giannis when Katie 447 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:10,879 Speaker 1: as the ball than Giannis would do to Kadi in return. 448 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 1: So I have KD advancing in a close game our 449 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 1: second round, our one versus four matchup, NIKOLEA jokicch versus 450 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,320 Speaker 1: Luka Doncics. I actually I view both of these guys 451 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:22,639 Speaker 1: as kind of similar in this format, and that there 452 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: are two players that would both need to concede jump 453 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 1: shots to faster players so that they don't give up 454 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 1: driple penetration and just basically hope they miss. And then 455 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:34,480 Speaker 1: on the other end, they both have massive strength advantages 456 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:37,160 Speaker 1: and short range shot making advantages that they could exploit 457 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 1: to score time and time again close to the rim. 458 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 1: But Jokic is just so much bigger than Luca. I 459 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:45,440 Speaker 1: think he'd be able to force Luca into tougher shots 460 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:48,200 Speaker 1: further from the rim. I think Luca would be more 461 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:51,120 Speaker 1: susceptible to variants in this matchup, and I still think 462 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:54,119 Speaker 1: Jokic can bully Luca really close to the rim, So 463 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: I have Jokic advancing cleanly here to the Championship. Our 464 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:02,439 Speaker 1: two versus six matchup Anthony Edwards versus Kevin Durant, This 465 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:05,160 Speaker 1: would be an epic matchup. I talked earlier about Ant's 466 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 1: ability to be a top tier downhill threat while also 467 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 1: a top tier shooting threat and how that makes players 468 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:15,240 Speaker 1: make a decision. But Kevin Durant has top tier length 469 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 1: that gives him the best ability out of any player 470 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: on this list to give space to contain the drive 471 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: while also having the length to contest pull up jump shots. 472 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 1: This is a big part of why Kevin Durant is 473 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 1: consistently one of the very best ISO defenders in the league. 474 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 1: This year, players are shooting just thirty one percent field 475 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 1: goal percentage against KD and ISO last year thirty two percent. 476 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 1: For two years in a row, now players are missing 477 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 1: more than two thirds of their shots against KD in 478 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 1: one on one, and the volume is super low because 479 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:45,920 Speaker 1: players know better and don't really try KD. I think 480 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:47,959 Speaker 1: Ant would be able to stonewall KD a little bit 481 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:50,359 Speaker 1: when he's on defense and force KD into some mid 482 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:53,120 Speaker 1: range jump shots, but Kd's arguably the best mid range 483 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 1: jump shooter ever. We're going to talk about in a minute. 484 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:57,679 Speaker 1: Even though I think Ant is excellent in this format, 485 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:00,399 Speaker 1: I think Kd's kind of is kryptonite in this matchup. 486 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 1: So I have KD advancing to the championship, and then 487 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:05,159 Speaker 1: our championship would be Nicole Jokich Vus Kevin Durant. I 488 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:06,920 Speaker 1: think this is a super interesting one because I don't 489 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:08,920 Speaker 1: think either player has much of a chance at all 490 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:12,679 Speaker 1: to guard the other. Katie is shooting a league best 491 00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:16,159 Speaker 1: fifty eight percent on jump shots inside of seventeen feets, 492 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 1: four percent better than anyone in the league, including Shay. 493 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 1: Jokic shoots sixty one percent on hooks, so Katie's mid 494 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:26,680 Speaker 1: range jump shot is nearly as efficient as a Jokic hook. 495 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:28,680 Speaker 1: I also think KADI would actually be able to get 496 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:31,920 Speaker 1: past Jokic a few times by using that hesitation dribble 497 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:34,639 Speaker 1: and some of those crossovers, or Jokic would bite on 498 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 1: trying to contest one of those short range jump shots. 499 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:40,680 Speaker 1: Then on defense, now again, Jokic would bury Kad a lot, 500 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:42,880 Speaker 1: but KD would have the length to get some good 501 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:46,160 Speaker 1: contests on Jokicic around the rim. The trouble would be 502 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 1: for KD Jokicic just completely bullying him right under the 503 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 1: rim for layups. But that's where Kevin Durant's length could 504 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 1: potentially force a miss. And again, I just think Katie's 505 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 1: game is just built for this format. He's always been 506 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:00,400 Speaker 1: one of the best defensive players in the league when 507 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:02,640 Speaker 1: he's engaged, and I think he's the best one on 508 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:05,080 Speaker 1: one offensive player in the history of the league. I 509 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 1: think he barely beats Jokicic, but I think Katie beats 510 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:11,320 Speaker 1: Jokic with a combination of short jump shots, nasty counter 511 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 1: moves while just forcing Jokic into one or two misses 512 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: closer to the rim that he would need to survive. 513 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 1: And as I kind of zoomed back out from this tournament, 514 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:24,119 Speaker 1: it makes sense Katie's the greatest one on one player 515 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:26,160 Speaker 1: of all time in my opinion, so it would make 516 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,440 Speaker 1: sense that he would win this type of tournament. I'd 517 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:30,880 Speaker 1: have KDI winning and man, I really hope we get 518 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:33,360 Speaker 1: to see it next year. All right, before we get 519 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 1: out of here for today, I want to talk a 520 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:37,680 Speaker 1: little bit about Draymond's comments. So Draymond went like really 521 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:40,919 Speaker 1: aggressive shitting on the NBA last night. He was very 522 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:44,200 Speaker 1: critical of the rising Stars playing with the All Stars, which, 523 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:46,080 Speaker 1: by the way, that part I agreed with as we 524 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 1: talked about earlier. But then he just randomly decided to 525 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 1: start shitting on the state of the NBA by like 526 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:54,120 Speaker 1: just parroting all the same talking points that we constantly 527 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:57,400 Speaker 1: hear from the old heads. He said, quote it it's 528 00:24:57,440 --> 00:24:59,639 Speaker 1: just who can run faster, who can hit more threes, 529 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:03,400 Speaker 1: no substance. I think it's very boring. Here's the thing. 530 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:06,919 Speaker 1: The NBA regular season does get boring. Sometimes we can 531 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 1: all admit that there's some ugly basketball. There's a lack 532 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:13,800 Speaker 1: of urgency. Sometimes it is far from perfect. But I 533 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:17,480 Speaker 1: promise you it used to be way worse. It is 534 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:21,879 Speaker 1: crazy to me, the rose colored glasses some folks choose 535 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:24,919 Speaker 1: to look back at the old MBA with. If you 536 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:27,680 Speaker 1: think pace in space and spread, pick and roll and 537 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:31,399 Speaker 1: modern transition basketball is ugly, go back and watch games 538 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 1: from the early two thousands. Go back and watch games 539 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 1: from the nineties in the regular season, Watch guys standing 540 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:40,679 Speaker 1: around in the paint. Watch a million of these horrifically 541 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:44,840 Speaker 1: ugly post ups between these big bulky forwards and centers 542 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 1: as guys are just throwing bullshit up at the rint. 543 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:51,640 Speaker 1: Watch Drew Gooden and David West take a million seventeen footers. 544 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:55,119 Speaker 1: In my opinion, the game of basketball is different now, 545 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 1: but it's absolutely better. The thing is is it's far 546 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:02,560 Speaker 1: more sophisticated both ends of the floor. The sets teams 547 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 1: run are way more sophisticated than ever. The little off 548 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 1: ball actions and tricks that teams use to create space, 549 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: like using the roleman as a lead blocker, or like 550 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 1: using non shooters as screeners, adding a third man to 551 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:18,400 Speaker 1: ball screens to make them harder to guard on defense, 552 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: the gapping, the passing lane close outs, the crispness of rotations, 553 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:25,920 Speaker 1: even the strategic quirks like how Boston used Tatum and 554 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:29,200 Speaker 1: Brown to shut down opponent ballscreen attacks by putting Tatum 555 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 1: on opponent centers and putting their center on week above 556 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:35,359 Speaker 1: the break shooters like. The game is far more sophisticated 557 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:38,880 Speaker 1: now and far more entertaining as a result. In my opinion, 558 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:42,120 Speaker 1: even though it can get ugly sometimes it's just bullshit. 559 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:43,600 Speaker 1: The way we look back at the old NBA, I 560 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:45,879 Speaker 1: don't get it, And the thing is is like I 561 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:48,880 Speaker 1: personally think Draymond knows this. I think he knows it. 562 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:52,680 Speaker 1: The whole thing on this weekend like kind of came 563 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 1: off as like deliberately confrontational to me, and I don't 564 00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: really understand why. The one I have with it from 565 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:03,159 Speaker 1: Draymond's perspective is I think he's one of the biggest 566 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:05,960 Speaker 1: ambassadors of our game. I think he has a responsibility 567 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:09,439 Speaker 1: to be an advocate of our game. He should be 568 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:12,639 Speaker 1: one of the guys going around and like actively fighting 569 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 1: these false narratives and explaining to the younger generation how 570 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:19,640 Speaker 1: sophisticated our game has become. And I think he's kind 571 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 1: of fumbling that responsibility right now, and I hope he 572 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:24,159 Speaker 1: changes his tone soon. All right, guys, That's all I 573 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 1: have for today is always sincerely appreciate you guys for 574 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:28,920 Speaker 1: supporting me and supporting the show. I'm working the rest 575 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:33,159 Speaker 1: of today on our updated contender rankings. We'll have content 576 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:35,960 Speaker 1: surrounding the contender rankings coming out on Tuesday and Wednesday, 577 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:38,119 Speaker 1: and then we're back to basketball on Thursday morning with 578 00:27:38,119 --> 00:27:40,680 Speaker 1: a breakdown of Hornets Lakers. I'll see you guys then 579 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:46,080 Speaker 1: the volume. What' so, guys, as always, I appreciate you 580 00:27:46,119 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 1: for listening to and supporting OOPS tonight. It would actually 581 00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 1: be really helpful for us if you guys would take 582 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:54,160 Speaker 1: a second and leave a rating and a review. As always, 583 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:55,840 Speaker 1: I appreciate you guys supporting us, but if you could 584 00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:58,360 Speaker 1: take a minute to do that, I'd really appreciate it.