1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:01,960 Speaker 1: The volume. 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 2: The eighty two game preseason is in the books, and 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 2: now it's finally time for the real season. Don't miss 4 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 2: out on any of the NBA playoff action at DraftKings Sportsbook, 5 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:17,160 Speaker 2: an official sports betting partner of the NBA. From the 6 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 2: play in tournament through the finals, DraftKings Sportsbook has you 7 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 2: covered with same game parlays, live betting odds, boosts, and 8 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 2: so much more. The Boston Celtics are currently the favorite 9 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 2: at plus one sixty, but the team that's third in 10 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 2: my championship rankings the Dallas Mavericks. 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I don't think they have the 36 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 2: fight to beat these guys, especially after how they looked 37 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 2: in that third quarter. 38 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: Maybe I'll be wrong, maybe they'll get one. 39 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:09,799 Speaker 2: But no matter what, NBA history tells us that the 40 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 2: Los Angeles Lakers are done. So we're gonna talk a 41 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 2: little bit about what separates them from the Denver Nuggets 42 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 2: and where they go from here. And I can't think 43 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 2: of anybody better than a good friend of mine and 44 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 2: somebody who covers the Lakers for the athletic mister Jovan Buha. 45 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 2: You guys know him. He's been on the show a bunch. 46 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 2: We're gonna break it all down, you guys know the 47 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 2: drill before we get started. Subscribe to our brand new 48 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 2: YouTube channels. You don't miss any more of our videos. 49 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 2: Follow me on Twitter at underscore Jason lt so you 50 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 2: guys don't miss any show announcements. Don't forget about our 51 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 2: podcast feed wherever you get your podcast under Hoops tonight. 52 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 2: Keep dropping mail back questions in the YouTube comments. We're 53 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 2: gonna hit a couple of mail bags a week throughout 54 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 2: the end of the season and the last, but not. 55 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: Least before we get started. 56 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 2: As I've been saying, this is the time of year 57 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 2: when you got to get out and see these guys 58 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 2: playing in person. Lebron James like, it's very possible that 59 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 2: Saturday is his last playoff game that he ever plays. 60 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 2: It's certainly on the table. And like as great as 61 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 2: it is watching these games on TV, there's nothing like 62 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 2: being there in person, especially during the intensity of the 63 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:09,239 Speaker 2: NBA playoffs. 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Download 82 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 2: Game Time Today, last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed, all right, Yovon. 83 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 2: So in this you know, obviously disappointing start to this series, 84 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 2: I think it's also been deeply informative. It's been confirming 85 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 2: of some of the things that we've thought throughout the season. 86 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,040 Speaker 2: But I want to kind of start with the Nuggets 87 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,600 Speaker 2: a little bit because in the Lakers pursuit of trying 88 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:30,160 Speaker 2: to address these issues, whether it's them trying to reconfigure 89 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:33,040 Speaker 2: around Lebron in ad this offseason to try to make 90 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 2: another run at it, or if it's a pivot, I 91 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 2: think a great team for them to try to emulate 92 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 2: is the Denver Nuggets, a team that I think is 93 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 2: not just the defending champion, but I think the legitimate 94 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 2: favorite this year for a reason, and a team that 95 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:48,720 Speaker 2: I believe has a real chance to go on an 96 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 2: extended dynastic run here. And So, what has this series 97 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 2: taught you about the difference between a real championship team 98 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 2: like the Nuggets and the Lakers. 99 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 3: Well, to me, it's been the killer instinct of the 100 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 3: Denver Nuggets. Before the game, I asked Nuggets head coach 101 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 3: Michael Malone, you've beaten this team ten straight times, Like, 102 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 3: how do you battle the complacency with your group, just 103 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 3: not thinking we're going to show up and beat this 104 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 3: team because we've done it head times in a row, 105 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 3: and at some point human nature starts to kick in 106 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 3: with a certain level of complacency, even in a playoff setting. 107 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 3: And he essentially said, you know, as a coach, that 108 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 3: is what I have to battle and that the message 109 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,600 Speaker 3: has been. We were down twelve in game one, we 110 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 3: were down twenty in Game two. We're now on the road, 111 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 3: We're facing a hostile crowd, and you know, the Lakers 112 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 3: want to beat us after losing ten straight times. So 113 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 3: like the messages, don't get off to a slow start, 114 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 3: don't turn the ball over, and keep the crowd out 115 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 3: of the game, and the Nuggets did none of those 116 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 3: things to start that game. The Lakers got off to 117 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,840 Speaker 3: an eight zero run. The crowd was as loud as 118 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 3: I've heard it all season. It was deafening pitch, and 119 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 3: it was the start that the Lakers needed if they 120 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 3: were going to win a game against the Nuggets. And 121 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,919 Speaker 3: lo and behold my opinion, Denver had their worst half 122 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 3: of the series in that first half of Game three, 123 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 3: turning the ball over, missing open threes, and really just 124 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 3: struggling on both ends, yet they were only down four. 125 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 3: Then they opened the second half with a twenty four 126 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 3: to ten run, And to me, this team has just 127 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:36,599 Speaker 3: won the mental game against the Lakers. They have gotten 128 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,679 Speaker 3: stronger in second halfs. They've outscored the Lakers by thirty 129 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 3: one points through the three third quarters in this series, 130 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:46,920 Speaker 3: plus forty two overall in the second half, So we've 131 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 3: seen it. The Lakers have thrown their bench their best 132 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 3: punch early and they've gotten out to these double digit leads. 133 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 3: They've led at halftime in all three games. They've led 134 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 3: at halftime in seven of the eleven consecutive losses to Denver, 135 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 3: and then Denver just takes over in the second half. 136 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:05,919 Speaker 3: It's the same movie on repeat, but for Denver to 137 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 3: have that level of just killer instinct and seriousness and 138 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 3: professionalism and lack of complacency to do the same thing 139 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 3: over and over again, and regardless of Lebron's getting downhill 140 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 3: in transition eighties cooking them with fourteen consecutive made shots 141 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 3: in Game two, like they don't care. They run their 142 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 3: offense the same way. Everybody is locked in. They play 143 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 3: team basketball on both ends, and you don't see guys complaining. 144 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 3: You don't see guys pointing figures, you don't see guys 145 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 3: going at the refs, and they just play a serious 146 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 3: brand of basketball. It reminds me a lot of ways 147 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 3: of the San Antonio Spurs and the way that they 148 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 3: built that dynasty of it didn't matter who's doing what. 149 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 3: Obviously you had Tim Duncan as the head of the snake. 150 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 3: In this case it's Nikola Jokic. You had Tony Parker, 151 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 3: and Jamal Murray is the analog there. But just the 152 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 3: level of no matter what's happening, they're never rattled and 153 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 3: that's why you see them close a game to making 154 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 3: seven consecutive shots against the Lakers, like they are one 155 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 3: of the best crunch time teams I've ever seen period. 156 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 3: I think, like we could talk about where they rank 157 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 3: all the time, and I think they're higher than I 158 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 3: think most people would assume at this point. But to me, 159 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 3: the crunch time, the focus, and just the mental advantage 160 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 3: that they've had on the Lakers through these eleven straight wins, 161 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 3: that to me has been what has stood out the most. 162 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know that specific piece about that first half 163 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:32,679 Speaker 2: and that being one of the worst halfs they've have, 164 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 2: they've played, I agree as it pertains to their ceiling, 165 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 2: but their floor is still so high. 166 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: And that first half. 167 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 2: Was really a great example in the sense that like, 168 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 2: no matter what whether or not Mpj's hitting the threes 169 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 2: he normally hits or if Jamal Murray and Nikole Jokic 170 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 2: and their kind of decision making is as sharper as 171 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 2: sloppy as it can get from time to time, Like 172 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 2: Aaron Gordon is still six ten for key athlete and 173 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 2: working underneath the basket and so like, even though like 174 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 2: even if you look within that first half, like the 175 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 2: Lakers were sharp in a lot of areas in that 176 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:11,959 Speaker 2: first half, but a specific area where they were weak 177 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 2: is Lebron James on the back line was just doing 178 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 2: a really poor job of reading. Reading that there is 179 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 2: a read and react with that low man position in 180 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 2: the sense that like there you do have help responsibilities, 181 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 2: but you also have Aaron Gordon responsibilities, and you kind 182 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 2: of have to tow that line between the two. And 183 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 2: for the record, in the first two games, I thought 184 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 2: Lebron was really good in that role. But I don't 185 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 2: know if it was just I don't know if Lebron 186 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 2: lost faith after the collapse in Game two. I don't 187 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 2: know if it was just literally just a bad night, 188 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 2: but literally from the opening tip, he just wasn't as 189 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:51,439 Speaker 2: sharp in that specific area, and so like it's like 190 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 2: the Lakers had all these areas kind of tied up 191 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 2: in that first half, but that one opening Aaron Gordon 192 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 2: just smashed through and Don Mad the first half of 193 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 2: that game right, Like there was a like Jamal Murray, 194 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 2: even though he was relatively unefficient throughout the series, inefficient 195 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 2: throughout the series, he just had these little stretches in 196 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 2: each series where he was really good. I thought a 197 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 2: shot making was really good in the third quarter of 198 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 2: Game one, obviously, down the stretch and crunch time of 199 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 2: Game two. I thought in the second quarter, early second 200 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 2: quarter of Game three, he just hit a bunch of 201 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 2: timely shots, right. And like, one of the things with 202 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 2: Denver is their floor is so high that like even 203 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 2: if you managed to kind of outplay them for stretches, 204 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:36,199 Speaker 2: as soon as you dip and if they just start 205 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 2: to gain ground, right, And then honestly, I thought Denver 206 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:41,319 Speaker 2: threw a really good punch in that early third quarter 207 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 2: stretch and then you could just literally see the Lakers 208 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 2: like go of the rope. And that's where I want 209 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 2: to get to the part you talked about with being 210 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:49,839 Speaker 2: serious and being professional, because that, to me was the 211 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 2: biggest thing that stood out to me about this particular matchup. 212 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 2: The stuff about floor versus ceiling, That to me is 213 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 2: more of a total first round kind of like take away. 214 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 2: In general, I think we're learning that like players with 215 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 2: higher floors are more valuable in the postseason than players 216 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 2: with higher ceilings. KCP doesn't have the ceiling that de 217 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 2: Lo has, but night and night out in the playoffs, 218 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 2: he's just a more impactful player. 219 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:15,680 Speaker 1: His floor is higher. 220 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 2: Right, But as we go to the seriousness when it 221 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 2: comes to the Nuggets, they're one of the most important 222 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 2: parts about a championship championship team in my opinion, is 223 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 2: like the discipline and focus on a possession by possession 224 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 2: basis by each player within what their job is and 225 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 2: what they're expected to do. Aaron Gordon after the game 226 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 2: talked about this like, I'm just doing what my team 227 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 2: needs to win. He dominated that game, not by dominating 228 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 2: offensive possessions, not by being this devastating on ball defensive 229 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 2: threat that was just putting his on his offensive player 230 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 2: in jail. No, he just his job within the scheme 231 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 2: is to kind of like clean up stuff on the 232 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 2: back line offensively and clean up stuff on the back 233 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 2: line defensively. And and like he just capitalized on what 234 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 2: was happening within that game and he kind of broke 235 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 2: through that opening like we talked about, right, he did 236 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 2: his job and within that context, he was the hero 237 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 2: of that particular game. But he wouldn't trying to be 238 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 2: the hero. He's just doing his job. Every single one 239 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 2: of these guys has a job. Even Michael Porter Junior, 240 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:16,079 Speaker 2: as gifted as he is offensively, like, one of the 241 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 2: most important roles he has on this team is he's 242 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:21,560 Speaker 2: a dominant rebounder. And that's what they got forty nine 243 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 2: points and twenty five rebounds out of Michael Porter Junior 244 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 2: and Aaron Gordon last night. 245 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:27,560 Speaker 1: That's completely insane. 246 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:29,959 Speaker 2: And when you look over at the Lakers side of it, 247 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 2: it's like there's always these random possessions where a random 248 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 2: player will just kind of bite off more than he 249 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 2: can chew offensively and take an overly difficult shot. There 250 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:43,439 Speaker 2: is like ten to fifteen possession stretches where they're really 251 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 2: laser focused on all the details, and then there's ten 252 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 2: to fifteen possession sequences where they're not. It's not a 253 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:53,319 Speaker 2: consistent part of their basketball character. And when you talk 254 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 2: about professionalism and serious basketball, to me, it's about that 255 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 2: possession by possession, do your job every single time. If 256 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 2: you see them make a mistake or go off script, 257 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 2: it's usually like they'll do it once and then Mike 258 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 2: malonill lose his mind and yell at them, and then 259 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 2: and then they're right back on track by the next possession, 260 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 2: And like that just was not you know it ironically, 261 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:18,559 Speaker 2: and this is the last thing I'll say about it, 262 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 2: it ironically reminded me of just the entire Laker regular season, 263 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 2: which was like, if you caught them on the right 264 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 2: night and you watch them, you're like, this team has 265 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 2: championship potential. Look at how serious these guys are, look 266 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 2: at how focused they are. This is what they're capable of. 267 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 2: But then two nights later against Brooklyn, they would just 268 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 2: be terrible, you know, like they were never a team 269 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 2: that could hold on to the rope consistently, like a 270 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 2: real championship team for the entirety of the season, you 271 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 2: know what I mean. And so within these games, if 272 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 2: you watched a ten minute sequence, you'd be like, man, 273 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 2: the Lakers are right there with Denver. But then eventually 274 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:58,959 Speaker 2: they'd let go of the rope and Denver's serious approach 275 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 2: would take over. And I think it was really really informative, 276 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 2: not just about what the Nuggets are and what makes 277 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:07,840 Speaker 2: them so great, but also just like team building and 278 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 2: coaching and different aspects like that that I think set 279 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:15,440 Speaker 2: set that that are preventing the Lakers from getting where 280 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 2: they need to go. On that note, kind of moving 281 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 2: towards the role players, obviously that was the biggest gap 282 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 2: in this series. I pulled the numbers last night. I'll 283 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 2: pull them up again here in just a second, but 284 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 2: it was a complete and total outclassing by the guys 285 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 2: down the roster. As a matter of fact, non Lebron 286 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 2: ad Lakers had one hundred and thirty one points and 287 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 2: fifty six rebounds through three games. Non Murray Jokic Nuggets 288 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 2: had one hundred and eighty points and eighty three rebounds. 289 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 2: So what did you learn specifically about the Laker role 290 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 2: players in this series and where do you think they 291 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 2: fell short compared to the championship baseline. 292 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 3: First, to me, the Lakers are just too small, and 293 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 3: that was a concern for me entering the season, and 294 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 3: I think that has played out specific in this matchup. 295 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 3: If you look at the starting lineups and compare them 296 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 3: head to head at each nominal position, the Nuggets have 297 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 3: the size and physicality advantage at all five spots. Nikola 298 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 3: Jokic is bigger and stronger than Anthony Davis. Aaron Gordon 299 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 3: is bigger and slightly stronger than Lebron James. I think 300 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 3: they're pretty similar, but he's slightly bigger, taller. 301 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, he's about an inch taller. 302 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 3: And like I mean, in terms of who's won the 303 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 3: paint battle, battling for rebounds and stuff, like, Aaron Gordon 304 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 3: has dominated that. 305 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 1: So Michael Porter Junior is not as. 306 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 3: Strong as Ruy Hutchimra, but he's taller than him, and 307 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 3: he has dominated the rebounding battle. 308 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 1: Last you just mentioned it. 309 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 3: Last night, MPJ had ten rebounds, Ruyu Chimra had two, 310 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 3: and MPJ did play more minutes, but it was about 311 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 3: a ten minute difference, so it wasn't like enough of 312 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 3: a difference to warrant the eight rebound gap. 313 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 1: There. 314 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 3: Austin Reeves and KCP are similar sizes, but KCP plays 315 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 3: with more verve and physicality and just more athleticism. And 316 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 3: then D'Angel Russell versus Jamal Murray, I think that that 317 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 3: one I don't even have to go into. But Jamal, 318 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 3: you know, similar sizes again, but Jamal plays with a 319 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 3: certain level of toughness and physicality. 320 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 1: So like just that's before you even get to get 321 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: to the bench. 322 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 3: And like Peyton Watson, Christian Brown, these guys are coming 323 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 3: in hounding ball handlers, getting offensive rebounds, blocking shots, finishing 324 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 3: in transition. So like I thought the Lakers got dominated 325 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 3: from I mean, we talked about the mental side, and 326 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 3: clearly Denver has them in a psychological choke hold there. 327 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 3: But on the physical side, like Denver is just bigger, 328 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 3: they're stronger, they're more athletic, and they use their physicality 329 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 3: in a better way. Like I think something that hasn't 330 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 3: been talked about enough is Denver's won the free throw 331 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 3: battle in two of these three games, and like that's 332 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 3: supposed to be one of the few strengths the Lakers 333 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,200 Speaker 3: had over Denver was they get to the free throw 334 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 3: line way more than them. They don't foul as much obviously, 335 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 3: so like the Lakers. I know you've touched on the 336 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 3: free throw differential before, but like that is an advantage 337 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 3: for the Lakers, you know, based on how they play 338 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:04,919 Speaker 3: offensively and how they don't foul. Yeah, Denver's won the 339 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 3: free throw battle in two of the three games. They've 340 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 3: won the points in the paint battle in two of 341 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 3: the three games. So Denver has beaten the Lakers like 342 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:13,640 Speaker 3: they've they've played their style of basketball, but they've also 343 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 3: beaten the Lakers at their own game. And when the 344 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 3: Lakers have played smaller front lines or like size front lines, 345 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:22,879 Speaker 3: they dominate them and they kick their ass and they 346 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 3: look great. When they play a team that's bigger than them, 347 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:27,919 Speaker 3: it's been the opposite. And I think for me, the 348 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:31,639 Speaker 3: fact that the Jackson Hayes was a dnp CD in 349 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 3: Game three just shows like the Lakers never really addressed 350 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 3: the backup center spot. Jackson had some nice moments over 351 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:42,439 Speaker 3: the last couple months of the season. Christian Wood, to me, 352 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:45,200 Speaker 3: like never really panned out and shot thirty one percent 353 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 3: on threes, had some good moments as like a rebounder, 354 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:52,200 Speaker 3: and defensively, they think about like Kevin Durant against the Suns, 355 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:53,880 Speaker 3: but like that was the beginning of the season, and 356 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 3: I think Christian Wood overall was a bit of a disappointment. 357 00:17:57,359 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 1: So the fact that the. 358 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:02,719 Speaker 3: Lakers never really added another big man that was defensive minded, 359 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 3: you know, a clear plus rebounder, a guy who could 360 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 3: just inning Z for eight to fifteen minutes and spell 361 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:12,679 Speaker 3: Ad and defend Jokich and give him a few hard fouls, 362 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:16,120 Speaker 3: similar to what Dwight Howard did in the twenty twenty series. 363 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 3: Like that, to me, what was a weakness of this 364 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:21,920 Speaker 3: roster and the fact that Ruy Hachimura in an elimination games, 365 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:24,679 Speaker 3: playing twenty eight minutes and you're going small with Torrian 366 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:27,200 Speaker 3: Prince at the four, or you're going with these three 367 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 3: guard lineups and you're giving up all these offensive rebounds 368 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:32,640 Speaker 3: and again just getting physically dominated. Like part of that's 369 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 3: on the coaching staff and the way that they're deploying 370 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 3: these guys, but part of that is a roster construction issue. 371 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 3: So to me, biggest takeaway overall was just too small, 372 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 3: but also I think just not good enough. And if 373 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:46,120 Speaker 3: we're ranking the starting lineups in terms of the best 374 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:50,040 Speaker 3: players in the series, like five through seven, five through 375 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 3: eight might be all of the rest of the Nuggets 376 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 3: starting lineup and the fact that they arguably have the 377 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 3: two best players in the series depending on you know, 378 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,520 Speaker 3: especially in crunch time with Jamal, but like they have 379 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 3: the best player. Jamal has outplayed Lebron and eighty for stretches, 380 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 3: and then you have Aaron Gordon, CACP and MPJ all 381 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 3: thoroughly out playing Austin Dilo and RUI like that just 382 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:15,440 Speaker 3: can't happen. And I don't think the bench outplayed LA's 383 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 3: bench like I think Christian Brown and Peyton Watson have 384 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 3: been more impactful than anyone off the Lakers bench, just 385 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:24,360 Speaker 3: with again their defense, their rebounding, their energy, and their 386 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 3: finishing and transition, so like from top to bottom, and 387 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 3: then the coaching the adjustments like Denver has decisively won this. 388 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:34,160 Speaker 3: I think it's even been more of a gap than 389 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:38,479 Speaker 3: the scoreboard indicates. So I just think Denvers is bigger 390 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 3: and they're better. 391 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 2: No, I agree the piece about the role players off 392 00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 2: the bench, actually, like Christian Brown and Payton Watson kind 393 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:48,440 Speaker 2: of brings me back to that seriousness and professionalism piece, 394 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 2: Like those two guys just come in and it's like 395 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 2: all we need you to do is be athletic wrecking 396 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 2: balls within the context of these specific responsibilities on the floor, 397 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:57,400 Speaker 2: those dudes come in and they buy in and they 398 00:19:57,400 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 2: do it. And so once again, those guys have a 399 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:02,400 Speaker 2: certain flow, like you can expect Christian Brown and Peyton 400 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 2: Watson to have a certain amount of impact just with 401 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 2: their athleticism. Whereas it's like Okay, Spencer Dinwood he checked in. 402 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:09,919 Speaker 2: It's like maybe these threes will go in, you know, 403 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 2: and it's and and we'll see what happens, right. I 404 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:15,679 Speaker 2: also the bit about Jackson Hayes, like in the in 405 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 2: the moment last night, I'm sitting there thinking like this, 406 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 2: to me was one of the fundamental issues with Darvin 407 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:24,440 Speaker 2: Haam during the entire darvinham experience. And we're gonna talk 408 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 2: about Darvin in a bigger context later, but he just 409 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:31,680 Speaker 2: always defaulted more towards offensive skill and speed and and 410 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 2: not towards size and athleticism. And I thought last night, 411 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:40,120 Speaker 2: when the chips were down, him being like, no Jackson, 412 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 2: just a lot more three guard lineups was a pretty 413 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 2: strong indicator of like Darvin's kind of basketball philosophy, which 414 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 2: I think is flawed. And then also like that within 415 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 2: this particular matchup that that was the death Wish. And 416 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 2: one of the problems too, is you know, the Lakers, 417 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 2: just their guards weren't playing well, so like you're leaning 418 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 2: into guard play when your guards are getting their ass kicked. 419 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 2: It didn't make any sense to me in the moment. 420 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:09,680 Speaker 2: But you know you mentioned size. I agree. I think 421 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:12,359 Speaker 2: it's a little deeper than size, and it I would 422 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:15,880 Speaker 2: just call it like overall physicality in the sense that 423 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 2: it's not just height, it's even at these specific position 424 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:24,159 Speaker 2: these positions, these guys play with more force, like you 425 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 2: mentioned KCP versus Austin Reeves like Austin, and we're gonna 426 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 2: talk about Austin rue Like I thought Austin and Ruey 427 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 2: were trying to do their jobs. I just thought they 428 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,679 Speaker 2: didn't play well. Like Austin and Ruiy Bolth just had 429 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 2: nightmare series. I saw that clip of Austin hugging Phil 430 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 2: Handy and it looked like he said, it's my fault, 431 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 2: and like you could just tell he was heartbroken. And 432 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 2: I felt bad for Austin because, like Austin really defended 433 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:53,440 Speaker 2: Jamal Murray well for the first seven quarters of this series, 434 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 2: and I thought he did his job he just couldn't 435 00:21:56,600 --> 00:22:00,200 Speaker 2: make shots. And ruly, I thought was given a really 436 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:03,399 Speaker 2: difficult role too to guard Jokich to start the series, 437 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 2: and you could tell that kind of sap to him 438 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:07,680 Speaker 2: of his confidence and then he was just never able 439 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 2: to regather it. But like other than those guys, it 440 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 2: was a lot of unseious basketball. But above and beyond that, 441 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 2: it was the lack of physical force that they could 442 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:21,719 Speaker 2: bring to the table. KCP brings physical force, Aaron Gordon 443 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 2: brings physical force. MPJ with his length, brings physical force 444 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:29,119 Speaker 2: to the table. Christian Brown brings physical force. Peyton Watson 445 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:33,400 Speaker 2: brings physical force. Austin doesn't. That's not in his toolkit. 446 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:37,359 Speaker 2: Delo doesn't. That's not in his toolkit. Ruy does. But 447 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:40,160 Speaker 2: they stuck him consistently in matchups in this series where 448 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:42,879 Speaker 2: he couldn't, you know, because they were using they're basically 449 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 2: using him to eat up minutes right on Jokis for 450 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 2: about half the series to this point. But like Spencer 451 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 2: Dinwoodie is probably the best athlete of the role players, 452 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:56,120 Speaker 2: and he's not a very good athlete, right Gabe Vincent 453 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:59,159 Speaker 2: has a certain force that he brings, but he's just small, 454 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 2: you know, And so like that. That to me was 455 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 2: the big thing that stood out. It just is like 456 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:06,959 Speaker 2: down the roster, there's just not enough physical force. And 457 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,399 Speaker 2: when you go back and you look at the twenty 458 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 2: twenty Lakers, that was a huge element of what made 459 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 2: them great. Alex Crusoe, Contavious Callwell, Pope, Dwight Howard, Kyle Kuzma, 460 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:18,120 Speaker 2: that was a huge part of what made them great. 461 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:21,680 Speaker 2: Even Danny Green, it was just a big, strong two guard, right. 462 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 2: And you know, honestly, it was funny when I was 463 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:26,679 Speaker 2: looking back, when I look back at kind of the 464 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 2: the last few years, even if you just erase one 465 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:34,679 Speaker 2: singular mistake, like there was a lot of panic trades 466 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:37,480 Speaker 2: and stupid stuff that happened over the last couple of years. 467 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 2: But if they had just held on to Crusoe, if 468 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,280 Speaker 2: they had just held on to Crusoe, which by the way, 469 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:45,520 Speaker 2: wouldn't have cost you any asset or anything. It would 470 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:48,639 Speaker 2: have just cost money out of Genie Bus's pocket, a 471 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 2: lot of money because of the luxury tax, but money 472 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:54,359 Speaker 2: and money that probably she would have recouped through the 473 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 2: success of the team, in my opinion, So if they 474 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:02,360 Speaker 2: just had Carusoe, and your lookoking at Austin Alex as 475 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:05,960 Speaker 2: your back court instead of Austin Dilo fundamentally changes the 476 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 2: athletic profile of the team, slots everybody into easier roles defensively, Now, 477 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 2: instead of Austin have to chase around to Jamal Murray, 478 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 2: it's Alex Cruso chasing around Jamal Murray. And instead of 479 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:18,399 Speaker 2: d LO and him be uh, you know, space case 480 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:22,960 Speaker 2: space cadet trying to chase around KCP, it's Alex or 481 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:26,240 Speaker 2: excuse me, it's Austin Reeves, who's a very focused defender 482 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 2: who would be guarding KCP. And then everything makes so 483 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:31,680 Speaker 2: much more sense. And so, I you know, there's a lot, 484 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:33,920 Speaker 2: there's a lot to dig into with the eulogy here, 485 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:37,679 Speaker 2: but like that that piece, that piece about physical force 486 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 2: off the ball, especially when the content within the context 487 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 2: of the physicality of the postseason shines through. What did 488 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:47,960 Speaker 2: you make of Dlo's night last night? Where are you 489 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:50,720 Speaker 2: at with DLO as a player, and where do you 490 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:53,200 Speaker 2: think the team and the organization is at with Delo 491 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 2: right now? 492 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 3: I mean, I just don't know how you can move 493 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:02,920 Speaker 3: forward with the on this roster if you consider yourself 494 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:09,000 Speaker 3: a serious championship contender. Or at least have serious championship aspirations, 495 00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:12,159 Speaker 3: because this is now two out of the three games 496 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:15,120 Speaker 3: in this series where he's been harmful, and I think 497 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:17,879 Speaker 3: he was actually probably more harmful in Game one because 498 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:21,359 Speaker 3: he was taking possessions away from Lebron and Ady and 499 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:24,879 Speaker 3: to me, calling his own number a little bit too frequently, 500 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 3: and you know it did have a poor shooting night, 501 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:30,239 Speaker 3: but I thought more so, I thought inside the arc 502 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 3: this series, he was oddly you know, kind of calling 503 00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:37,440 Speaker 3: it like looking for those little mid range pull ups 504 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:41,560 Speaker 3: and step backs and fadeaways that he never was able 505 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 3: to create separation with. So they always ended up being 506 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:49,680 Speaker 3: either you know, contests from the front side or rear 507 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:52,720 Speaker 3: view contests where a KCP a Christian Brown and Peyton 508 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 3: Watson were able to stick with him, slither around the 509 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:58,639 Speaker 3: pick and roll and then bother him from behind. So 510 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:01,080 Speaker 3: I thought, like, the three point shooting is what it is, 511 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 3: Like he got a bunch of good looks, didn't convert, 512 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:05,680 Speaker 3: But to me, him kind of calling his own number 513 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:08,880 Speaker 3: in the pick and roll what was ultimately harmful and 514 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 3: he just was never able to create the separation necessary 515 00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:15,240 Speaker 3: to make those shots. Because to me, Dilo is a 516 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 3: guy who does need a level of separation and if 517 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:20,359 Speaker 3: you can get into his airspace, you were going to 518 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 3: bother him, as we've seen in this series. But to me, 519 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 3: it's been six of the seven games in these in 520 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 3: the last two playoff series against Denver, like he was. 521 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:32,359 Speaker 3: I mean, go back and look at the Western Conference Finals. 522 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:34,960 Speaker 3: He was bad in all four games. He's been bad 523 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 3: in two of the three games got bench last night. 524 00:26:38,119 --> 00:26:40,399 Speaker 3: There was the video clip of him off to the 525 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 3: side of the huddle. He does do that sometimes, but 526 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 3: I think optically that was a terrible time to do that, 527 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:49,320 Speaker 3: and he just looked incredibly disengaged at that point. He 528 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:52,119 Speaker 3: ducked out on media last night. We requested him, he 529 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:55,199 Speaker 3: declined to speak. He also declined a couple times in 530 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:59,439 Speaker 3: the Western Conference Finals, declined at times earlier this season. 531 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:00,920 Speaker 1: So like when he's not. 532 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:03,440 Speaker 3: Playing well and things aren't going well, he kind of 533 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:07,919 Speaker 3: ducks out. And I think that just that in the 534 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:10,359 Speaker 3: the like, you know, and he's. 535 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:11,440 Speaker 1: Not like we talked about. 536 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:13,720 Speaker 3: You just mentioned Austin and Ruey and how those guys 537 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:16,680 Speaker 3: just had tough series, like but they were still trying 538 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:19,439 Speaker 3: and trying to do their job and being competitive and 539 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:21,440 Speaker 3: I think I look at Austin of like how much 540 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 3: has defending Jamal Murray and chasing him around screens and 541 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:29,879 Speaker 3: getting smacked by Nikola Jokic, but in screens, like how 542 00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:32,439 Speaker 3: much has that sapped his legs and affected him? And 543 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 3: I think Austin He's had a couple of games, a 544 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 3: couple of good rebounding games. He's been competitive defensively, and 545 00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:40,960 Speaker 3: I think even though he's miss shots, he's brought the 546 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:44,480 Speaker 3: requisite competitiveness and spirit that has not been the case 547 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 3: with de Loo, and you've seen him shrink. I think 548 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 3: in both Game one and Game three, and even in 549 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 3: Game two, I thought he got off to a hot start, 550 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:54,920 Speaker 3: obviously had the six threes in the first half, ends 551 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:58,199 Speaker 3: up making seven, but had a very quiet second half 552 00:27:58,440 --> 00:27:59,440 Speaker 3: and rest of the way. 553 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:03,119 Speaker 1: So I just I think this is exposed. 554 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 3: A bit of the ceiling on the Austin del pairing. 555 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,080 Speaker 3: I think those two probably have to be split up, 556 00:28:09,119 --> 00:28:12,040 Speaker 3: as we had kind of talked about at times this season. 557 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:15,080 Speaker 3: I don't think you can have those two be your backcourt. 558 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 3: I think a guy like an Alex Caruso or someone 559 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:21,240 Speaker 3: with a bit more force and maybe a bit more 560 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:25,280 Speaker 3: defense would fit better next to an Austin But to me, 561 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,440 Speaker 3: like you and I talked about this, and I will 562 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 3: read through the comments on our videos and sometimes there 563 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:34,960 Speaker 3: are people going at us. For you, guys don't like Delo. 564 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:37,480 Speaker 3: Delo is clearly the third best player, Like I don't 565 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:38,400 Speaker 3: want to hear that anymore. 566 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 1: You will never the third best player. Just get the 567 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 1: fuck out of here with that. 568 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 3: Austin Reeves is better than Austin. Reeves is better than him. 569 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 3: He's a better playoff performer than him. And it's not 570 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:49,920 Speaker 3: to make it in Austin Delo thing. It's just that 571 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:53,200 Speaker 3: there was a reason why we were talking about the 572 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 3: Lakers trading him. There's a reason why the Lakers were 573 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 3: strongly considering trading him for most of the season. So 574 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 3: in terms of where they go from here, Dealo has 575 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:04,840 Speaker 3: an eighteen point seven million dollar player option. I think 576 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:08,640 Speaker 3: he's cost himself money with this series. I think you 577 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 3: can still make the case he's a twenty to twenty 578 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 3: five million dollars a year player. I don't know if 579 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:15,719 Speaker 3: that is a twenty to twenty five million dollar player 580 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:17,960 Speaker 3: on a good team, on a contending team. 581 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:19,040 Speaker 1: I don't think it is. 582 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:22,240 Speaker 3: But if you're a lottery team or a team looking 583 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:24,920 Speaker 3: to kind of take the next step into maybe we're 584 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:26,640 Speaker 3: a nine to ten seed and we want to be 585 00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:28,800 Speaker 3: like a seven to eight seed. I think Dealer makes 586 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:30,640 Speaker 3: sense for you, So I would not be surprised if 587 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:33,479 Speaker 3: he still has a competitive market this summer. But if 588 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:35,640 Speaker 3: you're the Lakers and you are serious about trying to 589 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:38,040 Speaker 3: win a championship, I do not see how you can 590 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:41,240 Speaker 3: make any reasonable argument to bring back D'Angel Russell when 591 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 3: you know Denver's not going anywhere. They're gonna be here 592 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:45,760 Speaker 3: for the next three to four years and you're gonna 593 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 3: have to go through them to win a championship. And 594 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:50,560 Speaker 3: I just don't think he can play in a series 595 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:53,840 Speaker 3: against Denver, which is really like a conference finals final series. 596 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 3: I think it's fine first round, second round against normal teams, 597 00:29:57,920 --> 00:29:59,480 Speaker 3: and even then he's a bit of up and down 598 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,640 Speaker 3: against serious, high level conference finals finals teams. 599 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 1: I don't think you can play him. 600 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:08,000 Speaker 3: And that's a problem for a guy that the Lakers 601 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:10,479 Speaker 3: have been kind of billing as their third guy, and 602 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:11,640 Speaker 3: he's just completely shrunk. 603 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:14,080 Speaker 1: And this is, honestly, that's surprising. 604 00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 3: We saw it last year, We've seen it at times 605 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:18,960 Speaker 3: with him in the playoffs, and I think the Lakers, 606 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:21,040 Speaker 3: whether it's a sign and trade, whether it's letting him walk, 607 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:24,160 Speaker 3: or whether it's he opts in and trading him, Like, 608 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:26,280 Speaker 3: I think you have to move on. It's just a 609 00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:29,000 Speaker 3: matter of how that happens and when it happens. 610 00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:31,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, when it comes to del I think 611 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:35,760 Speaker 2: that I think you and I both were aware of 612 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 2: this going in into the postseason. If you go back 613 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:41,000 Speaker 2: to the trade deadline, you and I both talked about 614 00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:43,240 Speaker 2: like we already know that this Austin Delo pairing has 615 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:45,640 Speaker 2: a certain ceiling to it. And by the way, going 616 00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:47,840 Speaker 2: into the season, going into the regular season, you and 617 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:51,640 Speaker 2: I were like, Lakers are a second tier championship contender, 618 00:30:52,240 --> 00:30:54,920 Speaker 2: and if they make a trade to address the Austin 619 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,920 Speaker 2: Delo pairing, which we knew was flawed after the Denver 620 00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:00,800 Speaker 2: series last year, then they might be able to enter 621 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:02,360 Speaker 2: into that top tier if they were to get a 622 00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:04,320 Speaker 2: Bruce Brown, if they were to get a Dejontay Murray, 623 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:08,040 Speaker 2: a real athletic two way player at that two guard position, right, Like, 624 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:09,960 Speaker 2: how much better would de Jontay Murray have been in 625 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:12,560 Speaker 2: this series for for the Lakers to try to. 626 00:31:12,520 --> 00:31:13,040 Speaker 1: Try to hang. 627 00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:15,960 Speaker 2: Just think, just think about what we watched over the 628 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:19,640 Speaker 2: last three games and replaced d LO with Dejontay Murray, 629 00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:23,240 Speaker 2: and just imagine how different the series looks. It's very, 630 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:25,680 Speaker 2: very different on so many different levels. Right, Not only 631 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:28,120 Speaker 2: does Jonte guard Jamal Murray the whole series, He's a 632 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:30,240 Speaker 2: guy that brings dribble penetration, which would have helped a 633 00:31:30,280 --> 00:31:33,160 Speaker 2: lot within these half court kind of slow down environments 634 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:36,000 Speaker 2: that the the two man game that him and Lebron 635 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:37,480 Speaker 2: could have had in a lot of these situations, it 636 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:39,640 Speaker 2: would have been it would have been really effective. 637 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:40,560 Speaker 1: Right Now, here's the thing. 638 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:44,360 Speaker 2: I'm not talking about the deadline per se, because here's 639 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:46,040 Speaker 2: the thing I think the I think the Lakers went 640 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:48,280 Speaker 2: after de Jonte and couldn't get him. So I'm not 641 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:50,360 Speaker 2: I'm not trying to criticize the front office in that 642 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:54,040 Speaker 2: specific context. My point is is just we knew Austin 643 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:56,400 Speaker 2: Dilo had a ceiling, and we knew that if they 644 00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:58,640 Speaker 2: could have upgraded d LO they would have been better off. 645 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:02,080 Speaker 2: They couldn't because of the landscape. And I don't think 646 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:04,080 Speaker 2: they could have gotten Bruce Brown either, just by virtue 647 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:04,760 Speaker 2: of the price tag. 648 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:05,480 Speaker 1: And all this stuff. 649 00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:07,760 Speaker 2: So you and I kind of went into this postseason 650 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 2: knowing like like they got their puncher's chance if you 651 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:15,680 Speaker 2: happen to get a really hot Delo performance, But there's 652 00:32:15,720 --> 00:32:18,440 Speaker 2: not really much there. And like the what's really stood 653 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 2: out to me with Delos he took his humiliation at 654 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:24,000 Speaker 2: the hands of Bruce Brown last year and he took 655 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:26,240 Speaker 2: it into the offseason and worked on his ceiling. 656 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 1: Worked. 657 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:29,240 Speaker 2: I think, he worked on his jump shot, he worked 658 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:32,479 Speaker 2: on some of his pick and roll playmaking stuff, and 659 00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:35,080 Speaker 2: he definitely won up a level this year. Delo played 660 00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:36,920 Speaker 2: the best basketball of his career in the springtime, there's 661 00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:40,920 Speaker 2: no doubt, but he never addressed his floor. And this 662 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 2: is where I think the criticism is fair, because Delo 663 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:46,120 Speaker 2: talked a big game. Not only in this series did 664 00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:47,760 Speaker 2: he say after Game two that he thought that they 665 00:32:47,760 --> 00:32:49,840 Speaker 2: were still gonna win. But if we go back a 666 00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 2: few months after a big night, he talked about how 667 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:55,320 Speaker 2: he wanted all the smoke straight up said it. He 668 00:32:55,400 --> 00:32:57,720 Speaker 2: said he wanted all the smoke go back to the 669 00:32:57,720 --> 00:33:00,640 Speaker 2: beginning of the season. He was in the the training 670 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:05,080 Speaker 2: camp pressers, the media day interview saying the guy I 671 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:07,880 Speaker 2: want to emulate is Derek White. He's the guy I 672 00:33:07,920 --> 00:33:11,800 Speaker 2: want to be like, No, you don't. Derek White didn't 673 00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:16,280 Speaker 2: didn't put in work to address his own individual ceiling. 674 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:19,280 Speaker 2: Derek White's floor is what makes him great. It's all 675 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:22,920 Speaker 2: about his focus and attention to detail in the margins 676 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:25,160 Speaker 2: of the game, not how good he is running a 677 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:27,760 Speaker 2: pick and roll or how good he is attacking closeouts 678 00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:30,200 Speaker 2: or hitting spot up threes. That's not what made Derek 679 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:33,000 Speaker 2: White great. And so Dilo talked about all this stuff, 680 00:33:33,280 --> 00:33:35,880 Speaker 2: but it's abundantly clear with what happened that he doesn't 681 00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:38,840 Speaker 2: actually get it. And because he leaned into his ceiling, 682 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:41,640 Speaker 2: there was a certain volatility with him. And it's interesting 683 00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:43,560 Speaker 2: because if you actually go back, the Lakers have played 684 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:45,400 Speaker 2: a bunch of big games in a row. They've played 685 00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:49,760 Speaker 2: seven massive regular season games or eight massive games in 686 00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:54,040 Speaker 2: a row. Right, you have the Golden State game, Delo 687 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:58,600 Speaker 2: was abysmal. You have the Minnesota game, Dilo was abysmal, 688 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:02,440 Speaker 2: and those were really important games. If you win one 689 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:05,600 Speaker 2: of those games, you're the sixth seed and you're playing 690 00:34:05,640 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 2: Minnesota right now, and I would have picked the Lakers 691 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:10,520 Speaker 2: to beat Minnesota. You win one of those games, Okay, 692 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:12,120 Speaker 2: instead you get two stinkers. 693 00:34:12,120 --> 00:34:12,839 Speaker 1: He doesn't play well. 694 00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:16,040 Speaker 2: Right, plays really well against the Pelicans in both games, Right, 695 00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:18,640 Speaker 2: we can agree on that. Then he's a bismal in 696 00:34:18,680 --> 00:34:21,600 Speaker 2: game one, pretty good in Game two, abismoal in game three. 697 00:34:21,680 --> 00:34:25,320 Speaker 2: So like four times in this last seven game stretch 698 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:28,960 Speaker 2: where they were playing all of these monumentally important games, 699 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:33,480 Speaker 2: he was not just bad, but like damaging bad. And 700 00:34:33,520 --> 00:34:36,560 Speaker 2: that's the problem is it's not the ceiling. We all 701 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:39,480 Speaker 2: know what d Lo's ceiling is. His floor is just 702 00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:42,400 Speaker 2: so incredibly low. And when we talk about the offseason, 703 00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:45,279 Speaker 2: I actually disagree with you as it pertains to him 704 00:34:45,280 --> 00:34:47,239 Speaker 2: being a twenty twenty five million dollar player. Maybe I'll 705 00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:49,319 Speaker 2: be wrong, and maybe it'll be a bad team that 706 00:34:49,320 --> 00:34:51,520 Speaker 2: swoops in and offers him some money. I do think 707 00:34:51,560 --> 00:34:54,160 Speaker 2: he has some value as a regular season skill guard, 708 00:34:54,280 --> 00:34:56,439 Speaker 2: a lot of value as a regular season skill guard. 709 00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:59,200 Speaker 2: I think, on a you can probably bank on fifty 710 00:34:59,280 --> 00:35:01,480 Speaker 2: pretty good games out of him, and that's going to 711 00:35:01,520 --> 00:35:03,680 Speaker 2: give you a chance to hold some ground in the standings. 712 00:35:03,719 --> 00:35:07,360 Speaker 2: But like when I really look at an NBA team 713 00:35:07,640 --> 00:35:12,239 Speaker 2: looking at skill guards that are not necessarily guys that 714 00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:14,520 Speaker 2: you're going to lean on and you're closing five in 715 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:18,040 Speaker 2: a big playoff game. The market last year for that 716 00:35:18,160 --> 00:35:21,640 Speaker 2: type of player that was kind of the Gabe Vincent 717 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:26,680 Speaker 2: Dennis Schroeder tier, right like, and those guys were making 718 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:29,000 Speaker 2: the mid level exception, that's what they were making. 719 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:32,000 Speaker 1: And so here's the thing. 720 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:34,480 Speaker 2: I think if Delo opts out right right right now, 721 00:35:34,560 --> 00:35:36,560 Speaker 2: I think he's on the books for nineteen million next year, 722 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:39,960 Speaker 2: like eighteen and a half million next year. So like yeah, 723 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:41,719 Speaker 2: so like if some team offers him three years for 724 00:35:41,760 --> 00:35:43,600 Speaker 2: thirty six or two years for twenty five or something 725 00:35:43,640 --> 00:35:45,160 Speaker 2: like two years for twenty four, whatever it is that 726 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:47,960 Speaker 2: the MLE, I think that'll be a deal that he 727 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:50,440 Speaker 2: potentially looks to take because I think after next year 728 00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:52,840 Speaker 2: it's possible that he enters into the veteran minimum contract 729 00:35:52,880 --> 00:35:55,600 Speaker 2: territory if it, like with some of his limitation, right, 730 00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:58,560 Speaker 2: But like, I don't know that he'll get twenty to 731 00:35:58,600 --> 00:36:01,080 Speaker 2: twenty five. Maybe he will. But like if I'm if 732 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:03,880 Speaker 2: I'm looking at d Lo as an asset league wide 733 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:06,280 Speaker 2: next year, I'm looking at him as a sixth man, 734 00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:09,560 Speaker 2: a guy that is clearly not in my top five. 735 00:36:09,840 --> 00:36:11,839 Speaker 2: So that I know that when push comes to shove. 736 00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:14,680 Speaker 2: I'm closing with my closing group, but I can make 737 00:36:14,719 --> 00:36:17,200 Speaker 2: some night Tonight calls with him with his minutes based 738 00:36:17,239 --> 00:36:19,799 Speaker 2: on whether or not he's engaged in hitting shots. And 739 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:22,400 Speaker 2: most more importantly, I'm using him as a regular season 740 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:24,839 Speaker 2: innings eater, So I think there's some value there. 741 00:36:25,120 --> 00:36:27,920 Speaker 1: But yeah, I don't, I don't. I think I agree 742 00:36:27,960 --> 00:36:28,720 Speaker 1: with you entirely. 743 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:32,800 Speaker 2: If you're a serious basketball team, you cannot you cannot 744 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:34,600 Speaker 2: have this guy in your top five players. 745 00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:35,759 Speaker 1: You just can't like it. 746 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:39,799 Speaker 2: Just he doesn't get it. He doesn't get it, And 747 00:36:39,920 --> 00:36:42,920 Speaker 2: like I thought, the best example of that was him 748 00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:45,279 Speaker 2: talking about Derek White before the season as his own 749 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:48,600 Speaker 2: little player comp and then his lack of attention to 750 00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:52,120 Speaker 2: detail in the margins of the game during this postseason run, 751 00:36:52,360 --> 00:36:54,360 Speaker 2: Like I think, I think it's been. It could not 752 00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:57,520 Speaker 2: be more stark, the difference between what he's actually doing 753 00:36:57,520 --> 00:36:59,880 Speaker 2: on the floor and the game that he talks. And 754 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:01,720 Speaker 2: I think that that goes to show you that there's 755 00:37:01,920 --> 00:37:05,880 Speaker 2: actually a disconnect mentally between where Delo needs to improve 756 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:08,560 Speaker 2: and where Delo thinks he needs to improve. And I 757 00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:10,400 Speaker 2: think those are going to be areas that kind of 758 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:13,440 Speaker 2: hold him back moving on, to the to the offseason. 759 00:37:14,520 --> 00:37:16,760 Speaker 2: So obviously the Lakers have a lot of questions to address. 760 00:37:17,120 --> 00:37:20,839 Speaker 2: I want to start with Darvin. So here's the thing. 761 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:23,760 Speaker 2: I don't think Darvin is responsible for the Lakers losing 762 00:37:23,800 --> 00:37:27,240 Speaker 2: to Denver. I do think he's responsible for the Lakers 763 00:37:27,239 --> 00:37:29,680 Speaker 2: having ended up as the seventh seed. I've said this 764 00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:32,440 Speaker 2: on the record, but like, I think his mistakes with 765 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:36,480 Speaker 2: the rotation in late December and early January probably cost 766 00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:40,719 Speaker 2: the Lakers three four games in the standings. Even if 767 00:37:40,719 --> 00:37:43,719 Speaker 2: it's just two or three games, you're out of the plane. 768 00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:48,120 Speaker 2: So like, I think they would have been in that Clippers, MAVs, Suns, 769 00:37:48,120 --> 00:37:50,760 Speaker 2: Wolves kind of tier there in the or I should 770 00:37:50,760 --> 00:37:53,719 Speaker 2: say Clippers, Suns, MAVs tier in that four through six range, right, 771 00:37:54,320 --> 00:37:58,200 Speaker 2: And I think I think that that is fair criticism 772 00:37:58,239 --> 00:38:01,040 Speaker 2: of darviin I you think the reason they lost to 773 00:38:01,080 --> 00:38:04,799 Speaker 2: Denver is Denver's a better basketball team. That said, I 774 00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:08,520 Speaker 2: do think you saw some of the the jarring elements 775 00:38:08,560 --> 00:38:10,799 Speaker 2: of Darvin kind of being in over his head in 776 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:16,160 Speaker 2: this series. An example Number one, Mike Malone super active 777 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:20,040 Speaker 2: coaching on the sidelines, accountability with his players every time 778 00:38:20,080 --> 00:38:21,759 Speaker 2: someone makes a mistake. He's screaming at him. 779 00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:22,160 Speaker 1: He's yelling. 780 00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:25,920 Speaker 2: There's accountability, there's active coaching on the sidelines. Darvin is 781 00:38:26,040 --> 00:38:28,120 Speaker 2: very much passive, staying in their hands, in his pockets. 782 00:38:28,160 --> 00:38:30,439 Speaker 2: He's very much like a positive kind of motivator type 783 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:32,960 Speaker 2: of guy, right And which which, by the way, just 784 00:38:33,000 --> 00:38:36,239 Speaker 2: like like you, there's a certain intensity and verve that 785 00:38:36,280 --> 00:38:38,799 Speaker 2: you're expecting from the players, And I think it makes 786 00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:41,200 Speaker 2: sense that the coach kind of matches that. Watch Eric 787 00:38:41,200 --> 00:38:43,960 Speaker 2: Spolster on the sideline, how is he coaching? How animated 788 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:47,200 Speaker 2: is he? Watch Greg Popovich on the sideline? How animated 789 00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:49,840 Speaker 2: is he? Watch you know, Tyron Lew on the sideline. 790 00:38:49,840 --> 00:38:51,799 Speaker 2: Watch these guys on the sideline, and you'll see the 791 00:38:51,840 --> 00:38:54,400 Speaker 2: difference in just their overall level of engagement with the 792 00:38:54,440 --> 00:38:59,560 Speaker 2: team compared to compared to what Darvin brings. Secondly, just 793 00:38:59,719 --> 00:39:04,319 Speaker 2: a a basketball ideology that doesn't match your personnel. I'm 794 00:39:04,360 --> 00:39:06,799 Speaker 2: a big believer in like a coach has to be 795 00:39:06,960 --> 00:39:10,840 Speaker 2: very careful with his individual ideologies inflicting them on a 796 00:39:10,920 --> 00:39:13,760 Speaker 2: roster if the roster's not capable of it. So, for instance, 797 00:39:13,840 --> 00:39:17,040 Speaker 2: Darvin's kind of obsession with speed, quickness and skill at 798 00:39:17,080 --> 00:39:19,600 Speaker 2: the guard position and kind of leaning into that. That's 799 00:39:19,640 --> 00:39:21,759 Speaker 2: not the strength of this roster. They do not have 800 00:39:21,880 --> 00:39:25,160 Speaker 2: a guard corps that is particularly fast, that is particularly 801 00:39:25,239 --> 00:39:28,800 Speaker 2: good defensively, and that is star caliber and offensive creation. 802 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:31,200 Speaker 2: And so all you're really doing is playing a bunch 803 00:39:31,239 --> 00:39:33,640 Speaker 2: of small guys that can't defend and can't score. And 804 00:39:33,680 --> 00:39:36,160 Speaker 2: he had athletes on the roster, he had options that 805 00:39:36,200 --> 00:39:37,719 Speaker 2: he could go there. 806 00:39:38,600 --> 00:39:39,719 Speaker 1: One of the biggest. 807 00:39:39,360 --> 00:39:41,880 Speaker 2: Strengths of this like a roster, they got some big athletes, 808 00:39:41,960 --> 00:39:44,960 Speaker 2: ruy Lebron, Ad, Jackson, Hayes. He could have leaned into 809 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:47,600 Speaker 2: those lineups as much as possible, and I thought him 810 00:39:47,680 --> 00:39:50,680 Speaker 2: kind of leaning into Again, we always talk about adversity 811 00:39:50,719 --> 00:39:53,120 Speaker 2: brings out like the true nature of who you are 812 00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:55,399 Speaker 2: as a person, And like here we were Game three, 813 00:39:55,840 --> 00:39:58,400 Speaker 2: all the chips are down, and he benched Jackson and 814 00:39:58,400 --> 00:39:59,880 Speaker 2: he played a bunch of three guard lineups. So that's 815 00:39:59,880 --> 00:40:02,640 Speaker 2: a pretty strong indicative where he's at there. And then lastly, 816 00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:05,759 Speaker 2: like I thought, I thought, and you know, you and 817 00:40:05,760 --> 00:40:07,319 Speaker 2: I were talking about this a little bit in the 818 00:40:07,640 --> 00:40:10,799 Speaker 2: before we started recording today, but like, yeah, it was 819 00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:13,719 Speaker 2: it was bullshit that when Ad made a comment that 820 00:40:13,800 --> 00:40:16,840 Speaker 2: was clearly in a moment of frustration that was clearly 821 00:40:16,920 --> 00:40:20,279 Speaker 2: not aimed at anybody in particular. I thought it was 822 00:40:20,360 --> 00:40:22,879 Speaker 2: just like a I thought that the comment about us 823 00:40:22,960 --> 00:40:24,800 Speaker 2: not knowing what we're doing on either end of the floor, 824 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:27,520 Speaker 2: I thought it was more directed at like some of 825 00:40:27,560 --> 00:40:31,000 Speaker 2: the role players and like just them going off script 826 00:40:31,200 --> 00:40:33,640 Speaker 2: and not sticking to the game plan and not doing 827 00:40:33,680 --> 00:40:36,440 Speaker 2: their jobs. And yeah, I'm sure there was some criticism 828 00:40:36,560 --> 00:40:38,440 Speaker 2: Levy towards Darvin there. I thought it was just kind 829 00:40:38,440 --> 00:40:41,800 Speaker 2: of like a general frustration with not being a serious 830 00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:45,040 Speaker 2: basketball team, because, like Lebron said after the game last night, 831 00:40:45,520 --> 00:40:49,520 Speaker 2: Lebron and Ad know they've won together. They know what 832 00:40:49,600 --> 00:40:53,399 Speaker 2: it's like to be a serious team and to make 833 00:40:53,440 --> 00:40:57,040 Speaker 2: a deep run, and so they are frustrated because they 834 00:40:57,080 --> 00:40:59,760 Speaker 2: know this team doesn't have it. And then for Darvin 835 00:40:59,800 --> 00:41:01,440 Speaker 2: to him out in the what was it the shoot 836 00:41:01,440 --> 00:41:04,319 Speaker 2: around yesterday and then to basically be like, yeah, we're 837 00:41:04,360 --> 00:41:06,480 Speaker 2: going to agree to disagree on that, and we take 838 00:41:06,520 --> 00:41:10,680 Speaker 2: great pride and like basically cover his ass rather than 839 00:41:10,760 --> 00:41:14,080 Speaker 2: just simply saying like like, yeah, eighti's pissed off. I'm 840 00:41:14,080 --> 00:41:17,320 Speaker 2: pissed off too, which would have been a perfectly normal 841 00:41:17,400 --> 00:41:21,480 Speaker 2: response there. And so I don't blame Darvin for the 842 00:41:21,560 --> 00:41:25,600 Speaker 2: Lakers losing to the Nuggets. That said, I don't think 843 00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:28,919 Speaker 2: he's a championship level coach, and so I do think 844 00:41:28,920 --> 00:41:30,560 Speaker 2: the Lakers are going to have to address that in 845 00:41:30,600 --> 00:41:34,480 Speaker 2: this offseason. They're going to have to make a move 846 00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:38,480 Speaker 2: in that specific area. Where do you think the organization 847 00:41:38,680 --> 00:41:42,160 Speaker 2: is right now in terms of the coaching situation. Is 848 00:41:42,200 --> 00:41:43,600 Speaker 2: there some internal frustration? 849 00:41:45,040 --> 00:41:50,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, they are frustrated and disappointed with how this series 850 00:41:50,120 --> 00:41:53,920 Speaker 3: has gone and with how this season has gone. I 851 00:41:53,960 --> 00:41:57,120 Speaker 3: think there has been an acknowledgment that Denver is just 852 00:41:57,280 --> 00:41:59,840 Speaker 3: a better team and this is a bad matchup for 853 00:41:59,840 --> 00:42:03,200 Speaker 3: the Lakers. But to your point that they shouldn't have 854 00:42:03,280 --> 00:42:06,160 Speaker 3: even been in this position in the first place, and 855 00:42:06,200 --> 00:42:09,440 Speaker 3: the fact that they finished as a seventh seed and 856 00:42:09,760 --> 00:42:13,080 Speaker 3: had to play Denver in the first round was a 857 00:42:13,120 --> 00:42:17,239 Speaker 3: reflection of mistakes earlier in the season. And I go 858 00:42:17,400 --> 00:42:21,160 Speaker 3: back to early January when the Lakers lost four consecutive 859 00:42:21,160 --> 00:42:24,759 Speaker 3: games and I had the report with Shan Shrania the 860 00:42:24,840 --> 00:42:27,479 Speaker 3: athletic and I came on this show and we talked 861 00:42:27,480 --> 00:42:30,959 Speaker 3: about it of the disconnect within the locker room between 862 00:42:31,000 --> 00:42:34,480 Speaker 3: the players and the coaching staff and the frustration with 863 00:42:34,640 --> 00:42:38,920 Speaker 3: lineups and rotations and just the identity of the team 864 00:42:39,560 --> 00:42:43,879 Speaker 3: not necessarily aligning with the player's strengths. And those are 865 00:42:43,920 --> 00:42:46,399 Speaker 3: all things you just hit on, and those are all 866 00:42:46,400 --> 00:42:50,080 Speaker 3: things that never went away, like they got better for periods. 867 00:42:50,280 --> 00:42:54,560 Speaker 3: I think winning can paper over some frustrations and some 868 00:42:54,600 --> 00:42:58,640 Speaker 3: disagreements internally, and that's why you'll see like Kobe and 869 00:42:58,640 --> 00:43:02,000 Speaker 3: shak can not get along, but they are so talented 870 00:43:02,200 --> 00:43:04,000 Speaker 3: and Phil Jackson is such a great coach, and like 871 00:43:04,040 --> 00:43:06,160 Speaker 3: they had the right role players where you can still 872 00:43:06,160 --> 00:43:09,200 Speaker 3: win championships despite not being on the same page and 873 00:43:09,239 --> 00:43:13,960 Speaker 3: having internal discord. But that only covers you for so 874 00:43:14,120 --> 00:43:17,240 Speaker 3: long when you run into a team that is better 875 00:43:17,280 --> 00:43:19,960 Speaker 3: than you and is embarrassing you. And really, like the 876 00:43:20,040 --> 00:43:23,399 Speaker 3: Lakers have been embarrassed in this matchup with Denver, I think, 877 00:43:23,440 --> 00:43:26,560 Speaker 3: like it's not just losing eleven straight games, but it's 878 00:43:26,600 --> 00:43:29,480 Speaker 3: losing them the manner in which they lose them. It's 879 00:43:29,840 --> 00:43:33,319 Speaker 3: completely falling apart in second halfs. And I don't think 880 00:43:33,360 --> 00:43:35,359 Speaker 3: that's on Darvin, and I don't think people are putting 881 00:43:35,400 --> 00:43:39,239 Speaker 3: that entirely on Darvin. But I have heard conversations with 882 00:43:39,280 --> 00:43:42,760 Speaker 3: people once again referencing the three guard lineups or Torrian 883 00:43:42,800 --> 00:43:45,759 Speaker 3: prints at the four and just them not lean like 884 00:43:45,960 --> 00:43:49,080 Speaker 3: there had been a shift in early February where they 885 00:43:49,120 --> 00:43:51,840 Speaker 3: went back there. You know, they started Rui, they started 886 00:43:51,920 --> 00:43:54,600 Speaker 3: leaning into the bigger lineups because all year the lineup 887 00:43:54,719 --> 00:43:57,439 Speaker 3: data has said if you go big with the front court, 888 00:43:57,719 --> 00:43:59,800 Speaker 3: the Lakers win those minutes go. 889 00:44:00,200 --> 00:44:01,040 Speaker 1: It was undeniable. 890 00:44:01,160 --> 00:44:05,000 Speaker 3: It's undeniable, like it's it's it's and it's facts over feelings, right, 891 00:44:05,040 --> 00:44:06,719 Speaker 3: Like that's that's been the motto of the last couple 892 00:44:06,719 --> 00:44:08,600 Speaker 3: of years. It's facts over feelings. And the facts have 893 00:44:08,680 --> 00:44:11,200 Speaker 3: been there, and the facts have been Lakers play bigger, 894 00:44:11,280 --> 00:44:14,000 Speaker 3: they are better. Lakers play smaller, they are worse. Yet, 895 00:44:14,280 --> 00:44:17,040 Speaker 3: as you've said in big moments this season, even going 896 00:44:17,080 --> 00:44:20,520 Speaker 3: back to parts of the Pelicans games in the regular 897 00:44:20,560 --> 00:44:24,080 Speaker 3: season finale and the playing matchup, they've gone small. And 898 00:44:24,440 --> 00:44:26,640 Speaker 3: it's just like there's there's clearly been a lack of 899 00:44:26,640 --> 00:44:29,680 Speaker 3: trust for for Jackson, for I think for Ruy, Like 900 00:44:29,880 --> 00:44:32,560 Speaker 3: I know Ruy did not have a good game last night, 901 00:44:32,880 --> 00:44:35,480 Speaker 3: but Ruey should not have played twenty eight minutes. Like 902 00:44:35,520 --> 00:44:38,839 Speaker 3: there's no, in my opinion, credible argument for playing Ruey 903 00:44:38,920 --> 00:44:42,360 Speaker 3: twenty eight minutes in an elimination game or essentially elimination 904 00:44:42,480 --> 00:44:46,440 Speaker 3: game when the two alternatives are playing Jackson who's worse 905 00:44:46,560 --> 00:44:49,319 Speaker 3: and they just didn't even play him, or just going 906 00:44:49,360 --> 00:44:52,880 Speaker 3: super small with more Tornian and more three guard lineups 907 00:44:52,880 --> 00:44:56,400 Speaker 3: and like that, just it doesn't work against the Denver Nuggets. 908 00:44:56,560 --> 00:44:58,520 Speaker 3: Like we all we already went through the head to 909 00:44:58,560 --> 00:45:01,200 Speaker 3: head matchups of how they are small and less physical 910 00:45:01,239 --> 00:45:04,840 Speaker 3: and less forceful at each position, and then playing smaller 911 00:45:05,400 --> 00:45:06,520 Speaker 3: leans into that even more. 912 00:45:06,640 --> 00:45:06,719 Speaker 1: So. 913 00:45:07,239 --> 00:45:09,400 Speaker 3: I think, you know, I would not put this loss 914 00:45:09,480 --> 00:45:12,239 Speaker 3: on him per se, but I think this loss has 915 00:45:12,280 --> 00:45:16,000 Speaker 3: revealed some of his stubbornness and some of his weaknesses 916 00:45:16,080 --> 00:45:19,680 Speaker 3: as a coach. And from my understanding, whether it's if 917 00:45:19,760 --> 00:45:21,440 Speaker 3: I think the series is likely over in four or 918 00:45:21,480 --> 00:45:24,840 Speaker 3: five games, and I would probably lean toward four, Lakers 919 00:45:24,880 --> 00:45:27,120 Speaker 3: are going to have some reevaluating to do in the 920 00:45:27,160 --> 00:45:30,839 Speaker 3: next few days in terms of the direction of the franchise. 921 00:45:31,560 --> 00:45:34,280 Speaker 3: You know, can Darvin lead them to the next level? 922 00:45:34,520 --> 00:45:37,360 Speaker 3: And because again, as I just said in the del segment, 923 00:45:37,760 --> 00:45:40,359 Speaker 3: like the Denver Nuggets aren't going anywhere if the Lakers 924 00:45:40,400 --> 00:45:42,239 Speaker 3: want to win a championship, and who knows how much 925 00:45:42,280 --> 00:45:44,480 Speaker 3: longer they have with Lebron. Could be a year, could 926 00:45:44,480 --> 00:45:46,839 Speaker 3: be two years, could be three years, who knows, could 927 00:45:46,880 --> 00:45:47,399 Speaker 3: be zero year. 928 00:45:47,400 --> 00:45:48,280 Speaker 1: He could leave the summer. 929 00:45:49,040 --> 00:45:52,200 Speaker 3: Like if they want to win a championship and are 930 00:45:52,239 --> 00:45:54,839 Speaker 3: serious about that with Lebron and Ad, I think they 931 00:45:54,840 --> 00:45:57,480 Speaker 3: have to look at the future of you know, de Lo, 932 00:45:57,920 --> 00:46:01,439 Speaker 3: Darvin and really just some of the the peripheral pieces here. 933 00:46:01,520 --> 00:46:05,720 Speaker 3: So from my understanding, they are going to be reevaluating 934 00:46:05,760 --> 00:46:07,880 Speaker 3: things in the next few days, looking at where this 935 00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:11,680 Speaker 3: season went wrong, where this series went wrong, and then 936 00:46:11,960 --> 00:46:14,640 Speaker 3: having to make potentially some tough decisions. 937 00:46:15,560 --> 00:46:16,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know. 938 00:46:16,160 --> 00:46:19,480 Speaker 2: The Torrian Prince piece, to me is the kind of 939 00:46:19,520 --> 00:46:23,600 Speaker 2: like the Bell Weather for where this team could have gone. 940 00:46:23,600 --> 00:46:27,000 Speaker 2: In terms of an identity, you mentioned the size was 941 00:46:27,040 --> 00:46:31,680 Speaker 2: the primary source of success for this lineup all year long, right, 942 00:46:33,200 --> 00:46:37,600 Speaker 2: toryan Prince at the four next to three guards versus 943 00:46:38,120 --> 00:46:40,880 Speaker 2: Tory and Prince at the two, which was always a 944 00:46:40,920 --> 00:46:43,319 Speaker 2: look they could have gone to. Like Dlo is not 945 00:46:43,400 --> 00:46:48,719 Speaker 2: playing well, you could literally go ad Lebron, RUI who 946 00:46:48,800 --> 00:46:51,439 Speaker 2: Ruey can play in the five out Torrian Prince who 947 00:46:51,760 --> 00:46:53,600 Speaker 2: Here's the thing. I think Torrian Prince all season has 948 00:46:53,640 --> 00:46:55,520 Speaker 2: been more like the seventh or eighth best player on 949 00:46:55,560 --> 00:46:59,120 Speaker 2: the team, but within the context of this series, he 950 00:46:59,200 --> 00:47:01,320 Speaker 2: was the most confident and successful bench player. 951 00:47:01,600 --> 00:47:03,319 Speaker 1: So like, get seriously, you make a read. 952 00:47:03,440 --> 00:47:06,120 Speaker 2: You make a read within this context of these first 953 00:47:06,160 --> 00:47:08,200 Speaker 2: two games going into game three, and it's like, Okay, 954 00:47:08,239 --> 00:47:10,560 Speaker 2: Torrian's my one guy off the bench that's like really 955 00:47:10,560 --> 00:47:13,399 Speaker 2: playing confidently and well when he comes into the game. 956 00:47:13,880 --> 00:47:16,840 Speaker 2: So like, if dlo is not playing well, like I 957 00:47:16,880 --> 00:47:19,120 Speaker 2: would have just slotted Torrian at the two. I would 958 00:47:19,120 --> 00:47:21,520 Speaker 2: have gone with Austin and Torrion with Ruiy Lebron and ad. 959 00:47:21,640 --> 00:47:24,120 Speaker 2: That lineup hasn't played a single minute in this series. 960 00:47:24,400 --> 00:47:26,839 Speaker 2: So like that that that, by the way, has been 961 00:47:26,880 --> 00:47:31,120 Speaker 2: your five best players within this series. Like Toryan's not 962 00:47:31,160 --> 00:47:33,240 Speaker 2: one of your five best players, but within this series, 963 00:47:33,520 --> 00:47:35,680 Speaker 2: that's your five best players. They never saw the floor. 964 00:47:35,960 --> 00:47:38,480 Speaker 2: But it's because of a basketball philosophy that Darvin was 965 00:47:38,520 --> 00:47:41,960 Speaker 2: trying to inflict on his roster rather than trying to 966 00:47:42,000 --> 00:47:45,280 Speaker 2: cater a basketball philosophy to the strengths of his roster. 967 00:47:45,400 --> 00:47:49,759 Speaker 2: And again, like it's not it's not about blaming him necessarily, 968 00:47:49,840 --> 00:47:53,120 Speaker 2: It's more just about acknowledging the reality that like if 969 00:47:53,160 --> 00:47:55,719 Speaker 2: you're going to continue to try to win with the 970 00:47:55,800 --> 00:47:58,960 Speaker 2: Lebron and AD build. He's not up to the challenge 971 00:47:59,560 --> 00:48:01,799 Speaker 2: and they're to have to address that in this offseason. 972 00:48:02,719 --> 00:48:05,360 Speaker 2: So before we get into we're gonna do a little 973 00:48:05,400 --> 00:48:07,120 Speaker 2: brief chat about the off season. Then we're gonna get 974 00:48:07,160 --> 00:48:09,600 Speaker 2: out of here before we actually get into the offseason. Though, 975 00:48:10,200 --> 00:48:13,840 Speaker 2: what is your sense behind the scenes as to where 976 00:48:14,080 --> 00:48:17,920 Speaker 2: ownership in the front office is with the Lebron and 977 00:48:18,000 --> 00:48:20,719 Speaker 2: AD core do they view this year? Because like, here's 978 00:48:20,719 --> 00:48:23,799 Speaker 2: the thing. I thought last year, Lebron and AD got 979 00:48:23,880 --> 00:48:28,799 Speaker 2: soundly outplayed by Jokichen Murray and that was the major difference. Right, 980 00:48:30,120 --> 00:48:33,000 Speaker 2: this year, AD has gone toe to toe with Jokic 981 00:48:34,280 --> 00:48:37,959 Speaker 2: and Lebron, like I think, because here Murray hasn't shot 982 00:48:38,000 --> 00:48:41,400 Speaker 2: well and Lebron has had some bad stretches too. I 983 00:48:41,440 --> 00:48:43,760 Speaker 2: think Lebron and Murray have been more or less the same. 984 00:48:44,440 --> 00:48:46,680 Speaker 2: You know, Murray obviously hit the biggest shot of the 985 00:48:46,719 --> 00:48:49,719 Speaker 2: series in Game two, but Lebron was incredible down the 986 00:48:49,760 --> 00:48:53,000 Speaker 2: stretch of that game. So like, it certainly wasn't Lebron's 987 00:48:53,000 --> 00:48:55,279 Speaker 2: fault that they lost that game, right, So, Like I 988 00:48:55,440 --> 00:48:58,440 Speaker 2: viewed the Star matchup as relatively even in this series 989 00:48:58,800 --> 00:49:02,040 Speaker 2: so far through three games, it's been the role players 990 00:49:02,040 --> 00:49:05,560 Speaker 2: that have gotten you know, demolished. So where is the 991 00:49:05,640 --> 00:49:08,200 Speaker 2: Laker front office and ownership group in your opinion in 992 00:49:08,280 --> 00:49:11,719 Speaker 2: terms of their optimism around giving another shot to the 993 00:49:11,840 --> 00:49:12,839 Speaker 2: Lebron and ad core. 994 00:49:14,360 --> 00:49:17,240 Speaker 3: From my understanding that is the plan. They want to 995 00:49:17,360 --> 00:49:20,680 Speaker 3: keep Lebron James and sign him either resign you know, 996 00:49:20,719 --> 00:49:23,520 Speaker 3: he is the option to either opt out and resign 997 00:49:23,880 --> 00:49:27,800 Speaker 3: or he can extend. So that is still their goal 998 00:49:27,920 --> 00:49:31,120 Speaker 3: moving forward in terms of having Lebron for at least 999 00:49:31,719 --> 00:49:35,520 Speaker 3: another two years, maybe three years, and going forward with 1000 00:49:35,640 --> 00:49:39,359 Speaker 3: this Lebron eighty corps. But from my understanding that it's 1001 00:49:39,360 --> 00:49:42,080 Speaker 3: been similar to the approach at the trade deadline in 1002 00:49:42,160 --> 00:49:45,560 Speaker 3: terms of you have three paths, you can run it 1003 00:49:45,640 --> 00:49:49,200 Speaker 3: back and keep largely the same group together, which I 1004 00:49:49,239 --> 00:49:51,640 Speaker 3: think would be a mistake based on how this series 1005 00:49:51,680 --> 00:49:54,640 Speaker 3: has gone and really how the season has gone overall. 1006 00:49:55,400 --> 00:49:58,200 Speaker 3: Two is you can do a like small to medium 1007 00:49:58,320 --> 00:50:02,440 Speaker 3: upgrade in terms of that's flippingd Lo with a pick 1008 00:50:02,719 --> 00:50:06,080 Speaker 3: or two picks for a first you know, a starting 1009 00:50:06,520 --> 00:50:11,600 Speaker 3: uh you know, lineup upgrade and maybe you bring in 1010 00:50:10,719 --> 00:50:15,720 Speaker 3: a you know, Cruso type not necessarily Cruso, but maybe Cruso, 1011 00:50:16,200 --> 00:50:18,320 Speaker 3: but like you do more of like a a marginal 1012 00:50:18,440 --> 00:50:22,239 Speaker 3: upgrade in terms of you add a new starter and 1013 00:50:22,360 --> 00:50:25,120 Speaker 3: maybe like a key bench guy and you sort of 1014 00:50:25,160 --> 00:50:28,560 Speaker 3: run it back, but you are making a couple of upgrades. 1015 00:50:28,880 --> 00:50:32,920 Speaker 3: And then path number three is let's go star hunting 1016 00:50:33,120 --> 00:50:36,719 Speaker 3: and let's go get a Trey Young. Well, let's see 1017 00:50:36,719 --> 00:50:38,560 Speaker 3: what happens with Donovan Mitchell and Cleveland. It looks like 1018 00:50:38,560 --> 00:50:41,319 Speaker 3: they're gonna make at least the conference semifinals, but there's 1019 00:50:41,320 --> 00:50:44,000 Speaker 3: been a lot of buzz about him not staying in Cleveland. 1020 00:50:44,360 --> 00:50:47,040 Speaker 3: And then what happens with Dallas and the Clippers, And 1021 00:50:47,520 --> 00:50:51,000 Speaker 3: does Dallas lose in the first round? And now you 1022 00:50:51,000 --> 00:50:52,719 Speaker 3: you know, we've talked about it before, but like, do 1023 00:50:52,800 --> 00:50:55,319 Speaker 3: they go in a different direction and pivot away from 1024 00:50:55,440 --> 00:50:58,319 Speaker 3: Kyrie and Luca as a pairing, And then there will 1025 00:50:58,360 --> 00:51:02,799 Speaker 3: likely be other stars that potentially come available, like and 1026 00:51:03,000 --> 00:51:08,040 Speaker 3: I think Michael Bridges is an interesting name of what direction. 1027 00:51:07,800 --> 00:51:08,680 Speaker 1: Is Brooklyn going in? 1028 00:51:08,880 --> 00:51:11,560 Speaker 3: And he's kind of in between path number two and 1029 00:51:11,600 --> 00:51:14,120 Speaker 3: path number three, But for the most part, like those 1030 00:51:14,160 --> 00:51:17,600 Speaker 3: are the three directions that from my understanding, the Lakers 1031 00:51:17,640 --> 00:51:21,000 Speaker 3: are weighing. It sounded more recently like they are in 1032 00:51:21,040 --> 00:51:25,360 Speaker 3: between path number one and path number two, and we're 1033 00:51:25,400 --> 00:51:28,720 Speaker 3: trying to lean away from the three star build, although 1034 00:51:28,760 --> 00:51:31,000 Speaker 3: there's been a lot of Trey Young buzz with them. 1035 00:51:31,719 --> 00:51:34,600 Speaker 3: But I don't see how you can do path number one. 1036 00:51:34,719 --> 00:51:36,799 Speaker 3: I don't see how you can run this back. If 1037 00:51:36,800 --> 00:51:40,080 Speaker 3: you run this back, you are once again a Denver 1038 00:51:40,120 --> 00:51:43,520 Speaker 3: matchup away from just losing whenever you face them. Like 1039 00:51:43,800 --> 00:51:47,759 Speaker 3: this team is that if Ruy, Dilo Austin, they can 1040 00:51:47,800 --> 00:51:50,120 Speaker 3: all come back better. And I still don't think they 1041 00:51:50,120 --> 00:51:52,080 Speaker 3: could beat Denver. And even if you add like a 1042 00:51:52,120 --> 00:51:54,720 Speaker 3: better bench player, I still don't think you can beat Denver. 1043 00:51:54,760 --> 00:51:57,040 Speaker 1: So I think it's between path number two and path 1044 00:51:57,080 --> 00:51:57,560 Speaker 1: number three. 1045 00:51:57,760 --> 00:51:59,319 Speaker 3: If I had to pick one, I would probably lean 1046 00:51:59,360 --> 00:52:03,480 Speaker 3: more toward the marginal upgrade, and that likely being d 1047 00:52:03,640 --> 00:52:06,880 Speaker 3: Lo and Ruie potentially moving. Those are the most movable 1048 00:52:06,880 --> 00:52:08,960 Speaker 3: contracts that they have. I think they're gonna try and 1049 00:52:09,040 --> 00:52:13,120 Speaker 3: keep Austin, but again it's they're in a tough spot 1050 00:52:13,120 --> 00:52:17,000 Speaker 3: because on top like Delo's got a player option, Cam Reddish, 1051 00:52:17,080 --> 00:52:19,719 Speaker 3: Christian Wood and Jackson Hayes all have player options. I 1052 00:52:19,719 --> 00:52:22,680 Speaker 3: think you can argue that they're still all minimum players. 1053 00:52:22,719 --> 00:52:25,640 Speaker 3: Like maybe Jackson has outplayed it to like a mini 1054 00:52:25,680 --> 00:52:28,520 Speaker 3: mid level, you know, four to five million dollar player, 1055 00:52:28,520 --> 00:52:31,000 Speaker 3: but I'm not even sold on that. He just was 1056 00:52:31,080 --> 00:52:34,799 Speaker 3: a DMPCD in a playoff game. Christian Wood and Cam 1057 00:52:34,840 --> 00:52:37,560 Speaker 3: Reddish I think are both clearly minimum guys. So like, 1058 00:52:37,840 --> 00:52:41,440 Speaker 3: those guys are probably opting in Max Christie's restricted free agents. 1059 00:52:41,440 --> 00:52:42,960 Speaker 1: So like the Lakers already have a. 1060 00:52:42,880 --> 00:52:45,919 Speaker 3: Bunch of money committed to the core of this group 1061 00:52:46,000 --> 00:52:50,200 Speaker 3: lebron Ady, Austin, Ruy, Van doh Gabe Vincent. Then you 1062 00:52:50,239 --> 00:52:52,359 Speaker 3: add in some of these guys that can opt in, 1063 00:52:52,360 --> 00:52:54,239 Speaker 3: and like they're kind of limited in terms of what 1064 00:52:54,280 --> 00:52:56,600 Speaker 3: they could do in free agency, and then when it 1065 00:52:56,600 --> 00:52:59,400 Speaker 3: comes to trading, it's gonna have to bed Lo, Rui, 1066 00:53:00,160 --> 00:53:02,920 Speaker 3: maybe Austin, depending on you know, who's involved. 1067 00:53:02,960 --> 00:53:05,279 Speaker 1: But they're kind of limited in terms of like what 1068 00:53:05,320 --> 00:53:06,160 Speaker 1: they can actually do. 1069 00:53:06,320 --> 00:53:08,560 Speaker 3: So while I think they'd love to do path number 1070 00:53:08,600 --> 00:53:11,560 Speaker 3: two a path number three, it ultimately might come down 1071 00:53:11,600 --> 00:53:13,399 Speaker 3: to like how the trade market plays out, how free 1072 00:53:13,400 --> 00:53:16,319 Speaker 3: agency plays out, and some factors that are ultimately out 1073 00:53:16,360 --> 00:53:16,920 Speaker 3: of their control. 1074 00:53:17,880 --> 00:53:20,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it comes down to it's got to 1075 00:53:20,080 --> 00:53:22,640 Speaker 2: be a two way offensive player rather than just an 1076 00:53:22,640 --> 00:53:26,000 Speaker 2: offensive player. So, like, I think they definitely need a 1077 00:53:26,080 --> 00:53:28,520 Speaker 2: high level offensive player because Lebron and Ady during the 1078 00:53:28,520 --> 00:53:32,680 Speaker 2: regular season just don't have the ability to put the 1079 00:53:32,680 --> 00:53:35,839 Speaker 2: foot down to the pedal and impact the game athletically 1080 00:53:35,880 --> 00:53:38,760 Speaker 2: for eighty two the way that they used to offensively. 1081 00:53:40,160 --> 00:53:42,080 Speaker 2: I obviously am such a huge believer in those two 1082 00:53:42,120 --> 00:53:44,520 Speaker 2: in the context of the playoffs, but you know, within 1083 00:53:44,560 --> 00:53:46,719 Speaker 2: the regular season eighty two they need to get a 1084 00:53:46,760 --> 00:53:49,319 Speaker 2: high level offensive player. But to me, the perfect kind 1085 00:53:49,320 --> 00:53:52,480 Speaker 2: of like line of delineation in terms of this archetype 1086 00:53:52,560 --> 00:53:54,719 Speaker 2: is like the Trey Young versus Jontey Murray type of thing. 1087 00:53:55,640 --> 00:53:57,320 Speaker 2: And I'm not saying that those two players are the 1088 00:53:57,360 --> 00:53:59,719 Speaker 2: only options, as you just laid out so many good options, 1089 00:53:59,760 --> 00:54:05,120 Speaker 2: but like, Trey Young is a player that has a 1090 00:54:05,120 --> 00:54:09,360 Speaker 2: significantly higher offensive ceiling than de Jontay Murray. But de 1091 00:54:09,440 --> 00:54:11,960 Speaker 2: Jontay Murray, like no doubt, within the context of a 1092 00:54:12,040 --> 00:54:14,000 Speaker 2: Lebron and ad pairing, is going to be a more 1093 00:54:14,040 --> 00:54:17,239 Speaker 2: impactful playoff player and a more useful playoff player with 1094 00:54:17,280 --> 00:54:19,400 Speaker 2: a higher floor, right, And so that's kind of what 1095 00:54:19,440 --> 00:54:21,320 Speaker 2: I look at, Like That's why I like the idea 1096 00:54:21,520 --> 00:54:25,320 Speaker 2: of a McHale Bridges that isn't that is a an 1097 00:54:25,480 --> 00:54:29,080 Speaker 2: athlete that can really impact the game with a high floor, 1098 00:54:29,160 --> 00:54:31,920 Speaker 2: but that also has the ability to run action and 1099 00:54:31,960 --> 00:54:33,799 Speaker 2: be a useful a guy that could run two man 1100 00:54:33,840 --> 00:54:35,719 Speaker 2: game with Lebron and you know that that sort of thing. 1101 00:54:35,760 --> 00:54:38,319 Speaker 2: There's a lot of different upside to that that type 1102 00:54:38,320 --> 00:54:40,320 Speaker 2: of pairing, right, So, like, I think that's going to 1103 00:54:40,360 --> 00:54:42,279 Speaker 2: be the key for them is I think they need 1104 00:54:42,320 --> 00:54:47,640 Speaker 2: to target a legitimate two way player to put in 1105 00:54:47,680 --> 00:54:50,319 Speaker 2: that in that two or three spot, which is something 1106 00:54:50,360 --> 00:54:53,359 Speaker 2: we've been talking about all day here really, But like 1107 00:54:53,840 --> 00:54:56,520 Speaker 2: I'm a big believer in Austin. I think a big 1108 00:54:56,560 --> 00:54:59,960 Speaker 2: part of what led to Austin's poor offensive series was 1109 00:55:00,080 --> 00:55:02,200 Speaker 2: the fact that last year in the postseason, it was 1110 00:55:02,239 --> 00:55:04,320 Speaker 2: Dennis Schroeder that was taking most of the high leverage 1111 00:55:04,320 --> 00:55:07,400 Speaker 2: defensive assignments, and Austin was able to focus his energy 1112 00:55:07,440 --> 00:55:10,880 Speaker 2: and his best skill, which is, you know, being an 1113 00:55:10,880 --> 00:55:14,000 Speaker 2: offensive skill guard, right and this year that's not the case. 1114 00:55:14,360 --> 00:55:16,719 Speaker 2: And to his credit, I think he actually was a 1115 00:55:16,760 --> 00:55:19,120 Speaker 2: really useful perimeter defender for the Lakers of the last 1116 00:55:19,120 --> 00:55:20,759 Speaker 2: couple of years, and I think that will serve him 1117 00:55:20,800 --> 00:55:24,840 Speaker 2: well in lower leverage assignments throughout the rest of his career. 1118 00:55:25,200 --> 00:55:26,759 Speaker 2: But you got to find a way to free him 1119 00:55:26,840 --> 00:55:28,640 Speaker 2: up to focus on the offensive end. And the only 1120 00:55:28,680 --> 00:55:30,359 Speaker 2: way you're going to do that is if you bring 1121 00:55:30,400 --> 00:55:32,759 Speaker 2: in a real high leverage athlete at the two and 1122 00:55:32,840 --> 00:55:35,759 Speaker 2: the three. I like Ruiy at the three in the 1123 00:55:35,800 --> 00:55:38,440 Speaker 2: sense that like it does bring a big physical imposition 1124 00:55:38,480 --> 00:55:41,160 Speaker 2: to the game. But there's something to be said about 1125 00:55:41,200 --> 00:55:44,120 Speaker 2: having two forwards like Lebron and Rui that aren't necessarily 1126 00:55:44,200 --> 00:55:46,680 Speaker 2: great screen navigators or that can move their feet on 1127 00:55:46,719 --> 00:55:48,960 Speaker 2: the perimeter, and so that to me is going to 1128 00:55:49,000 --> 00:55:52,160 Speaker 2: be like the area of opportunity, essentially turning d Lo 1129 00:55:52,320 --> 00:55:56,680 Speaker 2: and Ruie into more compatible players at that position. Dejontey 1130 00:55:56,760 --> 00:55:58,319 Speaker 2: Murray is a player that I'd really like for them 1131 00:55:58,360 --> 00:55:59,960 Speaker 2: to take another look at. I know that the hot 1132 00:56:00,160 --> 00:56:02,240 Speaker 2: are going to be considering blowing up things this summer. 1133 00:56:02,480 --> 00:56:05,640 Speaker 2: I just think he could be relatively affordable compared to 1134 00:56:05,680 --> 00:56:08,480 Speaker 2: some of the other options out there. Obviously, Donovan Mitchell 1135 00:56:08,480 --> 00:56:10,360 Speaker 2: would be a home run. If you get Donovan Mitchell, 1136 00:56:10,520 --> 00:56:14,200 Speaker 2: you're you're celebrating for for a long time after that. 1137 00:56:14,600 --> 00:56:16,040 Speaker 2: But I just think that there's gonna be a big 1138 00:56:16,080 --> 00:56:19,680 Speaker 2: market for him. Yeah, and like the the idea of 1139 00:56:19,719 --> 00:56:22,319 Speaker 2: maybe three first round picks and filler, I don't think 1140 00:56:22,360 --> 00:56:24,120 Speaker 2: necessarily is gonna be able to compete with some of 1141 00:56:24,160 --> 00:56:27,719 Speaker 2: the other offers that are out there, especially especially when 1142 00:56:27,760 --> 00:56:30,279 Speaker 2: there's so many teams that feel like they're close. Right, 1143 00:56:31,040 --> 00:56:32,920 Speaker 2: But we'll see. Like you said, there's so many things 1144 00:56:32,960 --> 00:56:35,399 Speaker 2: that can happen over the next month, Like the Suns 1145 00:56:35,440 --> 00:56:37,799 Speaker 2: could have a catastrophe, the MAVs could have a catastrophe, 1146 00:56:37,880 --> 00:56:40,160 Speaker 2: the Bucks could have a catastrophe. Like, there's so many 1147 00:56:40,200 --> 00:56:43,680 Speaker 2: different negative things that could happen over the next month, 1148 00:56:43,680 --> 00:56:45,680 Speaker 2: and that's gonna color what ends up being the uh, 1149 00:56:47,320 --> 00:56:49,960 Speaker 2: what ends up being the strategy. Our last note before 1150 00:56:49,960 --> 00:56:51,440 Speaker 2: we get out of here. Do you think there's any 1151 00:56:51,960 --> 00:56:57,160 Speaker 2: any chance that that Lebron James looks another direction this offseason? 1152 00:56:58,960 --> 00:57:01,680 Speaker 3: There's a there's always a chance, so I would say 1153 00:57:01,719 --> 00:57:05,680 Speaker 3: there's a small chance. But everything I've heard has been 1154 00:57:05,800 --> 00:57:08,680 Speaker 3: that Lebron wants to remain a Laker, and that the 1155 00:57:08,760 --> 00:57:10,759 Speaker 3: Lakers want him to remain a Laker, and that's why 1156 00:57:10,800 --> 00:57:14,040 Speaker 3: they're willing to pay and commit, you know, two to 1157 00:57:14,080 --> 00:57:17,080 Speaker 3: three year deal or two to three year extension for 1158 00:57:17,880 --> 00:57:22,720 Speaker 3: fifty plus million dollars annually to keep Lebron despite not 1159 00:57:22,920 --> 00:57:26,200 Speaker 3: knowing this, Like we're in uncharted territory with Lebron, right, 1160 00:57:26,240 --> 00:57:28,280 Speaker 3: Like it's gonna be year twenty two, year twenty three, 1161 00:57:28,320 --> 00:57:31,040 Speaker 3: year twenty four, depending on how long he resigns, and 1162 00:57:31,120 --> 00:57:35,400 Speaker 3: like we've seen even Hall of Fame top ten, top 1163 00:57:35,440 --> 00:57:39,080 Speaker 3: twenty level guys, at some point later in your career, 1164 00:57:39,600 --> 00:57:42,320 Speaker 3: there's the off season that you just fall off randomly, 1165 00:57:42,680 --> 00:57:46,000 Speaker 3: and I think, based on Lebron's track record, that's not 1166 00:57:46,080 --> 00:57:48,720 Speaker 3: going to happen, and he's likely going to go out 1167 00:57:48,760 --> 00:57:52,160 Speaker 3: on a high note, and whenever he decides to retire, 1168 00:57:52,200 --> 00:57:54,800 Speaker 3: it'll just be he's still a really good basketball player 1169 00:57:54,800 --> 00:57:57,560 Speaker 3: and maybe not quite top five or top ten or 1170 00:57:57,600 --> 00:58:00,560 Speaker 3: or whatever, but he'll still be a high, high level, 1171 00:58:01,240 --> 00:58:05,600 Speaker 3: star level basketball player. But within that, like the Lakers 1172 00:58:05,600 --> 00:58:08,480 Speaker 3: are willing to commit to that. So I think the 1173 00:58:08,520 --> 00:58:12,040 Speaker 3: thing with Lebron is going to be and we've touched 1174 00:58:12,040 --> 00:58:15,680 Speaker 3: on this before, but if he's had his way, I 1175 00:58:15,720 --> 00:58:19,120 Speaker 3: think this team would have a third star, whether it 1176 00:58:19,160 --> 00:58:21,680 Speaker 3: was last season or this season. He was a big 1177 00:58:21,880 --> 00:58:25,520 Speaker 3: proponent for Kyrie Irving. I was told he was a 1178 00:58:25,560 --> 00:58:29,320 Speaker 3: proponent for the Jontey Murray and Zach Lavine earlier in 1179 00:58:29,360 --> 00:58:33,760 Speaker 3: the season. So he's clearly on some level wanted a 1180 00:58:33,840 --> 00:58:37,800 Speaker 3: third star and that third player who could help alleviate 1181 00:58:37,880 --> 00:58:40,280 Speaker 3: some of the offensive burden, you know, a player that 1182 00:58:40,760 --> 00:58:44,280 Speaker 3: similar to what you were just talking about. So I wonder, 1183 00:58:44,520 --> 00:58:47,360 Speaker 3: like now that he has some of the power back 1184 00:58:47,520 --> 00:58:51,080 Speaker 3: in terms of he has a say on his future 1185 00:58:51,320 --> 00:58:54,240 Speaker 3: and the direction of the Lakers, Like, how much does 1186 00:58:54,280 --> 00:58:57,960 Speaker 3: he yield that right? And if we see the team 1187 00:58:58,800 --> 00:59:01,840 Speaker 3: make a change at the coaching position and then go 1188 00:59:01,880 --> 00:59:05,640 Speaker 3: get a third star, I think it's kind of showing that, 1189 00:59:05,840 --> 00:59:09,200 Speaker 3: like Lebron, like the power is sort of back and 1190 00:59:09,600 --> 00:59:13,560 Speaker 3: he is in influential force in terms of the direction 1191 00:59:13,920 --> 00:59:15,800 Speaker 3: of the team, and it's sort of like what we've 1192 00:59:15,840 --> 00:59:17,960 Speaker 3: done the last couple of years has not worked. And 1193 00:59:18,200 --> 00:59:20,760 Speaker 3: you know, yes, we made the conference finals and you 1194 00:59:20,800 --> 00:59:22,480 Speaker 3: know that was a nice run, and we had a 1195 00:59:22,560 --> 00:59:24,880 Speaker 3: nice turnaround this year, but like we have not been 1196 00:59:24,920 --> 00:59:28,920 Speaker 3: at a championship level. And with Lebron historically, when he 1197 00:59:28,960 --> 00:59:31,120 Speaker 3: doesn't feel like his team is at a championship level, 1198 00:59:31,400 --> 00:59:34,680 Speaker 3: he wants wholesale changes, and more often than not, it 1199 00:59:34,680 --> 00:59:37,400 Speaker 3: has worked. Right, He's won a championship everywhere he's been, 1200 00:59:38,080 --> 00:59:40,560 Speaker 3: but I think for the Lakers, it's again kind of 1201 00:59:40,920 --> 00:59:42,920 Speaker 3: you know how. I'm just interested to see how much 1202 00:59:42,960 --> 00:59:47,200 Speaker 3: they actually allow him to yield that this offseason. If 1203 00:59:47,240 --> 00:59:49,160 Speaker 3: it is a power struggle at all, maybe it won't be. 1204 00:59:49,200 --> 00:59:52,200 Speaker 3: Maybe it's as simple as if you're willing to resign 1205 00:59:52,360 --> 00:59:54,200 Speaker 3: or extend, we will. 1206 00:59:54,000 --> 00:59:55,880 Speaker 1: Do X, y Z to keep you happy. 1207 00:59:55,920 --> 00:59:58,360 Speaker 3: And we know the Lakers are a franchise that prides 1208 00:59:58,400 --> 01:00:01,680 Speaker 3: itself on keeping their stars happy and being partners with 1209 01:00:01,720 --> 01:00:04,280 Speaker 3: their stars. But I don't think that has necessarily been 1210 01:00:04,280 --> 01:00:07,560 Speaker 3: the case in terms of like personnel moves as much 1211 01:00:07,680 --> 01:00:09,680 Speaker 3: the last couple of years. And I think if you 1212 01:00:09,720 --> 01:00:12,200 Speaker 3: start to see the team go in a different direction, 1213 01:00:12,680 --> 01:00:15,160 Speaker 3: maybe a more drastic direction, that to me is a 1214 01:00:15,200 --> 01:00:19,400 Speaker 3: sign that he is more so getting what he's wanted 1215 01:00:19,680 --> 01:00:21,600 Speaker 3: compared to the last couple of years. So I think 1216 01:00:21,600 --> 01:00:24,080 Speaker 3: he now has some leverage over the Lakers that he 1217 01:00:24,160 --> 01:00:26,120 Speaker 3: did not have at the trade deadline, he did not 1218 01:00:26,240 --> 01:00:30,320 Speaker 3: have last year, and I'm interested to see just how 1219 01:00:30,360 --> 01:00:33,560 Speaker 3: all that shakes out, because it's, you know, it has 1220 01:00:33,640 --> 01:00:36,440 Speaker 3: been too like I don't think they've always seen eyed eye. 1221 01:00:36,640 --> 01:00:38,600 Speaker 3: I'll just say over the last couple of years, and 1222 01:00:39,160 --> 01:00:41,320 Speaker 3: now that he has some of the power back, I 1223 01:00:41,760 --> 01:00:43,560 Speaker 3: want to see how that all plays out. 1224 01:00:45,000 --> 01:00:48,479 Speaker 2: Yees selfishly, as a Lebron fan, I want him to leave, 1225 01:00:48,920 --> 01:00:50,960 Speaker 2: mainly just because I feel like the Lakers have let 1226 01:00:51,040 --> 01:00:54,000 Speaker 2: him down in a big way. I understand that he 1227 01:00:54,080 --> 01:00:56,160 Speaker 2: pushed for the Russell Westbrook trade, but it didn't take 1228 01:00:56,200 --> 01:00:58,320 Speaker 2: a basketball savant to realize that was a bad idea 1229 01:00:58,360 --> 01:01:01,560 Speaker 2: in the moment, you know, like I I can't think 1230 01:01:01,600 --> 01:01:04,840 Speaker 2: of a trade that was more universally panned at the 1231 01:01:04,960 --> 01:01:09,800 Speaker 2: moment and then immediately ended up being a disaster, Like 1232 01:01:09,800 --> 01:01:11,680 Speaker 2: like from Game one of that season. 1233 01:01:11,800 --> 01:01:14,960 Speaker 3: You're like, oh no, You're like, I think there's still 1234 01:01:15,120 --> 01:01:17,080 Speaker 3: I think they're still paying for it right now, Like 1235 01:01:17,240 --> 01:01:20,320 Speaker 3: I think this all of this has been compounding mistakes 1236 01:01:20,320 --> 01:01:21,680 Speaker 3: since the Russell Westbrook trade. 1237 01:01:21,960 --> 01:01:24,160 Speaker 2: We talked about a small mistake that could have been 1238 01:01:24,240 --> 01:01:27,160 Speaker 2: undone that could have saved some of this heartache in 1239 01:01:27,200 --> 01:01:30,960 Speaker 2: the in the Alex Crusoe situation. But there's no doubt 1240 01:01:30,960 --> 01:01:33,400 Speaker 2: if you're pointing to one singular incident that was the 1241 01:01:33,440 --> 01:01:35,720 Speaker 2: downfall of the Los Angeles Lakers, it was the Russell 1242 01:01:35,720 --> 01:01:39,440 Speaker 2: Westbrook trade. Now Russell Westbrook I mean, Russell Westbrook was 1243 01:01:39,440 --> 01:01:42,200 Speaker 2: always Russell Westbrook and that evidence was there, and so 1244 01:01:42,240 --> 01:01:45,440 Speaker 2: I don't necessarily blame him for coming into the Lakers 1245 01:01:45,440 --> 01:01:47,840 Speaker 2: and being Russell Westbrook and it being a bad idea, right, 1246 01:01:48,160 --> 01:01:52,000 Speaker 2: Like that was on the like there's just no universe 1247 01:01:52,280 --> 01:01:56,600 Speaker 2: where any serious front office would have watched film of 1248 01:01:56,680 --> 01:01:59,240 Speaker 2: Russell Westbrook and been like, this is a good idea, 1249 01:01:59,280 --> 01:02:01,840 Speaker 2: let's do this, like they're just there's just no universe 1250 01:02:01,840 --> 01:02:03,360 Speaker 2: where that would have that would have been the case. 1251 01:02:03,400 --> 01:02:05,400 Speaker 2: So like when you get when you're giving up a 1252 01:02:05,480 --> 01:02:08,440 Speaker 2: draft asset, you're like, if I remember correctly, the Buddy 1253 01:02:08,480 --> 01:02:12,080 Speaker 2: Healed trade was I want to say, Kuzma Haral and 1254 01:02:12,160 --> 01:02:12,520 Speaker 2: a pick. 1255 01:02:12,600 --> 01:02:14,840 Speaker 1: So they would have kept case. 1256 01:02:15,840 --> 01:02:18,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, they would have kept KCP, like it would have 1257 01:02:18,400 --> 01:02:21,840 Speaker 2: been a significant a substantially better and Kuzma, by the way, 1258 01:02:21,960 --> 01:02:25,000 Speaker 2: kind of like RUI was a redundancy with Lebron and 1259 01:02:25,040 --> 01:02:27,640 Speaker 2: so there was some concern as to whether or not 1260 01:02:27,680 --> 01:02:30,000 Speaker 2: that was really a good fit to begin with. But 1261 01:02:30,120 --> 01:02:33,160 Speaker 2: like pivoting to Russ which forced them to include KCP, 1262 01:02:33,840 --> 01:02:37,720 Speaker 2: that was really the downfall of everything. And you know, 1263 01:02:38,160 --> 01:02:43,280 Speaker 2: between that between letting Crusoe go, between signing Taylor Orton Tucker, which, 1264 01:02:43,400 --> 01:02:45,000 Speaker 2: by the way, I had no real problem with signing 1265 01:02:45,040 --> 01:02:47,400 Speaker 2: Taylor Horton Tucker. It was signing Taylor Horton Tucker without 1266 01:02:47,520 --> 01:02:50,760 Speaker 2: retaining Alex Cruso that I thought was a disaster. Between 1267 01:02:51,120 --> 01:02:53,640 Speaker 2: all the mistakes that Magic Johnson made in the early 1268 01:02:53,680 --> 01:02:57,400 Speaker 2: phase of his UH President of Basketball Operations kind of 1269 01:02:57,440 --> 01:03:01,200 Speaker 2: stint there, like the this was a team that should 1270 01:03:01,200 --> 01:03:05,280 Speaker 2: have been a conference finalist year and year out for 1271 01:03:05,920 --> 01:03:09,040 Speaker 2: a four year period, and instead they got one additional 1272 01:03:09,040 --> 01:03:12,880 Speaker 2: conference finals trip off the tale of an incredible defensive 1273 01:03:12,920 --> 01:03:14,880 Speaker 2: run from Anthony Davis, right, and so it just kind 1274 01:03:14,920 --> 01:03:17,280 Speaker 2: of felt like a waste. So part of me wishes 1275 01:03:17,440 --> 01:03:19,440 Speaker 2: Lebron would leave, just because I want to see him 1276 01:03:19,440 --> 01:03:22,880 Speaker 2: play in a competent environment and give it a real shot. 1277 01:03:22,920 --> 01:03:24,160 Speaker 2: But I agree with you in the sense that, like, 1278 01:03:24,200 --> 01:03:26,640 Speaker 2: I just have a hard time believing you will as 1279 01:03:26,680 --> 01:03:28,760 Speaker 2: far as the building thing goes. It's so funny because 1280 01:03:28,800 --> 01:03:30,479 Speaker 2: over the last couple of years, like in the twenty 1281 01:03:30,520 --> 01:03:33,320 Speaker 2: twenty one, twenty twenty two, twenty twenty three off seasons, 1282 01:03:33,840 --> 01:03:36,360 Speaker 2: it was like, don't go star hunting, just get a 1283 01:03:36,440 --> 01:03:39,320 Speaker 2: quality role player. Just go get some athletes that can 1284 01:03:39,360 --> 01:03:42,120 Speaker 2: help Lebron in ab But like, now that we're tilting 1285 01:03:42,160 --> 01:03:45,240 Speaker 2: into the later portion of Lebron's career. Now we've been 1286 01:03:45,280 --> 01:03:47,240 Speaker 2: in a later portion, but now that we're into the 1287 01:03:47,240 --> 01:03:51,040 Speaker 2: preposterously late portion of Lebron's career year twenty two, like 1288 01:03:51,120 --> 01:03:54,480 Speaker 2: you almost have to go star hunting because, like simply put, 1289 01:03:54,520 --> 01:03:58,280 Speaker 2: like part of the issue is, I think Lebron could 1290 01:03:58,360 --> 01:04:02,400 Speaker 2: have a really useful year twenty two, year twenty three 1291 01:04:02,800 --> 01:04:06,320 Speaker 2: if he can pick his spots. But he could not 1292 01:04:06,520 --> 01:04:09,640 Speaker 2: pick his spots on this team. They desperately needed him 1293 01:04:09,680 --> 01:04:13,320 Speaker 2: to be great, and to his credit, he was host deadline. 1294 01:04:13,360 --> 01:04:14,640 Speaker 1: He was the only. 1295 01:04:14,360 --> 01:04:17,240 Speaker 2: Player in the NBA to average at least twenty seven 1296 01:04:17,280 --> 01:04:20,000 Speaker 2: on fifty percent from the field in forty percent from three. 1297 01:04:20,080 --> 01:04:21,919 Speaker 2: He was one of only three players in the league 1298 01:04:21,960 --> 01:04:23,840 Speaker 2: this year to average at least twenty five to seven 1299 01:04:23,880 --> 01:04:26,920 Speaker 2: and seven. I legitimately think like he was bad in 1300 01:04:27,000 --> 01:04:29,360 Speaker 2: Game three. He was bad in Game three, There's no 1301 01:04:29,400 --> 01:04:31,240 Speaker 2: way around it. He dropped the ball on the defensive 1302 01:04:31,240 --> 01:04:33,720 Speaker 2: and he let his team down. But outside of that game, 1303 01:04:34,120 --> 01:04:36,120 Speaker 2: pretty much for the last two or three months, he's 1304 01:04:36,120 --> 01:04:39,480 Speaker 2: been playing at a top five level. Like and like 1305 01:04:39,560 --> 01:04:43,240 Speaker 2: legitimately it's ridiculous that they needed him to be that. 1306 01:04:43,880 --> 01:04:45,880 Speaker 2: If they could have managed this in a way that 1307 01:04:46,000 --> 01:04:48,160 Speaker 2: lessened his workload and kept him in a position where 1308 01:04:48,200 --> 01:04:50,920 Speaker 2: he could pick his spots. There's a version of this 1309 01:04:50,960 --> 01:04:54,000 Speaker 2: where you where this could be sustained success. And so 1310 01:04:54,360 --> 01:04:55,920 Speaker 2: obviously there's always going to be a part of me 1311 01:04:55,960 --> 01:04:59,680 Speaker 2: that that kind of like wonders what would have happened 1312 01:04:59,680 --> 01:05:01,560 Speaker 2: if he, if you was in a more competent situation. 1313 01:05:01,640 --> 01:05:03,680 Speaker 2: But if he stays, I think at this point you 1314 01:05:03,800 --> 01:05:07,040 Speaker 2: have to start looking for higher firepower guys that can 1315 01:05:07,120 --> 01:05:10,040 Speaker 2: lessen his workload. All right, we've gone for like an 1316 01:05:10,040 --> 01:05:11,760 Speaker 2: hour already, so we're gonna get out of here, Yova, 1317 01:05:11,760 --> 01:05:13,040 Speaker 2: why don't you tell us what you guys are working 1318 01:05:13,080 --> 01:05:14,280 Speaker 2: on over at the Athletic right now? 1319 01:05:15,360 --> 01:05:15,600 Speaker 1: Yeah. 1320 01:05:15,640 --> 01:05:19,760 Speaker 3: So I will be monitoring this whole situation in terms 1321 01:05:19,800 --> 01:05:22,600 Speaker 3: of the sweep and the fallout or the potential sweep 1322 01:05:23,640 --> 01:05:28,000 Speaker 3: Freudian slip there, the potential sleep, the potential sweep, and 1323 01:05:28,520 --> 01:05:31,320 Speaker 3: all the fallout from it, all the off season stuff. 1324 01:05:31,800 --> 01:05:33,920 Speaker 3: We'll have a big piece at the Athletic coming out 1325 01:05:34,000 --> 01:05:36,720 Speaker 3: whenever the season ends, so be on the lookout for 1326 01:05:36,760 --> 01:05:39,720 Speaker 3: that and also be sure to check out my YouTube channel. 1327 01:05:39,960 --> 01:05:42,880 Speaker 3: I just search yo Van Buha j Ova n b 1328 01:05:43,000 --> 01:05:46,560 Speaker 3: u Ha. I have my podcast there, Bouja's Block. I'm 1329 01:05:46,560 --> 01:05:50,360 Speaker 3: doing postgame reactions after every game, and then I will 1330 01:05:50,400 --> 01:05:54,320 Speaker 3: also be reacting to whatever happens with this offseason, going 1331 01:05:54,880 --> 01:05:58,640 Speaker 3: directly to YouTube and doing reaction videos there. So be 1332 01:05:58,760 --> 01:06:01,200 Speaker 3: sure to check that out and subscribe if you have 1333 01:06:01,280 --> 01:06:02,000 Speaker 3: not done so yet. 1334 01:06:03,120 --> 01:06:05,200 Speaker 2: All right, guys, that is all we have for today. 1335 01:06:05,240 --> 01:06:07,919 Speaker 2: As always, be sincerely appreciate you guys for supporting the show. 1336 01:06:07,920 --> 01:06:09,720 Speaker 2: We're gonna have Yovan on a bunch of times over 1337 01:06:09,760 --> 01:06:13,320 Speaker 2: the course of the stretch, right after the postseason, when 1338 01:06:13,320 --> 01:06:18,000 Speaker 2: we get into the draft and free agency and everything 1339 01:06:18,040 --> 01:06:21,440 Speaker 2: like that. We are taking tonight off. I'm dealing with 1340 01:06:21,600 --> 01:06:25,480 Speaker 2: a personal family matter. Tomorrow morning we'll have a breakdown 1341 01:06:25,480 --> 01:06:28,680 Speaker 2: of tonight's games, and then Saturday night we'll be going 1342 01:06:28,720 --> 01:06:30,560 Speaker 2: live after the final buzzer of Lakers Nuggets. 1343 01:06:30,560 --> 01:06:56,360 Speaker 1: I'll see you guys. Then the volume