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Everybody, 35 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: hope all of you guys are having a great week 36 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: so far. Got a jampackshow for you today. I wanted 37 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,040 Speaker 1: to bounce around to a bunch of different teams that 38 00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: we haven't hit so far in the preseason, and so 39 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: a format that I came up with for us to 40 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:08,800 Speaker 1: do that We're gonna do who's hot and who's not today. 41 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: We've got eight different segments that I'm going to go through. 42 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: I think we're hitting nine different teams, so we're going 43 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: to be bouncing all over the place. It's going to 44 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 1: be a lot of fun. You guys, owe the drill 45 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: before we get started. Subscribe to the Hoops Tonight YouTube channels. 46 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: You don't miss any more of our videos. Follow me 47 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,399 Speaker 1: on Twitter at underscore JCNLTS. You guys, don't miss you announcements. 48 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 1: Don't forget about our podcast feed. Where have you get 49 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 1: your podcast or Hoops Tonight? Don't forget. It's also helpful 50 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:30,079 Speaker 1: if you leave a rating and a review on that front. 51 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 1: And then, last but not least, keep dropping mailbag questions 52 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 1: in those YouTube comments so we can keep hitting them 53 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: throughout the rest of the season. And then before we 54 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: get started, I want to talk to you guys for 55 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: a second about game time. That was a great time 56 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: of the year to go see events. Right, We've got 57 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: Major League Baseball playoffs, National Football League is in full swing. 58 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: College football is in full swing. We're gonna have college 59 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,959 Speaker 1: basketball starting very soon. National Hockey Leagu's going right now. 60 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: We've got comedy shows, we've got concerts, We've got everything 61 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: under the sun that you guys can go see, and 62 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 1: nothing beats actually being there in person at these events. 63 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: Game Time gives an incredible experience to the process of 64 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: buying tickets. They've got this awesome new feature called game 65 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 1: Time Picks, which curates the number of tickets you go 66 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: to any event. There's going to be tons and tons 67 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 1: of tickets that you're looking through, right, but it curates 68 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 1: it and as you look at just the best deals 69 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: that are there, which can kind of streamline that process 70 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: for you. Super user friendly. You can check out in 71 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: as few as two taps. You know exactly what you're 72 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: paying before you go to check out, because if they're 73 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 1: all in pricing and you get a great view of 74 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: what your seat's going to be, so you know what 75 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: you're paying for with your money. Take the guesswork out 76 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: of buying tickets with game Time. Download the game Time app, 77 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: create an account and use code Hoops for twenty dollars 78 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: off your first first purchase. Terms apply again, Create an account, 79 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: redeem code hoops. That's Hops for twenty dollars off. Download 80 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: game Time today. What time is it? Game Time? 81 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 2: All right? Let's talk some basketball. So this is gonna 82 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 2: be fun. 83 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: We're gonna bounce all around the league a little quicker 84 00:03:58,280 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: than usual, but we're gonna hit a bunch of different 85 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: team Also, just a couple a quick breakdown on the 86 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: rest of the week. Right after I'm done recording this, 87 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: I'm recording with Sam Vassini and we're going to debate 88 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: my contender tiers. Okay, that's going to be coming out 89 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: tomorrow morning. Lots of deep dives with additional perspective from 90 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,719 Speaker 1: one of the smartest basketball basketball mines in the business 91 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 1: in Sam Vasini. We're going to bounce around the top 92 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: end of the league. On Friday, I'm going to do 93 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: my final season preview of the year on the Boston Celtics. 94 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 1: Probably hit maybe one or two more preseason games, and 95 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 1: then we're right into it guys next week. On Tuesday, 96 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 1: we will be live on YouTube after the final buzzer 97 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: of the first regular season game. We'll probably find something 98 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: to do on Monday. I'm not sure what we'll do yet, 99 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: but we'll get to something, maybe some predictions and stuff 100 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 1: like that. Very very excited. I was actually venting to Paul. 101 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:48,720 Speaker 1: Paul's our lead producer, and I was venting to him yesterday, like, 102 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:50,919 Speaker 1: I'm ready for some real basketball. As much as I 103 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: enjoyed the preseason, as much as I enjoy any basketball, 104 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 1: I'm ready to see these teams actually going out there 105 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:58,919 Speaker 1: and trying to win the games. And we are very 106 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: very close. We are less than week away. I cannot wait. 107 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: So our first, I'm gonna go back and forth, who's hot, 108 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 1: who's not our first? 109 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 2: Who is hot? The Sixers co stars Paul George. 110 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: Obviously, he hyper extended his knee and he's gonna miss 111 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:14,359 Speaker 1: a week, but he's fine. There's just a little bit 112 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 1: of a bone bruise that he's gonna be fine. He 113 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: made nine of his fourteen shots in preseason one point 114 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:24,040 Speaker 1: seven to eight points per jump shot, two points per 115 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: pull up jump shot, seventy five percent at the rim. 116 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: Just looks as smooth as ever. Lots of ball screen stuff, 117 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 1: manipulating his defender to get caught on screens, to find 118 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: just enough space for him to elevate and to pull 119 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: up jump shots. That got me really excited about what 120 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 1: that's going to look like with Joe el Embiid, specifically 121 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: because Joe embiads a very big body that is difficult 122 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: to get around, and also because the role man is 123 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 1: going to be so keyed in on Joel Embiid and 124 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 1: what he's doing, especially as we know so many of 125 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:55,119 Speaker 1: em beads ISOs and face up opportunities kind of start 126 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 1: out of ball screens and feeds in the short role. 127 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: I'm just really really excited about the openings that Paul 128 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: George is going to be able to take advantage of 129 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: in those situations. They also ran a little bit of 130 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 1: two man game. There was a play at the end 131 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 1: of the first half against Minnesota where Paul George ended 132 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 1: up with Mike Conley on him, and it was, you know, 133 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:15,719 Speaker 1: pretty typical in that sort of situation where you expect 134 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: Mi Conley to hedge on a screen, and so Paul 135 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 1: George was kind of ran up like he was going 136 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: to screen for Tyrese Maxey and then slipped out of 137 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: it to the left wing and Conley lingered for just 138 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 1: a second, and that gave Paul George just enough of 139 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 1: an advantage to hit a dribble combination and get a 140 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: good look from three. And honestly, I didn't even think 141 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: it was executed as good as it could have been. 142 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: Because he didn't actually really commit to the screen enough 143 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 1: to really get Conley to hedge. And so then I 144 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: started to get excited about some one three to two 145 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:46,160 Speaker 1: man game with Maxie and Paul George where the two 146 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: of them can kind of play off of each other. 147 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: Liked what I saw from them in preseason. And then 148 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:54,040 Speaker 1: Tyrese Maxey one point four to seven points per pull 149 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 1: up jump shot ten for nineteen overall. Remember last year 150 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 1: the kind of rub on Tyreese was he was shooting 151 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: incredibly well off the catch, incredibly well off the move, 152 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: but was struggling off the dribble. Now, then he did 153 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: have a very good off the dribble shooting series against 154 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 1: the Knicks in the first round. But movement shooting is 155 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 1: specifically like the pull up shooting piece, excuse me, is 156 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 1: specifically valuable because it's the ultimate coverage beater. Most coverages 157 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: are designed to give up lightly contested pull up jump shots, 158 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: right like you don't want to give up open catch 159 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 1: and shoot threes. You don't want to give up lob dunks. 160 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: You don't want to give up easy opportunities around the basket. 161 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: You want to try to force the guy to make 162 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 1: the toughest possible shot, and right now in basketball, the 163 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:38,800 Speaker 1: toughest shot that people are taking or contested pull up 164 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: jump shots, and it's just like an important coverage beater. 165 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: It's a playoff shot, it's a ceiling razor. There's a 166 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: lot that Tyree's can do outside of that, right Like, 167 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: we know he can speed his way downhill and get 168 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: into the rim. He's gotten better as a playmaker over 169 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: the last few years. The movement shooting piece is really cool. 170 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: This is something that is a great counter for ball pressure, 171 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: Like just have him start in the corner and just 172 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: sprint like crazy, easy to come off of a dribble 173 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: handoff and look to shoot the ball, or just come 174 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:05,679 Speaker 1: off of a couple of screens and look to shoot 175 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: the ball. But one of the things with those movement 176 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 1: shooting situations is there are some better counters for the 177 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: defense in terms of like top locking and just denying 178 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: the ball altogether forcing him to cut through to the 179 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: opposite side, and so like having the ability to consistently 180 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 1: knock down jump shots off the dribble with the ball 181 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 1: in your hands is the ultimate coverage beater. And that 182 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 1: was the one thing for Tyrese that was kind of 183 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: missing in his development, and it seems just barely a 184 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:32,559 Speaker 1: small sample coming off the postseason and then into this preseason. 185 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: But given his shooting touch, it was only a matter 186 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: of time before he figured this piece out. And if 187 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: he figures it out this season, it's going to dramatically 188 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: raise his individual ceiling. The two of those guys, Paul 189 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 1: George and Tyres Masey going to do a great job 190 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 1: of anchoring that offense when Joelle Embiid is out of 191 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: the lineup. 192 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:50,559 Speaker 2: Who is not. 193 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: Klay Thompson just three for eighteen from the field so far, 194 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:58,680 Speaker 1: just three for fifteen on jump shots. 195 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 2: But to be I don't really care. 196 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: And here's why the MAVs didn't get Clay to anchor 197 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 1: an offense without Luca. They got him to help capitalize 198 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:11,960 Speaker 1: on the attention that Luca Garners. There was one play 199 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:14,079 Speaker 1: in particular in the Clippers game that stood out to me. 200 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:17,199 Speaker 1: They ran a double drag where Clay set the first screen, 201 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:19,559 Speaker 1: Derek Lively's at the second screen. Remember, double drag is 202 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 1: just simply a double ball screen where the screeners are 203 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: staggered by a certain amount and the more athletic player 204 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: is going to roll hard to the rim and the 205 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: better shooter is going to pop out to the three 206 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:33,079 Speaker 1: point line. It usually forces a guard guard screen or 207 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 1: a guard wing screen, which can lead to more potential 208 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 1: for mistakes. Right, It's like if you run a regular ballscreen, 209 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 1: less opportunity for mistakes, double drag, more opportunity for mistakes. 210 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 1: In this case, at the beginning of the possession, darre 211 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: Jones Junior was guarding Clay and Terrence Man was guarding 212 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: the ball handler. But as Clay set the first screen, 213 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 1: Terrence Man switches on to Clay, and as soon as 214 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:57,199 Speaker 1: the screen happens, as Lively sets the second screen and 215 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:00,319 Speaker 1: starts to roll, Terrence Man actually sinks down into kind 216 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: of the foul line elbow area to tag on the roller. 217 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 1: It's a mistake in this case because he is overplaying 218 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 1: a role off of Clay Thompson, who's one of the 219 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:13,199 Speaker 1: greatest shooters of all time, like probably the second best 220 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 1: shooter of all time. 221 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 2: Right, he's wide open. 222 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:19,439 Speaker 1: But the ball handler on this play was John Darren Gordman, 223 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 1: and he forced a bad skip pass to PJ. Washington 224 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:24,839 Speaker 1: in the right corner and just launched it over his 225 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: head out of bounds. It was a miss read. And 226 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: that's the kind of thing that I'm looking at there. 227 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: That will be Luca or Kyrie in all likelihood and 228 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 1: they won't miss those reads. Here's another kind of like 229 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: simple stat to drive this point home. All three of 230 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 1: Clay's makes so far in preseason were unguarded. He's three 231 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: for five or sixty percent on unguarded catch and shoot 232 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 1: jump shots in preseason. He's zero for ten on guarded 233 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: jump shots and pull up jump shots so far in preseason. Now, 234 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: do I expect Clay to be just left wide open 235 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: all the time? Of course, not against especially against the 236 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: elite defenses in the NBA. I think they're going to 237 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: be more geared towards helping off of PJ. Washington when 238 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: they can, But defenses will make mistakes and Clay will 239 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: get open and Luca will make them pay for that. 240 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 1: In years past, that player was typically a player that 241 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:18,439 Speaker 1: might make them pay, but it was either streaky or 242 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 1: just an inadequate shooter in general. Right, So it's an 243 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 1: absolute upgrade in that specific regard. They did run quite 244 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 1: a bit of action for Clay. I thought that was fascinating. 245 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:28,680 Speaker 1: Lots of double wide pin downs, lots of dribble, handoff stuff, 246 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 1: but that was obviously with very little Kyrie and Luca. 247 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:35,959 Speaker 1: I think between those two guys, Kyrie's played twelve ish 248 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 1: minutes and Luca's played zero. So just not a lot 249 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 1: of those guys on the floor. So, like the question is, 250 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: will they keep Clay on the move when everyone is healthy, 251 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 1: because I think that's an important part of their resilience 252 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 1: on offense against the best defenses in the league. So no, 253 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: I don't care that Clay is missing in preseason because 254 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 1: it's not relevant to what he'll be doing in the 255 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 1: regular season or why they signed him to begin with. 256 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: But he is cold to start the year. Who is 257 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 1: hot The Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers. Every offense 258 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 1: in the league is struggling to start the preseason, which 259 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 1: is to be expected. Guys are getting back in shape, 260 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 1: they're learning new sets, they're learning how to play with 261 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: new players. There's a lot of like end of the 262 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: bench guys playing. But there are two teams that have 263 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:22,560 Speaker 1: picked up right where they left off offensively, the Boston 264 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: Celtics and the Indiana Pacers. Boston is the best net 265 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: rating in the league so far in preseason. They're outscoring 266 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:31,079 Speaker 1: teams by sixteen point three points per one hundred possessions. 267 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 1: They have the best offense in the league, a one 268 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:36,679 Speaker 1: twenty one offensive rating. Jason Tatum, it looks like he 269 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:39,439 Speaker 1: is returning to form. Jump shot looks great. He's getting 270 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: one point two points per catch and shoot jump shot 271 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: so far in preseason one point zero eight points per 272 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: pull up jump shot. You know, after the postseason run 273 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 1: where he didn't shoot well, it was a pretty quick 274 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: turnaround to the Olympics, and anytime that he had in 275 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: that stretch, he needed to focus on giving his body 276 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: a rest after a crazy nine month basketball campaign, right, 277 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:02,200 Speaker 1: So like he had to go straight into the Olympics 278 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 1: without much of an opportunity to really work on his 279 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:06,440 Speaker 1: jump shot. Not to mention that was kind of an 280 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 1: awkward situation for him in terms of a shift in role, 281 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: bunch of different players already in a slump and now 282 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 1: he's looking from the outside in in terms of the rotation. Right, So, 283 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: like he didn't really have much of a chance after 284 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 1: the Olympics. Sometimes you just need to get out of 285 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:25,559 Speaker 1: playing five on five and just get into a gym 286 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 1: and work on your game. Sometimes you need to disconnect 287 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:31,560 Speaker 1: from the results. So who cares if you miss? Who 288 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: cares if you go into the gym and miss twenty 289 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: five shots in a row. You're working on your shot, 290 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:38,319 Speaker 1: whereas if you're just playing basketball and you're missing shots, 291 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 1: it can cause you to continue to spiral in terms 292 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 1: of your confidence. 293 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:41,560 Speaker 2: Right. 294 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 1: Well, it's very clear that Jason spent a bunch of 295 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: time over the last few months polishing up that jump shot, 296 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: and he just looks more fluid, more confident. He also 297 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,559 Speaker 1: looks super athletic. He had three dunks against Toronto, including 298 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 1: this like crazy poster dunk on a rip the remove 299 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 1: from the left wing in the half court. He's playing 300 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: really well out of the post. He's turned ten post 301 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: ups into twelve points including passes. Just a great start 302 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: for him. Again, I was very aware of the fact 303 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 1: that Tatum was in an extended shooting slump that was 304 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 1: stemming from the postseason into the Olympics, but I always 305 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 1: felt like it was a temporary thing. There was never 306 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: a moment where I thought Tatum had forgotten how to shoot, 307 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: or like, oh now he's just too buff and he's 308 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 1: never going to be able to shoot again. No, that 309 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 1: was silly, like he's too talented of a player who 310 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 1: works too damn hard. There was always a ver There 311 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: was always going to be this outcome, which is Tatum 312 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 1: the career great shooter was going or at least career 313 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: good shooter was going to become a good shooter again 314 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 1: and again the pull up jump shot, in particular, picking 315 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 1: up where he left off in like that January stretch 316 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: last year when he was shooting the seams off the basketball. 317 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 1: Would be curious to see how that goes over the 318 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 1: course of the season. Lots of bench guys for Boston 319 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 1: look good to start the season. Pritchard is locked in. 320 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:56,640 Speaker 1: He's shooting forty nine percent from three on nine attempts 321 00:14:56,640 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: per games. Xavier Tillman shooting super well, providing some quality 322 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 1: center minutes. Again, those are going to be so important 323 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 1: to start the year two as they keep Al Horford's 324 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 1: minutes down and as Porzingis is recovering from his injury. 325 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 1: Jordan Walsh looks like he can crack the rotation, just 326 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: good size on the wing. He's been rebounding super well 327 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 1: with those bench scripts, which again is going to be important, 328 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 1: especially as you're playing lower quality centers a lot in 329 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 1: the early part of the season. Lonnie Walker has had 330 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 1: some really nice driving kick possessions, but we all knew 331 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:24,239 Speaker 1: that was going to be the case with his athleticism 332 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: in that spacing. Boston just hasn't missed a beat. They 333 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: look super sharp to start the year. Indiana shooting the 334 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 1: three ball really well. They have the fourth highest three 335 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: point percentage of all teams so far in preseason. Ben 336 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: Matherin's shooting really well. Pascal Siakam's over fifty percent from three, 337 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: aaron Nei Smith's over fifty percent from three. Tyris Halliburton 338 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 1: is shooting the ball really well. Nem Har's doing pretty 339 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: well as well. Jaris Walker, the draft pick from last year. 340 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 1: He's shooting it really well. He's over fifty percent from 341 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 1: three in preseason. Over two thirds of their baskets are assisted, 342 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: and their top ten in transition offense again, so basically 343 00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: just picking up right where they left off on offense. Now, 344 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 1: They're defense looks atrocious. They are the worst defense in 345 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 1: the NBA so far in preseason by defensive rating, But 346 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: at least their offense is picking up right where it 347 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: left off. Who is not Karl Anthony Towns's jump shot. 348 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 1: He's just five for twenty one so far in preseason, 349 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 1: just one for eight when he's unguarded, which is interesting, 350 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 1: just kind of just noise in a small sample size. 351 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 1: I don't think of it. I think much of it 352 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 1: at all. Am I worried about it? No, he's getting 353 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: great looks. Those eight unguarded looks, every single one of 354 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 1: them has come either out of a pick and pop 355 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: or a transition trailer situation. Those are situations that are 356 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 1: going to be there throughout the season. I've broken down 357 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 1: the pick and pop on many different occasions, whether it's 358 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: a ball screen, a dribble handoff, or an off ball screen. 359 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: Anytime Cat screens for somebody who tries to turn the 360 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: corner and go downhill, Kat's defender, who is almost always 361 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 1: going to be a center, is programmed mentally to naturally 362 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 1: sink back to help contain guy coming downhill, even if 363 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:04,120 Speaker 1: it's not part of the game plan. Guys will make 364 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 1: mistakes by doing that sort of thing just simply because 365 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 1: they're big guys. That's what they've done their entire career. 366 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:11,439 Speaker 1: And there's a guy curling over his screen heading downhill 367 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:13,160 Speaker 1: into the lane, and you got to do something about it. 368 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 1: In those situations, cat sets the screen and instead of rolling, 369 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 1: he just flows back to that above the brake line 370 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 1: and just waits for the ball to come back to him. 371 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 1: He's gonna get tons of good looks like that all year. 372 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 1: Transition trailer situations are another situation where Kat's getting a 373 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:30,960 Speaker 1: ton of good looks in preseason. Another very basic concept. 374 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: Bigs are trained on transition defense all the time, right, 375 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:37,960 Speaker 1: especially because they are typically slower footed than the wings 376 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 1: and guards at every level of basketball, and so their 377 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 1: coaches are just non stop talking to them. I need 378 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 1: you to run, I need you to run, I need 379 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:45,680 Speaker 1: you to sprint, I need you to get up and 380 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 1: down the floor. Got to stay in this foot race, right. Well, 381 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 1: for the most part, they're running to the rim. They 382 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 1: run to the rim on both ends of the floor, 383 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: especially at the lower levels of basketball. It's run the 384 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:01,399 Speaker 1: rim just straight from like just on both ends of 385 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 1: the floor. Like even on offense, it's like you're just 386 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 1: running to the rim, right, it's all rim running, right, 387 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:08,879 Speaker 1: and so on defense, a lot of these big guys, 388 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 1: when they're guarding Karl Anthony Towns and there's a transition 389 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 1: wave come in, those guys sink into the lane just naturally. 390 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 1: How many bigs are thinking in transition, like I need 391 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: to sprint back and then locate Cat at the three 392 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:24,919 Speaker 1: point line. Even if that's the game plan, it fights 393 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:27,439 Speaker 1: against their natural instincts. And there were a lot of 394 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: plays so far in preseason where just everyone's going down 395 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: the floor, here comes Kat rumbling down behind everybody and 396 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 1: just stopping right there at the top of the key 397 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: and getting a wide open look. Again, he hasn't been 398 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: making them yet, but he's too good of a shooter 399 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 1: not to make them just small sample sized noise. I 400 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:47,439 Speaker 1: expect him to feast on those types of looks throughout 401 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:50,040 Speaker 1: this season. I expect them to go in, and I 402 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:53,080 Speaker 1: expect them to help the Knicks offense in a big way. 403 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 2: Who is HoTT the Wolves back court? 404 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 1: Dante Devincenzo six for twelve on jump shots so far, 405 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:17,159 Speaker 1: one point four to two points per shot, three for 406 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: five off the dribble. He's run eleven ball screens including 407 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 1: passes that have generated thirteen points. That's a really good 408 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 1: efficiency number. And he's an excellent defensive player and rebounder 409 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 1: at the guard position. I can't help but wonder I'm 410 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:31,960 Speaker 1: actually gonna ask Sam Vassini about this to see what 411 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 1: he's thinking in our recording here later this afternoon. But 412 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 1: I can't help but wonder if this story ends with 413 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 1: Dante as the starting too, and with Mike Conley coming 414 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 1: off the bench. I just think Dante is a better 415 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: player at this phase in his career. I think he 416 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 1: is like a force multiplier for the athleticism in defense 417 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 1: that that starting unit brings. I think at this phase 418 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 1: of his career, because of his ability to get moving 419 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: and to quickly elevate off the catch and shoot, he's 420 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: actually a be spacer than Mike Conley. He's not the 421 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:04,880 Speaker 1: connector that Mike Conley is, But at the same time, 422 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:08,159 Speaker 1: Dante is a quality connector. I just think he's a 423 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:09,480 Speaker 1: better player, and I think in the long run, you 424 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: could make a case that he's going to end up 425 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: starting next to Ant just beautiful fits. So far in preseason, 426 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 1: Anthony Edwards is still shooting the seams off the basketball. 427 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: He's twelve for twenty three on jump shots, one point 428 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:24,440 Speaker 1: four to eight points per attempt. Now, this is where 429 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: we got to start looking at a pretty substantial sample 430 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:29,879 Speaker 1: size here, going back to last year. In the postseason, 431 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: ant is getting one point one zero points per jump 432 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: shot in the playoffs on one hundred and eighty four attempts, 433 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: one point one four points per jump shot. In all 434 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: of the Team USA games, that's sixty nine attempts one 435 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:46,479 Speaker 1: point two eight points per shot. In the real Olympic games, 436 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:49,160 Speaker 1: that's forty seven percent field goals on thirty six attempts. 437 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:52,360 Speaker 1: So in high leverage Olympic games, hit damn near half 438 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:54,720 Speaker 1: of his jump shots. And now he's at one point 439 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 1: four to eight points per attempt on twenty three attempts. 440 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:02,119 Speaker 1: So we're literally at all almost four hundred attempts excuse me, 441 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: almost three hundred attempts of just Aunt being an elite shooter, 442 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 1: spanning seven months, several different basketball situations, super high leverage. 443 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 2: Games, and he's just shooting the ball really well. 444 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: Most of my projection with Aunt is geared around him 445 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:23,920 Speaker 1: being an elite jump shooter, and his recent stretch has 446 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: to be real in order for that to be the case, 447 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 1: and so far it has been. And so that's super 448 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 1: exciting if you're a Wolves fan, because if Ant's just 449 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: going to be a deadly shooter, now we're talking about 450 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:34,640 Speaker 1: a guy that has the potential to be the best 451 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: player in the world one day, one last random Timberwolves 452 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 1: shoutout josh Miynutt. The Wolves are kind of thin at forward. 453 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:43,680 Speaker 1: This is something we talked about in our season preview 454 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:47,040 Speaker 1: because of the loss of Kyle Anderson. They needed someone 455 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:52,360 Speaker 1: to pop, right They josh Myno. Six 's eight, little thin, 456 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 1: not quite as big as Kyle Anderson was, right, but 457 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 1: very very vertically athletic, shooting the ball super well. He's 458 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 1: five for ten on three so far preseason. He's run 459 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:05,520 Speaker 1: seven self creation possessions so ISO's pick and rolls, post ups. 460 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 1: He's converted them into nine points. Showed a little bit 461 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:11,920 Speaker 1: of off the dribble pop, bringing functional size and athleticism. 462 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 1: He's rebounding at a rate of nine point five rebounds 463 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 1: per thirty six minutes so far in preseason. So like 464 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 1: josh Minot ends up just slotting into that Kyle Anderson 465 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: spot as like a bench forward that could be a 466 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 1: huge depth piece for the Minnesota Timberwolves this year. Who 467 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:32,920 Speaker 1: is not the Denver Nuggets. They got smashed by the 468 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 1: Thunder last night, albeit without Nicole Yokich or Jamal Murray, 469 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:38,640 Speaker 1: but they've dropped to zero to four in preseason they 470 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 1: have a minus fourteen point seven net rating so far 471 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:44,200 Speaker 1: in preseason. That's the worst in the Western Conference by 472 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:47,879 Speaker 1: a mile. Only the Washington Wizards have been worse among 473 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 1: NBA teams. Mike Malone last night was asked whether or 474 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: not he was sensing an air of revenge from the 475 00:22:55,560 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 1: Nuggets in preseason. He just flatly said, no, Jamal Murray 476 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:02,880 Speaker 1: hasn't looked good. They've looked a little apathetic. If you're 477 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,159 Speaker 1: looking for like a revenge campaign with a bunch of 478 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: verve and intensity, it just hasn't been there now. Mike 479 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 1: Malone also said he's still confident that when they're healthy, 480 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:13,680 Speaker 1: they can accomplish what they want to accomplish. 481 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 2: And the numbers show that. 482 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:17,920 Speaker 1: I mean, Nikole Jokic on the floor in preseason, they're 483 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 1: plus five point four net, So like they're still doing 484 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:22,640 Speaker 1: really well when he's on the floor. There's two games 485 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:26,520 Speaker 1: against the Celtics in there, so, like, as you guys know, 486 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: I just did my season previews yesterday. I still have 487 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 1: Denver as my number two team in the league and 488 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:34,480 Speaker 1: I picked to win the Western Conference. So I am 489 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:37,720 Speaker 1: still high on Denver and I would never change that 490 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:42,119 Speaker 1: pick based on four preseason games with limited availability of 491 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 1: your stars. However, it's hard to not be at least 492 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: a little bit annoyed at the general lack of urgency 493 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 1: to start the season in Denver. Who is hot the 494 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:58,920 Speaker 1: Warriors movement shooters. I was watching Warriors Pistons yesterday and 495 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:01,360 Speaker 1: I was amazed that there are ability to run quality 496 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 1: offense without Steph Curry on the floor. But it's built 497 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 1: off of a very simple concept. They have a bunch 498 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:11,399 Speaker 1: of guys who are willing and able to take jump 499 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 1: shots on the move. This is important because it forces 500 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:18,640 Speaker 1: whoever's defending them to chase over the top. If they're 501 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 1: just looking to drive on curls, or if they're not 502 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 1: competent or comfortable shooting running off of off ball action 503 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:28,800 Speaker 1: or off of dribble handoffs, their defender in all likelihood 504 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:32,000 Speaker 1: is going to go underneath those screens and contain the 505 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:34,639 Speaker 1: basketball and dare you to shoot. You have to have 506 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 1: a general willingness and ability to hit movement jump shots 507 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 1: in order in the Warrior system in order for guys 508 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,480 Speaker 1: to chase over the top, and they do. Buddy Heal 509 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:47,640 Speaker 1: locked in to start the season looks like a shoe 510 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:50,399 Speaker 1: Infit he's getting one point four to six points per 511 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:52,920 Speaker 1: jump shot on thirty five attempts so far. The Anthony 512 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: Melton willing and able to take movement jump shots, Moses 513 00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:58,760 Speaker 1: Moody willing and able to take movement jump shots, Brandon 514 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:02,879 Speaker 1: Pajemski able to make movement jump shots. Lindy Waters looks 515 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 1: like a guy who, like legitimately could be in this rotation. 516 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 1: Now again, that's the issue. Too many guys that look 517 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 1: like rotation players. For the Warrior, Steph was talking about 518 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:12,720 Speaker 1: it and how some guys are gonna get their feelings 519 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 1: hurt and we'll see what happens. But in order to 520 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 1: be able to put together a functional offense without a superstar, 521 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:23,199 Speaker 1: you have to be able to run action and have 522 00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 1: guys be threats within that action. So if you're running 523 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 1: action and you've got five guys that are not named 524 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:31,200 Speaker 1: Steph Curry that are willing and able to come off 525 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:33,600 Speaker 1: of an off ball screen and knock down a jump 526 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:36,720 Speaker 1: shot that forces guys to chase as soon as it 527 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:39,600 Speaker 1: forces guys to chase, and the big guys to show, 528 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 1: meaning the guys who are defending the screeners to show 529 00:25:42,119 --> 00:25:44,199 Speaker 1: on the other side of the screens. That's when you 530 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:47,480 Speaker 1: start to get opportunities for guys slipping or rolling to 531 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:50,399 Speaker 1: the basket. In those situations, you need guys who screen 532 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: well and can playmake well on the role. Tray Jackson, Davis, 533 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 1: Kevon Looney, Gary Payton, the second Kyle Anderson who was 534 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 1: awesome against Lakers again last night. Like, having guys that 535 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:04,680 Speaker 1: are willing and able to do that is the other 536 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:07,679 Speaker 1: side of that offensive kind of bracket in terms of 537 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:11,719 Speaker 1: how you make those actions function. That is that simple 538 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 1: action just having guys who are willing to come off 539 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:17,359 Speaker 1: of screens shooting and guys who set good screens and 540 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 1: can playmake on the role. That simple combination gives you 541 00:26:21,119 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 1: a pretty high floor offensively. Now, we all know if 542 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 1: you run into a super elite defense that's super locked in, 543 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:31,080 Speaker 1: there are limitations on the talent level with this Warriors roster, right, 544 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 1: we all know that that Steph is basically the only 545 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:37,119 Speaker 1: guy on the entire roster that you can trust to 546 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:40,520 Speaker 1: consistently generate quality shots against the best defenses in the league. 547 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:44,200 Speaker 1: But the floor is super high because of this foundation. 548 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 1: And this is a testament to how good of a 549 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: coach Steve Kerr is and how good leaders Steph and Draymond. 550 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:54,160 Speaker 1: Are you just know they're going to maximize the talent 551 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:58,200 Speaker 1: on this roster by virtue of having functional talent that 552 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 1: fits a system and then insistent commitment to the details 553 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:05,480 Speaker 1: on a night in a night out basis. The bench groups, 554 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: in particular for the Warriors last night, kicked the shit 555 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 1: out of the Lakers. That to me is a sign 556 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 1: of organizational competence and intensity. Nice start for the Golden 557 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 1: State Warriors in preseason this year. 558 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:20,199 Speaker 2: Who is not? 559 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 1: This is our last segment of the show, the Lakers 560 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:28,480 Speaker 1: shot selection. Last night, the Lakers took thirty four catch 561 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 1: and shoot jump shots, only seven of them, according to Synergy, 562 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:36,959 Speaker 1: were logged as unguarded, So twenty seven of their thirty 563 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 1: four catch and shoot attempts last night were considered guarded. 564 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:45,160 Speaker 1: This preseason so far, sixty four percent of the catch 565 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 1: and shoot jump shots that the Lakers have taken have 566 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:53,080 Speaker 1: classified as guarded by Synergy. Remember, last year, more than 567 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:57,120 Speaker 1: half of the Lakers shots were considered unguarded in catch 568 00:27:57,119 --> 00:28:00,119 Speaker 1: and shoot situations in the regular season, so they were 569 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:04,240 Speaker 1: going at forty nine percent guarded catch and shoot jump 570 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:08,119 Speaker 1: shots last year in the regular season. To sixty four 571 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:12,359 Speaker 1: percent guarded catch and shoot jump shots in preseason so far, 572 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:15,960 Speaker 1: they are simply just forcing a lot of bad shots. 573 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:18,680 Speaker 1: It's crazy watching them too, because I mean, even last 574 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 1: night against the Lakers, it's like, how many of these 575 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:24,480 Speaker 1: attempts are just they dribble the ball off the floor 576 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:26,160 Speaker 1: and they throw a pass to somebody on the wing, 577 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:27,840 Speaker 1: and that dude on the wing has just a tiny 578 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 1: bit of separation and he just lets it fly from three. 579 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:33,640 Speaker 1: Those aren't good shots. Those are shots you can get 580 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:37,920 Speaker 1: later in the clock. Remember, the specific reason why the 581 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:41,920 Speaker 1: Laker offense was awesome last year was they dominated the 582 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 1: paint and they were deadly on wide open threes that 583 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,960 Speaker 1: they generated off of those paint touches. That's why they 584 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:53,000 Speaker 1: were such a high three point percentage team and an 585 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 1: offensive rating. Remember, they were the third best offense in 586 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:59,959 Speaker 1: the league over the final forty six games of the season, 587 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:03,160 Speaker 1: that is more than half the season. This was not 588 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 1: an offense that needed a dramatic shift in approach. This 589 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:09,880 Speaker 1: was an offense that needed minor tweaking. Okay, now again, 590 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:12,600 Speaker 1: I'm not going to be overly critical of JJ Reddick 591 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:15,280 Speaker 1: in this regard, because anytime that you come in and 592 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 1: try to implement new things. There's always sloppiness, and it 593 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 1: is way too soon after a handful of preseason games 594 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:24,280 Speaker 1: to act as though we have enough of a sample 595 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 1: size to just commit ourselves to this idea that JJ's 596 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:31,640 Speaker 1: screwing things up. That's not what's happening here. I'm just saying, 597 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:34,400 Speaker 1: on a small sample size, I think the Lakers are 598 00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 1: taking too many bad shots. They're only getting zero point 599 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 1: eight to two points per attempt in those contested catch 600 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 1: and shoot jump shots that they're taking, so they're not 601 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:46,720 Speaker 1: actually helping the offense. And again, there's a ton of 602 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: other positivity. He's added a lot of structure. They're running 603 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:53,760 Speaker 1: more organized offense on a higher percentage of their possessions. 604 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 1: They are talking about and emphasizing the right things. I 605 00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:00,760 Speaker 1: am overall positive on the jj FIH with the Lakers, 606 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:04,920 Speaker 1: but this specific approach to increasing three point volume is 607 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:09,520 Speaker 1: something that I disagree with. Again, the three point volume 608 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:13,480 Speaker 1: is not the way that you increase offenses of offensive efficiency. 609 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 1: As I mentioned last year or last time we talked 610 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:19,200 Speaker 1: about this, eight of the top twelve three point volume 611 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:23,280 Speaker 1: teams last year missed the playoffs. Like the actual way 612 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:26,960 Speaker 1: you increase your offensive efficiency is by hunting the highest 613 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:31,040 Speaker 1: quality shot on that individual possession. And as we know, 614 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 1: the highest quality shot in basketball is a quality rim attempt. 615 00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:39,400 Speaker 1: The next highest quality shot in basketball is a quality 616 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:43,000 Speaker 1: catch and shoot attempt. After that, you can get into 617 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:45,840 Speaker 1: all these different things in terms of contested rim attempts, 618 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 1: contested catch and shoot threes, mid range shot attempts, things 619 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:52,360 Speaker 1: along those lines. And yes, I would like to see 620 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:56,280 Speaker 1: the Lakers turn some of their contested mid range attempts 621 00:30:56,320 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 1: into more catch and shoot threes. I would like to 622 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:04,080 Speaker 1: see them try to turn more deliberate offensive approach into 623 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:07,800 Speaker 1: more high quality catch and shoot threes. But the answer 624 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:10,960 Speaker 1: to improving your efficiency in your shot value is not 625 00:31:11,160 --> 00:31:14,920 Speaker 1: just jacking up more contested catch and shoot threes. Again, 626 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:17,560 Speaker 1: it's way too early. As I mentioned in our last 627 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:20,200 Speaker 1: rant about this, there's a whole other element to this, 628 00:31:20,240 --> 00:31:23,080 Speaker 1: which is confidence. Like, if JJ is trying to breed 629 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:25,800 Speaker 1: confidence in his team, he's going to tell them to 630 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 1: have just an unbelievable green light and then try to 631 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:32,280 Speaker 1: parse it back based on results in the season. Okay, 632 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:34,720 Speaker 1: this guy's just shooting the seams off the basketball. I 633 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:36,480 Speaker 1: just want him to keep shooting no matter what, anytime 634 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:40,040 Speaker 1: he gets any space. Okay, this guy's struggling. He's taken 635 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:42,440 Speaker 1: a lot of bad shots. Let's sit down with him 636 00:31:42,440 --> 00:31:45,160 Speaker 1: and go over some film. Let's try to parse this 637 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:47,280 Speaker 1: back a little bit. So that's the reason why I'm 638 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 1: not overreacting to it. There's this whole other confidence element. 639 00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:52,760 Speaker 1: We want to give JJ time to really build this 640 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:56,400 Speaker 1: out over time. However, in the small sample to start preseason, 641 00:31:56,760 --> 00:31:59,320 Speaker 1: the Lakers approach to increasing the three point volume has 642 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:01,880 Speaker 1: just been jacking up bad contest to catch and shoot threes. 643 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:04,520 Speaker 1: That's not a strategy that I agree with, and it 644 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:06,280 Speaker 1: is something that I will be keeping an eye on 645 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:09,360 Speaker 1: as we get into the regular season. On the bright side, 646 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:14,520 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis looks like an absolute monster so far in preseason. 647 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:17,720 Speaker 1: He had seventeen post ups that have led to twenty 648 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:20,480 Speaker 1: five points including passes. That's one point four to seven 649 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:23,640 Speaker 1: points per possession. Last night against the Warriors, he literally 650 00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:26,840 Speaker 1: looked like Ad from the bubble, just knocking down tough 651 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:30,640 Speaker 1: jump shot after tough jump shot, just fluid scoring, just 652 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 1: looking like nobody can guard him. If Anthony Davis is 653 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:37,120 Speaker 1: a bona fide MVP candidate, this year, we have to 654 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:41,280 Speaker 1: recalibrate the Lakers, and so he's been amazing. Really curious 655 00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:45,720 Speaker 1: to see if that trickles into the regular season. All right, guys, 656 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:47,400 Speaker 1: that is all I have for today. As always, as 657 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:49,800 Speaker 1: sincerely appreciate you for supporting the show again. We will 658 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:52,480 Speaker 1: be back tomorrow with Sanvessini to debate contenders. 659 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:57,640 Speaker 2: I'll see you guys. Then the volume