1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:17,120 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, welcome to Hoops Tonight. You're at 2 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: the volume heavy Monday, everybody. If all of you guys 3 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:21,479 Speaker 1: had an incredible weekend, have a jam pack show for 4 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: you guys today. Off the top, I just want to 5 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: talk briefly about the Jonathan Kaminga saga. I've seen some 6 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: criticism of Steve Kerr going around, and while I don't 7 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: want to sit here and pretend like Steve Kursman perfect, 8 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: I think he's been far from the problem in this 9 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: Jonathan Kaminga situation. So I want to talk about that 10 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: briefly off the top, and then we're just gonna get 11 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 1: into our power rankings, or we're gonna do like a 12 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 1: much longer and more detailed version of power rankings. So 13 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: we're gonna be hitting on the top ten teams, but 14 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be going into much more detail on each 15 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: of those individual teams. You guys are the joke. Before 16 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 1: we get started, subscribe to Hoops Tonight YouTube channels. You 17 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: don't miss any more of our videos. Make sure you 18 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: like this video that helps us a lot. And then 19 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: if you want to get mail bag questions into our 20 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 1: Friday mail, make sure you drop them in our full 21 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 1: episodes on YouTube. Just scroll down and right mail bag 22 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: with the colon put your question after that, and we'll 23 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 1: get to that in our Friday mail bags throughout the 24 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 1: remainder of the season. All right, let's talk some basketball. 25 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: So again, I've seen a lot of the usual comments, 26 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: and this has happened periodically over the last couple of years. 27 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: But about how like the Warriors and Steve Kerr have 28 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: done kaminga wrong with what they've done by taking him 29 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:31,759 Speaker 1: out of the rotation. And I just think that's completely ridiculous. 30 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: The Warriors have been the second best team in the 31 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:40,319 Speaker 1: league over the last month. Since December twentieths when this 32 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: run started, the Warriors are eleven and four. Only the 33 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: Clippers and the entire NBA have a better record in 34 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: that span, and most importantly, in that fifteen game span, 35 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: the Warriors have a one twenty offensive rating. I remember, 36 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: that's like the hallmark for elite modern NBA offense is 37 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: when you're humming above that one twenty mark. They just 38 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: on one hundred and thirty six points on Saturday night 39 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: in a win against that red hot Charlotte Hornet's team. 40 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: Guess when the last time Jonathan Kaminga played a single 41 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: minute for the Warriors was December eighteenth, the game right 42 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 1: before the Warriors went on this run. And this is 43 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 1: where I want to kind of shift gears and talk 44 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: more about Steve Kerr for a minute. So the Devil's 45 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: advocate take. The version that we've been hearing all around 46 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: the NBA media in the last couple of years is 47 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 1: that Steve Kerr is too stubborn with his system and 48 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: he's demanding that Jonathan Kaminga focus more on this quick 49 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 1: decision making this read and react playoff of Steph style 50 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,919 Speaker 1: that doesn't fit Jonathan Kaminga's game. And so the criticism 51 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: is Jonathan's not really getting an opportunity to play his style. Guys, 52 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: you want to know why Steve Kerr is stubborn about 53 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: his system? This is why. What happened over the last 54 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: month is why. Because year in and year out in 55 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: this decade, which by the way, since KD left and 56 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: since Klay Thompson had his injuries, the Warriors have been 57 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 1: operating at a talent disadvantage offensively compared to the rest 58 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 1: of the league. Year in and year out twenty twenty one, 59 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two, twenty twenty three, twenty twenty four. Again 60 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 1: last year and again this year, they are consistently in 61 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: terms of off of Steph, the level of on paper 62 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: offensive talent they have, they're at a disadvantage. And yet 63 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: last year when Steph was on the floor, they had 64 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:48,839 Speaker 1: a one twenty offensive rating. Again this year they're even 65 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 1: scoring the ball without Steph better than they had in 66 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: years past. They got kind of run down by the 67 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: schedule a little bit early on, but now as a 68 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 1: team they're scoring really well. As we mentioned, one twenty 69 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: offensive rating in the last fifteen games, and when Jimmy's 70 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: on the floor, when STEP's off the floor, this season 71 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: they have a one to seventeen offensive rating, which is excellent. 72 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: Not to mention, Steve Kerr has tweaked some things in 73 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: the way they play with that particular group, but not 74 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: a ton. It's still they still want quick decisions, they 75 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 1: still want ball in player movement, they still want to 76 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 1: play with pace, and that's what's so fascinating about this. 77 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 1: Like Steve Kerr's basketball beliefs are validated by his successes, 78 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: and I'd argue they're validated by the other successes we've 79 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: seen from other teams. Elsewhere around the league. Like what 80 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 1: if you had to describe what Steve believes in offensively? 81 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: How would you break it down? He likes to play 82 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 1: with pace, wants to play fast, wants to trust kick 83 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: ahead passes, and in general passing the basketball. Remember you 84 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: wanted to lead the league in passes in twenty fifteen. 85 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: That was his big transferm of the Warriors when he 86 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: took over from Mark Jackson. Quick decision making. When you 87 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 1: get the basketball, shoot it, drive it, swing it, do 88 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 1: something with the basketball immediately off the catch. Don't stop 89 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: that chain of movement overall ball in player movement, You're 90 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: harder to guard when the ball crosses the midline multiple 91 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: times on a possession, and when players are moving around, 92 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,840 Speaker 1: that's what creates those possessions where defenses have to make 93 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: a dozen decisions like Steph Curry was talking about when 94 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 1: he went on the Mind the Game podcast, and that's 95 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,159 Speaker 1: when teams start making mistakes and you start giving up 96 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: open shots. All of those things that I just listed 97 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: are the exact same things that are driving the success 98 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 1: of teams like Oklahoma City and Indiana. In Denver, there 99 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:53,239 Speaker 1: have just been moments where it didn't work. In Golden 100 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 1: State in the last couple of years, largely as a 101 00:05:56,360 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: talent issue, like a personnel issue in everyone wants to 102 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: point at Steve Kerr because he's asking them to move 103 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,039 Speaker 1: the ball to the floor and to make quick decisions 104 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: and to trust their ball and player movement in the 105 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: half court. That's literally all he's asking. So here's the thing, 106 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: Like Jonathan Kaminga struggles with quick decision making and playing 107 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: in the flow of real five man offense, they'll be 108 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 1: issues on most teams in the league, not every team. 109 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: There are teams out there that play that matchup attacking style. 110 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: The Lakers are one of those teams. Sacramento the team 111 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 1: one of the teams that's been rumored to be interested 112 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 1: in Jonathan Kamena. They run a lot of matchup attacking 113 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 1: trying to space the floor for their one on one guys. 114 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 1: But here's the thing, Like, if you end up in Sacramento, 115 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: you're gonna be even if you have your opportunities to 116 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:51,840 Speaker 1: attack one on one like that, guess who you're gonna 117 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 1: be fighting for touches with their Demarta Rosen Zach Lavine 118 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: Hell Russell Westbrook's playing so well, he's probably not gonna 119 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: be looking at th Kaminga like a guy he's got 120 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:03,039 Speaker 1: to give the ball up to all the time. And 121 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: then when he doesn't have the basketball, does he shoot 122 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: the ball well enough to space the floor? Does he 123 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: make quick enough decisions when he has an advantage to 124 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: pay off those sequences? More often? Those are Kaminga issues 125 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: basketball issues. Those are not Steve Kerr issues, and they 126 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: will continue to be issues no matter where he goes 127 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 1: in the league. Steve Kerr has these basketball beliefs that 128 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: are founded in success, and he has repeatedly told everyone 129 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: exactly what he believes exactly why john and the Kaminga 130 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: is not playing. Steve knows it, Jonathan knows it, all 131 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: of the fans know it. And the only people who 132 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 1: seem to have failed to understand this obvious set of 133 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: circumstances in the last few years were the Warriors decision makers, 134 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: their front office, and their ownership. So, like I vehemently 135 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: disagree with the idea that Steve Kerr is responsible for 136 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: what has happened with Jonathan Kaminga. He has a system 137 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: that he believes in. He has consistently for over a 138 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: decade held players accountable within that system and has had 139 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 1: a boatload of success, either relative to the amount of 140 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: talent they had in the past with championships, or relative 141 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: to the amount of talent they have now, which is 142 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: successful performance throughout the regular season. And you know, a 143 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: one random championship in twenty twenty two, a first round 144 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: victory in twenty twenty three, that's what he's got. But 145 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: on paper, that hasn't been a very good Warriors team. 146 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 1: And so when you look at all that, Steve Kerr 147 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 1: has a clear way he likes to play, that's going 148 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: to dictate a clear type of player to get those opportunities, 149 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 1: and Jonathan just hasn't been that type of player. It's 150 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: been clear over a very large sample. Steve's made it 151 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: clear and what he wants to do in the rotation, 152 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 1: and yet he still has a Warrior jersey here in 153 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: January of twenty twenty six. So yeah, I think criticism 154 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 1: of cur doesn't make a ton of sense relative to 155 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 1: the obvious culprit here, which is the decision makers that 156 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: have known this for a while and did nothing about it. 157 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: All right, let's stick into our power rankings. Today's show 158 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: is brought to you by a presenting sponsor, hard Rock Bet, 159 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: the official sportsbook partner of the Miami Heat and the 160 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: Orlando Magic. 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Concerned about 185 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: gambling in Florida, call one eight three to three play wise. 186 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 1: In Indiana, if you were someone you know has a 187 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: gambling problem and wants help, call one eight hundred and 188 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 1: nine with it. Gambling problem called one eight hundred gambler 189 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 1: in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, or Virginia. 190 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: Do you guys know the drill? Here? All of our 191 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:56,080 Speaker 1: lines are provided by hard Rock Bet. Starting with number ten, 192 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:57,719 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be going a little bit longer on each 193 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: team today, starting with number ten. The Cleveland Cavaliers currently 194 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: plus twenty five hundred to win the title on hard 195 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 1: Rock Back. We covered the Cavs first win in Philly 196 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 1: on the show last week, and they had another one. 197 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 1: I believe it's on Saturday or Friday night, and that 198 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: was a wild one. The Sixers actually held an eleven 199 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 1: point lead with nine minutes left in that game, and 200 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: the Cavs came all the way back to win it 201 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: on this beautiful play from Jalen Tyson on a play 202 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 1: where games tides one five one O five and Donovan 203 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: Mitchell is trying to get the ball up along the 204 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:33,199 Speaker 1: left wing and Jalen Tyson just kind of seals around 205 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 1: the left corner. Lonzo throws a really nice little entry 206 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:38,760 Speaker 1: pass and Jalen just spins over his right shoulder, drives 207 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 1: right at and be It engages him, drops it off 208 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: to Evan Mobley. Evan Mobley gets a dunk, very simple, 209 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: reidn't reacts sequence that ended up winning the game. And 210 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:49,719 Speaker 1: mind you, he had thirty nine points in this game. 211 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: He continues to shoot the absolute shit out of the basketball. 212 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: I think he had seven threes in that game, fifty 213 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: two percent this season. Jalen Tyson on unguarded catch and 214 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: shoot threes. But I thought it was really cool in 215 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: that sequence where you know he's shooting the ball super well. 216 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: Just a couple of really simple plays down the stretch 217 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: of that game that helped win it, Like he drove 218 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 1: a close out off the left wing for a driving layup, 219 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:15,079 Speaker 1: just a simple read. He caught saw lane, saw the 220 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: defense wasn't really set up to help, and instead of 221 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 1: shooting the three, just ripped through and took it, even 222 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: though he had been making threes at a high clip 223 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:23,959 Speaker 1: throughout that game and throughout that season. And then again 224 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 1: rescuing on that final possession, just by creating an outlet 225 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: for Lonzo and then just a simple read feeling the 226 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 1: guy pressing up on his left shoulder, spin over your right, 227 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:37,319 Speaker 1: engage the rim protector, drop off pass, easy dunk. Really 228 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:40,439 Speaker 1: really nice game, really really nice play from Jalen Tyson 229 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 1: to win it. But I have to shout out DeAndre Hunter. 230 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: He's been struggling mightily this year, but he's been great 231 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 1: in the last couple of games. He was fantastic in 232 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 1: the comeback, multiple transition drives right at Joel Embiid this 233 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 1: like nasty poster dunk on him. The announcers were funny. 234 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 1: They were talking about how like DeAndre basically was like, yeah, Joel, 235 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 1: I don't think you're gonna be jumping very well in 236 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:03,719 Speaker 1: this one and he just kind of rose up over 237 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: the top and dunked it on him with two hands. 238 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 1: Had another one where he kind of went inside hand 239 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:10,559 Speaker 1: off of the left lane line transition drive off the 240 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:12,679 Speaker 1: left side where he just scooped it in off the glass. 241 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 1: Hit a huge pull up three against like a soft 242 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: switch look along the left wing. Really nice game from 243 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: DeAndre Hunter. He's played well in the last couple after 244 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: being in a little bit of a slump. So good 245 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 1: positive trend there for the Cavs and then their defense 246 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: which caused a lot of problem for the Sixers over 247 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: these two games, did so again on Friday night. Jared Allen, 248 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: you know, Joel andb put up his numbers in this 249 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 1: game with down the stretch, Jared Allen kind of took 250 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: him out of his rhythm, flustered him bad on this 251 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: little iso along the right corner, like short corner on 252 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 1: the right side where he ended up just shooting like 253 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: a falling down like chest pass shot that ended up airballing. 254 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 1: Really good defense from Jared Allen there, and then the 255 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: defense on Maxie was they were kind of, you know, 256 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 1: on the Maxie like ballscreen actions. They were basically like 257 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: bringing Jared Allen up into this like very aggressive hedge, 258 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: and mactually was actually turning the corner around the hedge, 259 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: which was putting them into these rotation situations. But then 260 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 1: Evan Mobley would just be there, and so it was 261 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: like Jalen Tyson chasing and Jared Allen throwing this hedge 262 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 1: that's kind of forcing Maxi to banana out his drive 263 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 1: just a tiny bit even though he is turning the corner, 264 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 1: and then as he's turning the corner there's mobiley and 265 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 1: it just for some misses. He got blocked at the 266 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 1: rim once he ended up missing a floater over a 267 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 1: really good contest from Evan Mobley. And what it did too, 268 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 1: is it tilted the kind of shot profile more towards 269 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 1: those Callyubra catch and shoot threes. And he made one 270 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: in the right corner, but he missed another one off 271 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: of the right wing, off of another one of those 272 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 1: like kind of low man help sequences. And so overall, 273 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 1: between the misses from Maxi and the miss from Kelly Ubray, 274 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: it ended up working schematically for the calves to get 275 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 1: enough stops. And the most exciting thing by far for 276 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: the calves right now they have a one twenty offensive 277 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 1: rating in their last fourteen games. Just starting to look 278 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 1: more and more like that high power offense that wrecked 279 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 1: the league last season in the regular season, at least 280 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: if you guys remember. The big thing that's been helping 281 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: is their guards are hitting threes. Donovan Mitchell and Darius 282 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: Garland are both over forty percent from three in that span. 283 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 1: They had both been shooting poorly earlier in the season, 284 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: which had been hurting them statistically in that department. Number nine. 285 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: The Los Angeles Lakers currently plus three thousand to win 286 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 1: the title on Hard Rock Bet. They split a weekend 287 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: back to back. The Friday night one was brutal no Luca, 288 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: no Austin, no Deandret, and no Jackson Hayes. So basically 289 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: no centers and no ball handling against this big, physical 290 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: Portland Trailblazers team, and Donovan Klingon was causing then some 291 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: fits in a deep drop coverage, just kind of waiting 292 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: for everything to come right at him at the rim, 293 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 1: and just proved too much for the Lakers to handle. 294 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: I ended up getting their butts kicked, but they had 295 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 1: another one of their more complete performances of the season 296 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 1: in a win against the Raptors last night. It's been 297 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 1: funny because they have this disaster week, right, you go 298 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: two to three, You run into a Sacramento team that's 299 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 1: playing really well and you lose. You run into a 300 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 1: Charlott Hornets team that's playing really well and you lose. 301 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 1: You we obviously have like a schedule loss against Portland 302 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 1: where you have all these players out of the lineup, 303 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 1: but then you around that you have wins against some 304 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: really good athletic teams, like the Atlanta Hawks had been 305 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: playing well before before they ended up losing to the 306 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 1: Lakers and they just the Lakers just handled their athleticism 307 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 1: with no problem in that game. And then in Sunday 308 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: nights game, another very big, very athletic Toronto Raptors team, 309 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: and they just handled them. They ended up blowing them 310 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 1: out actually, so like they go two and three, but 311 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: there were these encouraging wins in there, which just kind 312 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 1: of made it kind of a funky week. This game, 313 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 1: this Raptors game got off to a rough start. The 314 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: groups with Luca on the floor without Lebron have really 315 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: been struggling over the last few weeks. It's just kind 316 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 1: of like a lineup structure thing. Like JJ's just having 317 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: a hard time finding the right guys to put with 318 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: Luca in those groups, Like he knows what to do 319 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: with Lebron. With Lebron, he leans more into defensive personnel. 320 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: And those groups run the floor a lot, and they 321 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:04,880 Speaker 1: run their sets. Like with the Lebron groups, they really 322 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 1: focus on organized offense, and they'll they'll run their horn 323 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,560 Speaker 1: sets and they'll run, you know, everything, even the stuff 324 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 1: that's designed to get Lebron looking to attack will come 325 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:14,440 Speaker 1: out of some sort of action to get him a 326 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 1: favorable matchup or deeper post position or something along those lines. 327 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 1: And so they just manufacture enough points in the half court, 328 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 1: they score a lot in transition, they defend in their 329 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,120 Speaker 1: rebound well, and you know, we even got a new 330 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,919 Speaker 1: version of that lineup yesterday, which I'll tell you guys about. 331 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 1: But like the Lebron groups, they kind of JJ kind 332 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: of knows what formula works for them. He's still struggling 333 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,919 Speaker 1: to find the formula that works with those Luca groups 334 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 1: now that Austin's out of the lineup, right, So they 335 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:43,199 Speaker 1: struggle in the late first quarter, they find themselves down 336 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:46,440 Speaker 1: like seven nine points ish, and then JJ starts the 337 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:49,440 Speaker 1: second quarter with this bizarre kind of massive lineup. It's 338 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 1: Marcus Smart at the point, with Jared Vanderbilt at the two, 339 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:55,639 Speaker 1: Lebron James at the three, Drew Timmy stepped in this 340 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 1: weekend with all the injuries at the four, and DeAndre 341 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:00,359 Speaker 1: at and at the five, So you base, they have 342 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 1: two centers and two power forwards alongside a jumbo point 343 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 1: guard and Marcus Smart, and they just played two three 344 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 1: zone and filled the court with all their size. The Lakers, 345 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 1: excuse me, played a ton of zone in this game. 346 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 1: They played forty one possessions against against Toronto and ended 347 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 1: up holding them to just twenty six points total in 348 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:24,719 Speaker 1: those forty one possessions, so really really successful stretches of zone. 349 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:27,120 Speaker 1: Good to see them continuing to work that out, because again, 350 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:29,479 Speaker 1: if this team's gonna have any shot to upset anybody 351 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 1: in the postseason, it's gonna have to be through mixing 352 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:34,159 Speaker 1: up coverages and try to keep things off balance, just 353 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 1: with a bunch of different looks, but a lot of 354 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 1: damage with the zone, and especially with that group again, 355 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: that massive, massive lineup, and then they just ran hard 356 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 1: off of missus, just the entire group like a shout 357 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 1: out Drew Timmy. If you're gonna play two bigs, your 358 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:48,640 Speaker 1: guys got to run. They ran really well. DeAndre Ayton 359 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: had one of his higher motor games. He obviously ended 360 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: up going ten for ten from the field last night, 361 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 1: but they ended up getting down and transition off of 362 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 1: their stops and completely flipped the game in that early 363 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 1: second quarter stretch. And then you know, in the second half, 364 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 1: those Luca on Lebron off groups fared much better than 365 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: they did in the first half, which kept things competitive 366 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 1: enough to when the Lebron groups came back in to 367 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 1: end the third quarter start the fourth quarter, they were 368 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 1: able to just immediately pull away. And one of the 369 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:21,639 Speaker 1: consistent through lines for the Lakers in their successes and 370 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 1: failures in the last week, like so the wins in 371 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:27,199 Speaker 1: the Hawks and Raptors games versus the other losses, is 372 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 1: them actually knocking down shots like last night Marcus Smart, Ruby, 373 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:33,480 Speaker 1: Hacha Mura, Drew Timmy, gave Vincent. Those guys hit six 374 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:37,159 Speaker 1: threes in that game. That provides the payoff to some 375 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:39,639 Speaker 1: of these sequences of advantage creation, right, and then the 376 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:43,199 Speaker 1: entire team shots super well against Atlanta. I actually one 377 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 1: of the reasons why I talked about this in a 378 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 1: Lakers Collective pod last week. One of the reasons why 379 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: I'm not as down on the Lakers in this last 380 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: week as I was in previous weeks is like, there 381 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 1: are certain things that are realities of the way this 382 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:58,919 Speaker 1: roster is right now. Like when Austin's out, he's one 383 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,440 Speaker 1: of your best shooters. Sudden you're shooting talent drops. He's 384 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 1: one of your best drivers of the basketball. So all 385 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 1: of a sudden, your ability to penetrate the defense goes down. 386 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: I know that Austin's not a great defender, but on 387 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,959 Speaker 1: this team, he's one of their better defenders, which is 388 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 1: an indictment of the team. But the point is is 389 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,680 Speaker 1: that when you take Austin out, they just, all of 390 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:19,639 Speaker 1: a sudden, just like lose ground in like every category 391 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:21,360 Speaker 1: of the game. He's one of their better passers, he's 392 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 1: one of their better rebounding guards, like he just Austin's 393 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 1: just pretty good at everything. And so when you lose 394 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: all that talent all over the floor, it can be 395 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 1: something that hurts the team a lot more than you 396 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 1: would think relative to the talent, right, And so when 397 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:38,359 Speaker 1: I look at him being out of the equation, Ruey 398 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:40,360 Speaker 1: was out for a while. He's like literally their best 399 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: catch and shoot three point shooter for a team that 400 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 1: can't shoot, to lose their best shooter, And like, even 401 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: since he's come back, he's still out of rhythm. He 402 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: finally hit a couple shots last night, but like it's 403 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: going to be a week or two before Rui kind 404 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:53,920 Speaker 1: of returns to form as a catch and shoot guy. 405 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,359 Speaker 1: So like, I was a little forgiving of these recent 406 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:02,720 Speaker 1: struggles because Lebron and Luca were still consistently doing their 407 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:05,679 Speaker 1: jobs and cutting down on the important things right, Like 408 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:07,360 Speaker 1: they had both been missing too many threes and turning 409 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 1: the basketball over too much. Both of them are taking 410 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:11,880 Speaker 1: better care of the basketball and are shooting the ball 411 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 1: much better from three. So like, Lebron and Luca were 412 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 1: kind of just doing their jobs every night to the 413 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 1: level that they needed to do them and the lack 414 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,680 Speaker 1: of role player depth because of injuries was really hurting 415 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 1: them in some of those games. And so and then 416 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,360 Speaker 1: they ran into some good teams. You got tipped the cap, 417 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 1: Like the Kings had a lot of quality wins last week. 418 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 1: You know that Charlotte team just rolled up into Denver 419 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 1: and beat the hell out of the Nuggets. The Nuggets 420 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:36,520 Speaker 1: team that had won four games in a row, like 421 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 1: these are some decent teams that they ran into, and 422 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: you know, there just wasn't enough juice down the roster. 423 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 1: You guys know me, I will criticize the stars. That's 424 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:48,120 Speaker 1: usually the first direction I go. I'm more optimistic about 425 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:50,640 Speaker 1: how the Lakers are progressing because they're playing super hard, 426 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:53,120 Speaker 1: They're starting to find some looks defensively that work for them. 427 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: Their stars are playing super well. They just have a 428 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 1: lot of mediocre role players that are hot and cold. 429 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 1: And when they're hot, they win, and when they're cold, 430 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 1: they lose. And so if you're looking for optimism, some 431 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:05,159 Speaker 1: sort of pathway to the Lakers at least being like 432 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:08,479 Speaker 1: an upset threat, it's you get Ruey Back, he's shooting 433 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:12,040 Speaker 1: the ball well, you get Austin Back. He increases all 434 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 1: those little layers of talent around the roster. You bring 435 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 1: in some talent at the deadline, you know, swap out 436 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 1: some of those guys for some guys that are better players. Overall, 437 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: that sort of thing could go a long way for 438 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 1: this team. Number eight Houston Rockets currently plus thirteen hundred 439 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:28,480 Speaker 1: to win the title. On hard Rock Bet. Nice little 440 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 1: two game streak for the Rockets to regain some positive momentum. 441 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:33,000 Speaker 1: We talked last week about how they had been in 442 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:38,359 Speaker 1: a miserable shooting slump seven straight games below zero point 443 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:40,399 Speaker 1: nine to five points per jump shot, and they went 444 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: two to five in that span, some really nice positive 445 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 1: regression in the two wins. They were one points zero 446 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:48,200 Speaker 1: seven points per jump shot against Minnesota, one point zero 447 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 1: two against New Orleans, and got some of that like 448 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 1: kind of defensive transition identity back in the win against Minnesota. 449 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 1: That was really what blew the game open. In that 450 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,359 Speaker 1: early fourth quarter stretch when they first got control. They 451 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 1: were just get stops, forcing turnovers, getting out in transition 452 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 1: and running. It was Shangun's best game since he returned. 453 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:07,639 Speaker 1: He would have had thirty in that game if he 454 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:09,920 Speaker 1: could make a free throw. But he had a couple 455 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 1: of big highlights in the fourth quarter. Beautiful behind the 456 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 1: back pass with his left hand to him and Thompson 457 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 1: underneath the basket for a dunk. And then this kind 458 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 1: of fun one of those transition plays I was talking about. 459 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 1: He catches go Bear on his heels driving off of 460 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 1: the right wing and just bodies him and just sends 461 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:26,240 Speaker 1: go bear off the screen and then just elevates to 462 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:28,119 Speaker 1: go dunk it and actually gets rim stuffed, but it 463 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:29,639 Speaker 1: just kind of like feeds over the top of the 464 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:31,639 Speaker 1: rim and then banks in. But it was actually kind 465 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: of like a funny highlight. But I thought Shane Gun 466 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: looked a little rusty when he came back, just not 467 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:39,119 Speaker 1: quite that level of polish around the basket. He's starting 468 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:40,680 Speaker 1: to look a little bit better. I think those are 469 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 1: encouraging trends for them. I remain unconcerned about Houston after 470 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:47,640 Speaker 1: their recent struggles. Like I think there's a huge difference 471 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 1: between like some of the stuff we've seen with the Lakers, 472 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:55,920 Speaker 1: where there's these troubling metrics even when they're winning, and 473 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 1: they're kind of being floated by their clutch record there. 474 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:01,159 Speaker 1: I think they're just I don't have the numbers right 475 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:02,439 Speaker 1: in front of me, but I believe they're like just 476 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 1: four and nine this year against teams that are in 477 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,560 Speaker 1: the top ten in point differential. They just haven't been good. 478 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 1: I'll have to pull up the numbers. Don't quote me 479 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: on that, but I think they just are well below 480 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 1: five hundred in games against the best teams in the league, 481 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:19,840 Speaker 1: they have these super troubling metrics down the line, Like 482 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: the trio of Lebron, Luca and Austin haven't been good 483 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:26,479 Speaker 1: together although they barely have played. Like there's all these 484 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:29,720 Speaker 1: troubling metrics, right, it's the opposite with Houston. And so 485 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:32,640 Speaker 1: when you look at the like, I think every team 486 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:35,280 Speaker 1: in the league is gonna have certain funks that they 487 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:38,600 Speaker 1: run into in the season, like everybody, even Oklahoma City 488 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: had a few week long stretch where they just didn't 489 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 1: look very good, right, And so I think everybody deserves 490 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:44,920 Speaker 1: a little bit of grace in the eighty two game 491 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:47,720 Speaker 1: regular season for that. And again, the big difference is 492 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:52,880 Speaker 1: Houston has really strong, large sample indicators that make you 493 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:55,960 Speaker 1: more forgiving of these sorts of things, Like there's still 494 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:58,960 Speaker 1: fourth and net rating on the entire season. They're still 495 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:01,480 Speaker 1: top five in offense, top ten in defense. They're the 496 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:05,240 Speaker 1: best rebounding team in the NBA, their trio Alprin, Shanguna, 497 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:09,440 Speaker 1: Men Thompson, Kevin Durant. They're plus six point two per 498 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 1: one hundred possessions and a massive sample that's a really 499 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:14,919 Speaker 1: strong net rating. They have seven wins versus teams in 500 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:17,480 Speaker 1: the top ten in point differential, that's the sixth most 501 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:21,119 Speaker 1: in the entire NBA. So like, when I look at Houston, 502 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,199 Speaker 1: they kind of check all the boxes for kind of 503 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 1: a classic case of a team that got off to 504 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 1: a really hot start and then as everyone, like literally 505 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 1: the entire league kind of chills out a little bit 506 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 1: in this part of the season. They've slipped a little bit, 507 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:38,960 Speaker 1: but so have many of the teams around the league. 508 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:41,200 Speaker 1: And like, guess who have been the two best records 509 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 1: over the last month. The Clippers and the Warriors, two 510 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:46,880 Speaker 1: teams that got off to really bad starts, right so 511 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 1: since they got off the bad starts, they're trying to 512 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: make up ground. So they're attacking every day in the 513 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 1: regular season right now with a level of urgency that 514 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:56,720 Speaker 1: much of the league is not. And that's not to 515 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 1: say that those teams aren't also playing good basketball. They are, 516 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:01,480 Speaker 1: and they have good players, and they also just got 517 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 1: run down a little bit early in the season. But 518 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:06,959 Speaker 1: the point is to me, Houston kind of follows more 519 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:09,199 Speaker 1: that classic trajectory of a team that got off to 520 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 1: a hot start and is just kind of relaxing a 521 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:13,320 Speaker 1: little bit. And the last thing I'd say is. I 522 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:15,880 Speaker 1: think Kevin Durant probably deserves a little bit more MVP 523 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:19,160 Speaker 1: buzz than he's getting. He's been the one thing about 524 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 1: the Rockets that has been great all season, regardless of 525 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 1: the shifting circumstances around him. I just have been super 526 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 1: super impressed by Kevin Durant. Number seven. The Phoenix Suns 527 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:33,800 Speaker 1: currently plus fifty thousand to win the title on hard 528 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:36,159 Speaker 1: Rock Bet. Yet another big win for the Suns on 529 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:38,959 Speaker 1: Saturday night against the Knicks without Jalen Brunson and Madison 530 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 1: square Garden, they tightened the screws of their defense in 531 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:44,880 Speaker 1: that like late third quarter stretch that closed the gap 532 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:47,480 Speaker 1: on a double digit deficit. Not a great Tyler Kolett game. 533 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:50,199 Speaker 1: He was really struggling with ball pressure from Jordan Goodwin 534 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:54,119 Speaker 1: during that late third quarter run, you know, just kind 535 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:56,199 Speaker 1: of getting up into the ball and forcing turnovers and 536 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:59,320 Speaker 1: making him uncomfortable. Then calling Gillespie to start the fourth 537 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 1: quarter was just given Tyler the business with off the 538 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:04,680 Speaker 1: dribble shot making really really impressive stretch from calling Gillespie 539 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:07,000 Speaker 1: to start the fourth quarter there, and then Devin Booker 540 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:09,720 Speaker 1: was awesome during the run as he usually is. Quality defense, 541 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:11,800 Speaker 1: quality shot creation got to the foul line a ton 542 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:13,879 Speaker 1: in this one, But I actually want to zero win 543 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:17,080 Speaker 1: on Grayson Allen for a minute, and specifically his drive. 544 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:19,879 Speaker 1: So Grayson started the season and then got hurt and 545 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:21,440 Speaker 1: missed a good chunk of time. But he's been back 546 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:23,680 Speaker 1: for a couple of weeks now, and since he's been 547 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 1: back in the last six games in particular, I think 548 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 1: he's been back for seven games. But in the last 549 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 1: six games, the Suns have a one to sixteen offensive 550 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:33,719 Speaker 1: rating with Grayson Allen on the floor, which is one 551 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 1: of their better offensive offensive ratings among their roster over 552 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:41,400 Speaker 1: that span. And none of that doesn't seem like much 553 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 1: one sixteen, but again, you got to remember this is 554 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:46,440 Speaker 1: a team that's built around defensive personnel. This Sun's team. 555 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:49,200 Speaker 1: It's a lot of bruisers, a lot of ball pressure guys, 556 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 1: not necessarily the most on paper offensive skill, although I 557 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 1: think they've done a pretty good job of kind of 558 00:27:56,880 --> 00:28:00,359 Speaker 1: balancing out the roster. But that number is fascinating to 559 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:03,639 Speaker 1: me how successful Phoenix has been on offense with Grayson 560 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:05,880 Speaker 1: Allen on the floor. And the thing that stood out 561 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 1: to me a ton on film and I'm always like 562 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:11,879 Speaker 1: taking concepts that I see on film and then looking 563 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:14,280 Speaker 1: to see if there are metrics to back it up. 564 00:28:14,320 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 1: And this was a big one for me. Like I'm 565 00:28:16,119 --> 00:28:19,320 Speaker 1: watching the Suns and I'm like, man, Grayson Allen is 566 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:23,040 Speaker 1: gashing these defenses, like obviously sitting in a bunch of threes. 567 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: I think he had like a half dozen in this 568 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:30,040 Speaker 1: particular game, but he had a game where he had 569 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:32,000 Speaker 1: a half dozen threes last week. I can't even remember 570 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:35,000 Speaker 1: which game it was. But Grayson Allen has been shooting 571 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:37,480 Speaker 1: the ball well, obviously, but every time I watch him, 572 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 1: he's constantly getting tons of dribble penetration. Whether it's he's 573 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 1: curling off of some action in the big shows at 574 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:45,960 Speaker 1: the level but he's too fast for him, or he 575 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 1: pump fakes at the three point line and is able 576 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 1: to use that to get a dribble penetration, or just 577 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:53,080 Speaker 1: in general the angles that come from the hard closeouts 578 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 1: that he faces. But he's constantly gashing the defense. And 579 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:59,160 Speaker 1: when he's gashing the defense, he's able to generate wide 580 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:01,240 Speaker 1: open catch and shoots three point shots for the rest 581 00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:03,640 Speaker 1: of the team. And again, this is a team in 582 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 1: Phoenix that shoots thirty eight percent on catch and shoot threes. 583 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 1: This is one of the better catch and shoot three 584 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:14,520 Speaker 1: point shooting teams in the league. That's ninth out of 585 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 1: all thirty teams in catch and shoot three point percentage. 586 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:20,600 Speaker 1: They just don't generate as many of them as some 587 00:29:20,680 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 1: of the other teams in the league. So having dribble penetration, 588 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:27,920 Speaker 1: that's a huge part of their ability to actually generate 589 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 1: those catch and shoot threes, and I just think Grayson 590 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:31,240 Speaker 1: Allen's can bringing a lot of that. This is actually 591 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:33,719 Speaker 1: an interesting stat if you were to rank all of 592 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: the Phoenix Suns by the amount of drives that have 593 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:39,720 Speaker 1: per game, there's only one player other than Devin Booker 594 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:42,080 Speaker 1: that's averaging at least ten drives per game, and it's 595 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:45,400 Speaker 1: Grayson Allen. So that's a specific example of what I'm 596 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 1: talking about where there is a clear statistical marker that's 597 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:51,920 Speaker 1: kind of matching with what we're seeing on tape. Grayson 598 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:55,640 Speaker 1: Allen's gashing these defenses. He's actually logging over ten drives 599 00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:57,560 Speaker 1: per game. And one of the things that's been really 600 00:29:57,560 --> 00:30:00,160 Speaker 1: cool about that is it has helped them generate or 601 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 1: catch and shoot looks. So they generate just twenty six 602 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 1: catch and shoot three point shots per game, which is 603 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:10,000 Speaker 1: the nineteenth most in the NBA, But in this six 604 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:13,720 Speaker 1: game span since Grayson Allen got back, they're averaging thirty 605 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:17,600 Speaker 1: catch and shoot looks per game. Grayson Allen's dribble penetration 606 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:20,959 Speaker 1: has been a huge part of that boost. There's a 607 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:24,760 Speaker 1: kind of like a fundamental roster construction thing with Phoenix 608 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:26,600 Speaker 1: that makes a lot of sense that allows them to 609 00:30:26,640 --> 00:30:29,600 Speaker 1: play better than they're on paper talent, and a big 610 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:31,720 Speaker 1: part of it is they have a lot of guys 611 00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 1: that fit that mold that I was talking about with 612 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:36,400 Speaker 1: Golden State that can make quick decisions off the catch, 613 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:39,200 Speaker 1: but hegather knock down a catch and shoot three, drive 614 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:42,040 Speaker 1: a close out, make the next read in that chain. 615 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 1: And so when you have this shot making that Phoenix does, 616 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:48,240 Speaker 1: which is super impressive. Obviously what Devin Booker does, what 617 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:50,280 Speaker 1: Dylan Brooks can do, with Colin Gillespie can do, what 618 00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:52,480 Speaker 1: Grayson Allen can do. But you have the guys like 619 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:57,080 Speaker 1: Devin Booker and Grayson Allen penetrating the defense with drives 620 00:30:57,320 --> 00:31:00,640 Speaker 1: that can start that sequence. That's what paid those off. 621 00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:03,000 Speaker 1: And obviously on the other end of the floor, you're 622 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:05,000 Speaker 1: talking about the fourth best defense in the league because 623 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:07,880 Speaker 1: of the quality combination of perimeter defensive talent and rim 624 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:11,280 Speaker 1: protection from Mark Williams. All Right, moving on to number six, 625 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:15,360 Speaker 1: The Boston Celtics plus two thousand right now to win 626 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:17,400 Speaker 1: the title on hard Rock Bet. They put on an 627 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:20,320 Speaker 1: offensive clinic on the road in Atlanta on Saturday night. 628 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:23,000 Speaker 1: They hung eighty two points in the first half. Now, 629 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 1: the Hawks defense did look awful. They kind of remind 630 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:28,280 Speaker 1: me of like a way worse version of the Timberwolves, 631 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:30,760 Speaker 1: in that they're capable of playing great defense, but they 632 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:33,000 Speaker 1: just choose not to much of the time. And this 633 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:35,480 Speaker 1: is actually an insane stat Atlanta has a one zh 634 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:39,200 Speaker 1: six point five defensive rating in wins. They have a 635 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:42,520 Speaker 1: one twenty two defensive rating in the losses. That has 636 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 1: to be one of the largest disparities in the league 637 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:47,440 Speaker 1: when it comes to that metric. They just don't guard 638 00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:50,000 Speaker 1: on many of their nights and that ends up costing 639 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 1: them games. And I'm almost glad this happened like this, 640 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:56,080 Speaker 1: because I thought it was a little ridiculous how Trey 641 00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:58,720 Speaker 1: Young was being discussed as like the sole reason why 642 00:31:58,720 --> 00:32:01,240 Speaker 1: Atlanta was bad on defense when there was just so 643 00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:03,360 Speaker 1: much stuff. I was seeing on film throughout the year 644 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:07,000 Speaker 1: where like large chunks of their roster weren't defending, not 645 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 1: named Tree Young, Like, they have some good defensive guards 646 00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:11,360 Speaker 1: and they've got you know, I like Mohammed Gay, he 647 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:14,040 Speaker 1: can do a lot as a rangey defensive player at 648 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:16,040 Speaker 1: CONGU when he's locked in, can be really good. But 649 00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:18,960 Speaker 1: like a lot of their forwards, they're not good defensive players. 650 00:32:19,080 --> 00:32:21,440 Speaker 1: And I think it's a big part of why they've 651 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:23,880 Speaker 1: had those struggles throughout the season. But anyway, the Celtics 652 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:26,000 Speaker 1: ended up flashing their upside in a big way against 653 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:29,640 Speaker 1: at Atlanta defense. Their un ball guys were phenomenal. Jalen 654 00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:32,360 Speaker 1: Brown set the tone early, attacking and just getting whatever 655 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:35,840 Speaker 1: he wanted. As a team, they made fifteen jump shots 656 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:38,200 Speaker 1: off the dribble, which is just an insane number, one 657 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:42,400 Speaker 1: point two six points per attempt. And you know, I 658 00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:45,240 Speaker 1: thought Atlanta's ball pressure was pretty poor throughout the game, 659 00:32:45,280 --> 00:32:47,080 Speaker 1: and so it was kind of allowing the Celtics ball 660 00:32:47,080 --> 00:32:49,320 Speaker 1: handlers to kind of get into their bags, so to speak, 661 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:51,360 Speaker 1: and just comfortably rise into those pull ups and they 662 00:32:51,360 --> 00:32:54,280 Speaker 1: were knocking them down. Sam Houser hit ten threes. He 663 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:56,400 Speaker 1: was brilliant on the move. What's crazy is out of 664 00:32:56,400 --> 00:32:59,240 Speaker 1: those ten threes, only three came on standard catch and 665 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:03,000 Speaker 1: shoots like situations. The other seven either came in transition 666 00:33:03,280 --> 00:33:06,320 Speaker 1: or off of handoffs, off of off screen actions, or 667 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:08,320 Speaker 1: like he got his own offensive rebound once and just 668 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:09,720 Speaker 1: dribbled up to the top of the key and just 669 00:33:09,760 --> 00:33:12,840 Speaker 1: put up a three. So just really impressive movement shooting 670 00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:16,520 Speaker 1: from Sam Hauser to hit that ten to three point 671 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:18,600 Speaker 1: shot mark a really really impressive night from him. And 672 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 1: then Anthonty Simon's like he's still most likely going to 673 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:25,440 Speaker 1: get traded, but he's playing fantastic right now. He's he's 674 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:29,200 Speaker 1: been Boston's second leading score over the last ten games 675 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:32,640 Speaker 1: at eighteen points per game, shooting fifty percent from three 676 00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:35,400 Speaker 1: on eight attempts per game, and he's been one of 677 00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:37,280 Speaker 1: the best plus minus guys in that span. They're plus 678 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:40,680 Speaker 1: seventy two in his minutes over that ten game span. 679 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:43,280 Speaker 1: Has become one of their best on off plus minus 680 00:33:43,320 --> 00:33:46,920 Speaker 1: guys for the season. Big showdown for the Celtics with 681 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:49,760 Speaker 1: the Pistons tonight in Detroit should be a fun one. 682 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:52,480 Speaker 1: If we remember, if we looked back the win in 683 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:55,920 Speaker 1: the n season tournament game, Big stops down the stretch 684 00:33:55,920 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 1: against Ky Cunningham, right like Baylor Shierman gets a big 685 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:01,880 Speaker 1: stop on him, Derek strips him on a help and 686 00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:04,960 Speaker 1: on a play where he's going at Jordan Walsh, like 687 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:07,720 Speaker 1: they got the big stops against Cad late in the game. 688 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:10,880 Speaker 1: Then there was the game that the Pistons won in Boston, 689 00:34:10,920 --> 00:34:13,319 Speaker 1: and if you remember that one, much more of a 690 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:16,360 Speaker 1: Cad was getting to his spots and scoring pretty easily 691 00:34:16,360 --> 00:34:18,799 Speaker 1: over Derek White, So like that's gonna be the big one. 692 00:34:18,800 --> 00:34:21,839 Speaker 1: You gotta defend Caid with your smaller perimeter players well 693 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:23,360 Speaker 1: in this game. And then the second piece of it 694 00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:26,560 Speaker 1: is the rebounding. The Pistons are grabbing something crazy like 695 00:34:26,640 --> 00:34:30,000 Speaker 1: damn near half their misses in this particular matchup, so 696 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:32,560 Speaker 1: Boston's gonna have to do better on the defensive class. 697 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:35,560 Speaker 1: I think there are plus ten per game and second 698 00:34:35,680 --> 00:34:39,680 Speaker 1: chance points so far in the three matchups versus the 699 00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:42,560 Speaker 1: the Celtics, so fun showdown tonight will be covering that 700 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:51,840 Speaker 1: in tomorrow's show number five. The Minnesota Timberwolves currently plus 701 00:34:51,880 --> 00:34:53,879 Speaker 1: three thousand to win the title on hard Rock Bet, 702 00:34:53,920 --> 00:34:55,920 Speaker 1: starting to get a little banged up. Nasried left the 703 00:34:55,920 --> 00:34:59,520 Speaker 1: Spurs game the shoulder soreness. Rudy Gobert has a bruised 704 00:34:59,560 --> 00:35:02,360 Speaker 1: hip now, but we did get a couple of long 705 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:04,680 Speaker 1: looks at Joan barn Jay as a result, and I 706 00:35:04,680 --> 00:35:07,680 Speaker 1: thought he played well last week. He just does everything 707 00:35:07,719 --> 00:35:09,560 Speaker 1: you need a big to do in order to have 708 00:35:09,600 --> 00:35:12,960 Speaker 1: a high floor. Like there's the ceiling stuff with bigs, 709 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:15,680 Speaker 1: like can they shoot the ball? How well do they 710 00:35:15,719 --> 00:35:18,560 Speaker 1: do as like you know, dribble handoff initiators? Like can 711 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:22,040 Speaker 1: they make all the back door passes and the little 712 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:25,040 Speaker 1: reads that help get things open in five out offense? 713 00:35:25,160 --> 00:35:28,719 Speaker 1: Or like do they have outrageous defensive upside as like 714 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:32,920 Speaker 1: a switching big? Or like do they have the ability 715 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:35,720 Speaker 1: to play one on one like out of the post 716 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:38,799 Speaker 1: or to iso that kind of thing? Right, Like even 717 00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:41,960 Speaker 1: just something simple like a deep seal from a big 718 00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:43,880 Speaker 1: after a switch and pick and roll like those are 719 00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:46,680 Speaker 1: all like ceiling raising things for bigs, And if you're 720 00:35:46,719 --> 00:35:48,839 Speaker 1: great at all those things, that's what puts you into 721 00:35:48,840 --> 00:35:51,160 Speaker 1: the conversation with the best centers in the league, who 722 00:35:51,239 --> 00:35:54,439 Speaker 1: tend to be superstars. Right, But like when you get 723 00:35:54,440 --> 00:35:58,040 Speaker 1: to the floor stuff, these are like the mandatory things 724 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:00,719 Speaker 1: that you have to be able to do to succeed 725 00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:03,239 Speaker 1: as a rotation big in the NBA at least to 726 00:36:03,239 --> 00:36:05,600 Speaker 1: be able to just play minutes. You got to be 727 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:08,319 Speaker 1: able to set good screens, which I think jo Baron 728 00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:11,240 Speaker 1: Jay does pretty well. Like I think it probably helps 729 00:36:11,239 --> 00:36:13,640 Speaker 1: having Rudy Gobert around, but he's making contact on a 730 00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:15,480 Speaker 1: lot of these screens. Then you've got to roll hard. 731 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:17,640 Speaker 1: When you roll hard, you got to provide a good 732 00:36:17,719 --> 00:36:20,399 Speaker 1: vertical spacing window. Joan does that. You have to run 733 00:36:20,440 --> 00:36:22,520 Speaker 1: the floor hard. He ran the floor super well in 734 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:25,719 Speaker 1: this game, got several dunks literally just beating his man 735 00:36:25,840 --> 00:36:28,640 Speaker 1: up the floor. You have to rebound well on both 736 00:36:28,719 --> 00:36:31,080 Speaker 1: ends of the floor. Joan does that. And then lastly, 737 00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:33,799 Speaker 1: you have to at least have good length around the 738 00:36:33,920 --> 00:36:37,120 Speaker 1: rim defensively, so like it's one thing if you can't switch, 739 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:40,239 Speaker 1: it's one thing if you, you know, have certain limitations 740 00:36:40,239 --> 00:36:42,759 Speaker 1: defensively in terms of the different types of schemes you 741 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:44,600 Speaker 1: can run. But if you at the very least can 742 00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:47,160 Speaker 1: run a decent drop coverage, meaning like you could sit 743 00:36:47,239 --> 00:36:49,279 Speaker 1: back and get a good contest on a guard shoot 744 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:51,879 Speaker 1: and to pull up or stay home and box out 745 00:36:51,880 --> 00:36:54,640 Speaker 1: a big and you know, or or take away the 746 00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:57,600 Speaker 1: lib like those those are the basic things in a 747 00:36:57,680 --> 00:36:59,440 Speaker 1: drop coverage that you have to be able to do 748 00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:03,040 Speaker 1: to have the necessary floor to be a rotation big 749 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:05,560 Speaker 1: in the NBA. And again, I think Barj does all 750 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:08,640 Speaker 1: that stuff well. And like he forced a couple of 751 00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:12,040 Speaker 1: misses on Spurs guards with his contests up high where 752 00:37:12,040 --> 00:37:15,160 Speaker 1: they were kind of taken off guard by by how 753 00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:18,120 Speaker 1: long his arms were. He did force some misses around 754 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:20,520 Speaker 1: the rim in that Spurs game, and so like again, 755 00:37:20,600 --> 00:37:22,919 Speaker 1: like I think for a rookie big to be able 756 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:26,600 Speaker 1: to step in and just set screens, roll hard, run 757 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:30,520 Speaker 1: the floor, super hard, play a decent drop coverage like that, 758 00:37:30,640 --> 00:37:33,839 Speaker 1: to me is more than enough to be a just 759 00:37:33,880 --> 00:37:37,759 Speaker 1: a solid, high floor kind of rotation level big in 760 00:37:37,840 --> 00:37:39,960 Speaker 1: the NBA. He had his mistakes, like he gave up 761 00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:42,080 Speaker 1: an offensive rebound on a free throw to Cornett because 762 00:37:42,080 --> 00:37:44,440 Speaker 1: he kind of got pushed underneath the basket. He had 763 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:46,960 Speaker 1: this playing crunch time right after Aunt hit a three 764 00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:49,280 Speaker 1: that put him up three, where he just fell asleep 765 00:37:49,360 --> 00:37:51,680 Speaker 1: on Victor Women Yama and let Victor Women Yama just 766 00:37:51,719 --> 00:37:53,320 Speaker 1: step into a wide open three at the top of 767 00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:56,080 Speaker 1: the key. Not a super uncommon mistake for a young 768 00:37:56,160 --> 00:37:59,040 Speaker 1: big in that sort of situation, but those he makes 769 00:37:59,080 --> 00:38:01,520 Speaker 1: some mistakes. But over I think he can play rotation 770 00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:03,200 Speaker 1: minutes for this team, and I think that helps a lot. 771 00:38:03,360 --> 00:38:06,080 Speaker 1: Now we'll see over time if he can become the 772 00:38:06,080 --> 00:38:08,799 Speaker 1: Gobart replacement. That's going to require him to develop in 773 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:11,600 Speaker 1: some other areas. But I think we've seen enough that 774 00:38:11,640 --> 00:38:15,040 Speaker 1: he can be a rotation level big for this particular 775 00:38:15,080 --> 00:38:17,360 Speaker 1: team with how he played in the last week. But 776 00:38:17,440 --> 00:38:21,480 Speaker 1: Anthony Edwards was the story. My goodness, this guy is 777 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:24,760 Speaker 1: capable of going on the most insane shot making runs. 778 00:38:24,960 --> 00:38:27,360 Speaker 1: I've been really interested in this since two years ago 779 00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:31,319 Speaker 1: when Aunt really exploded as a three point shooter, And 780 00:38:31,520 --> 00:38:33,239 Speaker 1: what I kept thinking was is like, most of the 781 00:38:33,239 --> 00:38:36,160 Speaker 1: great shooters of all time have not necessarily been the 782 00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:40,719 Speaker 1: best athletes of all time, right, And one of the 783 00:38:40,719 --> 00:38:42,960 Speaker 1: things that I was excited about with Aunt is like 784 00:38:43,040 --> 00:38:48,480 Speaker 1: he's got that transcendent great shooting gene of combined, you know, 785 00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:51,240 Speaker 1: just obviously the natural talent of having the hand eye coordination, 786 00:38:51,320 --> 00:38:53,480 Speaker 1: but also having put in the work behind the scenes 787 00:38:53,480 --> 00:38:55,799 Speaker 1: to become that level of shooter. But he also is 788 00:38:55,840 --> 00:38:59,720 Speaker 1: this like true apex two guard, like just absolutely insane 789 00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:02,400 Speaker 1: level athlete. And so there's a certain thing with like 790 00:39:02,760 --> 00:39:05,800 Speaker 1: because he's such a good athlete, because he's so physically strong, 791 00:39:05,880 --> 00:39:08,080 Speaker 1: so he can play in physicality, and because he's got 792 00:39:08,120 --> 00:39:11,040 Speaker 1: excellent scoring footwork, like he can pivot over both shoulders, 793 00:39:11,040 --> 00:39:13,879 Speaker 1: he can step back going both directions. He's got all 794 00:39:13,960 --> 00:39:16,919 Speaker 1: of the different like footwork pieces of it that gives 795 00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:19,960 Speaker 1: him the ability to get to his shot whenever he wants. 796 00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:22,400 Speaker 1: And because then when he gets to his spot and 797 00:39:22,440 --> 00:39:24,600 Speaker 1: he rises up, he's such a good athlete that he's 798 00:39:24,600 --> 00:39:27,799 Speaker 1: got a high release point, you basically just sit there 799 00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:30,480 Speaker 1: and you cross your fingers and you beg that he misses. 800 00:39:31,120 --> 00:39:33,680 Speaker 1: So like, there's a certain amount with Anthony Edwards where 801 00:39:33,680 --> 00:39:36,360 Speaker 1: like you're not gonna stop him from getting to his spots, 802 00:39:36,880 --> 00:39:39,160 Speaker 1: and if he gets really hot, you're just kind of 803 00:39:39,160 --> 00:39:41,560 Speaker 1: at the mercy of those results. And that was exactly 804 00:39:41,600 --> 00:39:44,200 Speaker 1: what happened again at the end of his Spurs game. 805 00:39:44,280 --> 00:39:45,759 Speaker 1: Is he was just dribbling up the floor. Shoot a 806 00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:47,640 Speaker 1: three dribble up the floor, Shoot a three dribble up 807 00:39:47,640 --> 00:39:49,799 Speaker 1: the floor. Shoot. It's you're not doing anything like you 808 00:39:49,880 --> 00:39:51,200 Speaker 1: might be able to force him into more of a 809 00:39:51,239 --> 00:39:53,480 Speaker 1: step back and it might be a little bit more contested, 810 00:39:53,520 --> 00:39:55,879 Speaker 1: but he just gets such great lift and such great 811 00:39:55,920 --> 00:39:59,680 Speaker 1: separation that it's a shot that he's very very capable 812 00:39:59,719 --> 00:40:02,200 Speaker 1: of making, and that he's been making all season long. 813 00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:05,360 Speaker 1: That was his seventh forty point game of the season. 814 00:40:05,840 --> 00:40:08,600 Speaker 1: He had nine forty point games all year last year. 815 00:40:08,880 --> 00:40:10,960 Speaker 1: We still have thirty nine games left and he's got 816 00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:14,120 Speaker 1: seven so far this year. Now, the team wide laps 817 00:40:14,200 --> 00:40:16,879 Speaker 1: is a bad defenses of bad defense like we saw 818 00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:19,279 Speaker 1: in that second quarter stretch against San Antonio. Those are 819 00:40:19,320 --> 00:40:22,600 Speaker 1: still maddening. But I'm still buying all of the Timberwolve stock, 820 00:40:22,680 --> 00:40:25,160 Speaker 1: so if you're selling, send it my way. Number four. 821 00:40:25,320 --> 00:40:28,719 Speaker 1: The San Antonio Spurs currently plus twelve hundred to win 822 00:40:28,760 --> 00:40:31,960 Speaker 1: the title on hard Rock Bet. They got some revenge 823 00:40:31,960 --> 00:40:35,160 Speaker 1: on the Timberwolve Saturday night, albeit without Rudy Gobert and Nasried. 824 00:40:35,840 --> 00:40:38,720 Speaker 1: This is probably the most entertaining game of the weekend. 825 00:40:38,719 --> 00:40:40,759 Speaker 1: We just talked about it. Just an epic shootout between 826 00:40:40,760 --> 00:40:43,480 Speaker 1: Anthony Edwards and Victor women Yama. As unbelievable as Aunt 827 00:40:43,640 --> 00:40:47,040 Speaker 1: was going for fifty five, vic went shot for shot 828 00:40:47,080 --> 00:40:48,840 Speaker 1: with him down the stretch of that game. Hit a 829 00:40:48,880 --> 00:40:53,160 Speaker 1: tough two over Julius Randall, cut Joan Baron Jay sleeping 830 00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:55,000 Speaker 1: with the three at the top of the key, hit 831 00:40:55,040 --> 00:40:57,120 Speaker 1: a midi off of a pocket pass at the elbow, 832 00:40:57,800 --> 00:41:00,960 Speaker 1: and then of course we got the ridiculous Wenby alien highlights. 833 00:41:00,960 --> 00:41:03,279 Speaker 1: He had a big block of Baron Jay on kind 834 00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:04,920 Speaker 1: of like a reverse layup where he just kind of 835 00:41:04,920 --> 00:41:06,120 Speaker 1: met him on the other side of the room and 836 00:41:06,120 --> 00:41:09,200 Speaker 1: blocked him. And then a ridiculous offensive rebound on a 837 00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:11,560 Speaker 1: miss free throw where he just reached right over the 838 00:41:11,560 --> 00:41:13,239 Speaker 1: top of Julius Randall and took it away from him. 839 00:41:13,280 --> 00:41:16,080 Speaker 1: He looked helpless trying to keep Wenby off the offensive 840 00:41:16,120 --> 00:41:18,960 Speaker 1: glass there. But the story of this game was how 841 00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:22,200 Speaker 1: good their offense. San Antonio's offense looked for stretches in 842 00:41:22,239 --> 00:41:25,800 Speaker 1: their massive second quarter run when they actually built twenty 843 00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:29,000 Speaker 1: five point lead that they ended up blowing. They were 844 00:41:29,160 --> 00:41:31,839 Speaker 1: nine for fifteen on jump shots in that quarter, and 845 00:41:31,960 --> 00:41:34,320 Speaker 1: they did a lot of damage on the offensive glass 846 00:41:34,600 --> 00:41:36,040 Speaker 1: throughout the game. But in that run as well, I 847 00:41:36,080 --> 00:41:38,440 Speaker 1: thought Carter Bryant had a really nice shift in there 848 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:40,799 Speaker 1: where he was getting to the offensive glass quite a bit. 849 00:41:42,040 --> 00:41:44,799 Speaker 1: In that second quarter. The Spurs put up forty eight 850 00:41:44,840 --> 00:41:48,239 Speaker 1: points to end up going up twenty five. But their 851 00:41:48,320 --> 00:41:51,319 Speaker 1: jump shooting continues to be the key, because they had 852 00:41:51,360 --> 00:41:53,200 Speaker 1: been in such a hellish slump, like they had six 853 00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:55,560 Speaker 1: straight games from the Portland loss to the Oklahoma City 854 00:41:55,600 --> 00:41:58,160 Speaker 1: loss where they were below a point per jump shot, 855 00:41:58,480 --> 00:42:01,440 Speaker 1: two great shooting games in a row against Milwaukee and Minnesota, 856 00:42:01,440 --> 00:42:04,040 Speaker 1: a couple of wins. I was digging through the numbers 857 00:42:04,040 --> 00:42:08,120 Speaker 1: on Synergy because I was curious when the Spurs get 858 00:42:08,160 --> 00:42:11,479 Speaker 1: at least when the Spurs get more than one point 859 00:42:11,560 --> 00:42:16,600 Speaker 1: per jump shot, so anything over one point per jump shot. 860 00:42:17,360 --> 00:42:22,000 Speaker 1: They're twenty one to three this season. By the way, 861 00:42:22,000 --> 00:42:24,120 Speaker 1: that's not a super high bar, like twenty two of 862 00:42:24,160 --> 00:42:27,520 Speaker 1: the thirty NBA teams, including the Spurs, right now, are 863 00:42:27,719 --> 00:42:31,839 Speaker 1: averaging over one point per jump shot, But that has 864 00:42:31,880 --> 00:42:34,160 Speaker 1: been like their line of demarcation. When they're above that, 865 00:42:34,239 --> 00:42:37,840 Speaker 1: when they shoot reasonably well, they win almost every time. 866 00:42:38,120 --> 00:42:39,520 Speaker 1: And that's one of the big reasons why this team 867 00:42:39,560 --> 00:42:41,120 Speaker 1: is going to be so scary in the long run 868 00:42:41,160 --> 00:42:44,240 Speaker 1: as their guards continue to improve, his jump shooters become 869 00:42:44,280 --> 00:42:49,120 Speaker 1: more and become more consistent. I also really liked how 870 00:42:49,160 --> 00:42:51,479 Speaker 1: in the last few possessions they played heavily through deer 871 00:42:51,560 --> 00:42:54,040 Speaker 1: and fox on the ball. This is one of the 872 00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:56,640 Speaker 1: things we've talked about, Like, you know, Wehmby in the 873 00:42:56,719 --> 00:42:59,400 Speaker 1: first Minnesota game got all these like kind of elbow 874 00:42:59,520 --> 00:43:02,319 Speaker 1: touches down on the stretch, and he did get one 875 00:43:02,360 --> 00:43:04,879 Speaker 1: elbow touch against Julius where Julius did not apply any 876 00:43:04,880 --> 00:43:06,640 Speaker 1: ball pressure and he just went quick and just quick 877 00:43:06,680 --> 00:43:09,120 Speaker 1: turned around and fired and hitting the shot. But like 878 00:43:09,200 --> 00:43:11,440 Speaker 1: in the last Minnesota game, Julius was getting up underneath 879 00:43:11,480 --> 00:43:13,120 Speaker 1: him and put it pushing him off the spots, forcing 880 00:43:13,200 --> 00:43:15,719 Speaker 1: him to some really tough ones in a turnover. One 881 00:43:15,719 --> 00:43:17,520 Speaker 1: of the things we talked about is like, just have 882 00:43:17,560 --> 00:43:20,680 Speaker 1: Wenby functioned more as like a play finisher or is 883 00:43:20,719 --> 00:43:22,640 Speaker 1: it like a two man game partner as a screener. 884 00:43:22,920 --> 00:43:24,239 Speaker 1: That was what they did at the end of the game. 885 00:43:24,280 --> 00:43:26,279 Speaker 1: They just played through dearon fox and I thought he 886 00:43:26,280 --> 00:43:28,920 Speaker 1: made a couple of really nice plays. He went off 887 00:43:28,920 --> 00:43:30,799 Speaker 1: a ball screen, hit Wemby right in the pocket, set 888 00:43:30,840 --> 00:43:32,480 Speaker 1: him up for a wide open elbow jump shot. He 889 00:43:32,560 --> 00:43:34,640 Speaker 1: knocked it down. Those are the kinds of plays that 890 00:43:34,760 --> 00:43:38,880 Speaker 1: like again, Wemby can still be super aggressive in the 891 00:43:39,000 --> 00:43:42,200 Speaker 1: offense as an off ball scorer, as an inaction play 892 00:43:42,200 --> 00:43:45,919 Speaker 1: finisher and still have his opportunities to initiate throughout the game, 893 00:43:45,960 --> 00:43:48,279 Speaker 1: but like it doesn't need to be their primary form 894 00:43:48,280 --> 00:43:51,719 Speaker 1: of initiation and once like Darren Fox is a very 895 00:43:51,760 --> 00:43:54,200 Speaker 1: good passer on his drives, it's something that's very underrated 896 00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:57,160 Speaker 1: about his game. Beautiful pocket pass to Wemby had another play, 897 00:43:57,200 --> 00:43:59,560 Speaker 1: the one that set up the shot that iced the game. 898 00:43:59,600 --> 00:44:02,120 Speaker 1: The kelled Johnson three beat his man off the dribble, 899 00:44:02,200 --> 00:44:05,239 Speaker 1: started the chain by hitting the corner swing up to 900 00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:07,440 Speaker 1: Devin Vesselle or not Devin Vesille, excuse me, swing up 901 00:44:07,480 --> 00:44:11,960 Speaker 1: to Julian Champagne. Julian Champagne racks the closeout, Kelden relocates 902 00:44:12,000 --> 00:44:15,360 Speaker 1: up to the right easy little extra pass to Keldon 903 00:44:15,400 --> 00:44:18,319 Speaker 1: on the right wing knocks it down, basically wins the game. 904 00:44:18,400 --> 00:44:21,080 Speaker 1: So playing off of the dribble penetration of Daron Fox, 905 00:44:21,080 --> 00:44:25,919 Speaker 1: which again he's exceptionally gifted at breaking down defenses at 906 00:44:25,920 --> 00:44:29,160 Speaker 1: the point of attack and making that first read. That's 907 00:44:29,200 --> 00:44:32,040 Speaker 1: not Whenby's strength right now, So I like the idea 908 00:44:32,040 --> 00:44:33,680 Speaker 1: of playing through him more like they did at the 909 00:44:33,760 --> 00:44:37,280 Speaker 1: end of that game. Number three. The Denver Nuggets currently 910 00:44:37,280 --> 00:44:39,120 Speaker 1: plus seven to fifty to win the title on hard 911 00:44:39,200 --> 00:44:42,080 Speaker 1: Rock Bet. Banged up Nuggets team ran into that Hornets 912 00:44:42,120 --> 00:44:44,600 Speaker 1: team that's been playing some pretty good basketball as of late, 913 00:44:44,640 --> 00:44:46,600 Speaker 1: and they got beat up pretty bad. This one was 914 00:44:46,640 --> 00:44:49,040 Speaker 1: over early. The Nuggets really did not shoot the ball well, 915 00:44:49,080 --> 00:44:51,480 Speaker 1: and their offense stalled out bad in the first half. 916 00:44:51,480 --> 00:44:54,040 Speaker 1: They had just thirty four points halftime and they were 917 00:44:54,040 --> 00:44:56,400 Speaker 1: down twenty six, and that thing was over. But this 918 00:44:56,600 --> 00:45:00,279 Speaker 1: non Jokic stretch has been a remarkable extre success and 919 00:45:00,320 --> 00:45:03,440 Speaker 1: it bodes extremely well for this team moving forward. I 920 00:45:03,480 --> 00:45:05,520 Speaker 1: said they needed five or six wins by the All 921 00:45:05,560 --> 00:45:07,520 Speaker 1: Star break in order to stay afloat in the standings. 922 00:45:07,520 --> 00:45:10,279 Speaker 1: Well they already have seven of them, and Jokich is 923 00:45:10,280 --> 00:45:12,640 Speaker 1: apparently coming back soon, so that ended up being a 924 00:45:12,680 --> 00:45:15,680 Speaker 1: non issue. Like even after all of this, even after 925 00:45:15,800 --> 00:45:18,680 Speaker 1: last night's loss, the Nuggets are in sole possession of 926 00:45:18,680 --> 00:45:21,120 Speaker 1: the fourth best record in basketball and are just a 927 00:45:21,160 --> 00:45:24,040 Speaker 1: half game back from San Antonio for the two seed 928 00:45:24,080 --> 00:45:27,239 Speaker 1: in the Western Conference. Just really really impressive stuff. In 929 00:45:27,239 --> 00:45:30,279 Speaker 1: this seven and four stretch, the Nuggets have the eleventh 930 00:45:30,440 --> 00:45:33,600 Speaker 1: best offense in the NBA. Have to give credit to 931 00:45:33,680 --> 00:45:35,919 Speaker 1: Jamal Murray here, who's going to make an All NBA 932 00:45:35,960 --> 00:45:38,200 Speaker 1: team as long as he stays healthy. Because he's played 933 00:45:38,200 --> 00:45:39,919 Speaker 1: this way for half the season. He's going to play 934 00:45:39,920 --> 00:45:41,319 Speaker 1: this way over the second half as long as he 935 00:45:41,360 --> 00:45:43,759 Speaker 1: stays healthy, and he'll make an All NBA team. He's 936 00:45:43,800 --> 00:45:47,600 Speaker 1: been absolutely unbelievable. They have a one to seventeen offensive 937 00:45:47,640 --> 00:45:50,520 Speaker 1: rating this season when Jamal Murray is on the floor 938 00:45:50,640 --> 00:45:54,360 Speaker 1: and jokicch is off. That's really high level offensive engine 939 00:45:54,400 --> 00:45:57,080 Speaker 1: stuff from Jamal Murray this season. And then the rise 940 00:45:57,080 --> 00:45:58,920 Speaker 1: of Peyton Watson. He struggled last night, but in the 941 00:45:58,920 --> 00:46:01,160 Speaker 1: eleven games that yoke which was out to this point, 942 00:46:01,600 --> 00:46:04,040 Speaker 1: he averaged twenty three points per game on fifty percent 943 00:46:04,080 --> 00:46:06,439 Speaker 1: from the field and forty one percent from three. Tim 944 00:46:06,480 --> 00:46:09,840 Speaker 1: Hardaway Junior pitching in forty two percent on eight and 945 00:46:09,880 --> 00:46:13,560 Speaker 1: a half threes per game, Jalen Pickett stepping in and 946 00:46:13,560 --> 00:46:16,719 Speaker 1: providing offense, Zeke Naji playing some of his best basketball 947 00:46:17,280 --> 00:46:20,359 Speaker 1: as a Denver Nugget, Spencer Jones just continuing to do 948 00:46:20,400 --> 00:46:22,239 Speaker 1: all the little things well and knock down wide open 949 00:46:22,239 --> 00:46:24,560 Speaker 1: catch and shoot threes. I just think this is one 950 00:46:24,560 --> 00:46:26,840 Speaker 1: of those stretches that you look at when you see 951 00:46:26,880 --> 00:46:29,839 Speaker 1: truly special basketball teams where it just feels like everybody's 952 00:46:29,880 --> 00:46:32,640 Speaker 1: on a mission, and it just feels like that right now. 953 00:46:32,800 --> 00:46:37,560 Speaker 1: With Denver number two. The Detroit Pistons currently plus oney 954 00:46:37,680 --> 00:46:40,680 Speaker 1: seven and fifty to win the title. On hard Rock Bet, 955 00:46:41,239 --> 00:46:42,880 Speaker 1: we covered their big win over the Suns on the 956 00:46:42,880 --> 00:46:46,359 Speaker 1: Friday show. We had the return of Jalen Duran. Him 957 00:46:46,360 --> 00:46:48,719 Speaker 1: and Usar Thompson just completely dominated the second half of 958 00:46:48,719 --> 00:46:52,640 Speaker 1: that game around the rim as offensive rebounders and just 959 00:46:52,680 --> 00:46:55,400 Speaker 1: finishing there on cuts and on offensive rebounds. We had 960 00:46:55,440 --> 00:46:57,520 Speaker 1: the return of Cad. He looked a little rusty and 961 00:46:57,600 --> 00:46:59,520 Speaker 1: algorithm in the Suns game, but he still created plenty 962 00:46:59,560 --> 00:47:01,680 Speaker 1: of good shot. And then the Pistons put on a 963 00:47:01,719 --> 00:47:05,440 Speaker 1: defensive masterclass against the Hospital Pacers on Saturday night, allowing 964 00:47:05,520 --> 00:47:08,920 Speaker 1: just twenty five points in the first half, and ultimately 965 00:47:08,960 --> 00:47:11,480 Speaker 1: when I discussed the Pistons as a playoff threat, this 966 00:47:11,560 --> 00:47:14,080 Speaker 1: is the piece I keep coming back to, like, there's 967 00:47:14,120 --> 00:47:17,560 Speaker 1: some pessimism surrounding the Pistons as a championship contender because 968 00:47:17,600 --> 00:47:20,680 Speaker 1: of their half court offense. They're just seventeenth and half 969 00:47:20,680 --> 00:47:24,040 Speaker 1: court offensive rating at this point. I think that's a 970 00:47:24,080 --> 00:47:26,400 Speaker 1: conversation worth having. It's part of why I don't have 971 00:47:26,440 --> 00:47:29,040 Speaker 1: them in my top tier of championship contenders, but I 972 00:47:29,080 --> 00:47:32,840 Speaker 1: still firmly consider them a real contender in that second tier, 973 00:47:32,880 --> 00:47:35,360 Speaker 1: where like they certainly can win if they catch favorable 974 00:47:35,360 --> 00:47:37,759 Speaker 1: matchup and if things go right for them some specific 975 00:47:37,800 --> 00:47:42,200 Speaker 1: things within the team. It's because of how they do 976 00:47:42,280 --> 00:47:45,480 Speaker 1: win basketball games, Like take the stuff with the half 977 00:47:45,520 --> 00:47:49,320 Speaker 1: court offense and set it aside. They're winning by physically 978 00:47:49,360 --> 00:47:52,400 Speaker 1: pulverizing you. They're elite at protecting the rim. It's one 979 00:47:52,400 --> 00:47:55,600 Speaker 1: of their biggest margins every night. They're plus fourteen every 980 00:47:55,719 --> 00:48:00,320 Speaker 1: night in points per game in the paint by defending 981 00:48:00,360 --> 00:48:03,200 Speaker 1: the rim extremely well and scoring at the rim relentlessly 982 00:48:03,239 --> 00:48:04,560 Speaker 1: on the other end of the floor, and then they 983 00:48:04,600 --> 00:48:06,680 Speaker 1: have good margin on second chance points every single night 984 00:48:06,680 --> 00:48:08,560 Speaker 1: because of the damage they do on the offensive glass. 985 00:48:08,600 --> 00:48:11,800 Speaker 1: And so I like teams that are built around these 986 00:48:11,880 --> 00:48:14,560 Speaker 1: types of strengths because there are strengths that don't come 987 00:48:14,640 --> 00:48:18,680 Speaker 1: with variants. It doesn't matter if Detroit's half court offense 988 00:48:18,800 --> 00:48:21,560 Speaker 1: is meh. If they can drag you down into the 989 00:48:21,640 --> 00:48:24,120 Speaker 1: mud every game, Like kid just has to make a 990 00:48:24,160 --> 00:48:26,120 Speaker 1: couple of plays at the end of each game and 991 00:48:26,160 --> 00:48:28,480 Speaker 1: they get the win, and more often than not, he's 992 00:48:28,520 --> 00:48:31,160 Speaker 1: been able to do that this year. The underrated thing 993 00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:34,640 Speaker 1: about the way that they play is by defending extremely well, 994 00:48:34,680 --> 00:48:37,800 Speaker 1: by having elite perimeter defenders, by being big, by being 995 00:48:37,840 --> 00:48:41,200 Speaker 1: big and bruising around the basket, by winning margins like 996 00:48:41,200 --> 00:48:43,840 Speaker 1: points in the paint, by winning margins like second chance points. 997 00:48:44,080 --> 00:48:47,520 Speaker 1: You're in every game, and if you're in every game late, 998 00:48:48,400 --> 00:48:50,120 Speaker 1: and you've got a guy in Kid who's been one 999 00:48:50,120 --> 00:48:52,040 Speaker 1: of the best clutch players in the league this year, 1000 00:48:52,600 --> 00:48:55,040 Speaker 1: that just goes a really long way to racking up 1001 00:48:55,080 --> 00:48:58,080 Speaker 1: wins in the NBA. And so, I mean, we've seen it. 1002 00:48:58,120 --> 00:49:00,600 Speaker 1: Guys like they struggled in the half court, they struggled 1003 00:49:00,640 --> 00:49:02,359 Speaker 1: at the end of games. They struggled with half court 1004 00:49:02,400 --> 00:49:05,680 Speaker 1: execution and turnovers in the nixt series last year. But 1005 00:49:05,719 --> 00:49:10,200 Speaker 1: they were still right there because they physically pulverized the 1006 00:49:10,280 --> 00:49:12,799 Speaker 1: Knicks for the most part in that series. And that's 1007 00:49:12,880 --> 00:49:16,239 Speaker 1: why it's so difficult to count them out. Number one, 1008 00:49:16,280 --> 00:49:19,480 Speaker 1: the Oklahoma City Thunder currently plus one ten to win 1009 00:49:19,520 --> 00:49:21,600 Speaker 1: the title on hard Rock Bet. They lost in Miami 1010 00:49:21,600 --> 00:49:23,680 Speaker 1: on Saturday night and what was a really fun game. 1011 00:49:24,160 --> 00:49:26,120 Speaker 1: We've talked a lot about how bam at a Bio's 1012 00:49:26,120 --> 00:49:29,160 Speaker 1: three point shooting unlocks this element to Miami's offense that 1013 00:49:29,239 --> 00:49:31,399 Speaker 1: makes them very hard to guard. It's a big part 1014 00:49:31,400 --> 00:49:33,600 Speaker 1: of how they won the Suns game a few nights ago. 1015 00:49:34,400 --> 00:49:37,480 Speaker 1: Bam was absolutely amazing in this game. In addition to 1016 00:49:37,560 --> 00:49:41,120 Speaker 1: hitting the six threes that he hit, made a ton 1017 00:49:41,200 --> 00:49:43,400 Speaker 1: of massive plays down the stretch, had a tough little 1018 00:49:43,440 --> 00:49:46,600 Speaker 1: mid ranger around the left elbow area that tied the 1019 00:49:46,600 --> 00:49:49,960 Speaker 1: game late, had a huge flying offensive rebound wh he 1020 00:49:50,040 --> 00:49:52,799 Speaker 1: just came soaring in and grabbed it over everybody. When 1021 00:49:52,800 --> 00:49:54,879 Speaker 1: they were down by three in the final minute, drew 1022 00:49:54,920 --> 00:49:57,080 Speaker 1: a foul that actually cut the lead from three to one. 1023 00:49:57,280 --> 00:50:00,000 Speaker 1: Massive play in the game. And then after we had 1024 00:50:00,120 --> 00:50:02,560 Speaker 1: the Andrew Wiggins game winner off of the right wing, 1025 00:50:03,080 --> 00:50:05,880 Speaker 1: Oklahoma City has a chance and they double Shaye on 1026 00:50:05,960 --> 00:50:08,200 Speaker 1: the sideline out of bounds. And when they double Shaye 1027 00:50:08,200 --> 00:50:10,399 Speaker 1: on the sideline out of bounds, Alex Cruso's wide open 1028 00:50:10,440 --> 00:50:13,439 Speaker 1: and Shae just makes the kick, but Bam rotates over 1029 00:50:13,600 --> 00:50:15,719 Speaker 1: sees the whole thing. Probably a big game plan from 1030 00:50:15,800 --> 00:50:19,799 Speaker 1: Eric Spolster to double double Shaye, but tough rotation from 1031 00:50:19,840 --> 00:50:22,480 Speaker 1: Bam gets a great close out and ends up forcing 1032 00:50:22,560 --> 00:50:26,880 Speaker 1: Alex Crusoe into a really really bad miss off the glass. 1033 00:50:26,880 --> 00:50:28,440 Speaker 1: So tip of the cap to Bam. He just willed 1034 00:50:28,440 --> 00:50:31,120 Speaker 1: his team to a win and the heater kind of 1035 00:50:31,120 --> 00:50:32,960 Speaker 1: one of those teams that's in the last week been 1036 00:50:32,960 --> 00:50:35,160 Speaker 1: playing pretty decent basketball, and they're a tough team to 1037 00:50:35,200 --> 00:50:38,480 Speaker 1: beat in that situation. The bigger story for Thunder fans 1038 00:50:38,560 --> 00:50:41,279 Speaker 1: was Jalen Williams suffering a hamstring strain in the first 1039 00:50:41,320 --> 00:50:43,680 Speaker 1: half that it's gonna keep him out for presumably quite 1040 00:50:43,719 --> 00:50:46,719 Speaker 1: a while here. And there are three big trickle down 1041 00:50:46,719 --> 00:50:48,560 Speaker 1: effects from the Jalen Williams injury that I want to 1042 00:50:48,560 --> 00:50:52,480 Speaker 1: talk about. One, Jalen had been having a down year 1043 00:50:52,480 --> 00:50:56,320 Speaker 1: in almost every aspect anyway, but he was finally starting 1044 00:50:56,360 --> 00:50:59,239 Speaker 1: to gather some positive momentum, especially in early January, and 1045 00:50:59,280 --> 00:51:01,520 Speaker 1: so now only in addition to having to rehab from 1046 00:51:01,600 --> 00:51:04,800 Speaker 1: this injury, he's gonna have to restart all that momentum. 1047 00:51:04,800 --> 00:51:09,000 Speaker 1: It's hard to get your all those little details refined 1048 00:51:09,040 --> 00:51:12,160 Speaker 1: in your game against NBA level competition and to find 1049 00:51:12,200 --> 00:51:14,600 Speaker 1: your rhythm. And now he has to wait to heal 1050 00:51:14,640 --> 00:51:17,440 Speaker 1: this hamstring and then start that entire process from the 1051 00:51:17,480 --> 00:51:20,080 Speaker 1: beginning again, you know, And when we discuss the thunder 1052 00:51:20,080 --> 00:51:23,279 Speaker 1: and their repeat chances. I discussed internal improvement as the 1053 00:51:23,360 --> 00:51:26,040 Speaker 1: key factor, and it's been mostly a huge positive. Like 1054 00:51:26,080 --> 00:51:29,680 Speaker 1: I think Shay looks better, Chet looks better. Aj Mitchell's 1055 00:51:29,680 --> 00:51:31,080 Speaker 1: burst onto the scene, We're gonna talk about him in 1056 00:51:31,080 --> 00:51:35,200 Speaker 1: a minute, but Jadub looks worse, and this injury exacerbates 1057 00:51:35,200 --> 00:51:38,359 Speaker 1: that issue. It doesn't matter as long as JDub can 1058 00:51:38,400 --> 00:51:40,799 Speaker 1: figure it out by late April, but I at least 1059 00:51:40,800 --> 00:51:43,040 Speaker 1: think it's worth keeping an eye on now, especially with 1060 00:51:43,120 --> 00:51:47,400 Speaker 1: the hamstring injury kind of derailing things. Secondly, all eyes 1061 00:51:47,520 --> 00:51:51,120 Speaker 1: now shift to Aj Mitchell. He's actually been a reliable 1062 00:51:51,120 --> 00:51:53,720 Speaker 1: shot creator for Oklahoma City this year due to mainly 1063 00:51:53,880 --> 00:51:57,200 Speaker 1: his ability to get consistent dribble penetration. He actually has 1064 00:51:57,280 --> 00:52:01,560 Speaker 1: a quicker first step than Jay Dubb has, and so 1065 00:52:01,640 --> 00:52:03,760 Speaker 1: that gives him the ability to beat that first layer 1066 00:52:03,760 --> 00:52:05,279 Speaker 1: of the defense, and then from there he's got plenty 1067 00:52:05,320 --> 00:52:07,480 Speaker 1: of counters. He's an excellent short range shot maker, which 1068 00:52:07,520 --> 00:52:09,279 Speaker 1: just seems to be the rule if you're gonna play 1069 00:52:09,280 --> 00:52:12,399 Speaker 1: for OKC. He's fifty three percent on floaters, sixty one 1070 00:52:12,440 --> 00:52:15,399 Speaker 1: percent on two point jump shots inside of seventeen feet. 1071 00:52:15,440 --> 00:52:17,759 Speaker 1: That's insane. And he's got all the passing raids down. 1072 00:52:17,840 --> 00:52:19,640 Speaker 1: So if you can beat your man off the dribble 1073 00:52:19,800 --> 00:52:22,359 Speaker 1: and score from the short range and make the next 1074 00:52:22,440 --> 00:52:24,680 Speaker 1: level of passing raads, you're gonna be an excellent player 1075 00:52:24,680 --> 00:52:27,760 Speaker 1: as a shot creator. And he's been an extremely efficient 1076 00:52:27,800 --> 00:52:30,560 Speaker 1: ISO player for them, again because of that first step quickness. 1077 00:52:30,840 --> 00:52:33,920 Speaker 1: One point one nine points per possession in ISO including 1078 00:52:33,960 --> 00:52:37,360 Speaker 1: passes on sixty seven possessions. That's in the ninety third percentile. 1079 00:52:37,680 --> 00:52:39,600 Speaker 1: It's also been a sixty fifth percent tile pick and 1080 00:52:39,640 --> 00:52:41,680 Speaker 1: roll guy right at one point zero one points per 1081 00:52:41,680 --> 00:52:44,680 Speaker 1: possession including passes. He's going to have a lot of 1082 00:52:44,680 --> 00:52:46,920 Speaker 1: responsibility on his plate over the next month or so, 1083 00:52:47,120 --> 00:52:48,960 Speaker 1: but I do think he's up for it, as he's 1084 00:52:49,000 --> 00:52:52,440 Speaker 1: already shown for stretches this season. And then lastly, this 1085 00:52:52,560 --> 00:52:57,120 Speaker 1: JDub injury just about seals the Shay MVP case. Jokic 1086 00:52:57,160 --> 00:53:00,560 Speaker 1: has missed too many games, Luka just had hasn't been 1087 00:53:00,560 --> 00:53:03,279 Speaker 1: nearly as good as Shaye this year, and then when 1088 00:53:03,280 --> 00:53:05,560 Speaker 1: this is all said and done, Shaye will have essentially 1089 00:53:05,680 --> 00:53:08,600 Speaker 1: carried this team on offense for half the season. So 1090 00:53:08,920 --> 00:53:11,600 Speaker 1: I don't see any universe where Shae doesn't get the Award. 1091 00:53:12,239 --> 00:53:14,560 Speaker 1: I know he's a substantial favorite right now, but like 1092 00:53:14,760 --> 00:53:17,160 Speaker 1: it just it felt to me that Jalen Williams injury 1093 00:53:17,239 --> 00:53:20,279 Speaker 1: just kind of sealed it. Like Shay's just had an 1094 00:53:20,440 --> 00:53:23,320 Speaker 1: enormous workload offensively for the best team in the league, 1095 00:53:23,400 --> 00:53:27,840 Speaker 1: and he's handled it admirably and this team completely falls 1096 00:53:27,840 --> 00:53:30,680 Speaker 1: apart on offense when he's off the floor. Anyway, I 1097 00:53:31,239 --> 00:53:33,360 Speaker 1: just think Shay's the MVP of the league and I 1098 00:53:33,360 --> 00:53:36,160 Speaker 1: would be really really surprised if anything flipped that dynamic 1099 00:53:36,200 --> 00:53:38,279 Speaker 1: before the end of the year. All Right, guys, that's 1100 00:53:38,280 --> 00:53:40,320 Speaker 1: all I have for today is always is sincerely appreciate 1101 00:53:40,320 --> 00:53:42,440 Speaker 1: you guys for supporting us and supporting the show. We'll 1102 00:53:42,480 --> 00:53:44,759 Speaker 1: be back tomorrow with more game reaction. I'll see you 1103 00:53:44,760 --> 00:53:45,200 Speaker 1: guys then