1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:17,760 Speaker 1: M m all right, welcome to the State of the Lakers, 2 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: and then a boy Dash Radio. Happy study everybody. I 3 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:21,960 Speaker 1: hope you had a good week. I hope you had 4 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: a good weekend, whether it was productive or relaxing, depending 5 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 1: on what you needed. We are going to talk about 6 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:32,199 Speaker 1: that somewhat predictable Laker game tonight, but before we get 7 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: down to that, we're gonna welcome our special guests, Mr 8 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: Vannikila Wall, one of my favorite basketball minds on Twitter. 9 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,239 Speaker 1: I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to come hang 10 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: out with us tonight, Sir. How are you doing. I 11 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:47,319 Speaker 1: am doing good. Did a lot of housework today and 12 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: uh tempered my expectations as to what we were going 13 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: to see tonight from from this uh, from this Laker team, 14 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: considering how many and so I had playing in the background. Uh. 15 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: And then as soon as they went down super early 16 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: in the game, by like twenty, I was like, yeah, 17 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 1: all right, that's kind of expected. We're in Miami, a 18 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: bunch of that guys. I'm sure they're not taking it seriously. 19 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 1: And then so how we got a pretty exciting finish. 20 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: So that was that was kind of interesting, But you know, 21 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:14,399 Speaker 1: too little, too late. I guess it's sort of the 22 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: theme of today. Yeah, we've seen that kind of game 23 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 1: a couple of times this season that we come out 24 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: overmatched and the fight comes, but the fight comes way 25 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 1: too late, and at that point the other team is 26 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: kind of like go of the rope, and at that 27 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 1: point you basically have to play perfect basketball, and no 28 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:33,400 Speaker 1: one can play perfect basketball. So that's why you only 29 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 1: see that kind of come back once every several thousand tries. Yeah, 30 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: but you know, I thought the Lakers were outclassed and 31 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 1: outmatched in a lot of ways. It was interesting. Um, 32 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: you know, gravity is a concept that we became familiar 33 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: with as a result of Steph Curry having to do 34 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: with the idea of panic chasing shooters around the perimeter 35 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: and giving up things around the rib. And since you've 36 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 1: kind of seen a similar effect from a bunch of 37 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: really high level shooters that have come into the league, 38 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: and Duncan Robinson is one of them. And I thought 39 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:08,679 Speaker 1: the story at the beginning of the game was the 40 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: Lakers because they're an undisciplined team, because they're a team 41 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 1: that has had to change defensive schemes a half dozen 42 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: times this year, because they have personnel groups that all 43 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:24,239 Speaker 1: have to have specific defensive schemes ran for them. They 44 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 1: botched coverages uh NonStop to start the game, mostly sending 45 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: multiple players that Duncan Robinson and then sending multiple players 46 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: at the role man, which is a recipe for wide 47 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:37,079 Speaker 1: open dunks and layups and threes on the back end. Uh. 48 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 1: And it was sloppy and Miami controlled it throughout, and 49 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 1: even when we came back at the end, I thought 50 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: it was more product of Miami letting up in us 51 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: just simply playing harder. So I didn't really take too 52 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: much from that. But before we, you know, get into 53 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 1: some of the larger scope stuff, because I do want 54 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: to talk a little bit about just how we move 55 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: forward from here. But what was your initial takeaway or 56 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: just your overhead takeaway from the game today? Yeah, so, um, 57 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: you know, I thought we started off really lax, like 58 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: just kind of the the attitude of the team. You know. 59 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 1: I don't know if it's because it's we're starting so 60 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 1: many vets, like the whole starting rosters, like not really 61 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 1: any young guys, and probably the two guys with the 62 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: most energy are are gonna be are gonna be brawn 63 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 1: and like Russ um. But but I thought they started 64 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: off really flat. Um. You know, we beat Miami already, right, 65 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 1: like we beat him in ane overtime game in in 66 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 1: Staples Center at the time, and that was actually without 67 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: Braun uh and that was of a d But like 68 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 1: this was a game where for sure, like playing small 69 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: ball probably doesn't work because Eric Spoelster sitting there saying, Okay, 70 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 1: if you're gonna play small ball, like watch this uh. 71 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: And and he just kept you know, kind of using 72 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: his bigs uh, finding ways to to get to the rim, 73 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 1: to to get the Lakers to collapse and stuff like that. Um, 74 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: I thought we look slow, like really slow compared compared 75 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 1: to my and and you know, Miami is not one 76 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 1: of those teams like it. You know, they didn't have 77 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:00,040 Speaker 1: Tyler Harrow, they didn't have Kyle Lowry, but they have 78 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: like their their offensive principles are in place. They're like 79 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: a I don't want to call them a system team 80 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: because I feel like sometimes the de values like what 81 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: the players do, but like they know what they want 82 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: to run and they know what they want to do. Um, 83 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 1: you know, make the extra play, collapse the paint, get 84 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: somebody to come come over, find the three point shooter, 85 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: and I mean they ran it to perfection, like the 86 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: reason they went up twenty. We were chasing like constantly 87 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 1: the entire game. And then, um, I think I don't 88 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 1: know if you watch the local broadcast, but yeah, on 89 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: the local broadcast or sorry, the l A broadcast. Um, 90 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:36,720 Speaker 1: what's it called stud lance? He was just saying like, oh, yeah, 91 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 1: the the entire goal is to take Dwight Howard away 92 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 1: from the paint because they know that nobody's gonna be 93 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: able to come and help, you know, at the rim 94 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 1: and stuff like that once they get it. So it's 95 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 1: just you know, I think they Miami came in well 96 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 1: prepared with the game plan. They knew what the Lakers 97 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: small ball was. Um, and you know, credit to Erik 98 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: Spoelstra and and and those guys for executing it. Yeah. Absolutely. 99 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 1: And for the record, you know, going in like talent 100 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 1: is a huge issue year. I kind of pointed this 101 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: out before before for the last game against the Magic. 102 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: But when you're looking at the starting lineup and it's like, Okay, 103 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: I've got Lebron James, but I've got Russell Westbrook who 104 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: is mostly a shell of his former self, and we'll 105 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: discuss that a little bit more later. But you've got 106 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 1: Avery Bradley, who was literally cut by the Golden State 107 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:17,279 Speaker 1: Warriors earlier this year when buying for the fifteenth roster 108 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 1: spot and is an extremely I would call him like 109 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: a one dimensional basketball player, Like he has one elite skill, 110 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: which is strictly ball pressure, and even that you know, 111 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 1: comes with a bunch of downsides, and and obviously offensively, 112 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: he's he's very hot and cold. And then you got 113 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: Trevor Reza, who I actually, this is one of the 114 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 1: big things I've been wrong about this year. I thought 115 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: he'd be better than he's been, and he's been and 116 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: he's been really bad. And if you watch him now, 117 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 1: we're not gonna get too far into him, but he 118 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: is actively hurting the team on both ends of the 119 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,280 Speaker 1: ploor right now. And then you have Dwight Howard, who's 120 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: a backup sent uh, you know, a guy who definitely 121 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 1: belongs in the league, definitely can play that backup center 122 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 1: role in a championship level team. He's definitely not over 123 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 1: underqualified for that, but he is overqualified underqualified to be 124 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: a actual, you know, um starting NBA center on a 125 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: good team. So you're looking at that starting lineup and 126 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 1: it's it's basically four really limited basketball players and Lebron James. 127 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:14,840 Speaker 1: And then you go to the bench and it's like, 128 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 1: you know, we we've been advocating for the young guys 129 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 1: a lot, but it's like Austin Reeves, undrafted free agents, 130 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 1: Stanley Johnson was out of the league. Molikue Monk Lakers 131 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 1: were the only team that offered him a contract th 132 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 1: ht second round pick. You're looking at this and there's 133 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: just not a lot of talent on the roster, so 134 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 1: you have to cut the team some slack in the 135 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: sense that you're not going to go on the road 136 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,160 Speaker 1: into Miami and just beat the Miami Heat like that. 137 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 1: But at the same time, we also functionally look like 138 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 1: a disorganized, bad basketball team. So I think that, like 139 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 1: I think even if with our adjusted expectations, they're not 140 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: performing up to that level, if that makes sense. So 141 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 1: what do you make so even even the Orlando game, right, 142 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: like, like like you already mentioned that, you know we're gonna 143 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: get into rust a little bit later, um so so um, 144 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: we can do that. And but like you know, the 145 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 1: general theme of some of these losses and a lot 146 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:07,160 Speaker 1: of the conversation about the losses to the playoff team. 147 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: The teams has been you know, the the up and 148 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: down on Russell Westbrook, what version do you get and 149 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: so like the last two games he's been okay, um, yeah, 150 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 1: but the defense has been so bad. What what do 151 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: you make of that? What do you make of Like, so, 152 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 1: how did we go from being a super terrible defensive 153 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 1: team even though Braun and Rust shot well in the 154 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: first half of that Orlando game. We figure it out 155 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 1: in the second half of that game, and then we 156 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: show up in this Miami game and they were completely 157 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: lost yet again at the start of this game. What 158 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: what do you make of that? What do you think 159 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 1: that is? Is it? Is it just talent? Do you 160 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: think it's preparation? What are your thoughts on that? So 161 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: it's I think it's a bunch of things. But like, 162 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 1: for instance, if you've got a team, like a really 163 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: smart defensive team, a team like the Miami eat, I 164 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: think you can run really advanced schemes, Like I think 165 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: you can do things where you're switching certain actions which 166 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 1: are also you know, running traditional traditional pick and roll 167 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 1: coverages on other actions, or maybe you might keep a 168 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: lock and trail defender on a shooter and not which 169 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: those screens like, you can mix all of that up 170 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 1: when you've got personnel that kind of fits into that 171 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 1: identity of a smart defensive team. But we certainly don't 172 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: have that. Like when you look at the personnel down 173 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 1: the roster, we have too many guys where defense has 174 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: been on the back burner during their career. Doesn't mean 175 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: they can't play defense, it just means you have to 176 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: simplify things for them. I think that's really important. So 177 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: for instance, like what did the Brooklyn Nets do last year? 178 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: Were they asking Kyrie Irving and James Harden and Kevin 179 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 1: Durant even who's a player who has been lacks of 180 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: days go on the defensive end for a lot of 181 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 1: his career. You know you're not gonna ask those guys 182 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: to do anything super advanced, And so they broke it 183 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:40,720 Speaker 1: down to something outrageously simple. Guys just switch everything and 184 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 1: if they beat us one on one attacking a specific 185 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: matchup will live with the results. But that way it's 186 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: super easy. There's it's it's it's a there's no like 187 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,679 Speaker 1: having to decide what coverage you're running when something gets 188 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 1: run your way. It's just we're switching everything and when 189 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 1: and if you lean into that the way they did 190 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 1: for the entire season, then you get good at it. 191 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 1: You get pretty good at it, and you know, and 192 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: one of the biggest things of switching is communicating. This 193 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: is one of the big things that fell apart today 194 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: as you see multiple Laker defenders run to an open 195 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: three point shooter or to an open roll man instead 196 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:16,440 Speaker 1: of just one guy going in that direction. And that's 197 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 1: just fundamental sloppiness. You're not talking starting from the basic 198 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: like entry levels of basketball. When you're educating like a 199 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 1: six or seven year old and how to play defense, 200 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: you teach them to talk. When you're on the ball, 201 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: you yell ball, why so that everybody around you knows 202 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 1: that you're guarding the ball. When you're one pass away, 203 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 1: you yelled deny, Why so that everybody on the court 204 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: knows that you're guarding one pass away. If you're in 205 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 1: help site underneath the basket, you always yell midline or 206 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 1: help or depending on the program. It's it's those kinds 207 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 1: of things. Those are basic basketball things that the Lakers 208 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: just aren't doing right now. They're not talking, they're not 209 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 1: even like letting each other know what they're doing while 210 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 1: they're on the floor. So it's it's a combination of 211 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 1: sloppiness and an over complicated scheme in my opinion. Yeah, yeah, 212 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:02,679 Speaker 1: so that's that's been like the biggest thing, you know, Like, um, 213 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 1: I think if you follow, if you follow the Lakers 214 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: on the on the timeline and stuff like that, especially 215 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:08,560 Speaker 1: without lost is obviously are low lights? Are are what 216 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:11,839 Speaker 1: gets the individual low lights? You know, rush shooting the 217 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 1: ball off the top of the backboard and stuff. I 218 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 1: got that stuff will be highlighted and you'll just think 219 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: to yourself, like, oh man, this team just sucks. But 220 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: there's like a fundamental issue I feel like with this 221 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:22,960 Speaker 1: team when it comes to not just efforts, but it's 222 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: just like what do we do? Like sometimes I just 223 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 1: sit there and watch what are we doing? Like I'm 224 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: so confused as to why is it that we switched 225 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 1: on this time but then on this time we didn't switch? 226 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: When were we in dropped? Like why did why did 227 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 1: we spend the entire possessions switching every single thing and 228 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: then at the very last moment we dropped? Like it 229 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: is that? Is that a player thing? Is that a 230 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: coverage thing, you know, what is it? And so I 231 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:47,839 Speaker 1: think that's been sort of the sign Like I don't 232 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 1: I don't know how to kind of explain it um 233 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 1: going from game to game, but you know, the talent 234 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 1: disparity is definitely one of those things. The you know, 235 00:10:56,120 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 1: even more than the talent disparity, the athleticism disparity crazy 236 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: for this team, like there like consistently, if we play 237 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: a young team, a young physical team at like that 238 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 1: wants to like even even Orlando that wants to get 239 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 1: into your space and stuff like even the Indiana game, 240 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 1: like Tory Craig is trying to press Lebron the second 241 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 1: half of that game from full so that he can't 242 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 1: get his rhythm or anything like that. If we play 243 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,199 Speaker 1: against teams that are athletic and and just kind of 244 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 1: want to press us and stuff like that, this team 245 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 1: seems to like basically bold, like pretty much like it 246 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 1: just allows itself to get out of rhythm and stuff 247 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: I got. And I don't know if that's because we 248 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:35,319 Speaker 1: got a bunch of old guys that you know, they're 249 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: just not gonna do that kind of effort in the 250 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: regular season, or if it's because that's just kind of 251 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 1: what we are, like, we can't keep up with these 252 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:44,200 Speaker 1: sort of teams, maybe at least not until the playoffs. 253 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 1: And so that's why we're seeing this sort of thing 254 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: happen over and over again. It's it's it's mind boggling 255 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:52,439 Speaker 1: to see the inconsistency um game the game when when 256 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 1: it comes to these situations. Yeah, you know what, It's 257 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:56,560 Speaker 1: interesting because the name over the course of the summer, 258 00:11:57,480 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 1: the entire Laker fan base was on the same page, 259 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:02,319 Speaker 1: like when are they going to sign someone who's taller 260 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: than six four? Like like that was the thing because 261 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 1: you look at you look at a team, like you 262 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:09,439 Speaker 1: look at a team like Miami and you're like, oh, 263 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: there's Max Struss. He's six ft six two fifteen pounds 264 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 1: and built like a truck. And you're like, you're like, 265 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 1: that's not even what a top seven or eight player 266 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 1: on their team, but like he's just a big athletic player. 267 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: So guess what, Like if you're running a smart defensive 268 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: scheme and the guy knows how to do his job, 269 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 1: like he's not an easy guy to run over and 270 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:31,560 Speaker 1: get to the basket. And we used to have a 271 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 1: bunch of those guys and you know, this is where 272 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: you know that when I when I talked about the 273 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: rush trade, which we're gonna get to into more detail later, 274 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 1: I talked a lot about what was lost in the process, 275 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: Like you know, because of the mismatching salaries, you know, 276 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 1: there was more money coming in, so that had directly 277 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 1: affected the Alex Caruso thing, which then you're talking about 278 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 1: losing Kyle Kuzma, Alex Crusoe and KCP like three really 279 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: high level NBA athletes with size you know at their 280 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 1: position that went out the door. But like a lot 281 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: of that have been undone. A lot of that damage 282 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 1: could have been undone with if with the veteran minimums 283 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: our general manager actually approached that replacing those specific archetypes 284 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 1: like that was we we literally brought in because Carmelo 285 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,680 Speaker 1: Anthony is tall, guys, but he's really like Carmelo Anthony 286 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 1: is a lot more Shanning Fry at this phase of 287 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: his career than Carmelo Anthony. So yeah, his his lateral 288 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 1: like there there should be even even this is this 289 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 1: has been an issue with even also like like Arizona 290 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 1: since he's been back, like to his mobility, like the 291 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: mobility from some of our wings, specifically Carmelo specifically, like 292 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:39,559 Speaker 1: Aresa has been really really bad, like like there must 293 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: have been at least two I'm trying to remember off 294 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: the time, maybe two times where a Reason almost like god, 295 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:47,839 Speaker 1: his ankles broken just off of the jab step, like 296 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: because he was trying to trying to guess which way, 297 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: like Caleb Martin, which Cody Martican, I don't know what 298 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 1: joint is, Like you could tell like he was he 299 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: was gonna be in trouble, like he didn't know what 300 00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: was going to happen. And it's purely because the guy 301 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 1: that he's going to go close out on is much 302 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,640 Speaker 1: more athletic, much more aggressive, and these guys know, like 303 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 1: the opposing team knows, Hey, if you make you know, 304 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 1: a misdirection cut, if if you jab right and go left, 305 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 1: or if you jab left and go right, Carmel is 306 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 1: gonna bite. He's gonna put it in one of these 307 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 1: plays and you're gonna get a lane or Reason is 308 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 1: gonna bite and you're gonna get one of the things. 309 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: And that that's the part that like, um, that's the 310 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 1: part that kind of concerns me. You know, like they're 311 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 1: minimum players, so we should probably not be uh, you know, 312 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 1: putting them under such a microscope, because that's why they're 313 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 1: minimum players. But the part that bothers me, jays, is 314 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 1: why are we putting minimum players in this position? Like 315 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 1: it seems almost unfair to those guys. It's like, why 316 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 1: are we asking these guys to guard athletes and then 317 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 1: getting mad at them for not being able to guard athletes? 318 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 1: Like there should be some some foresight or some just 319 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 1: kind of common sense from from our front office that 320 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: these guys just can't do it. Like Carmel is a 321 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 1: great specialist, Like if you just stick them in a 322 00:14:57,080 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: corner or you have them doing the trailing the trailing three, 323 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 1: he's like he did like towards the towards the end 324 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 1: of this game. It's great, but he can't be like 325 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 1: a core. I gotta make four rotations or four coverages 326 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 1: in a single defensive possession, you know what I mean. 327 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 1: Like you're not gonna you're gonna get more breakdowns and 328 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 1: you're gonna get um, you know, positive stuff out of it. 329 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: So it's it's it's very interesting to see this kind 330 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: of what happens and and um, you know, I think 331 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: it's putting a lot of pressure on even guys like Braun, 332 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: even guys like Russ. At least, I ant Davis comes back. 333 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 1: So I'm hoping he comes back next game so we 334 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: can see how things sort of work out. It will 335 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: certainly help with slotting, although it'll be frustrating at the 336 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: beginning because of the fact that he's probably not gonna 337 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: play a ton of minutes. But this is a perfect 338 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 1: setup for the question I'm gonna ask you, because, like, 339 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 1: I think that that, like that fundamental approach to the 340 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 1: off season was where this went off the road. Even again, 341 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: looking accepting the Rush trade for what it is, because 342 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 1: we're gonna get into rust later, then looking at the 343 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: moves they made around that, I fundamentally disagree with the approach. 344 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 1: So I'll give you. I'll give you two examples. So 345 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: Kendrick Nunn, so you, from what I heard, Rudy Gay 346 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 1: would have signed with the Lakers had they offered him 347 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: the mL E. They absolutely would have done. So that 348 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 1: was in the works. Then I guess Rob was like, no, actually, 349 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 1: we're gonna be the veteran minimum, and then the Jazz 350 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 1: swooped in and got him under some pressure from Mike Conley. 351 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: That's what I've heard, So essentially you fundamentally decided that 352 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 1: you thought Kendrick Nunne because I don't know if it's 353 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 1: it's because he fits the archetype of guard that Frank 354 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 1: likes or because you underestimate what Rudy does offensively, but 355 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: that is that basic approach, like instead of getting this 356 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 1: versatile wing that can guard multiple positions and do things 357 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: with the basketball offensively, We're gonna go for this versatile 358 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: guard who can defend a little bit at his position 359 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: and uh and uh, you know, do some things with 360 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: the basketball. But that size difference that kind of went 361 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 1: down the line with all of the signings. So for instance, 362 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 1: like instead of getting guys like Wayne Ellington, you know, 363 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 1: or Malik Monk's actually worked out okay, But in said 364 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: of that archetype, like why wasn't it more guys like 365 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:06,040 Speaker 1: Wesley Matthews, who everybody in late in the Laker fan 366 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: base was clamoring for. Why wasn't it guys like James Ennis. 367 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:12,880 Speaker 1: Why wasn't you know that that archetype of Stanley Johnson, 368 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,399 Speaker 1: that type of player who's a fringe NBA player but 369 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:18,040 Speaker 1: brings an elite skill in the form of their athleticism. 370 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:20,879 Speaker 1: Like that is where the Lakers went off the rails. 371 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 1: Now you could argue that we could argue when it 372 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 1: comes to Russ as to that trade off and whether 373 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:27,959 Speaker 1: that was worth it. But even with the Rush trade, 374 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 1: they had the ability to be bigger and more athletic 375 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:34,880 Speaker 1: than they are and they chose not to be because, 376 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 1: for whatever reason, they told themselves that Carmelo, Anthony and 377 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:42,119 Speaker 1: Trevor Rizzo was enough, which is which is outrageous. So 378 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: so yeah, it's it's it's it's sorry saying I don't 379 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 1: want to you're good, They're good. Well, I was just 380 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:51,119 Speaker 1: gonna tee you up. I was gonna say, so accepting 381 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:54,440 Speaker 1: that this is the reality, what would you do if 382 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 1: you were robbed at this headline? What would you do? Yeah? 383 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:01,159 Speaker 1: So so my biggest my biggest thing about the team is, um, 384 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:04,359 Speaker 1: there's like they have to raise the athletic profile of 385 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 1: this team, like especially on the wings, Like there's there's 386 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: should be no confusion from any Laker fans about the 387 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: lack of size when it comes to just the perimeter 388 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 1: and wing guys that we have. It's very clear that 389 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 1: Carmelo and Trevor Reaso are not are not the guys 390 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:26,160 Speaker 1: that that can consistently say active on the wings for 391 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 1: this team. And they're not even if you put them 392 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:31,120 Speaker 1: in just three and D roles, they're not even doing 393 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: the D part, you know what I mean, Like they're 394 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:35,679 Speaker 1: they're just they're just like it's not consistently good, like 395 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 1: at least with Avery Bradley, Like and I know we 396 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 1: don't like it, but at least with Bradley. You see 397 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 1: the effort with Bradley and and and he's trying. Even 398 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: how our Lando game the second half of that game, 399 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 1: he got a bunch of deflections, he got a couple 400 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:50,920 Speaker 1: of dig dig plays where he just kind of pulled 401 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 1: the ball out of the post of guy's head and 402 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:55,439 Speaker 1: stuff I got. So it's just like that, like you 403 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 1: could see the effort and stuff I got when it 404 00:18:57,400 --> 00:18:59,640 Speaker 1: comes to this team. Are certain players on the team, 405 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: but on the wings outside of Lebron, especially without Anthony Davis, 406 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 1: like we have no size whatsoever to match up. So 407 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 1: you know, like the cascading effect of you know, trading 408 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 1: for us and all that sort of stuff. I'm acent 409 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: and agree with you, like I went on, um, you know, 410 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:20,800 Speaker 1: with our our fellow friends like at Temple of Hoop 411 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:23,880 Speaker 1: Jason and and Cage like I went preseason, I went 412 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: on a on a had a conversation with him where 413 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:28,479 Speaker 1: we talked about, you know, who the Lakers should try 414 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 1: and get and what moves they should make and should 415 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 1: they trade for us? And I was just like, look, 416 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 1: if the only trade you could ever make was to 417 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 1: get Russ, then that's fine, but that shouldn't like be 418 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,160 Speaker 1: like our first move because he costs and he costs 419 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 1: a lot of money, and be we're gonna have to 420 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 1: trade a lot of players away likes mos cruises and 421 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 1: that sort of stuff. But I mean, Russ is here. 422 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 1: You know, you and I are not Rob and Kurt, 423 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:50,880 Speaker 1: so we're not the ones making the decisions. We don't 424 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:52,399 Speaker 1: know how that how that went on the back end, 425 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 1: but it's like very clearly if I'm robbed, I'm looking 426 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,640 Speaker 1: at the wings on this team and I'm thinking to myself, 427 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: DC guys can't keep up with like the like the 428 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:05,199 Speaker 1: best teams in the league. Like even if we just 429 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: go down the list, you have the Warriors who have Wiggins, 430 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:11,159 Speaker 1: they have the young kids, Jonathan Flamingo, They're gonna have 431 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: Draymond if he's healthy. They're gonna have Andrea Goodala if 432 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 1: he's healthy. Uh. For the Jazz, you're gonna have Royce O'Neil. 433 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:20,880 Speaker 1: They have Rudy Gay two as well. They have Eric Pascal, 434 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 1: another young guy that they just kind of added last 435 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:26,120 Speaker 1: second that's been getting minutes for them too as well. Uh. 436 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 1: Then you go to the Suns, they have Michael Bridges, 437 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: they have Cam Johnson. Uh, they have Jay Crowder. Like 438 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:34,639 Speaker 1: if you take our two wings outside of Braun, like 439 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,440 Speaker 1: you're assuming Braun's playing the floor, where do our guys 440 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 1: even rank up? You know? And then in the top three, 441 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,640 Speaker 1: I could argue that when are the wings that we're 442 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:46,120 Speaker 1: relying on. They don't even like they may not even 443 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:48,160 Speaker 1: have roster spots on some of these teams that are 444 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 1: on the Western Conference. And and and I think it's 445 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 1: really really difficult for me to put two and two 446 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:55,879 Speaker 1: three two together when it comes to this team, Like 447 00:20:56,960 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: what was the logic behind going super small on the 448 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: on the perimeter and then going super slow you know 449 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 1: what I mean, Like with the guys that we would 450 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:09,240 Speaker 1: have used as in small ball situations. And that's that's 451 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 1: the part um that that just doesn't match up. So 452 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:13,840 Speaker 1: it's like that's what they have to do. Like they 453 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:16,920 Speaker 1: really really have to find guys that are six six 454 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: six seven, six eight, and we need those guys to 455 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: be able to be athletic. You know, if if they can't, 456 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:25,679 Speaker 1: if they can hit the occasional three, great, but we 457 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 1: need guys that can defend badly or else. What you're 458 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:30,960 Speaker 1: gonna have is is teams do exactly what something like 459 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:34,320 Speaker 1: Eric Sposa's did. They'll take a D or they'll see 460 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:36,320 Speaker 1: a D at the five and they'll put a put 461 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:38,560 Speaker 1: a floor spacing shooter or something like that. They'll drag 462 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 1: them out all the way to the top of the key, 463 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: the top of the perimeter, and they'll say, all right, 464 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: it's a free run. You get by your guy, you're 465 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 1: gonna get a lay up because no one's gonna be 466 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,119 Speaker 1: able to help you on the backside. And that's just 467 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: not gonna work. I don't care, I don't care any 468 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 1: excuses anybody's making about them being vets in the playoffs. 469 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 1: That is going to be the go to strategy. Every 470 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 1: playoff team has done this civilators. And look, whether it's 471 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:04,639 Speaker 1: because of the players or because it's Frank Vogel, we 472 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:07,160 Speaker 1: have no counter sport even with a D. We don't 473 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:09,399 Speaker 1: have counter sport because we don't have size on the wings. 474 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:11,680 Speaker 1: So I can't keep getting mad at Malik Monk or 475 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 1: Tayleen Horton Tucker for not being able or even Russell 476 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:16,959 Speaker 1: Westbrook for not being able to guys because there are 477 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,119 Speaker 1: four inches five inches shorter than everybody, you know what 478 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 1: I mean, Like they're just getting the ball shot over them. 479 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 1: So it's it's gotta be we have to balance that out. 480 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 1: We have to get size, We have to get athleticism 481 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 1: on the wings um because I don't think he's realistic 482 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 1: to expect Broun to have to do it like this 483 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 1: the way he has in the regular season. Well, what 484 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,800 Speaker 1: Frank asks guards to do is extremely difficult, and I 485 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 1: think the idea coming into the season it was kind 486 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:43,720 Speaker 1: of the same idea that that was functionally what happened 487 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 1: in Like, we have all this size, so if we 488 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,199 Speaker 1: get guys that are willing to scram around on the 489 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:51,639 Speaker 1: perimeter and chase guys over the top of screens and stuff, 490 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 1: then our size will clean everything up on the back end. 491 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:58,639 Speaker 1: But they I think where they fundamentally uh misread the 492 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 1: room so to speak, was the fact that we did 493 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 1: have so much size on the wing and at the 494 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:07,400 Speaker 1: guard position in and yes, on that initial action when 495 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:09,159 Speaker 1: the guys chasing over the top of the screen, like 496 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 1: it helps to have a little pest like Avery Bradley 497 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 1: in that spot or and and I think Frank probably 498 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:17,879 Speaker 1: convinced himself like, hey, I can convince Malik Monk to 499 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:20,400 Speaker 1: run over the top of screens, or I can convince 500 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:22,879 Speaker 1: Wayne Ellington to do this. And I think he underestimated 501 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:25,879 Speaker 1: just how difficult that job is and you know, to 502 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:28,719 Speaker 1: consistently do And one of the things that was the 503 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: strength of the Lakers was that flying around in rotation 504 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:36,359 Speaker 1: because the Lakers, especially in that postseason run, they would 505 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:38,160 Speaker 1: flat out trap pick and rolls a lot of times, 506 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:40,800 Speaker 1: especially with James Harden and with Damian Lillard and even 507 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:43,439 Speaker 1: with Jamal Murray in that series. So like what was 508 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:46,919 Speaker 1: really happening there was you were asking three guys to 509 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 1: guard four, and when you're asking three guard guys to 510 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 1: guard four, it just is it helps when the smallest 511 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:55,880 Speaker 1: guy on that back line is Alex Crusoe and he's 512 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,199 Speaker 1: six six and put his elbow above the rim, like 513 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 1: he can just cover more ground. Kyle Kuzma could just 514 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: cover more ground, KCP could just cover more ground. There 515 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:06,959 Speaker 1: was just that overall length and athleticism is what allows 516 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:08,720 Speaker 1: you to clean up messes. Because this is the dirty 517 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:11,400 Speaker 1: little secret. There's no such thing as a perfect defense. 518 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 1: You're not going to just shut down that first action, 519 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:16,960 Speaker 1: and then the possessions over Chances are they're they're gonna 520 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:18,960 Speaker 1: move the ball around and someone's gonna get beat off 521 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,040 Speaker 1: the dribble. And it's really about how you cover for 522 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:23,120 Speaker 1: each other. And you can't cover for each other when 523 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 1: everybody on the floor is small, and I think I 524 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 1: think that's just where they went wrong. Now I'm a 525 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 1: little bit more aggressive about this than you um in 526 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:34,080 Speaker 1: terms of what I would do this deadline, because I 527 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 1: would trade everybody that I could not name, Lebron and 528 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis. I think fundamentally the culture in the locker 529 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 1: room is got this weird, stale like, kind of nasty 530 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:47,960 Speaker 1: like nature to it that I don't think can be 531 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 1: fixed by moving one player or moving two players. I 532 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: think that was the beautiful thing about the teen like 533 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:57,240 Speaker 1: Calves is when they made that trade to kind of 534 00:24:57,280 --> 00:24:59,359 Speaker 1: just change the area of the locker room, and that's 535 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:01,159 Speaker 1: why I keep using in that as an example is 536 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 1: like sometimes you send out guys. Now, the big the 537 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 1: big thing that that Cavstin did is bringing athleticism. You know, 538 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:09,240 Speaker 1: you turn Jay Crowder into Rodney Hood. That's just a 539 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:14,199 Speaker 1: more athletic version. Even though JAD think Larson athletic and 540 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:17,359 Speaker 1: then Larry Nz and Larry N's looks so good in 541 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 1: that regular season, he basically took Trisan Thompson's job in 542 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:23,160 Speaker 1: that stretch. So but the point is is like, like 543 00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 1: the point is there are going to be teams in 544 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:27,040 Speaker 1: the league that are willing to do trades because they're 545 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:29,240 Speaker 1: in a similar situation. They don't like the guys that 546 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 1: they have in their lockerm and they want to mix 547 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:33,080 Speaker 1: things up, right. And so the way I look at 548 00:25:33,119 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 1: it is like I would I would I would move Russ, 549 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:38,439 Speaker 1: which we're gonna talk about later, so I'm gonna save that, 550 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:41,439 Speaker 1: but I would trade Russ for basically anything other than 551 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,240 Speaker 1: John Ball. But then when it comes to the veteran 552 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:46,159 Speaker 1: minimum contracts and when it comes to th h T 553 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:48,760 Speaker 1: and Kendrick Nunn, I'd flip t H T and Kendrick 554 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 1: Nunn for somebody that is in that classic wing archetype, 555 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 1: and I would even be willing to take Eric Gordon, 556 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 1: but I would also be start looking at flipping some 557 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 1: of these veteran minimum contracts for other veteran minim contracts 558 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:03,679 Speaker 1: around the league that better fit what we need. Better attitudes, 559 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 1: better effort guys, if that makes sense. Yeah, And the 560 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: thing with you know, one of the things when the 561 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:10,639 Speaker 1: Lakers sent out that first that first rounder to Washington 562 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:13,440 Speaker 1: Um for that Russell Westrop trade, like you know a 563 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:15,120 Speaker 1: lot of people are like, oh, why we give it up? Well, 564 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 1: in return, we've got three second rounders. And this is 565 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 1: kind of where those second rounders sort of helped, because 566 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:23,560 Speaker 1: you need more picks to be able to move incentivize 567 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:26,720 Speaker 1: moving certain guys as opposed to just that one first 568 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:29,119 Speaker 1: round pick um when it when it comes to that 569 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:31,240 Speaker 1: sort of situation. So now, if you have a guy 570 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 1: like let's say down to Jordan that you can't play well, 571 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:35,320 Speaker 1: you can attach a second rounder to him and then 572 00:26:35,359 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 1: look at a better minimum guy that may be around, 573 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:40,200 Speaker 1: you know, on another team somewhere, who the Lakers can 574 00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:42,640 Speaker 1: actually use and then offer that second round pick because 575 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 1: the other team, it's really all they're getting is the 576 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 1: second round pick. That's what they want. They don't really 577 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:50,159 Speaker 1: care about the vetman because it's a vetman, so they 578 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:51,880 Speaker 1: don't think much of it. So when you have two 579 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:53,320 Speaker 1: or three of those, and we have three of those 580 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:56,359 Speaker 1: from the Washington trade, um, you can move some of 581 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:59,040 Speaker 1: those guys at the very back end of the roster around, uh, 582 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 1: using those second round picks. Um. So I look, I'm 583 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:06,719 Speaker 1: not I'm not against. I think people get it very 584 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: confused when they're when they're on my timeline and stuff 585 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 1: like that. Anybody who wears the Laker Laker jersey, whether 586 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:14,640 Speaker 1: it's the Prown James or former Celtic Region Rondo, U 587 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:17,720 Speaker 1: root for them to be successful because they're wearing the 588 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:20,680 Speaker 1: Laker jersey. So my thing is I only can be positive, 589 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:23,880 Speaker 1: right and so, um, but you have to also be realistic. 590 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:26,119 Speaker 1: If the only way for this roster to improve is 591 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 1: to move Russ because of a salary, and there's a 592 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 1: team out there that says, hey, I'll send you these 593 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:33,480 Speaker 1: three guys who are role players that we don't want, 594 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:36,439 Speaker 1: and um, you know you can have them, you know, 595 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:39,000 Speaker 1: and this is just hypothetical, like I'll send you Harrison 596 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:42,440 Speaker 1: Barnes and Buddy healed and Damian Jones, um, because I 597 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:44,160 Speaker 1: don't want their you know, I don't want their contracts 598 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 1: or whatever it is. Um And yeah, sure send me 599 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:50,080 Speaker 1: those second round picks. Uh. And you can swap Damien 600 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 1: Jones for Deando Jordan, you know that sort of thing. 601 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 1: And the Lakers kind of add a little bit more athleticism. 602 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:58,520 Speaker 1: They add a little bit more, you know, um, youth 603 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:02,160 Speaker 1: to the roster because that's all that matters. Russell gets 604 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:03,720 Speaker 1: ring anyways, it doesn't matter, you know what. Like we 605 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 1: gave a ring to DeMarcus Cousins. He never played a 606 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:07,959 Speaker 1: single minute for the Lakers. He came up, showed up 607 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 1: to camp, got hurt, and then he never played. But 608 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 1: he still gotta ring. So I'm not I'm not worried 609 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:13,639 Speaker 1: about anything. You know. Obviously, we want the Lakers to 610 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 1: win the championship. That's that's the entire goal to begin with, 611 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:19,320 Speaker 1: and stuff like that. So it's it's it has to 612 00:28:19,359 --> 00:28:23,720 Speaker 1: be something that adds depth, because I genuinely think guys 613 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:28,200 Speaker 1: like Carmelo, guys like Trevor, they need to be the fourteen, 614 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:32,440 Speaker 1: like the twelve, fourteenth and fifteen guys on our bench. 615 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:36,640 Speaker 1: They can't be the sixth, seventh, and eight most most 616 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:39,160 Speaker 1: important guys on our teams, because I think that's putting 617 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:41,480 Speaker 1: us in a position we're we're going to be very 618 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 1: unsuccessful because teams are going to look to attack those 619 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 1: guys um over and over again. And that that's kind 620 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:51,640 Speaker 1: of what my idea is. My thing with THHD is, 621 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 1: UM I have a bit of a conspiracy theory about 622 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 1: this situation. UM. I think Kendrick Nunn was brought in. 623 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:02,360 Speaker 1: He is hurt. I don't think that he's not hurt, 624 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:04,400 Speaker 1: but I think he was brought in to replace th 625 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:08,200 Speaker 1: HDS role if th HD got moved for somebody else. Uh, 626 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 1: sort of that sixth because he's been a six man before, right, 627 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 1: he understands that role and stuff like that. And we 628 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 1: kind of tried to shoehorn tailing into the starting lineup 629 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:19,600 Speaker 1: and then eventually we moved him on the starting lineup. 630 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 1: And now we're playing him with with the you know, 631 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:25,200 Speaker 1: the he's our what fourth highest paid guy, but he's 632 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:26,959 Speaker 1: coming on the bench and he's kind of been up 633 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:29,560 Speaker 1: and down himself. Um, he had a nice stretch of 634 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:32,000 Speaker 1: basketball and now he's kind of had like a you know, 635 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 1: blah kind of stretch. Of basketball and stuff like yeah, exactly, yeah, yeah, 636 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:40,480 Speaker 1: and so um that that's been my running conspiracy theory. 637 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:43,320 Speaker 1: Um none also switched to clutch. I think he switched 638 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 1: a Rich Baul right before the season started to after 639 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 1: he joined the Lakers. So that's you know, that's just 640 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:51,400 Speaker 1: me being conspiratorial. But I would move this. That explains 641 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 1: why they wanted him over Rudy Gay. Yeah yeah, I 642 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:56,360 Speaker 1: mean I would move up. To be honest, I would 643 00:29:56,360 --> 00:29:59,280 Speaker 1: really move him for wings. Like I've floated the idea 644 00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 1: of like if you can, if you can trade th 645 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 1: HT for like two wings on a team, like right, 646 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:08,360 Speaker 1: So the example I gave is like to Indiana, Like 647 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:11,280 Speaker 1: we just played Indiana. They had justin holiday six six 648 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 1: um three and the kind of guy, same same kind 649 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:16,160 Speaker 1: of role that k CP sort of played. He runs 650 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:18,240 Speaker 1: a lot of the same sets that come off the 651 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:19,880 Speaker 1: d H O and and just kind of pull up 652 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 1: sort of sets that you know KCP would run or 653 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 1: or you know Allington would run or and and then 654 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 1: they have another guy, Tory Craig, another six six nine 655 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: wing guy likes the hustle, will scrap. Uh, we don't 656 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 1: have to ask bron to do that. He was the 657 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:39,200 Speaker 1: one who was guarding Lebron in our last Indiana matchup 658 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:42,160 Speaker 1: that entire second half, pressing Braun to make sure that 659 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 1: he couldn't get involved. Like if you can, like financially, 660 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 1: you can trade just th hd and and maybe a 661 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:49,640 Speaker 1: second round pick or two second round picks, and you 662 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 1: can add those guys. I'm not saying that's what we 663 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 1: should do, but there's ways to go about improving the 664 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 1: depth on this roster. That's that's a great example of 665 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:01,960 Speaker 1: a less flashy trade that finally improves the team, right Yeah, 666 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:03,680 Speaker 1: and then and then you know, like if if we're 667 00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 1: trying to slot guys down, now you can change Mellow's rotation. 668 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:10,680 Speaker 1: Now you can play maybe Melow and Tory Craig, you know, 669 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 1: hypothetically together. Um, and and now it's not as much 670 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:16,080 Speaker 1: of an issue because you have a guy who's in 671 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:19,200 Speaker 1: isolation score can shoot the three kind of like you know, 672 00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:21,640 Speaker 1: in that Bron role, and then you have a dedicated 673 00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:23,560 Speaker 1: three and D defensive guy will get pushed the pace 674 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:26,520 Speaker 1: like you see Stanley Johns like we haven't, we haven't 675 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:29,400 Speaker 1: mentioned it before. Look at Stanley Johnson, like, look at 676 00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:31,240 Speaker 1: how much of an impact he has just with his 677 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:34,120 Speaker 1: energy at times like that Orlando game we couldn't score 678 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 1: for crap, and then he's just grabbing the rebound and running. 679 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:39,040 Speaker 1: You know, he's just running down the floor, putting pressure 680 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 1: on on the Magic defenders and stuff like that. Like 681 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:43,520 Speaker 1: we need energy, we need youth, and and that I 682 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 1: really really think that's the direction of this team has 683 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:47,440 Speaker 1: to go in because these other teams they're not going 684 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:49,120 Speaker 1: to look to outskill us. They're just gonna try to 685 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 1: beat us up. You know, they're gonna try to out athletes, 686 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:57,320 Speaker 1: and that that just that needs to be the general approach. Um. 687 00:31:57,360 --> 00:31:59,680 Speaker 1: And I would have a kind of an order of operations, 688 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 1: right like I think I'd look, I'd throw everything at 689 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:05,000 Speaker 1: Jeremy Grant, and then what I would do is I'd 690 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:08,240 Speaker 1: set up backup of like backup deals, you know, of 691 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 1: the of the Yoka you just described that, there's one 692 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:12,480 Speaker 1: that Crane just has thrown out that I actually like 693 00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:15,200 Speaker 1: with ken Ridge Williams, where you you just basically throw 694 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:18,040 Speaker 1: Kendrick Nunn at and get to bring back Mike Mistal 695 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:19,920 Speaker 1: and Kendrick Williams. Even though I'm not as big on 696 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 1: Mescal as he is. Kendrick Williams is another one of 697 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:26,040 Speaker 1: those guys just big and athletic and plays really hard 698 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:28,080 Speaker 1: and you can put him in that situation and it 699 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:29,960 Speaker 1: can be better. I think that, you know, just kind 700 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:31,200 Speaker 1: of to put a bow on the on the trade 701 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:36,520 Speaker 1: deadline concept. The idea of of resetting this season, I 702 00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:39,880 Speaker 1: think is is really important. There is, like I said before, 703 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:42,960 Speaker 1: there's an energy around this team that isn't good. They 704 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 1: there's been a lot of like saying the right things 705 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:48,640 Speaker 1: to the press um you know, from specific characters that 706 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:50,280 Speaker 1: think Mello did a good job of that the other 707 00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:52,400 Speaker 1: night to try to cool off the Russell Westbrook thing. 708 00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:55,440 Speaker 1: And everyone's been handling well. Even Lebron, who has had 709 00:32:55,480 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 1: a history of being super passive aggressive in moments like this, 710 00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:03,080 Speaker 1: has been pretty good in terms of his overall even 711 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 1: his body language, when always had some bad moments, hasn't 712 00:33:05,920 --> 00:33:09,880 Speaker 1: been that bad. So like everything everything looks good. But 713 00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:12,560 Speaker 1: like as we know as as fans who have watched 714 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:16,280 Speaker 1: this team every night, that lack of consistent energy to 715 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 1: me is like indicative of of a fundamental flaw within 716 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:22,880 Speaker 1: the chemistry of the roster. So the way I'd look 717 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:25,120 Speaker 1: at it is like, you know, Anthony Davis is coming 718 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:30,000 Speaker 1: back obviously a big deal. But if you can somehow, 719 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:33,000 Speaker 1: you know, use the men in Black, you know, flashstick 720 00:33:33,080 --> 00:33:35,000 Speaker 1: things to just kind of like to just kind of 721 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:38,160 Speaker 1: like reset everybody's psyche going into this last stretch where 722 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:40,880 Speaker 1: it's like, hey, look we got Lebron Anthony Davis back, 723 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:44,600 Speaker 1: and here's all these new players. Even if they keep us, 724 00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:48,960 Speaker 1: just by resetting everything around the situation, you might be 725 00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:52,440 Speaker 1: able to trigger just kind of like that. It's kind 726 00:33:52,440 --> 00:33:54,840 Speaker 1: of like that new It's it's that New Year's resolution 727 00:33:54,920 --> 00:33:57,840 Speaker 1: type of mentality, like be we trick ourselves because it's 728 00:33:57,920 --> 00:34:01,000 Speaker 1: January one, that things are new, when really it's just 729 00:34:01,040 --> 00:34:02,680 Speaker 1: more of the same. You know. That's kind of the 730 00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:04,280 Speaker 1: idea that I would go with here is like that 731 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:07,920 Speaker 1: this team just needs to hit the reset button. Obviously, 732 00:34:08,040 --> 00:34:11,720 Speaker 1: this concoction of players isn't working. Even if you kept 733 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:14,560 Speaker 1: a baseline talent level but just brought in different talent, 734 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:17,680 Speaker 1: you might have a better chance of reinvigorating this because 735 00:34:17,680 --> 00:34:20,560 Speaker 1: effort has been an issue this season. Obviously it's one 736 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:24,239 Speaker 1: of many issues, but this consistent lack of effort coming 737 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:27,319 Speaker 1: in like guys not communicating on switches, just not being 738 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:30,000 Speaker 1: willing to do their job on defense. Guys, you know 739 00:34:30,080 --> 00:34:33,480 Speaker 1: that like that, that's not something that that's that that's 740 00:34:33,520 --> 00:34:36,280 Speaker 1: not something that is an outlier experience. In this season, 741 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:39,640 Speaker 1: it's been like the opposite of the Lakers. When you 742 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:42,320 Speaker 1: see them have a lackadaisical night, you look at it 743 00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:44,480 Speaker 1: and you'd be like, that's strange, and then they come 744 00:34:44,560 --> 00:34:46,399 Speaker 1: then they come out the next night, whoop someone's ass. 745 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:48,640 Speaker 1: Whereas like this team, this team, this team has been 746 00:34:48,640 --> 00:34:51,719 Speaker 1: the exact opposite. We we have these unusual games like 747 00:34:51,760 --> 00:34:54,040 Speaker 1: the Utah game where it's like, man, I don't even 748 00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:57,560 Speaker 1: recognize these guys, But more often than not, it's like tonight, 749 00:34:57,640 --> 00:34:59,440 Speaker 1: or like it was against the Nuggets, or even like 750 00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:02,120 Speaker 1: that Magic game, which was a travesty of a basketball 751 00:35:02,160 --> 00:35:04,040 Speaker 1: game in a lot of ways. But I just think 752 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:06,719 Speaker 1: I would go with a reset. Yeah, no that I'm 753 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:09,759 Speaker 1: I don't disagree with you, like I think anything is 754 00:35:09,800 --> 00:35:12,239 Speaker 1: really on the table right now. The well, I guess 755 00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:14,080 Speaker 1: the only reason why I do I do give a 756 00:35:14,080 --> 00:35:16,520 Speaker 1: little pushback on the Rust thing is because I think 757 00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:21,120 Speaker 1: Braun and a d maybe um advocating to keep him 758 00:35:21,239 --> 00:35:23,160 Speaker 1: like kind of behind the scenes because a lot of 759 00:35:23,239 --> 00:35:25,520 Speaker 1: you know, it's been well documented that they're the ones 760 00:35:25,520 --> 00:35:27,799 Speaker 1: who had the conversation with them about telling them how 761 00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:30,120 Speaker 1: things would work and stuff. I say, if they move him, 762 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:32,840 Speaker 1: you know, that kind of looked bad on them, um 763 00:35:33,239 --> 00:35:35,719 Speaker 1: and and you know, obviously we we juxtaposed that with 764 00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:40,120 Speaker 1: the conversation they had with Damian Lillard Um earlier in 765 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:42,920 Speaker 1: the season too as well, where they you know, like 766 00:35:43,480 --> 00:35:45,560 Speaker 1: they basically told Dame this is what it would be like, 767 00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:47,440 Speaker 1: this is what it's like playing for the Lakers, and 768 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:50,120 Speaker 1: then he basically said, you know no, and then he basically, 769 00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:52,480 Speaker 1: this is one of my things where I was trying 770 00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:56,200 Speaker 1: to explain the liquor fans, like Dame had a conversation 771 00:35:56,440 --> 00:36:00,080 Speaker 1: with with Russ and a d Sorr with with on 772 00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:02,839 Speaker 1: in a d and then he you know, obviously he 773 00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:05,279 Speaker 1: was thinking about it, but when the going got tough, 774 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:08,279 Speaker 1: per Dame, he turned around and used that conversation as 775 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:11,880 Speaker 1: like pr spin like you I mean like and so 776 00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:13,920 Speaker 1: I'm not saying that that's that's that we should give 777 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:16,359 Speaker 1: Russ more credit, but we should kind of give Russ 778 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:19,399 Speaker 1: a little bit of credit, Like if anything goes wrong 779 00:36:19,400 --> 00:36:22,280 Speaker 1: with the scene, he could shoot fift the entire season. 780 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:25,280 Speaker 1: But if we don't win a championship, it's obviously a failure, 781 00:36:25,440 --> 00:36:27,239 Speaker 1: right like that that's the way Laker fans look at 782 00:36:27,239 --> 00:36:29,799 Speaker 1: this sort of thing, um and and that's my thing, 783 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:33,560 Speaker 1: Like if we look at if if, our measurement is 784 00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:35,600 Speaker 1: just are we going to win a championship or not, 785 00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:38,400 Speaker 1: regardless of how much depth we have, how much talent 786 00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:41,240 Speaker 1: we have, how well as specific player is playing versus 787 00:36:41,280 --> 00:36:44,920 Speaker 1: some other player. And obviously as analysts, we want to 788 00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:47,400 Speaker 1: see some kind of consistency like we saw with the 789 00:36:47,440 --> 00:36:50,240 Speaker 1: championship teams that we can at least look at and say, okay, 790 00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:51,520 Speaker 1: you know what, I can at least count on this 791 00:36:51,560 --> 00:36:54,440 Speaker 1: team to be consistently good defensively. We can figure out 792 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:56,640 Speaker 1: the offensive stuff, you know, like hey, when Rondo comes 793 00:36:56,680 --> 00:36:59,120 Speaker 1: in that the offense goes to crap, you know, like 794 00:36:59,320 --> 00:37:01,319 Speaker 1: hopefully that can get fixed in the playoffs, and they did. 795 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:03,880 Speaker 1: We won a championship, but there's no consistency with this 796 00:37:03,920 --> 00:37:07,319 Speaker 1: team anywhere. Like like Jason, there was a stretch of 797 00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:11,239 Speaker 1: basketball where it was where it was Russ and a 798 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:13,759 Speaker 1: D and Lebron was out and the Lakers were like 799 00:37:13,800 --> 00:37:17,120 Speaker 1: a top ten defensive team and a D goes out 800 00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:20,359 Speaker 1: and Lebron comes back, and all of a sudden, we're like, 801 00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:21,920 Speaker 1: I forgot what we saw that we were like a 802 00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:26,040 Speaker 1: number five offensive team, but our defense is super garbage. 803 00:37:26,200 --> 00:37:28,040 Speaker 1: So it's just like, what is going on with this team? 804 00:37:28,040 --> 00:37:31,280 Speaker 1: There's no consistency anywhere, and and that's I think that's 805 00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:34,040 Speaker 1: we have to find some sort of consistency if we're 806 00:37:34,040 --> 00:37:35,920 Speaker 1: if we're gonna be making any trades. That that's just 807 00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:39,399 Speaker 1: what that's just what we need. Yeah, there hasn't been 808 00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:43,279 Speaker 1: one thing this year that they've consistently done well. Um, 809 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:46,359 Speaker 1: I would say if I had to choose someone to say, 810 00:37:46,360 --> 00:37:51,040 Speaker 1: maybe Lebron's offense, you know, he's been he's been unbelievable 811 00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:54,440 Speaker 1: like that. If nothing else, Lebron has been out of 812 00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:57,120 Speaker 1: his mind. I even I didn't think like I thought, 813 00:37:57,160 --> 00:38:01,000 Speaker 1: I knew he would be good like Evan and seven good, 814 00:38:01,040 --> 00:38:03,080 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, like, but not not. Hey, 815 00:38:03,080 --> 00:38:05,759 Speaker 1: I'm about to win the scoring title and and we 816 00:38:05,800 --> 00:38:07,920 Speaker 1: don't have Anthony Davis, but we're still basically a five 817 00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:10,400 Speaker 1: team with a bunch of you know me rush and 818 00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:13,399 Speaker 1: a bunch of minimum contracts basically, so that that's that's 819 00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:16,040 Speaker 1: been kind of nuts. Alright, guys, that's the end of 820 00:38:16,080 --> 00:38:18,600 Speaker 1: part one, Part two of this podcast. I'm going to 821 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:22,239 Speaker 1: post on Monday at five o'clock Mountain Standard time in 822 00:38:22,280 --> 00:38:24,880 Speaker 1: the afternoon. Thank you guys again as always for your support. 823 00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:28,359 Speaker 1: We will be back with our normal postgame show on 824 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:30,560 Speaker 1: Tuesday after the Brooklyn Nets game as well