1 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: The Rockets PJ. Tucker is on the trade block. We'll 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:09,640 Speaker 1: talk about where he might go. The Hawks get a 3 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: game winner from an unlikely source, but I'm still not 4 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: a believer. The Nats chemistry is too good to be 5 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: derailed by Blake Griffin's arrival. A new coach gets his 6 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:22,240 Speaker 1: first win, and a good under the radar team stays 7 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 1: that way. It was an eleven game night in the Association. 8 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: Let's getter started. I'm Tasmellis and this is what you 9 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: need to know in the NBA for Friday, March twelfth. 10 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: You can add the Rockets PJ. Tucker to the list 11 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: of veterans who are likely to be moved before the deadline. 12 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: And this is just sad for Rockets head coach Steven Salas, 13 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: who said he was under the impression that PJ. Tucker 14 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 1: would suit up for him against the Kings on Thursday 15 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: night and he was disappointed when he wasn't out there. 16 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: How sad for Steven Silas first job as a head coach. 17 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: He's coached pretty well in his team has lost fourteen 18 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: straight games. Can I say a man has coached well 19 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 1: even though his Houston Rockets team has lost fourteen straight yes, 20 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: I can. I can. His players have been disappointing, and 21 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: it is strange John Wall has been healthy for much 22 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:16,760 Speaker 1: of this fourteen game stretch. Victor Oldiepo just hasn't been 23 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: himself Anyways. We'll get to Victor Oldepo in a second. 24 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: Back to PJ Tucker. We know who PJ Tucker is. 25 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: He's an undersized power forward. Hits the corner three plays 26 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:28,040 Speaker 1: far bigger than his size. With that in mind, let's 27 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:31,760 Speaker 1: take a look at the possible destinations for PJ. The 28 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: Nuggets are rumored to want him, as are the Lakers. 29 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: The Nets they always want somebody those Nets, the Heat, 30 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: and the Milwaukee Bucks. I'll start with the Box. That 31 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: one makes sense. They kind of lack defense off of 32 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: the bench. They would fit into guys that could play 33 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 1: around Giannis, who could hit the three ball. They set 34 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: the record for most three ball makes in a game 35 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: earlier this season. PJ could be a good part of 36 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: that coming off the bench. But I like the Miami 37 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: fit even better. Get ready to drink Heat Culture. Yeah, 38 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: PJ Tucker would absolutely fit perfectly into the Heat culture, 39 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 1: play in hard defense, playing scrappy and also, they haven't 40 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 1: really found a replacement for j Crowder, who was their 41 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: starting power forward in their finals run last season in 42 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: the Bubble. In fact, they started kaseyok Palla, a second 43 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 1: round pick from the twenty nineteen draft, in a win 44 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: over Orlando to get their second half started. PJ. Tucker 45 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 1: would be an absolute perfect fit and easy fit for 46 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,919 Speaker 1: the Miami Heat. The thirty five year old is destined 47 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: to move in the next thirteen days. That just makes sense. 48 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,079 Speaker 1: Victor Oladipo was the big player the Rockets got back 49 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: in the James hard And trade. He hasn't worked out 50 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: to their liking on the floor. They offered him a 51 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: two year extension. He'd decline that things aren't working out well. 52 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: And the main part that people thought that they would 53 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: get back was Karris LeVert, who went to Indiana as 54 00:02:57,760 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: part of that fourteen deal as a part of the 55 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 1: physical During that trade, there was a mass found on 56 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: his kidney. He underwent surgery in January to treat renal 57 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: cell carsonoma. But great news. He hasn't played since then, 58 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 1: but he could be back on the Pacers road trip 59 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: that they're starting this weekend. Fantastic news. I just wanted 60 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 1: to share there. Back to the floor on Thursday night 61 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 1: Atlanta Toronto watching this game. This is how I was 62 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 1: going to start this story for you guys, the post 63 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 1: coach firing high period that many teams go through. Well, 64 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: it's officially over for the Atlanta Hawks. It seemed like 65 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: they were done. They were down fifteen in the last 66 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: six minutes, but then they came back and won. I 67 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: am still not buying it for the Atlanta Hawks. Yeah, 68 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: write the story when the ball is in the air. 69 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: Write the story when the team is down fifteen. I 70 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: wrote the story and I'm sticking with it because, Yeah, 71 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: They've won three straight games since they fired coach Lloyd Pierce. 72 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: They beat a Jimmy Butler liss Miami Heat team. They 73 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 1: beat a Orlando Magic team that didn't have three of 74 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: its starters. They had to come back from big in 75 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 1: that game, and then he came back from big against 76 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: the Toronto Raptors, who also didn't have three of their starters. 77 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: They just lack cohesion on the offensive end. Although this 78 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 1: was an entertaining game, it was Trey Young versus Kyle Lowry, 79 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:16,599 Speaker 1: and Trey Young got under Kyle Lowry's skin and Kyle 80 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 1: Lowry woke up. You poked a bear, You're gonna get bit. 81 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 1: And yes, I'm throwing Kyle Lowry into that group of players. 82 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 1: You don't want to piss off when they're not playing 83 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 1: well because they will come back and beat you. And 84 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: it sure looked that way when Trey Young got into 85 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 1: it with Kyle Lowry. After that, Lowry was setting guys 86 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 1: up all over the place. Now he wasn't scoring, and 87 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: that's not his thing. He's setting guys up, taking over 88 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: that way, And it sure looked like this game was 89 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:49,720 Speaker 1: over fifteen down, six minutes left. Somehow the Hawks claw back. 90 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: Trey Young did have thirty seven points. He had a 91 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 1: good one and it looked like he was sort of 92 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: lost on the end of game play. He was in 93 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:01,279 Speaker 1: the lane. Raptors really show him down there, down too. 94 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 1: But somehow, somehow, he finds Tony Snell beyond the three 95 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: point line for the game winning shot from Tony Snell, 96 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: the buzzer beater. Tony Snell a game winner. He is 97 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 1: the hottest three point shooter in the NBA since February first, 98 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 1: shooting sixty four point six percent. That's what he does. 99 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 1: That is why he's on the floor of the Hawks 100 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 1: have won three in a row since coach Pierce's firing. 101 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 1: Moving on to Boston versus Brooklyn the national TV game 102 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,599 Speaker 1: on T and T. I picked the Celtics in this game. 103 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: I think it's a bit of wishful thinking. I do 104 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 1: want them to return to the Eastern Conference elite. There 105 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: at the Eastern Conference finalists last year. They haven't looked 106 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 1: that way this season, partly because Marcus Smart has been 107 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,719 Speaker 1: out for so long. He was back on the floor 108 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 1: held to a minute's restriction. Didn't think that would be 109 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:58,239 Speaker 1: a Marcus Smart type of thing. Marcus Smart restricted, never Smart, 110 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 1: probably to hold him to just one minutes. The Nets 111 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: they stay the Nets, though. They broke the game open 112 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter, because they can go on an 113 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: offensive run regardless of if they have Kevin Durant or 114 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 1: Blake Griffin. They didn't have either of those guys. The 115 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 1: Nets went on a twelve four run to start the fourth, 116 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 1: then Kyrie came in to close the job. He had 117 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 1: forty points on the night against his old team. It's 118 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 1: weird to think he played for the Boston Celtics. I 119 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: think it will be one of those things at the 120 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 1: end of his career he look back and he say 121 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:30,479 Speaker 1: he played for the Celtics, and it's not just a 122 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:33,280 Speaker 1: guy at the end of his career like Shack playing 123 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 1: for the Celtics. Shack played for the Celtics. This is 124 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 1: the middle of his career. Either way, Kyrie is having 125 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: an enormous season, his best season. And I was worried 126 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 1: when they got Blake Griffin that he would come in 127 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: and not really be part of the solution, just because 128 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:54,280 Speaker 1: they had too many good players and not the right 129 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:58,840 Speaker 1: mix of role players. But the way Steve Nash and 130 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: the top player on this team have made sure that 131 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 1: they're running things properly, that everything is going smoothly, leads 132 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: me to believe that it doesn't matter that Blake Griffin's 133 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 1: going to come in there. I think Blake Griffin will 134 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 1: come in and do his job. Now, the sheer number 135 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 1: of games that Blake plays with the Big three is 136 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 1: a worry. Maybe they won't have the cohesion to win 137 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 1: a championship this season, but they're still going to be good. 138 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: And just to stroke my ego, I did pick the 139 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: Celtics in this one. I also picked a lot of 140 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: over games to start the second half of the season. 141 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 1: Over the point total in a lot of games. I 142 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 1: thought there would be some sloppy play, and I thought 143 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: the scoring would be ahead of the defense. Eight of 144 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: eleven games on Thursday night were over. I think that's 145 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 1: going to continue into the weekend. Hopefully this trend continues 146 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: for Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch. Chris Finch won his 147 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: first game since becoming head coach of Minnesota. The Wolves 148 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: were zero to five since he replaced Ryan Saunders, and 149 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 1: it's the trend of young guys playing well that Chris 150 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: Finch wants to see keep up. Number twenty eight pick 151 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: rookie Jaden McDaniels hit four threes a career high twenty 152 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 1: points versus the Pelicans on Thursday. Second round pick from 153 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen, Jalen Nouel. He had six threes and a 154 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: career high twenty eight points himself to go along with 155 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 1: number one pick from this draft, Anthony Edwards, who had 156 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: twenty seven points. The Pelicans gave up a sixteen point lead. 157 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: They got to pick up that defense if they want 158 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: to make the playoffs. Here this season. A team that's 159 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: gonna make the playoffs that's kind of flying under the radar, 160 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 1: the Phoenix Suns. They stay hot. They went into Portland 161 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: and got their fifth straight win, mainly because of Devin 162 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 1: Booker's thirty five points. He missed the All Star Game, 163 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: but didn't miss a beat to start the second half. Phoenix, 164 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 1: they're flying under the radar, their second in the West, 165 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 1: above both la Is. Now, maybe it's because Lebron is 166 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:58,440 Speaker 1: doing things no one has ever heard of. We're he's 167 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: saying things that no one has ever heard of. Stealing 168 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 1: the headlines from the Phoenix Suns. Lebron said he's got 169 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 1: a seventh gear he gets into for the playoffs. A 170 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: seventh gear. I've never heard of a car with a 171 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 1: seventh gear. I'm not a car head, but Lebron, I 172 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 1: don't know. I don't know unless you got something in 173 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:20,200 Speaker 1: the works, unless you and Elon Musk are no. No. 174 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 1: I guess that wouldn't work because there's no engine in 175 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: a Tesla. Anyway, Lakers, they didn't play, just wanted to 176 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 1: mention them there. The Clippers did, though, they snapped a 177 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 1: three game losing streak, smacking the Warriors. The Sixers smacked 178 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: the Bulls despite not having Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. 179 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,960 Speaker 1: If you remember, they missed the All Star Game because 180 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: they came into contact with the same barber who tested 181 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:47,719 Speaker 1: positive for COVID nineteen. Gordon Hayward of the Charlotte Hornets, well, 182 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:52,320 Speaker 1: he positively brought his barber to Charlotte from Boston and Utah. 183 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: Before that, the Hornets beat Detroit. The Bucks got twenty 184 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 1: four points from Giannis and twenty one points from Brent 185 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: Forbes to beat the Knicks. The Knicks aren't gonna fool 186 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: anyone in the second half of the season. Julius Randall well, 187 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 1: he struggled after his first All Star Game appearance. The 188 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 1: Thunder beat the MAVs, who didn't have an injured Luka 189 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: Doncic or christopsportsingis Al Horford of Okaysee had twenty one 190 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:17,440 Speaker 1: points in the win. Is Al Horford going to be 191 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 1: dealt here in the next thirteen days? Boston could definitely 192 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: use him going back to Boston. Milwaukee could use him 193 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: as well. Al Horford, He's thirty four. He looked good 194 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: in this game. He's also in the Hall of Very Good, 195 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: not quite a Hall of Famer, but one of those 196 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: players like Paul Millsap that are just real, real good 197 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 1: of made to All Star Games, but just won't make 198 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: the hall. Speaking of the hall, we will be talking 199 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 1: about the players who could be enshrined this coming summer 200 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 1: on Nodunk's full length episode on Friday. It's called The Drop. 201 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:53,439 Speaker 1: Join us, then we'll have worse the week, a bunch 202 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 1: of other fun. I'll be back Monday to give you 203 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: the news as fast as I possibly can. I'll see 204 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 1: that spot. Speaking expects expected, expected aspect of experiences expected, expect, 205 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 1: expect