1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:16,759 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, well, good to hoops to night 2 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: here at the volume. Happy Wednesday, everybody. Hope all of 3 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: you guys are having a great week so far as promise, 4 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 1: we're getting to your mail bag questions today. Got a 5 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: bunch of questions from around the league. It's gonna be fun. 6 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: Can't wait to get into it. You guys on the 7 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: job before we get started. Subscribe to this channel so 8 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: you don't miss any more of our videos. Excuse me, 9 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 1: don't forget to like this video. That helps us a 10 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 1: lot in the last one at least. If you want 11 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: to get mail bag questions into our future mail bags, 12 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: just find our full episodes on YouTube. Go into the comments, 13 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 1: put mail bag with the colon. Write your question. We'll 14 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: get to them usually on Fridays. It's just a little 15 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: different because I've got some friends in town to ski 16 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: this week, but usually on Fridays we'll have mail bags 17 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:51,239 Speaker 1: throughout the rest of the season. That's how you get 18 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 1: questions in. All right, let's talk some basketball. So our 19 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: first mail bag question. This one's kind of funny. Who 20 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 1: says no Bers? Send lebron James and Bronnie James and 21 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: the Warriors send Jimmy Butler Will Richard in a twenty 22 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: twenty eight first round pick. So I don't know if 23 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: anybody says no to this deal, other than maybe Lebron. 24 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: The tricky thing with this is like, if I'm the Warriors, 25 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 1: I'm turning a massive salary slot with a torn acl 26 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:28,040 Speaker 1: into Lebron James, who's been very much Lebron James over 27 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 1: the course of the last month and a half or so, 28 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 1: and a guy that immediately puts the Warriors back on 29 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 1: the map as a championship contender within this season. Bronnie 30 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: James is just you know, a throw in. Obviously, if 31 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: you're the Lakers, you get Will Richard, who is the 32 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: type of player that they need just to guard with 33 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: some athleticism, who can dribble, shoot and pass. So like 34 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: for the Lakers, that's amazing in a first round pick, 35 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: Turning forty one year old Lebron into a first round pick, 36 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: like wow, right, I think I think again. The number 37 00:01:57,760 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: one thing that would kill this deal is probably the 38 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 1: Lebron not wanting to pick up and move his family 39 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: in the middle of the season. But overall, we did 40 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: see some discussion. I saw a report that came out 41 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: that the Warriors want to get Giannis and Lebron after 42 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: this year, and we talked yesterday about all of the 43 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 1: specific reasons why making a deal for Giannis is so 44 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 1: difficult if you do it by including Jimmy, I don't 45 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: know why Milwaukee would take on Jimmy's contract unless you 46 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: just had a ton of draft compensation. And if you 47 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: send every pick that you've got, you're just putting a 48 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: lot of eggs in that basket. And I'm still not 49 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: sure that's enough to compete with some of the offers 50 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: they would get from around the league. So that gets tough. 51 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: And if you don't include Jimmy, you have to bring 52 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: a third team in to take on Buddy Healed salary. 53 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: If you do that, now you're sending another piece of 54 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 1: draft compensation in that direction, which lessens the amount of 55 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:47,359 Speaker 1: picks that you can send towards Milwaukee. So, like Yiannis, 56 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: is just extremely difficult. But strictly speaking about Lebron, because 57 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: while I do think that this is unlikely, and by 58 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: the way, the framework I think makes sense for both teams. 59 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 1: I think the Warriors would love to have Lebron, and 60 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: I think the Lakers would love to have a first round, 61 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 1: picking a two way guard for their forty one year 62 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: old star that they're playing and unloosing over the next 63 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: couple of years. So the framework you put together I 64 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: think makes a lot of sense. But I just think 65 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 1: it's unlikely that Lebron allows a trade within the season. 66 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:15,639 Speaker 1: So more looking at the bigger picture, I don't think 67 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 1: it's outside of the realm of possibility that Lebron goes 68 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: to Golden State in the summer. If Lebron is out 69 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: a is a complete unrestricted free agent after this year, 70 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: he can sign with the Warriors on a mid level exception. 71 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:31,799 Speaker 1: You could sign with the Warriors on a veteran minimum, 72 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 1: right like, he can sign with the Warriors in a 73 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 1: variety of ways. And if he did, you start the 74 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: season with all of the young players that they have, 75 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: and you know, Steph and Draymond and Al Horford and 76 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 1: everything that they have this season. But then maybe in 77 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: January of twenty twenty seven, Jimmy Butler comes back and 78 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, you got Steph, Jimmy and Lebron 79 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: and Draymond trying to go and win some playoffs series. Like, 80 00:03:57,600 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: I don't think it's outside of the realm of possibility. 81 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: Think Lebron is a wonderful basketball fit with Golden State. 82 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: I think if you don't think Steph and Lebron wouldn't 83 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 1: figure out a way to do a lot of damage 84 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: to the NBA. Of course they would, even at their ages. 85 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 1: And so even though your trade I think is somewhat 86 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: unrealistic just on its face because of the Lebron's no 87 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,359 Speaker 1: trade clause, I think after this season it's something that 88 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,040 Speaker 1: is like a legitimate possibility, and as a basketball fan, 89 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: I would certainly really like to see Lebron and Steph 90 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: play together. Hello, Jason mailback question for you, if you're 91 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: the Pistons front office, and obviously the way that they've 92 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: been dominated as the first seed in the East, do 93 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 1: you consider them standing pat and letting this play out 94 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: and see how far this goes in the playoffs or 95 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:39,919 Speaker 1: where they try making a difference making move for player 96 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 1: like Lori Markinin, Trey Murphy or Michael Porter Junior. Enjoy 97 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 1: watching your shows in your basketball analysis. Thank you so 98 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 1: much for the kind words and for supporting the show. 99 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: So I got a lot of pushback from Pistons fans 100 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,599 Speaker 1: in our Eastern Conference trade preview talking about how like 101 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 1: Isaiah Stewart is like this indispensable rotation player and this 102 00:04:57,120 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: and this guy's gonna cost this much and all this 103 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: kind of stuff. I think that Pistons fans, at least 104 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: from what I'm seeing in the comments. And I'm not 105 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 1: saying all of you guys are like this, but I 106 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: think some of you guys are falling into a classic 107 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 1: trap from the young team that figures it out in 108 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: the first season. So like, for example, take the Thunder 109 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 1: this year. The Thunder this season, Shay is much better 110 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 1: than he was last year. He's gone up a massive 111 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: level in terms of his efficiency and just his floor management. 112 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: And Shae's just really damn good. Chet substantially better than 113 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: last year. AJ Mitchell has exploded onto the scene. There 114 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 1: are a lot of things with Oklahoma City that is 115 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: just better than it was last year. The only real 116 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: negative has just been Jalen Williams's injuries, but that's been 117 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: part of what's allowed AJ Mitchell to kind of pop 118 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: onto the scene. They have a lower winding percentage than 119 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:54,679 Speaker 1: last year because when you're for the first time ever 120 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: crushing everybody, it's fun and you're in the grind of 121 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:01,919 Speaker 1: the regular season and you're winning, and you're winning, and 122 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: you're winning and you're winning. You get addicted to winning, 123 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 1: and it all just kind of racks up, and then 124 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: inevitably what happens is you go into a playoff series 125 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: and you realize really quickly, oh shit, we're down two 126 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,600 Speaker 1: to one to Denver. Oh shit, we're down two to 127 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: one to Indiana. No one gives a damn that we 128 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 1: won sixty eight games. You gotta win these two week 129 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: playoff series against these teams. And then all of a sudden, 130 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: you end up back in December and back in January 131 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:33,280 Speaker 1: and you're like, another game, Shit, we gotta the Pacers 132 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: are like picking us up full court and like we're 133 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: dealing with this big pain in the ass Pacers team, 134 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 1: and like no one's gonna care if we beat them, 135 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: and you end up losing a game. That game against 136 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: the Pacers is a game that the Thunder do not 137 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: lose last year, but they like last year the Thunder. 138 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 1: We're twenty nine to one versus the Eastern Conference and 139 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 1: they barely lost a game in Cleveland against the Cavs. 140 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:00,720 Speaker 1: They already have three losses to the East this season. 141 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: So the point I'm trying to make is the Pissons 142 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 1: right now are in that phase where they're young and athletic, 143 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: and they're playing super hard every single night, and they're 144 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 1: racking up regular season wins, and then what's gonna happen 145 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 1: is they're gonna end up in a tough playoff series 146 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 1: and they're gonna be down two one to somebody, and 147 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: it's gonna be like, oh shit, no one cares that 148 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 1: we won sixty two games this year. No one cares. 149 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: And then all of a sudden, after they lose, they'll 150 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 1: be in December January next season and all of a sudden, like, 151 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: you know, Jason Tatum's back in the equation, Tyres Halliburton's 152 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: back in the equation, and they're not gonna be you know, 153 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 1: thirty eight and ten or whatever or whatever it is 154 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: they are at this point in time. They're going to 155 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: be something a little bit less than that. Because a 156 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: lot of teams in this cycle, Minnesota is a great 157 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: example to the other. A couple of years ago, Minnesota 158 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 1: has this kick ass regular season. It's all the same dudes, 159 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: and it's even better you add Dante DiVincenzo. Julius Randall's 160 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: been a better fit than cat all these things of 161 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: on their way, but they haven't been able to recapture 162 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: the level of intensity they had in the regular season 163 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: that first year, right. And you can find examples like 164 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: that all the way down the line, the early John Moran, 165 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: Desmond Bay and Jaron Jackson Memphis Grizzlies teams for example, 166 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 1: like it just it's it's very common for a young, 167 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 1: talented team to have a regular season where they kick 168 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 1: everyone's ass, and that doesn't necessarily mean that they're ready 169 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 1: to compete for championship just yet. So when I look 170 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: at the Pistons, you want to know why I'm high 171 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 1: on the Pistons. It's not because they're the one seed 172 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: in the East. It's not because their record is that 173 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 1: of a you know, the hallmark that we typically see 174 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: with championship contenders. I'm high on the Pistons because of 175 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 1: what I see in the basketball, because I believe in 176 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: Kate Cunningham as an offensive engine and the improvements he's 177 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 1: made in crunch time this year that have been a 178 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 1: problem in the past. Because I love how physically dominant 179 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 1: their front line is and how they could just bully teams, 180 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 1: and how that's just one series before I've watched, like 181 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:04,559 Speaker 1: I watched the Knicks beat the Calves a couple of 182 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: years back, literally just because Mitchell Robinson beat the shit 183 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:09,840 Speaker 1: out of Jared Allen and Evan Mobley in a playoff 184 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: series because he's too physically strong for them and his 185 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 1: rim protection was a problem for Evan Mobley on short roles, right, Like, 186 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: I've seen Detroit cause problems for the Knicks because of 187 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: their massive, physical front line. Like, I'm a big believer 188 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,440 Speaker 1: in what that does in the postseason. I'm a big 189 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 1: believer in their depth of perimeter defense talent and how 190 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 1: they get into the basketball and they're just a forty 191 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: eight minutes of a ball pressure type of team that 192 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: makes you super uncomfortable and they never really let up, right, Like, 193 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 1: those are the reasons why I'm high on Detroit. Like 194 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 1: it's I'm always looking at these teams through the lens 195 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 1: of what a playoff series would look like. And what 196 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: I see right now with the Pistons in a playoff 197 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 1: series is when they get into these slow down half 198 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 1: court environments, they don't have enough scoring gravity on the 199 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 1: week side of the floor. They just don't. And so 200 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,559 Speaker 1: having a Michael Porter Junior or a Trey Murphy or 201 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: a Lori market In instead of Tobias Harris. Even though 202 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:04,359 Speaker 1: Tobias has done a lot of good this year. Tobias's 203 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: attacked post of mismatches, He's had games where he shot 204 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:09,200 Speaker 1: the ball really well. He's a better perimeter defender than 205 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 1: any of those three guys. You have other perimeter defenders 206 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 1: who can do those jobs. Isaiah Stewart, It's a depth piece. Yeah, 207 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: if you want to go get a super talented, starting 208 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:22,440 Speaker 1: caliber power forward, it might cost you a little bit 209 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 1: of depth. You know, you might have to lean on 210 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:28,679 Speaker 1: Paul Reid more in a playoff series if Isaiah Stewart 211 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: goes out like there's These are all things that are 212 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: worth discussing. But the point I'm trying to make is 213 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:37,199 Speaker 1: when I look at the Pistons, even though the record 214 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 1: is amazing, I look at him as a team that 215 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:42,719 Speaker 1: still needs that weak side scoring gravity, and if they 216 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 1: have that, I take them much more seriously because I 217 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: do believe in their shot creation, and I do believe 218 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: in their frontline and how it can bully the shit 219 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 1: out of people, and I do believe in their depth 220 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: of perimeter defense talent. I'm seeing a gaping hole in 221 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 1: that week side scoring gravity, and I just think having 222 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 1: a more dynamic shooter in the Tobias Harris role is 223 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: the kind of move that would push that team over 224 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: the top. How far out do you think the Blazers 225 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: are for making a possible conference finals run? How much 226 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 1: of a ceiling razor would Dame be if he came 227 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 1: back in time for the playoffs for this current squad. So, 228 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,199 Speaker 1: I think there are a few years away from a 229 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 1: conference finals run, but there's a lot to be really 230 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 1: excited about if you're a Blazers fan. And I think 231 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 1: this next few years is going to be a ton 232 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 1: of fun because it can kind of go in a 233 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:34,560 Speaker 1: million directions. And I don't think that there's a ceiling 234 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 1: that I'm personally comfortable putting on them at this point. 235 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 1: I don't. They have a lot of talent and they're 236 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 1: already pretty darn good, and like, when you really dig 237 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 1: into it, it's like they have a lot of young 238 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 1: guys who have a lot of potential for internal improvement 239 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 1: over the coming years. Their center rotation, basically everybody but 240 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 1: Robert Williams is going to make dramatic improvements in the 241 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: coming seasons. Shaden Sharp. I talked consistently about how my 242 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: issue with him was just efficiency in the shots up. 243 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 1: He would knocking him down consistently. He's been much more 244 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: consistent and efficient as of late. At the time of 245 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: this recording again Saturday, the twenty fourth, he's had twenty 246 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: plus and nine of his last ten games. He's averaging 247 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 1: twenty four points per game in that span on forty 248 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 1: eight percent from the field and thirty nine percent from three. 249 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 1: If Shaden gets to the point where that's not a 250 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:19,319 Speaker 1: two week three week span, but it's a two to 251 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 1: three month span and then a two to three season span, 252 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 1: we're talking about a guy that could be potentially the 253 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 1: second best player on a championship team. Like that's the 254 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: level of potential a guy like Shaden Sharpaz Denny Avdia. 255 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: You guys know how high I am on him. He 256 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:33,319 Speaker 1: still has room to improve as a pull up shooter. 257 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: We've talked about how he can be kind of hitchy 258 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: and he leaves a lot of his pull up jump 259 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: shots short off at the front of the rim. Tamani 260 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: Kamara keeps adding more offensive polish each year. This is 261 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 1: a team that has a lot of potential for internal improvement, 262 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: and they're already good. And as far as the vets 263 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:50,280 Speaker 1: like Dame or I'd even include Drew Holliday in this 264 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 1: because of Dame's injury history and how much he loves Portland, 265 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: and because Drew Holliday's contract is borderline untradable. I think 266 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: both of those guys are going to be around for 267 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:00,599 Speaker 1: a few years. And if they're to be around for 268 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: a few years, you have that support the veterans, support 269 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:07,079 Speaker 1: behind the young talent. Who knows what Scoot Henderson will 270 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: become in the coming seasons. There's just a again, it's 271 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: gonna be fun because there's a million directions these this 272 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 1: can go. And even if two of those guys don't 273 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:17,839 Speaker 1: really improve that much, if the other two do, that 274 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: could be enough to push this team over the top. 275 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: I did get a kick out of the Washington the 276 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 1: I did get a kick out of the quote from 277 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 1: Washington's GM about trading Denny Avdia and how he felt 278 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: like they made the right decision. I thought that was funny. 279 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: Today's show is brought to you by a presenting sponsor, 280 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: hard Rock Bet Florida's sportsbook Listen. We talked a lot 281 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 1: about hoops on the show, but everyone's locked in on 282 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 1: next Sunday's Big Game. 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Concerned about 304 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: gambling in Florida called one eight three to three play wise. 305 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: In Indiana, if you or someone you know has a 306 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: gambling problem and wants help, call one eight hundred and 307 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 1: nine with it gambling problem called one eight hundred gambler 308 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, or Virginia. 309 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: When you're evaluating a player, when you're evaluating how a 310 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: player will do against a specific team, what are you 311 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 1: looking at? The player position, play types, primary shot locations 312 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 1: or if a combo would you or if a combo 313 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 1: would you be willing to share everything you value? Thanks 314 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: great show, appreciate the content. So the way I interpret 315 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 1: this question is basically to mean, like, if I'm looking 316 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 1: at like playoff series scouting, and I want to see 317 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 1: how this player will look in this matchup, what am 318 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 1: I looking at? There's two main things that I look at. 319 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 1: There's coverage, compatibility, and then physical compatibility. So, for instance, 320 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 1: coverage compatibility. If there's a player out there to take 321 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 1: Tyler Harrow, Hero or Trey Young for example, those are 322 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 1: guys that thrive against drop coverage, and if they're playing 323 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: against a team that's going to run a lot of 324 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: drop coverage, I might feel more comfortable with them in 325 00:15:57,360 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: that matchup, Whereas if they're playing against a team that 326 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 1: does a bunch of switching. You know, different story right 327 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 1: across the board as we go to different ball handlers, like, Oh, 328 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: this guy is going to struggle against this type of defense. 329 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 1: This guy is going to struggle against that type of defense. 330 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 1: Those are the kinds of things that I'm going to 331 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: look at. For instance, with Oklahoma City, if you don't 332 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: have a certain amount of physical size and playmaking talent, 333 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: I don't like your matchup against Oklahoma City because they're 334 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 1: so quick and so fast and so into the basketball. 335 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 1: They'll just turn you over a million times if you're 336 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 1: not strong enough to hold off their guards in calm 337 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: enough to process and pass through their defense. Right. The 338 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 1: physical dynamic is really the fun one for me because 339 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 1: it just kind of like has always been a big 340 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: part of the way I see the game. Of basketball essentially, 341 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 1: like can that dude guard me right? Like it doesn't 342 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 1: matter how good a defensive player is in the large 343 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: conversation surrounding his placement in the league. Like it take 344 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 1: for example, Jaden McDaniel's the twenty twenty four Western Conference 345 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:05,920 Speaker 1: Finals against Luca, that is one of the very best 346 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: Apex perimeter defenders in the league, too skinny for Luca. 347 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 1: Luca just threw him around, got wherever he wanted. And 348 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: the one time they played this year, when he's been 349 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 1: was in shape, he threw him around. It was last 350 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:21,240 Speaker 1: year when he was fat, Luca that Jayden didn't really 351 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:23,400 Speaker 1: have too much trouble with him. But essentially, the point 352 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 1: that I'm trying to make is is like if I 353 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 1: see a guy that's like, Okay, he's a good perimeter defender, 354 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 1: but he's too slow for Tyrese Maxi, or he's a 355 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 1: good perimeter defender, but he's too skinny for Luca, or 356 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 1: he's too skinny for Kawhi or whoever it might be. 357 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: You know, Shaye Jade. McDaniel's also struggled with Shay, like 358 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 1: Shay was too low to the ground and too good 359 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: at beating his ball pressure like even thirty forty feet 360 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,119 Speaker 1: away from the basket right. Like, there's a lot of 361 00:17:49,119 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 1: like different physical dynamics I'm looking at with matchups. And 362 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 1: if I look at a team and I go, Okay, 363 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 1: this team has a better record, but the team they're 364 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 1: playing has a guy that thrives against their defense of 365 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 1: coverage and he has a physical advantage versus their primary 366 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 1: perimeter defenders. That's going to be thing, be a thing 367 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:07,880 Speaker 1: I look at and go like, oh, well, this would 368 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:10,399 Speaker 1: be prime candidate for an upset because even though they 369 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 1: have a better record, this guy's got some clear advantages 370 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: against their coverages and against their defenders that are going 371 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:16,399 Speaker 1: to work really well. So those are the kinds of 372 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: things that I look at. Hi, Jason, bigfan of the show, 373 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 1: Curious your shots on your thoughts on this. Have teams 374 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 1: do baseball style games, meaning have the Spurs play the 375 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 1: Thunder back to back at the Spurs and then later 376 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:29,440 Speaker 1: on in the season back to back at the Thunder. 377 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: You decrease travel time, you get increased competition because the 378 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 1: team that loss will be salty, and get closer to 379 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: the playoff game like planning. Because you face opponents twice, 380 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: they're basically already doing this again. A perfect example of 381 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: this was just this last weekend with Minnesota versus Golden State. 382 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 1: It's a back to back. It would have been not 383 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 1: a back to back if it wasn't for the shooting, 384 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:50,640 Speaker 1: but like you have Minnesota at home for two games 385 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 1: against Golden State. That was a big thing. After COVID 386 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 1: was the league started changing the schedule to add more 387 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: of those baseball style series to make the travel schedule lighter. 388 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:03,199 Speaker 1: Next on es big fan, let me mention that I 389 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 1: am from Slovenia. There for a Luca fan, I wonder 390 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 1: why I don't hear any stat based facts about Luca's defense. 391 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:10,119 Speaker 1: Correct me if I'm wrong, But Luca is in the 392 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 1: top five players in the number of dealing in the 393 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 1: number of defending isolations, and his percentage of points allowed 394 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,399 Speaker 1: is around forty two percent, which is below league average. 395 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 1: I would like to hear more about this topic. First 396 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: of all, thank you for just being a reasonable Luca fan. 397 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 1: I have so many crazy Luca fans, and I mentioned 398 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 1: that because I criticize him from time to time. Just 399 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 1: take it personally for some reason and it becomes a 400 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:34,680 Speaker 1: big problem. I talk about all of the stars when 401 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: it comes to the top, like Jokic is the definitive 402 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:38,440 Speaker 1: best player in the world. Go talk about Nuggets fans 403 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: about how I talked about his defense against Minnesota in 404 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:44,479 Speaker 1: twenty twenty twenty four, or that year that he couldn't 405 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:45,879 Speaker 1: make a three point shot to save his life. I 406 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 1: think it was the same season. Like I am critical 407 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 1: of the top tier superstars because I hold them to 408 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 1: a very different standard than I do the rest of 409 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 1: the league. Because now we're talking about the sacred belt 410 00:19:56,640 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 1: of the NBA, who's the best player in the world. 411 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 1: That is a a very like kind of historical conversation 412 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,359 Speaker 1: surrounding basketball fans. We love to talk about this. You know, 413 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:08,679 Speaker 1: MJ's the goat, Lebron's the goat. Like these are the 414 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 1: kinds of debates we have, and when we're talking about 415 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: that caliber of player, it comes hand in hand with 416 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,720 Speaker 1: criticism because of the standard that you're trying to meet. 417 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 1: So seeing a Luca fan that can have a reasonable 418 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:23,879 Speaker 1: conversation surrounding Luca, I do sincerely appreciate that. As far 419 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 1: as the defense, that two things that I want to 420 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 1: get into one, defensive metrics in general are flawed. So 421 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: two different ways of looking at it. One catch all 422 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 1: metrics in general are flawed, but they're especially flawed on 423 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: the defensive end. So like you know, defensive box plus 424 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 1: minus for example, or d Lebron or whatever like that 425 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: kind of from b Ball Index, those kinds of things, 426 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 1: they're just incredibly incapable of capturing the entirety of a 427 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 1: basketball game. It's just there's too many moving parts, too 428 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: many variables to synthesize a player's impact down to one number. 429 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:00,480 Speaker 1: You'll notice I never use catch all metrics on the show. 430 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 1: It's like a personal uh, it's like a personal standard 431 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:06,959 Speaker 1: of mind. I just don't. I don't believe in them. 432 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 1: I don't believe in their ability to capture the game 433 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 1: of basketball. I just don't. I think it's basketball's way 434 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:14,840 Speaker 1: more art than science. In general, I'm a big believer 435 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 1: in using metrics. You guys will see me use metrics 436 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 1: all the time, but I'm usually looking at very refined 437 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 1: metrics now, specifically defensive metrics surrounding isolations. So when I 438 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 1: look at isolation metrics on offense, there's two different ways 439 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:41,080 Speaker 1: that I look at them. There's the regular standard isolation 440 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 1: tracking from Synergy, for example, which is like shot attempts 441 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 1: and fouls drawn in turnovers in ISO. I will look 442 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 1: at that sometimes strictly as a me a measure of 443 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:57,439 Speaker 1: shot making, like oh, this guy hits when he takes 444 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 1: an ISO three, he hits thirty six percent of them. 445 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:04,880 Speaker 1: You know there's some value there where, like that's how 446 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 1: well this guy shoots if he's attacking a switch and 447 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 1: he takes a pull up three. But even then I 448 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:12,679 Speaker 1: don't use that metric as much as I do the 449 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:18,879 Speaker 1: isolation including passes. Metric isolation including passes. The way that 450 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:21,200 Speaker 1: will track is like if I beat the guy one 451 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: on one counts, but if I go to beat the 452 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:26,359 Speaker 1: guy one on one and a double comes and I 453 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 1: throw a swing pass and he hits a three, or 454 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 1: if I beat him off the dribble and make the 455 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 1: next pass and that guy hits the shot, they will 456 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:37,439 Speaker 1: count that as an isolation including the pass right. The 457 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:41,240 Speaker 1: tricky thing is I have not seen anywhere that tracks 458 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 1: defensive players isolations and passes. So yes, when a defender 459 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:55,199 Speaker 1: shoots on Luca, he's actually performing pretty well statistically, but 460 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: that literally does not count any of the possessions where 461 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 1: Luca gives up a drive. If Luca gives up a 462 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 1: drive and he kicks to a wide open shooter and 463 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:06,160 Speaker 1: he knocks down a three. That's not being tracked there. 464 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 1: And I have yet to find a place that does 465 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 1: track that, even Synergy, which is like one of the 466 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 1: most like wide ranging statistical platforms in the world. It's 467 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 1: a workhorse for me with this job. Synergy doesn't even 468 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:20,639 Speaker 1: track it, so like they only track that for offensive players, 469 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 1: not for defensive players. So until we see a metric 470 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: that accurately captures the drives that Luca gives up on ISOs, 471 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:32,160 Speaker 1: because you and I both know, like Luca will sometimes 472 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:34,440 Speaker 1: be in ISO and the dude will just go right 473 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 1: around him. And sometimes that dude doesn't get a layup. 474 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:39,720 Speaker 1: Sometimes that dude drops it off to a big man 475 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:42,320 Speaker 1: for a dunk. Sometimes that dude kicks it out to 476 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:44,639 Speaker 1: the three point line. Sometimes the defense gets in rotation 477 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 1: and it gets moved two or three times before someone 478 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 1: makes a shot. And so I will say, like the 479 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 1: Luca defense has been substantially better recently. I think in 480 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 1: general since Christmas Day, the entire Laker team has been 481 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:01,399 Speaker 1: defending much better since Christmas Day. At the time of 482 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,399 Speaker 1: this recording, on January twenty fourth. I think there were 483 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 1: seventh in defensive rating in the second halves of games, 484 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:09,320 Speaker 1: so they've been really active in the second halves of 485 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:14,440 Speaker 1: games defensively. But I don't look at really any defensive 486 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 1: metrics in terms of whether or not a guy, whether 487 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 1: or not a guy is getting a catch all defensive 488 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 1: metric or an individual isolation metric. Those are just really 489 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:30,360 Speaker 1: difficult to track when it comes to defensive scouting. It's 490 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 1: the one thing I really like. I can look up 491 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 1: numbers to get information on just about everything else. Like 492 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:38,640 Speaker 1: I can look up a guy's catch and shoot three 493 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:41,600 Speaker 1: point percentage when he's guarded versus unguarded. I can get 494 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:44,879 Speaker 1: a guy's pick and roll efficiency including passes. There's a 495 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:48,200 Speaker 1: lot of data I can get there. The defensive data 496 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:51,560 Speaker 1: I really don't trust. So like when I'm scouting defensive players, 497 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:53,600 Speaker 1: it's a lot of film. It's a lot of just 498 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 1: digging into the tape and seeing the specific things that 499 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:00,719 Speaker 1: they're doing defensively, and I will see that Luca has 500 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 1: been better defensively since Christmas Day. Hi, Jason, loved the show. 501 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 1: You've covered your reasons for moving to Colorado a few times, 502 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:07,439 Speaker 1: but if you had to convince someone to move there 503 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:09,879 Speaker 1: as well. What's your pitch. I am a college student 504 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:13,119 Speaker 1: looking for potential destinations to move after college, and that 505 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:16,200 Speaker 1: area does appeal to me. So I feel like I'm 506 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:18,439 Speaker 1: a little underqualified to talk about this because I've only 507 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 1: been living here for like six months in change. But 508 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 1: the obvious stuff. If you like doing anything outdoors, whether 509 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:30,120 Speaker 1: that's skiing, whether that's hiking, whether that's biking, whether that's fishing, 510 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:34,479 Speaker 1: whether that's literally golfing, like anything outdoors, it's just one 511 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:36,679 Speaker 1: of the absolute best players places in the world to 512 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:40,440 Speaker 1: live because you have world class skiing, world class hiking, 513 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 1: world class fishing, unbelievable golf. All of it is just 514 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:46,880 Speaker 1: right around. There's something to do all year round. It's 515 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:49,199 Speaker 1: also and this is one of the other parts that 516 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:51,960 Speaker 1: I think are underrated about it. Like I moved up 517 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 1: here thinking it was going to be super, super cold, 518 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:55,800 Speaker 1: and don't get me wrong, it's been a warmer than 519 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 1: usual winter, although right now it's like ten degrees outside. 520 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 1: It's super cold day here on Saturday in Denver. But 521 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 1: the thing with the weather here is this is very mild. 522 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:08,680 Speaker 1: The summers get warm, but they don't get super super hot, 523 00:26:08,920 --> 00:26:11,639 Speaker 1: and the winters get cold, but you're not gonna get 524 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,400 Speaker 1: the negative twenty degree exploding tree shit that you get 525 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 1: around Chicago, right, So it's like generally mild and it's 526 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:21,680 Speaker 1: very dry. I was actually really surprised by this. Tucson, 527 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:23,919 Speaker 1: where I'm from in Arizona, gets twelve inches of rain 528 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 1: a year. Littleton, where I live right now, in southwest 529 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:29,360 Speaker 1: Colorado or southwest Denver, they get eighteen inches of rainy year, 530 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 1: So it's like relatively dry. I have been amazed since 531 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:34,760 Speaker 1: I moved here in July at how many days I 532 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 1: look outside, I'm like, that's sunny and seventy five degrees. 533 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:39,480 Speaker 1: There's just a lot of days like that. So the 534 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:42,320 Speaker 1: weather's incredible. There's a ton of outdoors activities to do. 535 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 1: It's a big enough city that if you're in any 536 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 1: big city shit, whether that's sporting events, concerts, you know, obviously, 537 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:49,359 Speaker 1: we've got some of the best concert venues in the 538 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 1: world here, including Red Rocks, you know, bar and restaurants, 539 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:55,159 Speaker 1: seen all that kind of stuff. There's one of the 540 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:57,879 Speaker 1: five biggest dinosaur museums in the world or in the 541 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:01,120 Speaker 1: country here that I really like to go see. The Denver. 542 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:04,280 Speaker 1: It's just writ in downtown Denver. There's all sorts of 543 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:06,919 Speaker 1: big city shit to do, and the people are all 544 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:09,280 Speaker 1: super nice. So like, I've really enjoyed it so far. 545 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 1: Whether or not we stay here in the long run, 546 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 1: I think more comes down to just our kind of 547 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:17,159 Speaker 1: situation in missing family and friends, and whether or not 548 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:18,919 Speaker 1: we decide we want to put down roots in Tucson 549 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 1: or not in the long run. But in the meantime, 550 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 1: for the years that we live here, my wife and 551 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 1: I have really liked it. Do you have any particular 552 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: thoughts on the change in free agency from massive superstars 553 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:31,400 Speaker 1: changing teams every year to now when I only see 554 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:33,679 Speaker 1: role players changing teams if another team is willing to 555 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:36,480 Speaker 1: overpay for them. I think it's neat to see these homegrown, 556 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 1: high chemistry teams, but it's also a bit boring and 557 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 1: odd when all NBA players don't want to leave in 558 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:43,640 Speaker 1: free agency to collect a Super Max. But I don't 559 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 1: want to see but I don't want to but that 560 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 1: don't want to stay on a team either. Any other 561 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:51,320 Speaker 1: thoughts on the recent rule changes like the second second 562 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:53,719 Speaker 1: apron and so on. So I think that there's two 563 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:58,440 Speaker 1: different ways to look at this there's when it comes 564 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:01,240 Speaker 1: to the player movement piece being rest talking about, like 565 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:05,199 Speaker 1: the second apron, for example, trades are just harder to do. 566 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:13,679 Speaker 1: Having less turnover might have long term benefits in the 567 00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:17,120 Speaker 1: form of like more involved fan bases. So if there's 568 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:22,600 Speaker 1: less roster turnover and your local basketball team looks more 569 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:25,480 Speaker 1: or less the same for about five years, there's a 570 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:29,520 Speaker 1: lot of investment emotionally in the team, and that can 571 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:33,400 Speaker 1: build local fan bases really well. I think that's one 572 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:36,919 Speaker 1: of the strengths of baseball, for example, they just have 573 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:43,280 Speaker 1: these remarkably loyal local fan bases. The tricky thing is 574 00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:45,440 Speaker 1: if you make it very difficult to make trades and 575 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:48,200 Speaker 1: you restrict player movement, you lose some of the intrigue 576 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:51,440 Speaker 1: that's around the NBA now. I just like everyone else, 577 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:53,320 Speaker 1: thinks that the NBA can be a little too much 578 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:55,240 Speaker 1: of a soap opera sometimes and it's a little too 579 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 1: much drama player movement. This guy requested a trade, this 580 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 1: guy this, That that does take away from the pure 581 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 1: love of the game. I'm not going to sit here 582 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:07,440 Speaker 1: and pretend that that doesn't exist. But that stuff does 583 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:11,640 Speaker 1: drive interest. It just does. Like guys like after Luca 584 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 1: got traded to the Lakers last year, all of the 585 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 1: interest in the league exploded. So we can we can 586 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 1: pretend like that stuff is not necessary for the league, 587 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 1: but it kind of is a little bit. And so 588 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:26,680 Speaker 1: I do wonder if the league kind of over indexed 589 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:31,320 Speaker 1: on on kind of like restricting player movement to the 590 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:36,680 Speaker 1: point where there is like these longer termed rosters that 591 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:39,160 Speaker 1: are building more local support, but you're not getting some 592 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 1: of that intrigue on the day to day kind of 593 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:45,280 Speaker 1: transaction cycle, if that makes sense. The second piece of it, 594 00:29:45,320 --> 00:29:48,560 Speaker 1: when it comes to like the I've called pre agency 595 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:50,960 Speaker 1: or the unwillingness of all NBA players to get to 596 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:54,320 Speaker 1: free agency, to me, that's more like with how bad 597 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:58,560 Speaker 1: the injuries have been, the achilles tears, the the hamstring strains, 598 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:01,280 Speaker 1: all these different things that can knock you out for 599 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:04,600 Speaker 1: extended periods of time, I think players just want to 600 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:07,120 Speaker 1: take the security financially, like they did just look at 601 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:08,720 Speaker 1: the situation. They go, I gotta take the money. I 602 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:10,000 Speaker 1: gotta take the money because what if I tear my 603 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 1: knee up tomorrow? Yeah? Do I am? I sure I 604 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:13,960 Speaker 1: want to be with this team for five years. No, 605 00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 1: But like if I go to free agency and I 606 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:19,040 Speaker 1: get hurt. I'm fucked, right, So, like, I don't blame 607 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:21,520 Speaker 1: the players for taking that angle because I just think 608 00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:24,160 Speaker 1: it's the kind of safest thing for them to do 609 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 1: with their with the potential for injury. Last question, why 610 00:30:29,080 --> 00:30:31,480 Speaker 1: don't the rebuilding teams ever try to make moves to win? 611 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:33,560 Speaker 1: For example, why doesn't a team like the Wizards ever 612 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:36,240 Speaker 1: try to overpay for a superstar and then build around them. 613 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:39,160 Speaker 1: I'm completely baffled out. A team cannot even have desires 614 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:42,600 Speaker 1: of competing for the plan after decades of losing. So 615 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:45,640 Speaker 1: it's tricky because so for instance, like let's say let's 616 00:30:45,640 --> 00:30:48,920 Speaker 1: say Yannis for example, Like if the Wizards tried to 617 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:52,480 Speaker 1: make a deal for Yannis, if Yannis is unhappy in Milwaukee, 618 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:54,640 Speaker 1: you think he's not going to be unhappy in Washington, 619 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 1: you know, right, Like, So, if you're going to make 620 00:30:57,160 --> 00:30:59,600 Speaker 1: a trade for a star, you've got to have them 621 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:02,240 Speaker 1: be willing to buy in and commit to your team 622 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:05,000 Speaker 1: after you get them. And there's really only two ways 623 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 1: you can do that. You can either present to them 624 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 1: a clear cut chance to compete for a championship, or 625 00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 1: present some sort of other reason for them to stay, 626 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:18,440 Speaker 1: whether it's they really like that city, or maybe you 627 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:20,719 Speaker 1: just have a really strong basketball culture, like yeah, like 628 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:23,760 Speaker 1: if you like if say let's say, say, for example, 629 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:26,600 Speaker 1: if Washington made a trade for Yiannis, they would have 630 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 1: to let's say they made a trade at this deadline, 631 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:32,680 Speaker 1: they would have to within the next few months, like 632 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:35,480 Speaker 1: convince Jianness that this is where he wants to be, 633 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:38,680 Speaker 1: right even though they're not competing, and it just would 634 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:40,240 Speaker 1: be really hard to do so. And that that's why 635 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:42,400 Speaker 1: superstar trades are so hard to do, right. You gotta 636 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:44,920 Speaker 1: have the perfect storm of like a team that has 637 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:48,200 Speaker 1: the assets to actually get the player, but that can 638 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:51,440 Speaker 1: present something to the player after those assets that are 639 00:31:51,480 --> 00:31:54,120 Speaker 1: sent out that are more appealing to them than the 640 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:57,240 Speaker 1: situation he was just in. That's what makes superstar trades hard, 641 00:31:57,240 --> 00:32:00,600 Speaker 1: and that's why we don't see them every single one. Right, Alright, guys, 642 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:01,800 Speaker 1: this is all I have for today is always a 643 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:04,360 Speaker 1: sincerely appreciate you guys for supporting me and supporting the show.