1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: The Volume. All right, welcome to Hoops Tonight. You're at 2 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: the Volume. Happy Friday, everybody. Hope all of you guys 3 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: are having an incredible end to your week. Have a 4 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,280 Speaker 1: jam packed show for you guys today, pretty straightforward. We're 5 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: gonna be touching on five games from last night to 6 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: various extents, as the thunder got their revenge I shouldn't 7 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: say revenge. They beat the Rockets earlier this year, but 8 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: they're starting to find their groove and dominated the Rockets 9 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: on the road, getting a twenty point win, pulling away 10 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter. We're gonna break that game down. 11 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: We're gonna touch on the Warriors win against the Knicks. 12 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 1: We're gonna touch on the Celtics fourth quarter comeback against 13 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 1: the Miami Heat. We're gonna touch on Kate and Jalen 14 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: Dura's return for the Detroit Pistons and a win versus 15 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: the Phoenix Suns. And then my very brief thoughts on 16 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,239 Speaker 1: the Lakers kind of just at peace with who they 17 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: are at this point. We'll get to that at the 18 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:54,959 Speaker 1: tail end of the show. You guys are the job. 19 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: Before we get started, subscribe to the Hoops Tonight YouTube 20 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: channel so you don't miss any more of our videos. 21 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: Make sure you like this video. That helps us a lot. 22 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: In the last but not least, if you want to 23 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: get mailbag questions in for next Friday's mail Bag, make 24 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: sure you drop them in our full episodes on YouTube. 25 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: Just put mail bag with the col and write your question. 26 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 1: We'll get to them on Fridays throughout the remainder of 27 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: the season. All right, let's talk some basketball. So the 28 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 1: Thunder control of this one pretty much throughout. Houston kept 29 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 1: making runs throughout the first three quarters that kept things close, 30 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:24,040 Speaker 1: preventing them from getting down double digits. Okay, see, didn't 31 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 1: actually push ahead double digits until about nine minutes left 32 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter of this one. Couple of clear 33 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: advantages for Houston, and I actually'd argue this is kind 34 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: of the concerning thing if you're a Rockets fan. Like 35 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 1: they dominate the offensive glass, they have a twenty five 36 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 1: to ten second chance points advantage. They actually did a 37 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: decent job of taking care of the basketball in this game, 38 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: at least avoiding some of the more painful live ball 39 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: turnovers that can lead to easy runouts, and that is 40 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: usually what ends up blowing games open for Oklahoma. City, 41 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: So they were actually able to keep this relatively close 42 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: for the first three quarters and change. But ironically, Oklahoma 43 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: City pulled away doing the thing they had struggled mightily 44 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 1: with for weeks, which was shot making from the perimeter. 45 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 1: Jump shooting had been a problem for Oklahoma City during 46 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:14,519 Speaker 1: their struggles in December and early January. They had These 47 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 1: are just numbers from Synergy, just to give you guys 48 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: an idea. These are points per jump shot attempt in 49 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 1: the first Spurs loss, zero point eight, points per jump 50 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 1: shot attempt in the first in the Minnesota loss right 51 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: after that, zero point seven to nine. In the third 52 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: Spurs loss, zero point seven eight, in the Hornets loss, 53 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 1: zero point seven eight. And I actually thought right around 54 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: that Hornets game was where it really started to peak. 55 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: There was a three game stretch where they lost to 56 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 1: the Hornets, they barely beat the Jazz, and they barely 57 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 1: beat the Grizzlies, and they went zero point seven eight, 58 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: zero point eight four, zero point seven to nine points 59 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: per jump shot respectively in those three games. And it 60 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:57,959 Speaker 1: was you know, what was weird about those particular games 61 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 1: is they were shooting extremely poorly on wide open catch 62 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,080 Speaker 1: and shoot threes. During net span. One of the things 63 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: that was kind of popping up in their other losses 64 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: is they were making the wide open ones, but they 65 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:11,800 Speaker 1: were missing anything that was semi contested, and they were 66 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:14,359 Speaker 1: missing a lot of their pull up jump shots. In 67 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: that three game stretch, they attempted sixty three unguarded catch 68 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,679 Speaker 1: and shoot jump shots and made just thirteen of them. 69 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: Just brutal bad shooting for Oklahoma City in that stretch. 70 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: And it was after that that I talked about how 71 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: it kind of started to feel a little bit like 72 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: a case of the yips, you know, just like a 73 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: team that like was legitimately in their own head to 74 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: the extent that a lot of their guys were shooting 75 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: below their capability. But I had two follow ups to 76 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: that idea when I kind of talked about how they 77 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: were entering into that kind of funk. One was that 78 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 1: I'd be certain they'd snap out of it eventually. Why 79 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: they shot the ball too well for too long beforehand, 80 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: they had too much time to figure it out as 81 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: early in the season, and they're still just too talented 82 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: up and down the roster. Eventually found a way to 83 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: figure it out. For lack of a better way of 84 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: putting it and then two. I think for everyone, including 85 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: the Thunder themselves, we have to at least kind of 86 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: file that away in that the potential for a cold 87 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 1: spell like that from the perimeter is at least something 88 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 1: will always have in the back of our minds with 89 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 1: this Thunder team, at least is something that is a 90 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 1: potential vulnerability, even if we can all admit that they're 91 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 1: the runaway favorite at this point in time, but they 92 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:29,840 Speaker 1: snapped out of it in a big way last night. 93 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 1: They got one point one one points per jump shot 94 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 1: overall in that fourth quarter stretch when they blew things open. 95 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: They were five for nine on catch and shoot threes, 96 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:40,919 Speaker 1: and that was with Kenrich Williams missing a couple of 97 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 1: wide open ones in that stretch. It was this chet Holmgren, 98 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: Jalen Williams, AJ Mitchell kind of group that did all 99 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: the day image and they did what they did best, 100 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:53,840 Speaker 1: which was relentlessly attack the rim. This team does have 101 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 1: a clear identity on offense. All of their stars and 102 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 1: all of their ball handlers I'm even gonna include a J. 103 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: Mitchell and guys like Cason Wallace here, they are all 104 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: in attack mode all of the time. They may have 105 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: some up and down nature to their rim decisions. Sometimes 106 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,039 Speaker 1: they can get a little you know, sketchy with forcing 107 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 1: things in traffic at the rim. They can certainly go 108 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 1: cold from the perimeter at times, but they're never going 109 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 1: to stop attacking. That is very much even like Chet 110 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 1: and his ISOs. He's always trying to get downhill at 111 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: a big driving dunk past Kevin Durant to start the 112 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:31,799 Speaker 1: fourth quarter. Jay Dub a couple of really nice drives 113 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: in that early fourth quarter that set up Caseon Wallace 114 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: catching shoot threes one of those like kind of patent 115 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 1: and Donovan Mitchell windmill dribbles over the top that set 116 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: one up another drive off the right wing against Reed Sheppard, 117 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: and then aj Mitchell ended up hitting a catch and 118 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: shoot three off of a Case and Wallace drive off 119 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: of the right wing, and things blew up fast for 120 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 1: Houston from there. This was a two point game with 121 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 1: eleven minutes left in the fourth, Then it was an 122 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 1: eleven point game with nine minutes left in the fourth, 123 00:05:57,800 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 1: So in two minutes they blew it from a one 124 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: session game to a double digit lead, and next thing 125 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 1: you know, you look up at the scoreboard and the 126 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: Thunder up by twenty five, and that can be what 127 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: it's like when you let go of the rope against 128 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,840 Speaker 1: this type of team. The thunder also held the Rockets 129 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:14,359 Speaker 1: to just sixteen points of their own in the fourth quarter. 130 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: I thought we started to see some of the cumulative 131 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 1: wear and tear of the Thunderball pressure and physicality get 132 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: to guys like Kevin Durant Albern Shangun. I thought both 133 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 1: of those guys looked kind of exhausted in that fourth quarter, 134 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: a lot of like stagnant ball where neither of them 135 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: was attacking, but they were kind of looking around the 136 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:33,359 Speaker 1: floor waiting for something to naturally break open, or looking 137 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: at the other guy to see if maybe they wanted 138 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: to look to go attack. And there were a handful 139 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,600 Speaker 1: of plays where guys got aggressive. Shangun had a big 140 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 1: drive past chet Holmgren where he went past him, and 141 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 1: obviously KD hit a couple of jumpers, but for the 142 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: most part, it was a lot of just kind of 143 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: standing around not really knowing how to penetrate the defense. 144 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,480 Speaker 1: And lou Dort has done a fantastic job on KD 145 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 1: and both of these games, this one and the season 146 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 1: opener of just getting up underneath them and getting really 147 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 1: physical and forcing him into some misses. And then all 148 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: game long, I thought the Thunder did a really good 149 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 1: job of overloading the middle on rolls and cuts, and 150 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: it was ironic because they were giving up a lot 151 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: of these openings on the weakside corner and Houston just 152 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 1: wasn't getting it there. As a matter of fact, Houston 153 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 1: attempted just four unguarded catch and shoot jump shots in 154 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: the entire game. This was not a game where they 155 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 1: were missing a bunch of wide open threes. They weren't 156 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: really getting the ball there. A lot of like catches 157 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: in the middle of the floor that were turning into 158 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 1: bad forced misses like that one of men Thompson had 159 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: down the stretch where he jumped into Kenridge Williams, or 160 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: turnovers like the past, the Steven Adams on that roll 161 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 1: where he gets the ball poked away by Shake Gills 162 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 1: of Alexander okay See was swarming that middle and Houston 163 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: was just turning the ball over or shooting some bad 164 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 1: shots in there. And then big picture looking at because 165 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: they did get quite a few catch and shoots that 166 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: were contested in this game. The Rockets are having some 167 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: jump shooting woes of their own. As of late, the 168 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: Rockets have shot the ball extremely poorly seven games in 169 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 1: a row now. They've been below zero point eighty five 170 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: points per jump shot in every single one of the 171 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: last seven games, averaging in total over that seven games 172 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: just zero point seven to nine points per jump shot 173 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: since the loss in Dallas, and they're just two and 174 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: five in that span. Now, some of that is just 175 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 1: a slump, but some of that is some natural regression 176 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: after they shot kind of absurdly well to start the season. 177 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 1: Several of their players were shooting better than you would 178 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 1: typically expect them to based on what their career history 179 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 1: was to that point. As a team, the Rockets have 180 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: actually slipped to sixteenth in jump shooting efficiency in the 181 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 1: NBA after that recent stretch. Nonetheless, a really impressive win 182 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: for the Thunder team that appears to be back on track. 183 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 1: They've now won five in a row, nine out of 184 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: eleven since that rough stretch. I wanted to dig though, 185 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: you know, as we look at this team, you know, 186 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:52,839 Speaker 1: every time we get an opportunity to see one of 187 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 1: these kinds of matchups where these are two teams that 188 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: I have in my list of top tier contenders at 189 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 1: least going into this game, I think, Okay, so he 190 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 1: showed a little bit of a gap between them and 191 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 1: Houston in this game, and we'll dig into the reasons why. 192 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 1: But going into the game, we viewed it as a 193 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: matchup between our top tier two of our top tier 194 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 1: contenders at this point in the season. I have them 195 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 1: two as well as Denver in that conversation, and then 196 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: I'm strongly considering most likely going to add Minnesota to 197 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: that conversation. Is as we get to the end of 198 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:22,839 Speaker 1: this month and every month we're gonna do new contender rankings, 199 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: We're gonna have one here in a couple of weeks. 200 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: But if we look at those two matchups, now, I'm 201 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: starting to look at very detailed, like kind of schematic 202 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: stuff that may or may not translate to a potential 203 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 1: playoff matchup for these two teams. So I have five 204 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 1: takeaways from this game to from last night that just 205 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:42,079 Speaker 1: kind of demonstrate some of the things we can look 206 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 1: at and expect to see if these two teams face 207 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 1: off in a playoff series. First of all, the doubling 208 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: of shake Yieldes Alexander Houston basically just blitzed the hell 209 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 1: out of Shay on every single ball screen, but then 210 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 1: allowed him to work one on one against his primary matchup. Now, 211 00:09:56,679 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: the reason why is Houston likes their primary matchups. There 212 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:01,320 Speaker 1: is a lot of the men Thompson or Joshakoge in 213 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 1: this game, and Shaye if he wanted to work a 214 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: tough iso against one of those two guys, Houston was 215 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:10,119 Speaker 1: willing to let him do that. But if they attempted 216 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: any sort of ball screen action, they were just aggressively 217 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 1: doubling him to get the ball out of his hands, 218 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: and it actually worked pretty well. Overall. I think it's 219 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: a worthwhile scheme for Houston to have in their bag 220 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 1: of tricks should they end up in a series against Okay. See. 221 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 1: Shae was a little flum mixed by it in the 222 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: first half. He had a few uncharacteristic turnovers, didn't really 223 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 1: get anything going offensively outside of a handful of short bursts. 224 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 1: Wasn't really able to get anything substantial going offensively in 225 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: this game. Ended up kind of getting his way to 226 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: the foul line to keep his twenty point streak alive 227 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:42,319 Speaker 1: at the end of the game when things were kind 228 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 1: of already out of reach. The Thunder had a one 229 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:46,719 Speaker 1: oh five offensive rating with Shay on the floor in 230 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:48,959 Speaker 1: the first half, and then one hundred in the third quarter. 231 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,079 Speaker 1: It wasn't really until the fourth quarter that that unit 232 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: started to score super effectively, and at that point it 233 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 1: was already a double digit lead. The bench group had 234 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 1: already kind of grown the lead. Does that mean it's 235 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 1: gonna work perfectly every time time? Know? But what it 236 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 1: does mean is that they have a decent sample that 237 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: that was a worthwhile option to have in their bag. 238 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 1: So we should all be prepared if these two teams 239 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: face each other for Houston to do the same thing 240 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 1: in a playoff series, Don't be surprised if they go 241 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 1: have your fun with Tarry Easton, Josha Kogi, and Men 242 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 1: Thompson one on one. But if you bring any sort 243 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 1: of screening action into the equation, we're just gonna double 244 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 1: the ball out of your hands. I think we'll see 245 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: more of that from Houston. Secondly, Chet is a real 246 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:31,840 Speaker 1: problem for Houston in this matchup. He's been fantastic in 247 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 1: both games. Bring several characteristics to the table. One he 248 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: scraps on the boards and like I know, Oklahoma City 249 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 1: got killed on the glass in this game overall statistically, 250 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 1: but if you watch the tape, Chet won a lot 251 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: of those battles too, and he was down there scrapping 252 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 1: and again like he's the only guy that has the 253 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:51,680 Speaker 1: length in this lineup to actually hang with Houston. Everyone 254 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 1: else is given up two three inches in terms of 255 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: size trying to rebound underneath the basket. Chet actually won 256 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: a lot of those battles and several key rebounds and 257 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:04,680 Speaker 1: tapouts during runs for Oklahoma City in this game that 258 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: helped them maintain control. Secondly, he gives them enormous defensive versatility. 259 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 1: He gives them quite a bit of strength to shanggun 260 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 1: every once in a while see Shangun bully him like 261 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: he did on that fourth quarter drive where he just 262 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: goes right around him. But overall, I think he holds 263 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: up pretty well there. And he gives them the ability 264 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 1: to switch on to Kevin Durant and ball screens, and 265 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 1: he can get great contests on those Kevin Durant pull 266 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 1: up jump shots that can forcemisses. And then lastly, he's 267 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 1: a garbage man at the rim as a vertical spacer. 268 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: What happens when Oklahoma City drives the Bigs have to help. 269 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: He had three dunks in this game, either on putbacks 270 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: or dump offs, where he's just such a big target 271 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 1: and it's so easy for him to just drop the 272 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: ball through the loop even if he's in traffic. It's 273 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 1: a real release valve for this team. And again, I 274 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 1: just even without Isaiah Hartenstein, who's dealing with calf injury 275 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 1: right now, Chet just gives the Thunder a physical dynamic 276 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 1: on the front line that's really tough for Houston to 277 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:01,680 Speaker 1: match up with. I thought he was great in both 278 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 1: of the games against Okay against Houston so far this season. Thirdly, 279 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 1: Reed Shepherd is completely physically overmatched in this matchup on 280 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 1: the perimeter. In both Oklahoma City games we've seen Reid 281 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 1: just look like a bad combination of small, skinny, and 282 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 1: slow against Oklahoma City's driving guards. And multiple of those 283 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: easy kickout threes for Oklahoma City in the fourth quarter 284 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 1: came on easy drives pass read. Jay dev went right 285 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 1: around him for a kickout. AJ Mitchell went right around 286 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,559 Speaker 1: him for an easy layup. He had a rep against 287 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 1: aj Mitchell and pick and roll that I thought was 288 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 1: pretty embarrassing. That's more indicative of the larger issue that 289 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 1: goes beyond his physical limitation. So Aj comes off a 290 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 1: screen from chat at the top and Kd's in like 291 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 1: a deep drop coverage, right, So if you don't get like, 292 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: if you don't apply appropriate back pressure over the top, 293 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: the dude's just going to settle into whatever shot he wants. 294 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 1: And Reid just kind of slowly meandered over the chat 295 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 1: screen and let Aj Mitchell just easily settle into a 296 00:13:57,880 --> 00:13:59,839 Speaker 1: pull up three on the right wing that he knocked down. 297 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:03,560 Speaker 1: And that's the issue, is like you can't be small 298 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: in lack physicality and not overly athletic, like lack the 299 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 1: physical traits, but then also lack like the motor and 300 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:15,199 Speaker 1: positioning traits. He had a really bad close out on Jduw. 301 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 1: It was one of the plays that led to an 302 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:18,560 Speaker 1: open three. I think it was the second case in 303 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 1: Wallace three, where like he kind of just hopped out 304 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 1: really high to the high side and Jaydub just went 305 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 1: right around him. And I'm like, that's bad fundamentals, that's 306 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: bad footwork, and it's like you can't have bad physical 307 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: traits and bad fundamentals. That's a death sentence in the NBA. 308 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 1: And Reid just has looked really bad defensively in both 309 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: of these matchups against Oklahoma City. Fourthly, Oklahoma City lit 310 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 1: up the zone defense this time. That was a big story. 311 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 1: In the opening night game, the Rockets ran twenty eight 312 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 1: possessions of the zone in that game, held the Thunder 313 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: to zero point eight two points per possession in those sequences. 314 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: Eight possessions of zone last night one point one to 315 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 1: three points per possession, and a lot of really good 316 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: dribble penetration through the zone. And then once again guys 317 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 1: hitting threes to pay that off and beat that look. 318 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 1: And then, lastly, our fifth takeaway, if we're going to 319 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 1: talk about and consider the potential for Oklahoma City to 320 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 1: go cold from the perimeter, we have to have that 321 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 1: same conversation with Houston. They are every bit as capable 322 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: of going cold. I'd even argue straight up that Oklahoma 323 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: City is a more talented jump shooting team than Houston is. 324 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 1: So if your take as a Rockets fan is we're 325 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 1: just missing shots, I'd argue that it's actually more likely 326 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 1: that that dynamic favors Oklahoma City over a larger sample. 327 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: And I didn't even think Houston moved the ball that 328 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: well to generate the types of quality shots that could 329 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: have flipped that dynamic. Again, we talked about the thunder 330 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: kind of overplaying the middle and Houston not moving the 331 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:44,119 Speaker 1: ball through their defense very well. A lot of tougher 332 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 1: and rushed contested catch and shoot jump shots in this game. Again, 333 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: this is only our second look at this matchup. Key 334 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 1: players from both teams, including potential starters route like Isai 335 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: Hartenstein and Tari Easton, some important bench wings for Houston 336 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 1: out of the lineup, like Dorian Finney Smith, for example, 337 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: but this one didn't look too good for Houston. You 338 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 1: dominate in an area that's your clear advantage, the offensive glass, 339 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 1: You take away or at least limit one of Oklahoma 340 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 1: City's bigger defensive advantages, which just points off of turnovers. 341 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: You held them well below their season average and points 342 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: off of turnovers, and then you still basically managed to 343 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 1: never take control in the game and lose by twenty 344 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 1: on your home floor. So definitely a discouraging performance for 345 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 1: the Rockets. But they'll have another chance. They play on 346 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: February seventh down in Oklahoma City, and the Rockets will 347 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:34,640 Speaker 1: have a chance to flip the dynamic at that point. 348 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: But a lot of interesting kind of stuff to see 349 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 1: from a potential matchup in the playoffs later down the line. 350 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: I'm super excited to tell you guys about our new 351 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 1: partnership with Viory. Those of you guys who are familiar 352 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 1: with VIORI have noticed that I've been wearing it on 353 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 1: the show almost every day now for several years. Today 354 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 1: I am wearing the Ponto Performance half Zip, one of 355 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: my favorites from them. 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All right, 388 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 1: Nick Warriors. I was a little worried about this game 389 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 1: for Golden State. Jylen Brunson ended up going down in 390 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:44,399 Speaker 1: that Sacramento game with an ankle injury. The Knicks the 391 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 1: latest and a long line of teams that's been following 392 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:49,440 Speaker 1: victim to a Sacramento Kings team that's just playing good basketball. 393 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 1: All their shot greadors are playing well. Demart Herosen is 394 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 1: hooping his ass off, Zach Lavine's hoop, and Russell Westbrooks soup, 395 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 1: and they got some athletes that are playing really good defense. 396 00:18:57,800 --> 00:18:59,680 Speaker 1: Like the Kings are just playing really good basketball, and 397 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 1: they kind of chewed up and spit out the Knicks 398 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:03,440 Speaker 1: just like they did to everyone else over the course 399 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:06,920 Speaker 1: of the last week. But going into this game against 400 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 1: Golden State, it's a little bit of a trap. Jalen 401 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: Brunson's out right, so there's gonna be that little bit 402 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 1: of natural relaxation. But I actually think this Knicks team 403 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 1: has a lot of offensive talent. We've talked about this 404 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: this year. It's one of the strengths of this roster 405 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:22,200 Speaker 1: is their depth of ball handling talent, and they needed 406 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 1: to win. This is a team that's trying to dig 407 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:28,400 Speaker 1: themselves out of the famous post nd season tournament championship 408 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 1: role that every single team has run into since the 409 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 1: inception of the tournament. The Knicks had a little bit 410 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 1: of a delay. They played well for about a week 411 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 1: or so after, but then they kind of fell into 412 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 1: that same morass that Milwaukee and the Lakers fell into 413 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: over the last couple of years. And so you knew 414 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: the Knicks were gonna come out and play super, super 415 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,359 Speaker 1: hard because they need to get out of this funk. 416 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:50,879 Speaker 1: And then, obviously without Jalen Brunson, they're gonna try to 417 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: win more with defense to transition, and that's exactly what 418 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:56,040 Speaker 1: they did. They came out and they jumped the Warriors 419 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,679 Speaker 1: early in this one, but it was actually a Jimmy 420 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 1: Butler led unit in the late for quarter that turned 421 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:03,439 Speaker 1: things around. This is actually a positive trend that we 422 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 1: discussed in our Mailbag episode yesterday. One of the big 423 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: reasons why I was before the season keyed in on 424 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: a guy like Malik Monk, and I still like Malik 425 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:13,120 Speaker 1: Monk for the Warriors, certainly a hell of a lot 426 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 1: more than most Warriors fans do. But One of the 427 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:17,199 Speaker 1: reasons why I was keyed in on that was the 428 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 1: specific struggles that Golden State was having scoring with Steph 429 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:22,879 Speaker 1: off the floor last year and at the start of 430 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 1: this season. One of the big positive trends for the 431 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: Warriors over the last month and change is that they're 432 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 1: really starting to play well with these Jimmy led units 433 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:33,680 Speaker 1: with Steph off the floor. They're actually all the way 434 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:36,439 Speaker 1: up to a one to seventeen offensive rating this season 435 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 1: with Jimmy on and Steph off, and they're playing good defense, 436 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: and those units are actually plus eight per one hundred 437 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:46,200 Speaker 1: possessions on the season to this point. If that trend 438 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:50,000 Speaker 1: can sustain, if you can score this effectively with these 439 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: Jimmy led units with Steph off the floor, that's the 440 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,560 Speaker 1: kind of thing that buys the Warriors the flexibility to 441 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:58,399 Speaker 1: focus more on players that help them with Steph on 442 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 1: the floor, rather than needing the look for a guy 443 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:03,000 Speaker 1: that can come in and carry a unit offensively for 444 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 1: a chunk of time. But Jimmy was fantastic during that 445 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: late first quarter run against the Knicks yesterday, just dominating 446 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 1: at the rim. He had this lob pass that he 447 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 1: caught off of a back door cut, a back kind 448 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 1: of a backscreen off the right side from Al Horford 449 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 1: where he was way up in the air. It literally 450 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 1: looked like it was ten years ago. I couldn't believe 451 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: how high he got. He had an offensive rebound put 452 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 1: back in that stretch. He had a steal in a 453 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:26,399 Speaker 1: pick six where he jumped the pass that from Josh 454 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 1: Hart out of the right corner, went the other way 455 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 1: and just kind of pumped, baked and worked his way 456 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,160 Speaker 1: into the lane for a layup. Just injected life into 457 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:33,880 Speaker 1: the team, got them back into the game. They cut 458 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 1: the lead to five, and then that Steph Flood unit 459 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:39,400 Speaker 1: the early second quarter came in and finished the comeback. 460 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 1: Couple really nice drives from Brandon Pajemski, a couple of 461 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:46,680 Speaker 1: really nice corner kicks from Gary Payton on short rolls 462 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: and on cuts around the baseline. He hit Draymond Green 463 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 1: and Moses Moody for wide open corner threes. Jimmy Butler 464 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 1: came in and was excellent again in his second shift 465 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 1: in the second quarter, just killing the Knicks with these 466 00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 1: rip through moves, just simple, just fundamental, just catching rip 467 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: and just getting past his man and either getting to 468 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 1: the rim for a layup or for an easy kickout. 469 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:09,639 Speaker 1: Jimmy had thirty two eight and four last night was 470 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: zero turnovers. What a game for Jimmy Butler and the 471 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 1: Warriors were still struggling a little bit in that second 472 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:19,119 Speaker 1: quarter to build real separation, mainly because of the defensive glass. 473 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 1: They're having a hard time keeping Karl Anthony Towns off 474 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:24,159 Speaker 1: the offensive glass. Jordan Clarkson was doing some damage on 475 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 1: the offensive glass. That kind of allowed the Knicks to 476 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 1: linger for a little bit, but then they cleaned that 477 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 1: up in the third quarter and finally pulled away. After 478 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 1: allowing ten offensive rebounds in the first half, they allowed 479 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 1: zero in the third quarter, got control of the defensive glass, 480 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 1: and then Steph who got off to a rough start 481 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:43,040 Speaker 1: shooting the ball, finally got hot in the second half. 482 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:45,200 Speaker 1: He had four pull up threes through the third quarter 483 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: in the early part of the fourth as a big 484 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:50,159 Speaker 1: part of helping the Warriors pull away. The Warriors have 485 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:52,960 Speaker 1: won ten of their last fourteen games. I talked about 486 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 1: this after the tough start to the season. I really 487 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:59,119 Speaker 1: thought the schedule beat Golden State into the ground to 488 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 1: start the year, and I thought that just naturally by 489 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:04,720 Speaker 1: the schedule lightening up, it would lead to the Warriors 490 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:06,479 Speaker 1: starting to get their legs underneath them a little bit. 491 00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:08,199 Speaker 1: They'd start to win some of these games they had 492 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 1: been losing, which can start to build momentum. Right. That 493 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 1: builds momentum in buy in and possession to possession focus 494 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:16,640 Speaker 1: and intensity, and all of a sudden you can start 495 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 1: to build real momentum. And I just figured that as 496 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:22,320 Speaker 1: the schedule lightened up, this Warriors team was too good 497 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:24,439 Speaker 1: to not eventually start racking up wins and go on 498 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:27,359 Speaker 1: a run. And that's exactly what they're doing. And their 499 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:29,600 Speaker 1: fifth in offense in the span in large part because 500 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 1: the Jimmy Butler led units with Steph off the floor. 501 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:33,879 Speaker 1: That used to be the problem with Golden State is 502 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 1: you could book Steph units for a one twenty offensive 503 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 1: rating and then these Steph off units just couldn't score. 504 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: Now that you're getting quality offense out of the Jimmy 505 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:44,960 Speaker 1: lead units, this team is performing really well offensively in 506 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,639 Speaker 1: a pretty large sample. Defense has slipped a little bit. 507 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:50,439 Speaker 1: Their thirteenth and defensive rating over the course that fourteen 508 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: game span, their eighth in net rating six and the 509 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 1: rebounding six and sixth and overall rebound percentage. And again 510 00:23:57,560 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: that ten and four over the fourteen game span is 511 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 1: the second best record in the league over that chunk 512 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 1: of games. I know, it's been a topsy turvy start 513 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 1: to the season. You lost some brutal clutch games too 514 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,320 Speaker 1: in that span that easily could have gone the other way. 515 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 1: But here you are. You're twenty three to nineteen. You're 516 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: tied with Houston in the win column for the sixth seed, 517 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 1: You're legitimately in reasonable striking distance of a top four seed. 518 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 1: You're five back in the lost column. There, that's not 519 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 1: something that you can't do over the course of the 520 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:31,200 Speaker 1: of the next forty games and change. Both Steph and 521 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 1: Jimmy look fantastic. The offseason signings of guys like d' 522 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:37,399 Speaker 1: anthony Melton and Al Horford are really starting to pay dividends. 523 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:40,160 Speaker 1: Al had some really nice sequences last idea to drive 524 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 1: of a closeout off the top after de Anthony Melton 525 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:45,120 Speaker 1: drove and penetrated into the lane. These drive We talked 526 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 1: about the drives from d Anthony Melton the other day. 527 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:48,720 Speaker 1: They've been such a huge thing for this Warriors team. 528 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:50,439 Speaker 1: But he kicks it back to Horford he had an 529 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:53,239 Speaker 1: explosive drive towards the basket. There's just a level that 530 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: Al als moving at now that he wasn't moving at 531 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:58,240 Speaker 1: before the season. And again, you have a trade to 532 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 1: make here and the Warriors. I've been doing a lot 533 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:02,640 Speaker 1: of posturing in the in the media in the last 534 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 1: couple of days, like saying, you know, leaking things like 535 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:07,919 Speaker 1: they might keep Jonathan can make no, you won't, like 536 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 1: everybody knows that you guys are dying for that to 537 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:13,040 Speaker 1: be over, or that they're not interested in Michael Porter Junior. 538 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:15,200 Speaker 1: This guy's not a guy they want to take back. 539 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 1: I think that's all just kind of posturing, part of 540 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:19,640 Speaker 1: that classic kind of trade deadline mind game that every 541 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:22,960 Speaker 1: team tries to play. I still legitimately think if Golden 542 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:24,960 Speaker 1: State can hit on a move, they do have a 543 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 1: shot to make some noise in the West. They if 544 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 1: they hit on that trade, ill we'll see who that 545 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 1: player ends up being. But if they hit on that trade, 546 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 1: I think they're one of those second tier contenders that's 547 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:38,200 Speaker 1: capable of beating a team or two and if God forbid, 548 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 1: things break perfectly for them, they could be, you know, 549 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 1: suddenly in the Western Conference finals or something like that. 550 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 1: All Right, the Celtics get a big win on the 551 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:48,240 Speaker 1: road in Miami. Not gonna linger on this one for 552 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:50,399 Speaker 1: too long. I wanted to talk about Anthony Simons for 553 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: a little bit, though, because he completely explodes in this game. 554 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:55,480 Speaker 1: He goes for thirty nine I believe eighteen of those 555 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 1: were in the fourth quarter, but he just completely carried 556 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:01,760 Speaker 1: the offense during that fourth quarter comeback. And I want 557 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 1: to specifically emphasize the drives because we all know about 558 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:08,239 Speaker 1: Anthony's three point shooting. He can get hot and hit 559 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: a bunch of step back threes like he did, and 560 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:13,320 Speaker 1: he's certainly done that at various points this season. Over 561 00:26:13,359 --> 00:26:15,359 Speaker 1: the large sample, he's been in the low thirties on 562 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:17,400 Speaker 1: that shot, but it's been something that he's gotten hot 563 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 1: and cold with throughout the season. He's been brilliant off 564 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:22,120 Speaker 1: the catch, like if you leave Anthony open this year, 565 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 1: it's going in. But the most fascinating part to me 566 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:28,120 Speaker 1: was actually the drives. And this has been a little 567 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:30,760 Speaker 1: bit of an exciting trend over the last couple of games, 568 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,879 Speaker 1: but he was getting to the rim at will during 569 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 1: that fourth quarter run. Agains some pretty high quality perimeter 570 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:39,960 Speaker 1: defenders and This is a guy that over the course 571 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:43,919 Speaker 1: of this season has been averaging just two point two 572 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:47,159 Speaker 1: points per game at the rim, So just a little 573 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:50,359 Speaker 1: over one layup per game essentially is what you've been 574 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 1: getting from Anthrony to this point. It's been something that 575 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:55,239 Speaker 1: I talked about that I was kind of disappointing disappointed by, 576 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 1: because you know, when we talked about Anthony coming over 577 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 1: to Boston, he was one of kind of the interesting 578 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,159 Speaker 1: case studies that had my eye on with Boston this season. 579 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:06,880 Speaker 1: Like we've seen this drive and kick system that's predicated 580 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 1: on having perfect spacing all the time, guards that can 581 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:13,680 Speaker 1: finish out of the dunker spot, and these two forwards 582 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 1: in Jalen Brown and in Jason Tatum that can create 583 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:22,359 Speaker 1: advantages through like inside seals post ups, isoting smaller players 584 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:24,879 Speaker 1: and pressuring the rim to initiate their drive and kick attack, 585 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:27,439 Speaker 1: and the kind of guards they had, like you know, 586 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 1: obviously Drew Holliday could apply some rim pressure, but he's 587 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:32,199 Speaker 1: more of like a bully ball type of player. And 588 00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:34,479 Speaker 1: then you had, you know, Derek White, who I wouldn't 589 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:37,360 Speaker 1: necessarily consider to be a slasher. He's just an extremely 590 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:39,560 Speaker 1: gifted shooter both off the catch and off the dribble, 591 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:41,920 Speaker 1: who's very smart, who knows how to run inverted ball 592 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:44,160 Speaker 1: screens and standard ball screens and all these different things 593 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 1: that kind of complimented what the Jays like to do. 594 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:50,679 Speaker 1: Andfrety Simons represents kind of like a spread, pick and 595 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:53,959 Speaker 1: roll type of two guard that brings a very different 596 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 1: type of dynamic to this team. And one of the 597 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 1: things that I was most disappointed in throughout this part 598 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:00,960 Speaker 1: of the season with him, even though I think he's 599 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:03,960 Speaker 1: played well for stretches, was I just thought he'd be 600 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 1: able to pressure the rim a little bit more in 601 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:08,199 Speaker 1: this type of space than he's been able to. He's 602 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 1: just had a hard time turning the corner. But like 603 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:13,159 Speaker 1: he had six points just in the fourth quarter of 604 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:16,240 Speaker 1: this game alone driving to the basket for layups. He 605 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:18,400 Speaker 1: had another six points in the last game. So again, 606 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:20,560 Speaker 1: for a guy who's averaged two point two points at 607 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:23,440 Speaker 1: the rim per game this season, he has twelve points 608 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:25,000 Speaker 1: at the rim in the last two games. So some 609 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:30,119 Speaker 1: real positive momentum there from Anferny Simons and then just 610 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:32,000 Speaker 1: a couple of key stops late. They really did a 611 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 1: good job of swarming Miami's drives. At the end of 612 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:37,240 Speaker 1: the game, they had four stocks in the fourth quarter. 613 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 1: Niemi Kada had a big one, Derek White had a 614 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 1: big one in transition on Norman Powell, and an important 615 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:44,960 Speaker 1: sequence late in the game. This we've talked about this 616 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 1: with Miami, but Miami they're constantly trying to drive at 617 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 1: these matchups. But if you help off of Bam and 618 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:53,920 Speaker 1: you kind of just situate yourself in the lane, you 619 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:56,480 Speaker 1: can force them into some tougher shots around the rim 620 00:28:56,480 --> 00:29:00,000 Speaker 1: that they'll miss. And Bam often hasn't made enough shot, 621 00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:02,360 Speaker 1: so Kello where hasn't made enough shots. They actually did 622 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 1: win a game against Phoenix the other night where Bam 623 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:06,240 Speaker 1: hit a bunch of threes in crunch time, but he 624 00:29:06,280 --> 00:29:07,800 Speaker 1: missed the three in crunch time. This time, he had 625 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:10,040 Speaker 1: another play where he was kind of awkwardly situated in 626 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 1: the dunker spot on the left side, and when the 627 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:13,800 Speaker 1: ball got dumped off to him, he ended up shooting 628 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 1: like a hook that he missed. And the spacing can 629 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:17,880 Speaker 1: just get a little janky for Miami, And so the 630 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 1: defensive game plan there is you just need to swarm 631 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 1: those drives and off of the right types of shooters. 632 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:25,840 Speaker 1: Swarm those drives and make sure you don't lose track 633 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 1: of the lasers like Norman Powell and Tyler Harrow, and 634 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:31,400 Speaker 1: you give yourself a good chance. And I just thought 635 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:34,040 Speaker 1: that they did a brilliant job swarming Miami's drives down 636 00:29:34,040 --> 00:29:36,200 Speaker 1: the stretch. And then a couple of big plays late 637 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:39,000 Speaker 1: Jalen Brown, you know, after Anthorty Simons had kind of 638 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 1: taken over the offense in the fourth quarter, hits a 639 00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:43,400 Speaker 1: huge three off the left wing on a double team. 640 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:45,640 Speaker 1: Then Anthony Simons drew And that's the kind of thing 641 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:47,800 Speaker 1: that anthrety Simons is gonna do. If he's dropping thirty 642 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 1: nine in a game, he's gonna start drawing two to 643 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:51,640 Speaker 1: the ball, which is what he did. Jalen had a 644 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 1: really nice driving floater in the lane that helped ice 645 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:57,080 Speaker 1: the game. And then some really big offensive rebounds from 646 00:29:57,080 --> 00:30:00,479 Speaker 1: Sam Hauser and Derek White underneath the basket, just grabbing 647 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 1: Howser had a little tap in. Derek White had a 648 00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:05,240 Speaker 1: play where he grabbed an offensive rebound and drew foul. 649 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:07,800 Speaker 1: Those were big plays. Late in the game, the Celtics 650 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:09,840 Speaker 1: had dropped three out of four, it started to get 651 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:12,040 Speaker 1: into a little bit of some bad habits in terms 652 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:14,840 Speaker 1: of their shot selection. Big win though, I thought last 653 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 1: night over a Miami Heat team that's been playing a 654 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:18,800 Speaker 1: little bit better over the course of the last week. 655 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 1: Today's show is brought to you by presenting sponsor hard 656 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:24,800 Speaker 1: Rock Bet, the official sports but partner of the Miami 657 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 1: Heat and the Orlando Magic. Think you know ball. Put 658 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:30,040 Speaker 1: your hoops knowledge to the test on hard Rock Bet. 659 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:33,080 Speaker 1: Between the NBA and college Every night is the chance 660 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:35,680 Speaker 1: to make a splash and win. And if you want 661 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:37,640 Speaker 1: to score a major bucket, shoot your shot at the 662 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:40,040 Speaker 1: same game parlay. 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Must be twenty one plus and 681 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:29,680 Speaker 1: physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, 682 00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:33,520 Speaker 1: or Virginia. To play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about 683 00:31:33,520 --> 00:31:36,560 Speaker 1: gambling in Florida, call one eight three to three play 684 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:39,040 Speaker 1: wise in Indiana. If you or someone you know has 685 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:41,640 Speaker 1: a gambling problem and wants help, call one eight hundred 686 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:45,240 Speaker 1: and nine with it. Gambling problem called one eight hundred 687 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:49,400 Speaker 1: gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, 688 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:56,160 Speaker 1: or Virginia. All Right, Pistons Suns, The Return of Cad 689 00:31:56,200 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 1: Cunningham and Jalen Durhan. The Pistons had struggled at various 690 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:02,880 Speaker 1: point in this game. Phoenix, even without Devin Booker, they 691 00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:05,840 Speaker 1: bring a very high concentration of jump shooting, talent and 692 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:09,880 Speaker 1: athleticism on their roster, and those are two of arguably 693 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:12,360 Speaker 1: the most important traits in the modern NBA that a 694 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:15,680 Speaker 1: team needs, and when you have those two things in abundance, 695 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:17,440 Speaker 1: you're gonna do a lot of damage to the NBA. 696 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:20,320 Speaker 1: The athleticism is what allows you to get the stops 697 00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 1: that get you out in transition. That's also the athleticism 698 00:32:23,320 --> 00:32:26,160 Speaker 1: that helps you penetrate the defense for you know, driving 699 00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:28,760 Speaker 1: kick sequences, and then the jump shooting is what pays 700 00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:31,200 Speaker 1: it off, right, And so they got a lot of 701 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:35,360 Speaker 1: high quality defense to transition sequences and driving kick sequences 702 00:32:35,640 --> 00:32:37,920 Speaker 1: where guys paid it off by hitting shots. And the 703 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:40,200 Speaker 1: Pistons had some turnover issues in this game, and they 704 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:42,200 Speaker 1: also didn't shoot the ball super well from the perimeters. 705 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:43,760 Speaker 1: That meant a lot of long rebounds and a lot 706 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:46,280 Speaker 1: of live ball turnovers. That also kind of fed that 707 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:49,280 Speaker 1: transition engine. And so Phoenix had some stretches where they 708 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 1: looked really good at honestly, they kind of played like 709 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:55,080 Speaker 1: they were in control for the majority of the game. 710 00:32:55,120 --> 00:32:58,120 Speaker 1: The Pistons just had these two massive runs, a nineteen 711 00:32:58,160 --> 00:33:00,600 Speaker 1: to five run in the middle of the third quarter 712 00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:02,840 Speaker 1: and a thirteen to two run in the fourth quarter. 713 00:33:03,160 --> 00:33:07,040 Speaker 1: Those both erased the majority of the success that the 714 00:33:07,080 --> 00:33:09,120 Speaker 1: Suns had had in the other parts of the game, 715 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:11,520 Speaker 1: and then they were able to successfully close the game 716 00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:14,280 Speaker 1: out with their defense. And the nineteen to five run 717 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:16,560 Speaker 1: in the middle of the third quarter was a fascinating example. 718 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:18,760 Speaker 1: I'd argue both of their runs were like this, but 719 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:20,920 Speaker 1: there was just just some different guys in that fourth 720 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:23,800 Speaker 1: quarter stretch. But the run that they went on in 721 00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:26,680 Speaker 1: that third quarter was fueled entirely by what I think 722 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:28,680 Speaker 1: is the identity of this team, which is that they 723 00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:32,720 Speaker 1: are a physical, ass kicking athletic team. Asar Thompson and 724 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:36,280 Speaker 1: Jalen Duran completely dominated that middle third stretch just under 725 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 1: the rim on offense. Almost everything Detroit scored during that 726 00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:43,120 Speaker 1: run was off of either a Duran Thompson offensive rebound 727 00:33:43,560 --> 00:33:46,280 Speaker 1: or a Duran Thompson cut around the rim where they 728 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:48,960 Speaker 1: just jumped over everyone or finished something in the lane. 729 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:51,560 Speaker 1: And we also got one of those patented stretches from 730 00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:54,120 Speaker 1: Detroit's defense, which again they have just this depth of 731 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:57,040 Speaker 1: athletic perimeter players that can get up into the ball 732 00:33:57,080 --> 00:34:00,040 Speaker 1: and that can really rotate, and teams can soil the 733 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:02,960 Speaker 1: selves underneath that, and they force a few turnovers and 734 00:34:03,040 --> 00:34:06,840 Speaker 1: some really tough late clock heaves from Dylan Brooks during 735 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:09,200 Speaker 1: that third quarter run, and crazy thing is Dylan almost 736 00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:11,600 Speaker 1: knocked a couple of them down because he's such a gifted, 737 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:14,560 Speaker 1: tough shot maker this season. But it's just really difficult 738 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:17,600 Speaker 1: to handle Detroit when they ratchet things up athletically like that, 739 00:34:17,680 --> 00:34:20,480 Speaker 1: when they're forcing you into really tough shots on one end, 740 00:34:20,920 --> 00:34:23,319 Speaker 1: and then it's just a steady diet of like just 741 00:34:23,360 --> 00:34:27,080 Speaker 1: like pinball underneath the basket, Jalen Duran and Saar Thompson 742 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:29,520 Speaker 1: just grabbing and finishing everything around the basket. It just 743 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:32,680 Speaker 1: can be really difficult because it's ugly basketball and it's 744 00:34:32,880 --> 00:34:36,279 Speaker 1: it's just fueled by this physical athleticism and you end 745 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:38,240 Speaker 1: up going on a nineteen to five run that flips 746 00:34:38,239 --> 00:34:40,479 Speaker 1: the game, and then that second run in the third quarter, 747 00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:43,320 Speaker 1: excuse me. In the fourth quarter, different group of guys 748 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:45,480 Speaker 1: like Tobias Harris was doing a lot of damage out 749 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:46,920 Speaker 1: of the post in this lineup, hit a couple of 750 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:48,920 Speaker 1: tough middies, even one over Dylan Brooks, which is not 751 00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:51,920 Speaker 1: easy to do. And then they got another big offensive 752 00:34:51,960 --> 00:34:53,840 Speaker 1: rebound finish from Jalen during this time off of an 753 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:56,000 Speaker 1: offensive rebound by Jade and Ivy Jay and Ivy is 754 00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:57,440 Speaker 1: starting to play a little bit better. He had a 755 00:34:57,480 --> 00:35:00,400 Speaker 1: big three in that run as well. And then Isaiah Stewart, 756 00:35:00,600 --> 00:35:02,960 Speaker 1: you know, a guy that can be hot and cold 757 00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:05,320 Speaker 1: on defense, had a couple of really nice rim protection 758 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:09,000 Speaker 1: sequences during that stretch for some misses from Phoenix players 759 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:11,440 Speaker 1: at the RAM, and then closing the game, the offense 760 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:14,120 Speaker 1: stalled out, which gave Phoenix a chance. Phoenix ended up 761 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:18,080 Speaker 1: cutting the lead to too late. Cade predictably off in 762 00:35:18,160 --> 00:35:20,720 Speaker 1: his first game back. He's very much a rhythm player 763 00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:22,120 Speaker 1: and it's going to take him a few games to 764 00:35:22,160 --> 00:35:24,799 Speaker 1: find his groove. He just had some misses and some 765 00:35:24,920 --> 00:35:27,640 Speaker 1: turnovers down the stretch that are pretty typical of a 766 00:35:27,680 --> 00:35:30,160 Speaker 1: guy that you know has been away from the game 767 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:32,239 Speaker 1: for a little bit. He's struggling at the foul line too. 768 00:35:32,280 --> 00:35:34,359 Speaker 1: That's always the dead giveaway that a player's just out 769 00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:38,120 Speaker 1: of rhythm. But Detroit's defense was just excellent down the stretch, 770 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:41,040 Speaker 1: Like Phoenix was really whipping the ball around the perimeter too, 771 00:35:41,040 --> 00:35:43,480 Speaker 1: But there's just so many shooters to track and it 772 00:35:43,520 --> 00:35:46,560 Speaker 1: can be tough. But Detroit just met that energy. They 773 00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:48,880 Speaker 1: were flying around, they were making their rotations, and they 774 00:35:48,960 --> 00:35:52,280 Speaker 1: got enough stops to close the deal down the stretch 775 00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:54,360 Speaker 1: and the Pistons get back in the win. Calmn I 776 00:35:54,360 --> 00:35:56,680 Speaker 1: thought it was super impressive that they went three to 777 00:35:56,719 --> 00:35:59,560 Speaker 1: one in those games without Jalen Duran and again Caid 778 00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:01,839 Speaker 1: missed two of those games as well. And now those 779 00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:05,160 Speaker 1: guys are back and got a tough schedule this coming week. 780 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:08,120 Speaker 1: They play the Celtics on Monday and the Rockets on Friday. 781 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:10,640 Speaker 1: That's gonna be a couple of tougher matchups for Detroit 782 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:12,960 Speaker 1: coming up up this week. But again, to me, you 783 00:36:12,960 --> 00:36:14,839 Speaker 1: know when we talk about we talked about this idea 784 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:16,799 Speaker 1: in our power ranking segment on Monday, the idea of 785 00:36:17,480 --> 00:36:21,600 Speaker 1: sustaining success through shifting circumstances. And one of the things 786 00:36:21,640 --> 00:36:26,520 Speaker 1: that that requires is an identity that permeates your entire roster. So, 787 00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:28,480 Speaker 1: for instance, if you have an identity that's tied up 788 00:36:28,480 --> 00:36:31,439 Speaker 1: in a singular player like oh, this guy does this, 789 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:34,440 Speaker 1: and that's what makes us great, then you remove that 790 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:36,279 Speaker 1: guy and it can be a problem. And I don't 791 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:37,799 Speaker 1: want to sit here and pretend like Cad and his 792 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:40,000 Speaker 1: shot creation isn't a big part of this team's identity. 793 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:41,719 Speaker 1: Of course it is, And even in this game is 794 00:36:42,239 --> 00:36:44,680 Speaker 1: as much as Kid had struggled, there were a lot 795 00:36:44,760 --> 00:36:47,600 Speaker 1: of possessions where he drew the rim protector in into 796 00:36:47,640 --> 00:36:50,959 Speaker 1: ballscreen and just fed Jalen during a wide open dunk. 797 00:36:50,960 --> 00:36:52,879 Speaker 1: There was a lot of quality shot creation from Kid 798 00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:54,759 Speaker 1: in this game too. But the point I'm trying to 799 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:57,320 Speaker 1: make is when you have an identity that permeates the roster, 800 00:36:57,440 --> 00:36:59,520 Speaker 1: when you have a thing that you do great that 801 00:36:59,600 --> 00:37:02,319 Speaker 1: involved like seven or eight dudes on the team, and 802 00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:04,440 Speaker 1: so when one or two of them are out, the 803 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:06,680 Speaker 1: other guys in that group can just kind of bring 804 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:09,919 Speaker 1: that same identity on a possession to possession basis. That's 805 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:14,239 Speaker 1: what actually drives sustained success through shifting circumstances. And it's 806 00:37:14,360 --> 00:37:17,400 Speaker 1: very clear that this team, through its physicality on the glass, 807 00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:21,240 Speaker 1: especially on the offensive glass, and its perimeter defense talent, 808 00:37:21,680 --> 00:37:24,319 Speaker 1: that they have an identity that permeates the roster, and 809 00:37:24,360 --> 00:37:27,080 Speaker 1: that's going to be there even in games where they're 810 00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:29,520 Speaker 1: missing some of their core rotation pieces, maybe even a 811 00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:31,840 Speaker 1: star or two, and I just think that that bodes 812 00:37:31,880 --> 00:37:35,960 Speaker 1: really well for Detroit moving forward this season. All right, lastly, 813 00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:37,239 Speaker 1: just for a couple minutes before we get out of 814 00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:39,960 Speaker 1: here tonight, the Lakers loss to the Hornets last night. 815 00:37:40,760 --> 00:37:43,239 Speaker 1: Not gonna go too deep here. I'm covering this with 816 00:37:43,360 --> 00:37:46,000 Speaker 1: Lakers Collective today at eleven am Pacific Standard times. You 817 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:47,759 Speaker 1: guys can head over to that channel and we'll be 818 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:49,680 Speaker 1: live for about an hour talking about that game, as 819 00:37:49,680 --> 00:37:53,120 Speaker 1: well as the other two games from this week. I 820 00:37:53,160 --> 00:37:55,760 Speaker 1: have been way less discouraged by the Kings and Hornets 821 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:58,439 Speaker 1: losses than you would think that I would be when 822 00:37:58,440 --> 00:38:01,279 Speaker 1: you have these kinds of injuries like Austin Reeves is out, 823 00:38:01,560 --> 00:38:03,600 Speaker 1: Jackson Hayes is now out, so you have these weird 824 00:38:03,680 --> 00:38:05,920 Speaker 1: like Lebron at center groups, which is just a lot 825 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:08,600 Speaker 1: to ask for a forty one year old. Gabe is 826 00:38:08,840 --> 00:38:11,600 Speaker 1: back from an injury, but he's still super rusty. Ruey 827 00:38:11,640 --> 00:38:14,520 Speaker 1: Hatchamura's back from injury, but he's still super rusty. So 828 00:38:14,600 --> 00:38:16,920 Speaker 1: what you end up with when Gabe's not shooting the 829 00:38:16,920 --> 00:38:19,239 Speaker 1: ball well and Ruy's not shooting the ball well, you 830 00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:21,600 Speaker 1: just have a lot of these yanky ass lineups on 831 00:38:21,600 --> 00:38:23,440 Speaker 1: the floor. I'm like looking at a lot of lineups 832 00:38:23,440 --> 00:38:25,319 Speaker 1: where I'm like, of course they're getting their butts kicked. 833 00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:29,279 Speaker 1: It's like Lebron and a G League guard and then 834 00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:32,560 Speaker 1: another two dudes that can't shoot and a guy that's 835 00:38:32,640 --> 00:38:34,440 Speaker 1: just coming back from an injury that's a shell of 836 00:38:34,520 --> 00:38:36,399 Speaker 1: himself right now, and it's like, of course they're getting beat, 837 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:39,839 Speaker 1: you know, and similar lineups involving Luca that have had 838 00:38:39,840 --> 00:38:43,680 Speaker 1: those kinds of issues, and so like, I just like, yeah, 839 00:38:43,719 --> 00:38:47,360 Speaker 1: the Lakers are a poor jump shooting team, and yeah 840 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:50,600 Speaker 1: they're I don't think they're gonna be you know, I 841 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:52,680 Speaker 1: still view them as a third tier contender. I'm not 842 00:38:52,719 --> 00:38:54,920 Speaker 1: sitting here trying to say that they're better like that 843 00:38:55,120 --> 00:38:57,719 Speaker 1: than you know, what we've considered them to be over 844 00:38:57,719 --> 00:38:59,839 Speaker 1: the last few weeks. But I just think in this 845 00:39:00,040 --> 00:39:01,920 Speaker 1: particular stretch of the season, when you look at the 846 00:39:02,080 --> 00:39:04,480 Speaker 1: like the Kings and Hornets are playing pretty good basketball 847 00:39:04,520 --> 00:39:06,800 Speaker 1: right now, they've been giving good teams issues over the 848 00:39:06,840 --> 00:39:08,960 Speaker 1: course of the last couple of weeks. So, like, am 849 00:39:08,960 --> 00:39:12,239 Speaker 1: I surprised that the Lakers dropped games when they have 850 00:39:12,320 --> 00:39:15,120 Speaker 1: this type of role player talent available to them, and 851 00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:17,440 Speaker 1: Austin's out of the lineup, and you're playing against some 852 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:20,480 Speaker 1: teams that are playing pretty good basketball. No, I'm not 853 00:39:20,880 --> 00:39:24,480 Speaker 1: overly surprised. And the reason why I'm not super worked 854 00:39:24,560 --> 00:39:27,280 Speaker 1: up about it is there are some real positive things 855 00:39:27,320 --> 00:39:30,759 Speaker 1: that I think stretched forward for this team. Like if 856 00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:33,960 Speaker 1: Lebron and Luca are going to continue to be this good, 857 00:39:34,239 --> 00:39:37,560 Speaker 1: like Lebron and Luca were fantastic again last night. If 858 00:39:37,640 --> 00:39:39,839 Speaker 1: Lebron and Luca are going to be this good and 859 00:39:39,920 --> 00:39:43,239 Speaker 1: you get Austin back, that's a strong enough foundation to 860 00:39:43,280 --> 00:39:47,040 Speaker 1: make up for some of your flaws. Then you hit 861 00:39:47,080 --> 00:39:49,640 Speaker 1: on a trade at the deadline, you get you know, 862 00:39:49,680 --> 00:39:51,360 Speaker 1: a couple of guys back to shooting the ball a 863 00:39:51,400 --> 00:39:54,040 Speaker 1: little bit better than they were earlier. At least I 864 00:39:54,040 --> 00:39:55,719 Speaker 1: think they could get back to being one of those 865 00:39:55,719 --> 00:39:58,479 Speaker 1: like feisty second tier contenders that can beat a team 866 00:39:58,560 --> 00:40:01,960 Speaker 1: or two, you know, if they catch some favorable matchups 867 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:04,279 Speaker 1: in the playoffs. So again, the role players are what 868 00:40:04,280 --> 00:40:07,480 Speaker 1: they are right now, they're bad. But the stars playing 869 00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:09,799 Speaker 1: this well I do think is a positive because I 870 00:40:09,800 --> 00:40:12,920 Speaker 1: don't think we're gonna see you know, Kobe Buffkin in 871 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:16,719 Speaker 1: the rotation for the Lakers when we get to, you know, 872 00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:19,040 Speaker 1: a big playoff series. I don't think Jared Vanderbilt is 873 00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:20,719 Speaker 1: gonna be in the rotation when they get to a 874 00:40:20,719 --> 00:40:23,279 Speaker 1: big playoff series. I don't think Gabe Vincent is going 875 00:40:23,360 --> 00:40:25,480 Speaker 1: to be in the rotation when they get to a 876 00:40:25,480 --> 00:40:27,600 Speaker 1: big playoff series. Like, the Lakers are gonna swap some 877 00:40:27,640 --> 00:40:30,479 Speaker 1: of these guys out. Austin's gonna come back Austin again 878 00:40:30,520 --> 00:40:33,360 Speaker 1: if it brings a better Like he's a better defender 879 00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:36,520 Speaker 1: than most of the guards not named Marcus Smart. He's 880 00:40:36,520 --> 00:40:38,760 Speaker 1: a better shooter than just about everybody on the team, 881 00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:41,360 Speaker 1: and he's one of their most valuable shot creators. You know, 882 00:40:41,480 --> 00:40:44,320 Speaker 1: you're taking what has been Nick Smith junior in Kobe 883 00:40:44,320 --> 00:40:47,319 Speaker 1: Buffkin minutes and you're giving those to Austin Reeves. You're 884 00:40:47,360 --> 00:40:50,720 Speaker 1: taking minutes that are going to some of these lesser players, 885 00:40:50,760 --> 00:40:53,600 Speaker 1: Like like you're not gonna have to lean on centerless 886 00:40:53,719 --> 00:40:57,000 Speaker 1: Lebron James units when Jackson Hayes is healthy. Right, So, 887 00:40:57,080 --> 00:40:59,960 Speaker 1: like I credit the Hornets. They played really good basket 888 00:41:00,360 --> 00:41:03,920 Speaker 1: the Hornets. This is crazy stat They literally made seven 889 00:41:04,040 --> 00:41:06,480 Speaker 1: pull up threes last night. They average half that they 890 00:41:06,480 --> 00:41:09,040 Speaker 1: played They're playing really good basketball right now. They were 891 00:41:09,120 --> 00:41:11,040 Speaker 1: spamming Iso threes at the top of the key in 892 00:41:11,080 --> 00:41:13,080 Speaker 1: the third quarter and it was working. So tip the 893 00:41:13,120 --> 00:41:16,040 Speaker 1: cap to the Hornets. Yes, the Lakers are a flawed team. 894 00:41:16,120 --> 00:41:18,359 Speaker 1: No one's out here saying they're gonna go win the championship. 895 00:41:18,520 --> 00:41:20,160 Speaker 1: But I do think they're better than they look right 896 00:41:20,200 --> 00:41:22,160 Speaker 1: this second, because they have a lot of guys that 897 00:41:22,200 --> 00:41:24,720 Speaker 1: are bad basketball players that are playing in their rotation. 898 00:41:24,960 --> 00:41:27,000 Speaker 1: It's an indictment on Rob for the work that he's 899 00:41:27,040 --> 00:41:29,319 Speaker 1: done with the back half of the roster, but I 900 00:41:29,360 --> 00:41:31,640 Speaker 1: think that there are some positive trends coming with just 901 00:41:31,680 --> 00:41:34,080 Speaker 1: the effort level, the engagement on defense, and how good 902 00:41:34,160 --> 00:41:36,359 Speaker 1: their stars look right now. All right, guys, it's all 903 00:41:36,360 --> 00:41:38,359 Speaker 1: I have for today. As always, I appreciate you guys 904 00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:40,440 Speaker 1: for supporting us and supporting the show. I hope all 905 00:41:40,440 --> 00:41:42,279 Speaker 1: of you guys have a wonderful weekend and I'll see 906 00:41:42,280 --> 00:41:48,280 Speaker 1: you next week on One