1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:02,120 Speaker 1: The volume. 2 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 2: The NBA Finals are here. This is your last chance 3 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 2: to bet on the NBA until next season, and DraftKings 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 2: Sportsbook and official sports betting partner of the NBA is 5 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 2: pulling out all the stops to make this a finals. 6 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 2: To remember, one team will be crown champ and the 7 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:22,240 Speaker 2: other will be lost to history. Who you got winning 8 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 2: at all? Put your hoops expertise to the test. All 9 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 2: season long, DraftKings has been the go to spot for 10 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 2: NBA player props and that doesn't stop now. Who's going 11 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 2: to carry their team to the chip? 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Well, just like we did after 39 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 2: game one, we are going to do a mail bag 40 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 2: that covers all your guys's questions about the NBA Finals, 41 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,359 Speaker 2: some stuff around the rest of the league as well. 42 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 2: We've got a question about where Lebron's next best chance 43 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 2: to win the title would be. We're going to talk 44 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 2: about some potential trades for the Cleveland Cavaliers, some big 45 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 2: picture basketball stuff. We might even go into some different 46 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 2: sports down at the tail end of the mail bag 47 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 2: where we're gonna hit all of the NBA Finals related 48 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 2: stuff off the top. You guys know the drill before 49 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 2: we get started. Subscribe to the Hoops and I YouTube channels. 50 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 2: You don't miss any more of our videos. Follow me 51 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 2: on Twitter at underscore JSNLT so you guys don't miss 52 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 2: show announcements. Don't forget about our podcast feed wherever we 53 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 2: get you podcast on Hoops Tonight. It's also super helpful 54 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 2: if you leave a rating and review on that front. 55 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 2: Jackson's doing great work on our social media feeds on Twitter, Instagram, 56 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 2: and Facebook. Make sure you guys follow us there, and then, 57 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:53,800 Speaker 2: last but not least, keep dropping mail bag questions in 58 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:55,639 Speaker 2: the chats that we can get to them in our 59 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 2: mail bags at the tail end of our live streams. 60 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 2: All right, let's talk some basketball. So our first question 61 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 2: is kind of a big picture question surrounding the thunder 62 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 2: in their future. Do you pay J dub and Chet 63 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:11,360 Speaker 2: the Supermax if they qualify next year. Now, in terms 64 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 2: of the details surrounding the super Max, it obviously depends 65 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 2: on you know, whether or not Chet mix and all 66 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 2: NBA team next year, things along those lines. But I'm 67 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 2: gonna try to reframe this question around the idea of 68 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 2: let's just say max contracts in theory, if you're building 69 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,799 Speaker 2: a roster, as we've seen around the NBA, it can 70 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 2: get a little tough once you have three max contract 71 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 2: players to fill the rest of the roster, and like 72 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 2: even just in the big picture, it's about whether or 73 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 2: not they can continue to surround these guys with enough talent. Now, 74 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 2: I am generally of the belief that it's not so 75 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 2: much whether or not you can build a roster around 76 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 2: three max players, it's are these three players the kinds 77 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 2: of max players that are good enough to justify that 78 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 2: type of resource distribution? And the short answer is yes, 79 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 2: I absolutely think they are. When we talk about team build, 80 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 2: I tend to focus on these different archetypes at each 81 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 2: position group, right, and when I look at everything in 82 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 2: a vacuum, like irrespective of stars, because stars bring kind 83 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 2: of unicorn traits to the table right Like Jokis doesn't 84 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,599 Speaker 2: look like any other center around the league. Steph Curry 85 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 2: doesn't look like any other point guard around the league. 86 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 2: Jana Santena Kumpo or Luka Doncic. These guys don't look 87 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 2: like traditional players. Even Shay in and of himself as 88 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 2: like an old school mid range scoring two guard is 89 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 2: very rare around the NBA. But one of the concepts 90 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 2: that I always talk about is like, ideally I want 91 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 2: to have like a skill guard, a guard that is 92 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 2: an excellent passer, shot creator, floor general, all that kind 93 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,040 Speaker 2: of stuff. An athlete guard, a guard that can guard 94 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 2: the other team's best guard but also can drive close 95 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 2: outs and bring you know, some more of the power 96 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 2: element to that position group. And then at the forward spots, 97 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 2: I like having like a big, physical forward, and then 98 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 2: I'll having more of a slender, wiry, perimeter oriented forward. 99 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 2: And then you want to big that can defend in 100 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 2: multiple coverages, a big that brings defensive versatility. And so 101 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 2: as I go down the list, if Shay and Jadab 102 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,919 Speaker 2: and chet are my core, I think all three of 103 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 2: those don't just fit into those groups but legitimately bring 104 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 2: more to the table, like Shay is very much the 105 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 2: pro typical skill guard in that he is a guy 106 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:25,599 Speaker 2: that can be the offensive engine for a team. We 107 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 2: saw him have one of his best offensive engine types 108 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:31,039 Speaker 2: of games of his career in Game two of the Finals, right, 109 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:36,279 Speaker 2: But Shay also brings legitimate athletic traits to the table. 110 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 2: Shay is a very good defensive player when he's engaged, right, 111 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 2: so like he doesn't bring a lot of the shortcomings 112 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 2: that typically come with skill guards. Jadub think of him 113 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 2: as like a combination of a bunch of different things. 114 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 2: He is a guy that can do some of that 115 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 2: athletic guard stuff in terms of guarding elite guards and 116 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:56,840 Speaker 2: bringing more power to that position. But at the same 117 00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 2: time he can be a lot like what we see 118 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 2: from a lot of four men in terms of bringing 119 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 2: like power ball handling to the table. I even think 120 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 2: there's a lot of big picture potential for JDub as 121 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 2: like kind of a bully ball matchup attacker that he's 122 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 2: still just barely scratching the surface of what he's capable 123 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 2: of being. And then Chet he is the prototypical big 124 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:18,480 Speaker 2: man that can defend and low drop defend and high 125 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 2: drop defendant. Switches defend in zone. His defending in switches 126 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 2: was a huge part of Oklahoma City's defensive success in 127 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 2: Game two against the Pacers. But also Chet brings the 128 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:33,359 Speaker 2: ability to be a legitimate perimeter offensive weapon while still 129 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 2: being the same vertical spacing threat that so many of 130 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 2: his peers are at the center position. So, to make 131 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 2: a long story short, I think Shay, J, Dub and 132 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 2: Chet compliment each other extremely well. They're all on the 133 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 2: same age timeline. All three of them have traits that 134 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 2: extend out from what you would expect from their specific 135 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 2: position group. I absolutely think that you can commit long 136 00:06:57,080 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 2: term money to all three of those guys and still 137 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,279 Speaker 2: will build a championship roster around him. Again, when you 138 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 2: have players that play the way that these guys do 139 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,840 Speaker 2: and that check all the boxes that these guys check, 140 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 2: it actually just makes for smaller and more achievable roles 141 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 2: down the roster for your teammates, and that just makes 142 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 2: the general manager's job that much easier. Next question. After 143 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 2: Game two, you talked about how SGA did a much 144 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 2: better job of playing the floor game. He invested in 145 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 2: his own teammates, which allowed for people like Chet to 146 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 2: get going. Do you expect Shaye to keep that good 147 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 2: floor game going as they go to Indiana. Love the show. So, 148 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 2: first of all, this has been a subject of some 149 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 2: of the debate after the first two games, right we in. 150 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 2: I noticed some of you guys disagreed after my Game 151 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 2: two instant reaction for the way I characterized Shay's Game one. 152 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 2: Kevin O'Connor came on the show yesterday and similarly said 153 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 2: the same thing. And I want to clarify in the 154 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 2: sense that I shouldn't be saying Shaye played bad in 155 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 2: game one. He didn't play bad in game one. That's 156 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 2: over dramatic. That said, I did think the box score 157 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 2: was not necessarily a very accurate reflection of the way 158 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 2: that he played like. I did think Shae played substantially 159 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 2: better in game two, and he had thirty eight points 160 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 2: in game one. But the big giveaway to me is 161 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 2: we talked about in that show. If you remember, off 162 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 2: the top, I discussed the concept of floor game being 163 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 2: a job that a ball handler does, or that ball 164 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 2: handler has. The responsibility he has that extends beyond assists 165 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 2: and extends beyond points and goes to your the engine 166 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 2: of the offense. You are responsible for the rhythm and 167 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 2: flow of your team's offense as the primary ball handler, right, 168 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 2: and the Thunder scored twenty more points per one hundred 169 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 2: possessions in the half court in game two than they 170 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 2: did in Game one. Does variants play a role in that? 171 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: Sure? 172 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 2: But what do I always say for me, variants is 173 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:09,079 Speaker 2: going to be pretty far down the list behind basketball dynamics. 174 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 2: And even though the box score showed a very productive 175 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:17,680 Speaker 2: offensive night in game one for Shay, I thought, specifically 176 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 2: early in the game, he shot his team out of 177 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 2: rhythm by taking a lot of mediocre, contested pull up 178 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 2: jump shots early in the clock. In game two, I 179 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 2: thought he made the appropriate investments in rhythm and flow 180 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 2: early and it manifested in better ball movement, better rhythm 181 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 2: and flow for his offense, and twenty more points per 182 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:41,719 Speaker 2: one hundred half court possessions. And so again, I just 183 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 2: wanted to clarify that because I did use the word 184 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 2: he played bad in game two, and that's just dumb. 185 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 2: He didn't play bad, he just compared on the range 186 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:53,559 Speaker 2: of potential outcomes for Shay games, I thought that trended 187 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 2: more towards the low end. And before you tell me, oh, well, 188 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 2: he had thirty eight points. You go look at his 189 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:03,319 Speaker 2: scoring totals. He always gets He's one of the most reliable, 190 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 2: high volume scorers in the league. But there are differing 191 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 2: outcomes for Shae in terms of his floor game, in 192 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 2: terms of just the way he manages the way his 193 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 2: offense is flowing. And I did think that Shaye played 194 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,319 Speaker 2: substantially better in Game two. Now do I expect Shaye 195 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 2: to keep that going? Yes, Shae, you know, is a 196 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 2: little bit more old, is a little bit older and 197 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 2: more experienced than people think. I talked about this concept 198 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:30,080 Speaker 2: last night. The thing with young basketball players is they 199 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 2: struggle to identify failures and minimize them, and they struggle 200 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 2: to identify successes and repeat them. Right, But with each 201 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:40,320 Speaker 2: passing series, with each passing moment, for this Oklahoma City team, 202 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:42,439 Speaker 2: they seem to be growing and to be learning from 203 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 2: their mistakes. And I do think that Shaye learned quickly 204 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 2: after Game one that that's not the way that he 205 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 2: needs to attack, and I think he made that adjustment, 206 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 2: and I expect him to attack Game three in a 207 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 2: very similar manner. Now that said, Indiana's really good and 208 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 2: they could go up by twelve fifteen points at some 209 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 2: point during Game three, and it's possible that at that 210 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 2: point Shay reverts back to some hero ball, but that's 211 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 2: just part of his archetype as a scoring guard. I 212 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 2: think overall, I think I can expect or we can 213 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 2: expect his floor game to more closely mimic Game two 214 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:23,960 Speaker 2: moving forward in the series. Next question with jaris Walker out. 215 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 2: Do you think Rick Carlisle? Who do you think Rick 216 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:28,959 Speaker 2: Carlisle turns to as the next opportunity to give them something. 217 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 2: I don't think this is a dig deeper in the 218 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 2: bench type of series. I think this is on the 219 00:11:34,679 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 2: guys that are playing right now, and a lot of 220 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 2: it with the bench guys is about making better decisions. 221 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 2: You know, Obi Toppin not as good a game in 222 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:46,199 Speaker 2: Game two, some aggressive forces in traffic against rim protection 223 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 2: instead of moving the ball. Ben matherin several examples of 224 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:51,679 Speaker 2: plays where he got into the teeth of the defense 225 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:54,199 Speaker 2: instead of taking easy reads that were available to him. 226 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 2: Guys just have to play better and then as a group, 227 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 2: the pacers kind of in this series have a tug 228 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,040 Speaker 2: of war in terms of their offensive execution. When they 229 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 2: take care of the ball and they get the ball 230 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 2: to the floor, quickly, and they run multiple actions on 231 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:10,239 Speaker 2: the same possession. They break Oklahoma City's defense down incrementally, 232 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:13,559 Speaker 2: and they get good looks. When they get stagnant, when 233 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 2: they start turning the ball over, things start to fall 234 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 2: apart for them. And so I don't think this is 235 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 2: like a dig deeper in the roster. We need a 236 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 2: different player to solve our problems. I think it's on 237 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:26,199 Speaker 2: the group to just play better. Next question, do you 238 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 2: think Pascal comes out more aggressive to score tonight? Obviously, 239 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,960 Speaker 2: I'm assuming you mean Wednesday night. They need him playing 240 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:34,439 Speaker 2: like he did in the next series, and it feels 241 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:37,079 Speaker 2: like he's just gotten off to slow starts this far. 242 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 2: I do think that we'll see an aggressive Pascal in 243 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 2: game three. I think in general, the Pacers kind of 244 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 2: got away from some of the success they had in 245 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 2: Game one hunting size mismatches with their bigs in the post, 246 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 2: and I thought it just was a lack of intentionality 247 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:54,960 Speaker 2: in terms of the way that they were hunting shots. 248 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 2: I thought that they were a little too quick to 249 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 2: take early clock decent reason. I'm not opposed to those shots. 250 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 2: We all know the Pacers can make those shots, but 251 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:07,720 Speaker 2: I didn't think they did enough of a job establishing 252 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 2: the post early and often in game two, and Pascal 253 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 2: is just the obvious pathway to make that happen. And 254 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 2: so I do think that we will see a more 255 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 2: aggressive Pascal, a more aggressive turner, a lot more damage 256 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 2: being done in the paint in game three. You've talked 257 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 2: about how Okay Okac's offense isn't really the main force 258 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 2: of this team. My question is is the Pacers defense 259 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 2: able to make some significant adjustments to take game to 260 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 2: take one or two games at home. So I'm really 261 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 2: curious to see how Rick Carlisle comes out to guard 262 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 2: in game three. We talked about this concept in depth 263 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 2: with Kevin O'Connor yesterday, so I won't go into too 264 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:48,079 Speaker 2: much detail today. If you guys haven't had a chance 265 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 2: to check that pot out, I highly recommend it. Kevin 266 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 2: was fantastic and we got into a bunch of the 267 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 2: details in the series. But I'm really curious to see 268 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 2: how they come out and guard. I thought that the 269 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 2: at the level coverages for the Pacers didn't want work 270 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 2: very well through the first two games. Again, like they're 271 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 2: not going up to the level to take away the 272 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 2: pull up jump shot. They're not worried about Shae coming 273 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 2: off and rising up from three doesn't make enough of 274 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 2: them for that really to be the issue. They're bringing 275 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 2: the man up to the level to try to stop 276 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 2: Shae from getting ahead of steam. But what ends up 277 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 2: happening is when you come up to the level of 278 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 2: the screen, you pick a side. So in a drop coverage, 279 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 2: imagine this like as Shaye's coming off of a screen. 280 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 2: If you're in a drop coverage, you're sitting lower, and 281 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 2: if he comes off the screen this way, you're ready. 282 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 2: If he rejects the screen and goes off the other way, 283 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 2: you're ready, right, But if you're up at the level, 284 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 2: you're picking a side of the screen that you're coming 285 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 2: up to the level to show. And so if you 286 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 2: come up to the level and then Shae decides to 287 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 2: drive the opposite direction, suddenly, if he beats that man, 288 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 2: there's nobody behind in that two on two right now, 289 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 2: all of a sudden, you're in rotation. You've now put 290 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 2: yourself into a four on three, and it was a 291 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,360 Speaker 2: lot of rejecting screens, and all of a sudden, no 292 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 2: one's there to help coming off the screen and splitting 293 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 2: the action. So if you come up to the level 294 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 2: and you show and shake, but he just splits right 295 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 2: in between you two. Same sort of thing. It's a 296 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 2: four on three. You come up to the level and 297 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 2: the screener slips, you pitch it over the top, same 298 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 2: thing four on three. I just thought that the Thunder 299 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 2: were operating in a four on three far too often 300 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 2: in that game, and so I'm really curious to see 301 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 2: if for Carlisle makes the adjustment of either doing some 302 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 2: more soft switching, meaning like have the defender that switches 303 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 2: switch a little bit further back to try to bait 304 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 2: them into some early pull up threes, or in more 305 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 2: of a deeper drop coverage in ball screen so that 306 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 2: when Shay comes off, Like this is the way I 307 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 2: look at it. If Shane's gonna get downhill anyway, Like, 308 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 2: if you're gonna get beat anyway, then you might as 309 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 2: well have a fourth defender in the action rather than 310 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 2: have three defenders in the action trying to rotate out 311 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 2: of that situation. Right, So, like we'll see I think 312 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 2: I think we could see Carlisle come out with the 313 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 2: same coverage to start game three and just banking on 314 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 2: the crowd and the intensity and the urgency kind of 315 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 2: just bringing a better on ball effort from the Pacers, 316 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 2: and maybe that's what he ends up doing. But I 317 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 2: also think that it's the cards that Carlisle's gonna have 318 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 2: to tweak the coverage to deeper drop coverage, softer switching, 319 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 2: something more of a contain the ball approach to try 320 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 2: to keep things in front. Might even see some zone 321 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 2: as well. I'll be curious to see how they guard 322 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 2: now on the other end of the floor, the Pacers 323 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 2: defense in there, or excuse me, with the on that 324 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 2: end of the floor. Just in general for the Pacers, 325 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 2: Oklahoma City has shown a little bit of like a 326 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 2: ricketiness on offense in this postseason, where they can get 327 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 2: knocked off of their foundation, and so in terms of 328 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 2: their ability to take the two games at home, it 329 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 2: does come down to their defense in the sense that 330 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 2: if they get enough stops, if they force enough long 331 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:45,359 Speaker 2: jumpers and long rebounds, and they can play in transition, 332 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 2: they're gonna score enough points, especially at home. But the 333 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 2: defense is the job. If they can slow down Oklahoma 334 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 2: City's offense enough in these two games, that is their 335 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 2: best pathway forward in the series. By knocking Oklahoma City 336 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 2: off of their offensive foundation, getting out in transition, in 337 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 2: getting the easy ones avoiding the loaded up thunder defence. 338 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 1: Blending Vice's signature dynamic storytelling with the high octane world 339 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: of sports, Vice Sports brings an exciting and diverse range 340 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 1: of programming that goes beyond the game. From action pack 341 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 1: live events to gripping behind the scenes documentaries, to hard 342 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 1: hitting investigative pieces and in depth profiles of athletes, coaches, teams. 343 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,439 Speaker 1: Vice Sports captures the raw energy, drama, and passion that 344 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:33,360 Speaker 1: makes sports truly unforgettable. Catch live events and other exclusive 345 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: sports programs only on Vice TV. Go to vicetv dot 346 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 1: com to find your cable channel. 347 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 2: All right, We've got five more questions today that kind 348 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 2: of center around the rest of the league. First question, 349 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 2: what is Lebron's best shot out of fifth ring? So 350 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:55,400 Speaker 2: this has been something that I've thought quite a bit 351 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 2: about since the disappointing exit for my Lakers in the 352 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 2: first round again the Minnesota Timberwolves. But this idea of like, Okay, 353 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:08,160 Speaker 2: the Lakers have some realities in terms of the future 354 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 2: surrounding Luca and Lebron being a very very expensive old 355 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 2: player that still plays at a level that's deserving of 356 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:18,440 Speaker 2: the money, but comes with some realities in terms of 357 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 2: when he does hail off, he'll present a barrier between, 358 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:27,439 Speaker 2: you know, in terms of roster allocation, between what the 359 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:29,360 Speaker 2: Lakers are going to be and what they are now. 360 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 2: Right Similarly, he's you know, going to be forty one 361 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:36,399 Speaker 2: next year by the time they make it to the postseason, 362 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 2: and it's just going to be really difficult for uh. 363 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 2: It's going to be really difficult for him to you know, 364 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 2: find an extended runway to try to make something happen. 365 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 2: So if he goes anywhere, it have to be a 366 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 2: win now type of situation. Seen lots of things thrown around, 367 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 2: and when I start to dig into it, it's like, Okay, 368 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 2: let's say let's say he got traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. 369 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 2: I've seen versions of aids thrown around with like Darius 370 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 2: Garland and Jared Allen for instance, for Lebron. So let's 371 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 2: say it's Lebron and Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell and 372 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,280 Speaker 2: you know, obviously that deep core of good role players 373 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 2: in Cleveland, Like that's a good team, right, How much 374 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 2: better is that than him? Next to Luka Doncic in 375 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:26,160 Speaker 2: a revenge campaign. Right, Let's say he goes to Golden State. 376 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 2: If they if they were to pull some sort of 377 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:32,720 Speaker 2: magic along those lines, like Lebron, Stephan Draymond, it's a 378 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:35,239 Speaker 2: really good team. I think Lebron would be such an 379 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:39,199 Speaker 2: amazing natural basketball fit in the Golden State system. But 380 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 2: do I think that, you know, old Lebron and old 381 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 2: Steph with Draymond is a better chance to win the 382 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 2: title than Lebron James and Luka Doncic in a revenge campaign. 383 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 2: You start to like poke around to different options. Oh 384 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 2: what if he goes to the Knicks. Okay, So it's 385 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 2: Lebron and Ogn and Obi and McHale Bridges and Jalen Brunson. 386 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:04,440 Speaker 2: It's a really good team, really fun team, open Eastern Conference. 387 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:07,119 Speaker 2: There's a lot of like kind of elements involving the 388 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 2: East that make that somewhat interesting. But is it better 389 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:14,680 Speaker 2: than Lebron with a Luka Doncic on a revenge campaign? 390 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:17,680 Speaker 2: Is what I keep coming back to. I talked about 391 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:20,199 Speaker 2: this a little bit last night. Luca did not have 392 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 2: a good postseason, never really got fully back into rhythm 393 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:29,920 Speaker 2: after his injury. This year looked in pretty poor condition 394 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 2: in that first round series. But I really do think 395 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 2: we're going to get a very very engaged version of 396 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 2: Luca next year, and a very well conditioned version of 397 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 2: Luca next year. And when Luka Doncic is healthy and 398 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 2: in rhythm, he's one of the very best players in 399 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 2: this league last year. If you guys remember in our 400 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:51,919 Speaker 2: like Who's got the Belt video after the season, I 401 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 2: literally said that it was Luca after beating the guy 402 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 2: that beat the guy and being more or less the 403 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 2: most impressive player in the postseason last year. So as 404 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:05,440 Speaker 2: I look at it, I keep coming back to this 405 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:10,439 Speaker 2: idea that like, give me Luka Doncicic in a season 406 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:14,760 Speaker 2: where he's supremely motivated next to you know, this deep 407 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 2: roster of well, not as deep as it needs to be, 408 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 2: and they'll need to make some changes this year, but 409 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:21,720 Speaker 2: they've got some high level players. Ruy Hachimura is a 410 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:24,639 Speaker 2: high level player. Austin Reeves is a high level player. 411 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 2: Dorian Phinney Smith is a good role player. Jared Vanderbilt 412 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 2: is capable of being a good role player, right Like, 413 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 2: they've got you know, they've got guys, and so they've 414 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 2: got to make some changes. They gotta find a center, 415 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 2: they might have to seriously consider moving a guy like 416 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:41,119 Speaker 2: a Austin Reeves or Ruyatamura. That is a redundancy, but 417 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 2: that's a vehicle with which to bring in additional talent. 418 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:45,679 Speaker 2: And I keep coming down to if you give me 419 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:52,479 Speaker 2: a group of athletes that can do that are versatile 420 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:54,879 Speaker 2: enough to do the dribble, shoot, pass, defend stuff that 421 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:58,440 Speaker 2: they'll need to do off of Lebron and Luca. Give 422 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 2: me Luca and Lebron, and I think he got a 423 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:03,439 Speaker 2: better chance than some of these other situations that have 424 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 2: been pitched around the league. So I've thought through a lot, 425 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 2: and I've seen a bunch of stuff get pitched, And 426 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 2: I keep coming back to if Lebron gets a fifth ring, 427 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:14,719 Speaker 2: which obviously is a supreme long shot at this point, 428 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,199 Speaker 2: I think it happens alongside Luca. And so with that 429 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 2: being the case, I think that in all likelihood, Lebron 430 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:23,240 Speaker 2: sees that too, and I think Lebron will be a 431 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 2: Laker when it's all said and done. Do you believe 432 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:32,159 Speaker 2: trading a guard from the Calves will unlock mobily? So 433 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 2: this is complicated because obviously Evan Mobley, I think has 434 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:39,719 Speaker 2: developed as an offensive player we saw a lot of 435 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 2: like the inverted ball screen action with guys like Sam Marilyn, 436 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 2: Darius Garland slipping out of action with him this year, 437 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 2: Donovan Mitchell slipping out of action with him this year 438 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 2: becoming a kind of like a worthwhile action for the Calves. 439 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 2: We saw him in general just become a better driving 440 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:57,640 Speaker 2: kick player when he gets downhill. He's developed a three 441 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:00,159 Speaker 2: point shot that is semi reliable. Like Evan Mobley, He's 442 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:02,919 Speaker 2: developed a lot, But I don't think Evan Mobley is 443 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 2: about to go, you know, pull a Palo Bancaro and 444 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 2: become this like super high volume on ballplayer, at least 445 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 2: not anytime soon. I think he's years away from developing 446 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 2: that sort of game. To me, trading a guard for 447 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:19,399 Speaker 2: the Cavs is about resource allocation. If you're going to 448 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 2: have two high volume on ball guards, then you need 449 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:27,200 Speaker 2: to reap the rewards of having two high volume on 450 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 2: ball guards. And every year Darius Garland has been banged 451 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 2: up and lacking a little bit of that quickness, and 452 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 2: even when he's been healthy, he's struggled to be super 453 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:39,679 Speaker 2: effective in the postseason setting. It just hasn't really materialized. 454 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:42,600 Speaker 2: And it comes with the downsides of like when he's 455 00:23:42,640 --> 00:23:46,280 Speaker 2: injured all of a sudden, you're just down a like 456 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:49,399 Speaker 2: a very expensive contract slot that you're not getting anything 457 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:52,560 Speaker 2: out of, or when he's being attacked on defense because 458 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:54,959 Speaker 2: of his size limitations, Like there's a certain amount of 459 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 2: like when Darius Garland is not at his peak, it 460 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:03,399 Speaker 2: doesn't look like a championship roster. And so if you 461 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:07,360 Speaker 2: believe that Darius is going to like come together and 462 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:09,879 Speaker 2: put it all together and be healthy and be the 463 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:13,360 Speaker 2: best version of himself when it matters, then yeah, it's 464 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 2: we're sticking with it. But like at a certain point, 465 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:17,400 Speaker 2: you've got to read the room and be like, Okay, 466 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 2: this guy's just kind of struggled to hold up physically, 467 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 2: and maybe this doesn't ever come to fruition, right, And 468 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 2: so what trading a guard would do is not so 469 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 2: much to me about unlocking Evan Mobley as like some 470 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:33,280 Speaker 2: sort of super high powered offensive weapon. It would be 471 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 2: about trading Darius Garland for just a much more reliable 472 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 2: fifth guy. Right when you started to dig into it 473 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 2: this year, it was like, oh man, Jared Allen didn't 474 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 2: really materialize into a reliable playoff player this year. Neither 475 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:50,960 Speaker 2: did DeAndre Hunter, neither did Ty Jerome like, and all 476 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:53,120 Speaker 2: of a sudden you zoomed out from that playoff run 477 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:56,199 Speaker 2: and it was like man, Donovan Mitchell and Max Strus 478 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 2: and Evan Mobley were like the only three calves that 479 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:03,320 Speaker 2: you felt really good about throughout that postseason run. And 480 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 2: so bringing in another wing, a guy that is basically 481 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 2: like a really really high level starting version of a 482 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:15,200 Speaker 2: DeAndre Hunter that can slot Max Strus at the two 483 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,679 Speaker 2: and give yourself a little bit more, you know, just 484 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:22,000 Speaker 2: reliable ceiling when you get to the postseason would be 485 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:25,200 Speaker 2: something worth exploring. But again it's all about that doesn't 486 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:27,119 Speaker 2: mean you just trade Darius Garland for the sake of 487 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:30,160 Speaker 2: trading Darius Garland. It's just something that I would consider 488 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 2: if the right opportunity came up for a really really 489 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:37,120 Speaker 2: high level player at the small forward position. What would 490 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:39,720 Speaker 2: be your ideal play style for a relatively small ish 491 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:41,920 Speaker 2: point guard to be one of your StarMax players on 492 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,399 Speaker 2: a championship team. What play style would you choose as 493 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:46,880 Speaker 2: a building block? Not Curry obviously, because he's one of one. 494 00:25:47,119 --> 00:25:49,280 Speaker 2: This is an interesting question, and I think the Pacers 495 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:54,920 Speaker 2: are honestly a really, really smart kind of like like 496 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:57,199 Speaker 2: like model for how to do this. So, first of all, 497 00:25:57,240 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 2: I don't think the Thunder count because all their guards 498 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:01,640 Speaker 2: are great defenders. But when you've got a smallest point 499 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 2: guard who's not an elite defender, what kind of play 500 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 2: style do you need to play? I think it's all 501 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:09,280 Speaker 2: about being fast. You got to lean into the strength. Right, 502 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 2: what is that smallest point guard going to be great at? 503 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:13,920 Speaker 2: He's going to be great at being fast. How has 504 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:18,640 Speaker 2: Indiana's defense managed to be still serviceable despite having Tyre 505 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:22,320 Speaker 2: Saliburton out there? Well, he throws really aggressive hedges, and 506 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 2: he recovers fast in rotation, and as a team, they're 507 00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:27,679 Speaker 2: just great in rotation. They run and sprint around and 508 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:30,119 Speaker 2: they cover ground. I don't think you could have a 509 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 2: small guard and then also be a slow team. I 510 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:35,560 Speaker 2: think you have to be fast, and so Indiana, to me, 511 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:37,680 Speaker 2: is the model of how you would build around a 512 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 2: like Let's say that you're the Heat and you've got 513 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:45,960 Speaker 2: Tyler Harrow, or you're you know, the Hornets and you've 514 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 2: got LaMelo Ball, or you're the Wizards and you've got 515 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 2: Jordan Poole, like just a small but fast like skill 516 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 2: guard who's like the foundational player for your offense. I 517 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:57,320 Speaker 2: think you've got to surround that dude with a lot 518 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 2: of athletics, like a let it like, kind of versatile, 519 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:05,960 Speaker 2: do everything. Guys that can play fast exist in rotation 520 00:27:06,119 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 2: and just cover ground behind what that player does, and 521 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 2: then it also accentuates what they do offensively, because most 522 00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:16,240 Speaker 2: fast guards like to play fast. Two more questions, what 523 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:17,720 Speaker 2: are some of the top traits you look for in 524 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 2: a non big role player. Things like perimeter speed you've 525 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:23,720 Speaker 2: mentioned in the past look to be dead on. So yeah, 526 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 2: I think perimeter speed is a big one, just because 527 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 2: inevitably you've got to do a certain amount of existing 528 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:29,760 Speaker 2: in rotation. In the NBA, I also think in general, 529 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 2: the game has existed more in transition. So as the 530 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 2: game exists more in transition, you got to have guys 531 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 2: that can get up and down the floor, not just 532 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:38,199 Speaker 2: running the floor on offense for buckets, but also getting 533 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 2: back in your transition defense. Right, I think from there 534 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:45,480 Speaker 2: it's the Big four. It's dribble, shoot, pass, and defend. Right, 535 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,040 Speaker 2: What that means is you've got a star somewhere on 536 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:49,680 Speaker 2: the roster. It doesn't matter where that is. It doesn't 537 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:51,359 Speaker 2: matter if it's a point guard, two guard, three, four 538 00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 2: five right. Wherever that star is, he's going to create advantages. 539 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 2: Once you have that advantage, if you're wide open, you 540 00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:58,960 Speaker 2: need a guy who can knock down the three if 541 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:01,880 Speaker 2: he's got to, he's got to be able to attack 542 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:04,640 Speaker 2: the close out. Once he attacks that close out, he's 543 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 2: got to be able to make the reads. Right, So 544 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:10,119 Speaker 2: that's the dribble in pass element. There's the shooting element, 545 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 2: there's the dribble in pass element, the defend. I'm gonna 546 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:15,919 Speaker 2: tie all of these things up into athleticism, right, So 547 00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 2: like the athleticism to drive a close out and finish 548 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:20,960 Speaker 2: at the rim, the athleticism to fly up and down 549 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 2: the floor in transition, the athleticism to guard the ball. 550 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:27,159 Speaker 2: All of that SEMs around that defense concept. So like, 551 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 2: if you have a role player that's playing off of 552 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:32,280 Speaker 2: a star, you need him to be able to play 553 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 2: with an advantage, which means knock down shots, drive closeouts, 554 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 2: make reads, and then you need to be able to 555 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:41,240 Speaker 2: have him exist within what you're trying to do defensively. 556 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:43,000 Speaker 2: The only other thing that I would add there is 557 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:46,040 Speaker 2: just overall competitiveness and motor. I think this is one 558 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:47,840 Speaker 2: of the most underrated things in the league right now. 559 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:52,200 Speaker 2: If you're gonna build out a real championship character in 560 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:54,280 Speaker 2: your team, where guys are always in the right spots 561 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 2: and they always do the right thing, and you pay 562 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:59,120 Speaker 2: attention to detail and just be more like the Pacers 563 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 2: for lack of a better way, you gotta have some 564 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:05,840 Speaker 2: competitive dudes that hate losing and that are willing to 565 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 2: do the things that suck to win basketball games. And 566 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:10,959 Speaker 2: so I think the personality trade is a big part 567 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:14,240 Speaker 2: of it as well. Last question, saw your baseball tweet 568 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:17,760 Speaker 2: the other day. Any secret baseball fandom you're willing to share? So, 569 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 2: Like most kids, I grew up watching all sports, and 570 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:25,160 Speaker 2: I've always been a fan of all sports. I grew 571 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 2: up watching a ton of hockey. My dad's from Detroit, 572 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:31,480 Speaker 2: right I grew up playing litle league baseball. I used 573 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:36,200 Speaker 2: to watch every single Arizona Diamondbacks game growing up. I 574 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:39,200 Speaker 2: am a huge football fan. I used to watch the 575 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 2: NFL very closely and consume a lot of NFL content. 576 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:45,760 Speaker 2: I haven't done nearly as much of that obviously since 577 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:47,880 Speaker 2: I started doing this for a living, just because this 578 00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:50,320 Speaker 2: takes so much of my time and attention but I 579 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 2: still love the NFL, and every year in September, I 580 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:54,680 Speaker 2: pretend I'm going to follow it more closely, and then 581 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:58,280 Speaker 2: by like week seven or eight, I'm just completely invested 582 00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:02,200 Speaker 2: in the NBA. But I I have always loved sports, 583 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:05,040 Speaker 2: all sports. I love watching golf. I still put golf 584 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:07,080 Speaker 2: on a lot on the weekends, and I love to 585 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:11,120 Speaker 2: play golf, and I just, you know, it's the way 586 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 2: that my job is currently structured. I'm very basketball focused. 587 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 2: I can't promise that I'll always be the case, but 588 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:18,240 Speaker 2: maybe it will. Maybe I'll always just do basketball stuff. 589 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:22,120 Speaker 2: But I do have a love for all sports, baseball 590 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:24,120 Speaker 2: in particular. I grew up in a family that was 591 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:27,120 Speaker 2: very baseball oriented. We all played baseball growing up, and 592 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:30,400 Speaker 2: I when the d Backs made their World Series run 593 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:33,440 Speaker 2: a couple of years ago, that was when I kind 594 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 2: of had that love reinvigorated for me, where I was 595 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:39,240 Speaker 2: like watching every single postseason game and getting super super 596 00:30:39,280 --> 00:30:42,240 Speaker 2: invested just because that was something that was such a 597 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 2: big part of my life when I was younger. But yeah, 598 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:48,120 Speaker 2: like basketball is the thing that has given me everything 599 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:49,720 Speaker 2: that I have in my life and the thing that 600 00:30:49,760 --> 00:30:53,520 Speaker 2: I love the most. But I have always had a 601 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:55,920 Speaker 2: love and appreciation for other sports and it just isn't 602 00:30:55,960 --> 00:30:57,480 Speaker 2: something that we get to talk too much about on 603 00:30:57,520 --> 00:30:59,000 Speaker 2: the show. But who knows, maybe some point in the 604 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 2: future that'll be something we explore more. All right, guys, 605 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:04,000 Speaker 2: that's all we have for today. As always, a sincerely 606 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:06,520 Speaker 2: appreciate you guys for supporting me and supporting the show. 607 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:09,280 Speaker 2: We will be back on Wednesday night after the final 608 00:31:09,280 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 2: buzzer of Game three. Colin Coward should be there this time. 609 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 2: He had a flight get delayed last night. That's where 610 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:15,840 Speaker 2: on Sunday night. That's why we didn't get him for 611 00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:18,040 Speaker 2: game two, but we should have him for Game three. 612 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:21,960 Speaker 2: We'll be breaking down everything after that game. We will 613 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:24,560 Speaker 2: see you guys then. So guys, as always, I appreciate 614 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:27,360 Speaker 2: you for listening to and supporting OOPS tonight. They would 615 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:29,480 Speaker 2: actually be really helpful for us if you guys would 616 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:32,360 Speaker 2: take a second and leave a rating and a review. 617 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:34,239 Speaker 2: As always, I appreciate you guys supporting us, but if 618 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:36,240 Speaker 2: you could take a minute to do that, I really 619 00:31:36,280 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 2: appreciate it. 620 00:31:39,040 --> 00:31:39,680 Speaker 1: The volume