1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: The volume. The eighty two game preseason is in the books, 2 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: and now it's finally time for the real season. Don't 3 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: miss out on any of the NBA playoff action at 4 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 1: DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NBA. 5 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: From the play in tournament through the finals, DraftKings Sportsbook 6 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: has you covered with same game parlays, live betting odds, boosts, 7 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: and so much more. The Boston Celtics are currently the 8 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: favorite at plus one sixty, but the team that's third 9 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,599 Speaker 1: in my championship rankings the Dallas Mavericks. 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Help is available for problem gambling call eight 20 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 1: eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or 21 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:19,959 Speaker 1: visit CCPG dot org. Please play responsibly on behalf of 22 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: Boothill Casino and Resort in Kansas. Twenty one plus age 23 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire one 24 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:31,479 Speaker 1: hundred and sixty eight hours after issuance. See DKG dot 25 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 1: co slash b ball for eligibility and deposit restrictions, terms 26 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: and responsible gaming resources. All right, welcome to hoops tonight. 27 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: You're at the volume. Happy Saturday, everybody hopeful, if you 28 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: guys are having an incredible weekend. Well, it turns out 29 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: the Los Angeles Lakers are in fact capable of occasionally, 30 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 1: if rarely, beating the Denver Nuggets. They extend the series 31 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: to five, which Game five will be on Monday night. 32 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: We'll be going live on YouTube after the final buzzer 33 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: of that one. I had a thing last night that 34 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: kind of got in the way of my routine typically 35 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, So I had to cover those three 36 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:16,799 Speaker 1: games today, which got in the way of my ability 37 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: of covering the other games. So we're just gonna hit Nuggets, 38 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: Lakers and then Helicans Thunder today, so we're gonna have 39 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 1: to get to those other two series at a later date. Obviously, 40 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: we've got a jam pack schedule tomorrow as well, so Nuggets, Lakers, Pelicans, 41 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: Thunder for tonight's show. You guys are the joke before 42 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: we get started. Subscribe to our brand new YouTube channels. 43 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 1: You don't miss any more of our videos. Follow me 44 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: on Twitter at underscore jsonlt so you guys don't miss 45 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: any show announcements. Don't forget about a podcast feed wherever 46 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: you get your podcast under Hoops tonight, and then keep 47 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: leaving mailback questions in the YouTube comments so we can 48 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: keep hitting a couple of mail bags a week over 49 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: the course of the rest of the playoffs. All right, 50 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: let's talk some basketball. So I'm gonna kind of mix 51 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: things up a little bit in this episode. Instead of 52 00:02:57,560 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: going kind of into the weeds, I'm gonna start kind 53 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: of big picture for I as a fan, as someone 54 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 1: who obviously is rooting for the Los Angeles Lakers, I 55 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: was proud of their effort tonight. These game fours, when 56 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,799 Speaker 1: you're down three to oho, they typically go the route 57 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,920 Speaker 1: of the suite. It did some digging It's hard to 58 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 1: find some exact data, but it looks like in NBA history, 59 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: a team down three to OHO loses that game about 60 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: sixty nine percent of the time. They went about thirty 61 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: thirty one percent of the time. So typically what ends 62 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: up happening is the better team, who demonstrated they were 63 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: better by going up three to OHO is able to 64 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: close the deal, right, So, and part of that is 65 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: not just the talent differential, it's a lack of belief. Right. So, 66 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: like you when you lose two games on the road, 67 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: especially as the underdog, when you come home for game three, 68 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: you have this thought in the back of your mind, 69 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: and it's it's they held serve right, It's like they 70 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 1: did what they were supposed to do. There's all these 71 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: cliches that's surrounded You may have heard the series doesn't 72 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: start until someone wins on the road, right, Like, there's 73 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: all these cliches. So you go into game three with 74 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: a certain amount of belief, like we still can do this, right. 75 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,479 Speaker 1: It's not until you drop that third game that it's like, oh, 76 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:21,040 Speaker 1: actually we can't, you know. And then typically that leads 77 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: to kind of a cascading effect because if the team's 78 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: better than you. You have to be perfect to beat them, 79 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: right in your game plan execution. You need role players 80 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 1: to hit shots, You need a bunch of different variables 81 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 1: to go your way in order to beat a team 82 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: that's better than you, right, and so like there's a 83 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 1: certain level of focus in belief you need to do 84 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: that typically, and so that's why in game four it 85 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 1: typically goes the other direction. And so I just want 86 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: to shout out the Los Angeles Lakers for showing some pride, 87 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 1: showing some fight, and extending this series. I now to 88 00:04:55,400 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 1: kind of tilt that back towards Denver. I Denver is 89 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 1: going to approach Game five on Monday like a must win. 90 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 1: They do not want to come back to the Crypto 91 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:11,840 Speaker 1: dot Com Arena for a game six right now. If 92 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 1: they did have to do that, they would still rightfully 93 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 1: be favored to win that game six, right, But they're 94 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 1: gonna try to close this thing out in five. It's 95 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 1: not just about avoiding a road game six that if 96 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 1: the Lakers win, can force a game seven. It's also 97 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:30,920 Speaker 1: about Minnesota. Minnesota is probably gonna close Phoenix out tomorrow 98 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 1: if not in game five, right, So Minnesota is gonna 99 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: be ready and waiting for you in round two. So 100 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 1: Denver's gonna want to get this thing over with quickly. 101 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: And so here's the thing, Like, I'm not gonna sit 102 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: here and act like Denver hasn't been trying in this series. 103 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,279 Speaker 1: I do think that they gave up a relatively poor 104 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 1: effort in the first half tonight, which is like to 105 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 1: be expected. But for the most part in this series, 106 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: they've been kind of humming it around. You know, they're 107 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 1: eighty five ninety percent like that typical like engaged but 108 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 1: not desperate type of effort from Denver. I think we're 109 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: going to get like a a just a freight train 110 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 1: Denver performance on Monday. It's gonna be a really difficult 111 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: game for the Lakers to stay competitive in, let alone 112 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 1: to win. So I'll be picking Denver to win on Monday. 113 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 1: I think they're gonna win convincingly. I wouldn't be surprised 114 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 1: if they won by double figures. That's just how much 115 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 1: I believe in this Nuggets team, especially with urgency behind 116 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: them in Game five. That said, I just wanted to 117 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,840 Speaker 1: compliment the Los Angeleskers again, like just most teams let 118 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: go of the rope entirely in game four that that 119 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 1: was not the case tonight. They showed a wire to wire, 120 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 1: really really impressive performance they The big one is when 121 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 1: Denver came with their inevitable second half run that they 122 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: always come with. Right when that run happened, the Lakers responded. 123 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 1: They were able to hold up underneath that onslaught in 124 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 1: a way they were not able to in the first 125 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: three games. So from there, now let's get into the basketball. 126 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: So how did the Lakers get it done? Which I 127 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: thought was interesting. In the first quarter, they ran a 128 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:07,160 Speaker 1: lot of their early offense through Austin Reeves and this 129 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 1: is something that I actually called for a lot at 130 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 1: the beginning of the series, and they didn't do very much, 131 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: and it's something I'd like to see them do more. 132 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: In Game five, they didn't even really do it that 133 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: much after after the first quarter. They went to him 134 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: a couple times at the end of the fourth quarter 135 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 1: and he came through. But in that first quarter in particular, 136 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: they were heavy attacking with Austin Reeves. Why does that 137 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: matter because with the way that Denver has their defensive 138 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,239 Speaker 1: matchups configured right for the most part in this series, 139 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: with exception of that run, the in Game two and 140 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: a handful of other possessions here and there. They've had 141 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 1: yokihn ad Gordon on Lebron, Right, those are your physical 142 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 1: matchups that make sense in the front court. Then they're 143 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: putting KCP on D'Angelo Russell because they know, even though 144 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: we've discussed this on the show before, Austin because his 145 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: floor is higher than d Lo's and because he's more versatile, 146 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 1: probably a better basketball player than dl. Right, But Delo 147 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: has this really high ceiling, like, let Dlo get going, 148 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 1: he can really get going, which, by the way, to 149 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: his credit, big bounce back game tonight, hit four threes, 150 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: twenty one points, really nice game from D'Angelo Russell. That 151 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: ceiling that Delo has. Denver wants to avoid that as 152 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: much as possible, and so they're going to go with 153 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: KCP on him as much as possible to try to 154 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: mitigate his particular advantage that slots Jamal Murray onto Austin Reeves. 155 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: And they just think in general, like Austin's the guy 156 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:29,239 Speaker 1: that's gonna run some action, he's gonna have some success, 157 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 1: but he's not gonna torch us for thirty thirty five points. 158 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 1: That's the way that Denver's looking at it right. Well, again, 159 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 1: that's a way for you to go at a specific 160 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: advantage in the matchups by keeping Jamal in the action. Again, 161 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: one of the most important parts of getting a defense 162 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 1: in rotation and pick and roll is getting the guarden 163 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: trail position, and it's a difficult thing to do against 164 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 1: really good screen defenders. That was a big thing at 165 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 1: the end of Game two. If you guys remember Contavious callwell, 166 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 1: Pope was navigating screens really well with Lebron and stopping 167 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: him from turning the corner as cleanly as he was, 168 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 1: and Aaron Gordon was on the ball right and they 169 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: were bringing Jokic up to the screen with the Anthony 170 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: Davis right and so going from KCP this like awesome 171 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: screen navigator is one of the best perimeter defenders in 172 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: the league. But by the way, he's gonna have a 173 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 1: hell of a challenge on his hands after if they 174 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: win Game five, or if they get out of the 175 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: series and they face Minnesota in the next round, He's 176 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: gonna have a hell of a challenge on his hands 177 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:25,559 Speaker 1: with Anthony Edwards as we all know. But like going 178 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 1: from him to Jamal Murray, even though Jamal Murray has 179 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: done a good job as a team defender. He's kind 180 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: of like a defensive playmaker, is what I look at 181 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: him as. Like. He's not necessarily great at any specific thing, 182 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: but he's got good instincts and he can jump passing 183 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 1: lanes smart help. He does things like that to like 184 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: make plays on defense. Famously, if you guys remember, he 185 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 1: had a big play like that at the end of 186 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:48,319 Speaker 1: Game four last year that actually led to the sweep 187 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: when he tied up Lebron James on that drive, if 188 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 1: you guys remember. But in general, Jamal Murray's not a 189 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:55,679 Speaker 1: fantastic screen navigator. He's not a guy that's going to 190 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: lock up a perimeter player, right. So getting Austin Reeves 191 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: into those ball screens, he's able to get Jamal into 192 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 1: trail position, which gets him going downhill, which actually collapses 193 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 1: the defense, which creates all the openings that can get 194 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: the defense in rotation. I thought that was a big 195 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: part of the early offensive success that the Lakers had, 196 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:13,480 Speaker 1: and like I said, I'd like to see them do 197 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: more of that in Game five. Lebron James full desperation mode. 198 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 1: We all know that Lebron, We've seen this time and 199 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: time again. He did this in a big way in 200 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 1: Game six against the against the Warriors last year, it's 201 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: like back against the wall. I know I can't do 202 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 1: this all the time because I'm too old, but I 203 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 1: can just bully people. And he was constantly attacking mismatches 204 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:40,200 Speaker 1: against the smaller Denver players and taking them down into 205 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 1: the post. And again it was all right at the 206 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:47,719 Speaker 1: rim or short turnaround jumpers, short those mid range jumpers. Again, 207 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: we talked about this a lot, but like mid range 208 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: jumpers inside of twelve thirteen feet tend to be a 209 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: much higher percentage than in that fifteen to eighteen feet area, right, 210 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 1: Lebron did a lot of work in there. He was awesome. 211 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 1: He ended up with thirty points in this game. He's 212 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,959 Speaker 1: really been with exception of the defensive end in Game 213 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 1: two and he didn't had a kind of uneven offensive 214 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 1: game or excuse me, game three, I should say Game 215 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:11,560 Speaker 1: three was a rough one for Lebron, But for the 216 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:14,200 Speaker 1: most part through four games, he's been really, really good, 217 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 1: in the hell of a lot better than he was 218 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 1: last year. So shout out to Lebron delo big bounce 219 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:21,440 Speaker 1: back game. Again, it's not about his ceiling. We know 220 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 1: what dlo ceiling is. It's his floor that has made 221 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 1: him such a frustrating player. To his credit, this is 222 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:31,679 Speaker 1: the eighth big game in a row for the Lakers, right, 223 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 1: the Warriors game, the Timberwolves game, the Pelicans game, the 224 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 1: Pelicans game again, and then four Nuggets games. And he 225 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:42,319 Speaker 1: was really bad against Golden State, really bad against Minnesota, 226 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: really good against the Pelicans, good against the Pelicans again, 227 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:48,080 Speaker 1: and then he's been good in two of the four 228 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: Denver games. Right the rub on de lo Is. It's 229 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:53,680 Speaker 1: a back and forth thing. It's like you're getting feast 230 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 1: or famine with him, and when he's not hitting shots, 231 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: he doesn't do enough else to impact the game. But 232 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: there's no doubt his ceiling is very important, especially to 233 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 1: this particular Lakers team. It's been a big part of 234 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 1: their offensive surge that they've had over the last forty 235 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: six games or so of the season since the beginning 236 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:13,720 Speaker 1: of January, and so shout out to Delo for the 237 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 1: bounce back Again. It's been a frustrating experience rooting for 238 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 1: him over the course of the last couple of playoff runs. 239 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 1: But there's no doubt that the highs are really really 240 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:25,680 Speaker 1: high with Delo, but we got to make our way 241 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:29,959 Speaker 1: to Anthony Davis. I talked before the series. If you 242 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: guys remember that I was really disappointed with Anthony Davis 243 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:38,679 Speaker 1: in the playoff series last year against Jokic. I actually 244 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 1: specifically said in the series preview that I have high 245 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:46,239 Speaker 1: expectations for Anthony Davis in this series. Why because Jokic's 246 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 1: is peer Right, Like, when you're lumping in all these players, 247 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: you look at Lebron, it's like you're ranking him against 248 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:56,839 Speaker 1: like Kevin Durant, Giannison, Tenna Kumpo, Jason Tatum, Kawhi Leonard, right, 249 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 1: Like you're looking at him with that group of guys. 250 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: When you're looking Anthony Davis, you're looking at him with 251 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 1: Nikole Jokicic, joe El Embiid, Right, maybe you Blumpiannis in there, 252 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 1: depending on who you ask, right, But like over the 253 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 1: course of the last few years, Jokichen and Embiid have 254 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:15,079 Speaker 1: kind of won that battle over the course of the 255 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: regular seasons, and a lot of that had to do 256 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 1: with health. But then over the tail end of last year, 257 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 1: Ad won on this crazy defensive run, and I was 258 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: really advocating for him going into that series last year 259 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 1: as an opportunity for him to kind of put his 260 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:33,680 Speaker 1: stamp on everything, and he was pretty good in Game one, 261 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 1: struggled to start the game but scored a bunch of 262 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:40,320 Speaker 1: points in ball screens, and then he was just not 263 00:13:40,559 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 1: very good in the last three games of the series 264 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 1: and got his butt kicked by Nikole Jokic. And specifically 265 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: in Game four last year, I thought he let go 266 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:52,320 Speaker 1: of the rope and quits a hard word to use, 267 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: but I thought he stopped really truly giving the urgent 268 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: and desperate effort. And so I was disappointed because like 269 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 1: rom was on a bad foot and he was getting 270 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 1: outplayed by Jamal Murray and AD was the guy who 271 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 1: kind of like needed to carry the weight, and he struggled. 272 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 1: And so that's why I kind of said coming into 273 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 1: this series that I was really hoping for a dominant 274 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:18,040 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis performance, and he has been incredible. Specifically in 275 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 1: the series preview, I said he needed to close the gap. 276 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 1: Eighty is not better than Nikola Jokic. Nikola Jokic is. 277 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 1: Nikol Jokic is playing at a level that is dominant 278 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: compared to other all time greats. Let alone the rest 279 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: of the league right now. I think there's like a 280 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 1: significant distance between him and the second best player in 281 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: the league. So like you're not asking Ad to be 282 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 1: better than Jokic, but he needed to close the gap 283 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: and he has done that in a really, really significant 284 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 1: way in this series. Really controlled the glass tonight. That 285 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: was the story of the game. The Lakers actually won 286 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 1: the battle, the rebounding battle. I think it was forty 287 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: six to forty, yeah, forty six to forty and rebounds, 288 00:14:57,720 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: and they held up on the offensive glass better. They 289 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: they had eight offensive rebounds they allowed nine to Denver eighty. 290 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 1: Actually finished the game with twenty three rebounds, twenty five points, 291 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 1: twenty three rebounds, and six assists with one turnover. He 292 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 1: has been the steady force for the Lakers in this series. 293 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: He's done a lot of damage in one on one 294 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: to Nikole Jokich. If you remember last year, the eighty 295 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: ISOs and post ups against Jokich were so bad that 296 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 1: the Lakers had to bail on him. I want to say, 297 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: I can't remember the exact numbers, but he missed on 298 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 1: his first like six tries or something like that, and 299 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:32,880 Speaker 1: then the Lakers just bailed on it. They were like, 300 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 1: you can't score on Jokic one on one. We can't 301 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 1: go to that anymore. It's actually been one of the 302 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 1: most effective plays for the Lakers in this series is 303 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: going to Anthony Davis against Jokic on the low block. 304 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: And so I just like, who knows where the Lakers 305 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 1: will go from here after the season. Again, I still 306 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 1: think it's an incredibly small chance that the Lakers somehow 307 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: come back and win the series. Hell, it never has 308 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 1: happened before an NBA history, right, But like, moving forward 309 00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: from this series, like Anthony Davis has answered the call. 310 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 1: He's been unbelievable. You know, I said coming into this 311 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 1: series that Lebron James was playing at the third best 312 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 1: level in the league behind Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic. 313 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 1: Lebron hasn't quite lived up to that in this postseason series. 314 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: Although I think Lebron's been very good, but Anthony Davis 315 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 1: has outplayed him in this series. Anthony Davis has been 316 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: one of the five best playoff players to start this 317 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: playoff run around the NBA, and I just can't I 318 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 1: just can't say enough about how incredible he's been in 319 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 1: this series. He has answered the call. It is not 320 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: his fault that the Lakers are in the position that 321 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: they're in. I want to shout out the Lakers for 322 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 1: weathering that Denver run. Again, that was just inevitably going 323 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 1: to come in the third quarter, and they did. I 324 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 1: think they got it down to seven at one point, 325 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: but they never let it get any closer than that. 326 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: On the defensive end, just more doubling of Jokic. That 327 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: was a big one in this game. A lot of doubling, 328 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 1: really sharp rotations, and Denver's role guys weren't as good. Right. 329 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: Jamal Murray had another poor shooting night. The Lakers have 330 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 1: done a really good job on Jamal Murray in this series, 331 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 1: but they just in general did a better job defensively 332 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:07,680 Speaker 1: all over the floor. And and again you can that's 333 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 1: something you can kind of count on, like on the 334 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: road role players that that is an advantage that typically 335 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 1: tilts towards the home. Uh the home, the role players 336 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,119 Speaker 1: will typically play better when they're at home. And so 337 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 1: that didn't quite happen in Game three, happened in a 338 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 1: big way in Game four, and then again controlling the glass. 339 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:28,400 Speaker 1: Before we move on from this game, I did want 340 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 1: to just showed out. Shout out Nicole Jokic because you know, 341 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:34,399 Speaker 1: he has this thing. It kind of reminds me of 342 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 1: Lebron when he was in his prime, where like he's 343 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 1: basically incapable of playing a bad game. Like I can't 344 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 1: even remember which game it was, but Jokic had a 345 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 1: bad game. Was it the Sun's game? I can't remember 346 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 1: where it was, but it's in the last third of 347 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 1: the regular season where he had a bad game. And 348 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 1: I remember coming on the show and being like, hey, 349 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:55,400 Speaker 1: this is weird, you know, like Jokic had a bad game, 350 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 1: you know, and I remember that was what it was 351 00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:00,080 Speaker 1: like with Lebron, where like I remember it was in 352 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 1: the twenty seventeen playoffs in the Eastern Conference Finals. Lebron 353 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 1: had like literally hen consecutive dominant games and then he 354 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 1: had a really bad game at home against the Celtics. 355 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:15,880 Speaker 1: It was the one where Avery Bradley hit the game 356 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: winner coming around that curl and like shot that shot 357 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 1: off the front of the rim that went in, and 358 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: then he and Lebron was bad and it was just 359 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 1: so bizarre that Lebron was bad. And then he came 360 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: back in game five and like utterly dominated the Celtics 361 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: as they as they moved on in went to the 362 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:31,199 Speaker 1: NBA Finals, right, And like that's what it kind of 363 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 1: reminds me of with Jokic, but even within like the 364 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:37,919 Speaker 1: normal scale, right, Like, Jokics didn't dominate the game this 365 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 1: game the way that he is capable of, right, And 366 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 1: he had thirty three points, fourteen rebounds in fourteen assists. 367 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 1: That's preposterous, man, that that's insane. Thirty three, fourteen and fourteen. 368 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: And it was like an ify game for him compared 369 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: to where his ceiling is typically at. And again, I 370 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:58,119 Speaker 1: just can't say enough about Like again, we are we 371 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 1: are witnessing an all time I'm great in his upward trajectory, 372 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 1: and I just I hope you don't take it for granted, 373 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 1: because like, again, these things end quicker than you think. 374 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:09,160 Speaker 1: Not everybody stays in the league as long as Lebron, did, 375 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:10,919 Speaker 1: you know what I mean? And like we're in the 376 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 1: middle of something really special here from Nicole jokicch And 377 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 1: I'm enjoying every minute of it as a basketball fan. Again, 378 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 1: I expect Denver to go home and win convincingly in 379 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:21,880 Speaker 1: Game five. I believe they'll win by double figures. But again, 380 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 1: if you're if you're the Lakers, this is what you're 381 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 1: telling yourself in the locker room. Hey, guys, we have 382 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:30,879 Speaker 1: been in the lead for the vast majority of this series. 383 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:33,400 Speaker 1: They were shown the stat on the score on the 384 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: broadcast tonight, But I think the Lakers have led the 385 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 1: Nuggets twice as often in the series as the Nuggets 386 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 1: have led the Lakers. Doesn't mean the Nuggets are or 387 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:43,240 Speaker 1: the Lakers are better than the Nuggets. The Nuggets have 388 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 1: clearly demonstrated that, But the Lakers have played a lot 389 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 1: of good basketball in this series. Right, So, if you're 390 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:50,440 Speaker 1: a Lakers fan, if you're in that Lakers locker room, 391 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 1: what you're telling yourself is we have demonstrated that we 392 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 1: can beat these guys. We feel like we should have 393 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: one game too. Denver just got crazy hot at the 394 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: and beat us, right, and like you know, maybe Darvin 395 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 1: Ham makes us a smart challenge call on the Jamal 396 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: Murray bump, and maybe we get out of there with 397 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:09,959 Speaker 1: the win. We've played well enough to beat them twice 398 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:12,679 Speaker 1: in the four times we've played. All we gotta do 399 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 1: is go into Denver and beat them once. It is 400 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 1: a just think of it one game at a time. 401 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:21,359 Speaker 1: You beat Denver in game five, then you come home, 402 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: and that's the buzzsaw game, right that's the game where 403 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 1: it's like, now it's three to two, we have all 404 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: the momentum, we're at home, let's run these dudes out 405 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:32,919 Speaker 1: of the gym. Then game seven, anything can happen. If 406 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 1: you win, you move on, and you don't have to 407 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:37,199 Speaker 1: look any further than Lebron James. He's literally done that 408 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 1: before right now. Obviously he was a much better. That 409 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: was the best three game stretch he's ever played in 410 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 1: his career, obviously, So like it's a lot to ask 411 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:48,240 Speaker 1: for an age thirty nine Lebron, But like, again, there 412 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: are things to target for optimism if you're a Lakers fan. 413 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 1: I just personally think that that Denver is not quite 414 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 1: pushed the pedal to the metal all the way yet 415 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: in this series. I think they will on Monday, and 416 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:00,840 Speaker 1: I think it's gonna be jarring. I have a feeling 417 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:03,680 Speaker 1: we're gonna be coming on this broadcast after that game 418 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:07,200 Speaker 1: going like, holy shit, the Nuggets went to their ceiling. 419 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:10,920 Speaker 1: That was scary. These dudes are gonna repeat like that. 420 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 1: That's kind of the way I feel like Monday Night's 421 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:14,679 Speaker 1: gonna go all right. Moving on, I wanted to hit 422 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 1: Oklahoma City, New or New Orleans again. I didn't have 423 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:20,439 Speaker 1: time today just because of what happened last night. I 424 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: just I had to hit the other three games this 425 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:23,960 Speaker 1: morning and it just kind of got away from me 426 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,640 Speaker 1: in terms of time. So I wanted to hit Oklahoma City, 427 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: New Orleans because we did hit game two of Miami Boston, 428 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 1: and we did hit Game three of Orlando of Orlando Cleveland, 429 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:37,920 Speaker 1: but we had not yet hit Oklahoma City New Orleans 430 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 1: since Game one. We only hit Game Onen. We didn't 431 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:41,400 Speaker 1: hit Game two, so I wanted to get back to them. 432 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 1: And they go three. Oh, they blow out the Pelicans 433 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:47,720 Speaker 1: in New Orleans today. This was a big test. I 434 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: thought the Pels were gonna give them some issues. If 435 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:51,879 Speaker 1: you guys remember in the series preview, I thought they 436 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:55,399 Speaker 1: had some matchup advantages that kind of played into their strengths. 437 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: And like they did in game one, Game one, they 438 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:02,479 Speaker 1: hung around, gave a good fight. But like the thunder 439 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:05,479 Speaker 1: have dominated this series since then, and they have passed 440 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 1: that test with flying colors. And Algoma City's defense has 441 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:11,639 Speaker 1: been the story of that first round matchup. They have 442 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:14,439 Speaker 1: a ninety four point seven defensive rating, which is the 443 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: best among playoff teams so far in the first round. Again, 444 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 1: that means they allow ninety four point seven points per 445 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: one hundred possessions. They're defending the three point line really well. 446 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:24,680 Speaker 1: They're allowing just nine point four to three pointers made 447 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 1: per game from New Orleans. Although New Orleans takes a 448 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 1: lot of mid range jump shots, so that's part of 449 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 1: it from process standpoint. But they're doing a good job 450 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:33,119 Speaker 1: getting physical up on the ball and taking away easy threes. 451 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 1: They're allowing just twenty eight percent from three from New Orleans. 452 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:40,639 Speaker 1: Big one on the perimeter here is just like, and 453 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:43,640 Speaker 1: this is what's so exciting about the future of the 454 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 1: of the Thunder. You know, we talk about Minnesota a lot. 455 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:50,119 Speaker 1: Minnesota one of the big reasons why I like their 456 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:52,719 Speaker 1: their roster construct. And I've been talking about this for 457 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 1: years with Minnesota, but it's like, it's it's Jaden, it's Rudy, 458 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:00,560 Speaker 1: and it's what I call a bracket. The reason why 459 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:02,880 Speaker 1: I refer to it as a bracket is like, in 460 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:06,840 Speaker 1: individual defense situations, you got a guy that's pressuring the 461 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 1: ball and then you have this guy that's waiting on 462 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:12,399 Speaker 1: the back line, right, So if he gets over a 463 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:15,160 Speaker 1: ball screen and my my on ball defender is in 464 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:19,359 Speaker 1: pursuit from behind, he's back pressuring while chet's waiting on 465 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:22,640 Speaker 1: the other end. And there is a certain that bracket 466 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: gets spread out when it's a lesser perimeter defender and 467 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:29,359 Speaker 1: a lesser rim protector, right, And there's just so much 468 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 1: more that can be done in that space in between. 469 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:34,960 Speaker 1: Not to mention, the lack of rim protection entirely can 470 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 1: allow a guy to get to the rim consistently. But 471 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 1: when you have a legitimate rim protector with length that 472 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 1: not only can protect the rim but can also bother 473 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 1: shots and floater in mid range, and you've got a 474 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 1: real long defender that can pressure from behind and disrupt 475 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:53,879 Speaker 1: the base, that's that where that bracket can get terrifying defensively, 476 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:56,359 Speaker 1: and that's what makes you know the Jade McDaniel's Anthony 477 00:23:56,359 --> 00:24:00,320 Speaker 1: Everage Rudy Go Bear trio so devastating right Well, Cloma 478 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:01,840 Speaker 1: City kind of has their own version of that. Now 479 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 1: it's a little different. It's less based on length because 480 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 1: Jade McDaniels is more of a length based defender. Lou 481 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: Dort is more of like a fire hydrant, low center 482 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 1: of gravity, beats you to spots, disrupt your base, make 483 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 1: you shoot over the top kind of guy. Right, and 484 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:22,200 Speaker 1: he's done just an unbelievable job on brandon Ingram, physical 485 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:24,960 Speaker 1: ball pressure, chasing him over the top of screens, beating 486 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 1: him literally beating him over the top of screens and 487 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 1: cutting him off, disrupting that base again. When you're going 488 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:33,120 Speaker 1: up against a pull up shooter, think of it like this. 489 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:35,399 Speaker 1: If I'm CJ mccollin around brandon Ingram and I'm in 490 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:39,719 Speaker 1: the summertime, right, You're going through dribble combinations and footwork, 491 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 1: and you're use you're kind of building a muscle memory 492 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:46,200 Speaker 1: based on a certain level of freedom of movement, right, 493 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:48,800 Speaker 1: and then you get when you get a really good 494 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:52,639 Speaker 1: on ball defender who stays physically attached and messes with 495 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:56,160 Speaker 1: all of the movement while you're getting to your spot 496 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 1: and disrupts the base. Suddenly the muscle memory at the 497 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: end of that shot doesn't look the saint as it 498 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,199 Speaker 1: does when you're in your shooting drills, right, And like 499 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:07,040 Speaker 1: with dort On brandon Ingram and Jalen Williams on CJ. McCollum, 500 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 1: and then the guy guy's coming off the bench too, 501 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 1: like Hassan Wallace and and UH and Aaron Wiggins have 502 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:13,400 Speaker 1: both done a really good job. They just have disrupted 503 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 1: the perimeter players that initiate everything for New Orleans and 504 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: now the one thing for New Orleans obviously without Zion 505 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 1: being in the game, it just changes everything, right, Like 506 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:27,399 Speaker 1: if Zion's in, Dort's probably guarding him, that moves Jalen 507 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:32,160 Speaker 1: Williams over to UH to that moves Jalen Williams over 508 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: to brandon Ingram, which is probably gonna put Shay on CJ, 509 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 1: which is like a better matchup, right, And so like 510 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:40,960 Speaker 1: obviously Pelicans fans, I'm aware Zion being out is a 511 00:25:41,119 --> 00:25:44,040 Speaker 1: is a significant you know factor here. But within the 512 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: context of this perimeter battle that we're seeing in this series, 513 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:50,439 Speaker 1: the Pelicans, the Pelicans are just getting their askied and 514 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 1: and that that's a credit to those thunder perimeter defenders. 515 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: But again, the other side of that bracket is chat. 516 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:58,119 Speaker 1: He had four blocks today. He got Trey Murphy driving 517 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: closeouts twice when he tried to dunk on and like 518 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 1: cleanly blocked him on dunks twice. The first one like 519 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 1: Tray brought it back like this while he was flying 520 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 1: down the lane. I honestly, God don't know how Check 521 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 1: got to it without fouling him. It was an incredible 522 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 1: defensive play. He got both CJ Andbi in ball screens. 523 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:16,720 Speaker 1: And again that's that bracket on the CJ one. It's 524 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:19,239 Speaker 1: like he finally he snakes the ball screen. It kind 525 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 1: of gets over and gets over to his left hand 526 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:23,960 Speaker 1: side and he just doesn't even see Check coming and 527 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 1: Chat just spikes it into the ground like a volleyball player, 528 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:29,359 Speaker 1: right Like It's just it's another it's another layer of 529 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 1: that defense that makes it difficult. They are forcing nineteen 530 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:36,200 Speaker 1: turnovers per game in this series. That's the most among 531 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:38,639 Speaker 1: playoff teams. Remember they led that category in the regular 532 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:41,280 Speaker 1: season as well. They're going twenty one points per game 533 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 1: off of turnovers as well. And then on the offensive 534 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:46,240 Speaker 1: end of the floor, like Shay, again, this is a 535 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:48,639 Speaker 1: lesser opponent, and we're gonna get into that minute, but 536 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:51,399 Speaker 1: Shay has had no slowdown from the regular season twenty 537 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:53,960 Speaker 1: eight points, five rebounds, and six assists per game on 538 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,800 Speaker 1: fifty nine percent true shooting. So just a tiny dip 539 00:26:56,800 --> 00:26:59,920 Speaker 1: in volume inefficiency which again the Pelicans have really good 540 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:02,399 Speaker 1: piminter defenders. Give some credit to Herb Jones, right, and 541 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:05,200 Speaker 1: then Jaln Williams. His playoff debut has been awesome. Twenty 542 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:07,880 Speaker 1: point seven rebounds and five assists per game, fifty three 543 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 1: percent from the field and forty two percent from three. 544 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:13,239 Speaker 1: I am full. I'm I've said this before, like, I 545 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:15,000 Speaker 1: think Jalen's so damn good. I think he could be 546 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,159 Speaker 1: better than SGA one day. I've said this on the 547 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:19,080 Speaker 1: show before, but I look at him as like the 548 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 1: best combination of playmaking, downhill force and pull up shooting 549 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 1: that I've seen from a wing player in a very 550 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 1: very long time. And I am not the least bit 551 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:31,600 Speaker 1: surprised that he is just completely kicking ass in the playoffs. 552 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:33,720 Speaker 1: There was a stretch in the second quarter today where 553 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:36,439 Speaker 1: the Pelicans put Jose Alvarado on him and he just 554 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:38,960 Speaker 1: immediately bullied him twice, once on the post and once 555 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 1: on the low post, once on the high post, and 556 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:43,080 Speaker 1: they just immediately had to pull him off and put 557 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 1: Naji Marshall on him. He hit a couple of these 558 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 1: like crazy, like hanging double pump shots in the second quarter, 559 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 1: which just are indicator of just how insane of an 560 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:56,520 Speaker 1: athlete he is. And then Josh Gitty, Like Josh Kitty 561 00:27:56,560 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: had a really rough Game one, and obviously all these 562 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:00,639 Speaker 1: teams around the league are gonna be leaving him open 563 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:03,879 Speaker 1: just to give him a better chance of containing elsewhere. 564 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:07,440 Speaker 1: And he's been great since struggling in Game one. He's 565 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 1: been hitting his spot up threes more frequently, had a 566 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:12,679 Speaker 1: couple of nice transition pushes today. He had this one 567 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:14,399 Speaker 1: against CJ McCollum in the first half where he did 568 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:16,960 Speaker 1: this like nice behind the back dribble into a eurostep floater. 569 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:20,639 Speaker 1: Hit twenty one points today. I actually we do a 570 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:23,200 Speaker 1: here at the volume. We do like a little playoff 571 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:25,720 Speaker 1: points league, and Josh Gitty was one of the players. 572 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:28,399 Speaker 1: I picked one because I thought the Thunder would win 573 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:30,960 Speaker 1: at least the first round. And then also, like Josh 574 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 1: Gitty is just a guy that's gonna get opportunities, and 575 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:35,719 Speaker 1: he capitalized on those in a big way today. So 576 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 1: I was a little concerned about that pick in Game one. 577 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:39,760 Speaker 1: But Josh has been making me look good over the 578 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:41,920 Speaker 1: last couple of games, but now kind of zooming out 579 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 1: a little bit. This is by far the easiest matchup 580 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:46,720 Speaker 1: in the West that goes without saying, right like, they're 581 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:48,760 Speaker 1: playing the eight seed without their best player. I was 582 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:50,760 Speaker 1: thinking about this earlier too. They're the only team in 583 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:53,960 Speaker 1: the West playoffs without a top ten player. Like Oklahoma 584 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:56,840 Speaker 1: City as Shay clearly a top ten player, Denver Jokic 585 00:28:56,960 --> 00:29:00,920 Speaker 1: clearly a top ten player. Minnesota Anthony Edwards, I think 586 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 1: he might be a top ten player. Now we might 587 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 1: just have like I's certainly playing at that level. I mean, 588 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:07,920 Speaker 1: whether he can sustain, we'll see, but he's playing at 589 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:11,200 Speaker 1: that level. The Clippers Kawhi Leonard when he's healthy, obviously 590 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 1: top ten player. He's out, so I guess, or he's 591 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:15,480 Speaker 1: obviously unhealthy, so I guess you can kind of factor 592 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:17,440 Speaker 1: that in. But the Mavericks have Luca that's a top 593 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:19,160 Speaker 1: ten player, the sons of Kevin Durant that's a top 594 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 1: ten player. The Lakers of Lebron and Anthony Davis. I 595 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 1: think both of them are top ten players. So like, no, 596 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:25,880 Speaker 1: there's just so much talent in the league. We might 597 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:27,320 Speaker 1: have to zoom out and actually make a list and 598 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:29,480 Speaker 1: see who might get cut from that list. But the 599 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:32,040 Speaker 1: point is is, like when you're talking about stars like 600 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:33,959 Speaker 1: the Pelicans are the one team that just doesn't have 601 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:37,960 Speaker 1: that level of firepower, right, so obviously you have to 602 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:40,880 Speaker 1: beat who's in front of you. You earned this matchup 603 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:43,160 Speaker 1: by getting the number one overall, the number one seed 604 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:45,400 Speaker 1: in the Western Conference, So credit the Thunder for getting 605 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 1: that done right. But I am excited to see round two, 606 00:29:48,560 --> 00:29:51,000 Speaker 1: and I think they've passed the first round test with 607 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:54,000 Speaker 1: flying colors. Round two, whether it's Clippers or MAVs, that's 608 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:56,560 Speaker 1: going to be a really really interesting and exciting series 609 00:29:56,760 --> 00:30:00,280 Speaker 1: running into some real firepower, running into some real like 610 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 1: multiple high level shot creators that are every shot creator 611 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:05,960 Speaker 1: on both of those teams better than CJ and Brandon. 612 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:08,600 Speaker 1: So it's just gonna be an entirely different level that 613 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 1: they're gonna be going up against, and then much better 614 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 1: frontlines that they're gonna have to deal with. Zubach is 615 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:17,280 Speaker 1: just a really, really a much higher level center than 616 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:20,560 Speaker 1: a Jonas Valanciunas, even just even if you look at 617 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:22,600 Speaker 1: some of these small ball front lines that Dallas can 618 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:24,720 Speaker 1: throw out there, Daniel Gafford even bring some size to 619 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:26,480 Speaker 1: the table. So it's gonna be a big challenge for 620 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: them in round two. But they've played really well in 621 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:30,320 Speaker 1: the first round and again at the Defense event is 622 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:32,920 Speaker 1: where I've been most impressed by them. All right, guys, 623 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:35,000 Speaker 1: that is all I have for tonight. As always, as 624 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:37,480 Speaker 1: sincerely appreciate you guys for supporting the show. A quick 625 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:40,360 Speaker 1: breakdown for tomorrow. The plan as of right now is 626 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 1: we're going after Clippers MAVs and that's just gonna be 627 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:48,080 Speaker 1: uploaded to YouTube that won't be live. And then Monday 628 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:49,880 Speaker 1: morning we have the nerd SESSH guys coming on the 629 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:52,200 Speaker 1: show and we're gonna bounce around the entire first round 630 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 1: and go through and hear what Carson and Logan have 631 00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 1: to say about everything. Again, I appreciate you guys for 632 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:24,200 Speaker 1: rocking with me. I will see you tomorrow. The volume