1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: The volume. It's the most wonderful time of the year 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 1: for getting in on all of the hoops, football, and 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 1: hockey action at Draft Kings Sportsbook. In the season of giving, 4 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: We're being gifted college football and basketball, Pro football and 5 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: basketball and pro hockey too. Almost twenty four to seven. 6 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: So many games every day, so many opportunities to place 7 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,240 Speaker 1: your first bet. Try betting on something simple like picking 8 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: a team to win. Go to the Draft Kings sportsbook 9 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: Gap and place your bet. 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Just got a quick show for you guys today. 33 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: I'm gonna give my initial impressions on the two n 34 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: Season Tournament quarterfinal games last night, as the New York 35 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: Knicks pretty much controlled things against the Atlanta Hawks for 36 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: about two and a half quarters before they completely lose 37 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: control and the Hawks run away with that one. And 38 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: then the uh Houston Rockets straight up steam game from 39 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: the Golden State Warriors are really bad. Call that I 40 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: disagree with at the end, but at the same time, 41 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: a lot of self sabotage on behalf of the Golden 42 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:10,799 Speaker 1: State Warriors. We're going to get into both of those 43 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: games briefly from the perspective of both teams. You guys, 44 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: remember the drill before we get started. Subscribed to the 45 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:17,239 Speaker 1: Hoops Tonight YouTube channels. You don't miss any more of 46 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: our videos. Follow me on Twitter and underscore JSNLTS. You guys, 47 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: don't miss show announcements. Some forget about a podcast feed 48 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: wherever you're podcast under Hoops Tonight. Don't forget. It's also 49 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 1: helpful if you leave a rating and a review on 50 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: that front. We also have brand new social media feeds 51 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:31,079 Speaker 1: on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for the Hoops Tonight channel 52 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: where we're dropping more content. Make sure you guys follow 53 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: those feeds, and then, last but not least, keep dropping 54 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: mail bag questions in the YouTube comments so we can 55 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: keep hitting them in our mail bags on Fridays. Too 56 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: late for mailbag questions for this Friday's mail bag, but 57 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: plenty of time to get questions in for next Friday's 58 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: mail bag. All right, let's talk some basketball. So again, 59 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: really bad call out to tail end of the game. 60 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: We'll get into more detail on that in a minute. 61 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 1: That said, you guys know how I feel about this 62 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 1: sort of thing. You need to go into any game, 63 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 1: especially on the road, with the under standing that you're 64 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: probably going to be the victim of a few bad calls, 65 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 1: and so you have to enter that game with the 66 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 1: perspective that you need to build in a margin for 67 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 1: that type of that type of variable. Right, And here's 68 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: the reality. Regardless of the fact that the Warriors, I 69 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:21,640 Speaker 1: think got kind of robbed by a bad call at 70 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 1: the end of that game, they made so so many 71 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 1: mistakes down the stretch and they absolutely should have gotten 72 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: out of there with a win. Draymond biting on a 73 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: Shannggoon pump fake around the right elbow. Shangun's shooting thirty 74 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: two percent on jump shots this year. He's shooting twenty 75 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 1: six percent on unguarded jump shots this year. Leaves his feet, 76 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: has to like straight up tackle Shangoun on a drive, 77 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 1: sends him to the foul line. Right when Fred van 78 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: Vliet hit that corner three in the right corner, Brandon 79 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: Pazemski went underneath the pick. When you go underneath the 80 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: pick on a shooter, especially in a situation like that 81 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: where they need a quick bucket. He's going to be 82 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: way too comfortable you chase him over the top. Probably 83 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: a very different game. The Warriors had a shot clock 84 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 1: violation with a minute and thirty nine seconds left where 85 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: they didn't even get a shot up. A little Steph 86 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: Draymond two man game. They were a little sloppy with 87 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: some of their passes. Draymon had passed up on an 88 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: opportunity to drive when he was unguarded, ended up in 89 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 1: a shot clock violation. Twice down the stretch of the game, 90 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 1: Warriors tried to slap at rebounds instead of just grabbing them, 91 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: once Draymon and once Brandon Pazemski. Both times they just 92 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 1: slapped it out of bounds and they retained possession. One 93 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: of them directly led to that Fred Van Vliet corner three. 94 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: Steve Kerr randomly when it was ninety to eighty seven, 95 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: subs in kevon Looney for Brandon Pajemski and takes Draymond 96 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:44,840 Speaker 1: off of Shangoon, moves him off to a different I 97 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,719 Speaker 1: think moved him on to Jabari Smith. Kevon Looney's on 98 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: Shangoon Hagoon just immediately just toasts him off the dribble 99 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,919 Speaker 1: and gets an easy layup. Steph taking a shot with 100 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 1: nine seconds on the game clock when he had plenty 101 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: of time to work it down more or to try 102 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:02,679 Speaker 1: to work closer to the end of the game clock, 103 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: and then on the final possession, for like the half 104 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: dozen time of the game, the Warriors literally could not 105 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 1: get a shot off. And so again, like anything that 106 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:16,479 Speaker 1: you look at involving the call is just excuse making 107 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: in the context of all of the in your control 108 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 1: mistakes that you made down the stretch. Again, a ref 109 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: making a bad call, that is a variable that is 110 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:29,239 Speaker 1: completely outside of your control. All of those execution mistakes 111 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: Golden State made down the stretch, those are things that 112 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 1: are completely within their control. And so you should leave 113 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 1: a game like that not thinking about the officials, but 114 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: rather that you cost yourself an opportunity. Now, I will 115 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 1: say on the talk about Steph going early and again 116 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: there was a three second gap between the game between 117 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 1: the game clock and the shot clock. It is more 118 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: complicated than it was being discussed. In my opinion with 119 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 1: what I saw people saying on Twitter last night, there 120 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: are a lot of factors at play. Like, for instance, 121 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 1: and Steph got a good look about as good a 122 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 1: look as the Warriors got down the stretch. There's a 123 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 1: lot of bad looks in that stretch, the shot clock violation, 124 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: Brandon Bajemski gets blocked on a three in the right corner, 125 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: Draymond Green driving layup that he airballs, like, there were 126 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: a lot of bad shots that ended up in late 127 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: clock situations in that crunch time period. Steph's little step 128 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 1: back over Dylan Brooks was one of the best looks 129 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: that Golden State got in the second half of that game. Right, 130 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: So here's the reality. Late clock shots, when you're working 131 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:35,360 Speaker 1: against the end of the shot clock or the game clock, 132 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: they tend to be bad shots. The Warriors had multiple 133 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: shot clock violations, air balls, block shots, right, So you 134 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 1: have to at least factor in or consider the fact 135 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: that Steph not waiting did lead to him getting a 136 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,919 Speaker 1: better look. So let's go through both scenarios real quick. 137 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:58,279 Speaker 1: Let's say Steph goes late into the clock, makes no 138 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:02,280 Speaker 1: real attempt to just hunt the best shot, but rather 139 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 1: just make sure you get something up in the last 140 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 1: second or two of the shot clock. If he does that, 141 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: I have a feeling it's not going to be as 142 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: good of a look. Let's say it ends in a miss, 143 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: just for the sake of this argument. If the Rockets 144 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 1: get the rebound and call a timeout to advance the ball, 145 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: they probably have somewhere between two and five seconds. Right now, 146 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: let's look at what actually happened. Steph gets a pretty 147 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: good look. If he makes it, it ends the game, 148 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: puts the Warriors up four. He misses it, though there's 149 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: a scrum. Let's say he may Udoka gets a timeout 150 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 1: call instead of the foul call or instead of the 151 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: jump ball. If he may Udoka gets the timeout call, 152 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: there's five and a half seconds left when that scrum 153 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: was going down five and a half So how much 154 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: of a difference does it really make in Golden State's 155 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 1: ability to get a stop. If Houston has five and 156 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 1: a half seconds after advancing the ball or two or 157 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 1: three seconds, it makes some difference. It's a difference between 158 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 1: being able to like maybe driving kick once or twice 159 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: versus the guy catching and having to put the ball 160 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: on the floor make a play right away. So it 161 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: makes some difference. But you can't just factor that, and 162 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: you have to also factor in that Steph got a 163 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: better look on the other end of the floor. So, like, 164 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: I think it's a lot more complicated than just Steph 165 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 1: should have waited to the end of the shot clock. 166 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 1: I do think that's a little bit more complicated. What 167 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 1: really went wrong in that sequence for the Warriors was 168 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: that the refs called a loose ball foul, and I 169 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: thought that that was complete and total bullshit. And again, 170 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:34,680 Speaker 1: for the record, like always, that's not why Golden State 171 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:37,119 Speaker 1: lost the game. They lost the game because their execution 172 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 1: was terrible down the stretch, and because Steph wasn't creating 173 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: good shots, and because they didn't have another option to 174 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,959 Speaker 1: help create good shots down the stretch. That's why the 175 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 1: Warriors lost to the Rockets last night. That said, I 176 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 1: cannot believe that that situation resulted in free throws for 177 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:57,679 Speaker 1: the Rockets. That game was a physical bloodbath. There were 178 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 1: fouls going uncalled all over the floor on every single possession. 179 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 1: There is a play where Steph just a few minutes earlier, 180 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 1: gets clearly hacked on the forearm on a jump shot, 181 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 1: but it doesn't get called because again, nothing is getting 182 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: called in this game. So how is it that in 183 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 1: the flow of this game, you're allowing the players to 184 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 1: dictate everything. It's a bloodbath, and then you step in 185 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: and you have the nerve to call a loose ball 186 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: foul on the type of contact that you were letting 187 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 1: go all night. It speaks to the much larger problem 188 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: with NBA officiating, which is that at their core as 189 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: an organization, NBA officials don't understand their role in NBA games. 190 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: They are not there to enforce the rule book. They 191 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: are there to facilitate basketball games. This is a media product. 192 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: There is an economy surrounding this sport. It is entertainment 193 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:57,839 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, and so there is 194 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:01,960 Speaker 1: a natural flow that every basketball tip game takes. Some 195 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:05,559 Speaker 1: of them are super physical, get dragged down into the mud. 196 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 1: Some of them are more free flowing and turn into 197 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:13,560 Speaker 1: skill contests. An official's job is to feel out how 198 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: that game is going and officiate accordingly. Okay, this game's 199 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:20,319 Speaker 1: a physical bloodbath. We're gonna be letting a lot of 200 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:22,200 Speaker 1: hand checking. Go. We're gonna be letting a lot of 201 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: like bumping on the base go. We're gonna be letting 202 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 1: a lot of like off ball holding and grabbing. Go. 203 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:31,199 Speaker 1: When things are loose balls, defensive rebounds, it's gonna be 204 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: a scrum and we're gonna let stuff go. And then 205 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: there are games where it's a lot more freedom of movement, 206 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 1: there's not a lot of physical contact, and so when 207 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 1: somebody does foul, it makes more sense to call the game. 208 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 1: Takes precedence over anything else, and rests have to feel 209 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: out that situation and subjectively apply the rule book. That's 210 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 1: always been the way that it goes. We cannot sit 211 00:10:57,679 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: here with the straight face and pretend like every NBA 212 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: game is officiated the same. They're not. And so that's 213 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 1: the problem. Everyone understood the assignment last night until that 214 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:10,080 Speaker 1: last possession, and somebody just decided it was their chance 215 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: to put their imprint on that situation. I thought it 216 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: kind of like it was an ugly ass game, but 217 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 1: it was a fun game. I was enjoying watching that game. 218 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 1: And what a fucking terrible ending to what was a 219 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 1: really fun game. And again, Golden State has no one 220 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 1: to blame but themselves for tricking that game off, but 221 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: that call definitely frustrated the hell out of me. Four 222 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: big takeaways that I wanted to get into from that 223 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 1: game before we move on to Hawks Knicks. One Houston's 224 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,600 Speaker 1: defense is awesome. I really enjoyed watching them, especially when 225 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: Shan Gun was off the floor, when they could be 226 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 1: a little bit more switchy, not give up as many 227 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: like passes in the pocket or just like four on 228 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 1: threes and stuff like that, and they could lean more 229 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: into their switching and ball pressure. Their defense is just 230 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 1: unbelievably awesome though the waves of athletes coming. We're gonna 231 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: be talking about that with the Hawks here in a 232 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: minute too. But their offense can be so bad at 233 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:01,320 Speaker 1: times that, like I view Houston as basely incapable of 234 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 1: winning multiple playoff series. Do I think they could get 235 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 1: one series? Yeah? Absolutely. There's so many Western Conference playoff 236 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 1: teams that are flawed that there are a few of 237 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 1: them that I would even favor Houston against, especially teams 238 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: without rim protection. But any team that has rim protection 239 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,840 Speaker 1: is going to eventually be able to grind that Houston 240 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: offense to an absolute halt, and it won't matter how 241 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 1: good their offense is. So it's all fine because you know, 242 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 1: there's a big picture development. There's probably a trade or 243 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: two in the future for Houston, and I really do 244 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: think they have super bright future. I amen Thompson when 245 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 1: I watch him, like, I don't even I don't even 246 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:43,439 Speaker 1: know what kind of player he's going to be in 247 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:45,839 Speaker 1: the big picture, but I'm so excited to find out. 248 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 1: I think he has the potential to be so damn good. 249 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: I'm excited about Houston's future. But this is this year's 250 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:57,839 Speaker 1: high seed, exciting regular season team, but their their half 251 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: court offensive execution is so just so terrible at times 252 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:04,679 Speaker 1: that I just don't think they're capable of beating multiple 253 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 1: teams four times in two weeks. They might expose somebody 254 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:10,320 Speaker 1: in the first round that's too flawed to make a 255 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:12,839 Speaker 1: deep playoff run, but whoever they run into that second 256 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: round is gonna be a serious team that's gonna grind 257 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 1: their offense to a halt and they're gonna end up losing. 258 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:20,559 Speaker 1: But exciting future for Houston. As I said two, I'll 259 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 1: print Shangun has the potential to be awesome. This was 260 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: once again just like he did in the Go Bear game, 261 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 1: and just like he's done multiple times this season, going 262 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 1: right at Draymond Green at times, really the only guy 263 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 1: that seems to facilitate coherent half court offense for the Rockets. 264 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,079 Speaker 1: He was the one guy who had a big impressive 265 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 1: box score game last night. He is the grease that 266 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 1: makes that whole engine work for Houston. There are two 267 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: main things that he needs to improve though, one the 268 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 1: defensive end. Again, he's the one week point. He's the 269 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 1: one pathway with which you can break down Houston's defense. 270 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 1: That's something he's gonna have to get better at. And again, 271 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:03,199 Speaker 1: just like what happened with Jokic, it's about using your 272 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 1: brain and active hands to make up for your athletic limitations. 273 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 1: And then to the jump shot. If he can get 274 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: the jump shot up to a place where it's more 275 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: reliable and he can improve on the defensive end, I 276 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 1: think he has the potential to be an All NBA 277 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: player in this league. Number three. It always has fascinated 278 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 1: to me. It fascinated me how well athletes thrive in 279 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 1: environments like that game last night, Like when games get 280 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 1: super super physical and there's all these good defenders on 281 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: the floor and everything just grinds to a halt. I 282 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: didn't think it was a coincidence that the two guys 283 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: on the floor that were having the easiest time getting 284 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: to their spots were guys like Jalen Green and Jonathan Kaminga. 285 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 1: Now they had uneven games, I mean Jalen Green would 286 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: like five or fifteen, but like he was able to 287 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: get to his spots, Jonathan Kiminga was able to beat 288 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 1: people off the dribble, win some of those confrontations, even 289 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 1: like Jabari Smith Junior and some of the work that 290 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 1: he did in this game. Like these, It's always fascinating 291 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: to me how as the league has leaned more towards this, 292 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 1: like athletic perimeter speed, ball pressure, flying around in rotation, 293 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 1: just physical athletic blood baths that all of a sudden, 294 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: those tools matter. They just matter at a super super 295 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 1: high level. And again, like I think both of these 296 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 1: guys have the potential to get traded within the next 297 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 1: couple of seasons because maybe they don't fit into this timeline. Like, 298 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 1: do I think Jonathan Kaminga is ready to be a 299 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 1: star on a really good, really serious team that intends 300 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: to win the title. No, do I think Jalen Green 301 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 1: is ready to be a primary ball handler on a 302 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 1: team that has serious playoff aspirations in the short term. No, 303 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: those guys need time, those guys need reps. They probably 304 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: should be on different timelines. Johnathan Kaminga, I actually think 305 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: has even more potential than Jalen Green does. Jalen Green, 306 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 1: it's just there's some stuff with him at this phase 307 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 1: in his career that you wish he was a little 308 00:15:55,800 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: sharper with. That said, those two guys, I still you'll 309 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: think have the potential to be top thirty, top thirty 310 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: five MAX level players that are worth the MAX and 311 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 1: that you want to have on your team. And so somebody, 312 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 1: if those two guys do end up getting traded in 313 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 1: the next couple of years, somebody who's smart has the 314 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: opportunity to jump on those teams, get them in the 315 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: right situation, get them the right jump on those players, 316 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: excuse me, get them in the right situation, get them 317 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 1: in the right development trajectory. And I think those guys 318 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 1: do have potential. Point being that athleticism to me is 319 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 1: tantalizing in the modern MBA. It's just something that I 320 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 1: think has It's just something that I think teams should 321 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 1: be betting on in the long run. Doesn't mean it 322 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 1: makes sense for the Warriors with their short term pressures 323 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: for a championship, but somebody can fit into that timeline 324 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 1: nicely and make good use of those players. And then lastly, 325 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 1: this is why the Warriors so badly need a big 326 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 1: scoring forward in settings like I'm gonna give you guys 327 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 1: an example. I remember I was watching a regular season 328 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: game in two thousand eighteen, middle of season. It was 329 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:08,919 Speaker 1: Calves versus was it Timberwolves, I can't remember. I think 330 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:10,720 Speaker 1: it was when Jimmy Butler was with the Timberwolves. But 331 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 1: it was the Calves versus Jimmy Butler. And on the 332 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 1: final possession, the Calves needed to come up with a shot, 333 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 1: and so Lebron just kind of like leaned on Jimmy Butler. So, 334 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:23,919 Speaker 1: by the way, Jimmy Butler at this point in time especially, 335 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:25,920 Speaker 1: it was one of the best defensive players in the league. 336 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: And Lebron just leans on him around the y elbow 337 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 1: and there's just like a little entry pass over the top. 338 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 1: Lebron catches and just turns over his right shoulder and 339 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 1: fades away off one leg and gets a little the 340 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 1: seventeen footer and knocks it down for the win. Because 341 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:45,879 Speaker 1: one of the advantages with having a big forward that 342 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 1: can really beat matchups and shoot over the top is 343 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 1: that in the super physical, super intense environments, you can't 344 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:58,400 Speaker 1: deny them the ball, you can't stop them from getting 345 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:01,640 Speaker 1: a shot off because their size and strength is such 346 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 1: an advantage in those situations. So when I talk about 347 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:08,920 Speaker 1: somebody like Golden State going after a brandon Ingram or 348 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: a Jimmy Butler, or even the pipe dream of Lebron James, 349 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:17,199 Speaker 1: that's why. It's because in those types of situations, you 350 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 1: ended up in a lot of late clock situations, a 351 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:23,159 Speaker 1: lot of shot clock violations, a lot of air balls, 352 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:27,400 Speaker 1: a lot of black shots. If you could convert let's 353 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,360 Speaker 1: say there's ten of those ugly possessions, If you can 354 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:35,120 Speaker 1: convert six of those into decent looks for a big 355 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:39,479 Speaker 1: scoring forward and he makes two of them out of six, 356 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: you win that game like that. That's the difference. The 357 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 1: difference is you couldn't convert or win any of those 358 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: situations because this has been something that's become an issue 359 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:55,439 Speaker 1: Steph over the last two seasons or so. When he 360 00:18:55,520 --> 00:19:01,199 Speaker 1: runs into really athletic perimeter defenses last year with teams 361 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 1: like the Kings, like the Pelicans, right, this was something 362 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:07,439 Speaker 1: that showed up a few times last year. When Steph 363 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 1: goes against really athletic perimeter defenses, he can struggle to 364 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:16,120 Speaker 1: get separation, to get quality looks, you have to support 365 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: him in that regard, and the way to do that 366 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 1: is to bring in a big scoring forward, because again, 367 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 1: Steph still does so much well that if you just 368 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: maybe don't need to rely on him in those specific situations, 369 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:34,399 Speaker 1: you can alleviate that concern to a great extent. Just 370 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:36,119 Speaker 1: something to keep in mind, and that's why I've been 371 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 1: advocating so much for trade with the Warriors throughout this season. 372 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 1: All Right, real quickly, Hawks Knicks. That third quarter run 373 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 1: was crazy. The Knicks control all the game, and then 374 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 1: it started to slip. Started with some transition stuff, you know, 375 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: just typical Atlanta athleticism in waves like Jalen Brunson just 376 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 1: beats Jalen beats Dyson Daniels off the dribble. Zachary Rissosche 377 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: just comes flying in and blocks it off the glass. 378 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 1: They run out the other end. Jalen Johnson gets an 379 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 1: and one in transition. Then Jalen Johnson misses his free 380 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:24,639 Speaker 1: throw and Dyson Daniels comes flying in and taps in 381 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 1: the free throw for two more points. Jalen Johnson another 382 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:29,239 Speaker 1: transition or to lay up all of a sudden it's 383 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: a two point game, right, and then just like the 384 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: entire tone and tenor of the game has shifted. Steady 385 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 1: died of Trey Young pick and roll in the half 386 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,159 Speaker 1: court where he's hitting floaters and pull up threes and 387 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:42,560 Speaker 1: generating advantages. A lot of really nice cutting from guys 388 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 1: like Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels, a lot of good 389 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 1: short role playmaking from guys like a Yaka Coongu, and 390 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:51,399 Speaker 1: Atlanta has the ability to really tighten the screws on defense. 391 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 1: This has been a top ten defense over the last 392 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:57,920 Speaker 1: fifteen games. Dyson Daniels did an amazing job on Jalen Brunson, 393 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:00,680 Speaker 1: had him all out of sorts, had him faking even 394 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 1: when he did get separation, missing easier shots. That's when 395 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 1: you know he started to get bothered by the length 396 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: and the quickness that Dyson Daniels brings to the table. 397 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 1: And then they just have waves of athletes off the ball. 398 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 1: Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Zachary Ressage combined for five 399 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:18,119 Speaker 1: blocks in this game. And then like it literally just 400 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 1: went completely off the rails for the Knicks, like they 401 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 1: started badly missing open shots mckail Bridges and Ognnobi both 402 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 1: missed really good looks during that run. Duce McBride missed 403 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 1: a really good look during that run. The Knicks offense 404 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 1: is capable of scoring against elite defenses. We've seen it 405 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:36,159 Speaker 1: this year. I've shared this stat the other day, but 406 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:38,639 Speaker 1: the Knicks have the fourth best offensive rating in the 407 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: league against top ten defenses and again Atlanta eighteenth and 408 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: defensive rating on the season, but they're top ten over 409 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:48,879 Speaker 1: their last fifteen games. And so like a lot of 410 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: that was the Knicks just kind of entered into a 411 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 1: funk and they were never really able to get out 412 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:55,200 Speaker 1: of it. But I want to credit the Hawks because 413 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: when they tightened the screws, that's how basketball. Like this 414 00:21:57,320 --> 00:21:59,200 Speaker 1: is why I say basketball is more art than science. 415 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 1: Like a lot of times, like it's a teetering kind 416 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:04,399 Speaker 1: of momentum scale, and like when you kind of shift 417 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:07,679 Speaker 1: things back in your direction, a lot of factors just 418 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 1: continue to go that direction. All of a sudden, it's 419 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 1: like the open like Dyson Daniels is hitting the open 420 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: three at the top of the key, and Ojan Andobi's 421 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 1: missing the open three at the top of the key, 422 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 1: and it's like, oh, jan Anoby's a better shooter, but 423 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:20,920 Speaker 1: like the tenor and tone of the basketball game shifted 424 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: in momentum towards Atlanta. How do you quantify that? It's 425 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:26,600 Speaker 1: it's really really difficult to quantify. And that's why, like again, 426 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:29,720 Speaker 1: basketball is more art than science, right, but the game 427 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 1: completely goes off the rails, and now the Atlanta Hawks 428 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 1: are advancing to the semi finals. Their formula is super 429 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:38,080 Speaker 1: fascinating to me. I did a deep dive on the 430 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 1: Hawks last week after my Lakers rant, so I think 431 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:43,360 Speaker 1: it was the Thursday video last week. But the main 432 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: thing that I'm looking at with the Hawks as I 433 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:47,480 Speaker 1: viewed them as like the Eastern Conference version of the 434 00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 1: Los Angeles Clippers in the sense that you lose a star. Obviously, 435 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:54,439 Speaker 1: Kawhi Leonard and Jontey Murray are two very different types 436 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 1: of stars. And but the flip side of that is 437 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 1: Atlanta got returned for de Jontay Murray. The Clippers have 438 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 1: just lost Kawhi Leonard for nothing at this point in 439 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: the season, right, But what became the formula after the 440 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:08,679 Speaker 1: star was gone for the Clippers. It's like this like 441 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 1: crazy offensive floor raising point guard and James Harden, Trey Young, right, 442 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:17,119 Speaker 1: this guy that he's got a ton of pick and 443 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 1: roll chemistry with that can kind of anchor things on 444 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 1: defense and on the glass. In if you Gazubach and 445 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:26,120 Speaker 1: Clint Cappella, and then it's like athlete athlete athlete down 446 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:27,760 Speaker 1: the line, you know, and the clippers of d injuries, 447 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 1: but it's been like, you know, Terrence Man and Derek 448 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:33,080 Speaker 1: Jones Junior are like, it's athlete, athlete, athlete right for 449 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:36,840 Speaker 1: the Hawk, Zachary Rissosche, Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, DeAndre Hunter. 450 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:40,320 Speaker 1: It's just wave and wave and wave of athlete. It's 451 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: important because when you've got elite playmakers like Trey Young 452 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:46,920 Speaker 1: and James Harden, a lot of their playmaking ability gets 453 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:49,680 Speaker 1: unlocked with guys that can cut and run the floor, 454 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:53,000 Speaker 1: because again, a lot of the rudimentary basic playmaking in 455 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: basketball is like, oh, i'd be this guy off the dribble, 456 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:58,399 Speaker 1: this guy steps up and help. Here's an easy kickout 457 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:00,159 Speaker 1: pass to a three point shooter on the win. And 458 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:03,080 Speaker 1: those are important reads to make. But the advanced reads 459 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 1: that the best passers in the league can make are 460 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:07,600 Speaker 1: reads that don't appear to be open like a guy 461 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:10,439 Speaker 1: cuts back door. You can't throw the ball when he's 462 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,880 Speaker 1: already open. You got to throw it before he's open, right, 463 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:16,360 Speaker 1: because that window is very tight vertical spacing like lobs 464 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:19,240 Speaker 1: and stuff like that again doesn't look open. You have 465 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 1: to read the play and you have to position the 466 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,879 Speaker 1: ball to where the player can run and jump into 467 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:27,680 Speaker 1: that window. And so like James Harden and Trey Young 468 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,680 Speaker 1: have the basketball iq, the natural instincts to capitalize on 469 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:34,879 Speaker 1: those opportunities, and now they're surrounded by all these athletes 470 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:37,560 Speaker 1: that are just constantly running and cutting and running and 471 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:40,919 Speaker 1: cutting and running and cutting, and they're just picking people apart. 472 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: Both of those guys have had issues with scoring volume 473 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 1: relative to their historic scoring volume, but who the hell cares. 474 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 1: They're defending better, keeping the games close, and Trey Young 475 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,920 Speaker 1: and James Harden are making just enough plays to make 476 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 1: things work, and they're getting just enough contributions through Kazubach 477 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 1: and Norman Powell, right through guys like Bogdan mcdonovich, Jalen Johnson, 478 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:08,880 Speaker 1: who's done a bunch more high level on the ball 479 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 1: work in the last couple of weeks compared to the 480 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 1: beginning of the season, and DeAndre Hunter, who's really having 481 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: a nice season off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks. 482 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:21,360 Speaker 1: And so again, the formula is real. The defense is everything, 483 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 1: though it's all They did not defend super well in 484 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:25,880 Speaker 1: the early part of the season. They lost a lot 485 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:29,919 Speaker 1: of games to some bad teams. Now that has stabilized, 486 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 1: they're getting consistent defensive effort, and now they're starting to 487 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:35,920 Speaker 1: rack up wins. And my guess is that their success 488 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: over the course of the season will kind of oscillate 489 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 1: back and forth based on their defensive commitment. But really 490 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:44,400 Speaker 1: really fun team and most importantly, just the latest example 491 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 1: of a basketball concept that I've been preaching. Like some 492 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:51,159 Speaker 1: annoying dude like that you see out on the streets 493 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:53,119 Speaker 1: who's just like screaming at the top of his lungs 494 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:56,120 Speaker 1: on a microphone all all day on a Sunday. That's 495 00:25:56,160 --> 00:26:01,520 Speaker 1: been me for two years. Screaming speed, athletic, covering ground 496 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:06,119 Speaker 1: in rotation, pressuring the ball, winning defensive rebound battles, winning 497 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:10,160 Speaker 1: the transition defense and transition offense battle. All of that 498 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:15,879 Speaker 1: comes down to big, strong, fast, quick That is the 499 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 1: stuff that is winning in the modern NBA. On the 500 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 1: perimeter in Atlanta, starting to have this success as of late, 501 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:24,880 Speaker 1: to me, is just like the latest in a long 502 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 1: line of examples of why that's been working on the 503 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:33,200 Speaker 1: Knicks front. Obviously a super disappointing loss, but I wouldn't overreact. 504 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:35,959 Speaker 1: Like again, they straight up entered a funk like Brunson 505 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 1: out of play where he drove and like just threw 506 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:41,600 Speaker 1: a swing pass between two players, because he's just clearly 507 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 1: just in a funk based on that defensive job that 508 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:47,400 Speaker 1: Dyson Daniels did on him, all the missed open shots, 509 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:52,359 Speaker 1: the bad transition defense. Again, it sucks. It's disappointing, but 510 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 1: that can be cleaned up. And again, like I talked about, basketball, 511 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 1: games are weird. Like sometimes it's like, oh, everything's fine, 512 00:26:56,520 --> 00:26:58,040 Speaker 1: we're doing well, look at our offense, and then it's like, 513 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 1: oh my god, we're out of well, you completely lost 514 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:01,960 Speaker 1: control of this game, and now we're down eleven with 515 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 1: four minutes left and we're gonna lose, you know, like 516 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:06,680 Speaker 1: it can. It can slip on you quickly, and especially 517 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:09,240 Speaker 1: in the modern NBA with how much shooting result is 518 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 1: tied to the outcome of games. And so again, they 519 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:16,159 Speaker 1: have their issues, but like they're I'm a big believer 520 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:19,040 Speaker 1: in New York's offense even against elite defenses, and they 521 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:24,160 Speaker 1: just kind of entered into a major funk in that game. Obviously, 522 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 1: we have we have Hawks Bucks in our semi final game. 523 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go ahead and pick the Hawks in that 524 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 1: game just because their athleticism provided major problems for the 525 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 1: Bucks in their last matchup, just out running them down 526 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:39,719 Speaker 1: the floor in transition. They had something crazy like thirty 527 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:42,480 Speaker 1: seven or thirty eight transition points in their last matchup 528 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:45,600 Speaker 1: going out West, I think the Thunder are going to 529 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:48,400 Speaker 1: handle Houston. They ended up in a big blood bath 530 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:50,680 Speaker 1: type of game a couple of weeks back, but I 531 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:53,920 Speaker 1: think the Thunder are going to really strangle that Houston offense, 532 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:56,000 Speaker 1: and I just think they have more offensive skill of 533 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 1: their own to counter Houston's defense. So that means I'm 534 00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:02,480 Speaker 1: predicting Thunder versus the Hawks, and the finals should be 535 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:05,400 Speaker 1: a fun one. The semi finals are on Saturday. We'll 536 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:07,679 Speaker 1: be covering them on the Monday Morning Show, and then 537 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:10,360 Speaker 1: obviously the championship championship game is on Tuesday, which would 538 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:12,280 Speaker 1: be covering next week. All right, guys, this all I 539 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:14,240 Speaker 1: have for today is always to sincerely appreciate you for 540 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:17,000 Speaker 1: supporting me and supporting the show. I am recording a 541 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:20,040 Speaker 1: mail bag later today that will be up and up 542 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:23,120 Speaker 1: on tomorrow morning for our Friday show, and then, as 543 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:24,840 Speaker 1: you know, after the weekend, we'll be back on Monday 544 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:27,439 Speaker 1: with power rankings and some in season tournament reaction. How 545 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 1: so you guys, then the volume. What's up? Guys? As always, 546 00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:35,840 Speaker 1: I appreciate you for listening to and supporting OOPS tonight. 547 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:37,920 Speaker 1: It would actually be really helpful for us if you 548 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 1: guys would take a second and leave a rating and 549 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:42,880 Speaker 1: a review. As always, I appreciate you guys supporting us, 550 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 1: but if you could take a minute to do that, 551 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:45,880 Speaker 1: I'd really appreciate it.