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Please 22 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 1: play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort in Kansas. 23 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 1: License partner Golden Nugget, Lake Charles and Louisiana twenty one 24 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: plus age varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bonus bets 25 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 1: expire one hundred and sixty eight hours after issuance. See 26 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: Sportsbook dot DraftKings dot com, slash Basketball terms for eligibility 27 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: and deposit restrictions, terms and responsible gaming resources. All right, 28 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: welcome to hoops tonight here at the Volume, Happy Monday, everybody. 29 00:01:57,600 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: Hope all you guys had an incredible weekend. We got 30 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: a jam pack show for you today. We're gonna start 31 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 1: with the breakdown of the Cleveland Cavaliers and just their 32 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 1: second game, having their starting lineup together, watching a huge 33 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: win over the Golden State Warriors yesterday, delivering them their 34 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: first road loss of the entire season. And then, as 35 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: I said last week, we're gonna kind of be changing 36 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: the format of the show for a little while. Now, 37 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 1: We're gonna be shifting to more deep dives into teams. 38 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 1: So we're still gonna do game breakdowns, they're gonna be 39 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: a part of the show, but I find that we 40 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: learn more about the teams when we take more time 41 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 1: with one team to really dive into the tape, watch 42 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: multiple games, and look at season long trends. And so 43 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: we're gonna be doing a deep dive of the Cleveland 44 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: Cavaliers in the second half of today's show. And then 45 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: I have three mail bag questions for the end of 46 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: the show as well. You guys are the joke before 47 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 1: we get started. Subscribe to our brand new YouTube channel 48 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 1: as we try to get this thing off the ground. 49 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: Would mean a lot to me if you guys would 50 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: scroll down to take a couple of seconds to hit 51 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:51,799 Speaker 1: that subscribe button. Don't forget about our podcast feed wherever 52 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 1: you get your podcast under Hoops Tonight. Don't forget about 53 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: our Instagram, Twitter and TikTok feeds. Twitter in particular are 54 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 1: putting a lot of video content on in the morning, 55 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 1: so I put another ten videos or so on there. 56 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: As you guys know, we have some limitations and our 57 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 1: ability to use footage on YouTube, but I have a 58 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: little bit more freedom with it on social media, so 59 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:12,399 Speaker 1: you're gonna want to follow me there in the last 60 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: but not at least keep dropping mailbag questions in the 61 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: YouTube comments. We can hit them towards the end of 62 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 1: the show. Obviously, different setup today. As I told you 63 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 1: guys last week, I've got painters working in the main house, 64 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: so I'm sequestered back in my master bedroom for the 65 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 1: rest of this week, which will be a little bit weird. 66 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: With work from home and with my job being mostly 67 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: watching film on a laptop, I'm gonna feel like I'm 68 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: kind of trapped for a little bit. I'm also injured 69 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: right now. I'm dealing with an achilles injury that's stopping 70 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: me from playing basketball. Didn't tear it, but I'm dealing 71 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 1: with some really bad soreness. I'm taking a break because 72 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: if I tear my achilles, I'll spiral into depression with 73 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: an inability to play basketball. So I'm just trying to 74 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: take it. So so it's gonna be a weird week, 75 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: but bear with me, and then back to the studio 76 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: hopefully here in a couple of days. All right, let's 77 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: talk some basketball. So last night we got to see 78 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 1: an example of the type of matchup that caused the 79 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 1: Golden State Warriors problems last year, which is a significant 80 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: amount of rim protection centered around the two non shooters 81 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: in the lineup, right, in this case Raymond Green and 82 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: Kavan Looni. But it doesn't really matter who's in the lineup, 83 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 1: They're going to find people to help off of with 84 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 1: rim protection. Essentially understanding that the Warriors are a team 85 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: that basically likes to run these five out actions and 86 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 1: try to curl over the top and weaponize their shooting 87 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:29,599 Speaker 1: to generate wide open looks in the paint. And so 88 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 1: if you have the ability to legitimately protect the rim 89 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:35,919 Speaker 1: off of a non shooter, it buys your defensive players, 90 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: particularly on the perimeter, a ton of leeway to overplay 91 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: the three point line. And we saw this in the 92 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: Warrior in the Warriors Lakers series last year, this concept 93 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,919 Speaker 1: of like top locking the shooters basically forcing them to 94 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 1: reject screens or to curl over the top and force 95 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: them downhill into your rim protection, and then from there 96 00:04:55,560 --> 00:05:00,359 Speaker 1: basically bothering shots with length, forcing turnovers, and then it 97 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: down the other way in transition, right, And this was 98 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: kind of a perfect example of that type of matchup. 99 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 1: We saw Evan Mobley on Draymond Green right from the 100 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: opening tip. We saw Jared Allen on Kevon Looney right 101 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 1: from the opening tip. It gives that freedom to those 102 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: perimeter players to be aggressive. Cleveland held Golden State to 103 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:17,839 Speaker 1: just a one oh two offensive rating. Golden State shot 104 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 1: just thirty six percent from the field. They were just 105 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: twelve for thirty one in the paint, as the Calves 106 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: outscored the Warriors in the paint fifty eight to twenty four. 107 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: And then, obviously, what do we know about missing shots 108 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: in the paint. Usually shots missed in the paint, particularly 109 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:39,680 Speaker 1: by perimeter players, cause floor balance issues, and as players 110 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 1: are unexpectedly rejected and don't get a shot up at 111 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 1: the rim or miss off the side of the rim, 112 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: it ends up leading to a fast break the other way. 113 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,360 Speaker 1: A lot of the time, the Caves scored thirty one 114 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: points in transition. In this game, they were up over 115 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 1: about a point in a quarter per possession on transition pushes. 116 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:58,039 Speaker 1: Warriors pulled it in five in the in the early 117 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: fourth quarter, made it look like they might make it again, 118 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: but the Calves quickly pushed it right back out to 119 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: double digits and they ended up winning comfortably. In general, 120 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:08,160 Speaker 1: this was kind of I wouldn't say this is the 121 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: first look, because we saw a lot of this in 122 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 1: the second half in Indiana Pacers game, but this was 123 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 1: a look at the defensive ceiling that this Calves group 124 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: is capable of. Again, Jared Allen had missed a bunch 125 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: of time at the start of the year, and we 126 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: saw some improved perimeter defense from the Calves at the 127 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: start of the year, particularly Donovan Mitchell playing much better 128 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 1: perimeter defense than were accustomed to seeing him, and then 129 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 1: Extrus being kind of a seamless fit next to those 130 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: two guys defensively, but they just didn't have the higher 131 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: level rimp protection. Evan Mobley at this point in his career, 132 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: I think he projects to be an excellent five in 133 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:40,160 Speaker 1: the long run, but at the five, he's a little 134 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: physically overmatched at this phase in his career right. So 135 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: getting Jared Allen out there just kind of brings them 136 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 1: that classic two big look that is so difficult to 137 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 1: deal with in the NBA regular season, which is essentially 138 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 1: you guard and pick and roll with one of the bigs, 139 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: and then you have the other big kind of working 140 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 1: off a non shooter as the low man kind of 141 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: coming over to help as a rim protector, coming over 142 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: to secure defensive rebounds or to rotate out to the 143 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: weekside corner. With his supreme athleticism. You see a lot 144 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 1: from Evan Mobley, right, and he's been amazing as a 145 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: help defender really for the entirety of his Calves career. 146 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 1: But that's kind of the beauty of this whole thing, 147 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 1: right is those two guys and what they can do 148 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: defensively on the back line paired with the elite perimeter defense. 149 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: I'm not going to dive too deep into it right 150 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: now because because we're going to do a deep dive 151 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 1: on the Calves in a little bit, but really really 152 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,679 Speaker 1: happy with where the Calves are defensively in their last 153 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: three halves with their starters back. But let's talk about 154 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: the Warriors for a little bit before we get to 155 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: the Calves. So I specifically want to zero in. We've 156 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: talked a ton of Warriors so far to start the season. 157 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: I want to zero in on the bench unit for 158 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 1: a little bit. Now. To be clear, this is not 159 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: the reason they lost this game. The starters were minus 160 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: eight and in general, or excuse me, when Steph was 161 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: on the floor, the Warriors were minus eight. The starters 162 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 1: I believe were minus four, So like it's hard to 163 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: blame the bench when that happens. However, the bench didn't 164 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: do as well in this game as they had done 165 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: in earlier games this season. The specific Moody kaminga Gary Payton, 166 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 1: Chris Paul and Darius Sarch lineup was minus seven in 167 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: just four minutes in this game. In general, they were 168 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: minus three without Steph on the floor. So again, it 169 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: wasn't the reason why they lost this game, but it 170 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: was a little bit more of a of the negative 171 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: end of the spectrum from what you got out of 172 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: that lineup. And I want to zoom in on it 173 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: because I think there's a specific thing from this group 174 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: that is starting to come to the surface that could 175 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: potentially be a problem in the long run, not so 176 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 1: much for the regular season, but more just for the 177 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 1: ultimate ceiling of this Golden State Warriors team. So, as 178 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 1: I've talked about throughout the season, the defense of that 179 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: group has been excellent, Right, Gary Payton's taking your primary 180 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: point of attack assignments. He's one of the best in 181 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: the league at it. Moses Moody and Jonathan Kaminga are 182 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: doing great work flying around in rotation and depending on 183 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,079 Speaker 1: the perimeter as well. That group has been a very 184 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: nice pairing with Dario Sarich in terms of like kind 185 00:08:56,640 --> 00:09:00,560 Speaker 1: of limiting his brim protection issues by containing on the 186 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 1: perimeter better. Right, But the offense has been an issue, 187 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 1: and that's something I talked about earlier, Like the I 188 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: think the last time we talked about the bench group, 189 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 1: they were below one hundred offensive rating at that point. 190 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 1: But I wanted to zoom in on the lineup because 191 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:16,719 Speaker 1: in general for the entire season now they are now 192 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 1: negative eight point five points per one hundred possessions. Now, 193 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: they've run a bunch of different bench configurations, but this 194 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 1: is the primary one that they've been running, and they 195 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 1: did not play well against the Calves, and in large part, 196 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:31,199 Speaker 1: in my opinion, because they can't score. So they're only 197 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 1: scoring throughout the entire season at this point one hundred 198 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:35,679 Speaker 1: points per one hundred possessions. And this is where we 199 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 1: have to look at Chris Paul. I would say that 200 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 1: the Chris Paul experiment with the Warriors has been a 201 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 1: resounding success. He's an obvious fit with the bench group, 202 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 1: he gets them organized. They definitely have let's just say, 203 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 1: not as low of lows as they did last year 204 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 1: when Jordan Poole was leading those units. Right, So overall 205 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: it's been a success. I think in the big picture, 206 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: it's going to be success for the entire season. However, 207 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: against this Calves on the road, I think you saw 208 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 1: an example of what can happen though, if Chris Paul 209 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: is not scoring like this, because Chris Paul is really 210 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: struggling to score the basketball, that's the one kind of gripe, 211 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 1: so to speak. On the Chris Paul experiment. So far, 212 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 1: he's averaging a career low seven point six points per game, 213 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: just thirty two percent from the field, just two for 214 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: twenty six from three, just fourteen for forty four on 215 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,439 Speaker 1: pull up jump shots with zero three, so thirty two 216 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 1: percent from the field and a thirty two percent effective 217 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: field goal percentage because you're not getting any of that 218 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:31,439 Speaker 1: extra point from threes, right, hasn't hit a single pull 219 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 1: up three the entire season. He's also only made five 220 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 1: shots at the rim all season. A Chris Paul pick 221 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: and roll to this point is only worth zero point 222 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 1: eight points per possession, and on ISOs against switches, he's 223 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: just three for fifteen from the field. Now again, he's 224 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: orchestrating the unit very well. Up until recently, the unit's 225 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:54,199 Speaker 1: been performing well on the scoreboard despite the offensive limitations. 226 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: But this is an example of what you actually need, 227 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: Chris Ford. Right. So, an elite defense team that protects 228 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 1: the room really well, that kind of team is always 229 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 1: going to give young players trouble because young players typically 230 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 1: struggle against elite defense. Is the kind of figure out 231 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 1: all those little nuances, right, And what you need in 232 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 1: that situation is just two or three more times a 233 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: game where Chris can go get a bucket right and 234 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 1: look to be aggressive when nothing else was working against 235 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 1: those Cavs coverages because their rotations were so sharp. You 236 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: weren't getting anything at the rim, and you weren't getting 237 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: wide open kickout threes, right, and so at a certain point, 238 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: at least not for your knockdown shooters. So at a 239 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: certain point, what's there is in the drop coverage, you know, 240 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: especially like guys like Darius Garland are out there, like 241 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: you can still get separation against them in pick and roll. 242 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:42,199 Speaker 1: You gotta have someone who can rise up and knock 243 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 1: a shotdown, which Chris absolutely can. He just hasn't done 244 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: so yet this season. And again that's the thing to 245 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 1: keep an eye on. It's not so much that Chris 246 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 1: can do it, it's just a question of when he will. 247 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:56,680 Speaker 1: Right now. The counterpoints to that is he's old, right, 248 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 1: So that's the issue. Is you look at those numbers 249 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:02,680 Speaker 1: relative to is previous seasons. They're down a lot, right, 250 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 1: Obviously he's slumping. The question is is he gonna snap 251 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: out of it? I think yes, But I'm saying that 252 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:10,959 Speaker 1: he needs to. And the main reason why is because 253 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 1: that's why you make the trade. You make the trade 254 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 1: so that Chris can especially in that matchup against rim 255 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: protection teams that are packing the paint. You need another 256 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 1: guy who can run pick and roll to spell Steph 257 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 1: and consistently generate quality shots. And he can do it 258 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:30,319 Speaker 1: as a bench shot creator and the day and day 259 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: out of the regular season. But that on the road, 260 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: tough game against an elite defense, that's kind of a 261 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 1: good kind of microcosm of what a playoff situation would 262 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 1: look like. That's an example of a game in the 263 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 1: playoffs where you have to lean heavier on pick and 264 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 1: roll and spreading the floor out and you desperately need 265 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: Chris to just be a little bit more productive offensively. Again, 266 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 1: not a big deal at this point in the season, 267 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 1: just a trend to keep an eye on. The trend 268 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 1: is the bench unit is struggling to score in large 269 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,959 Speaker 1: part because Chris is struggling to score, and he's specifically 270 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: missing a lot of shots that he normally makes. So 271 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:05,439 Speaker 1: that's the trend. We'll see what ends up going on 272 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 1: in the bigger picture. All right, Let's do our deep 273 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 1: dive on the Cleveland Cavaliers. So they improved a three 274 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:15,719 Speaker 1: and four after beating Golden State. The Indiana game was 275 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 1: the other game where we saw all five of the starters. 276 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 1: That was the first game of the NBA Cup on Friday. 277 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: On the road ran into a buzz saw, so to speak. 278 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: And Indiana is going to do that to teams. They're 279 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: really really fast and athletic, especially on the perimeter, and 280 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: so they're one of those teams where on the road, 281 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 1: when they're fueled by their home crowd, they can be 282 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: kind of a gigantic pain in the ass to deal with, 283 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 1: for lack of a better term, right, they dug themselves 284 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 1: in a seventy to fifty three hole. But they came 285 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 1: out in that second half and immediately just put the 286 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: pacers in jail and got out and ran the other 287 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 1: way and immediately made it a game. They actually took 288 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 1: a four point lead in the fourth quarter, super super 289 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 1: impressive defensively in the second half of that game. They 290 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 1: ended up losing, you know, based on basically like kind 291 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,719 Speaker 1: of typical late game stuff that can happen going either way, right, 292 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,320 Speaker 1: Like Buddy Held ended up catching a heater, making a 293 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 1: couple of threes. He made one off of a Max 294 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:07,839 Speaker 1: Strew's turnover where Max was kind of draped over him 295 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:10,079 Speaker 1: from behind and he just somehow made it. Buddy Heilds 296 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: one of the best shooters in the league. That's what 297 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 1: he's gonna do sometimes. The Cavs had two crucial late 298 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: game turnovers that killed them where they got stops. One 299 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: where Evan Mobley just inexplicably through like a ninety mile 300 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 1: an hour bounce pass that was too far ahead of 301 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 1: Darius Garland and went out of bounds. And then Darius 302 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 1: Garland did the same thing when he tried to throw 303 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 1: a swing pass across the floor in transition to Donovan 304 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 1: Mitchell that got stolen. But so it's tough because it's 305 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 1: a loss, and it's a loss in pool play for 306 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 1: the play in for the the NBA Cup. But at 307 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 1: the same time, I thought that second half was actually 308 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: a really really impressive showing from the Cavalier defense. They 309 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 1: gave up a one oh two defensive rating in the 310 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 1: entire game against Golden State, which is like unbelievably good 311 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: against the defense, an offense that's been pretty effective all 312 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: season so far this year and has a player in 313 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: Steph Curry who has been arguably one of the arguably 314 00:14:57,640 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 1: the best player in the league to start the year, depending 315 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: on who you ask, right, And then they gave up 316 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 1: a one four defensive rating in the second half against 317 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 1: the Indiana Pacers. That's what this team is capable of 318 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 1: when they're really locked in. And again, like there's still 319 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: little things like Darius Garland to me still is the 320 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: easiest entry point into that defense and it can cause problems. 321 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 1: There was this weird moment at the end of the 322 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: Pacers game where like, uh, Tyrese Halliburton just just he 323 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 1: was having success, just beating Darius Garland off the dribble 324 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: once in io and then another time he pick and 325 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: roll where he just got by him too easily, but 326 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 1: he got easy buckets, just just beating Darius Garland off 327 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 1: the dribble, and then he just randomly decided, actually, I'd 328 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: rather attack Jared Allen, and he started calling for ball 329 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 1: screens and Jared would switch, and then Jared actually got 330 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 1: a really nice stop on Tyree's where he blocked him 331 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: on a drive and then Tyree's just made a prayer, 332 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 1: like an absolute prayer step back three on the right 333 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 1: wing that arked seventeen feet in the air, it seemed, 334 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: and somehow went in. But in general, like that's that's 335 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 1: an issue in the big picture, right, Like Jared Allen 336 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 1: can switch onto the perimeter guard well, soaken Evan Mobley. 337 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: I like Stru's defensively. We're going to talk about him 338 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: more in a minute. Donovan Mitchell's having a good season defensively. 339 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 1: Carousel Avert is one of their better perimeter defenders. But 340 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 1: Darius Garland is he competes like I genuinely, I'm impressed 341 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: by how often he puts his body on the line 342 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: to get back in front of people. He does sprint 343 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 1: around in rotation, and he is a willing participant in 344 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 1: the defense, but his physical limitations do become an issue 345 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 1: in late game situations, as you saw with Tyres Sliburton, like, hey, 346 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 1: get out of the way. I'm just gonna beat Darius 347 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: off the dribble and get into the paint. And that's 348 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: something that we saw a lot in the Knick series 349 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 1: as they attacked specifically r J. Barrett and Jaylen Brunson 350 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 1: spent a lot of time attacking Darius Garland. So that's 351 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 1: the thing, Like, I'm really impressed by the Cavalary defense 352 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 1: in general there in spite of in spite of the 353 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 1: injuries to start the year, they're still eleventh in defensive 354 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 1: rating eighth and half court defense according to Cleaning the Glass, 355 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:56,440 Speaker 1: middle of the pack for transition defense fifteenth, and frequency nineteenth. 356 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 1: In efficiency, they're allowing the sixth fewest points in the 357 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: paint one hundred possessions, and opponents are shooting just fifty 358 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: eight point five percent on them inside the restricted area, 359 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 1: which is top five in the league. Middle of the 360 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: pac three pointers allowed fifteenth and the opponent three pointers 361 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 1: made per one hundred and twenty third in percentage. The 362 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:16,439 Speaker 1: offensive glass is still a major issue. They're grabbing just 363 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:20,199 Speaker 1: sixty nine percent of available defensive rebounds. That's twenty seventh 364 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 1: in the NBA. Now, remember that was one of the 365 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 1: major things that got them beat in the Knick series too, 366 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:28,119 Speaker 1: is just an inability to finish off defensive possessions. So like, 367 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 1: in general, I'm really happy with where the Cavs defense is. 368 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:33,439 Speaker 1: Their perimeter defense, I think is much better than it 369 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: was last year. Max Strus has been such a great fit. 370 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 1: Offense has been iffy, right, Like, he's not shooting the 371 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:42,479 Speaker 1: ball super well. He's nineteen for sixty three on jump shots. 372 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:46,120 Speaker 1: A big issue with him taking really tough movement jump 373 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: shots all the time, like he's actually dead eye when 374 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:52,160 Speaker 1: he's spotting up. It's when he's taking these wild, drifting 375 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 1: threes coming off of screens that he's missing. As a 376 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:57,880 Speaker 1: matter of fact, by the numbers, he's shooting sixty percent 377 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: effective field goal percentage in spot up situations one point 378 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 1: two to three points per spot of possession, which is 379 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: like amazing, But he's just four for fifteen when he's 380 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:07,160 Speaker 1: coming off the screen. So like, it's been a little 381 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 1: bit of a mixed bag with Max offensively, but I 382 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 1: think that can be fixed with approach defensively, I think 383 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 1: it's been a home run. He's just like he's like 384 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:17,760 Speaker 1: ninety percent of the Isaac Accorro experience in terms of 385 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 1: his competitiveness on the defensive end. On the perimeter, teams 386 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:23,160 Speaker 1: are picking on him and switches because they think he's 387 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 1: easy to score on, but he's not. As matter of fact, 388 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:28,399 Speaker 1: teams are just shooting four for fourteen from the field 389 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: trying to attack Max Strews in isolation. So like the 390 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 1: perimeter defense, Like I said, Donovan Mitchell's having his best 391 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:37,120 Speaker 1: perimeter defense defensive season as a pro. In my opinion, 392 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 1: Max Streus has been a great fit. Lavert's competing defensively. 393 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,679 Speaker 1: I even like Dean Wade just with his length and 394 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:45,400 Speaker 1: help and especially on the defensive glass. The front court 395 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 1: obviously is one of the best defensive front courts in 396 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: the league. There's just the two things. Darius Garland is 397 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,160 Speaker 1: an entry point still kind of an issue, and then 398 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: the defensive glass. For whatever reason, this team my guess, 399 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:57,439 Speaker 1: and you can kind of see it on film and 400 00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 1: long rebound situations, but this is a team that has 401 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 1: athleticism in the front court, but they're a team that 402 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: packs the paint and gives up a lot of threes. 403 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 1: What happens when you give up a lot of threes, 404 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:06,679 Speaker 1: you give up a lot of long rebounds. Is this 405 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 1: a tall perimeter team? No, Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, two 406 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 1: small guards, even though Darius, even though Donovan's a good athlete, right, 407 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 1: you know when Carrislovert nax Strew's we're talking about a 408 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 1: bunch of guys that are not six nine freaky athletes, right, So, like, 409 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:22,119 Speaker 1: this is not a team that's going to succeed in 410 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: long rebound situations. But those are the two things to 411 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: keep an eye on over the course of the season 412 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,879 Speaker 1: in biggest areas for opportunity at this point. On the 413 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:31,919 Speaker 1: offensive end of the four, couple of specific things like 414 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: Evan Mobley, we want to keep an eye on him 415 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 1: in short role situations. Defensively, he's incredible. I clipped a 416 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 1: couple clips of him today from a couple of games 417 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:43,640 Speaker 1: from him playing defense and some of just the unbelievable 418 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 1: help and recover situations that he can turn what looks 419 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 1: like a compromised possession into all of a sudden he 420 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:52,480 Speaker 1: blocks a shot and we're running the other way, right, 421 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:55,440 Speaker 1: Like he's still unbelievable in that regard. But the big 422 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 1: problem in that in that game or series against the 423 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:02,159 Speaker 1: Knicks was Mitchell Robinson's ability to kind of split the 424 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 1: difference in pick and roll defense with him and Jared 425 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: Allen and be able to effectively guard them both. And 426 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:11,439 Speaker 1: that would allow Julius Randall to basically show high on 427 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:13,680 Speaker 1: ball screens without having to worry about getting punished on 428 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:15,640 Speaker 1: the back line. Right, And there's a lot of talk 429 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,159 Speaker 1: about the perimeter shooting, and it certainly is a big issue. 430 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 1: Like they're a lot, like we just talked about Max 431 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:23,679 Speaker 1: Strews in spot up situations, like you're already seeing this 432 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:25,720 Speaker 1: year the benefit of what it's like having a guy 433 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:27,880 Speaker 1: at the end of the chain that's a knockdown three 434 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 1: point shooter. And again, like Max is shooting like shit 435 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:33,560 Speaker 1: at the rim, and he's shooting like shit and coming 436 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 1: off of screens, but when it comes to the stuff 437 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:38,440 Speaker 1: that's like the kind of stuff that you actually need 438 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:41,160 Speaker 1: from him in the Cavs offense in terms of finishing plays, 439 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 1: He's doing a really really nice job there and so 440 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:46,399 Speaker 1: like that, that's definitely a big part of it, and 441 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 1: that's definitely going to help them in the big picture, 442 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:50,640 Speaker 1: but you need Evan Mobley in a two big system 443 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 1: to be an offensive threat. We haven't seen too much 444 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 1: so far this year. His points per possession in the 445 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 1: role is up a little bit from last series, at 446 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: one point one point per possession. I'd like to see 447 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:06,199 Speaker 1: him closer to like one point three as the season progresses. 448 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 1: He is three for four on hooks and floaters. He 449 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:10,680 Speaker 1: made less than half of them last year, so he's 450 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:13,200 Speaker 1: doing a little bit better in a very small sample 451 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:14,879 Speaker 1: size on that end, but we're gonna want to keep 452 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:17,720 Speaker 1: an eye on that. Donovan Mitchell's playing insanely well career 453 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:19,920 Speaker 1: high thirty three points per game on a career high 454 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: sixty seven percent through shooting. His jump shootings up. His 455 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:24,919 Speaker 1: rim finishing is up. He's up over eighty percent at 456 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 1: the rim this year, which is insane. His assists are up. 457 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:29,360 Speaker 1: He's having the best defensive season of his career so far. 458 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:31,479 Speaker 1: Donovan Mitchell's just last guy in the world you need 459 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 1: to worry about for the Caves. Darris Garland's having a 460 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: little bit of a rough start, though He's just one 461 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:37,040 Speaker 1: for twelve from three's turning the ball over a lot 462 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 1: and again he's the weak link for them on the 463 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:41,879 Speaker 1: defensive end of the floor. So a big area of 464 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: improvement for the Caves is just Darius Garland playing better, 465 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:46,400 Speaker 1: and he did have a better game against Golden State, 466 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 1: and so maybe that's a sign of a positive trend 467 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:52,600 Speaker 1: the core five, so Max Strew, Scarland, Mitchell, with Mobley 468 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:55,160 Speaker 1: and Allen. They've played forty six possessions so far through 469 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 1: two games, one twenty two offensive rating and one hundred 470 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 1: defensive rating for plus twenty two points per one hundred possessions. 471 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:06,120 Speaker 1: That's amazing as a team. One oh four defensive rating 472 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:08,119 Speaker 1: against Indy in the second half, one oh two defensive 473 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 1: rating for the game against Golden State. So a lot 474 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 1: of stuff trending in a positive direction for the Cavs 475 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:16,959 Speaker 1: now that they're getting healthy again. Just to keep an 476 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 1: eye on the entry point, Darius Garland defensive rebounding, Darius 477 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:23,640 Speaker 1: Garland on offense, improving Evan Mobley on the roll. Those 478 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:25,359 Speaker 1: are the main things we want to keep an eye on. 479 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,880 Speaker 1: Everything else looks good. Like Harris Lavert straight up took 480 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:31,119 Speaker 1: over the end of that Pacers game just beating people 481 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:34,639 Speaker 1: off the dribble above his isolation attack it's kind of 482 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: a counter to everything Mitchell and Garland bring. Like I said, 483 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:41,679 Speaker 1: Dean Wade's been an intriguing Tristian Thompson was like, legit 484 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:44,199 Speaker 1: good on defense against the Warriors, made a bunch of 485 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 1: big plays. So like they're they're looking like a team 486 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: that's coming together in a in a big way here 487 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:51,840 Speaker 1: early in the season. All right, guys, before we get 488 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 1: out of here, let's hit the mailbag. First question from 489 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:58,879 Speaker 1: Miles how does altitude? I love this question. This is 490 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 1: super interesting. How does altitude effect visiting teams early in 491 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:06,159 Speaker 1: the year. Do you feel that Dallas's poor transition defense 492 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 1: partially was because of the atmosphere? So I don't think 493 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:11,640 Speaker 1: it's altitude is a big part of it, But another 494 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 1: big part of it's just on the road. Why is 495 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 1: it the team struggling struggle and transition on the road typically, 496 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:19,680 Speaker 1: And then just view the Denver Nuggets and their altitude 497 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:22,880 Speaker 1: is basically an exaggerated version of that. With this from 498 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:28,880 Speaker 1: the standpoint of altitude, right, here's the thing. When you're 499 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 1: fueled by your home crowd and the energy that that brings, 500 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:35,639 Speaker 1: you just naturally run harder. It's just kind of like, 501 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 1: think about all the times during a basketball game when 502 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:41,400 Speaker 1: like you don't want to run, you know, whether it's 503 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 1: back on defense or running the floor and transition on offense, 504 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 1: and you're tired, and so you decide not to and 505 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 1: so you jog, you know, and God knows in our 506 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 1: pickup games as US amateur basketball players that we do 507 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 1: it a ton, right, But like it's even when you're 508 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:58,119 Speaker 1: taking games seriously, there are times when you decide not 509 00:23:58,119 --> 00:23:59,680 Speaker 1: to run. In their times when you decide to run, 510 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 1: when you're fueled by the energy of your home crowd, 511 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 1: you just always run, Like there's no other way to 512 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:05,680 Speaker 1: put it. Like you just when you're really playing hard 513 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 1: in front of your home crowd, and like you're fueled 514 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 1: by that energy. It's like you're sprinting back on defense 515 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:13,439 Speaker 1: every possession, every time you secure a defensive rebound, you're 516 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:16,120 Speaker 1: sprinting the lane. And so for really, for the road team, 517 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 1: it's more about discipline than anything else. It's those decisions, 518 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:21,000 Speaker 1: those run or don't run decisions that you have to 519 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:22,639 Speaker 1: decide whether or not you're going to whether or not 520 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:25,920 Speaker 1: you're gonna go right. And more often than not, on 521 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 1: the road, there are moments where the young energetic. It 522 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:31,359 Speaker 1: doesn't even necessarily have to do with age, but the 523 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:35,400 Speaker 1: energetic home player says screw it, I'm running, and then 524 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:38,359 Speaker 1: the road dude decides to take that possession off and 525 00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 1: it ends up causing problems. But teams that are really 526 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:43,760 Speaker 1: good on the road are typically very mentally disciplined teams, 527 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:46,400 Speaker 1: meaning like, there are teams that are very good at 528 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 1: forcing themselves to make the same decision every time regardless. 529 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:52,400 Speaker 1: This is why teams that defend well typically play well 530 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:55,119 Speaker 1: on the road, because defense travels. It's not about making shots, 531 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 1: it's about your habits. Do you have a habit of 532 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:01,639 Speaker 1: every time a shot goes up, sprinting back in transition? Defense? 533 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:04,000 Speaker 1: Do you have a habit every time a defensive remounl 534 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,399 Speaker 1: gets gathered of running your lane in transition? If you 535 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 1: have those habits, then you're going to be a better 536 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:11,639 Speaker 1: road team, because habits are basically something you do involuntarily 537 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:15,480 Speaker 1: versus something that you have to consciously choose. Right, next 538 00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:18,320 Speaker 1: mail back question and again to tie off the niles 539 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:20,800 Speaker 1: one again at altitude is just an even tougher version 540 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:22,880 Speaker 1: of that. Right, Like, when you're tired, you can still 541 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: make the decision to turn it sprint back. It's just 542 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:26,880 Speaker 1: easier to do when you're fueled by the home crowd, 543 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 1: and obviously the Nuggets players are in a little bit 544 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:33,240 Speaker 1: better shape of practicing in those conditions. Next mail back 545 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:36,919 Speaker 1: question from Jake, how do we parse lineup analytics? The 546 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 1: Warrior's second team is looking great and often has a 547 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:41,640 Speaker 1: better plus minus, but they're also mostly playing the opponent's 548 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:45,119 Speaker 1: bench players. I'm sure someone's crunching the numbers numbers somewhere 549 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 1: that accounts for matchups. So to me, lineup data, again, 550 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:51,920 Speaker 1: everything is relative to the circumstance. And we've talked about 551 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 1: this before. It's not even just about line up data. 552 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:57,440 Speaker 1: It's also about play type data. So I primarily look 553 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:03,720 Speaker 1: at box score metra, defensive rating, offensive rating, net rating, 554 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 1: so like a pace weighted metrics, right, And then I 555 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 1: really look at play type data. So I love like 556 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 1: looking at points per pick and roll points per ISO, 557 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:14,159 Speaker 1: points per spot up possession, that sort of thing. I 558 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 1: think those are the best indicators of like the scoreboard 559 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:20,439 Speaker 1: for that individual play type. Right, Like, for instance, in 560 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:24,160 Speaker 1: a spot up possession, you really are hoping for from 561 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:27,120 Speaker 1: a good player, A good spot up player about one 562 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:28,960 Speaker 1: point two points per possession. You want them to be 563 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 1: able to consistently knock down catch and shoot threes and 564 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:33,920 Speaker 1: drive closeouts. For a pick and roll player, pick and 565 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:36,200 Speaker 1: roll is the initiation for every single possession. It's a 566 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: lower percentage play. So like anything over one possession is 567 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 1: like a home run, right, you know. So it's like 568 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:45,879 Speaker 1: everything is a little different. Each situation is different, and 569 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 1: so it doesn't make sense to just look at field 570 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:50,440 Speaker 1: goal percentage for two players if one of them constantly 571 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:52,800 Speaker 1: is playing in spot up situations and the others constantly 572 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 1: running pick and roll, which is just going to be harder, right, 573 00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:57,199 Speaker 1: And so that's the kind of data I like to 574 00:26:57,200 --> 00:27:00,000 Speaker 1: look at. But even then there's context from the same 575 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:03,120 Speaker 1: point of like how's the spacing off the ball, because 576 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 1: that's going to directly affect my ability to score and 577 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 1: pick and roller in ISO, right, same thing even goes 578 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:09,439 Speaker 1: for spot up situations, So, like all, there's always like 579 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:12,639 Speaker 1: context to these sorts of things, and specifically with lineup data, 580 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:15,680 Speaker 1: a bench lineup, for instance, talk about the Warriors. For instance, 581 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:19,040 Speaker 1: Warriors bench defending really well, but they're defending really well 582 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:21,680 Speaker 1: against bench lineups. So what that means is it doesn't 583 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:25,199 Speaker 1: mean you should start Moody and kaminga because they're your 584 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:27,480 Speaker 1: best defenders. No, that's not the case. It's just they're 585 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 1: doing a really good job within the context of bench lineups, 586 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:35,120 Speaker 1: guarding opposing benches and everything with that is about kind 587 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:38,080 Speaker 1: of like parsing together where they're being used. Right, Like 588 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:42,119 Speaker 1: you know, last year Lebron James was playing without a 589 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:45,760 Speaker 1: backup center, and so bench lineups got crushed with the Lakers. 590 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,359 Speaker 1: Doesn't mean Lebron's bad, it just means that it was 591 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 1: a lineup construction issue. This year, Christian Wood off the 592 00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:53,520 Speaker 1: bench has been one of the best weapons for the Lakers. 593 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:56,600 Speaker 1: So now Lebron's bench numbers are way better. Is it 594 00:27:56,640 --> 00:28:00,120 Speaker 1: all Lebron. No, obviously the Lebron's great in both situations, 595 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 1: but there's lineup construction pieces there. Christian Wood has been 596 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:05,480 Speaker 1: one of the best players for the Lakers this year. 597 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 1: He also has been coming off the bench primarily in 598 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:10,960 Speaker 1: those Lebron groups, and so it's kind of influencing the 599 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 1: plus minus data there. It's not like Lebron suddenly got 600 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:15,160 Speaker 1: way better than he did last year in the playoffs. 601 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:18,040 Speaker 1: It's about lineup construction. So again, there's context to everything. 602 00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:20,880 Speaker 1: Anytime you ever see a piece of data, you want 603 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:23,479 Speaker 1: to ask yourself, how is this piece of data actually 604 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:26,520 Speaker 1: translating to the court, and what's the context there. Anytime 605 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:28,400 Speaker 1: you see something on film, like let's say a guy 606 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:29,960 Speaker 1: makes a shot or a guy makes a play, you 607 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 1: want to go to the numbers to see how often 608 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:35,439 Speaker 1: he's actually been able to do that. Every everything is 609 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 1: about like kind of leaning on the opposite for context, 610 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:40,040 Speaker 1: if that makes sense. All right, lastly, before we get 611 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 1: out of here, way too early, MVP race. This person 612 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 1: in the mailbag said, it's between Steph and Luca. Who 613 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:49,680 Speaker 1: would you pick right now? I think Luca has a 614 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:51,880 Speaker 1: slight edge, but Steph is closing the gap. I'd give 615 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 1: four guys, and I'm not going to pick any one 616 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 1: of them in first place just because it's way, way, 617 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 1: way too early, But there are four guys in my opinion, 618 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:01,440 Speaker 1: that are off to like textbook MVP starts right like 619 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:05,840 Speaker 1: Luca because of the simple fact that his roster is 620 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: kind of mediocre in terms of talent. They've been winning 621 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:09,640 Speaker 1: a lot of games to start the year, and he's 622 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 1: putting up just just absolutely obscene numbers. Right. So, like 623 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:16,720 Speaker 1: the Kyrie Irving is a co star, but he's not 624 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:19,239 Speaker 1: viewed throughout the league in terms of value like a 625 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:21,680 Speaker 1: star in the purest sense of the word, just because 626 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:23,720 Speaker 1: of the way he's destroyed his own reputation over the years. 627 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:26,280 Speaker 1: So like as a result of that, like he's got 628 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 1: like kind of that pilot part of the narrative down 629 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:33,920 Speaker 1: in general the rosters overachieving. That's there. He's consistently considered 630 00:29:33,960 --> 00:29:39,000 Speaker 1: a top tier superstar talent and with playoff performance to 631 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 1: back it up, and he's putting up all the numbers 632 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 1: that you need. So that's textbook Steph obviously just playing 633 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:46,320 Speaker 1: the best basketball of his career while winning a lot 634 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 1: of games for a team without a co star. Nicole 635 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 1: Jokic has been phenomenal as the Nuggets have only lost once, 636 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:54,520 Speaker 1: So that's an obvious one for me. And then Jason Tatum. 637 00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 1: I talked about it like they'd have to win sixty 638 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 1: plus sixty five games and he'd have to put it 639 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 1: up insane. You should see thirty plus points per game, 640 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:04,040 Speaker 1: like Tatum's doing that too. So those are the four 641 00:30:04,080 --> 00:30:05,760 Speaker 1: guys that I have my eye on here early in 642 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:08,840 Speaker 1: the year, but even then I'm probably missing several guys 643 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:12,760 Speaker 1: because it's just so early. So again, we won't really 644 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:15,280 Speaker 1: talk MVP until we get outside of twenty games or so. 645 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:17,959 Speaker 1: But out the gates there are those four guys are 646 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:19,440 Speaker 1: the ones that have kind of stood out as like 647 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 1: a typical MVP starts. Our guys, that is all I 648 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 1: have for today is always, I sincerely appreciate your sport. 649 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 1: We're gonna be back tomorrow breaking down more games from 650 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:30,160 Speaker 1: Monday night as well as doing another deep dive on 651 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:33,480 Speaker 1: a team, and then we'll start our nighttime coverage on Wednesday. 652 00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 1: As always, I appreciate you, guys, and I'll see you then. 653 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:04,640 Speaker 1: The volume