1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:17,080 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, welcome to Hoops Tonight. You're at 2 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: the volume heavy Friday. Everybody helpful. You guys had a 3 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: great week. We are finally bringing our player rankings list 4 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: to an end today, hitting number one Nicole Jokic briefly 5 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: off the top, and then we're going to get to 6 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: your last batch of player rankings. Mail bag questions, You 7 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: guys know the drill before we get started. Subscribe to 8 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: Hoops Tonight YouTube channels. You don't miss any more of 9 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 1: our videos. Follow me on Twitter, underscore jsonlt so you 10 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: guys don't miss you announcements. 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Go into the comments 20 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 1: right mail bag with a colent, write your question and 21 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: we will get to them in our mail bags throughout 22 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: the rest of the year. All right, let's talk some basketball. 23 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: So as mentioned, our player rankings list finally comes to 24 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 1: an end today, and with this one, there's no debate, 25 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: no lengthy argument to make, no need to pit him 26 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: up against someone else. For the third straight year, Nikole 27 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: Jokic has a stranglehold on the number one spot in 28 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: the NBA. His last season in review, he played in 29 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: seventy games. He's missed just seventy five games in his 30 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: entire ten season long NBA career, meaning he's averaged over 31 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: seventy four games played per season for a decade. Even 32 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: when he missed time this year this most recent season, 33 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: a good chunk of it centered around the birth of 34 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 1: his child, not an injury. He has simply been one 35 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: of the most reliable guys in the league for a decade, 36 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: as averages twenty nine point six points per game that 37 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: was a career high, twelve point seven rebounds per game, 38 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: the second highest rebound average of his career, ten point 39 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 1: two assists per game that was also a career high. 40 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 1: So yes, that represented the first time in Jokic's career 41 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: and just the third player in NBA history to average 42 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: a triple double for an entire season. Two point four 43 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:25,920 Speaker 1: stocks per game that also tied a career high, fueled 44 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: by a career high one point eight steals per game. 45 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: It's interesting because I actually thought Jokic had a pretty 46 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:35,119 Speaker 1: brutal regular season on defense, But at the same time, 47 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 1: I thought he's pretty damn good on defense in the playoffs, 48 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: certainly better than he had been in the previous in 49 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: the previous season. We'll talk more about Yokic's defense later. 50 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 1: Fifty eight percent from the field, forty two percent from three. 51 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 1: That was his best three point shooting season of his career. 52 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: Right on the heels of a season where his three 53 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: point shooting was kind of an issue, he rectified it 54 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: and he became the best shooter he's ever been. Eighty 55 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 1: percent from the foul line. That amounted to sixty three 56 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 1: percent in effect field goal percentage and sixty six percent 57 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 1: in true shooting, which was the second highest mark of 58 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 1: his career behind that crazy twenty twenty three season. So 59 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: to put it very simply, this was the best basketball 60 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 1: Jokic had ever played. Now, okay, see, you won too 61 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: many games too many more games than Denver in order 62 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: for Yokic to have a real shot at MVP. But 63 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: I thought Jokic was very clearly the best basketball player 64 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:28,079 Speaker 1: on the planet again last year, his fifth straight Top 65 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: two MVP finish, his second straight first team All NBA selection. 66 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: Should be five straight there. He just got kicked off 67 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 1: on a technicality basically in twenty twenty three because of 68 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 1: Joel Embiid, just to flaw on how the system works, 69 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: play type data. We're just going to quickly go through 70 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: this and then we'll get into some big picture stuff. 71 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: One point one to three points per ball scream that 72 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: he ran as the handler, so those inverted ball screens 73 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 1: that was in the ninety second percent tile, one point 74 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: zero eight points per possession on ISOs including passes that 75 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: was in the eighty third percent tile, and then one 76 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: point one six points per per cent on post ups, 77 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: which is amazing for posterous volume two. Jokic generated eight 78 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 1: hundred and sixty seven points on post ups last year 79 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: including passes. That was three hundred and sixty three more 80 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: than second place, which was Yiannis. So just by far 81 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: the best post player in the entire game of basketball, 82 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: all of his off ball metrics were insane. He converted 83 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:24,159 Speaker 1: spot ups at one point three to three points per possession. 84 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 1: It's literally in the ninety six percententile. Out of the 85 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: one hundred and seventy eight players to log at least 86 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty spot up opportunities last year, and 87 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 1: again that includes a lot of guards and wings. He 88 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 1: ranked fourth on that list in efficiency had of spot 89 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 1: up situations. He converted rollman opportunities at one point twenty 90 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 1: nine points per possession out of the ten role men 91 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,359 Speaker 1: to log at least two hundred reps. That ranked second. 92 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 1: Jared Allen was the only guy above him, and as 93 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: we all know, Jared Allen was consistently getting easier opportunities. 94 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 1: Just a ridiculous regular season from nikolea Jokic, and he 95 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 1: capped it all off with what I thought was in 96 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,919 Speaker 1: impressive playoff runt. Like the Nuggets looked dead in the 97 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: water going into the postseason. I even picked them against 98 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 1: the Clippers, as many folks did, because the Clippers looked 99 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 1: great and the Nuggets looked terrible. Over the final third 100 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 1: of the season, Aaron Gordon was banged up all year, 101 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: Jamal Murray was banged up at the end of the year, 102 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 1: the team was kind of splintering, they had just fired 103 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 1: their coach, and Yogic galvinized them and got them to 104 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:26,359 Speaker 1: beat a very good Clippers team. And again, I like 105 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 1: I had actually picked against Denver in that series. I 106 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,679 Speaker 1: thought the Clippers were gonna win, and Jokic just got 107 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 1: his team back in shape in time to win a 108 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 1: big series. And then that was a very good Oklahoma 109 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: City team that was a substantial favorite, and he pushed 110 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: them to the brink. And if it wasn't four, especially 111 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:45,679 Speaker 1: down the stretch of Game four and in Game five, 112 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: if he just gets another couple of buckets from a 113 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:52,840 Speaker 1: couple of his teammates, they probably have a very good 114 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: chance to win that series. And so I just was 115 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: really impressed by Jokic start to finish, including the postseason 116 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: last year, and then again really quickly I wanted to 117 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 1: talk about defense, Like I thought it was really impressive 118 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 1: the way that he just kind of locked in using 119 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: his IQ and active hands and stabilized the Denver defense 120 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: that looked awful all season. And they did as good 121 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: a job against Oklahoma City as you could possibly do. 122 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 1: They did better against Oklahoma City than Minnesota did. They 123 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 1: did about as good against Oklahoma City as Indiana did, 124 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: even though Indiana matched up better in terms of quickness 125 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 1: on the perimeter. I thought that Jokicic was far and 126 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 1: away the best player in that Oklahoma City series in 127 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 1: the second round. I just thought it was a really 128 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: impressive campaign from the best basketball player alive. Now, the 129 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 1: case for Jokics being the best player in the world 130 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: is very simple. He may not be the highest volume 131 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: score in the league statistically, although I believe he could 132 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 1: be if he wanted to. It's just not really the 133 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 1: way he's wired. Like Jekobs, Alexander took thirty shots per 134 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 1: one hundred possessions last year. He was an extremely high 135 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 1: volume shooter last year. If Jokics really approached the game 136 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 1: in that way, he put up astronomical scoring totals too. 137 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:05,479 Speaker 1: But I think he's the most reliable small sample score 138 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 1: in the league, meaning like if you take away just 139 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: oh full season points per game total volume, and you 140 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 1: just focus in on like, hey, we got five minutes 141 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 1: of basketball here, and we gotta win this game, and 142 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: it's all gonna come down to these five you know this, 143 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 1: these final fifteen possessions or so I don't think there's 144 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: a better scorer in the league in terms of reliability 145 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: in those situations strictly small sample Brute for scoring, his 146 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 1: short range touch on floaters and hooks is literally unparalleled 147 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 1: in the sport. He was sixty four percent on floaters 148 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: last year, sixty one percent on hooks. He made one 149 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: hundred and eighty of those floaters in hooks last year. 150 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: That's insane volume, and like he's making damn near two 151 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: thirds of them. It's variants proof. Short jump shots inside 152 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: of seventeen feet he shot fifty five percent, He's forty 153 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: seven percent on long twos outside of his seventeen feet, 154 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: forty two on threes, and as we're going to talk about, 155 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 1: much better if you take out the heats, he is 156 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 1: the most variance proof and unstoppable single possession score in 157 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: the entire sport while also being the best passer in 158 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: the entire sport. So the result is you basically cannot 159 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: stop him from getting a good shot for himself or 160 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: a teammate. And that shows in a specific stat that 161 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 1: I actually brought to the forefront last summer. But I 162 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 1: want to go over what those numbers look like this 163 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 1: year to demonstrate. So. In Synergy, they have a stat 164 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: called score percentage, which simply just factors in, if we 165 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:41,680 Speaker 1: run this play, how likely are we to put points 166 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: on the board. Essentially reliability of an action. If you 167 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: ran a post up for Jokic last year, regardless of 168 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 1: how you guarded it, if you shaded him, if you 169 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: hard double teamed him, if you left him on an island, 170 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: regardless of how you guarded it, it had a fifty 171 00:08:56,520 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 1: four percent chance and resulting in points. That's a pretty 172 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 1: name reliable play type. Throw the ball to Jokich, He's 173 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: probably going to score or get someone a shot that 174 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: they're going to make. If you ran an ISO for Jokich, 175 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: it resulted in points fifty two percent of the time, 176 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 1: regardless of how you guarded him. If you ran a 177 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: ball screen for him where he's the handler and you're 178 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: having a guard screen for him or Aaron Gordon screen 179 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 1: for him, it had a fifty two percent chance of 180 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: ending in points, regardless of how you defended it off 181 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: the ball, if you left him open. He shot forty 182 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: nine percent on pick and pop threes. He shot forty 183 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: nine percent on spot up threes. The only reason his 184 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 1: percentages fell to the low forties is because he missed 185 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: like thirty heaves last year. Took a ton of them, 186 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 1: like late shot clock bombs or half court shots. He 187 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: was incredibly reliab. If you let him get a good 188 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 1: look from three, he hit half of them. He is 189 00:09:55,800 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: quite simply the best offensive player I've ever seen, a 190 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:05,959 Speaker 1: deadly variance proof on and off ball score while simultaneously 191 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: being the best passer in basketball. He's even a monster 192 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 1: on the margins. He had seventy five offensive rebound putbacks 193 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: last year. That was the seventh most in the entire NBA. 194 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 1: He was a dominant defensive rebounder. He had averaged the 195 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 1: second most defensive rebounds per game in the entire NBA 196 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 1: last year behind Giannis. We mentioned the career high in steels, 197 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:31,559 Speaker 1: just defensive playmaking. He just impacts the game in an 198 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: absolute mountain of ways. I mentioned two weaknesses last summer 199 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:38,840 Speaker 1: that I said had kind of brought him a little 200 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 1: bit closer to the pack. I said his three point 201 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 1: shooting and his defense were the two things that were 202 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: hurting him. He literally shot in the high forties on threes. 203 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: When you removed heaves from the equation. He was one 204 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: of the best picking pop bigs in the NBA. He 205 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 1: was one of the best spot up players in the 206 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: entire NBA if even if you include guards and wings, 207 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: so you can go ahead and scratch that shooting weakness 208 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 1: off the list. And again, while he had a brutal 209 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: defensive regular season, which was a team wide issue, I 210 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: thought he was really good in the playoffs. He still 211 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 1: has some situational weaknesses, and they're worth mentioning here. They 212 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 1: sound silly in the grand scheme of things, especially compared 213 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:18,959 Speaker 1: to some of the weaknesses for players further down this list. 214 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 1: But if you put him up against a great pick 215 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: and roll player, a guy that can really shoot and 216 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 1: pull him out to the perimeter but can also pass 217 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:29,080 Speaker 1: out of it. So guys like Steph Curry, Luka Doncic, 218 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 1: like those guys are going to give Jokic some issues 219 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: on defense or yeah, like if they didn't blow up 220 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: the Celtics and they stayed healthy and the Nuggets ran 221 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: into that Celtics team in a series, they would have 222 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: been able to space him out. It would have caused 223 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 1: some problems. But Boston's not a threat anymore. And for 224 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 1: any problems that Luca and Steph can cause for Jokic. 225 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: He's going to cause a mountain of problems for them. 226 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:52,080 Speaker 1: On the other end of the floor. I would pick 227 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: Denver to beat Golden State or LA if they were 228 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: to meet in the playoffs this year, at least at 229 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: this point, I actually think Jokich is a particularly solid 230 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 1: defensive matchup for Oklahoma City. It's a matchup that allows 231 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 1: him to use his size and IQ doesn't force him 232 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: to cover as much ground out in space. It's a 233 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: good matchup for him. Ironically, Like, if you really get 234 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 1: dig into like the basketball specifics, a team like Cleveland 235 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:19,439 Speaker 1: is a team that could potentially cause some issues for 236 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 1: Jokic with their speed and pull up shooting and all 237 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 1: of the ability to space the floor that they have. 238 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:28,200 Speaker 1: But like, I actually think Jokic matches up pretty well 239 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: against Oklahoma City. And no, he's not a perfect defensive player, 240 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 1: but in a playoff context, I feel like he can 241 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: do plenty well enough to counterbalance what is the best 242 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: offensive player that I've ever seen on the other end 243 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:44,679 Speaker 1: of the floor. And coming into the season, I think 244 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: this is the best roster that Jokic has ever had. 245 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 1: They've anchored him with substantially more depth substantially more athleticism 246 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 1: that should further allow Jokic to be more useful on defense. 247 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 1: They have a legit backup center to anchors, and again, 248 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: I think they match up well with Oklahoma City. Hell, 249 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 1: they pushed them to seven just last year. A couple 250 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,319 Speaker 1: shots go different in Game five or in Game four, 251 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: they win that series. So in addition to me picking 252 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: Jokic is the best player in the world this season, 253 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 1: I can tell you guys right now that Denver is 254 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 1: my preseason pick to win the title. I think they're 255 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 1: going to be the best playoff team this year. I 256 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: may not get the one seed, but I think they're 257 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:28,200 Speaker 1: going to be up there. And I like they got 258 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: the best player in the world or the best team 259 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: he's ever had, and I'm going to take those odds 260 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 1: against all of the other flaws that are presented further 261 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 1: down the list of contenders. Big shout out to Nikola 262 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 1: Jokich three straight years at number one on this list, 263 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: first player since Lebron James to have the league in 264 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: a stranglehold like this. We are extremely excited to announce 265 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 1: our new presenting sponsor, hard Rock Bet. 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If you are someone 289 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 290 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: one eight hundred and nine with it. Gambling problem called 291 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: one eight hundred gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, 292 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: and Virginia. All right, let's get into our mail bag 293 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 1: before we get out of here today. You've been very 294 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: forthcoming about your process going into this ranking, which I appreciate. 295 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: It really helps to know that the list has gone 296 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: through multiple drafts and that you spent multiple nights sleeping 297 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 1: on it. That said, I was wondering what your general 298 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 1: view on rankings is in more of a broad scope. 299 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,520 Speaker 1: Do you watch other people's rankings, and if so, how 300 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: seriously do you take them? I tend to treat it 301 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: all as a fun way to engage with the game, 302 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 1: and it always baffles me to see people get so 303 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: heated over the rankings. Thank you and love the show. 304 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for the kind words and for 305 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 1: supporting this show. Honestly, like I don't particularly care about, 306 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: like INDI visually ranking players in the sense that, like 307 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 1: I don't get too worked up about the lists and 308 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 1: where other people have people ranked. I think it's a 309 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: fun thought exercise. So for instance, like I like doing 310 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: this once a summer just to like zoom out and 311 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: take a look at the league. And one of the 312 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 1: things you guys will notice is, like the vast majority 313 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: of people who do lists will just share their lists, 314 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 1: and they might have like a little blurb that they 315 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 1: put underneath their ranking. But like, as you guys know, 316 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: we went into incredible detail on all of these players. 317 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: Like my primary purpose of this list is to zoom 318 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: out and take a look at where all these guys land, 319 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 1: and just my opinions, you guys can get a view 320 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: of where I see things and where I see the game. 321 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean it has to be where you see 322 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 1: the game. But most importantly, regardless of how you feel 323 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 1: about the rankings with each guy, it's like kind of 324 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 1: like a performance review, so to speak. Not that I'm 325 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: these guys boss or anything, but the point is is, 326 00:16:56,640 --> 00:17:00,080 Speaker 1: like it's my opportunity to like dig back into the number, 327 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 1: dig back into the film, take a look at a 328 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 1: basketball player and be like, where's this dude at right now? 329 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 1: And that kind of helps me If I do that 330 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 1: every summer, it helps me just have a really firm 331 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: grasp on the individual trajectories of each player. This guy's 332 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 1: going up, this guy's going down, this guy's stagnating. Here's why. 333 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 1: Here are the numbers that show that. Here are the 334 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:22,879 Speaker 1: things that I'm noticing on tape. Here's what Yiannis is 335 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: doing differently than he did in years past as a playmaker. 336 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:29,919 Speaker 1: You know, here's where Lebron is struggling compared to when 337 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 1: he was in his prime. Like those, I learn a 338 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:36,919 Speaker 1: ton from these lists. Like the ranking is the ranking. 339 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:39,439 Speaker 1: I throw the ranking together, like you mentioned in the 340 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:42,640 Speaker 1: first week, right like, I sleep on it several times 341 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 1: and I reorganize things. But once I settle on a ranking, 342 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 1: it effectively turns into a month long research project. It's 343 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:53,439 Speaker 1: a research project where I spend an enormous amount of 344 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:57,439 Speaker 1: time researching these players, and even though I've watched them 345 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: all season. It allows me to really just dive into 346 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:03,959 Speaker 1: one particular player, look at both ends of the floor, 347 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:07,119 Speaker 1: look at what he accomplished last season, where his areas 348 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: of opportunity are where for young players their development trajectory 349 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 1: needs to go. It's it's essentially a research project. And 350 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 1: so yeah, like I'm not gonna like when the ESPN 351 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,120 Speaker 1: player rankings come out. I don't really get all worked 352 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:22,639 Speaker 1: up about it. I do this for you guys and 353 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 1: for me. I do it for you guys so that 354 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:27,520 Speaker 1: you guys can see kind of where I have each 355 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:29,919 Speaker 1: of these players ranked as just kind of like a 356 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: big picture snapshot of the NBA, and then I do 357 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 1: it for me as a research project to learn about 358 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:38,719 Speaker 1: where these players are in more detail. It's just an 359 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 1: opportunity in the summertime to take advantage of all the 360 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,959 Speaker 1: time that we have there. Hi, Jason, you say that 361 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 1: Shay doesn't have best in the world potentially. I got 362 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 1: a lot of questions surrounding Shay, A lot of people 363 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:52,639 Speaker 1: who were comparing him to prime MJ, people who were 364 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: saying that he does have potential to be the best player. 365 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:56,400 Speaker 1: And there were a lot of thunder fans that were 366 00:18:56,520 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: unhappy with that particular conversation. And I am recording this 367 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,880 Speaker 1: mail bag before our Shay Luca video releases. Which comes 368 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:10,880 Speaker 1: out next week on Wednesday, or I should say two 369 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,480 Speaker 1: days ago, but I am recording this in advance, so 370 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 1: I haven't seen those questions, and I'm sure there's going 371 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: to be a ton of thunder fans that are super 372 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:21,959 Speaker 1: pissed off that I have Luca ahead of him, and 373 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:23,879 Speaker 1: that are super pissed off that I said he doesn't 374 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 1: have best player in the world potential. So this question 375 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 1: kind of falls into that lens, and it allowed me 376 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:30,439 Speaker 1: to hit a bunch of those points. The rest of 377 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:32,959 Speaker 1: the question, I don't understand what else he needs to do. 378 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 1: He outplayed Anton Jokic this year in the playoffs, he 379 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 1: outplayed Luca. Last year he carried the offense on a 380 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:40,120 Speaker 1: limited offensive team and took them to sixty eight wins 381 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,440 Speaker 1: in a championship. Okay sees offensive system does not require 382 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:45,399 Speaker 1: him to have high assist numbers on like Denver with 383 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 1: Jokich in LA with Luca, he impacts the game in 384 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 1: different ways. He averaged thirty three points on thirty four 385 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:53,880 Speaker 1: minutes per game with great efficiency. I understand Yokic above him, 386 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 1: but with Sga already arguably the best player in the world, 387 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:59,919 Speaker 1: love the show, so I couple I want to just 388 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:02,879 Speaker 1: start by disagreeing with a couple of specific things that 389 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 1: you said. You said he outplayed Ant this last season. 390 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 1: I agree. I thought that he badly outplayed Ant in 391 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:13,040 Speaker 1: that series, but Ant is not a top tier superstar. 392 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 1: You said he outplayed Yokich this year in the playoffs. 393 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,919 Speaker 1: I thoroughly disagree. I thought Jokich was the best player 394 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 1: in that series. You said he outplayed Luca last year. 395 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: I also thoroughly disagree there, and I think this is 396 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:28,439 Speaker 1: where before I get back into the Luca Shay piece, 397 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:31,640 Speaker 1: I want to look at the other comment you said. 398 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: You said Oklahoma City's offensive system does not require him 399 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: to have high assist numbers, unlike Denver with Jokich, in 400 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: LA with Luca. That I fundamentally disagree with. They're not 401 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:45,679 Speaker 1: putting up massive assist numbers while Shay's not because of 402 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: the offensive system. They're doing it because Jokiic and Luca 403 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 1: are just better offensive players than Shay, who are much 404 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 1: better at running a team offense and are much better 405 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 1: at setting those dudes up with quality opportunities. I just 406 00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 1: think they're better. I think Shae and his kind of 407 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 1: tendency to have games where he goes rogue and forces 408 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 1: the issue a lot earlier, actually hurts his team and 409 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:10,880 Speaker 1: hurts his rhythm, hurts his the rhythm of his teammates. 410 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:13,440 Speaker 1: To be clear, we're splitting hairs here. I think Shane's 411 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 1: the third best player in the world. So I'm not 412 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 1: over here trying to say Shae's a bum. But if 413 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: you're asking me why I have Luca in Jokich above 414 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:23,159 Speaker 1: the above Shay, I think both of those guys are like, 415 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:28,159 Speaker 1: clearly and discernibly better offensive players than Shae, even the 416 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 1: scoring piece, like oh, he averaged thirty three points per game. 417 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:35,120 Speaker 1: He had this prime MJ scoring type of season literally 418 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:38,119 Speaker 1: just one season prior, when Luca was healthy, he had 419 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: a better scoring season than Shae. He had crazier totals. 420 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: He had like a seventy three point game this season. 421 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:47,400 Speaker 1: That season he averaged like thirty four points per game 422 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:51,200 Speaker 1: while also being in my opinion, the second best overall 423 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 1: offensive engine in the game with his ability to create 424 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 1: advantages for his teammates. Like, I just don't think Shae's 425 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 1: as good offensively as just his simple points per game metric, 426 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 1: would you lead you to believe? And again, the shot 427 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 1: totals are insane. He literally averaged thirty shot attempts per 428 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:09,199 Speaker 1: one hundred possessions last year. It's like a he just 429 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:11,479 Speaker 1: was shooting a ton and scoring a ton. And by 430 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:14,159 Speaker 1: the way, I think Shay is a transcendently great score 431 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:18,880 Speaker 1: I just don't think he's a transcendently great offensive player overall, 432 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:21,600 Speaker 1: the way that Luca is and the way that jokiches 433 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:26,119 Speaker 1: even to a greater extent, The question is can Shae 434 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:30,400 Speaker 1: become that type of offensive engine. And throughout NBA history, 435 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 1: this is the unique thing, and it's just kind of tricky, 436 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 1: like you kind of have to be born with that trait. 437 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 1: I've seen players become better at it, and they become 438 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:47,359 Speaker 1: more consistent making the reads, they become more consistent game managers. 439 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 1: I think Damian Lillard is a good example of this 440 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:53,680 Speaker 1: kind of guy who like kind of maximized his individual 441 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:57,959 Speaker 1: potential as a playmaker. But to be very clear, there 442 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,639 Speaker 1: is still a gigantic chasm between that type of guy 443 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:09,199 Speaker 1: and the relentless advantage creating deadly defense, beating passers that 444 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:10,879 Speaker 1: you run into at the top of the league that 445 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:14,119 Speaker 1: it's like they've just been born with it, Like Lebron 446 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 1: James in his prime, Chris Paul, you know, Trey Young 447 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: I think fits into this category the Nikola Jokic, Luka 448 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 1: Doncic types, And when you're looking at a guy like 449 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:29,360 Speaker 1: to me, Jokic and Luca are both every bit as 450 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 1: talented as scorers as Shay. They may not lean into 451 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 1: it as much, and they may not shoot as many shots, 452 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:36,320 Speaker 1: and they may not hit as many totals, although Luka 453 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 1: we've literally seen him do it. But I think if 454 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,600 Speaker 1: Jokic was like, oh I have I have a fifty 455 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 1: million dollar incentive next year to average thirty five points 456 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 1: per game, I think Jokic could average thirty five points 457 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:50,480 Speaker 1: per game like that. Like like, I think Shay is 458 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:53,959 Speaker 1: a score first player who's really fucking good at it. 459 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:58,720 Speaker 1: But I think Luka and Jokic are overall better offensive players. 460 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,160 Speaker 1: So the question is if Shay's not going to progress 461 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 1: to become this like Grease the Wheels offensive engine that's 462 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:10,480 Speaker 1: an unbelievable playmaker, where else can he make that improvement? 463 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:12,400 Speaker 1: And like I do think that Shay is a good 464 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 1: defensive player, I think it's absurd that he got Defensive 465 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 1: Player of the Year votes like that to me is 466 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 1: crazy talk. I think that some of the talk about 467 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: him being like an elite like top end defensive player 468 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:26,119 Speaker 1: is crazy talk. But I think he's a good defender. 469 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: He's a good playmaker, a defensive playmaker, like he can 470 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 1: jump passing lanes, play the ball well. He's a good 471 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:34,160 Speaker 1: like help side guy at the ramis got good length, 472 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 1: he can block shots. But Shay doesn't have either the 473 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 1: bandwidth because of his offensive load or honestly, the athletic 474 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 1: traits to be the transcendently great defensive player. He would 475 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:49,199 Speaker 1: need to become the best player in the world. So, like, 476 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:50,760 Speaker 1: let's look at the guy by the way, I have 477 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 1: a question. I have a question later on where someone 478 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 1: talks about how they're skeptical that Ant can ever become 479 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 1: that elite defensive player too. I agree, like, and we'll 480 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:03,639 Speaker 1: get to that more in a minute. As a matter 481 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 1: of fact, let me go to that real quick and 482 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:09,119 Speaker 1: then we'll come back to that. We'll come back to 483 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:12,320 Speaker 1: the Shaye piece this question. I take the bet that 484 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:15,880 Speaker 1: Ant never becomes an all defensive guy. One, his offensive 485 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:18,320 Speaker 1: role is too big to compete with the defensive specialists 486 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:20,879 Speaker 1: around the league, and two he struggles with more than 487 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 1: just ball screens personally. He's not great off ball, I agree, 488 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:25,880 Speaker 1: and I think his size limits him next to guys 489 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:29,960 Speaker 1: like Dyson Daniels and Asar Thompson, Timanti Kamara, Jduve, etc. 490 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:34,879 Speaker 1: So for the record, I agree, like I would bet 491 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:38,560 Speaker 1: on Ant not becoming the all defense guy, and I 492 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 1: would bet on Ant not becoming the best player in 493 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,680 Speaker 1: the world. I am just saying he has that potential. 494 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 1: The point you're making, the point about his offensive role 495 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 1: is what I think, Like, that's why I think he 496 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: won't get there. It's because his offensive role is too big, 497 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:57,760 Speaker 1: and I just don't think he'll ever dedicate the necessary resources. 498 00:25:57,840 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 1: That second piece I disagree with, Like, you're right, he's 499 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:03,320 Speaker 1: pretty bad off ball right now, and he's pretty bad 500 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:06,359 Speaker 1: at navigating screens. But I think he can be great 501 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 1: at all of those things. The thing with his size, 502 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:10,640 Speaker 1: and there's this kind of theory, and this is this 503 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 1: is not new. This is a theory that's existed in 504 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 1: the world of basketball for a while, which is like, 505 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 1: can guys be so big that they have a hard 506 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:21,119 Speaker 1: time navigating screens? And I do think that that's true 507 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 1: for upright players, players that have high centers of gravity, 508 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 1: But Ant, I think is a guy who could blow 509 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:29,359 Speaker 1: up screens. I think if Aunt really put in the 510 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 1: work and wanted to be he could be a guy 511 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: that was unscreenable because of how fast he is, because 512 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 1: how good his footwork is, and because of his strength 513 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 1: and his shoulders. He can blow screens up as he's 514 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:41,960 Speaker 1: going through those actions and really become a guy that 515 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:45,320 Speaker 1: big guys don't even want to screen. So like I 516 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 1: do think Ant has the potential to become a transcendently 517 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:53,480 Speaker 1: great defensive player and a transcendently great score I just 518 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:58,400 Speaker 1: think it's more likely that he becomes a transcendently great scorer, 519 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: but probably not as great on defense as he needs 520 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:03,679 Speaker 1: to be, which means I think I think Shay's clearly 521 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 1: better than it now. But I think the most likely 522 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:08,640 Speaker 1: scenario is Ant and Shay are more or less neck 523 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 1: and neck for the rest of their careers, and I 524 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 1: don't think either of them ever actually end up threatening 525 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:17,160 Speaker 1: that best player in the world conversation. I think Ant 526 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 1: has that potential, to be clear because of his athletic traits. 527 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 1: I don't think either of them has the potential to 528 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:26,640 Speaker 1: be a transcendently great playmaker, but Ant has the potential 529 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:28,480 Speaker 1: on defense. I just think it's more likely than not 530 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:30,920 Speaker 1: that he doesn't get there now. So the question is 531 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:33,679 Speaker 1: what about when Luca or what about when Jokic declines? 532 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:36,879 Speaker 1: Like if Jokic declines, can Shay become that guy? And 533 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 1: I just I think it's more likely that it's a Luca. 534 00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:41,920 Speaker 1: I think it's more likely that it's a Victor wem 535 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:45,880 Speaker 1: Minyama because Luca transcendently great, scores every bit as good 536 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:48,240 Speaker 1: a score as Shaye, if not a little better, and 537 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:52,680 Speaker 1: he's a substantially better passer, playmaker, offensive engine. Like, I 538 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 1: think he's going to stay above Shae for the most 539 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:59,959 Speaker 1: part in his career too, the Victor women Yama piece, Like, 540 00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:02,040 Speaker 1: I think he's going to be a guy who averages 541 00:28:02,080 --> 00:28:04,560 Speaker 1: twenty eight thirty points per game on sixty plus percent 542 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:06,800 Speaker 1: for shooting, while also being the defensive player of the 543 00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:09,840 Speaker 1: year perennially, year in and year out. That's a guy 544 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:12,680 Speaker 1: that's a better basketball player than Shake Gildas Alexander. That's 545 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:14,679 Speaker 1: a guy that's a better basketball player than the most 546 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:17,879 Speaker 1: likely and eventual version of Anthony Edwards. So like again, 547 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:21,119 Speaker 1: like to me, I think where people got confused is 548 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:25,200 Speaker 1: like I don't necessarily expect Ant to become better than 549 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:27,359 Speaker 1: Shae and to enter into that best player in the 550 00:28:27,359 --> 00:28:30,760 Speaker 1: world conversation. It's just I think Ant does have this 551 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:35,879 Speaker 1: like freaky athletic potential that could theoretically manifest in the 552 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 1: most devastating two way player at the guard position in 553 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 1: the league. Which I don't think Shaye has the ability 554 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:43,760 Speaker 1: to be the most devastating two way player at the 555 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:45,760 Speaker 1: guard position in the league. I don't think that's something 556 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:47,920 Speaker 1: that's in his potential, don't. I don't think he has 557 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 1: the athletic gifts or the size and strength to necessarily 558 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:53,440 Speaker 1: be that guy. But like again, like this is okay, guys, 559 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:56,720 Speaker 1: like there are people like do you understand, Like Kevin 560 00:28:56,760 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 1: Durant more or less was in that top tier but 561 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:04,280 Speaker 1: never became the best guy. Steph might have done it 562 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 1: for one year in twenty twenty two. I think he 563 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 1: did do it for one year in twenty twenty two. Like, 564 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:12,760 Speaker 1: if Shan ends up being a guy who's the second, third, 565 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:15,719 Speaker 1: fourth best player in the league for seven eight years, 566 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 1: he's gonna be remembered with the likes of Steph Curry 567 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 1: and Kevin Durant. It's it's just it's a very, very 568 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:25,120 Speaker 1: different conversation when you get into like this dude's the 569 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:28,880 Speaker 1: best basketball player on planet Earth. That's the conversation that 570 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:32,080 Speaker 1: Jokic just had in his stranglehold for three straight years, 571 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:36,920 Speaker 1: and like that requires you to be transcendently great at 572 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:40,160 Speaker 1: at least two things. You go back to twenty twenty 573 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:42,440 Speaker 1: two when it was Steph he is one of the 574 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 1: great advantage creators in the NBA. Still to this day, 575 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 1: you can put a bunch of random dudes with him 576 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:49,760 Speaker 1: and he's a one twenty offensive rating. And back in 577 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:52,120 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two, he was still the guy who could 578 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:56,600 Speaker 1: be the volume elite transcendently great score. If you think 579 00:29:56,640 --> 00:29:59,840 Speaker 1: it's Giannis in twenty twenty one, like transcendently great def 580 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,680 Speaker 1: defensive player, transcendently great scorer. At that point in time, 581 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 1: he had figured some things out, especially at the foul line. 582 00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 1: Lebron transcendently great playmaker, transcendently great score and one of 583 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 1: the elite defensive players in the league. That's why he's 584 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 1: in the goat conversation. Like you go back before that 585 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 1: to Kobe Bryant, it's same thing. Transcendently great defensive player 586 00:30:17,760 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 1: in his prime, transcendently great score. Like there's a very like, 587 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:28,040 Speaker 1: when you get into that conversation best player on the planet, 588 00:30:29,080 --> 00:30:32,200 Speaker 1: it's an extremely high standard that you're looking to hit, 589 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:35,000 Speaker 1: and I get it, Like this all gets convoluted because 590 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:38,240 Speaker 1: he hoisted the trophy and like I had comments that were, like, 591 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:40,760 Speaker 1: Shay just had the best scoring season since MJ. He 592 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:43,520 Speaker 1: won the scoring title, he won MVP, he won finals, MVP. 593 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 1: I'm not hating on the season. There's a remarkable accomplishment season. 594 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:52,840 Speaker 1: But Oklahoma City had the best roster, and in a 595 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 1: lot of ways, it was Shay's game management that became 596 00:30:57,200 --> 00:30:59,680 Speaker 1: an issue at various points in the playoffs, which is 597 00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:03,080 Speaker 1: why they got pushed to seven games by inferior basketball 598 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:06,120 Speaker 1: teams this year. The reason Oklahoma City won the title 599 00:31:06,520 --> 00:31:09,000 Speaker 1: is they have the best defense of this era. Their 600 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:12,440 Speaker 1: defense is so damn good it literally forced Nicole Jokic 601 00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:16,400 Speaker 1: into the first like stretch of mediocre basketball from him 602 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:20,640 Speaker 1: that we've literally ever seen. That defense caused players to 603 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 1: piss down their leg Jaron Jackson completely decomposed, Julius Randall 604 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:31,360 Speaker 1: completely decomposed. That was an all time great defense that 605 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:33,720 Speaker 1: the third best player in the world ended up being 606 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:36,320 Speaker 1: enough offense for them to win. That's the way I 607 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:39,440 Speaker 1: look at it, and again, like I just am talking, 608 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:42,720 Speaker 1: we are splitting hairs among the best players in the world. 609 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:45,120 Speaker 1: I ranked Shaye above Yannis this year. You know how 610 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 1: hard it is to be above Giannis Antennacumpo as a 611 00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:52,160 Speaker 1: basketball player. I have a ton of respect for Shade. 612 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 1: Like I had another comment, someone said, like, you just 613 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:58,360 Speaker 1: don't like Shae because of the aesthetics. I don't necessarily 614 00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:04,040 Speaker 1: like lucas aesthetics, the flopping, the grifting. He's not a 615 00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 1: vertical player. He's not a guy that has like a 616 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:09,200 Speaker 1: ton of fluidity in his jump shot. It's kind of 617 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:12,360 Speaker 1: like a set shot. Like Luca is not a player 618 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:15,560 Speaker 1: that I love aesthetically. I think he can pound the 619 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:17,440 Speaker 1: air out of the basketball sometimes, something that I don't 620 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:23,040 Speaker 1: necessarily love watching on television. I understand. I will be 621 00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:25,760 Speaker 1: fourthright with you guys and tell you how I feel 622 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:28,280 Speaker 1: about a player. Yeah, Shay's not my favorite player. Joel 623 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:31,280 Speaker 1: Embiid wasn't my favorite player, but I can promise you 624 00:32:31,560 --> 00:32:34,040 Speaker 1: that I will try like hell to rank them fairly 625 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:38,880 Speaker 1: in that context. To me, Luca is above Shay because 626 00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:42,160 Speaker 1: he is every bit the score in a much better playmaker, 627 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:45,800 Speaker 1: offensive engine same goes for Nikola Jokic. That's why I 628 00:32:45,840 --> 00:32:48,320 Speaker 1: have Shaye in third place. The reason why I don't 629 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:50,160 Speaker 1: think he can become the best player in the world 630 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:54,000 Speaker 1: is because we have other guys in his age group, 631 00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:58,160 Speaker 1: Luca who's transcendently great at two things, scoring and playmaking, 632 00:32:58,440 --> 00:33:01,600 Speaker 1: Wemby who's going to be transcendently great at two things 633 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:05,400 Speaker 1: scoring in defense, and Jokic, who still literally just had 634 00:33:05,400 --> 00:33:07,760 Speaker 1: the best season of his career. So, like, I think 635 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:10,960 Speaker 1: it's more likely that Shay is a perennial first team 636 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:14,600 Speaker 1: All NBA, top tier superstar guy that just never cracks 637 00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:17,920 Speaker 1: that number one spot. And while Ant does have that potential, 638 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:20,040 Speaker 1: I agree with you, thunder fans. I think it's more 639 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:22,960 Speaker 1: likely than not that Ant doesn't become that he just 640 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:25,680 Speaker 1: eventually catches up to Shay and those two dudes kind 641 00:33:25,720 --> 00:33:28,560 Speaker 1: of battle for the best two guard in the league spot. 642 00:33:29,080 --> 00:33:36,840 Speaker 1: Looking forward in the next era of the NBA, is 643 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:39,960 Speaker 1: there any argument that supports an optimistic Warriors season that 644 00:33:39,960 --> 00:33:42,200 Speaker 1: would not also work for the Mavericks. Both of injury 645 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:45,520 Speaker 1: prone players leading the team's offense, both have incredible depth 646 00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:48,520 Speaker 1: and can put out fourteen competent players during the season, 647 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:51,120 Speaker 1: and both have a defensive floor that is relatively high. 648 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:53,560 Speaker 1: I understand that the Warriors offense is better, but Butler 649 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:55,920 Speaker 1: is an aging, injury prone player who does not value 650 00:33:55,920 --> 00:33:58,680 Speaker 1: the regular season but is very necessary for their success, 651 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:01,440 Speaker 1: while the Mavericks have excuse me, a young core of 652 00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:04,840 Speaker 1: hungry players looking to get back into contention. I don't 653 00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:06,520 Speaker 1: see how someone could have the Warriors higher than the 654 00:34:06,560 --> 00:34:09,040 Speaker 1: MAVs when both teams have injury history, but the MAVs 655 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:12,200 Speaker 1: are significantly younger. This is a regular season, by the way, 656 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:14,160 Speaker 1: and not the playoffs. I won't argue against Steph in 657 00:34:14,160 --> 00:34:17,120 Speaker 1: the playoffs. That's truly I think. Honestly, I disagree with you. 658 00:34:17,200 --> 00:34:20,120 Speaker 1: Like I wouldn't be surprised if the MAVs ended up 659 00:34:20,160 --> 00:34:23,200 Speaker 1: above Golden State in the regular season. If Anthony Davis 660 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:25,360 Speaker 1: comes back, and like I talk about Luca having a 661 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:27,640 Speaker 1: revenge season, I think it's very possible that Anthony Davis 662 00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:29,880 Speaker 1: has a revenge season. He's had a long time to 663 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:32,400 Speaker 1: rest and to get in shape. He's probably pissed off 664 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:34,840 Speaker 1: if he got traded. I wouldn't be surprised if we 665 00:34:34,840 --> 00:34:36,880 Speaker 1: have an awesome season out of Anthony Davis. They have 666 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:40,600 Speaker 1: an incredible depth of defensive talent. It's just simple about 667 00:34:40,680 --> 00:34:42,600 Speaker 1: simply about the offensive end of the floor. That's where 668 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:44,800 Speaker 1: that could become an issue. But in the regular season, 669 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:47,879 Speaker 1: I think defense matters more. When you get to the postseason, 670 00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:51,200 Speaker 1: you gotta have both. But in the regular season, as 671 00:34:51,200 --> 00:34:53,840 Speaker 1: we've seen with teams like Houston, if you get enough stops, 672 00:34:53,880 --> 00:34:56,960 Speaker 1: you can just exist in transition and score enough points 673 00:34:56,960 --> 00:34:59,400 Speaker 1: to win games. And so I wouldn't be surprised if 674 00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:02,200 Speaker 1: the MAVs and it up at a higher seed at 675 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:04,319 Speaker 1: the end of the season. But the real thing is 676 00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:08,560 Speaker 1: is neither Kyrie nor Anthony Davis are like really truly 677 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:12,120 Speaker 1: great offensive players overall. Running a team like we saw 678 00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:16,000 Speaker 1: what prime Kyrie looked like leading the Celtics. Like Steph 679 00:35:16,080 --> 00:35:19,080 Speaker 1: Curry even at age thirty seven, you just put him 680 00:35:19,120 --> 00:35:20,759 Speaker 1: out there with some dudes and you get a one 681 00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:23,319 Speaker 1: to twenty offensive rating because of his ability to fly 682 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:25,799 Speaker 1: around and draw two to the ball consistently. So like 683 00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:28,560 Speaker 1: to me, I would view the Warriors as a more 684 00:35:28,640 --> 00:35:31,480 Speaker 1: dangerous playoff team because they're probably still going to be 685 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:34,360 Speaker 1: great on defense with Draymond and Jimmy and especially if 686 00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:37,320 Speaker 1: Al Horford gets picked up and Steph Curry is still 687 00:35:37,360 --> 00:35:39,880 Speaker 1: just a way better offensive player than anybody wearing a 688 00:35:39,920 --> 00:35:45,480 Speaker 1: Dallas Mavericks jersey. Two more quick ones. Can you explain 689 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:49,320 Speaker 1: pissel action? How works and what are the advantages and disadvantages? 690 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:51,640 Speaker 1: I love this question. We don't get a ton of 691 00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:53,080 Speaker 1: this kind of stuff, but if you guys ever want 692 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:55,759 Speaker 1: to dive into these concepts. I always find these very fascinating, 693 00:35:56,480 --> 00:35:57,920 Speaker 1: so I'd love to get into them. All you have 694 00:35:57,960 --> 00:35:59,439 Speaker 1: to do is continue to drop them in the mail 695 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:04,000 Speaker 1: back question. Pistol is essentially a handoff that flows into 696 00:36:04,040 --> 00:36:08,520 Speaker 1: a ball screen. I've seen variations of this action called 697 00:36:08,560 --> 00:36:11,200 Speaker 1: a bunch of different things. You'll see it called Chicago 698 00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:15,239 Speaker 1: in the NBA. You'll see it called zoom in the NBA. Pistol, right, 699 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:19,440 Speaker 1: pistol generally, let's set up the floor first and go 700 00:36:19,520 --> 00:36:21,640 Speaker 1: from there. Just imagine a big that's kind of hanging 701 00:36:21,680 --> 00:36:23,640 Speaker 1: out around the top of the key. You've got two 702 00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:25,759 Speaker 1: players spacing on the weak side, so corner wing on 703 00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:27,880 Speaker 1: the weak side, but let's focus on the strong side. 704 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:30,040 Speaker 1: You got a big that's somewhere around the top of 705 00:36:30,040 --> 00:36:31,560 Speaker 1: the key, and you got a guy in the corner 706 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:32,920 Speaker 1: and the guy in the corner is the guy we're 707 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:35,000 Speaker 1: trying to get the ball to. I'm the point guard 708 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:38,520 Speaker 1: bringing the ball up the floor. And if in a 709 00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:42,400 Speaker 1: pistol action, generally speaking, I'm just gonna dribble into the 710 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:45,120 Speaker 1: corner and hand off the ball to the guy coming 711 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:47,440 Speaker 1: out of the corner, and that is going to flow 712 00:36:47,480 --> 00:36:49,560 Speaker 1: into the big man at the top of the key 713 00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:52,120 Speaker 1: coming over to set a screen. So it's essentially a 714 00:36:52,239 --> 00:36:55,919 Speaker 1: dribble handoff into a ball screen. Right. That's usually called 715 00:36:55,960 --> 00:36:59,000 Speaker 1: pistol zoom or Chicago. It's the same principle, it just 716 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:01,840 Speaker 1: looks a little different. You'll dump the ball to the 717 00:37:01,880 --> 00:37:04,840 Speaker 1: big and instead of the guard going in dribble hand offing, 718 00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:07,160 Speaker 1: the big will go in dribble handoff and the guard 719 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:10,680 Speaker 1: will just set a screen first. So in either case, 720 00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:13,719 Speaker 1: regardless of how you set it up, the guard is 721 00:37:13,719 --> 00:37:16,920 Speaker 1: gonna come off of two screens, a guard screen first 722 00:37:16,960 --> 00:37:19,600 Speaker 1: and a big screen second. And whether or not he 723 00:37:19,640 --> 00:37:21,480 Speaker 1: gets the dribble hand off from the guard or the 724 00:37:21,560 --> 00:37:24,200 Speaker 1: dribble handoff from the big, it's still more or less 725 00:37:24,239 --> 00:37:27,040 Speaker 1: creates the same basketball dynamic. And again, I never get 726 00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:29,359 Speaker 1: too hung up on the names of actions because they 727 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:32,320 Speaker 1: tend to differ from team to team. Like even just 728 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:35,280 Speaker 1: when I was playing in college, we had the same 729 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:39,640 Speaker 1: defensive actions or defensive coverages or offensive actions that would 730 00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:42,080 Speaker 1: just have different names depending on the team that I 731 00:37:42,120 --> 00:37:44,520 Speaker 1: was playing for. And I've seen similar when I've been 732 00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:47,080 Speaker 1: covering the NBA over the last several years. But that 733 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:50,359 Speaker 1: word Chicago zoom pistol, all those actions more or less 734 00:37:50,400 --> 00:37:52,319 Speaker 1: mean the same thing. The guard is coming out of 735 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:54,359 Speaker 1: the corner off of a dribble hand off either from 736 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:56,880 Speaker 1: the big or the guard, but it's a double stagger 737 00:37:57,200 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 1: from the guard and from the big, and from there 738 00:37:59,680 --> 00:38:02,000 Speaker 1: it just creates It's a three man action, right, you 739 00:38:02,040 --> 00:38:04,200 Speaker 1: have three players involved in the action, and it just 740 00:38:04,280 --> 00:38:08,120 Speaker 1: forces the guys to make a bunch of decisions. Right. So, like, 741 00:38:08,480 --> 00:38:10,600 Speaker 1: let's say that the guy guardless, because we know the 742 00:38:10,640 --> 00:38:12,440 Speaker 1: target of the possession, the guy we're trying to get 743 00:38:12,440 --> 00:38:15,080 Speaker 1: the ball to, is in the corner. Let's say that 744 00:38:15,320 --> 00:38:18,160 Speaker 1: the defense decides to lock and trail, meaning the guy 745 00:38:18,160 --> 00:38:20,640 Speaker 1: guarding the man in the corner just prepares to chase 746 00:38:20,719 --> 00:38:22,759 Speaker 1: him over the top of those screens. Well, if he 747 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:24,799 Speaker 1: chases him over the top of those screens, you've got 748 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:27,640 Speaker 1: two chances to screen him. If you hit him right, 749 00:38:27,960 --> 00:38:29,759 Speaker 1: he's going to come off the other side of that 750 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:32,880 Speaker 1: screen and he's gonna have an opening to potentially shoot. 751 00:38:33,200 --> 00:38:35,719 Speaker 1: If he stays attached, he's still going to be in 752 00:38:35,760 --> 00:38:38,280 Speaker 1: trail positions, so he should be able to curl around 753 00:38:38,320 --> 00:38:42,279 Speaker 1: the big and get downhill into the paint regardless of 754 00:38:42,320 --> 00:38:46,120 Speaker 1: what the regardless of what the guard does coming off 755 00:38:46,160 --> 00:38:49,760 Speaker 1: of that action, the defensive big has to make a decision. 756 00:38:49,960 --> 00:38:52,480 Speaker 1: He's either got to be up to contest the shot 757 00:38:52,680 --> 00:38:55,480 Speaker 1: or he's got to be back preparing to contain the 758 00:38:55,520 --> 00:38:57,960 Speaker 1: ball if it comes at him. And so if it's defended. 759 00:38:58,239 --> 00:39:00,640 Speaker 1: Let's say that the guy chases over the top and 760 00:39:00,680 --> 00:39:03,719 Speaker 1: the guy gets downhill and he attacks, in all likelihood 761 00:39:03,719 --> 00:39:05,640 Speaker 1: the big is gonna have to step up to help 762 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:09,560 Speaker 1: on that drive. That leaves your big the offensive big 763 00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:13,080 Speaker 1: open to either pop out or to roll into space 764 00:39:13,480 --> 00:39:15,680 Speaker 1: off of that. But there's all sorts of reads that 765 00:39:15,719 --> 00:39:18,200 Speaker 1: can be made out of it. Let's say that the 766 00:39:18,239 --> 00:39:20,879 Speaker 1: guards decide to switch, so they go run that first 767 00:39:20,960 --> 00:39:23,520 Speaker 1: dribble handoff and those two guards decide to switch. Well, 768 00:39:23,560 --> 00:39:25,880 Speaker 1: the second guard who's taking the guy coming out of 769 00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:29,200 Speaker 1: the corner is now highly susceptible to a screen because 770 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:31,239 Speaker 1: he was just guarding a ball handler going in the 771 00:39:31,239 --> 00:39:34,120 Speaker 1: opposite direction. His shoulders are probably turned, his hips are 772 00:39:34,120 --> 00:39:36,560 Speaker 1: probably turned. The BIG's gonna have an easier chance to 773 00:39:36,640 --> 00:39:38,480 Speaker 1: hit him. If he hits him, he can come off 774 00:39:38,520 --> 00:39:40,279 Speaker 1: and shoot, or force the big to step up and 775 00:39:40,360 --> 00:39:43,399 Speaker 1: drop it off to the big. There's also overplays, right, 776 00:39:43,480 --> 00:39:47,640 Speaker 1: so like when we pistol was actually our our main 777 00:39:47,719 --> 00:39:51,200 Speaker 1: five out motion when my first year coaching, when I 778 00:39:51,239 --> 00:39:53,080 Speaker 1: was coaching high school and two son is like five 779 00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:56,239 Speaker 1: years ago, and the way we ran it, it was 780 00:39:56,320 --> 00:39:58,360 Speaker 1: like you were encouraged if you were the ball handler 781 00:39:58,360 --> 00:40:00,160 Speaker 1: and you're bringing the ball up to dribble hand off 782 00:40:00,160 --> 00:40:02,399 Speaker 1: with the guy out of the corner, if your man 783 00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:05,200 Speaker 1: wasn't paying attention and the dude was locking and trailing, 784 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:07,319 Speaker 1: you could fake the hand off and just try to 785 00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:09,280 Speaker 1: turn the corner and get all the way to the basket. 786 00:40:09,320 --> 00:40:11,480 Speaker 1: And it's a five out concept, so the help defense 787 00:40:11,600 --> 00:40:13,960 Speaker 1: might be looser. You might have an opportunity for a layup. 788 00:40:14,400 --> 00:40:16,839 Speaker 1: Let's say they top lock, so the guy in the 789 00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:20,799 Speaker 1: corner is overplaying the defensive guy in the corner is 790 00:40:20,840 --> 00:40:23,560 Speaker 1: overplaying the offensive guy in the corner and forcing him 791 00:40:23,560 --> 00:40:26,320 Speaker 1: to backcut. Well, there are reads there, right, like especially 792 00:40:26,320 --> 00:40:28,080 Speaker 1: out of Zoom or Chicago. You throw the ball to 793 00:40:28,120 --> 00:40:30,600 Speaker 1: the Big, you go to set it, he's top locking, 794 00:40:30,800 --> 00:40:34,719 Speaker 1: he backcuts. Guys like Draymond have been killing teams with 795 00:40:34,840 --> 00:40:37,200 Speaker 1: like passes, in back cuts, out of overplays, out of 796 00:40:37,200 --> 00:40:40,359 Speaker 1: that sort of thing throughout their entire careers, right, So, like, 797 00:40:40,560 --> 00:40:44,040 Speaker 1: it's essentially just a three man action that flows into 798 00:40:44,080 --> 00:40:47,120 Speaker 1: a dribble handoff with the guard out of the corner, 799 00:40:47,520 --> 00:40:49,919 Speaker 1: coming off of the Big at the top of the key, 800 00:40:50,360 --> 00:40:52,680 Speaker 1: and that screen usually gets set a little bit further 801 00:40:52,719 --> 00:40:54,759 Speaker 1: towards the sideline. The Big just usually starts at the 802 00:40:54,760 --> 00:40:56,920 Speaker 1: top of the key, but he'll set it closer to 803 00:40:56,960 --> 00:40:59,640 Speaker 1: the elbow extended, and then there's a lot of room 804 00:41:00,040 --> 00:41:01,680 Speaker 1: in the middle of the floor for that guy to 805 00:41:01,760 --> 00:41:04,880 Speaker 1: attack downhill and just force the defense to react. Like 806 00:41:05,239 --> 00:41:07,720 Speaker 1: what if the big stays home, but the two helpers 807 00:41:07,760 --> 00:41:09,880 Speaker 1: on the weak side step over, Well, that's a pitch 808 00:41:09,960 --> 00:41:12,720 Speaker 1: out for three or an opportunity to drive a close 809 00:41:12,760 --> 00:41:16,400 Speaker 1: out right Chicago Zoom pistol. It's one of my favorite 810 00:41:16,400 --> 00:41:19,520 Speaker 1: early offense actions because has really good natural flow to it, 811 00:41:19,640 --> 00:41:22,840 Speaker 1: especially pistol. So like say you're playing pick up with 812 00:41:22,880 --> 00:41:26,000 Speaker 1: your buddies or in your men's league, such an easy 813 00:41:26,080 --> 00:41:29,200 Speaker 1: action to run to just get an easy advantage. Have 814 00:41:29,320 --> 00:41:31,640 Speaker 1: your big run the floor to the top of the key. 815 00:41:32,080 --> 00:41:34,640 Speaker 1: Have your point guard just run up the floor and 816 00:41:34,719 --> 00:41:36,560 Speaker 1: dribble hand off to the guy in the corner, and 817 00:41:36,600 --> 00:41:39,560 Speaker 1: have him come off a ball screen. It is super easy. 818 00:41:39,840 --> 00:41:42,920 Speaker 1: It has this very natural flow to it, and you 819 00:41:43,080 --> 00:41:45,440 Speaker 1: just play basketball off of it. He gets into the 820 00:41:45,440 --> 00:41:46,880 Speaker 1: paint and the guy helps and you kick it to 821 00:41:46,920 --> 00:41:49,239 Speaker 1: the wing. Once you have an advantage, once you have 822 00:41:49,719 --> 00:41:53,640 Speaker 1: any advantage, there's no reason to plays anymore. There's no 823 00:41:53,719 --> 00:41:56,920 Speaker 1: reason to run a set. You just play basketball. The 824 00:41:57,080 --> 00:41:59,759 Speaker 1: entire purpose of running a set is to either get 825 00:41:59,760 --> 00:42:03,319 Speaker 1: a or to get a guy and open catch at 826 00:42:03,360 --> 00:42:05,879 Speaker 1: the three point line with the defender sprinting out at him. 827 00:42:05,920 --> 00:42:09,840 Speaker 1: Once you've done that, you've done the job. He chases 828 00:42:09,880 --> 00:42:11,719 Speaker 1: him too hard off the line, he's gonna drive. Now 829 00:42:11,760 --> 00:42:13,799 Speaker 1: it's a five on four. You can wait for the 830 00:42:13,840 --> 00:42:16,399 Speaker 1: defense to react the key. There is the spacing, right, 831 00:42:16,440 --> 00:42:18,480 Speaker 1: so like once you get into the middle of the floor, 832 00:42:18,480 --> 00:42:20,719 Speaker 1: you can kind of imagine it, right. So like, let's 833 00:42:20,760 --> 00:42:24,560 Speaker 1: say that I come off of that dribble handoff and 834 00:42:24,600 --> 00:42:26,080 Speaker 1: I get into the middle of the floor and I 835 00:42:26,200 --> 00:42:29,080 Speaker 1: swing to the left wing. Because I didn't have an 836 00:42:29,080 --> 00:42:33,120 Speaker 1: opportunity to score, it's very important that I cycle back 837 00:42:33,160 --> 00:42:34,920 Speaker 1: through to that strong side corner and the guy that 838 00:42:34,960 --> 00:42:36,640 Speaker 1: was in the corner cycles up. You want to make 839 00:42:36,640 --> 00:42:40,160 Speaker 1: sure you maintain your spacing within the action, otherwise guys 840 00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:42,680 Speaker 1: can get in each other's way. But like, essentially, you 841 00:42:42,760 --> 00:42:45,040 Speaker 1: run action to get an advantage. And once you have 842 00:42:45,080 --> 00:42:48,040 Speaker 1: an advantage, as long as you're spacing is set up properly, 843 00:42:48,200 --> 00:42:50,239 Speaker 1: you just play basketball. And so those are the two 844 00:42:50,320 --> 00:42:54,400 Speaker 1: keys to running successful offense. It's action that generates advantage 845 00:42:54,760 --> 00:42:57,080 Speaker 1: in spacing once you have your advantage. If you have 846 00:42:57,120 --> 00:43:01,400 Speaker 1: those two things figured out, it's talent will show through 847 00:43:01,920 --> 00:43:05,040 Speaker 1: as guys get those advantages and capitalize on them. Again, 848 00:43:05,120 --> 00:43:07,160 Speaker 1: love that stuff. Anything like that, You guys are welcome 849 00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:09,880 Speaker 1: to dropping the questions and we'll get into it, Hi, Jason, 850 00:43:09,880 --> 00:43:12,319 Speaker 1: love your show. More of an operating business question. How 851 00:43:12,360 --> 00:43:14,240 Speaker 1: substantial of a drop off do you see in views 852 00:43:14,239 --> 00:43:16,640 Speaker 1: when the NBA is on versus when it's off, And 853 00:43:16,680 --> 00:43:20,920 Speaker 1: how much do you try to include Steph Lebron jokicch 854 00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:23,640 Speaker 1: Lakers or Warriors when you're picking mailbag questions and just 855 00:43:23,719 --> 00:43:27,439 Speaker 1: content in general. So we obviously do see a drop 856 00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:30,560 Speaker 1: off in the summer. That's natural, like it actually the 857 00:43:30,760 --> 00:43:34,040 Speaker 1: our numbers, our numbers are up year over year consistently 858 00:43:34,080 --> 00:43:36,160 Speaker 1: thanks to you guys. You guys have done an amazing 859 00:43:36,239 --> 00:43:39,640 Speaker 1: job supporting the show. But that's in like the big picture, 860 00:43:39,719 --> 00:43:42,320 Speaker 1: it's not a linear growth like it always kind of 861 00:43:42,360 --> 00:43:45,360 Speaker 1: looks like this, and there are several peaks and valleys 862 00:43:45,400 --> 00:43:48,280 Speaker 1: throughout the season, right, So let's start with the summer. 863 00:43:48,719 --> 00:43:53,120 Speaker 1: There's usually a peak during free agency, and then there's 864 00:43:53,160 --> 00:43:56,439 Speaker 1: a lull after free agency when things really slow down. 865 00:43:56,800 --> 00:43:58,800 Speaker 1: Then there's a peak at the start of the season. 866 00:43:58,800 --> 00:44:01,600 Speaker 1: Our numbers are usually really good in October, but then 867 00:44:01,640 --> 00:44:04,640 Speaker 1: you get into November and December and things kind of 868 00:44:04,680 --> 00:44:07,360 Speaker 1: like slow down a little bit. The NFL becomes a 869 00:44:07,400 --> 00:44:11,280 Speaker 1: bigger part of the deal. We did have a peak, 870 00:44:11,520 --> 00:44:14,759 Speaker 1: another peak in December two years ago because of the 871 00:44:14,840 --> 00:44:17,320 Speaker 1: n season tournament, and the Lakers are a massive brand, 872 00:44:17,400 --> 00:44:19,680 Speaker 1: so we hit some really big numbers during that time. 873 00:44:20,040 --> 00:44:23,280 Speaker 1: Bucks Thunder not as big a brands. We covered that game, 874 00:44:23,320 --> 00:44:25,200 Speaker 1: but it you know, obviously didn't hit the same quite 875 00:44:25,200 --> 00:44:27,399 Speaker 1: a number. We had a little bit of a lull there. 876 00:44:27,640 --> 00:44:30,920 Speaker 1: You get into trade deadline, huge peak, right, you get 877 00:44:30,960 --> 00:44:34,040 Speaker 1: a peak because you have new players changing teams, and 878 00:44:34,080 --> 00:44:36,600 Speaker 1: then for a few weeks after that, everyone's really curious 879 00:44:36,600 --> 00:44:38,919 Speaker 1: about how the new teams look. Right, But then once 880 00:44:38,920 --> 00:44:41,919 Speaker 1: you get into late March, it slows down again because 881 00:44:41,960 --> 00:44:43,719 Speaker 1: it's like, Okay, now we're in the stretch run. A 882 00:44:43,760 --> 00:44:46,120 Speaker 1: lot of the good teams are resting players, you know, 883 00:44:46,600 --> 00:44:49,799 Speaker 1: there's tanking teams that are barely even playing their guys. Like, 884 00:44:50,400 --> 00:44:52,000 Speaker 1: there can be a little lull there. Then you get 885 00:44:52,040 --> 00:44:55,279 Speaker 1: into the postseason and it peaks again, right. But like, 886 00:44:55,320 --> 00:44:58,239 Speaker 1: even within this year's postseason, there's like the market thing. 887 00:44:58,560 --> 00:45:00,600 Speaker 1: When we got to the final four, we had three 888 00:45:00,600 --> 00:45:03,040 Speaker 1: of the final four markets. We're small markets, and so 889 00:45:03,360 --> 00:45:05,240 Speaker 1: our numbers took a little bit of a dip across 890 00:45:05,320 --> 00:45:08,279 Speaker 1: the board when you get into those final two playoff rounds. Right. So, like, 891 00:45:08,560 --> 00:45:11,480 Speaker 1: there's natural peaks and valleys that exist throughout the season 892 00:45:11,800 --> 00:45:14,000 Speaker 1: based on the natural peaks of the season. But to me, 893 00:45:14,040 --> 00:45:17,880 Speaker 1: the natural peaks are the trade the free agency period 894 00:45:17,880 --> 00:45:20,520 Speaker 1: in early July, the first month of the season in 895 00:45:20,560 --> 00:45:24,040 Speaker 1: October the trade deadline in the NBA playoffs. Those are 896 00:45:24,080 --> 00:45:26,280 Speaker 1: like the four peaks that we ride throughout the season. 897 00:45:26,320 --> 00:45:30,120 Speaker 1: As far as like the strategy of including our big markets, 898 00:45:31,160 --> 00:45:33,680 Speaker 1: I have like a very simple kind of ideology about 899 00:45:33,680 --> 00:45:36,360 Speaker 1: this kind of thing. I want to cover the whole league, 900 00:45:37,320 --> 00:45:39,440 Speaker 1: but I want to do it within reason because this 901 00:45:39,560 --> 00:45:41,600 Speaker 1: is a business. So I'm not going to spend like 902 00:45:41,640 --> 00:45:44,440 Speaker 1: an entire week covering the Hornets and the Pistons and 903 00:45:44,480 --> 00:45:46,759 Speaker 1: a bunch of teams that are Pistons are actually a 904 00:45:46,760 --> 00:45:48,879 Speaker 1: bad example now because the Pistons are good, but years 905 00:45:48,880 --> 00:45:51,040 Speaker 1: ago when the Pistons were bad. I'm not going to 906 00:45:51,120 --> 00:45:52,840 Speaker 1: just sit there and cover a bunch of bad teams 907 00:45:52,880 --> 00:45:54,879 Speaker 1: because that would be bad for the performance of this show. 908 00:45:54,880 --> 00:45:57,319 Speaker 1: It would be bad for the future of everything I'm 909 00:45:57,360 --> 00:45:59,960 Speaker 1: trying to build here, right, So, like my general idea 910 00:46:00,520 --> 00:46:03,960 Speaker 1: is I try to in every episode have at least 911 00:46:04,520 --> 00:46:08,080 Speaker 1: one of our larger fan bases represented. We have several 912 00:46:08,160 --> 00:46:10,919 Speaker 1: larger fan bases. The Celtics are a big one for us, 913 00:46:11,320 --> 00:46:15,800 Speaker 1: The Mavericks, Nuggets like teams that make long playoff runs. 914 00:46:15,800 --> 00:46:18,200 Speaker 1: Because we cover them so intensively during the playoffs. We 915 00:46:18,280 --> 00:46:20,799 Speaker 1: tend to build a fan base there. Denver's one of 916 00:46:20,800 --> 00:46:23,239 Speaker 1: our bigger fan bases. The Knicks are one of our 917 00:46:23,280 --> 00:46:24,960 Speaker 1: bigger ones. We hit a bunch of big numbers with 918 00:46:25,000 --> 00:46:28,120 Speaker 1: the Indiana Pacers last year. You have like your seven 919 00:46:28,239 --> 00:46:34,120 Speaker 1: or eight bigger market slash more engaged fan bases, and 920 00:46:34,200 --> 00:46:36,080 Speaker 1: I always try to get at least one of those 921 00:46:36,120 --> 00:46:38,680 Speaker 1: in a full episode, and we're usually gonna lead with it. 922 00:46:39,239 --> 00:46:41,960 Speaker 1: That's the business, right, I'm gonna market the full episode 923 00:46:42,000 --> 00:46:45,360 Speaker 1: around that, but we're always gonna have three or four segments, 924 00:46:45,760 --> 00:46:48,800 Speaker 1: and in those segments behind, that's where we get into 925 00:46:48,880 --> 00:46:51,040 Speaker 1: the rest of the league. And so one of the 926 00:46:51,080 --> 00:46:54,600 Speaker 1: big things that I fought for in earlier this year, 927 00:46:54,640 --> 00:46:56,719 Speaker 1: and one of the things that Jackson's done an amazing 928 00:46:56,840 --> 00:46:59,920 Speaker 1: job of, is if we cover a team in any way, 929 00:47:00,080 --> 00:47:02,440 Speaker 1: shape or form with a full segment on the show, 930 00:47:02,600 --> 00:47:06,120 Speaker 1: it's getting its own breakout clip. And we're also sorting 931 00:47:06,120 --> 00:47:08,440 Speaker 1: them by teams. So if you go into our playlists 932 00:47:08,960 --> 00:47:11,640 Speaker 1: under playlist, there's a playlist for every single team in 933 00:47:11,680 --> 00:47:14,279 Speaker 1: the NBA manifested there. So, like, if you're a Bulls fan, 934 00:47:14,840 --> 00:47:17,600 Speaker 1: you know, obviously the Bulls are a lower tier team 935 00:47:17,640 --> 00:47:19,279 Speaker 1: in the Eastern Conference, so We're not going to cover 936 00:47:19,320 --> 00:47:21,440 Speaker 1: them as often, but I usually cover them a few 937 00:47:21,440 --> 00:47:23,800 Speaker 1: times a year, and when we do, it'll drop in 938 00:47:23,880 --> 00:47:27,160 Speaker 1: the Chicago Bulls folder. If you are a Nuggets fan, 939 00:47:27,160 --> 00:47:29,160 Speaker 1: we're gonna hit you more often. If you go to 940 00:47:29,280 --> 00:47:31,600 Speaker 1: the playlist and you click on Denver Nuggets, every time 941 00:47:31,600 --> 00:47:34,120 Speaker 1: I cover the Nuggets, there will be a video that 942 00:47:34,280 --> 00:47:36,799 Speaker 1: is represented there. It's very important to me that the 943 00:47:36,880 --> 00:47:39,360 Speaker 1: channel is organized in a way that, yeah, we're gonna 944 00:47:39,400 --> 00:47:42,640 Speaker 1: have our full episodes be branded usually around one of 945 00:47:42,680 --> 00:47:46,120 Speaker 1: our bigger markets or a bigger fan base is not 946 00:47:46,160 --> 00:47:48,840 Speaker 1: necessarily even a big market. Some of our smaller markets 947 00:47:48,880 --> 00:47:52,600 Speaker 1: have very engaged fan bases that we lean into. Right 948 00:47:52,760 --> 00:47:54,880 Speaker 1: I expect Victor Wiman Yama and the Spurs to be 949 00:47:54,960 --> 00:47:56,520 Speaker 1: kind of one of those markets in the next couple 950 00:47:56,560 --> 00:47:58,960 Speaker 1: of years. No one views San Antonio as a massive market, 951 00:47:59,160 --> 00:48:00,719 Speaker 1: but there are a lot of Spurs fans that are 952 00:48:00,800 --> 00:48:04,160 Speaker 1: ravenous for Spurs content, and so we're gonna work. That's 953 00:48:04,160 --> 00:48:06,359 Speaker 1: gonna be a fan base that we continue to build out. 954 00:48:06,400 --> 00:48:10,080 Speaker 1: But for me, the cutoff is like unserious teams, like 955 00:48:10,160 --> 00:48:13,480 Speaker 1: we're gonna hit the top twenty twenty three teams in 956 00:48:13,520 --> 00:48:15,640 Speaker 1: the league, the teams that are actually trying to win. 957 00:48:15,800 --> 00:48:18,720 Speaker 1: But I'm not gonna waste a bunch of time watching 958 00:48:18,719 --> 00:48:21,520 Speaker 1: a ton of footage in the middle of the season 959 00:48:21,760 --> 00:48:24,000 Speaker 1: on one of the bottom six or seven teams in 960 00:48:24,000 --> 00:48:28,200 Speaker 1: the league, except for occasionally evaluating rookies, right like, oh, 961 00:48:28,239 --> 00:48:31,160 Speaker 1: this guy got drafted. Let's check in on Brandon Miller 962 00:48:31,160 --> 00:48:33,080 Speaker 1: and see how he's doing, like that kind of thing. 963 00:48:33,160 --> 00:48:36,640 Speaker 1: But our general our general layout is we're gonna lead 964 00:48:36,719 --> 00:48:41,000 Speaker 1: shows with bigger markets, bigger things, because that's just smart business. 965 00:48:41,239 --> 00:48:43,200 Speaker 1: But we are gonna cover the rest of the league 966 00:48:43,520 --> 00:48:47,200 Speaker 1: diligently in subsequent segments. And I have fought for the 967 00:48:47,200 --> 00:48:50,280 Speaker 1: way we build our production plan around you guys, making 968 00:48:50,280 --> 00:48:52,680 Speaker 1: sure that you get a full breakout clip for every 969 00:48:52,719 --> 00:48:55,279 Speaker 1: single team that I cover. So the thing that got 970 00:48:55,280 --> 00:48:57,240 Speaker 1: frustrating for me in the past was, like I hated 971 00:48:57,280 --> 00:49:00,800 Speaker 1: it when like I would cover the sh Cogo Bulls 972 00:49:00,840 --> 00:49:03,840 Speaker 1: for like eleven minutes, or I would cover the New 973 00:49:03,960 --> 00:49:07,760 Speaker 1: Orleans Pelicans for fifteen minutes, but it would be tucked 974 00:49:07,800 --> 00:49:09,880 Speaker 1: at the end of a show and it wouldn't get 975 00:49:09,960 --> 00:49:11,960 Speaker 1: marketed at all, Like wouldn't be in the thumbnail, and 976 00:49:12,000 --> 00:49:13,640 Speaker 1: it wouldn't be in the title and we wouldn't have 977 00:49:13,680 --> 00:49:15,960 Speaker 1: a breakout clip, and I'd be like, I just put 978 00:49:15,960 --> 00:49:18,759 Speaker 1: in all that work covering that team and it's not 979 00:49:18,800 --> 00:49:20,680 Speaker 1: actually showing up on the channel. We got to make 980 00:49:20,719 --> 00:49:23,080 Speaker 1: sure that everyone can actually see this stuff, and so 981 00:49:23,560 --> 00:49:26,960 Speaker 1: we've been doing that. Jackson has like completely transformed the 982 00:49:27,560 --> 00:49:30,200 Speaker 1: production flow of the show for the better. I'm sure 983 00:49:30,239 --> 00:49:33,440 Speaker 1: you guys have noticed. Ever since Jackson came in in February, 984 00:49:33,480 --> 00:49:36,760 Speaker 1: he's done an amazing job of just of just bringing 985 00:49:36,840 --> 00:49:41,480 Speaker 1: us to like a more well rounded production approach that 986 00:49:41,520 --> 00:49:44,280 Speaker 1: you guys will see. But yeah, essentially, it's a business. 987 00:49:44,360 --> 00:49:46,040 Speaker 1: You got to hit big markets, you got to hit 988 00:49:46,040 --> 00:49:48,200 Speaker 1: big names. But I try to do it within the 989 00:49:48,239 --> 00:49:51,759 Speaker 1: context of covering the league at large, and we primarily 990 00:49:51,800 --> 00:49:54,560 Speaker 1: focus on the serious teams right in that like top twenty, 991 00:49:54,600 --> 00:49:58,120 Speaker 1: top twenty three, twenty four teams, depending on how many 992 00:49:58,160 --> 00:50:01,600 Speaker 1: teams are tanking in any given season. This season in 993 00:50:01,640 --> 00:50:04,400 Speaker 1: the Eastern Conference, once you get off that top you know, 994 00:50:04,560 --> 00:50:07,240 Speaker 1: six or seven teams, there's a lot of bad teams 995 00:50:07,280 --> 00:50:09,720 Speaker 1: in the Eastern Conference, and so that's gonna be tricky 996 00:50:09,760 --> 00:50:12,120 Speaker 1: this year and we'll see how it goes. But but 997 00:50:12,160 --> 00:50:14,480 Speaker 1: again that uh, that's just kind of more or less 998 00:50:14,480 --> 00:50:16,800 Speaker 1: a little look behind the curtain as to how we 999 00:50:16,840 --> 00:50:19,120 Speaker 1: structure our production. All right, guys, it's all I have 1000 00:50:19,200 --> 00:50:22,080 Speaker 1: for today. I sincerely appreciate you guys for supporting us. 1001 00:50:22,080 --> 00:50:24,400 Speaker 1: I'm stoked that we made it through the player rankings 1002 00:50:24,400 --> 00:50:26,359 Speaker 1: list again this year. Thank you guys so much for 1003 00:50:26,400 --> 00:50:29,040 Speaker 1: your comments and for your support. We will have list 1004 00:50:29,080 --> 00:50:31,080 Speaker 1: week next week. I'll see you guys then.