1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, welcome to Hoops Tonight. You're at 2 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: the volume heavy Monday, everybody, O bam. You guys are 3 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:20,600 Speaker 1: having a great start to your weekend. We are going 4 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: to be reacting to Game two of the NBA Finals, 5 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: doing a deep dive into the film that I watched 6 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: this morning. You guys know the drill. Before we get started, 7 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: subscribe to the Hoops Tonight YouTube channels. You don't miss 8 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: any more of our videos. Follow me on Twitter at 9 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 1: underscore Jason LT so you guys don't miss show announcements. 10 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:38,239 Speaker 1: Don't forget about our podcast feed wherever you get your 11 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: podcast on our Hoops Tonight, and then keep dropping mailbag 12 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: questions in the YouTube comments so we can keep hitting 13 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: them throughout the remainder of the Finals and into the summer. 14 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 1: And then, last, but not least, before we get started, 15 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you guys about game time. 16 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 1: Not too late to get out and see an NBA 17 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 1: Finals game in person. As fun as it is watching 18 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: on TV, there's nothing like being at a basketball game 19 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: with that kind of stakes, in that kind of star power. 20 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: I had a great experience with game time earlier this year. 21 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: I went to Michale Center to watch the Arizona Wildcats 22 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: play and got a last minute deal on a great seat. 23 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: Knew exactly what I was getting myself into. I highly 24 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: recommend you guys check it out. It's not a convoluted process. 25 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: You can check out and as few as two taps. 26 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: They have all in pricing, so there's no trying to 27 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 1: hide how expensive things are. 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Download Game Time Today, 37 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 1: last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. All right, let's talk 38 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: some basketball so quickly, just an update on the game 39 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: plan for the next couple of days. I didn't do 40 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: film in this particular episode, mainly just because all of 41 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: the concepts that took place in game two were very 42 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: similar to the concepts that took place in Game one, 43 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 1: where we went ad nauseum over these specific things. So 44 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 1: if you're looking for visual representations of Al Horford being 45 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: able to switch out on to Luka Doncic, or the 46 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: problem with Jason Tatum being at the center position, the 47 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: dry the hunting of Luka Dancic hunting Luca is going 48 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:27,080 Speaker 1: to be a big part of the show today, Like 49 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: I have lots of clips of that in the Game 50 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,399 Speaker 1: one film session, So if you're looking for visual representations, 51 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: you can see them there. We're going to break it 52 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: all down, just no film in this particular episode. Later 53 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 1: this afternoon, Sam Vassini from The Athletic one of the 54 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 1: basketball minds that I respect the most in the world 55 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 1: right now, someone that's extremely well connected in the league. 56 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: Always makes me a smarter basketball fan. We're having him 57 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,239 Speaker 1: on the show later this afternoon to break down the 58 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,679 Speaker 1: NBA Finals. I'm going to be asking him what adjustments 59 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: Dallas can make, so on and so forth. That's going 60 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: to be airing tomorrow morning. So Tuesday morning, So today 61 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:02,399 Speaker 1: we got our little film session without the film. Then 62 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,359 Speaker 1: tomorrow we've got Sam Bessini coming on the show, and 63 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: then obviously Wednesday, we're back with Colin after the final 64 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: buzzer of Game three. So a little schedule stuff for 65 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: you there, all, right. Before we get into the specifics, 66 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: I want to kind of go over some of the metrics, 67 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: like I usually do. The data takes a little while 68 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: to update after the game ends, and so I don't 69 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 1: really get to get into that data the night of 70 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 1: the show, but the next day I get to kind 71 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: of go back and look at some of the numbers. 72 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:28,799 Speaker 1: And so I've got a bunch of numbers to share 73 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: from you guys, not just from last night, but also 74 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: kind of looking at the series as a whole. And 75 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: then we'll get into the specific basketball concepts that took 76 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: place in the game last night. So first of all, 77 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 1: jump shooting. Dallas out shot Boston last night. They got 78 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: zero point eight to one points per jumper. Not a 79 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 1: good shooting night by any means, but Boston shot worse 80 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: zero point seventy five points per jump shot. And I 81 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: thought they got better quality looks for better shooters too, 82 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: So that's obviously discouraging if you're Dallas. If you get 83 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: that type of shooting night from Boston and you lose, Like, 84 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 1: if you're contump lighting a pathway for Dallas to win 85 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 1: this series, it probably involves you winning the game that 86 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: Boston gets zero point seventy five points per jump shot. 87 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 1: But they did not, and not only that, they were 88 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: really not in even a position to try to win 89 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,919 Speaker 1: that game. Boston seemed to control it throughout spot up opportunities. 90 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: Talked a lot about this in game one, right, Like, 91 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:22,279 Speaker 1: if you engage a help defender and you kick to 92 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 1: a person on the perimeter, that is a spot up opportunity. 93 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: That is a great indicator that you are compromising the defense. 94 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 1: You're getting the defense into rotation by pulling a help 95 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 1: defender in and making a quality read to a shooter 96 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: out by the three point line. Right. Well, in game one, 97 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 1: like we talked about, it was something like what thirty 98 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: two to sixteen in favor I think it was thirty 99 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 1: four to twelve in favor of Boston, So yeah, yeah, 100 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 1: that's what it was. Boston had thirty four spot up 101 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 1: opportunities in game one, Dallas had twelve. In Game two, 102 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: Boston had thirty four again and Dallas had only sixteen. 103 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 1: So we're at sixty eight to twenty eight in favor 104 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: of Boston for spot up opportunities for the series so 105 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 1: far through two games. So Boston is getting more than 106 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: double forty additional spot up opportunities for their role players 107 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: or stars or whatever you want to call them on 108 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 1: the perimeter as opposed to Dallas, and they're converting him 109 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:19,839 Speaker 1: at a much higher rate too. In Game two, Boston 110 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: converted spot up possessions at zero point nine to seven 111 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: points per possession Dallas at zero point four to four. 112 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: That even goes beyond the shooting, because again, if you 113 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 1: are standing at the three point line and a guy 114 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 1: closes out at you and you beat him off the 115 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: dribble and get to some sort of scoop shot in 116 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: the lane, may not be worth as many points as 117 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 1: a three, but it still is converting a spot up 118 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: possession into two points. It's effectively amounting to spacing because 119 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: you're a threat when someone helps off of you. So 120 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 1: Boston is compromising the defense more than twice as often 121 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 1: as Dallas is, they are converting those at a much 122 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 1: higher rate. It is just a complete mismatch in terms 123 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: of the quality of low books that Boston is getting 124 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 1: compared to Dallas in this game. Isolation We talked a 125 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 1: lot about this. We're going to talk about the specifics 126 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 1: here in a minute in terms of the geometry of 127 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 1: the floor and why it's leaning towards more ISO. But 128 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,559 Speaker 1: Dallas is not converting in ISO. They had zero point 129 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: five to four points per possession including passes in game 130 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 1: one in isolation in game two only a little bit 131 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 1: better zero points seventy to nine points per possession including passes. 132 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: That's just not going to cut it, considering you're not 133 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:31,479 Speaker 1: getting the defense in rotation either. Kyrie has run nineteen 134 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,279 Speaker 1: ISOs so far including passes through two games, they've led 135 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: to just twelve points at zero point six to three 136 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 1: points per possession. He's the main guy that has to 137 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 1: improve offensively as they head home to Dallas, zooming out 138 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 1: on the series on cleaning the glass. Half court offense 139 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: through two games, points per play ninety six to eighty 140 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:56,160 Speaker 1: seven points per one hundred plays in favor of Boston 141 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 1: if you include offensive rebounds one fourteen to one oh 142 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: one points per one hundred possessions. So Boston just completely 143 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: dominating in the half court. Rebounds are dead, even though 144 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: both teams have grabbed fifty percent of available rebounds, so 145 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: there's a bunch of just kind of numbers for you 146 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: guys to get a feel for some of the specific 147 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,119 Speaker 1: concepts the concepts that I'm that I'm talking about again, 148 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: like you want to always try to tie the eye 149 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: test to the numbers and vice versa. They can't exist 150 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 1: without each other. If you're relying entirely on that and 151 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 1: you're not paying attention to the data, you're missing out. 152 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 1: If you're paying a ton entirely to the data and 153 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: you're not paying attention to what's happening on film, you're 154 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: missing out. We got to try to tie those two 155 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: concepts together whenever we can. And again, when I'm talking 156 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 1: about Dallas struggling to get those skip passes to shooters 157 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: or kickout the clean kickout passes to the corner, you're 158 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 1: seeing that manifest in the lack of spot up opportunities 159 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: for Dallas. So we're going to talk about three major 160 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: concepts that are kind of playing playing out in this series. 161 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: The first is the main issue. This is the number 162 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 1: one issue that I think is determining the outcome of 163 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 1: the series more than any other concept. Dallas can't contain 164 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: the basketball. What that means is the guy dribbling with 165 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: the singular defender in front of him when the defense 166 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 1: is loaded up, Meaning if the guy's dribbling on the 167 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: right wing and there's a guy kind of digging down 168 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: a little bit from the corner, and there's a guy 169 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: digging down a little bit from the wing, and there's 170 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 1: a guy on the ball, and on the weak side, 171 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: you've got two guys with a foot in the paint 172 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: kind of stepping in and out to avoid the defense 173 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 1: of three seconds are loaded up. Right from that position, 174 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: Dallas cannot contain the initial ball handler. Now, A big 175 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: part of it is match up hunting, right, Like they're 176 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 1: hunting Luca, they're hunting Daniel Gafford, they're hunting the specific 177 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,839 Speaker 1: matchups that they can go at. And you know, we're 178 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 1: going to talk about it in a little bit more 179 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: detail in a minute. But it's like it's a little weird, 180 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 1: right because Luca is the primary culprit here and yet 181 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: he's doing so much for his team on the offensive 182 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 1: end of the floor. But Boston just has a really 183 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 1: simple entry point, like just get Luca onto the basketball, 184 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,320 Speaker 1: beat him off the dribble. Now, once he gets beat 185 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: off the dribble, right, once he got, it's beat off 186 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 1: the dribble, he engages a help defender. Once he engages 187 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 1: a help defender, one of these guys on the weak 188 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 1: side is wide open and there's a single defender that's 189 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: trying to kind of navigate that two on one on 190 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: the weak side. Right, the kickout pass is made from there. 191 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:15,719 Speaker 1: It's either a wide open catch and shoot three or 192 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:17,839 Speaker 1: a guy closing out at him. And when a guy's 193 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:20,439 Speaker 1: closing out at him, he has an opportunity to beat 194 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 1: that guy off of the dribble. Right. I told his 195 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: story in a very short version with Colin Cowhard last night, 196 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: but I want to give a little bit of longer 197 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:31,199 Speaker 1: version of it because this, to me is a very 198 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 1: interesting basketball concept. So again, when you're dealing with young 199 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 1: basketball players like I do when I'm coaching my high 200 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 1: school kids, you're always trying to help them become better 201 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 1: decision makers, right, like read and reacts like the number 202 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: one thing that you need to work on with kids 203 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 1: so that they can learn how to play with other 204 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 1: basketball players. Right. And a simple concept that I use 205 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 1: to try to emphasize the value of passing, meaning like 206 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:59,679 Speaker 1: emphasize why it's so important for you to when you're 207 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 1: getting into traffic to notice when there's a guy standing 208 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 1: on the wing who's wide open. The reason why you 209 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: have to throw that pass consistently is because of this concept. 210 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 1: What I would do is I'd set the kids up 211 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: in King of the Court, right, and usually we go 212 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: five spots, right, but generally speaking we start in the 213 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: corner because that's the most frequent kind of spot up 214 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 1: opportunity you'll see. But we'll go from the wing as well, right, 215 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 1: And like you'll start in the corner, and I'll have 216 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:26,839 Speaker 1: the kids start with a defender right up on them, right, 217 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: so they hand the basketball and they're playing isolation defense. 218 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 1: And we'll play King of the Court for like five 219 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: ten minutes, and then I'll stop the game and I'll 220 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 1: bring everybody in and I'll be like, how often are 221 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 1: you guys scoring right now? And they'll be like, not often, 222 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 1: because it'll be like twenty twenty five possessions and they'll 223 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: have like two buckets between all of the players. And again, 224 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: this is the high school level, right, And like at 225 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: this particular level, the talent isn't as developed as you 226 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: see at later levels, right, but they're not scoring very often, right, 227 00:10:56,559 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 1: And so then I'll back them away and I'll be like, 228 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: all right, start underneath the basket, throw the pass, close out, 229 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 1: and now they're sprinting out to the perimeter. And if 230 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:06,680 Speaker 1: they close out short, the dude's shooting a three. And 231 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 1: the kids can knock down a three point shot right 232 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 1: when they're open. Right, if they close out too hard, 233 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: they can make a move and beat that person off 234 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: the dribble and make a play. And I'll pause them 235 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 1: again after a few minutes, and I'll say bring it in, guys, 236 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 1: and It'll be how often have you guys been scoring? 237 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 1: And it's like a lot more often. It's like forty 238 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:24,840 Speaker 1: to fifty percent of the time that they're scoring when 239 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: the defender is sprinting out at them. And I use 240 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 1: that to kind of hammer home a very simple concept. 241 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 1: That's why you make that pass. Because none of you 242 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:38,079 Speaker 1: are good enough to just consistently beat your man one 243 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 1: on one when he's engaged and up on you in 244 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 1: a set defensive situation consistently. But if you make that pass, 245 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 1: you infinitely increase your chances of being able to score 246 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: the basketball. Now, again, at the NBA level, that gap shrinks, right, 247 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 1: the gap between the ability to score against a set 248 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 1: defensive player that's loaded up on you versus in a 249 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: spot up situation is a smaller gap, but it's still 250 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: a gap. Like there's no isolation player in the league 251 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 1: that's getting you know, one point twenty five one point 252 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: three points per possession in like not including passes, just 253 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: straight like buckets on an island. No one's doing that. 254 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:19,199 Speaker 1: But spot up players at the top of the league 255 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: do the good spot up players there at one point 256 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: two one point three points per possession. Right, in general, 257 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:27,079 Speaker 1: if you took all of the league's possessions for spot 258 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 1: ups versus isolations, there's a gap there. And so that 259 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 1: that's the concept that I'm referring to here. Boston is 260 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: able to beat that first player off the dribble. From there, 261 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:43,680 Speaker 1: everything is closed out basketball. They are playing basketball with 262 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 1: a defender sprinting out at them. And these are thirty 263 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 1: million dollar players. These are thirty million dollar players that 264 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 1: are making these types of decisions with the players sprinting 265 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: out at them. The second concept that I use from 266 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 1: that high school group, we work a couple of different 267 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: types of setups in King of the Court. So, for instance, 268 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: when I try to get them used to working in 269 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: tight space. I'll have them work from the top of 270 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 1: the key, and the rule is they're not allowed to 271 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,079 Speaker 1: go outside the lane lines. So they have to try 272 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:17,439 Speaker 1: to make an efficient move in a tight space situation. 273 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 1: And then when they see an angle, it's not going 274 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: to be a big angle that you can go swooping around. 275 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: It's usually a little bit of an angle that you 276 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 1: have to shoot through the gap with physicality, and the 277 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 1: defender is going to catch your shoulder and you have 278 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: to power through that because if you go too far 279 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 1: outside of that, you end up outside of the lane line, 280 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 1: and then it's an automatic turnover. In this game that 281 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: I play with the kids, right, so it's like a 282 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,680 Speaker 1: tight space setting where they're learning how to work when 283 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: they can't veer off into the other parts of the floor. 284 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: Why is that important Because in a real basketball game, 285 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 1: you're not playing in a wide open space where half 286 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: the floor is cleared and there's nobody else there. There 287 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:58,559 Speaker 1: is a defender digging down from the wing. So making 288 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: them stay inside the lane line is how I demonstrate 289 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: to them that they can't go too far out to 290 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: where the help defender would be swiping down at the 291 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 1: basketball that's the second piece of what makes Boston so 292 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:14,319 Speaker 1: hard to guard. It's not just advantage basketball, it's advantage 293 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 1: basketball in space they're doing it. It's like, if you 294 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: conceptualize that drill, just imagine if the lane lines were 295 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 1: like an extra three four feet further apart. Because that's 296 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 1: the advantage of having Derek White in the strongside corner 297 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: that you can't help off. Of having Drew Holliday, of 298 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: having Jalen Brown, Jason Tatum, all these different guys, Al Horford, 299 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: Chris Topsporzingis, Sam Houser, Peyton Pritchard, all eight of their 300 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: core rotation players are great shooters. So like, as a result, 301 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 1: there is just so much they're operating with an advantage 302 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 1: with tons of space to work, and that is what 303 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: makes them so difficult to beat. Now, what if we're 304 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 1: talking about Boston and their roster weakness, what's the one 305 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 1: roster weakness they have. They don't have a Luca, they 306 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: don't have have a like, just a transcendently great offensive player. 307 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 1: So if you can contain the basketball and you can 308 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 1: force them to constantly play against a loaded up defense, 309 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 1: some of those players shortcomings might come to the surface. 310 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 1: But the primary problem is is Dallas can't contain the basketball. 311 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter how good of a defensive player Derek 312 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 1: Jones Junior is if he's closing out all the time, 313 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: because Luca gets switched on to Jason Tatum or Jalen Brown, 314 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: and Tatum or Brown just cleanly beats Luca off the dribble, 315 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 1: engages the health defender gets kicked out, and now Derek 316 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 1: Jones is trying to cover a player when he's at 317 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: a complete disadvantage, right, And so that is the fundamental 318 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 1: basketball concept that is breaking Dallas's defense. They cannot contain 319 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: that initial drive because they're getting switched with Gafford or Luca, 320 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: one of their lesser defensive players out on the perimeter 321 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 1: against one of the J's. One of the Jays is 322 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: beating that guy off the dribble driving kick from there. 323 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 1: That's the problem. It's not just Luca. Everyone's getting beat. 324 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: Gafford's getting beat, Kyrie was getting beat, Kleebo is getting beat. 325 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 1: He was the one who got beat at that on 326 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 1: that late possession. That kind of was the dagger, Like 327 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 1: they're getting beat all over the place and Boston is 328 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 1: exposing not the top end of Dallas's perimeter defense. The 329 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 1: top end of Dallas's perimeter defense is fine. Derek Jones 330 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 1: Junior is great. He did an amazing job on Anthony Edwards. PJ. 331 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: Washington has been okay, but he's a capable perimeter defender. 332 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 1: It's not about that. It's the depth. It's Boston tests 333 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 1: the depth of your perimeter defense, and Dallas does not 334 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 1: have depth of perimeter defense, and that is how they're 335 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 1: getting exposed in this particular situation. I don't know how 336 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 1: they fix that issue. There's not really a schematic thing 337 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: that they can do. They just simply have to do 338 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: a better job. Luca on those possessions with Jalen Brown 339 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 1: and Jason Tatum has to find a way to keep 340 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown from engaging health defense. And 341 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:05,479 Speaker 1: that's difficult. If I asked you, guys, how is it 342 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 1: that you can prevent? Like, if I ask you guys 343 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:11,920 Speaker 1: just straight up, like, do you think over the next 344 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 1: five games which Dallas has to win for Dallas has 345 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:15,919 Speaker 1: to win for the next five do you think Lucas 346 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 1: just going to contain all these guys on the dribble 347 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:19,520 Speaker 1: at some point? It's hard to imagine now there are 348 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:21,479 Speaker 1: a couple of schematic things they can do. They can 349 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: try pre switching, meaning when Luca's man comes up, let's 350 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:27,879 Speaker 1: imagine those bench units when Luca's guarding Hauser. When Howser 351 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:29,360 Speaker 1: goes up to set the screen, you have to send 352 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: somebody else up there. But the problem is is it 353 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 1: is legitimately a depth of talent issue. If that became 354 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 1: a thing, they would just go to Derek White and 355 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 1: Drew Holiday. Those guys would beat somebody off the dribble. 356 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 1: There is a lack of depth of perimeter contain on 357 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:45,840 Speaker 1: this roster, and Boston is exposing it again. Like if 358 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:48,640 Speaker 1: you had to look at all the teams that could 359 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: come out of the Western Conference, Dallas is probably the 360 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 1: worst possible matchup out of the top teams in the 361 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 1: West that Boston could have faced. I mean worse for Dallas. 362 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 1: I mean in the sense that their defense is just 363 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 1: not set up to be able to contain this type 364 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: of attack from Boston. Boston's driving kick decisions have been 365 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 1: mostly excellent. Turning back to the Boston side of things, 366 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:12,960 Speaker 1: like juxtaposed with twenty twenty two, I remember talking about 367 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 1: rim decisions constantly. With that Boston team, like they would 368 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 1: drive and engage the help defender and then try to 369 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 1: shoot over them. They beg for a foul and fall 370 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:25,720 Speaker 1: into camera row and then they go out the other way. 371 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: And that Boston team, this Boston team is an excellent 372 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 1: transition defense. That Boston team was a bad transition defense. 373 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 1: And one of the big things that would happen is 374 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:36,359 Speaker 1: they were an excellent half court defense. But you know, 375 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:38,719 Speaker 1: Golden State in particular, but a bunch of teams, even 376 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 1: Milwaukee did this a lot too. They would just get 377 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:44,440 Speaker 1: out going in transition off of bad rim decisions by 378 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 1: the Jays right and by Marcus Smart. And they've just 379 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 1: done a much better job of that in this season. 380 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:51,880 Speaker 1: It just kind of looks like a more grown up 381 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 1: version of the Celtics. They've generated thirty six wide open 382 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 1: threes so far through two games of the series. That's 383 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 1: eighteen per game. That's an outstanding Drew Holliday's been doing 384 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:04,919 Speaker 1: some really interesting stuff in spacing as a cutter. He 385 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: had six points again in this game just on cuts. 386 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:09,400 Speaker 1: He had two of them out of the dunker spot, 387 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:12,199 Speaker 1: where like he just staying kind of just outside the 388 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 1: block and catch and then drop step and go reverse 389 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 1: on the opposite side of the basket, even in traffic, 390 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 1: even against bigger players. By the way, Drew Holliday was 391 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 1: amazing last night. He had twenty six points without a 392 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 1: single bucket in iso, pick and roll or in the post. 393 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:28,639 Speaker 1: Every single one of his twenty six points was in 394 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 1: the flow of the offense, transition, screening and popping or 395 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 1: rolling out of the dunker spot. He had a cut 396 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 1: off of the weak side wing on a table a 397 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 1: Tatum double team in the post in the second half 398 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: on the offensive glass, just got to the foul line 399 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:47,959 Speaker 1: just by sprinting in to crash the offensive glass. Like 400 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: he just it was such a beautiful example of like 401 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:56,119 Speaker 1: a like superstar role player game. Like he just did 402 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: everything without having to co op the offense and still 403 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:01,119 Speaker 1: led the team and worning with twenty six points. It 404 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 1: was just an unbelievable night from Drew Holliday. But yeah, 405 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 1: they're doing a really solid job of making the right decisions. 406 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: Like there was an interesting quote from Joe Missoula after 407 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:12,160 Speaker 1: the game last night. It was not after the game, 408 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:13,399 Speaker 1: is during the game. It was one of the like 409 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:15,360 Speaker 1: kind of video clips of him in the huddle during 410 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 1: a timeout, and he talked about how they can't be 411 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: going fast before they've manipulated this spacing. And to make 412 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 1: that simple, it's like when they get up the floor 413 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 1: and they have a tendency to trust their talent too 414 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 1: much and they just quickly look to attack. It limits 415 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:31,879 Speaker 1: their success. But when they're deliberate, when they get up 416 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: the floor, they get a favorable matchup. Take the time 417 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:36,639 Speaker 1: to get Luke on an island, then set everything up 418 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 1: so did you have your shooters in the places where 419 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 1: they're most comfortable, and then look to go like you'll 420 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:44,960 Speaker 1: see that You'll see there was a i want to 421 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: say it like it was a Derek Lively switch and 422 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 1: Tatum actually missed a pull up three on this one. 423 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:50,920 Speaker 1: But you can see them like they get the switch 424 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 1: they want and then Tatum kind of slides further over 425 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:55,399 Speaker 1: to the wing and he does that so that you 426 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: can't have as much nail help from the opposite wing, right, 427 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 1: and he'll push the shooter deeper down into the corner. 428 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 1: Like they'll take their time to get their spacing set 429 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:05,920 Speaker 1: and then go to work. And then from there it's 430 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:10,040 Speaker 1: just about it's about being deliberate in that execution, which 431 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:13,359 Speaker 1: dramatically increases your shot value, especially for a team like 432 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 1: this that's leaning a lot on like the aggregate, they're 433 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 1: leaning on the possession battle, they're leaning on the math, right, 434 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:20,439 Speaker 1: and so by taking the time to be deliberate with 435 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 1: that spacing, it's gone a long way towards raising the 436 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:25,639 Speaker 1: ceiling of their offense. And then Tatum and Brown just 437 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 1: you know, aside from the occasional bad pull up jumper 438 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:30,399 Speaker 1: that Tatum's taking, and again, like Tatum's it's a very 439 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 1: up and down postseason from him. He's doing all these 440 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 1: things incredibly well, but then his shot selection and his 441 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 1: jump shooting has just been atrocious, right, and struggled finishing 442 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:40,680 Speaker 1: at the RAM last night too. But aside from the 443 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 1: occasional bad pull up jumper that Tatum's taking, like both 444 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 1: him and Jaylen Brown have been been doing a masterful 445 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 1: job of just getting the defense in rotation, which is 446 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:52,200 Speaker 1: their job. Their job is just to engage the help 447 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:55,159 Speaker 1: defender from there. That's where Drew Holiday, Derek White, all 448 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:57,679 Speaker 1: these guys, that's where their value comes to the surface. 449 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 1: You've got to get them those advantage situations. And the 450 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:05,159 Speaker 1: Jays are doing their job. 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So I want to move 483 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 1: over to Dallas on the offensive end, because this is 484 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 1: the second major topic that I want to do, or 485 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 1: the third. I should say. The second was decision making. 486 00:24:01,359 --> 00:24:05,159 Speaker 1: Dallas just doesn't have many options to counter Boston's defensive 487 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:08,119 Speaker 1: game plan. Joe Mizula has quite literally put together a 488 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 1: scheme that is designed perfectly designed to slow down this 489 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:14,159 Speaker 1: Mavericks team. I talked a lot in the series preview. 490 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:17,880 Speaker 1: If you guys remember about tilting Dallas's offense towards their 491 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:21,159 Speaker 1: lowest value shots, which are above the break threes for 492 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:25,239 Speaker 1: Derek Jones Junior, PJ. Washington and Mexicoliba. Right, that's if 493 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:27,040 Speaker 1: you're gonna beat Dallas, that's what you have to do, 494 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 1: and Missoula has done a great job of that. We've 495 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:31,480 Speaker 1: talked a lot about Tatum on the Center. I'm not 496 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 1: going to get too much further into that, but Tatum 497 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:35,760 Speaker 1: on the Center makes it so that if you want 498 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:38,280 Speaker 1: to attack Porzingis and Horford, you have to use Derek 499 00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:40,960 Speaker 1: Jones or you have to use PJ. Washington if they 500 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:43,919 Speaker 1: attack Horford, Horford switching on to Luca and doing an 501 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:47,160 Speaker 1: amazing job on an island guarding Luca. If it's Porzingis. 502 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:49,480 Speaker 1: They mixed in a lot of blitzing last night. But 503 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 1: like when they're blitzing with Porzingis, Derek Jones Junior and PJ. Washington, 504 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 1: whoever it is, it usually is Derek Jones is popping 505 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:59,359 Speaker 1: above the break and he can't make it now. They 506 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:02,600 Speaker 1: did get a couple lobs last night for Derek Jones 507 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 1: off of plays where he rolled to the rim, but 508 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:07,440 Speaker 1: it was on places where Tatum got a little distracted 509 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:09,399 Speaker 1: on his backside defense and he just wasn't in the 510 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 1: right spot. But that's something I think Boston can take 511 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 1: away too. But when Derek Jones is in the screening action, 512 00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:18,439 Speaker 1: he's popping above the break where he's a bad shooter, 513 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:22,199 Speaker 1: and Luca is trying to navigate that situation with Tatum 514 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:25,480 Speaker 1: parked right underneath the basket. So putting Tatum on the 515 00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:29,239 Speaker 1: center has butchered the four out one in spacing. The 516 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:31,159 Speaker 1: entire point of the four out spacing is you've got 517 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 1: shooters in the corners, shooter on the opposite wing, Lively 518 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 1: comes up in sets, you both roll into the drive 519 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 1: and roll into open space underneath the basket. So the 520 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:44,600 Speaker 1: screen defender is backpedaling. How many times do we see 521 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:48,120 Speaker 1: Gobert backpedaling as Gafford is dunking on his head because 522 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 1: he's got a running start coming downhill and Luca's throwing 523 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:54,639 Speaker 1: in the basketball right By putting Tatum on the center, 524 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:58,200 Speaker 1: it fucks all that up because now you've got shooters 525 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 1: in the corners. But instead of Lively coming up to 526 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 1: set the screen. He's standing down in the dunker spot, 527 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 1: and the guy that's above the break is now setting 528 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:11,679 Speaker 1: the screen, and now you're either both rolling downhill into 529 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 1: all that mess because Lively and Tatum are down there, 530 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:17,200 Speaker 1: or he's having to pop back out above the break 531 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:19,440 Speaker 1: where he's not a very good shooter. Right. So that's 532 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:22,320 Speaker 1: the first single adjustment that's done the most damage to 533 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 1: Dallas's offense. But they're doing it with help too. There 534 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:27,800 Speaker 1: were a couple possessions last night. Usually transition cross matches 535 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:29,639 Speaker 1: this is where we're seeing it happen the most, But 536 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:32,879 Speaker 1: transition cross matches where porzingis or Horford will end up 537 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:36,240 Speaker 1: on the center, right, transition cross match just means everyone's 538 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:38,480 Speaker 1: pushing up the floor with pace and you're just grabbing 539 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 1: the closest player, right, Like transition defense principles are very different. 540 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:43,720 Speaker 1: You just grab the nearest player. Well, you get the 541 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:46,040 Speaker 1: basket first, then the ball, then the nearest player, right, 542 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:49,280 Speaker 1: So like you get these cross matches in those situations 543 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:53,600 Speaker 1: then like Luca is looking to attack and they're just 544 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:56,639 Speaker 1: sagging way off of the wing. Like there was a 545 00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 1: play that I clipped an example of him put on 546 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,920 Speaker 1: Twitter this morning where Luca is running a ball screen 547 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 1: on the right wing and attacking Porzingis. But on the 548 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 1: play here comes here comes Derek White, just basically ignoring PJ. 549 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:13,320 Speaker 1: Washington on the left wing and guarding the action. Three 550 00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:15,680 Speaker 1: on two. Now Luca made the kickout pass and PJ. 551 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 1: Washington actually drove on Derek White and made a nice 552 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 1: little contested floater in the lane, but it wont a 553 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:24,119 Speaker 1: great look. That's the main Again, everything is tilted either 554 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:26,560 Speaker 1: through Tatum on the center or through their help side 555 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 1: defense to try to end with the ball in PJ. 556 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 1: Washington or Derek Jones or Josh Green or Maxic Kaliba 557 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:36,400 Speaker 1: standing out twenty five feet from the basket, where they're 558 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:39,640 Speaker 1: mediocre shooters and mediocre clothes out attackers. That is what's 559 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:43,119 Speaker 1: making all of this work. Even with the post up stuff. 560 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:45,600 Speaker 1: Like I talked about a bunch of adjustments for Dallas 561 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:47,680 Speaker 1: after game one, they really didn't do any of them, 562 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:51,200 Speaker 1: Like they didn't run rams screens like. The one thing 563 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:53,920 Speaker 1: they did do is Luca did look to attack the 564 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:55,920 Speaker 1: guards more. Remember I talked about that after game one, 565 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:59,720 Speaker 1: like try rather than attacking Horford, go after Derek White 566 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:01,600 Speaker 1: and Drew and he did, and they scored a lot 567 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:03,000 Speaker 1: more in the post in this game than they did 568 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:05,880 Speaker 1: in Game one. But even in those situations, they're digging 569 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:09,880 Speaker 1: down to try to have the possession end with one 570 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 1: of those mediocre players catching out above the break. So 571 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 1: it's really a brilliant game plan from Joe Mizzoula that 572 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:20,160 Speaker 1: has tilted Dallas's offense towards their lowest value plays. There's 573 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 1: a quote from Missoula post game. It was kind of 574 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:25,600 Speaker 1: a cool moment because he's rambling and he's like literally 575 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:28,720 Speaker 1: like talking super fast and just listing all these different 576 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 1: things at like lightning speed, and you could just tell 577 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:35,000 Speaker 1: he's got like a photographic memory. But he was listing 578 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:38,920 Speaker 1: out the first quarter and he was like, I'm paraphrasing, 579 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 1: but he was like, yeah, you know, we fould Josh 580 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 1: Green on thre point blah blah blah blah buth. Really, 581 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 1: for the most part, we defended extremely well, like everything 582 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:46,120 Speaker 1: was ending with above the break shots. PJ. Washington hit one, 583 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:48,120 Speaker 1: blah blah blah, and you could tell like Missoula was 584 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:50,760 Speaker 1: happy with the result. What was the score was like 585 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:53,160 Speaker 1: twenty eight to twenty five, I think after the first quarter, 586 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 1: But Missoula was like, who cares, we're giving up the 587 00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 1: right shots. We're giving up the right shots. Luca contested 588 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:02,240 Speaker 1: pull up jumpers. PJ. Washington above the break three is 589 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 1: like they were giving up the right shots. And again 590 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:07,960 Speaker 1: it's process over results results. Anything can happen in a 591 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:11,280 Speaker 1: single game sample size. Process is what gets you four wins. 592 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:14,120 Speaker 1: And Joe Miszula is it has a good game plan, 593 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:17,040 Speaker 1: he's sticking to it and it's done a brilliant job. 594 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 1: Is slowing down this Dallas team. Now this is the 595 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:24,000 Speaker 1: reality reality of Dallas's predicament. Dallas's role players can play better, 596 00:29:24,280 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 1: they absolutely can't. But they've received just twenty eight spot 597 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:31,840 Speaker 1: up opportunities total in two games. It's hard to get 598 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 1: your confidence as a shooter when you're not getting many opportunities. 599 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 1: And like that's the thing. Like Kyrie and Luca can 600 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:40,479 Speaker 1: play better, for sure. Kyrie has been atrocious on offense. 601 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:43,480 Speaker 1: He's gotta get it going. Luca's been atrocious on defense. 602 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 1: He has to do a better job those two. Flipping 603 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 1: those two sides of the script would go a long 604 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 1: way towards flipping the dynamic of the series. But in 605 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 1: terms of game plan Missoula is not going to overreact. 606 00:29:54,160 --> 00:29:57,080 Speaker 1: Even if Derek Jones and PJ. Washington hit seven above 607 00:29:57,120 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 1: the break threes in Game three and they win, Missoula's 608 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 1: not going to overreact. The corner threes will not be there, 609 00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 1: The lobs will not be there. If they are, it's 610 00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 1: going to be because Boston let their foot off the 611 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,600 Speaker 1: gas in terms of their defensive execution, but in terms 612 00:30:10,680 --> 00:30:14,160 Speaker 1: of the well executed Boston game plan, those things will 613 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:16,800 Speaker 1: not be there. So the reality of the pathway for 614 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 1: Dallas is the only way they can win this series. 615 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:22,120 Speaker 1: There are a couple of schematic things we'll talk about, 616 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:25,680 Speaker 1: but only two things will turn the series around. You 617 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:28,520 Speaker 1: have to contain the basketball better to stay out of rotation, 618 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:31,600 Speaker 1: and you have to when you get stops, push the 619 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:35,200 Speaker 1: ball with pace, force those cross matches that disrupt boston 620 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 1: set defensive scheme. And then Luca and Kyrie have to 621 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 1: go full twenty sixteen Lebron and Kyrie and just hit 622 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:45,040 Speaker 1: super nova status on the offensive end of the floor. 623 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 1: That's the only dynamic ship that can turn the series around. 624 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:50,280 Speaker 1: There are some schematic things I wrote them down ram screens. 625 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 1: We didn't see any in Game two that's where you 626 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:55,760 Speaker 1: just have Derek Jones hard down screen for Jason Tatum 627 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:59,560 Speaker 1: as Lively flows into the ball screen. Then as Lively 628 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:02,800 Speaker 1: sets it and you're going downhill, I would just have 629 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:05,000 Speaker 1: Derek Jones turn around and set a stack screen as 630 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:06,760 Speaker 1: he pops back out to the three point line. Just 631 00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 1: mess up the Tatum angle of that pick and roll 632 00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:13,280 Speaker 1: to try to create some space for lobs. But they 633 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:15,360 Speaker 1: are not doing it for whatever reason, I don't know why. 634 00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:17,840 Speaker 1: Be more deliberate with your spacing. I talked about that 635 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:20,800 Speaker 1: play where PJ. Washington drove on Derek White and hit 636 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 1: the floater. On that possession, Derek Jones was in the 637 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:27,720 Speaker 1: left corner. PJ. Washington was on the left wing. Kyrie 638 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:30,760 Speaker 1: was in the right corner. Kyrie is a good above 639 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:35,000 Speaker 1: the brake shooter. PJ. Washington's a good corner shooter. Flip it. 640 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:37,720 Speaker 1: Have PJ in the corner, have Kyrie on the wing. 641 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:40,880 Speaker 1: If you're lucky enough to get Porzingis on too Lively. 642 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:43,720 Speaker 1: You need to have the right spacing. We talked about 643 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:46,960 Speaker 1: it with Missoula. Be deliberate about your spacing. Those are 644 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:49,400 Speaker 1: little things that they can do better. One of the 645 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:52,320 Speaker 1: listeners actually recommended this after the Game one show, and 646 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:54,360 Speaker 1: I thought it was a really smart idea. What if 647 00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:56,560 Speaker 1: you run your pick and roll with a cleared side, 648 00:31:56,840 --> 00:31:59,560 Speaker 1: So have Derek Jones set the pick, have Lucas starred 649 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:02,080 Speaker 1: on the right wing. Okay, clear the side so that 650 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:04,000 Speaker 1: you have all three guys kind of situated on the 651 00:32:04,040 --> 00:32:07,200 Speaker 1: opposite end or you know, dunker spot corner opposite wing. Okay, 652 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:09,400 Speaker 1: you can add that guy setting a pin and flair 653 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:11,920 Speaker 1: to try to create a skip pass for the corner three. 654 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:15,080 Speaker 1: And then basically, when Luca comes off towards the middle, 655 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,400 Speaker 1: have Derrek Jones pop to the corner where he is 656 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:20,960 Speaker 1: a capable three point shooter from the corner. Do the 657 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:23,000 Speaker 1: same thing with PJ. Washington when he's in those spots. 658 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:25,960 Speaker 1: Those are a couple of schematic examples of things you 659 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:28,520 Speaker 1: can do, but none of those three are trump cards. 660 00:32:28,840 --> 00:32:31,840 Speaker 1: None of those three are going to magically turn things around. 661 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:34,440 Speaker 1: The only thing that's going to magically turn the series 662 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:38,440 Speaker 1: around is contain the basketball. Better, get more stops, get 663 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:41,080 Speaker 1: out in transition to avoid Boston set defense as much 664 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:44,320 Speaker 1: as possible, and then Luca and Kyrie have to be 665 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:46,560 Speaker 1: better offensively. That's the only thing that's going to turn 666 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:48,320 Speaker 1: the series around. All right. Before we get out of here, 667 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:49,840 Speaker 1: I wanted to talk for a few minutes about the 668 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:53,960 Speaker 1: Jalen Brown Jason Tatum debate. So, Jalen Brown has been 669 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:56,360 Speaker 1: playing better basketball than Jason Tatum for a few weeks. Now, 670 00:32:56,480 --> 00:32:59,280 Speaker 1: you won the Eastern Conference Finals, MVP, and he's been 671 00:32:59,320 --> 00:33:01,960 Speaker 1: the best player the Celtics in the NBA Finals to 672 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:04,880 Speaker 1: this point, and so naturally it's turning into like a 673 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:07,720 Speaker 1: discussion about, you know, which is the best player on 674 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:11,160 Speaker 1: the team. Now here's the thing. Tatum's better than he's 675 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 1: showing right now. He's in a bad shooting slump. There's 676 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:17,080 Speaker 1: some weird stuff there too, Like this is the in 677 00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:20,520 Speaker 1: the last four seasons in the playoffs, he's declined as 678 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:23,640 Speaker 1: a jump shooter. He was like one point one points 679 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 1: per jump shot in twenty twenty one, he was like 680 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:29,560 Speaker 1: one point zero eight in twenty twenty two, he was 681 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:32,720 Speaker 1: like zero point ninety five in twenty twenty three, and 682 00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:35,080 Speaker 1: then he's zero point eight something, zero point eight two 683 00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:37,720 Speaker 1: I think in this playoff run. So like his jump 684 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:40,400 Speaker 1: shot is just kind of trending down. God knows why. 685 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:43,480 Speaker 1: I literally couldn't explain it. To you. But he's in 686 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:46,440 Speaker 1: a shooting slump right now, like he's we all know 687 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:48,600 Speaker 1: that Jason Tatum is not a very good pull up shooter, 688 00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:50,320 Speaker 1: and we all wish that he would lean on that 689 00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:54,400 Speaker 1: less and lean more on his physical gifts. But he's 690 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:57,239 Speaker 1: not this bad either. He's better than this. This is 691 00:33:57,680 --> 00:34:01,240 Speaker 1: he's badly slumping right. That goes without But I still 692 00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:04,080 Speaker 1: think that Jason Tatum is in that tier of superstars 693 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:06,000 Speaker 1: that right, that's right below the top guys. For me, 694 00:34:06,040 --> 00:34:09,160 Speaker 1: the top tier right now is basically just Jokic, Luca, 695 00:34:09,160 --> 00:34:11,520 Speaker 1: and Jannis. It's like those three guys, and then there's 696 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:14,719 Speaker 1: another group beyond that which is all like the flawed superstars. 697 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:17,080 Speaker 1: It's like Shay, we'll see he's just too young. I 698 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:18,520 Speaker 1: don't know what to make of him until we see 699 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:20,279 Speaker 1: more stuff out of him over the next couple of years. 700 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:22,160 Speaker 1: But I was super impressed by him in this playoff run. 701 00:34:22,360 --> 00:34:27,200 Speaker 1: But Tatum Emba Anthony Davis Lebron, Like, that's the group 702 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:30,640 Speaker 1: that we're looking at that's beyond that top tier, right. 703 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:33,040 Speaker 1: I think the more interesting thing here is not a 704 00:34:33,080 --> 00:34:36,960 Speaker 1: negative Tatum angle. It's a positive Jylen Brown angle. Jalen 705 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:39,960 Speaker 1: Brown is just playing at an extremely high level, and 706 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:43,880 Speaker 1: he's entering into that tier, the tier that Jason Tatum's in, 707 00:34:43,920 --> 00:34:46,720 Speaker 1: which is the tier of superstars that's below the top guys. 708 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:49,560 Speaker 1: Jalen Brown is making a case to be in that tier. 709 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:52,640 Speaker 1: He's having the best perimeter defensive season of his career. 710 00:34:52,640 --> 00:34:54,440 Speaker 1: We started to talk about it on our show over 711 00:34:54,480 --> 00:34:56,680 Speaker 1: the tail end of the season. Jalen Brown just took 712 00:34:56,680 --> 00:34:59,000 Speaker 1: a personal interest in guarding the other team's best player 713 00:34:59,080 --> 00:35:01,719 Speaker 1: every single night. He's been doing a masterful job on 714 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:05,160 Speaker 1: Luka Doncic in this series in general on the defensive end, 715 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:07,759 Speaker 1: he had that awesome possession against Kyrie Laid. He's been 716 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:10,759 Speaker 1: great at the rim. Jalen Brown's been incredible, right, But 717 00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:13,319 Speaker 1: it's a lot of like just being really smart about 718 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:16,160 Speaker 1: his dribble drive attacks. He's been one of the primary 719 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:19,040 Speaker 1: guys that's been getting the defense in rotation, consistently making 720 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:20,759 Speaker 1: good decisions when he gets there. He got a couple 721 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:23,200 Speaker 1: turnovers more than you'd like to see last night, but 722 00:35:23,280 --> 00:35:27,400 Speaker 1: a very very good offensive initiation type of game. So really, 723 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:29,680 Speaker 1: instead of it being going into the season, you would 724 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:33,400 Speaker 1: have said Jalen Brown's a third tier superstar. Tatum's a 725 00:35:33,440 --> 00:35:36,000 Speaker 1: second tier superstar right well, now it looks like they 726 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:38,239 Speaker 1: have two second tier superstars, and that's a credit to 727 00:35:38,320 --> 00:35:40,919 Speaker 1: Jalen Brown's development. But again, Tatum's better than he's looking 728 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:43,480 Speaker 1: right now. He's in a bad jump shooting slump that 729 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:46,359 Speaker 1: is kind of exacerbating some of the stuff. But again, 730 00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:49,399 Speaker 1: both of them, and I tweeted this out out last night, 731 00:35:49,680 --> 00:35:52,360 Speaker 1: the box score watching with Tatum and Brown has to stop, 732 00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:56,400 Speaker 1: like these are not These guys are athletic weapons as well, 733 00:35:56,640 --> 00:35:59,360 Speaker 1: and so much of what they're doing goes beyond the 734 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:02,520 Speaker 1: box score. Jalen Brown's individual defense on Jason Tatum and 735 00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:05,840 Speaker 1: elsewhere on an Island has been incredible. Jason Tatum guarding 736 00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:09,120 Speaker 1: the other the opposing center while holding up on the glass, 737 00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:12,200 Speaker 1: while also holding up on switches. I mean, Luca hit 738 00:36:12,239 --> 00:36:14,239 Speaker 1: some tough, contested shots over him in the first half, 739 00:36:14,280 --> 00:36:16,680 Speaker 1: but like they were well defended it. I saw a 740 00:36:16,719 --> 00:36:18,560 Speaker 1: lot of Dallas fans saying this, like it's like, oh, well, 741 00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:20,960 Speaker 1: Luca's attacking Tatum. On the other end, there is a 742 00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:25,719 Speaker 1: huge difference between Tatum forcing Luca into tough over the 743 00:36:25,719 --> 00:36:28,560 Speaker 1: top shots that he's making, which he would make over 744 00:36:28,640 --> 00:36:31,440 Speaker 1: everybody compared to on the other end of the floor, 745 00:36:31,719 --> 00:36:34,719 Speaker 1: Luca just getting cleanly beat off the dribble, which is 746 00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:38,440 Speaker 1: leading to high quality shots. Okay, Luca's hunting Tatum and 747 00:36:38,520 --> 00:36:41,880 Speaker 1: hitting really tough shots. Tatum and Brown are hunting Luca 748 00:36:42,080 --> 00:36:45,800 Speaker 1: and consistently generating wide open catch and shoot threes and 749 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:48,560 Speaker 1: driving layup attempts. It is not the same. But again, 750 00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:50,719 Speaker 1: like we can't keep watching the box score with those 751 00:36:50,760 --> 00:36:54,200 Speaker 1: two guys, they are doing so much more. Tatum's individual 752 00:36:54,239 --> 00:36:58,279 Speaker 1: defense at the center position against Gafford on switches on 753 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:01,480 Speaker 1: the defensive glass, that is, it's the primary chess piece 754 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:04,760 Speaker 1: that is screwing up everything for Dallas' offense. That cannot 755 00:37:04,760 --> 00:37:08,040 Speaker 1: be underestimated. Jason Tatum has been one of the guys 756 00:37:08,120 --> 00:37:11,280 Speaker 1: like Jaylen Brown that's consistently getting the defense in rotation 757 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:14,800 Speaker 1: so they can play drive and kick. So like, again, 758 00:37:15,040 --> 00:37:17,200 Speaker 1: stop looking at the box score. Both of those guys 759 00:37:17,239 --> 00:37:19,399 Speaker 1: are hooping. Do I think they're on the same level 760 00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:22,200 Speaker 1: as Luca. No. I mean both of them are being 761 00:37:22,239 --> 00:37:26,560 Speaker 1: asked to fill relatively small roles that they're both probably 762 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:29,840 Speaker 1: a bit overqualified for, but they're excelling as a result, 763 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:32,040 Speaker 1: and that's a credit to Brad Stevens. I said this 764 00:37:32,080 --> 00:37:35,560 Speaker 1: with Colin last night. Like Brad Stevens, Brad Stevens knows 765 00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:38,560 Speaker 1: that Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown are both not as 766 00:37:38,600 --> 00:37:41,080 Speaker 1: good as the top guys. He knows that they're both 767 00:37:41,120 --> 00:37:45,120 Speaker 1: pretty flawed, and so at the expense of future flexibility, 768 00:37:45,719 --> 00:37:48,239 Speaker 1: he's gone all in on this group because he knows 769 00:37:48,280 --> 00:37:50,439 Speaker 1: they need a lot of support with talent, and he's 770 00:37:50,480 --> 00:37:52,759 Speaker 1: probably gonna get a trophy as a result. So it 771 00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:55,160 Speaker 1: was clearly the right thing to do. But again, like, 772 00:37:55,760 --> 00:37:58,520 Speaker 1: I don't think this Jalen Brown Jason Tatum thing is 773 00:37:58,600 --> 00:38:01,719 Speaker 1: like a negative Tatum thing. Jalen Brown's getting a lot 774 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:04,200 Speaker 1: better and Tatum's just in a shooting slump, and it's 775 00:38:04,239 --> 00:38:07,040 Speaker 1: making the gap between the two look different than it 776 00:38:07,080 --> 00:38:09,200 Speaker 1: did going into the season. And look, here's the deal. 777 00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:11,560 Speaker 1: If you're a Celtics fan, Let's say Jalen Brown is 778 00:38:11,560 --> 00:38:13,919 Speaker 1: as good as Tatum. Now I ain't a bad thing. 779 00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:16,759 Speaker 1: That's not a bad thing. That's a really good thing 780 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:19,719 Speaker 1: for the future of that basketball team. All right, guys, 781 00:38:19,719 --> 00:38:21,399 Speaker 1: that is all I have for today. As I said, 782 00:38:21,560 --> 00:38:23,960 Speaker 1: we're gonna be recording with Sam Vassini year later this afternoon. 783 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:26,040 Speaker 1: That'll be up tomorrow morning, so I'll have that and 784 00:38:26,080 --> 00:38:28,040 Speaker 1: then I will see you guys, also with Colin Live 785 00:38:28,080 --> 00:38:32,680 Speaker 1: after the final blazer of Game three on Wednesday. The 786 00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:33,280 Speaker 1: volume