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See dkang dot com slash promos for 31 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: deposit wagering and eligibility restrictions, terms and responsible gambling resources. 32 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 2: All right, welcome to Hoops and out here at the volume. 33 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 1: Happy Monday, everybody. Hope all of you guys had an 34 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: incredible weekend. We've got a fun show for you today. 35 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: We're gonna lead off with a game breakdown of MAVs 36 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: Pacers from last night. The Pacers have won six of 37 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 1: their last eight, showing them some encouraging signs on both 38 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: ends of the floor. And then the Mavericks had their 39 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: first test on the road in this four game road 40 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: trip that they have of their defense and it did 41 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: not hold up super well. So we're gonna be breaking 42 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 1: that game down from the perspective of both teams. After that, 43 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,359 Speaker 1: as we always do, on Monday, we'll have our power rankings, 44 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: and then after that, I've got about that looks like 45 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 1: about ten mailbag questions for us to hit. Get some 46 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:38,799 Speaker 1: good content out there before I head out of town tomorrow, 47 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 1: before we come back on Wednesday, you guys know the Joe. 48 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:42,919 Speaker 1: Before we get started, subscribe to our brand new YouTube channel. 49 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 1: Don't forget about our podcast feed wherever you get your 50 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:49,519 Speaker 1: podcasts under Hoops tonight. It's also really helpful if you 51 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: leave a rating and a review on that front. Don't 52 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: forget about my Twitter feed out underscore json lt. I 53 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 1: threaded some clips of MAVs Pacers there today. I also 54 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 1: will put show announcements there and then, last but not least, 55 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: keep drop mail back questions and those YouTube comments. 56 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 2: We're gonna hitting some later on this week. All right, 57 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:04,919 Speaker 2: let's talk some basketball. 58 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: So the Pacers are a real test for the Dallas 59 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: Mavericks defense. Remember the Dallas Mavericks had won seven in 60 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 1: a row going into that Pacers game, and they had 61 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,919 Speaker 1: been the very best defense in the league over that span. Well, 62 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 1: the Indiana Pacers have the second best offense in the league, 63 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: and they're particularly potent at home. They have a one 64 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 1: twenty three offensive rating at home this season that is 65 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: just completely off the charts good. And so here we 66 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: have an example of what's it an unstoppable force versus 67 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: immovable object, and the Pacers just completely lit them up. 68 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: They had a one to twenty seven offensive rating in 69 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: the game. Early in the game, the issue I thought 70 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: was overhelping, specifically with Derek Lively. Pascal Siakam was being 71 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 1: really aggressive physically, especially in like semi transition. Whenever he 72 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: saw a little bit of a space alongside him on 73 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: the perimeter to try to hit the gap on PJ. Washington, 74 00:03:57,640 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 1: he would just like hit him with the hard in 75 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: and out dribble and try to get downhill to his 76 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: right hand, or he'd attack him in the post. And 77 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 1: in those situations, Derek Lively's in a spot there where 78 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: Miles Turner. You know, most of the time in these situations, 79 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: Miles Turner was sitting in the dunker spottle, though there 80 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 1: was a couple of them where he was on the 81 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 1: three point line too. But Derek Lively's in a position 82 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 1: there he's got to make a decision. His decision that 83 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: he has to make is am I going to help? 84 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: Or am I going to stay home? And that decision 85 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: is one of the most important decisions for rim protectors 86 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: and defensive anchors to make, because here's the problem. When 87 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 1: you look at shots that an offensive player is taking 88 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: in a matchup, it kind of depends on what the 89 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: defense is doing the individual defender on the ball as 90 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 1: to whether or not it's a high percentage shot or not. So, 91 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 1: for instance, if PJ Washington gets absolutely dusted off the dribble, 92 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: then you have to help because if you don't help, 93 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,159 Speaker 1: it's a layup, which is a one hundred percent shot, 94 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: and yeah, you're gonna be leaving Miles Turner. But maybe 95 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 1: if you get lucky, you know PJ can get back 96 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: into the play and rebound, or someone else on the 97 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: team can rotate and you know, clean up the miss. 98 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: If you're lucky, bet option there is to take the 99 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: shot away. But let's say PJ Washington is sliding with 100 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: Pascal Siakam and he's kind of chesting him up and 101 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 1: he's forcing him into like a tougher scoop shot over 102 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 1: the top, which maybe in this case a really well 103 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 1: defended possession, maybe it's only gonna go in half the time. Well, 104 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:17,799 Speaker 1: at that point, it's your job, as the rim protector 105 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: defensive anchor to make the decision that actually it's more 106 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 1: important for me to keep Miles Turner off the glass here, 107 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:26,719 Speaker 1: because if I sell out to try to block the shot, 108 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,359 Speaker 1: I might drop the percentage chance of him making it 109 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: from fifty to something. 110 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 2: Slightly below that. 111 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,839 Speaker 1: But if the shot gets over the top and misses 112 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: anywhere around the basket, Miles Turner's just gonna. 113 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 2: Grab it and put it back in. 114 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 1: And Miles Turner made him pay several times in the 115 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: early stretch of the game just for overhelping. There was 116 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: a player where Pascal's driving along the right side, Pj's 117 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: right there with him, Derek like damn near zones up, 118 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 1: goes like all the way outside the right block, and 119 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: Pascal just hits Miles Turner with a little bounce pass 120 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: right there in front of the rim. Miles Turner goes 121 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 1: up and finishes with a with an and one. There 122 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: was another one where he just jumped out of his shoes, 123 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,919 Speaker 1: even though PJ. Washington was right there on Siakam and 124 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 1: forced him into a really difficult scoop shot that he missed. 125 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: But as a result, Miles Turner was able to just 126 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: go up and get the offensive rebound. And then there 127 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 1: was another one where I thought that PJ. Washington was 128 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 1: completely in position and he hard helped, and you know, 129 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 1: it was more of a three point look for Miles 130 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: Turner because he was in the corner, and some of 131 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: that is schematic, And I could tell just by watching 132 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:29,600 Speaker 1: the MAVs throughout the rest of the game, you could 133 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,359 Speaker 1: tell Jason Kidd kind of had them under the impression 134 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 1: that specific guys like Miles Turner they were kind of just. 135 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 2: Gonna let him shoot. 136 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 1: Pascal Siakam, they were kind of just gonna let him 137 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,160 Speaker 1: shoot when they caught on the perimeter. So that one 138 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:43,279 Speaker 1: I thought was more scheme related. But Miles Turner was 139 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 1: really active early in the game, punishing Derek Lively for overhelping. 140 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 1: And then in the second quarter, Tyrese Halliburton just completely 141 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:52,919 Speaker 1: took over the game in pick and roll and was 142 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: just picking the Mavericks part hit a. This was a 143 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: stretch where Daniel Gafford was on the floor, which we'll 144 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,600 Speaker 1: get into in a minute, but Daniel Gafford was running 145 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 1: like a really like it was like a really weak 146 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 1: drop coverage where he wasn't exactly bothering the ball handler 147 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: or bothering the roll man. Will get a little bit 148 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 1: further into that in a second, but started with the 149 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: pocket pass to Miles Turner right up to the basket 150 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 1: for an and one on the left side of the rim. 151 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: After that it was a pick and pop to the 152 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: top of the key, knocks down a three, and then 153 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 1: the very next possession in this case, obviously Jason kidds 154 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 1: asking for more help on the back line. Tim Hardaway 155 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: Junior basically abandons Andrew Nemhart in the left corner to essentially, 156 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 1: I'm assuming help tag the roller, although I didn't think 157 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 1: he did a particularly good job of it. And Tyres Haliburton, 158 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: because he's literally the guy in the league, one of 159 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: the four or five guys in the league that just 160 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 1: makes perfect reads, damn here every single time down the floor, 161 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: hits Andrew Nemhard in the corner, knocks down a three. 162 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: That run was what kind of built the gap because 163 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: it was very back and forth there in that first half, 164 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 1: because specifically Luca was like red hot to start the game. 165 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: He picked up the Ben Matherin matchup from the opening 166 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 1: tip and just was isoing him every sing a single 167 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 1: time down the floor. I think he scored on him 168 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: four of the first five sessions of the game, So 169 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: that kind of kept the game close. But that little 170 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 1: pick and roll run from Tyris Halliburton there in the 171 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 1: second quarter built that like initial little gap in on 172 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 1: the scoreboard. They end up going into the half up 173 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 1: by seven, and then in the third quarter kind of 174 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: back and forth. The game hovers in that seven to 175 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: eleven point range. But in their fourth quarter, Kyrie Irving 176 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: gets Doug McDermott on a switch hits him with a 177 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: nasty step back jump shot to cut the lead to four, 178 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, we have ourselves a basketball game. 179 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: And then Ben Sheppard and Obi Toppin hit back to 180 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,319 Speaker 1: back massive threes. Ben Sheppard off of a coming out 181 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 1: of the right corner, just a little kind of wide 182 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:44,839 Speaker 1: pin down where he comes up to the wing and 183 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,200 Speaker 1: catches and shoots a three, and then Obi Topen actually 184 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 1: hit one turning over his left shoulder above the break 185 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 1: a pretty high difficulty catch and shoot shot from Obi topping, 186 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 1: but both of those guys hit timely shots all night, 187 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 1: and those two particular threes pushed the double to push 188 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,559 Speaker 1: the lead back up to double digits. To shout out 189 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 1: Ben Shepard for a second, because I thought he had 190 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:05,680 Speaker 1: two really important two way sequences in this game. In 191 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: the first half, there was a sequence where he hit 192 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 1: a three on the right wing, and then on the 193 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: very next possession, as Kyrie's pushing the ball at the floor, 194 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: in transition, he offers smart help as Kyrie's kind of 195 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 1: got his head down engaged on the on ball defender, 196 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: and he ends up picking Kyrie clean, which leads to 197 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 1: a dunk on the other end of the floor. So 198 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 1: like a little five to zero run basically by himself, 199 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 1: which was a big stretch in that game. I think 200 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: it was tied when he did that too, and it 201 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 1: pushed it up to put them up five, if I 202 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 1: remember correctly. And then in the second half we talked 203 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: about that huge three coming off the wide pin down. 204 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 1: On the very next possession, he had Kyrie in an iso. 205 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 1: Kyrie was sizing him up and he Kyrie opted for 206 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: the jab step jump shot and Ben's got some long arms, 207 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: got a very good contest and forced Kyrie into a wedgie, 208 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:48,959 Speaker 1: like the ball stuck into the side of the rim, 209 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 1: so an ugly miss, which you don't typically see from 210 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:54,319 Speaker 1: Kyrie irving all that offen. So credit to Ben Shepard 211 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,319 Speaker 1: some really good two way sequences in this particular game. 212 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: And so at that point, Tyrius Aliberton checks back into 213 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 1: the game and he just closes the deal, picking the 214 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 1: Mavericks apart in pick and roll again just like he 215 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 1: did in the second quarter. In this stretch, he was 216 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: really picking on Maxi Kliba and again remember Dallas, Like 217 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:14,559 Speaker 1: they run to drop with Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively, 218 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: but with Maxie they do a lot more switching depending on, 219 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:20,439 Speaker 1: you know, how successful the screen was, and Maxi just 220 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,080 Speaker 1: could not handle Tyres Aliburton on the switch. He got 221 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:24,719 Speaker 1: beat to a step back three going to the right, 222 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:26,439 Speaker 1: he got beat to the basket for a scoop shot. 223 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 1: Next thing you know, you look up to the scoreboard 224 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: and the Pacers are up by twenty and the game 225 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: is over. So really really impressive win for the Pacers 226 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: to get their sixth win and eight tries. A couple 227 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 1: of other elements on the Pacers offense that I wanted 228 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:40,439 Speaker 1: to hit on. They ran the floor super well in transition, 229 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:43,200 Speaker 1: something they've done well all season long. Their bigs were 230 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 1: in the middle of the floor, but they always have 231 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 1: corner shooters. 232 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 2: Running their lanes on the wing. 233 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: And then their guards just do a really good job 234 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: of every single time they see somebody up the floor, 235 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 1: they make the kick ahead pass. And there's real value 236 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: in that for two reasons. One, you know, if you 237 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 1: kick the ball up the floor in the guy's open, 238 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:00,719 Speaker 1: he can shoot it. Ben Sheppard actually his third three 239 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: second three of the game, but the one of the 240 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 1: three threes he hit we talked about the other two 241 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 1: was on the left winning in transition. Just you watch him, 242 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:10,560 Speaker 1: he's they get the defensive rebound, he's just sprinting up 243 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 1: the floor like head down and then he turns around 244 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: of the ball just in his hands, and then he's 245 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 1: already got a speed set all game long. And I've 246 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 1: noticed this with Ben, just out really good footwork moving 247 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 1: off the move at getting straight up and down nice 248 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 1: and balanced. But they just run the floor and transition 249 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 1: super super well. And then again I talked about the 250 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 1: other advantage of kick ahead passes. Let's say that Ben 251 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 1: Shepherd doesn't have a shot there because the Mavericks defensive 252 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: transition defense rotates out to him. In that situation, all 253 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 1: Dallas defenders are suddenly looking up the floor to the 254 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 1: corner where Ben. 255 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 2: Shephard is right. 256 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 1: So even if they rotate, now all of the trailing 257 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 1: offensive players have the advantage of the ball being in 258 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 1: a situation where their defender is going to be looking 259 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 1: away from them, and that creates opportunities for trailers to 260 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: get open. Maybe the maybe you're a trailing shooter and 261 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: your defender is looking up the floor at Ben, you 262 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: might be able to change your angle a little bit 263 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 1: and find a little soft spot for three or maybe 264 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: a catch a guy not looking with the screen. That's 265 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:13,440 Speaker 1: where that's where you can find a lot of opportunities 266 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:15,960 Speaker 1: in transition and in semi transition. But in order to 267 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: do that, you have to make the kick ahead pass. Now, 268 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 1: the reverse of that is guys are running their lanes 269 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:23,080 Speaker 1: and the on ball guy just brings the ball up 270 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 1: the floor off the dribble. Now the defense can essentially 271 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:28,679 Speaker 1: backpedal and transition and everything is in front of them. 272 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: So that kind of gives you an idea of the 273 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: difference between or just an idea of the value of 274 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 1: making those kick ahead passes. The other big thing that 275 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: sit out to me two other things Pascal Siakam's rim pressure. 276 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:41,359 Speaker 2: It's really really. 277 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: It's another way to get the defense in transition. But 278 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 1: I really like it because it brings a physical imposition 279 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: to the game. 280 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:50,280 Speaker 2: It's something that they. 281 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 1: Didn't really have before that trade, and it's something I 282 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: think that translates really well to the playoffs. That's why 283 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,200 Speaker 1: I put in my notes brute force Like brute force 284 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: offense is like an important thing to have in your 285 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: bag when you get to the postseason. And there were 286 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 1: a lot of possessions where they got great shots, not 287 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: by running some sort of action, not by using Tyres 288 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 1: Halliburton's offensive genius, but just by Pascal Siakam being bigger 289 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 1: and faster than the guy guarding him and able to 290 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 1: just kind of get downhill into the lane, make the 291 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:17,679 Speaker 1: defense collapse and make good things happen from there. And 292 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 1: then lastly, a lot of really smart actions from Rick 293 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:23,479 Speaker 1: Carlisle that they were running to take advantage of specific 294 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: issues in Dallas's defense. One thing that I noticed a 295 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: lot in the first half is they were screening Luca 296 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:31,840 Speaker 1: and then using Luca's man it was Ben Mathern in 297 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: this case, to then set the ball screen. So a 298 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 1: very common basketball action that we see is what's called 299 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 1: a ram screen, which is basically where you screen the 300 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: screener to go set a ball screen. And usually it 301 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 1: involves big men. And the main reason why is big 302 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: guys struggle to navigate screens right. And the reason why 303 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 1: you do that is if you can create a separation 304 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 1: between the big man and the big man's defender, it 305 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: makes it easier for you to get an advantage in 306 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: the ball screen. Imagine I'm the big guy who's on 307 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 1: defense and there's the big guy that's on on offense 308 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:06,559 Speaker 1: next to me. He runs up to go set a 309 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: ball screen, and it's Tyre's Halliburton. So you have to 310 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 1: be up at the level because he's such a good 311 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 1: pull up shooter. I'm just gonna run right up there 312 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:15,800 Speaker 1: behind him, right and whatever my coverage is, whether it's 313 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: a hedge and recover, whether it's a high drop, whether 314 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 1: it's a blitz, whatever it is, I'm just gonna run 315 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 1: up and go get into my spot right then I'm 316 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 1: gonna communicate call out the angle of the screen, and 317 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: it'll give us a better chance to defend the action. 318 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 2: Right. 319 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 1: But let's say someone screens down on me. As the 320 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: guy is running up to go set the screen. I 321 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 1: know have to navigate a screen to get to my 322 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 1: spot in the pig and roll coverage, and so a 323 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: lot of times you can find openings there by creating 324 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: a gap between the screen defender and the screener, and 325 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: then that guy can set a ball screen. Now, when 326 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 1: Tyre's Haliburton comes off the screen, he's coming off into 327 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 1: open space instead of coming off into where that you 328 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 1: help defender is supposed to be. 329 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 2: So they were basically doing that with Luca. 330 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: Now, the reason why you do it with the Big 331 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: typically is with the Big they struggle to navigate screens 332 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 1: well Luca, especially in game. And I thought Luca and Kyrie, 333 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: who have been pretty good defensively for the most part 334 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: this season, we're both pretty bad in this one. Luca 335 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: just dies on the screen. When he dies on the screen, 336 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: Ben Mathurin runs up and he's now setting a free 337 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: and clear screen on Tyre's Hallburn and he's able to 338 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 1: come off, and you know, get to his pull up 339 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: jump shot or get to the next help defender in 340 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: line to try to make a read. So really smart 341 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 1: actions there. Last thing I noticed that they were doing 342 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: was they were doing a lot of backscreening the role 343 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: man in their Spain in their pick and roll action, 344 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 1: which is a variation of Spain pick and roll. So 345 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: Spain pick and roll is basically you have a shooter 346 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: underneath the basket while the big man's setting the screen, 347 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: and then they basically roll in replace, so as the 348 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: big man's rolling to the basket, the shooter is relocating 349 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 1: to the top. And the two variations of it are 350 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: sometimes the role man will intentionally run into the shooters 351 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 1: man to try to get the shooter open, and sometimes 352 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 1: the shooter will intentionally run into the screeners man, which 353 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 1: will get the screener open. 354 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 2: Right. 355 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 1: So like that's like the two variations that you'll see. 356 00:15:57,120 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 1: But they were able to get downhill and get to 357 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 1: the basket for easy layup just by backscreening Lively and 358 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: backscreening Daniel Gafford with whoever it was that was under 359 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: the basket. Sometimes it was Tyre Slibert with Andrew Nemhart 360 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 1: on the ball. Sometimes it was Andrew Nemhard with Tyres 361 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 1: s Aliburton on the. 362 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 2: Wall on the ball. 363 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 1: A lot of really really smart stuff from Indiana to 364 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: keep their offense humming again one twenty seven offensive rating 365 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 1: in this game against a Dallas Mavericks defense that has 366 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: been dominant over the course of the last or the 367 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 1: previous seven games. Pacers last eight games, they're six and two, 368 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 1: a couple of quality wins in there against the Knicks 369 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: and the MAVs. Fourth and offense, thirteenth in defense and 370 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: eighteenth in defensive rebounding, so some of the best defense 371 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 1: and rebounding stretches that we've seen from the Pacers this season. 372 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 1: Playing some solid basketball. They have a tough schedule coming up, though. 373 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 1: They have the Pels in a home and home, and 374 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: then they go to Dallas for a rematch, and then 375 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 1: they're home for Minnesota, and then they're at Orlando and 376 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: at Oklahoma City. So a bunch of bigger, more physical 377 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 1: front lines. It's going to be a good test for them. 378 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: On the Dallas front, they were scoring well enough to 379 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 1: keep pace with Indy for most of the game, but 380 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 1: then they went ice cold in the fourth court. They 381 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: had a six minute span after Kyrie's pull up jump shot. 382 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 2: That cut the ball to cut the score to four. 383 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: They had a six minute span after that where they 384 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: scored just four points, missed a bunch of good looks 385 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: from three, had some bad turnovers, so their offense just 386 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: kind of stalled out. I was more worried about them 387 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 1: on the defensive end of the floor in this particular game. 388 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: I'm not worried about Dallas's ability to score, especially against 389 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:24,160 Speaker 1: a team like Indiana. They were never even really able 390 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 1: to slow down Indiana's offense. They gave up at least 391 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:30,679 Speaker 1: thirty two points in every single quarter. They could not 392 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:34,439 Speaker 1: find a coverage that worked. They I wanted to kind 393 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 1: of dive in on the Gafford and Lively thing. They're 394 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 1: both very different. I think Lively is actually a better 395 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:41,880 Speaker 1: pick and roll defender than Daniel Gafford right now. Daniel Gafford, 396 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:45,639 Speaker 1: you know, I talked about this after the trade, and 397 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:48,159 Speaker 1: I used the concept that the comp of like a 398 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 1: Montrez Harald type of guy. Daniel Gefford's, in my opinion, 399 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 1: is bigger and stronger and longer and a better athlete 400 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:55,440 Speaker 1: than Montrez Harrel. So it's not like really that clean 401 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:57,479 Speaker 1: of a camp. But the reason why I use that 402 00:17:57,520 --> 00:17:59,959 Speaker 1: comp is, I mean, Montrez Haral is an excellent rule 403 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:04,640 Speaker 1: man with great hands who goes up around the rim actively, 404 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: is good offensive rebounder, right, but on the defensive end 405 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: of the floor, the dude was just was just tissue paper. 406 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 1: Now Daniel Gafford has the potential to be much much 407 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:15,720 Speaker 1: better because he's got the physical tools that a guy 408 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 1: like Montrez didn't have. 409 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:18,919 Speaker 2: But that is like the archetype that I look at. 410 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: It's like a really good athlete, like like pick and 411 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: roll guy who's like an excellent score on the role, 412 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 1: who has real vertical spacing, but is kind of, you know, 413 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 1: problematic on the defensive end of the floor. And one 414 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 1: of the specific things that Daniel Gafford will get himself 415 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: caught into in terms of trouble is he'll get caught 416 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,400 Speaker 1: in no man's land and pick and roll. So imagine 417 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 1: in it ball screen, there are two threats right in 418 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 1: the two on two action that's taking place. Obviously there 419 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: are threats all but in the two the two threats 420 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:48,880 Speaker 1: that are on the ball are the guy coming over 421 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:50,879 Speaker 1: the top of the screen and you have to worry 422 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 1: about a pull up three. You have to worry about 423 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 1: a floater, and you have to worry about him getting 424 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: downhill all the way to the rim, right. And then 425 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,360 Speaker 1: there's a role man that's coming off the others after 426 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 1: he's has the screen is rolling hard down the middle 427 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 1: of the floor. There you're worried about, you know, maybe 428 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: a pocket pass and a little floater or a mid 429 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,400 Speaker 1: range jump shot or any sort of lob pass at 430 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 1: the basket. You know, if you step up too high, 431 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:16,920 Speaker 1: Tyree's gets to pass over the top. There's dunk there, right. 432 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:19,679 Speaker 1: So you kind of have to do one of two things. 433 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 1: You have to either concede whatever the ball handler is 434 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 1: doing to take away the role or you have to 435 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 1: take away whatever the ball handler's doing and concede the 436 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 1: role man, right. And it's a difficult job. Some of 437 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:34,399 Speaker 1: the very best defensive players in the world can be 438 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:37,440 Speaker 1: both the Go Bears and the Anthony Davis and bam 439 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: adebios and such Victor Wimanyama. Those guys they cover so 440 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:43,760 Speaker 1: much ground that sometimes they can like stunt up and 441 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:47,399 Speaker 1: bother the ball handler while also getting back and making 442 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:50,159 Speaker 1: plays at the rim. And one of the problems that 443 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 1: Daniel Gafford was having a problem with today or last 444 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:55,359 Speaker 1: night is when he would come up high out of 445 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 1: his drop coverage on a guy like Tyre's Halliburton, he 446 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 1: wasn't coming up high enough to actually bother Tyrese at all, 447 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 1: and so Tyree's was able to make easy over the 448 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 1: top passes. But then at the same time, he's not 449 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:10,960 Speaker 1: back far enough to do anything to the roleman. And again, 450 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: like if you are active on the ball, like if 451 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 1: he steps up higher and he uses his length to 452 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 1: get up more into Tyrese Haliburton, he can force that 453 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:24,120 Speaker 1: pass to either be deflected or to take a funky 454 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 1: angle or to maybe he has to double pump or 455 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 1: throw it super high like something to disrupt that pass 456 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: to make it so that it's easier for the back 457 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:34,479 Speaker 1: line guys to rotate. 458 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:38,000 Speaker 2: Let's say PJ. Washington's your low man in this sort 459 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:39,120 Speaker 2: of situation. PJ. 460 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:41,920 Speaker 1: Washington has a better chance to get over and blow 461 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 1: that play up. Or even a guy like Tim Hardaway Junior, 462 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: who they were using as a lowman during that stretch. 463 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 1: He's got the athleticism that if you buy him enough time, 464 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 1: he might be able to jump up high and try 465 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 1: to make some sort of play on the basketball. But 466 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:58,160 Speaker 1: if you're not bothering Tyreese Haliburtal, the pass is easily 467 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:01,159 Speaker 1: getting over the top at that point. If you're also 468 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 1: not bothering the role man at all, you're effectively in 469 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:06,400 Speaker 1: no man So there's like no man's land and pick 470 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:09,439 Speaker 1: and roll coverage if like the best in the world 471 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:13,199 Speaker 1: can kind of do both. But like your job is, 472 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:16,439 Speaker 1: you've got to make something difficult there. You either have 473 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: to get up higher on the ball handler to bother 474 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 1: him more, or backpedal to take away the role and 475 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 1: hope he misses his floater, right, like you got to 476 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 1: do something and too frequently. And again, I want to 477 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 1: be clear with Daniel Gafford. He's got the tools to 478 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:33,959 Speaker 1: be a lot better than he has been. It's just 479 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 1: more often it's just schematic him being in no man's land. 480 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,359 Speaker 1: And then two just a little bit slow to kind 481 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:43,159 Speaker 1: of read and react to some of this stuff. And 482 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 1: so but just by upping his activity and then just 483 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:48,240 Speaker 1: by being a part of a better defensive team where 484 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 1: he can like kind of pick up what's happening around him, 485 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: I think he can get better. And then again the 486 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:58,120 Speaker 1: clave switching didn't work. That's an important anchor of Dallas's defense, 487 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 1: and then their transition defense was bad. Indiana was just 488 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 1: running out on them all night long. For the record 489 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 1: Dallas's transitions defense, I want to say they're twenty third 490 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 1: in defense transition defense points allowed per possession according to Synergies. 491 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:11,919 Speaker 1: That's pretty bad. This road trip was always going to 492 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 1: be a test for Dallas and this is just the 493 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:16,879 Speaker 1: first test. But they failed their first test and so 494 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 1: their next chance is at Cleveland tomorrow night to right 495 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 1: the ship. All right, let's get to our power rankings 496 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:28,320 Speaker 1: like we do every Monday. So we had two teams 497 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:30,760 Speaker 1: drop out this week. The Suns dropped games to the 498 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:33,600 Speaker 1: MAVs and the Rockets, coming out of the break offense 499 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:35,919 Speaker 1: has a tendency to stall out for them when Bradley 500 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 1: Beal is out, although they did have an encouraging fourth 501 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: quarter against the Lakers the other night. But they are 502 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:42,840 Speaker 1: out of the ear yesterday, I should say, but they're 503 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 1: out of the power rankings for this week. And then 504 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:46,959 Speaker 1: the New Orleans Pelicans. Every time I swear that I 505 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 1: feel like I'm about to jump on the Pelicans bandwagon, 506 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:51,920 Speaker 1: they go and drop a couple of games to mediocre teams. 507 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 1: And they just dropped back to back games to the 508 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:55,400 Speaker 1: Heat and the Bowls, so they're out of the power 509 00:22:55,440 --> 00:23:00,080 Speaker 1: rankings for this week. Number ten the Dallas Mavericks. The 510 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:02,720 Speaker 1: additions of Daniel Gafford and PJ. Washington have up to 511 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: the athletic profile of the team. They are also healthy 512 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:08,359 Speaker 1: now and they are competing better defensively and on the 513 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 1: glass than they have all season. Last night notwithstanding, but 514 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 1: they did fail the first trip, the first test of 515 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:16,960 Speaker 1: their road trip in Indiana, and their defense got absolutely shredded. 516 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:20,879 Speaker 1: Two more tests on this trip in Cleveland and in Boston. 517 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:24,439 Speaker 1: Number nine the Indiana Pacers. They've won six of their 518 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 1: last eight games, capped off like I said, with the 519 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:29,719 Speaker 1: big win over the MAVs yesterday. They are also, like Dallas, 520 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: defending and rebounding better than they have most of the season. 521 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 1: Tyres Halliburton is looking a little bit more like himself 522 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 1: with each passing game. I've been talking about this, but 523 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:41,159 Speaker 1: like soft tissue injuries and then like bone issues, and 524 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,920 Speaker 1: like feet and knees or boner ligament issues and feet 525 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 1: and knees, there's always like a two phase recovery. There's 526 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:51,440 Speaker 1: recovery once, which is like getting healthy, but then recovery 527 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:55,280 Speaker 1: too is like actually trusting your body again, because when 528 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 1: you make really explosive moves, it takes a certain amount 529 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 1: of comf in your body to hold up, and a 530 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:04,160 Speaker 1: lot of times you will kind of hold back if 531 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:06,119 Speaker 1: you don't trust your body to hold up. And so 532 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 1: I just remember this personally happening to me when I 533 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:10,239 Speaker 1: broke my foot when I was in college. Like I 534 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:11,879 Speaker 1: just I went through half the season where I just 535 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:14,400 Speaker 1: didn't even trust myself to take off off my right 536 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 1: foot right and specific I had any of you guys 537 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:21,800 Speaker 1: who have had hamstring issues, I buy a hamstring issue 538 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:24,159 Speaker 1: when I was younger. I was like twenty, like nineteen 539 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:27,639 Speaker 1: twenty years old. But like hamstring issues in particular, like 540 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: you're so nervous you're going to reinjure it that like 541 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:32,880 Speaker 1: it causes you to kind of play with a certain 542 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:35,520 Speaker 1: amount of hesitancy. Played on a minute's restriction in his 543 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 1: first six games coming back from the hamstring, only fourteen 544 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:41,480 Speaker 1: points and six assists per game on fifty percent from 545 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 1: the field thirty five percent from three. How these last 546 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:46,960 Speaker 1: five games back to playing big minutes, twenty points and 547 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:49,680 Speaker 1: twelve assists per game, forty eight percent from the field 548 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:51,560 Speaker 1: and forty two percent from three, so looking a little 549 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 1: bit more like Tyrese Halliburton with each passing Game number eight. 550 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:58,600 Speaker 1: The New York Knicks, they're still in a free fall 551 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:02,400 Speaker 1: without their frontline down through because of injury. They did 552 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 1: beat the Sixers, but they got handled by the Celtics 553 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: the other night most of yesterday. I should say, most 554 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:09,680 Speaker 1: of the data and film that we're getting out of 555 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 1: the Knicks right now is completely useless as it pertains 556 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:14,960 Speaker 1: to their playoff potential, because this whole team is about 557 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:19,639 Speaker 1: like incredibly physically imposing frontline plus Jalen Brunson, and right 558 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 1: now it's like Jalen Brunson with none of their frontline guys. 559 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 1: So it just doesn't really give you much to work 560 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 1: with in terms of learning about this team. A couple 561 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 1: of silver linings, though, I think Precious to Chew is 562 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 1: actually doing a really nice job filling in at power forward, 563 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 1: and then Dante DiVincenzo is shooting the shit out of 564 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 1: the basketball in super high volume. He's scaling up his 565 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: offense with guys out with injury, and he's doing well. 566 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 1: He's really been a great pick up for them. This season. 567 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:45,280 Speaker 1: Big shout out to the Knicks, who've just completely turned 568 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 1: around their their fortunes over the course of the last 569 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:51,680 Speaker 1: couple of years. Number seven the Cleveland Cavaliers. They've lost 570 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 1: three of their last five. Donovan Mitchell missed two of 571 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:55,160 Speaker 1: those games with an illness. It was good to see 572 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:57,080 Speaker 1: him back out on the court against the Wizards yesterday. 573 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: In this five game span, though ironically it's been there 574 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:01,920 Speaker 1: defense that's been the issue. They have a one twenty 575 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:05,439 Speaker 1: defensive rating in their three losses. Here's their silver lining though. 576 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:08,080 Speaker 1: Jared Allen has been absolutely crushing as of late. His 577 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 1: last fifteen games nineteen points and eleven rebounds per game 578 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:14,720 Speaker 1: on sixty percent shooting from the field. And then Darius Scarland. 579 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:19,120 Speaker 1: He's another guy who's really rhythm oriented, and typically when 580 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 1: he comes back from injuries it can get to a 581 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:23,720 Speaker 1: slow start. First five games coming back, eleven points and 582 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:26,320 Speaker 1: five rebounds per game excuse me, five assists per game 583 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:28,400 Speaker 1: on forty six percent from the field and thirty percent 584 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:31,160 Speaker 1: from three. His last seven games sixteen points in eight 585 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 1: assists per game, forty seven percent from the field and 586 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,359 Speaker 1: thirty four percent from three. So starting to get it going. 587 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:38,600 Speaker 1: Three point shots looked really good over the last four games, 588 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 1: forty percent in his last four. Number six the Minnesota Timberwolves. 589 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 1: They bounced back against the Nets on the tail end 590 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:50,479 Speaker 1: of a back to back on Saturday, but they're pretty 591 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:53,440 Speaker 1: lost to the Bucks on Friday. That exposed a lot 592 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:55,840 Speaker 1: of issues with their half court offense. Bucks ran a 593 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:58,159 Speaker 1: super deep drop. They were not able to hit the 594 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 1: pull up jump shots and floaters necessary to get the 595 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:04,800 Speaker 1: defense into rotation. But even above and beyond any of that, 596 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:06,680 Speaker 1: because some of that is just their personnel, Like I 597 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:09,240 Speaker 1: really do think that that's kind of the way that 598 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:11,440 Speaker 1: you can kind of play Minnesota into some issues. 599 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:13,400 Speaker 2: However, the other. 600 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:15,399 Speaker 1: Concern that I had in that particular game was just 601 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 1: their offensive approach as things started to kind of go 602 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 1: off the rails for them. A lot of rushed shots, 603 00:27:21,119 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: a lot of unnecessary one on one, a lot of 604 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 1: like walking into a pick and roll without any sort 605 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:29,119 Speaker 1: of other action to set it up or just do 606 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 1: something to try to put Milwaukee in the blender before 607 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:34,679 Speaker 1: you run that type of action. And again, that's been 608 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:38,080 Speaker 1: my issue with the Timberwolves all season. There's a little 609 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:43,159 Speaker 1: bit on the predictable and kind of inconsistent decision making 610 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 1: side of things when it comes to their half court offense, 611 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:48,840 Speaker 1: and I did not think their performance against the Bucks 612 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:52,439 Speaker 1: was very encouraging on that front. Number five, the Los 613 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:56,080 Speaker 1: Angeles Clippers, they're sleepwalking out of the All Star break. 614 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:58,280 Speaker 1: They got smacked by the Thunder and they got smacked 615 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:00,119 Speaker 1: by the Kings. Although Kawhi Leonard was out for that 616 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:03,840 Speaker 1: particular game, Tyler himself said that the next few days 617 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 1: of practice will be mainly about getting the team mentally 618 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 1: focused again. The Clippers have alternated wins and losses over 619 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:13,679 Speaker 1: their last eight games, and they are twenty ninth in 620 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:15,440 Speaker 1: defense over to that span. 621 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:15,960 Speaker 2: Think about that. 622 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:18,520 Speaker 1: The LA Clippers, who've been a dominant defense for most 623 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:20,920 Speaker 1: of the year, especially in the half court, they're really 624 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:23,320 Speaker 1: really struggling defensively as of late. 625 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:25,480 Speaker 2: Hitting a little bit of a loll here. 626 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:28,040 Speaker 1: So again, this has been a team that's been really 627 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 1: attacking the regular season. It's completely unrealistic to expect a 628 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:34,240 Speaker 1: team to do that for all eighty two, So I'm 629 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:37,080 Speaker 1: not I don't think it's unusual for a team to 630 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:39,000 Speaker 1: hit a role. The big thing to watch is how 631 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:41,040 Speaker 1: quickly they can get out of it and how frequently 632 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 1: that happens down the stretch of the season. Number four, 633 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 1: the Milwaukee Bucks. They had two huge wins over the 634 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 1: Sixers and the Wolves to start their post All Star stretch. 635 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:57,200 Speaker 1: Like I said earlier against Minnesota, a lot of downhill 636 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:00,000 Speaker 1: athleticism on that team, a lot of power players. They 637 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:03,960 Speaker 1: perfectly executed their deep drop coverage. Brook Lopez dominated the 638 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:07,240 Speaker 1: game defensively, but the Sixers game in particular was a 639 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 1: very different challenge. I was watching some film on that 640 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:13,280 Speaker 1: this morning. Tyrese Maxi brings that downhill speed, but he's 641 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:15,160 Speaker 1: one of the best shooters in the league, and so 642 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 1: much more of a challenge for their perimeter defense against 643 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:21,160 Speaker 1: the drop coverage. I thought Malik Beasley had one of 644 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:25,560 Speaker 1: his best defensive games of the season, specifically making Tyree's 645 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:28,480 Speaker 1: work hard to get to his spots, applying really good 646 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 1: back pressure. He's been getting better and better each game 647 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:35,520 Speaker 1: because again, he's got decent athletic tools. He's not overly big, 648 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 1: but he is fast like he does have the ability 649 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:39,640 Speaker 1: to move. He's just been a guy that hasn't been 650 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:41,600 Speaker 1: that focused on the defensive end in his career, and 651 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 1: you're actually watching him kind of learn on the fly 652 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:45,560 Speaker 1: how to be this guy, and I thought he did 653 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 1: a really nice job against Tyrese Maxey. I also wanted 654 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:49,400 Speaker 1: to shout out Jay Crowder. I thought he had a 655 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:51,960 Speaker 1: bunch of good possessions on Tyres Maxie, especially in the 656 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:55,280 Speaker 1: first half. And like, here's the thing, Like Jay Crowder, 657 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:57,000 Speaker 1: I think has been written off by most people as 658 00:29:57,000 --> 00:29:59,720 Speaker 1: being a little bit too old, but like this is 659 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:02,160 Speaker 1: the best I've seen him look physically on defense in 660 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,640 Speaker 1: a couple of years too, And I think that that's 661 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:07,600 Speaker 1: been kind of an underrated pickup. Underrated by myself too, 662 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:09,560 Speaker 1: because I didn't think he had anything left in the tank, 663 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 1: and he's just been He's just been particularly solid for 664 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 1: them on defense as of late. But most importantly, the 665 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 1: Bucks offense is humming again. If you guys remember during 666 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:23,640 Speaker 1: the gosh, I can't even remember which video it was. 667 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:26,680 Speaker 1: I think it was the Uh. I think it was 668 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 1: right before the break, But I talked about how I 669 00:30:29,080 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 1: had a goal that I hoped the Milwaukee Bucks would 670 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:34,040 Speaker 1: hit for the tail end of the season as an 671 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 1: indicator of like kind of like a benchmark that they 672 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:39,040 Speaker 1: need to hit to feel like they're on track. And 673 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:42,080 Speaker 1: that was a one twenty offensive rating and a one 674 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:45,480 Speaker 1: fifteen defensive rating. For those of you guys who were listening, 675 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:48,200 Speaker 1: one twenty being like, we're humming on all centers offense, 676 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:51,120 Speaker 1: a cylinders offensively in the one to fifteen being like, 677 00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 1: we are a solid defense, which I think is all 678 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:55,440 Speaker 1: they really need to be is if they can reach 679 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:59,360 Speaker 1: that level offensively. Well, the defense has been incredible ever 680 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:02,120 Speaker 1: since Dockword took over post deadline. So far they have 681 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:03,880 Speaker 1: a one to twenty offensive rating in a one oh 682 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:08,440 Speaker 1: five defensive rating, and if they can sustain that, forget 683 00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:10,400 Speaker 1: about it, Like then now we're talking about a team 684 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:13,240 Speaker 1: that's on the same tier with Boston In Denver, now 685 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:15,160 Speaker 1: we'll see it's too small of a sample size to 686 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:17,360 Speaker 1: really judge it at this point, but they are on 687 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:20,120 Speaker 1: track to hit those specific markers that I'm gonna be 688 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:23,480 Speaker 1: watching here down the stretch of the season. Number three 689 00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:25,760 Speaker 1: the Oklahoma City Thunder. They had an undefeated week. They 690 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 1: beat the Clippers, the Wizards, and the Rockets over this span. 691 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:30,760 Speaker 1: A one to twenty six offensive rating and a one 692 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:33,680 Speaker 1: oh two defensive rating that's outrageous plus twenty four net. 693 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:36,080 Speaker 1: Really impressive win over the Clippers. Just ran them off 694 00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:38,720 Speaker 1: the floor in the third quarter. They scored thirty six points. 695 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:42,959 Speaker 1: In transition, all five starters scored at least twelve points. 696 00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:46,440 Speaker 1: They blocked eleven shots. The Clippers had no shot guarding 697 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:49,320 Speaker 1: them in ball screens. The thunder scored one point four 698 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:52,120 Speaker 1: to eight points per possession in pick and rolls, including passes, 699 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:55,480 Speaker 1: which is outrageous. They had one point one six points 700 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:58,160 Speaker 1: per half court possession in that game. So just completely 701 00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:00,480 Speaker 1: picked the Clippers apart. Big week for them. Umber two 702 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:03,880 Speaker 1: the Denver Nuggets. They look laser focused coming out of 703 00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:06,400 Speaker 1: the break. They had an undefeated week as well. He 704 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:09,720 Speaker 1: half court two way dominance that we expect from Denver, 705 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:11,880 Speaker 1: and that get win against Golden State last night. They 706 00:32:11,880 --> 00:32:14,000 Speaker 1: got hit with some paymakers in that game too, and 707 00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:16,080 Speaker 1: it just didn't matter. Klay Thompson was red hot earlier 708 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:18,080 Speaker 1: in the game, and Golden State has been a famously 709 00:32:18,080 --> 00:32:20,440 Speaker 1: good third quarter team, and it just didn't matter. And 710 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:24,320 Speaker 1: then Nicole Jokic with a preposterous thirty two points, sixteen rebounds, 711 00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:27,600 Speaker 1: and sixteen assists in that game, only been done three 712 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:31,240 Speaker 1: other times in NBA history. James Harden had a fifty 713 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:35,240 Speaker 1: three sixteen and seventeen once, which is completely ridiculous, and 714 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:38,920 Speaker 1: then Oscar Robertson did it twice back in the old days. 715 00:32:39,280 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 2: Number one. Though. 716 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:43,160 Speaker 1: The Boston Celtics beat the Bulls and the Knicks this 717 00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:46,400 Speaker 1: week to extend their streak to eight games. I really 718 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:49,800 Speaker 1: thought the Knicks game in particular was a positive step 719 00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:52,280 Speaker 1: for them. We've talked a lot about the Knicks or 720 00:32:52,280 --> 00:32:54,720 Speaker 1: the Celtics offense as of late, as it pertains to 721 00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:57,880 Speaker 1: their kind of shot selection and them leaning too much 722 00:32:57,880 --> 00:33:00,840 Speaker 1: on the perimeter, not getting enough easy stuff around the basket. Well, 723 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:03,719 Speaker 1: they had fifty eight points in the paint against the Knicks. 724 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:06,360 Speaker 1: They only averaged forty six points in the paint per game, 725 00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:09,000 Speaker 1: which is twenty seventh in the NBA. We did a 726 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:11,520 Speaker 1: deep dive on this just a few days ago, and 727 00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:14,600 Speaker 1: if you guys remember, I talked about specific things, four 728 00:33:14,680 --> 00:33:17,880 Speaker 1: specific things that they could do to up their points 729 00:33:17,880 --> 00:33:20,920 Speaker 1: in the paint, running out for layups and dunks. They 730 00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:24,960 Speaker 1: had seven possessions against the Knicks where they ran out 731 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:28,160 Speaker 1: in transition and made a two point shot, hosting up 732 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:30,880 Speaker 1: for bowlly ball shots at the rim instead of constantly 733 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:33,240 Speaker 1: fading away. Jalen Brown is the guy's a really good 734 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:36,040 Speaker 1: fatoa jump shooter over both shoulders. I thought he set 735 00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:39,680 Speaker 1: the tone early in the first half, back like backing 736 00:33:39,720 --> 00:33:42,320 Speaker 1: guys down and getting layups at the rim out of 737 00:33:42,360 --> 00:33:44,920 Speaker 1: the post. And then Chrisops, Sporzingis and Al Horford also 738 00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:47,960 Speaker 1: had post up baskets right around the rim. The third 739 00:33:48,040 --> 00:33:51,160 Speaker 1: one was cutting instead of spotting up all the damn time. 740 00:33:51,240 --> 00:33:54,000 Speaker 1: So like again, spotting up an important thing to do. 741 00:33:54,120 --> 00:33:56,640 Speaker 1: Three point shots have high value, but when a defender 742 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:58,720 Speaker 1: turns his back on you, it helps. You can also 743 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:02,440 Speaker 1: get a one hundred point shot or one hundred percent shot. 744 00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:06,600 Speaker 1: That's funny, Okay, you get a one hundred percent shot, 745 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:08,239 Speaker 1: which is if you cut back door, you can get 746 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:11,319 Speaker 1: something easy around the basket. And again, like a really 747 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:14,239 Speaker 1: good spot up shooter, the best in the world are 748 00:34:14,320 --> 00:34:16,840 Speaker 1: going to convert spot up possessions at like one point 749 00:34:16,880 --> 00:34:19,920 Speaker 1: five points per possession, right one point four points per possession. 750 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:22,120 Speaker 1: I think that's where Norman Powell's at this year. It's 751 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:24,280 Speaker 1: usually in that one point three to one point four range. 752 00:34:25,160 --> 00:34:27,560 Speaker 1: But like a backdoor cut for a layup is going 753 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:30,120 Speaker 1: to get you two points the vast majority of the time, 754 00:34:30,160 --> 00:34:31,879 Speaker 1: and so It's not something that's open all the time, 755 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:34,960 Speaker 1: but when you see those opportunities, you can get baskets there. 756 00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:37,160 Speaker 1: Drew Holliday had a basket and I think it was 757 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:39,920 Speaker 1: a Jalen Brown post up where he cut along the 758 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:42,560 Speaker 1: baseline when he saw his man turn his head instead 759 00:34:42,560 --> 00:34:45,719 Speaker 1: of waiting at the three point line, Jalen Brown had 760 00:34:45,719 --> 00:34:47,880 Speaker 1: to cut off of the left wing out of a 761 00:34:48,200 --> 00:34:50,759 Speaker 1: I think it was a Porzingis post up. Just slashed 762 00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:52,040 Speaker 1: down the middle of the floor. 763 00:34:52,040 --> 00:34:53,600 Speaker 2: They hit him. He had an easy lift. 764 00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:55,560 Speaker 1: That's a great way to generate points in the paint 765 00:34:55,840 --> 00:34:57,960 Speaker 1: in the flow of the offense. Then the last one 766 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:00,360 Speaker 1: was crashing the offensive glass. They had eleven points offensive 767 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:02,440 Speaker 1: rebound put backs in this game. They typically only average 768 00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:06,239 Speaker 1: six per game. So just scaling up in some specific 769 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:09,680 Speaker 1: possession types to drive some more offense in the paint 770 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:13,000 Speaker 1: to add more offensive versatility. They also hit fifteen threes 771 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:16,600 Speaker 1: in this game, but they also added some versatility. They 772 00:35:16,640 --> 00:35:19,440 Speaker 1: were able to score in the paint more effectively than 773 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:20,800 Speaker 1: they have for most of the season. I thought it 774 00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:23,239 Speaker 1: was a really encouraging game for the Celtics. They are 775 00:35:23,280 --> 00:35:25,239 Speaker 1: at number one in our power rankings for God knows 776 00:35:25,239 --> 00:35:28,759 Speaker 1: how many consecutive weeks. Now, all right, let's move on 777 00:35:28,840 --> 00:35:32,040 Speaker 1: to our mail bag. Hey, Jason, can you discuss how 778 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:35,280 Speaker 1: you would suggest defending a team like Denver. You always 779 00:35:35,320 --> 00:35:39,719 Speaker 1: mention about how fluent and unstoppable Denver's offense is, but 780 00:35:39,840 --> 00:35:41,920 Speaker 1: if you do, but if you had to strategize a 781 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:44,080 Speaker 1: defensive game plan for Denver, how would you do that? 782 00:35:44,160 --> 00:35:46,160 Speaker 1: Awesome job in the show, I always enjoy your basketball knowledge, 783 00:35:46,160 --> 00:35:47,440 Speaker 1: best in the business. Thank you so much for the 784 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:48,040 Speaker 1: kind words. 785 00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:49,160 Speaker 2: So here's the deal. 786 00:35:49,360 --> 00:35:53,040 Speaker 1: As you mentioned, not really a good option, and most 787 00:35:53,040 --> 00:35:56,000 Speaker 1: of it has to do with personnel too. Like if 788 00:35:56,040 --> 00:35:59,200 Speaker 1: you are a team that has you know, really really 789 00:35:59,280 --> 00:36:04,000 Speaker 1: bad amter defense and really really bad like not don't 790 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:06,680 Speaker 1: have the quality of help defender or I shouldn't say 791 00:36:06,680 --> 00:36:09,320 Speaker 1: help defender post defender. To really match up with Nikole Jokic, 792 00:36:09,719 --> 00:36:11,239 Speaker 1: you might have to be just really sharp in your 793 00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:14,640 Speaker 1: double teaming in rotations, right, But if you can't have 794 00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:17,600 Speaker 1: ball personnel in the post and on the perimeter, it 795 00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:18,640 Speaker 1: might reflect differently. 796 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:19,520 Speaker 2: In the event. 797 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:22,560 Speaker 1: Let's just say that I have an average NBA defense, 798 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:27,960 Speaker 1: I'll just pick a particular matchup. For example, let's say 799 00:36:27,960 --> 00:36:30,560 Speaker 1: the Golden State Warriors. If I was coaching the Warriors 800 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:35,480 Speaker 1: and I was trying to get stops against the Denver Nuggets, 801 00:36:35,840 --> 00:36:39,040 Speaker 1: what I would do is I would try as often 802 00:36:39,080 --> 00:36:42,120 Speaker 1: as possible to make Nikol jokicch and Jamal Murray score. 803 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:46,359 Speaker 1: Now here's the thing. They will do it sometimes. They 804 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:49,200 Speaker 1: did last night in large doses the Boston game. The 805 00:36:49,239 --> 00:36:51,520 Speaker 1: game in Boston where Jamal Murray and Nikole Jokic just 806 00:36:51,520 --> 00:36:53,719 Speaker 1: made shot after shot after shot after shot. But in 807 00:36:53,760 --> 00:36:57,560 Speaker 1: my opinion, your best chance to beat Denver is Nikole 808 00:36:57,600 --> 00:37:01,280 Speaker 1: jokicch and Jamal Murray hopefully fit taguing at some point 809 00:37:01,640 --> 00:37:04,759 Speaker 1: and starting the misshots, because tough shot making is all 810 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:08,560 Speaker 1: about leg strength and getting a lift in physicality, right, 811 00:37:08,880 --> 00:37:12,320 Speaker 1: and so in my opinion, I would rather There's there's 812 00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:15,040 Speaker 1: two specific reasons why I would rather try to defend 813 00:37:15,440 --> 00:37:17,319 Speaker 1: Marie and Jokis one on one and two on two 814 00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:20,680 Speaker 1: versus sending multiple defenders. One fatigue, like I just mentioned, 815 00:37:20,840 --> 00:37:23,960 Speaker 1: wear them out hopefully they miss shots. But two, it 816 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:28,200 Speaker 1: keeps the other three players out of rhythm. So if 817 00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:30,080 Speaker 1: for whatever reason, the ball does end up in a 818 00:37:30,120 --> 00:37:33,120 Speaker 1: Michael Porter Junior's hand in a transition three situation, or 819 00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:35,759 Speaker 1: the ball does end up in post up of Aaron 820 00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:38,440 Speaker 1: Gordon on a random possession here or there. Maybe just 821 00:37:38,480 --> 00:37:40,520 Speaker 1: because they haven't touched the ball as much in that 822 00:37:40,560 --> 00:37:43,000 Speaker 1: particular game as they usually do, they won't be as 823 00:37:43,040 --> 00:37:45,480 Speaker 1: confident as in rhythm as they usually are. And again 824 00:37:46,120 --> 00:37:48,480 Speaker 1: that strategy that I'm the strategy that I'm pitching, which 825 00:37:48,520 --> 00:37:50,400 Speaker 1: is basically defending them two on two and one on 826 00:37:50,400 --> 00:37:52,520 Speaker 1: one and just forcing them to make tough shots. Teams 827 00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:54,560 Speaker 1: have tried that against Denver and it doesn't work. So 828 00:37:54,600 --> 00:37:56,799 Speaker 1: I'm not trying to sit or an act like I've 829 00:37:56,800 --> 00:37:59,600 Speaker 1: solved Denver. But as a like, if I was a 830 00:37:59,640 --> 00:38:02,000 Speaker 1: coach thinking about it from the same point of what 831 00:38:02,200 --> 00:38:04,160 Speaker 1: strategy I would want to implement over the course of 832 00:38:04,160 --> 00:38:06,320 Speaker 1: a playoff series, I would try to leave them on 833 00:38:06,360 --> 00:38:08,719 Speaker 1: an island as much as possible. But there's another side 834 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:11,600 Speaker 1: to that. I also am a big believer in disguising coverages, 835 00:38:11,880 --> 00:38:15,359 Speaker 1: flipping coverages, trying to disrupt rhythm just by keeping them 836 00:38:15,400 --> 00:38:17,400 Speaker 1: off balance. So like, I would probably do a good 837 00:38:17,440 --> 00:38:19,160 Speaker 1: amount of two on two, one on one coverage, but 838 00:38:19,239 --> 00:38:21,280 Speaker 1: I probably would have Looney on the ball with Raymond 839 00:38:21,320 --> 00:38:24,080 Speaker 1: roaming on the back line sometimes ignoring Aaron Gordon to 840 00:38:24,160 --> 00:38:27,120 Speaker 1: offer more help. Jokic was killing Looney with the chicken 841 00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:29,080 Speaker 1: wing drop step in that game, and it's like he 842 00:38:29,120 --> 00:38:31,280 Speaker 1: needs to be chicken wing drop stepping right into Draymond 843 00:38:31,320 --> 00:38:33,560 Speaker 1: Green just like they're ready physical, trying to get a 844 00:38:33,600 --> 00:38:36,319 Speaker 1: deflection something like that. Right I throw Zone looks at 845 00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:39,080 Speaker 1: him like I would do all sorts of things and 846 00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:42,000 Speaker 1: randomly blitz Jamal Murray like five times a game, you know, 847 00:38:42,120 --> 00:38:44,799 Speaker 1: like you just just tried to find ways to kind 848 00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:46,480 Speaker 1: of just keep them off balance a little bit. But 849 00:38:46,600 --> 00:38:48,920 Speaker 1: the primary coverage that I would go with is a 850 00:38:48,960 --> 00:38:51,080 Speaker 1: two on two or one on one with my best 851 00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:53,880 Speaker 1: on ball defender on Jamal chasing over the top, and 852 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:56,880 Speaker 1: with my most physical post defender on nakodijokicch and just 853 00:38:56,920 --> 00:38:58,920 Speaker 1: be like, Okay, yeah, that's a really tough shot you hit. 854 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:01,160 Speaker 1: Got to keep making them again. I'm not trying to 855 00:39:01,160 --> 00:39:05,160 Speaker 1: pretend like that's going to work. Hi, Jason Bigfenners show, 856 00:39:05,200 --> 00:39:06,719 Speaker 1: keep up the work. We all know that Jokic is 857 00:39:06,760 --> 00:39:08,400 Speaker 1: by far the best player in the world today and 858 00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:10,640 Speaker 1: maybe has been for two plus years, But how does 859 00:39:10,680 --> 00:39:13,040 Speaker 1: this version of Jokic compare to the best versions of 860 00:39:13,080 --> 00:39:15,280 Speaker 1: other great players in the last ten to fifteen years. 861 00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:18,480 Speaker 1: Hard to pick him over prime Lebron, who would beat him, 862 00:39:18,680 --> 00:39:20,640 Speaker 1: who would beat him in most categories apart from half 863 00:39:20,640 --> 00:39:22,920 Speaker 1: court offense. But do you think this version of Jokic 864 00:39:23,040 --> 00:39:24,880 Speaker 1: is better than any version of Katie and Steph? I 865 00:39:24,920 --> 00:39:27,840 Speaker 1: think this version of Jokic is much better than Katie 866 00:39:27,840 --> 00:39:30,959 Speaker 1: and Steph. To put it simply, Katie and Steph, neither 867 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:33,160 Speaker 1: of them ever had a point in time where you 868 00:39:33,239 --> 00:39:35,520 Speaker 1: could definitively stay they were the best player in the league. 869 00:39:36,520 --> 00:39:39,360 Speaker 1: There were Kevin Durant fans during the prime of his 870 00:39:39,400 --> 00:39:41,279 Speaker 1: career who thought he was better than Lebron, and a 871 00:39:41,280 --> 00:39:42,880 Speaker 1: lot of those people were just people who didn't like 872 00:39:42,960 --> 00:39:45,680 Speaker 1: Lebron but like And then there was Warrior fans. Like 873 00:39:45,719 --> 00:39:47,719 Speaker 1: Warriors fans think Steph is the best player in the 874 00:39:47,719 --> 00:39:50,120 Speaker 1: world and has been for the better part of a decade. 875 00:39:50,160 --> 00:39:53,279 Speaker 1: But you were not finding many people outside of the 876 00:39:53,320 --> 00:39:55,759 Speaker 1: Golden State fan base that thought Steph Curry was the 877 00:39:55,760 --> 00:39:58,600 Speaker 1: best player in the world. That's the difference between Nicole 878 00:39:58,680 --> 00:40:02,080 Speaker 1: Jokicic and those guys like I would I'd venture to 879 00:40:02,080 --> 00:40:05,520 Speaker 1: guess if I hold one hundred random NBA fans of 880 00:40:05,600 --> 00:40:08,600 Speaker 1: all thirty NBA fan bases, including some casual fans that 881 00:40:08,600 --> 00:40:10,839 Speaker 1: don't really have a team, I'd venture to guess more 882 00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:13,560 Speaker 1: than ninety percent of them would say Nikole Jokic is 883 00:40:13,560 --> 00:40:15,279 Speaker 1: the best player in the world. That just never was 884 00:40:15,320 --> 00:40:17,560 Speaker 1: the case for Steph Curry, and that just never was 885 00:40:17,600 --> 00:40:19,160 Speaker 1: the case for Kevin Durant. So you have to go 886 00:40:19,239 --> 00:40:22,799 Speaker 1: back to guys like Lebron kobemj Like, like, here's the thing. 887 00:40:22,880 --> 00:40:26,799 Speaker 1: Jokic isn't on that level because he hasn't accumulated the 888 00:40:26,920 --> 00:40:30,640 Speaker 1: accomplishments yet, but he is on that trajectory. Nikol Jokic 889 00:40:30,800 --> 00:40:35,200 Speaker 1: is very firmly on a goat level trajectory. It's just 890 00:40:35,640 --> 00:40:37,719 Speaker 1: a question of whether or not he can sustain this 891 00:40:37,920 --> 00:40:40,319 Speaker 1: dominance over the course of the next decade. But if 892 00:40:40,360 --> 00:40:44,040 Speaker 1: he does, like if nikoliokicch sustains his dominance, and what 893 00:40:44,120 --> 00:40:45,960 Speaker 1: is he like twenty six, twenty seven years old. Now 894 00:40:46,160 --> 00:40:49,120 Speaker 1: if he goes like six or seven years and wins 895 00:40:49,840 --> 00:40:53,799 Speaker 1: you know, four titles, four additional titles and wins you know, 896 00:40:53,840 --> 00:40:57,760 Speaker 1: one or two more MVPs, like he just automatically cracks 897 00:40:57,800 --> 00:41:00,680 Speaker 1: into that like top five six players of NBA history, 898 00:41:00,760 --> 00:41:03,640 Speaker 1: you know, and Steph has gotten into that conversation because 899 00:41:03,640 --> 00:41:08,359 Speaker 1: of his longevity and his accumulation of accolades. But again, 900 00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:11,279 Speaker 1: there was never a version of Steph Curry where definitively 901 00:41:11,360 --> 00:41:13,840 Speaker 1: around the league everyone thought he was the best player 902 00:41:13,840 --> 00:41:16,279 Speaker 1: in the world. Like I briefly got on that train 903 00:41:16,360 --> 00:41:19,200 Speaker 1: in like twenty twenty two, but it didn't last. It 904 00:41:19,360 --> 00:41:21,759 Speaker 1: just it's just one of those things where you gotta 905 00:41:22,200 --> 00:41:25,160 Speaker 1: you gotta, you gotta a compliment Nicole Yokic on the dominance, 906 00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:29,000 Speaker 1: The dominance is just like like like literally you watch 907 00:41:29,040 --> 00:41:31,120 Speaker 1: him and you're like, Wow, this dude's just way better 908 00:41:31,200 --> 00:41:34,360 Speaker 1: than everybody. Now, again, the dominance has to extend the 909 00:41:34,360 --> 00:41:36,960 Speaker 1: season to season to season, Like if Jokic goes into 910 00:41:36,960 --> 00:41:39,239 Speaker 1: the postseason this year and gets outplayed by somebody and 911 00:41:39,239 --> 00:41:42,520 Speaker 1: gets beat, you know that that question changes. But I 912 00:41:42,560 --> 00:41:45,440 Speaker 1: do think, I do think the overarching opinion of the 913 00:41:45,440 --> 00:41:47,719 Speaker 1: basketball community is that Nicole Jokic is by far the 914 00:41:47,719 --> 00:41:49,600 Speaker 1: best player in the world. Right now, do you know 915 00:41:49,640 --> 00:41:52,520 Speaker 1: why Curry has struggled to score against Denver in the 916 00:41:52,600 --> 00:41:55,360 Speaker 1: last two years. I find it funny that a funny 917 00:41:55,400 --> 00:41:58,919 Speaker 1: that KCP keeps clamping his ass up and he really 918 00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:02,960 Speaker 1: isn't doing anything. So I don't think it really Here's 919 00:42:02,960 --> 00:42:05,319 Speaker 1: the KCP is a really good perimeter defender. I'm not 920 00:42:05,320 --> 00:42:07,719 Speaker 1: trying to undercut that. But I don't think it's any 921 00:42:07,800 --> 00:42:10,000 Speaker 1: one thing that's slowing Curry down. I think it has 922 00:42:10,040 --> 00:42:13,440 Speaker 1: to do with just the configuration of Denver's defense, Denver's 923 00:42:13,480 --> 00:42:18,319 Speaker 1: back line. Denver's defense has good on ball personnel at 924 00:42:18,360 --> 00:42:20,120 Speaker 1: the forward position and in the card spot, right, like 925 00:42:20,200 --> 00:42:23,200 Speaker 1: KCP and Aaron Gordon. But the flip side of that 926 00:42:23,320 --> 00:42:25,600 Speaker 1: is like they're other guys. They're all just like do 927 00:42:25,719 --> 00:42:29,120 Speaker 1: their job guys. So, for instance, guys like Michael Porter 928 00:42:29,200 --> 00:42:32,879 Speaker 1: Junior and Nikole Jokic are really good help defenders, right, 929 00:42:33,360 --> 00:42:35,520 Speaker 1: and so as long as they can stay in help, 930 00:42:36,239 --> 00:42:39,200 Speaker 1: they can be a really impactful defense. But the problem 931 00:42:39,239 --> 00:42:42,600 Speaker 1: is Golden State doesn't have enough off ball offensive talent 932 00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:46,120 Speaker 1: to consistently punish help and so Steph Curry is in 933 00:42:46,160 --> 00:42:48,600 Speaker 1: this predicament where Denver's defense is kind of built to 934 00:42:48,600 --> 00:42:51,040 Speaker 1: slow him down because they can have KCP just ball 935 00:42:51,040 --> 00:42:52,839 Speaker 1: pressure the hell out of him, be super physical off 936 00:42:52,880 --> 00:42:54,600 Speaker 1: the ball, and they can trap and hedge in all 937 00:42:54,640 --> 00:42:57,080 Speaker 1: of his ball screens, and there's just not enough offensive 938 00:42:57,120 --> 00:42:59,680 Speaker 1: talent to make them punish, to punish them on the 939 00:42:59,719 --> 00:43:02,040 Speaker 1: back line, because Aaron Gordon is an excellent health defender 940 00:43:02,080 --> 00:43:04,080 Speaker 1: and Michael Porter Junior is an excellent health defender. Nicole 941 00:43:04,160 --> 00:43:06,360 Speaker 1: Yoka is really active with his hands in ball screens 942 00:43:06,360 --> 00:43:09,759 Speaker 1: and is really good at reading the Golden State off 943 00:43:09,800 --> 00:43:11,600 Speaker 1: ball actions and jumping in front of me. Had a 944 00:43:11,640 --> 00:43:13,960 Speaker 1: bunch of steels. I think he had four steals last night, right, 945 00:43:14,000 --> 00:43:16,279 Speaker 1: So like, I don't blame Curry for that. I just 946 00:43:16,280 --> 00:43:18,880 Speaker 1: think it's a bad matchup for the team and it 947 00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:23,960 Speaker 1: manifests in curry offensive struggles. Next one, my man hates 948 00:43:24,040 --> 00:43:29,080 Speaker 1: TORYN Prince. I had my producer, of one of our producers, 949 00:43:29,080 --> 00:43:32,640 Speaker 1: Paul was complaining, I mean joking about this last night. 950 00:43:33,000 --> 00:43:34,720 Speaker 1: I want to be clear, I don't have any issue 951 00:43:34,719 --> 00:43:36,400 Speaker 1: with Torrian Prince. I actually was really excited when the 952 00:43:36,440 --> 00:43:38,759 Speaker 1: Lakers signed him this summer. I don't blame him at 953 00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:41,640 Speaker 1: all for what's happened this season. This is a textbook 954 00:43:41,680 --> 00:43:44,560 Speaker 1: example of a guy who for like the better part 955 00:43:44,600 --> 00:43:47,000 Speaker 1: of a half decade was a bench player in the NBA. 956 00:43:47,200 --> 00:43:47,799 Speaker 2: That's what he is. 957 00:43:47,840 --> 00:43:51,560 Speaker 1: He's a bench NBA wing and Darvin Ham has miscast 958 00:43:51,600 --> 00:43:54,799 Speaker 1: him as a high you know, high minutes in many 959 00:43:54,800 --> 00:43:58,520 Speaker 1: cases starting forward, and he just has struggled there because 960 00:43:58,560 --> 00:44:01,759 Speaker 1: that's that's not what his place. And I want to 961 00:44:01,800 --> 00:44:04,359 Speaker 1: be clear, I have no issues with Torrean Prince by 962 00:44:04,400 --> 00:44:08,160 Speaker 1: all indicators. He's a great guy who really coachable, plays hard. 963 00:44:08,520 --> 00:44:11,600 Speaker 1: He's just being I talk about slotting a lot on 964 00:44:11,640 --> 00:44:14,480 Speaker 1: this show, and this is like intentional horse slotting from 965 00:44:14,480 --> 00:44:16,320 Speaker 1: the Lakers because they have better players than him that 966 00:44:16,320 --> 00:44:18,799 Speaker 1: they can play better in higher minutes. But Torrian Prince 967 00:44:18,880 --> 00:44:21,600 Speaker 1: is being slotted into a role that's kind of above 968 00:44:21,960 --> 00:44:25,000 Speaker 1: what he's capable of. If you slot him properly, then 969 00:44:25,040 --> 00:44:26,760 Speaker 1: all of a sudden things start to make more sense. 970 00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:30,000 Speaker 1: I have four more questions and then we're done. Hey 971 00:44:30,040 --> 00:44:31,759 Speaker 1: love the show and have been watching for so long 972 00:44:31,840 --> 00:44:33,600 Speaker 1: that even if I don't watch the games every day, 973 00:44:33,600 --> 00:44:36,400 Speaker 1: I'll still watch her show. Thank you again, even though 974 00:44:36,400 --> 00:44:37,880 Speaker 1: you don't cover the lower teams in the league. What 975 00:44:37,880 --> 00:44:40,480 Speaker 1: do you think happened to Jordan Pool? His work ethic 976 00:44:40,560 --> 00:44:42,879 Speaker 1: was insane, for being a terrible player's first two years 977 00:44:42,880 --> 00:44:44,920 Speaker 1: to being a key piece in the finals run. He 978 00:44:44,960 --> 00:44:47,319 Speaker 1: also led the Warriors as number as the number one 979 00:44:47,360 --> 00:44:49,480 Speaker 1: when Curry was out. He can easily be the number one, 980 00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:51,160 Speaker 1: So what's up with him? I love the guy, but 981 00:44:51,200 --> 00:44:53,680 Speaker 1: it's hard getting moved to the bench on the Wizards. 982 00:44:54,440 --> 00:44:57,200 Speaker 1: I am so not off the Jordan pool train yet. 983 00:44:57,880 --> 00:45:01,120 Speaker 1: I think he is a really really good combination of 984 00:45:01,320 --> 00:45:04,759 Speaker 1: like aid with skill, but also audacity, which I think 985 00:45:04,840 --> 00:45:08,080 Speaker 1: is actually a good thing when it comes to guards. 986 00:45:08,560 --> 00:45:11,360 Speaker 1: I don't think his success in Golden State was an accident. 987 00:45:11,680 --> 00:45:13,600 Speaker 1: I don't have the numbers in front of me, but 988 00:45:13,600 --> 00:45:15,000 Speaker 1: I tweeted them out the other day because I kind 989 00:45:15,040 --> 00:45:16,759 Speaker 1: of had. The reason why I pulled this question is 990 00:45:16,840 --> 00:45:19,880 Speaker 1: I was actually thinking about this the other day. But like, 991 00:45:20,200 --> 00:45:23,359 Speaker 1: for three straight seasons in Golden State before he went 992 00:45:23,400 --> 00:45:26,560 Speaker 1: to Washington, he was like a good efficient score and 993 00:45:26,560 --> 00:45:29,600 Speaker 1: you're right, like he led the units in most cases 994 00:45:29,640 --> 00:45:32,160 Speaker 1: when Steph was off. There were stretches where Steph got hurt, 995 00:45:32,480 --> 00:45:35,040 Speaker 1: and he carried the team to being good enough to 996 00:45:35,080 --> 00:45:38,279 Speaker 1: kind of float the ship. So like a couple of things. 997 00:45:38,360 --> 00:45:40,680 Speaker 1: I attribute it to two things. One, he's a young 998 00:45:40,680 --> 00:45:44,160 Speaker 1: guard who just got paid, So like, think about all 999 00:45:44,200 --> 00:45:47,480 Speaker 1: the think about where your headspace was. Those of you 1000 00:45:47,520 --> 00:45:50,080 Speaker 1: guys who are older, think about where your headspace was 1001 00:45:50,120 --> 00:45:53,160 Speaker 1: when you were in your early twenties and your priorities 1002 00:45:53,280 --> 00:45:55,359 Speaker 1: and all that kind of stuff. Like he's got he's 1003 00:45:55,440 --> 00:45:57,440 Speaker 1: learning how to be a pro in a lot of ways, 1004 00:45:57,640 --> 00:46:00,520 Speaker 1: and you know, like I just think it's way too 1005 00:46:00,600 --> 00:46:02,719 Speaker 1: early to jump off that bandwagon. And the second piece 1006 00:46:02,719 --> 00:46:04,839 Speaker 1: of it, the Warrior the Wizards are a shit show. 1007 00:46:05,880 --> 00:46:08,200 Speaker 1: Like like what if we took Jordan Poole and we 1008 00:46:08,239 --> 00:46:10,760 Speaker 1: dropped him in Dallas and like in like Jaden Hardy's 1009 00:46:10,840 --> 00:46:14,319 Speaker 1: role and he was like the third ball handler for 1010 00:46:14,360 --> 00:46:16,399 Speaker 1: the Dallas Mavericks. You don't think he'd be awesome there. 1011 00:46:16,440 --> 00:46:19,080 Speaker 1: I think he'd be awesome there. So like part of 1012 00:46:19,120 --> 00:46:22,000 Speaker 1: it's just bad organization, bad team. And then another part 1013 00:46:22,000 --> 00:46:23,360 Speaker 1: of it is like he's gotta grow up a little bit. 1014 00:46:23,360 --> 00:46:25,160 Speaker 1: He's got to grow up a little bit and kind 1015 00:46:25,160 --> 00:46:27,920 Speaker 1: of tighten up his decision making, tighten up like his 1016 00:46:28,080 --> 00:46:31,520 Speaker 1: overall like shot selection and just his approach to the game. 1017 00:46:32,040 --> 00:46:34,200 Speaker 1: And another big thing with Jordan Pool is like I 1018 00:46:34,200 --> 00:46:37,160 Speaker 1: think he makes things unnecessarily difficult on the floor sometimes, 1019 00:46:37,200 --> 00:46:39,400 Speaker 1: and so just by kind of like learning how to 1020 00:46:39,440 --> 00:46:42,480 Speaker 1: identify the easy ways that he can impact when leaning 1021 00:46:42,480 --> 00:46:45,440 Speaker 1: more into those and using his like you know, that 1022 00:46:45,560 --> 00:46:47,640 Speaker 1: audacity that I was talking about more as a counter 1023 00:46:47,760 --> 00:46:49,920 Speaker 1: rather than as like the foundational part of his offense. 1024 00:46:49,960 --> 00:46:51,440 Speaker 1: I think that would go a long way to turning 1025 00:46:51,480 --> 00:46:55,960 Speaker 1: his slump around. I had multiple comments along this line. 1026 00:46:56,320 --> 00:46:58,440 Speaker 1: Pretending like a deep drop of work against Boston is 1027 00:46:58,440 --> 00:46:59,000 Speaker 1: pretty funny. 1028 00:46:59,000 --> 00:46:59,400 Speaker 2: Not gonna lie. 1029 00:46:59,440 --> 00:47:01,080 Speaker 1: I hope the Bucks try it, so I'm not gonna 1030 00:47:01,080 --> 00:47:02,840 Speaker 1: sit here and pretend like the Bucks can't beat a 1031 00:47:02,880 --> 00:47:06,360 Speaker 1: deep drop. Of course they can't. Derek White can hit 1032 00:47:06,400 --> 00:47:08,040 Speaker 1: pull up threes. Jale Miron can hit pull up threes. 1033 00:47:08,120 --> 00:47:10,600 Speaker 1: Jayson Tatum can hit pull up threes. Some Boston fans 1034 00:47:10,640 --> 00:47:12,960 Speaker 1: in the comments rightly pointed out that a great counter 1035 00:47:13,000 --> 00:47:14,880 Speaker 1: to drop coverage is a pick and pop with chrisops 1036 00:47:14,960 --> 00:47:18,120 Speaker 1: porzingis the reason why I talked about it is because 1037 00:47:18,160 --> 00:47:21,839 Speaker 1: the Celtics have a tendency to occasionally go very cold, 1038 00:47:22,000 --> 00:47:25,200 Speaker 1: and so, like I said, if I was coaching against Boston, 1039 00:47:25,360 --> 00:47:26,560 Speaker 1: and by the way this, I want to be clear 1040 00:47:26,640 --> 00:47:29,200 Speaker 1: up front, I don't think. I don't think the Bucks 1041 00:47:29,239 --> 00:47:31,720 Speaker 1: are gonna beat the Celtics in a series. I've picked 1042 00:47:31,719 --> 00:47:34,399 Speaker 1: Boston ever since that early stretch of the season when 1043 00:47:34,440 --> 00:47:37,400 Speaker 1: Milwaukee really struggled. If Boston played Milwaukee in a series tomorrow, 1044 00:47:37,400 --> 00:47:41,200 Speaker 1: I picked Boston every single time I'm talking about that 1045 00:47:41,239 --> 00:47:44,960 Speaker 1: would be their best chance to play Boston into their 1046 00:47:45,000 --> 00:47:50,200 Speaker 1: worst tendencies. Would you be incredibly shocked if Tatum and 1047 00:47:50,239 --> 00:47:52,520 Speaker 1: White just missed a bunch of pull up jump shots 1048 00:47:52,520 --> 00:47:54,840 Speaker 1: and Porzingis only shot thirty two percent on pick and 1049 00:47:54,840 --> 00:47:56,919 Speaker 1: pop threes instead of thirty eight percent forty two percent 1050 00:47:57,000 --> 00:47:59,920 Speaker 1: or something like that, and they had a few cold nights, 1051 00:48:00,160 --> 00:48:02,000 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, it's a series tied at two, 1052 00:48:02,040 --> 00:48:04,239 Speaker 1: and there's a game in Boston and they start three 1053 00:48:04,280 --> 00:48:06,600 Speaker 1: for fifteen from three, and all of a sudden, Milwaukee's 1054 00:48:06,680 --> 00:48:09,120 Speaker 1: up seven, and Giannis is bullying his way to the rim, 1055 00:48:09,200 --> 00:48:12,880 Speaker 1: and like it's not inconceivable, right, That's all I'm saying. 1056 00:48:12,880 --> 00:48:17,680 Speaker 1: I'm saying deep drop is probably Milwaukee's best chance to 1057 00:48:17,960 --> 00:48:22,160 Speaker 1: play Boston into their worst tendencies, which is to settle 1058 00:48:22,200 --> 00:48:25,080 Speaker 1: for jump shots from the perimeter, particularly off the dribble. 1059 00:48:25,280 --> 00:48:27,120 Speaker 1: That's all I meant by that. That doesn't mean it's 1060 00:48:27,120 --> 00:48:31,560 Speaker 1: going to work. It's just their best available strategy. Whereas 1061 00:48:32,040 --> 00:48:35,680 Speaker 1: the Knicks and the Heat in particular, they are teams 1062 00:48:36,120 --> 00:48:38,239 Speaker 1: that that actually kind of plays into their strengths. 1063 00:48:38,440 --> 00:48:39,920 Speaker 2: If you let Tyler Harrow. 1064 00:48:39,680 --> 00:48:43,839 Speaker 1: And Robinson Comfrey and clear off the screens all night, 1065 00:48:44,160 --> 00:48:46,840 Speaker 1: that's literally their favorite way to play. And they're not 1066 00:48:46,920 --> 00:48:49,360 Speaker 1: a team that can beat you know, switching coverages and 1067 00:48:49,400 --> 00:48:51,240 Speaker 1: things like that, because they're not great at beating guys 1068 00:48:51,280 --> 00:48:53,400 Speaker 1: off the dribble, right like that, That's kind of what 1069 00:48:53,480 --> 00:48:55,680 Speaker 1: I meant. Jalen Brunston, if you run a deep drop 1070 00:48:55,880 --> 00:48:58,040 Speaker 1: coverage against him, Dude's gonna average thirty seven to thirty 1071 00:48:58,080 --> 00:48:59,880 Speaker 1: eight points a game in a series, because that's just 1072 00:49:00,200 --> 00:49:02,719 Speaker 1: that's like his best way to play the game, right, 1073 00:49:02,880 --> 00:49:05,440 Speaker 1: That's all I meant by that, And I Celtics fans 1074 00:49:06,280 --> 00:49:08,960 Speaker 1: to have really like Celtics fans have really struggled to 1075 00:49:09,400 --> 00:49:12,480 Speaker 1: differentiate the difference between like me talking about what they 1076 00:49:12,520 --> 00:49:15,000 Speaker 1: need to do to win the title versus criticism. Those 1077 00:49:15,000 --> 00:49:19,120 Speaker 1: are two completely different things, like all of these teams have, 1078 00:49:19,840 --> 00:49:22,080 Speaker 1: Like Denver is the only team that you guys will 1079 00:49:22,080 --> 00:49:24,360 Speaker 1: hear me talk about that I don't like really nitpick, 1080 00:49:24,640 --> 00:49:27,360 Speaker 1: and it's because I trust them at a different level. 1081 00:49:27,480 --> 00:49:29,760 Speaker 1: But like all the other twenty nine teams in the league, 1082 00:49:29,800 --> 00:49:31,839 Speaker 1: I cover them the exact same way, Here's what they're 1083 00:49:31,840 --> 00:49:34,040 Speaker 1: good at, Here's what they're bad at, Here's what they 1084 00:49:34,040 --> 00:49:36,360 Speaker 1: need to fix in order to reach their individual ceiling. 1085 00:49:36,520 --> 00:49:39,200 Speaker 1: That's all we're talking about with Boston. For them, it's 1086 00:49:39,200 --> 00:49:42,120 Speaker 1: their shot selection approach, trying to get into the paint more. 1087 00:49:42,120 --> 00:49:44,080 Speaker 1: And I don't want to be overarching because I know 1088 00:49:44,120 --> 00:49:46,560 Speaker 1: there's been a lot of Celtics fans that have been 1089 00:49:47,320 --> 00:49:49,040 Speaker 1: that have not only been receptive to it, but that 1090 00:49:49,080 --> 00:49:51,400 Speaker 1: have also provided really good feedback in the comments that 1091 00:49:51,400 --> 00:49:53,560 Speaker 1: have helped me understand the team better. So like, I'm 1092 00:49:53,560 --> 00:49:55,640 Speaker 1: just more referring to a certain segment of Celtics fans, 1093 00:49:55,640 --> 00:49:56,880 Speaker 1: But I want to be clear, I'm not trying to 1094 00:49:56,920 --> 00:49:59,759 Speaker 1: be overly negative or undercut their title chances. I think 1095 00:49:59,800 --> 00:50:02,560 Speaker 1: this Celtics would beat the Bucks. I'm just literally talking 1096 00:50:02,560 --> 00:50:05,439 Speaker 1: about strengths and weaknesses, which is kind of the point 1097 00:50:05,440 --> 00:50:06,239 Speaker 1: of the show, if. 1098 00:50:06,160 --> 00:50:07,399 Speaker 2: That makes sense. Two more. 1099 00:50:08,480 --> 00:50:10,719 Speaker 1: You used to love watching you and Newman hoop back 1100 00:50:10,719 --> 00:50:13,600 Speaker 1: in the day. Brandon Newman was my point guard, one 1101 00:50:13,600 --> 00:50:16,520 Speaker 1: of our two point guards at Arizona Christian my last 1102 00:50:16,560 --> 00:50:19,080 Speaker 1: year playing in college. He ended up making an All 1103 00:50:19,120 --> 00:50:22,520 Speaker 1: American team the year after I left. He was kind 1104 00:50:22,520 --> 00:50:24,000 Speaker 1: of in and out of the lineup with injuries of 1105 00:50:24,000 --> 00:50:25,359 Speaker 1: the year that I was there because he was coming 1106 00:50:25,360 --> 00:50:28,160 Speaker 1: off of an acl there, But Brandon Newman was the 1107 00:50:28,480 --> 00:50:31,600 Speaker 1: closest thing that I played with to a guy that 1108 00:50:31,719 --> 00:50:34,160 Speaker 1: kind of played like Chris Paul in terms of just 1109 00:50:34,200 --> 00:50:37,920 Speaker 1: like super methodical pick and role play with outstanding passing 1110 00:50:38,000 --> 00:50:40,160 Speaker 1: ability and the ability to hit all of those like 1111 00:50:40,239 --> 00:50:43,279 Speaker 1: kind of in between shots. Brandon's an outstanding player. Shout 1112 00:50:43,280 --> 00:50:46,279 Speaker 1: out to Brandon. If you leave another comment, tell me 1113 00:50:46,320 --> 00:50:48,200 Speaker 1: how you tell me how you know him? 1114 00:50:48,719 --> 00:50:49,200 Speaker 2: Last one. 1115 00:50:50,400 --> 00:50:52,920 Speaker 1: This is a quote from Jason the Milwaukee Bucks will 1116 00:50:52,920 --> 00:50:55,799 Speaker 1: never be an elite defense end quote. Milwaukee Bucks ranked 1117 00:50:55,840 --> 00:50:57,479 Speaker 1: sixth and in defense since the Griffin fire. 1118 00:50:57,680 --> 00:50:58,000 Speaker 2: Lol. 1119 00:50:58,080 --> 00:51:00,680 Speaker 1: I think they were looking consistently solid on defense. That's 1120 00:51:00,680 --> 00:51:03,640 Speaker 1: a fifteen game sample size. First tough opponents. I have 1121 00:51:03,719 --> 00:51:05,759 Speaker 1: said many times on the show that they're defending way 1122 00:51:05,760 --> 00:51:09,160 Speaker 1: better since Doc Rivers took over the head coaching job. 1123 00:51:09,440 --> 00:51:11,920 Speaker 1: In large part, they're just competing better. Jay Crowder and 1124 00:51:11,960 --> 00:51:14,040 Speaker 1: Malie Beasley are doing a better job on the perimeter 1125 00:51:14,080 --> 00:51:17,400 Speaker 1: than they've been getting early in the season. That said, 1126 00:51:17,520 --> 00:51:22,000 Speaker 1: what an elite defense is about personnel. An elite defense 1127 00:51:22,200 --> 00:51:26,960 Speaker 1: is like Minnesota, who has Anthony Edwards and Jada McDaniels 1128 00:51:27,000 --> 00:51:31,160 Speaker 1: like two top tier perimeter on ball defenders, and Rudy Gobert, 1129 00:51:31,200 --> 00:51:34,480 Speaker 1: a like op tier rim protector. The Bucks have an 1130 00:51:34,480 --> 00:51:39,200 Speaker 1: elite defensive front line, but their perimeter personnel is average 1131 00:51:39,280 --> 00:51:43,160 Speaker 1: at best and closer to below average. What that means 1132 00:51:43,239 --> 00:51:46,360 Speaker 1: is they will have stretches ten fifteen games at a 1133 00:51:46,360 --> 00:51:49,840 Speaker 1: time where they defend better by defensive rating. But to me, 1134 00:51:49,880 --> 00:51:54,000 Speaker 1: an elite defense is about personnel. I don't think Milwaukee 1135 00:51:54,320 --> 00:51:56,760 Speaker 1: needs to be an elite defense to win the title 1136 00:51:57,200 --> 00:52:01,120 Speaker 1: because I think they can be a transcendently elite offense. 1137 00:52:01,440 --> 00:52:04,440 Speaker 1: So it's not about what their ultimate ceiling is. I 1138 00:52:04,480 --> 00:52:07,319 Speaker 1: think this team what they're doing right now in this 1139 00:52:07,719 --> 00:52:10,880 Speaker 1: ranking sixth then defense since the Adrian Griffin firing, they 1140 00:52:10,880 --> 00:52:14,000 Speaker 1: are building out the good defensive habits that will give 1141 00:52:14,040 --> 00:52:17,600 Speaker 1: them the best chance of being a good enough defense 1142 00:52:17,640 --> 00:52:19,799 Speaker 1: when they get to the postseason to beat the best 1143 00:52:19,840 --> 00:52:21,680 Speaker 1: teams in the league. But I think you're fooling yourself 1144 00:52:21,680 --> 00:52:23,520 Speaker 1: if you think Milwaukee's one of the best defenses in 1145 00:52:23,560 --> 00:52:26,160 Speaker 1: the league just giving their personnel. All right, guys, that 1146 00:52:26,239 --> 00:52:27,840 Speaker 1: is all I have for today. As always, I appreciate 1147 00:52:27,840 --> 00:52:29,879 Speaker 1: you guys for supporting the show. No show Tomorrow, I'm 1148 00:52:29,960 --> 00:52:32,360 Speaker 1: headed up to northern Arizona to do some skiing for 1149 00:52:32,560 --> 00:52:34,759 Speaker 1: just the day. We'll be back on Wednesday for some 1150 00:52:34,760 --> 00:52:36,719 Speaker 1: game breakdowns and probably another mail back to drop some 1151 00:52:36,760 --> 00:53:10,160 Speaker 1: more mail back questions. The volume