1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, well, good to Hoops and I 2 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: here at the volume heavy Monday, everybody. Oh well, if 3 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:21,319 Speaker 1: you guys had an incredible weekend, got a jampack show 4 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: for you guys. Today, We're going to cover some debuts 5 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 1: from several players that got moved over the trade deadline. 6 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:28,159 Speaker 1: We're going to talk about the new look Calves with 7 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:32,200 Speaker 1: James Harden, Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroeder. Nicola Vucevic's first 8 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,520 Speaker 1: couple games with the Boston Celtics, Tray Shackson Davis makes 9 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: his debut with the Toronto Raptors, puts up a double 10 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: double in just sixteen minutes, and Luke Canard kind of 11 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,159 Speaker 1: looking super valuable for a Lakers team. I'm excited to 12 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 1: dive into that tail end of the show, power rankings 13 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 1: like we always have on Mondays. You guys ow the 14 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 1: Joe Portaget started to subscribe to Hoops and I YouTube 15 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: channel so you don't miss any more of our videos 16 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: like this video. That helps us a lot. Also turn 17 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: on post notifications so you get notified whenever we have 18 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:58,959 Speaker 1: one of our episodes come out. The last but not least 19 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: if you want to get mail back question into our 20 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: weekly mail bags. Make sure you dropped them in the 21 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: comments underneath these full episodes on YouTube, and we'll get 22 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:07,400 Speaker 1: to them throughout the remainder of the season. All right, 23 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: let's talk some basketball. What a fun first game for 24 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 1: James Harden in the Cavs. Got a little bit rough 25 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: in his first shift, started to kind of find his 26 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: legs towards the tail end of the first half, and 27 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:21,479 Speaker 1: then was just awesome in that second half and got 28 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: red hot helpfully to come back from a double digit 29 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 1: deficit on the road in Sacramento. The biggest thing that 30 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:29,559 Speaker 1: stood out to me was how many catch and shoot 31 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:32,839 Speaker 1: looks he got playing off of Donovan Mitchell and playing 32 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: off of Cleveland's pace. That was kind of one of 33 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: the intriguing things about this game. I was worried that 34 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 1: maybe Cleveland would lean too much into hardened ball and 35 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: slow down their play style a little bit. I actually 36 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: thought they still had a decent amount of pace in 37 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: this game and in that system, in that transit, in 38 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: that kind of pace, as well as playing off of 39 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: Donovan Mitchell, Harden got five catch and shoot threes off 40 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: in this game. He had averaged just one point nine 41 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: catch and shoot three point attempts per game with the 42 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: Clippers this season up until the trade, and he's a 43 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: very good catch and shoot player. He's forty one percent 44 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: this season off of catch and shoot threes, forty two 45 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: percent last year, forty three percent his last full year 46 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: in Philly. It's just generally been a somewhat untapped part 47 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: of his game in terms of volume because he hasn't 48 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: really played next to either high level playmakers or an 49 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 1: offense that's built to generate those kinds of quality catch 50 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: and shoot looks. So that to me is just a 51 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 1: huge piece of upside there. Like Harden's just he's got 52 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 1: good size, he's got a quick, compact release, He's going 53 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: to knock down a high percentage of those looks. I 54 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 1: just think that's gonna be a big value add for 55 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: this offense. Ended up hitting an absolutely massive one down 56 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: the stretch off of the right wing, and then his 57 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: shot creation throughout the game was excellent, thanks a large 58 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 1: part to him getting busy on his ISOs with drives 59 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 1: and step back threes, his immediate natural connection with Jared 60 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: Allen as a roleman in pick and roll. He ended 61 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 1: up running nineteen pick and rolls and ISOs in the 62 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: game and generated twenty three points on them. That's really 63 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 1: high level shot creation there not hard to imagine why 64 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: he would fit really well with the player like Jared Allen. 65 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 1: Harden is always going to fit well with a player 66 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: that has good hands in terms of being able to 67 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: catch more difficult passes. There was one in the first 68 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: half where Harden threw a bounce past him along the 69 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 1: baseline that was kind of out in front that he 70 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 1: kind of had to put the pass there just because 71 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:27,799 Speaker 1: of the way that the passing window kind of set up, 72 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:30,399 Speaker 1: and Alan was able to just stick his arm out 73 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: there and gather it in traffic and then turn over 74 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: his left shoulder for a hook. If you've got good 75 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 1: hands and if you can finish in a variety of 76 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: ways ad her near the rim, so dunks, obviously easy layups, 77 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: but also like little hooks over your left shoulder, floaters, 78 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: things along those lines, you're gonna fit with a high 79 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: level a ball screen partner like James Harden. And there 80 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 1: was an action that they ran in the second half 81 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 1: of this game, just a simple ball screen off of 82 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: the right wing where Donovan Mitchell was in the strong 83 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 1: side corner, and they ended up tagging the man with 84 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: Donovan Mitchell's man, and so as Harden came off, he 85 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: was able to just whip a crossbody pass back to 86 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 1: that right corner Donovan Mitchell was wide open and he 87 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: ended up hitting a three. As I was watching that play, 88 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: I was like, this is going to be really difficult 89 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 1: for defenses to guard, just having a really high level 90 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 1: pick and roll shot creator playing alongside an awesome additional 91 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 1: pick and roll shot creator and a role man that's 92 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:24,279 Speaker 1: going to be able to do all the things that 93 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: you need from that position, and it's only going to 94 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: get better. And when Evan Mobley comes back, and I 95 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 1: just thought all of it just came together really nicely. 96 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 1: And again overall, I just thought it looked like they 97 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: were adding hard into their style rather than adopting harden 98 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:39,919 Speaker 1: style fully, which I think is going to be the 99 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: best version of this team. Harden got to his fifteen 100 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:45,839 Speaker 1: pick and rolls, which is more or less what his 101 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: average was when he was with the Clippers. He was 102 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: averaging about fifteen and a half per game when he 103 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 1: was with the Clippers, so still got to get into 104 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 1: his game and build his rhythm, but was also actively 105 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: involved when he was off the ball and just in 106 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 1: general was able to it into the offense. I think 107 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,840 Speaker 1: it's gonna work. It's not rocket science. James Harden is 108 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: just a really talented basketball player who fits really well 109 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: into what they're trying to do, and he has this 110 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 1: upside as a one on one guy that will help 111 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: them when things really bog down, while also not needing 112 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 1: to be the number one because of the Donovan Mitchell partnership. 113 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: I think it just makes a lot of sense. And 114 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 1: I thought the key on Ellis and Dennis Schroeder editions 115 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 1: shined through their first couple of games. You know, one 116 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:28,839 Speaker 1: of the things that I thought about when those deals 117 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:31,359 Speaker 1: were made was just this idea that, one, you have 118 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: all these guys that you can now throw at all 119 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: the small guards in the East, right like guarding the 120 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 1: Jalen Brunson types, guarding the Tyrese Maxi types, guarding the 121 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 1: Emmanuel Quickly typed Just there's a half dozen really good 122 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,359 Speaker 1: quick guards in the Eastern Conference that you're gonna have 123 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:48,919 Speaker 1: to deal with. Derek White, Peyton Pritchard, Jamal Shed, we 124 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: can go on and on and on. Just a lot 125 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: of really really good, good quick guards that you have 126 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: to deal with, and so having options for those situations 127 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 1: is really nice. But the second piece of it is 128 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: I also think it has potential to bring almost like 129 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 1: a Detroit Pistons esque like bench defense. Look. You know, 130 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: one of the things that happens with the Pistons is 131 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: you go up against their starting lineup and you're just 132 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: getting your It's just smash mouth basketball right between Kay 133 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: Cunningham and Jalen Duran AND's Bias Harris and all these 134 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: really big bodies. You know, Asar Thompson's picking up the 135 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: ball and playing defense. But it's a very physically imposing, 136 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,720 Speaker 1: like size and strength kind of look. Right, But then 137 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: you get this bench look and like here comes Ron Holland, 138 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: and here comes Javonte Green, and here comes Karis Laverne 139 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: and they're just getting up in your jersey and it's 140 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: physical ball pressure and it's very defense to transition oriented 141 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: for a lineup that you want to keep out of 142 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 1: the half court whenever possible. Right, And Like one of 143 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: the things I kind of like is like you can 144 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:46,279 Speaker 1: have lineups where it's like, all right, you're done with 145 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 1: the hard and Mitchell look, and here comes Schroeder and 146 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 1: Ellis and it's just gonna be these two absolute dogs 147 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 1: on defense that are gonna get up in your jersey 148 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 1: and wreck havoc and kind of bring a different tempo 149 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 1: to the way that they want to play. And you 150 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: saw that literally right away in that Sacramento Kings game. 151 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 1: Just Dennis Schroeder comes in and blows up a dribble 152 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: hand off with Devin Carter and just immediately sparks a 153 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: transition sequence and Keon Ellis comes flying in for a 154 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: block shot as like a secondary rim protector as a 155 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 1: guy goes up for contested rim attempt. And through their 156 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: first two games, in addition to the Cavs just dominating 157 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 1: their minutes and ll Keon and Dennis have Dennis has 158 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: been plus thirty seven so far in his two games, 159 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 1: Keon's been plus twenty three. But between those two guys 160 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: in just seventy one minutes so far, they have nine 161 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: stocks already between the two of them, just super super 162 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 1: active on defense. Obviously, the competition will get tougher, but 163 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: I think it's going to provide a really fun shifting 164 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: dynamic for this team throughout games. Like here's this offensive 165 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 1: oriented unit and then here's this We're gonna get up 166 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: in your jersey and play defense to transition for a 167 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: few minutes. But then you also have lineup flexibility. I 168 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: think Keon Ellis is going to close a lot of 169 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: games for this team, depending on how things go from 170 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: a lineup standpoint. I just think they have a lot 171 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 1: of different looks, a lot of different flexibility available to them, 172 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: and look like a very dangerous playoff team as a result. 173 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: We'll talk a little bit more about them when we 174 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: get into our power rankings. Nicole Vuswitch has played his 175 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: first couple of games as a Boston Celtic. The second 176 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 1: game this game last sight against the I think it 177 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: was yesterday against the Knicks. The Celtics just got absolutely 178 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 1: thrashed in this game, and it was a horrible effort 179 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: for the Celtics on several fronts. Their defense was as 180 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 1: disconnected as it's looked all season. Really struggled with their 181 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: off ball defense. They had about a dozen or so 182 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: botch switches and or backcuts slips, things where just some 183 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: sort of basic off ball action where somebody ends up 184 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 1: breaking free on a cut to the rim, or two 185 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 1: guys run with one guy and all of a sudden 186 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: someone's standing wide open. Just a lot of really poor 187 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,680 Speaker 1: off ball communication from the Celtics on defense, really poor 188 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 1: job tagging rollers and rotating. That's an important thing in 189 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: general with their pick and roll defense. They got to 190 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: get over to the roller. Poor job of that all night. 191 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,040 Speaker 1: Jalen Brown one of his worst, like kind of like 192 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 1: floor game nights of the season. I just thought he 193 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: was forcing a lot of things in the paint, making 194 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: life more difficult than it needed to be. Peyton Pritchard 195 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:13,679 Speaker 1: went two for nine and like almost all of them 196 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:16,959 Speaker 1: were like fantastic looks that he just happened to miss. 197 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: As a team, the shooting was just straight up abysmal. 198 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 1: The Celtics got twenty six catch and shoot threes in 199 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 1: that game, and they made three of them. That might 200 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 1: be That might be one of the worst shooting performances 201 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: of the entire Joe Miszula era so kind of a 202 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:33,959 Speaker 1: brutal night in that loss to the Knicks. Fusovich was 203 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 1: also bad in that game. He's won for six from 204 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: three at a couple of turnovers, but again, the whole 205 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:41,559 Speaker 1: team was bad. Vouch was much better in the win 206 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,439 Speaker 1: against Miami. He ended up closing that game. Miami was 207 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: doing a ton of switching, so we got to see 208 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,559 Speaker 1: Vouch's utility specifically in that type of matchup against the 209 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 1: switching defense. Did a ton of damage on the offensive 210 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 1: glass in that game, generated some really high quality looks 211 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 1: at a post ups. He generated a wide open three 212 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: in the left corner for both Sam Hauser and for 213 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: Derek White on two different plays where he caught I 214 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: gotta switch threw the ball into the post. He'd throw 215 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 1: a double team, really quick read for Vouch coming out 216 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: of the double team. They just happened to miss both 217 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 1: of the shots. He ended up making a big defensive 218 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: play in that game too, and imprompt impromptu double team 219 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: of Norman Powell on a drive where he got a 220 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: big deflection with just over a minute left. That was 221 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 1: a much better performance from Vouch and in general from 222 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 1: the Celtics in that particular game. I just generally liked 223 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: the way that Joe Mizzula used him in both of 224 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: these games. Like you brought him off the bench. I 225 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 1: think that makes a lot of sense, right, Like you 226 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:37,080 Speaker 1: can keep your vote of confidence behind Nimi Cada and 227 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: continue his development. Vouch is an older VET who is 228 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 1: obviously going to embrace a bench roll and it allows 229 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 1: Missoula just to make judge like judgment calls based on 230 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 1: the matchup. Like Kada is going to be a better 231 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: matchup for the Knicks because of the issues that the 232 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 1: Knicks were causing Boston's defense, And I think if that 233 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:56,080 Speaker 1: game had been close, I think Kida probably would have 234 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 1: closed it. Right. Vouch was a better matchup for the 235 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 1: Heat because of the switching and his ability to be 236 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 1: more of a significant offensive threat against that specific type 237 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 1: of switching scheme, So he ended up closing that particular game, right, 238 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 1: So he even saw some two big looks. So there's 239 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:14,200 Speaker 1: just all these different directions that Missoula can go match 240 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 1: up to match up, and it is very different looks. 241 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 1: Like Kida is a much better defensive player than Vusovich. 242 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: That goes without saying. He's a better vertical spacer as well, right, 243 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: Like those are real upside pieces with Kada. He's also 244 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: gonna win some offensive rebound battles that are more vertical, 245 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 1: Like Vusovich did a lot of positional offensive rebounding against 246 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 1: the Heat, but Kaida's gonna high point the ball sometimes 247 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: and get to some of those, right. One of the 248 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: things I noticed with Vusovich. Just in general, I thought 249 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,080 Speaker 1: their shot quality was better when Vusovich was on the floor. 250 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,679 Speaker 1: And obviously he's not hitting his three yet. I think 251 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: he's one for seven so far as a Celtic and 252 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: that will come around in time. He's just too good 253 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 1: of a shooter. He shot the ball too well this year. 254 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:52,679 Speaker 1: But like one, those are quality looks that he can 255 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 1: get himself popping. But he is a very nice connective 256 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 1: playmaker in this group. A lot of like closeout attacks 257 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 1: or like flashes where he caught the ball in the 258 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 1: middle of the floor and just made a really quick 259 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: decision that generated an additional wide open three for somebody. 260 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 1: In general, when Vooch's on the floor, they're going to 261 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: get really really good looks because of his ability to 262 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 1: draw to at the on the block, because of his 263 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 1: ability to shoot himself, and because of his connective playmaking 264 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 1: playmaking ability, which is such a vital part of that 265 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: drive and kick style attack. Right. So that's the upside 266 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:24,959 Speaker 1: for a move like this relative to the cost. You 267 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 1: basically now have two starting centers that have two very 268 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:30,959 Speaker 1: different skill sets, and gives you the ability to be 269 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 1: a shape shifting team. And as we've always talked about 270 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 1: when you've got to win four playoff rounds, when you've 271 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 1: got to go against four completely different teams over two 272 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 1: week sets, where you've got to win four times over 273 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: the course of two weeks, it helps to be able 274 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: to take different forms as a basketball team. So for instance, 275 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:51,840 Speaker 1: like take Detroit. For example, Detroit likes to play smash 276 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:55,319 Speaker 1: mouth basketball. They're going to play these two big looks 277 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: themselves sometimes in general, they're going to have a lot 278 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,319 Speaker 1: of physically imposing players on the corps, but they have 279 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 1: these bench groups where they'll play sometimes three non shooters 280 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:06,439 Speaker 1: in the same lineup at the same time, and when 281 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:08,080 Speaker 1: that happens, or at least three dudes that you can 282 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 1: close out short at right. So like having a look 283 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: like that where Boston can go, okay, here's Vooch and 284 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:17,719 Speaker 1: Keda and we're just gonna go super big and we're 285 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: not going to suffer too much offensively because Vouch can 286 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 1: play so well on that particular end of the floor. 287 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: Again against specific types of looks, I think Vouch gives 288 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 1: you a lot of scheme versatility and a lot of 289 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: lineup versatility, whereas you know another matchup, you might have 290 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:35,679 Speaker 1: a series where Vooch barely plays right, but then you 291 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:37,959 Speaker 1: could have another series where he plays a ton right. Like. 292 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 1: There's just so many different directions that this can go, 293 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 1: and he's just another card that you have in your deck. 294 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 1: I'm so excited to tell you guys about our new 295 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: partnership with Viori. Those of you guys who are familiar 296 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: with Viori have noticed that I wear it on the 297 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 1: show almost every day and have done so for years. 298 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: It's become a major workhorse for me. And there's two 299 00:13:56,920 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: reasons for that. 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Tray Jackson Davis 324 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 1: double double in just sixteen minutes in his Raptors debut 325 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: ten points to ten rebounds gave the Raptors exactly what 326 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 1: they needed. Competent backup center play. He ran the floor hard. 327 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 1: He was super active on offense as a roller, as 328 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 1: a cutter, and as a Crasher. He had eight offensive 329 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 1: rebounds on this game. Every single time a Raptor was 330 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 1: able to get downhill and engage the rim protector, there 331 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 1: was Trace to clean up the miss. He had a 332 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 1: couple of plays where he got twisted up trying to 333 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: guard Siakameter in a switch or in like some sort 334 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: of drop look as he was dealing with him coming 335 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: downhill at him. But for the most part, I thought 336 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: Trace looked like he's going to provide exactly what the 337 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: Raptors need at that spot. We heard that they were 338 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: going to go bigger fish hunting for a guy like 339 00:15:57,080 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 1: Demana Sabonis, but I think as a less expensive option, 340 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:02,320 Speaker 1: getting Trace for just a second round pick was a 341 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: fine direction to go when you really think about it. 342 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: The healthiest version of this team is likely going to 343 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 1: be a Yaka Purdle Colin Murray Boyle's type of center rotation. 344 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: Tray Jackson Davis is just an insurance policy on those two. 345 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: Yakup has been dealing with a back injury that's cost 346 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 1: him the last month and a half. He's going through 347 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:21,240 Speaker 1: a return to play conditioning program right now, so he 348 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 1: should be back soon. But then Murray Boyle's just hurt 349 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 1: his thumb again. So like I think we'll see Yaka 350 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 1: Purtl soon and then you'll just see him slide into 351 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: the starting lineup and Trace will continue to back him up, 352 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: and then when Colin's ready to come back, he can 353 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 1: step into that role. And I think there's real value 354 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: here in having that third center because just whenever you've 355 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 1: got a guy that gets hurt at some point in 356 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: the season, it helps to have a guy that can 357 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: competently step into that position and play it. I'm rooving 358 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: for the Lakers. I've been dealing with that with the 359 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 1: last couple of weeks with eight and being out or 360 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 1: Jackson randomly deciding to shove a mascot, Like all of 361 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: a sudden, here comes Maxi Kleiba, and he just comes 362 00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 1: in and provides competent backup center play. And he's atually 363 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: been a guy that's closed some games and has played 364 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: a lot of big minutes for the Lakers in the stretch, right, 365 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 1: So like having that third center, it's a real value. 366 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 1: Add Traces slotted nicely into that role. He doesn't have 367 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 1: the ceiling of those other two guys, but he has 368 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:14,439 Speaker 1: a really high floor because he has decent physical tools, 369 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:17,159 Speaker 1: is a high motor, and he knows the nuts and 370 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: bolts of how to play the position. I thought that 371 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 1: was a really nice debut for him. Again, double double 372 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:26,360 Speaker 1: in just sixteen minutes. Luke Canard on the Lakers. It's 373 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 1: only been one game, but I actually think Luke is 374 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:30,119 Speaker 1: gonna end up playing a pretty big role on this 375 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:33,240 Speaker 1: Lakers team. Again, Like I always talk about this simple 376 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:37,159 Speaker 1: basketball concept, and usually I use Jamal Murray as an example, Like, 377 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 1: is Jamal Murray as good as like a Devin Booker 378 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: for example, No, like Devin Booker is a more talented player, 379 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 1: but like Jamal Murray, within the Nugget system, given what 380 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 1: they need from him, is one of the most valuable 381 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 1: players in the entire league because they specifically need that 382 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: two man game partner with Jokich, and he is the 383 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: one guy on the team that provides really high level, 384 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 1: consistent pull up jump shooting, which is such a unique 385 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:06,719 Speaker 1: value add in the postseason when you get there right. 386 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 1: So similarly with the Lakers team, this is a Lakers 387 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: team that has been one of the worst catch and 388 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 1: shoot three point shooting teams in the league this season, 389 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 1: and it's been a consistent problem with them being able 390 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:21,399 Speaker 1: to pay off sequences where Luca draws an advantage or 391 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 1: Austin draws an advantage, or Lebron draws an advantage, and 392 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 1: you throw a kickout pass and there's Jared Vanderbilt missing 393 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 1: another three. There's Jake Laavia missing another three. There's Marcus 394 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 1: Smart missing another three. There's Maxi Kleebow doesn't seem to 395 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:37,199 Speaker 1: want to shoot the three. They're like all these different problems, right, 396 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 1: and then what ends up happening is they miss those shots, 397 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:40,919 Speaker 1: and then they all hang their head and they get 398 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 1: sad and they go back and they don't play as 399 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:44,400 Speaker 1: hard on defense as they typically would because they don't 400 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 1: believe in what they're doing because they just feel like 401 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 1: they're gonna go down to the other end of the floor. Luca, 402 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:51,160 Speaker 1: Lebron or Austin's gonna draw another double team and it's 403 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 1: gonna be another kickout to a shooter that's not gonna 404 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: knock down shots, right, And so having a guy with 405 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:00,400 Speaker 1: in Luke Canard who's like going to hit the open ones, 406 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 1: like just he's too good of a shooter. It's just 407 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 1: they're they're going to go in when they're open, and 408 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 1: then you're also seeing all this additional utility, like he 409 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 1: is legitimate gravity. There was a transition sequence where Vando 410 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:16,159 Speaker 1: got a dunk because two Warriors sprinted out to him 411 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,360 Speaker 1: in the corner while Vando is running the lane down 412 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:20,400 Speaker 1: the middle. But it's like that's the kind of panicky 413 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 1: reaction that that level of shooter can dictate in this 414 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 1: in this league, right or like overplaying on backcuts. There's 415 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: a play where Gist Santo's is kind of like digging 416 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 1: down in nail help and then you know the uh 417 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:34,159 Speaker 1: I can't remember who had the ball for the Lakers, 418 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 1: but they kind of look over towards the wing and 419 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 1: Gee reacts by kind of like closing out, and Luke 420 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 1: Canard just goes, well, you're you're not paying attention. He 421 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: just cuts right behind him and gets an easy layup. 422 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 1: And then also the connective passes, like Luke is just 423 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: really good at playing with an advantage, Like if he's 424 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:52,880 Speaker 1: got a guy closing out at him, he's either gonna 425 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 1: hit a shot or he's gonna drive the close out. 426 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: And when he drives the close out, he's gonna be 427 00:19:57,320 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: able to make that next read. At a really high level, 428 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 1: or if he backcuts, he's going to be able to 429 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:04,959 Speaker 1: Like those are simple reads too, right overplay backcut. If 430 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 1: I catch in the middle of the floor off the 431 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 1: back cut, do I have a layup? Do I have 432 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:09,920 Speaker 1: that next read in the line. He's just a really 433 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:13,680 Speaker 1: high level off ball offensive player on a team that 434 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 1: is pretty much devoid of off ball offensive talent outside 435 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 1: of like the role men. They have good role men, 436 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:21,239 Speaker 1: and they've got a handful of guys like Ruey can 437 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:23,479 Speaker 1: do it right, and like Lebron and Austin have their 438 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:26,479 Speaker 1: own off ball utility in various ways, but like they 439 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 1: don't have a lot of role player talent that can 440 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 1: play off the ball on the perimeter. And so you 441 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 1: saw Luke Canard in just one game suddenly look super 442 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 1: valuable for that Lakers team because they don't have that 443 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 1: type of player. Is Luke the level of defender that 444 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: some of these other wings are No, obviously not, But 445 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 1: when he's making shots, the team starts to believe more. 446 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,200 Speaker 1: The team starts to think, like, oh, this is working. 447 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 1: These sequences we're trying that are on offense, that are 448 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:53,239 Speaker 1: leading the quality shots they're getting paid off. That's going 449 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:55,560 Speaker 1: to lead to them running back harder on defense and 450 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 1: reaching their own ceiling on that end of the floor. 451 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 1: I thought, you know, Luke Canard, just look, it's like, 452 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 1: you know, the basketball version of a breath of fresh air, 453 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 1: so to speak, in that game. Because of just how 454 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: poor this team is, specifically in terms of talent in 455 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:11,960 Speaker 1: off ball offensive situations on the perimeter, I thought that 456 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 1: was a quality debut for him. All right, let's get 457 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 1: into our power rankings again. All of our lines are 458 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:21,400 Speaker 1: provided by our presenting sponsor, hard Rock Bet number ten. 459 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 1: The Toronto Raptors currently plus fifteen thousand to win the 460 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:27,120 Speaker 1: title on hard Rock Bet two in one week, lost 461 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 1: the game at home to the Wolves in what was 462 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 1: basically just the Anthony Edwards show down the stretch, but 463 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:34,399 Speaker 1: they bounced back with a couple of home wins against 464 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:36,959 Speaker 1: the Bulls and Pacers. We saw Trace Jackson Davis make 465 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:39,080 Speaker 1: his debut with the double double. Like we talked about earlier, 466 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 1: just so many different ways that this team can get 467 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:43,800 Speaker 1: going offensively, and the Bulls game, it's brandon Ingram and 468 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:46,440 Speaker 1: Manual quickly. They go for like fifty four points between 469 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:47,919 Speaker 1: the two of them. They do most of the damage, 470 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:51,160 Speaker 1: and the Pacers game. It's R. J. Barrett and Scottie Barnes, 471 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,200 Speaker 1: and this is just a really talented group with a 472 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 1: lot of good players that's been playing some really good basketball. 473 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 1: They're seventh in offense in their last ten games, and 474 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:00,640 Speaker 1: that's the exciting piece because this is a group that's 475 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 1: been top five in defense all season. They can put 476 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:06,920 Speaker 1: those two concepts together. That's their pathway to a deep 477 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:09,880 Speaker 1: playoff run. And now Ya Kapertle should be back into 478 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 1: the rotation here pretty soon. Number nine the Cleveland Cavaliers, 479 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:16,360 Speaker 1: currently plus eleven hundred to win the title on hard 480 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 1: Rock Bet. We hit them quite a bit in the open, 481 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:20,119 Speaker 1: so I won't stay here long. But they're eight and 482 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:21,920 Speaker 1: one in their last nine games. They're all the way 483 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:23,680 Speaker 1: up to the four seed, and they are just two 484 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 1: games back now of the two seed in the Eastern Conference. 485 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:31,080 Speaker 1: So like it's been a weird season, their injuries have 486 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:33,280 Speaker 1: provided quite a bit of adversity. I thought this team 487 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:35,439 Speaker 1: would be the one seed this year. That's obviously not happening, 488 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 1: just with the gap between them and Detroit. But they're 489 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:40,639 Speaker 1: now suddenly super well situated to make a run and 490 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:44,359 Speaker 1: potentially get the two seed and post deadline. You know, 491 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 1: I'm not one hundred percent sure. After I get done 492 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 1: recording today, I'm gonna start doing some prep on our 493 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:52,360 Speaker 1: Contender Rankings video that we're working on with Kevin O'Connor 494 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 1: later this week, and we'll see where the Caves end 495 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 1: up landing. But like my initial kind of gut feeling 496 00:22:57,400 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 1: is they might be the best team in the Eastern 497 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: Conferents after these moves. Again, I think the underrated part 498 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:04,680 Speaker 1: the Harden move obviously is really going to help them, 499 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:06,919 Speaker 1: But I think Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroeder are going 500 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 1: to really add a dimension to this team in terms 501 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 1: of scrappy perimeter defense that I think will make them 502 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: even more dangerous. Number eight. The Houston Rockets currently plus 503 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:18,920 Speaker 1: two thousand to win the title on hard Rock Bet. 504 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:22,640 Speaker 1: Couple of embarrassing losses at home to the Celtics and Hornets, 505 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 1: but they did get back on track on the road 506 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:28,440 Speaker 1: against the Hospital Thunder Shan Gun responded well to the 507 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 1: criticism surrounding his defense with one of his best games 508 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:33,680 Speaker 1: of the season in okase Hee, a seventeen twelve and 509 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 1: eleven triple double, just one turnover and three steals in 510 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 1: three blocks. And I've talked about this before with Shangun like, 511 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 1: he's not a stiff, Like, he's not a dude that 512 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:46,640 Speaker 1: has no shot to compete on defense in the NBA 513 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:49,119 Speaker 1: and traditional schemes, Like he's got quite a bit of 514 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:52,639 Speaker 1: natural athletic ability in size, He's capable of being a 515 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 1: better defensive player than he's been. And sometimes confrontation and 516 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:58,879 Speaker 1: criticism can be the best thing for an athlete, and 517 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:02,119 Speaker 1: I think ima Udoka Kevin Durant getting on Shangun was 518 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:05,960 Speaker 1: for the best for that Rockets team number seven, the 519 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:08,440 Speaker 1: Denver Nuggets, currently plus five hundred to win the title 520 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:11,360 Speaker 1: on hard rock Bet. Rough week for the Nuggets defensively, 521 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:13,159 Speaker 1: they gave up one hundred and twenty plus points in 522 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:17,440 Speaker 1: four consecutive games. This was somewhat predictable, though, for a 523 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:19,440 Speaker 1: variety of reasons. So I want to dig into this 524 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:21,879 Speaker 1: concept for just a minute. First of all, obviously, some 525 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 1: of their best defensive players have been out of the lineup. 526 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:25,919 Speaker 1: Christian Brown has missed one of those games, Peyton Watson 527 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,320 Speaker 1: missed one of those games. Aaron Gordon has obviously missed 528 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:32,000 Speaker 1: all four of those games. But most importantly, this team 529 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:35,160 Speaker 1: was playing a very different style of defense. When Nicole 530 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 1: Jokich and Jonas Valenciunas were out of the lineup, they 531 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:40,840 Speaker 1: were doing a lot more switching. They had smaller, more 532 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 1: athletic groups. We all know with Jokitchen Valentiunis, it's a 533 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 1: very different style of defense. They're usually you know, depending 534 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 1: on the like Valentinis will play bench groups against lower 535 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:52,480 Speaker 1: level guards, so he might run some more deep drop, 536 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 1: but Jokies are run a lot of high drop because 537 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:57,160 Speaker 1: he's usually playing against starting groups and he's playing against 538 00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:59,440 Speaker 1: really high level guards and really high level pull up shooters, 539 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 1: so got to get up to the level. And you know, 540 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:04,440 Speaker 1: for years and years, Denver has shown the ability to 541 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: play competent defense in those looks by bringing Jokic up 542 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:10,200 Speaker 1: to the level and rotating out of it. But it's 543 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:13,440 Speaker 1: just a very very different style of defense than what 544 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 1: we're accustomed to seeing from this Denver group over the 545 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:19,440 Speaker 1: last month, where they've been defending with smaller, quicker lineups 546 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:22,119 Speaker 1: and a lot more switching. So it might take Denver 547 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 1: a week or two to kind of re establish their 548 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:28,680 Speaker 1: kind of possession to possession ability to play defense within 549 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 1: those schemes. So don't be surprised if they start to 550 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 1: gain some momentum in the in the next week or two. 551 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 1: Now that Yonis maun Chuon and Nicole Yokic are regularly 552 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 1: back in the lineup, today's show is brought to you 553 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:43,320 Speaker 1: by presenting sponsor hard Rock Bet, the official sportsbook partner 554 00:25:43,359 --> 00:25:45,639 Speaker 1: of the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic. Thank You 555 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: not Ball. Put your hoops knowledge to the test on 556 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:50,720 Speaker 1: hard Rock Bet. Between the NBA and college every night 557 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: is a chance to make a splash and win, and 558 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 1: if you want to score a major bucket, set your 559 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:56,879 Speaker 1: shot at the same game. Parlay. 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Must be 577 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 1: twenty one plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, 578 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 1: New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, or Virginia to play. Terms and 579 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 1: conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida called one eight 580 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:55,119 Speaker 1: three to three play wise in Indiana, if you were 581 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 1: someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, 582 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 1: call one eight hundred and nine with it aming problem 583 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:03,880 Speaker 1: called one eight hundred gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, 584 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 1: New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, or Virginia Number six. The Los 585 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 1: Angeles Lakers, currently plus four thousand to two win the 586 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:15,439 Speaker 1: title on hard Rock Bet, sneakily playing some of their 587 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:17,439 Speaker 1: best basketball the season. They're eight and three in their 588 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:19,760 Speaker 1: last eleven games and their top ten in both offense 589 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 1: and defense in that span, so really the first time 590 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:25,439 Speaker 1: all season that the Lakers have had an extended stretch 591 00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:28,520 Speaker 1: of actually playing good basketball on both ends of the floor. 592 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:31,440 Speaker 1: They had some quality wins in that stretch, too, ended 593 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:34,200 Speaker 1: some winning streaks. Sixers came to town, they had won 594 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: five games in a row. They beat them. The Bulls 595 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:39,439 Speaker 1: had won four in a row, went into Chicago, beat them. 596 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:41,720 Speaker 1: The MAVs had won four in a row, went into 597 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 1: Dallas and beat them. They also beat the Nuggets in 598 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:45,680 Speaker 1: that run. They also beat the Raptors in that run, 599 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 1: so probably their best all around stretch of basketball of 600 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:52,800 Speaker 1: the season. Luca has been playing really, really well as 601 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:54,879 Speaker 1: of late, thirty one to eight and eight on fifty 602 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 1: percent from the field, thirty nine percent from three, and 603 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:00,280 Speaker 1: just three point four turnovers in that eleven game span. 604 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:04,320 Speaker 1: Austin has looked fantastic since returning, had an absolutely insane 605 00:28:04,359 --> 00:28:07,000 Speaker 1: game last week. Lebron has been struggling a little bit 606 00:28:07,040 --> 00:28:09,320 Speaker 1: with his efficiency in this stretch, but he's made all 607 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:11,280 Speaker 1: sorts of winning plays down the stretch of games. Have 608 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 1: actually been impressed by Lebron because you could tell he's 609 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:16,399 Speaker 1: just really struggled to find his rhythm, especially as a 610 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:18,439 Speaker 1: jump shooter, and it's kind of affected his game. He's 611 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,520 Speaker 1: turned the ball over a lot, but he just kind 612 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:23,920 Speaker 1: of like zones in and makes like three or four 613 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: awesome plays on both ends of the floor at the 614 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:27,439 Speaker 1: end of these games and helps him close it out, 615 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:29,640 Speaker 1: which is what you expect from a leader when he's 616 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 1: not playing his best basketball. And it did feel like 617 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:33,879 Speaker 1: he started to break out of his shooting slump a 618 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:37,320 Speaker 1: bit in that third quarter run against the Warriors. Maxi 619 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:39,520 Speaker 1: Kleba has been incredible as the Lakers have dealt with 620 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 1: some injuries and suspensions from their starting center rotation, and 621 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:45,520 Speaker 1: then we talked about Canard's debut in the opening segment. 622 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:49,680 Speaker 1: Hopefully Luca is able to return from his leg issue, 623 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 1: some sort of like hamstring soreness issue. Hopefully he's able 624 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:55,600 Speaker 1: to come back from that soon. The Lakers really want 625 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 1: to get some reps with all three of their stars 626 00:28:58,080 --> 00:29:00,440 Speaker 1: healthy at some point this season. This would be a 627 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:03,479 Speaker 1: great time to do so. Number five the Boston Celtics 628 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:05,840 Speaker 1: currently plus fifteen hundred to win the title on hard 629 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:07,600 Speaker 1: Rock Bet. We talked about them in the open so again, 630 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:09,480 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna stay here super long. They're lost to 631 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 1: the Knicks snapped a five game winning streak. It's one 632 00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:14,600 Speaker 1: of their worst all around performances of the season. Just 633 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 1: they didn't do anything well in this particular game. But 634 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:19,200 Speaker 1: they have been playing some really good basketball as of late, 635 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 1: and I really like vouch as an alternative style of 636 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:24,720 Speaker 1: fit at the center position next to Cata, and I 637 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:26,840 Speaker 1: love the way that Missoula is using them so far. 638 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 1: Biggest thing that has stood out to me is just 639 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:30,600 Speaker 1: the quality of three point shots that they're getting with 640 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:32,240 Speaker 1: Voucha on the floor. I think that's something that's going 641 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:35,960 Speaker 1: to lead to some big offensive bursts over the course 642 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:38,000 Speaker 1: of the coming weeks. And then also just giving you 643 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:40,880 Speaker 1: that switch beating look which was so important in the 644 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:43,840 Speaker 1: Miami game. Number four. The New York Knicks currently plus 645 00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:46,600 Speaker 1: thirteen hundred. They've been an absolute wrecking ball over the 646 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 1: last few weeks. They got mauled in Detroit in what 647 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:52,800 Speaker 1: was honestly a really difficult game to win under any circumstances. 648 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:55,160 Speaker 1: Detroit was red hot from the perimeter in that game, 649 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:57,520 Speaker 1: and the Knicks just kind of wilted under that scoring run. 650 00:29:57,600 --> 00:29:59,800 Speaker 1: In the second quarter, and they just never recovered. The 651 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,160 Speaker 1: Liston's attempted to eleven catch and shoot threes in the 652 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,600 Speaker 1: second quarter and made eight of them, and it just 653 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:06,200 Speaker 1: kind of punched the Knicks in the face and they 654 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:09,200 Speaker 1: were unable to recover. Honestly, it was super impressive shooting too, 655 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 1: Like the Pistons were running off of makes a lot 656 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 1: in that run and just getting quick transition threes up 657 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 1: and they just kept going down and they hit a 658 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:19,920 Speaker 1: lot of like pretty rushed, pretty contested threes in that run. 659 00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 1: So tip of the cap to the Pistons. But that 660 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:23,920 Speaker 1: was the Knicks only lost in their last ten games, 661 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:25,840 Speaker 1: and they have been the number one defense in the 662 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:28,760 Speaker 1: league by a mile in that span. Finally starting to 663 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:30,440 Speaker 1: look a lot like the team that had me buying 664 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:32,560 Speaker 1: nick stock early in the season. Really for the first 665 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:34,960 Speaker 1: time in the Jalen Brunson era. I kind of believe 666 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:36,840 Speaker 1: in this team in a way as a playoff threat 667 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:39,640 Speaker 1: that I did in earlier. Starting to flash that upside again. 668 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:43,640 Speaker 1: Number three the San Antonio Spurs currently plus fifteen hundred 669 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:45,120 Speaker 1: to win the title on hard Rock Bet. They've won 670 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 1: four in a row career night from Steph Castle and 671 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:52,280 Speaker 1: their second MAVs win forty twelve and twelve with four stocks, 672 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:55,240 Speaker 1: just completely absurd, a ridiculous tip dunk. Really starting to 673 00:30:55,240 --> 00:30:58,080 Speaker 1: show the jump shot again. As a team, the Spurs 674 00:30:58,120 --> 00:30:59,680 Speaker 1: are starting to shoot the ball pretty well. That has 675 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 1: helped stabilize their offense, especially in the last couple of games. 676 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:04,840 Speaker 1: Those MAVs games really broke out as a jump shooting team. 677 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: They have seven players averaging double figures over their four 678 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:11,960 Speaker 1: game winning streak, smashing teams on the glass, smashing teams 679 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:14,240 Speaker 1: in the paint. Now that they're healthy and they've got 680 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:16,200 Speaker 1: most of their guys, they're starting to play some really 681 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:18,080 Speaker 1: well rounded hoops. They're a lead on both ends of 682 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:20,480 Speaker 1: the floor in this stretch. They're winning on several margins. 683 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:22,960 Speaker 1: We talked about points in the paint and rebounding. They're 684 00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:26,120 Speaker 1: also getting out in fast breaks quite a bit, rounding 685 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:28,680 Speaker 1: in the form here during this stretch run this San 686 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 1: Antonio Spurs team number two, the Oklahoma City Thunder, currently 687 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 1: plus one point thirty to win the title on Hard 688 00:31:34,120 --> 00:31:36,720 Speaker 1: Rock Bet. The injury bug has just beaten them into 689 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:40,200 Speaker 1: the ground. AJ Mitchell and Shay both down with abdominal strains. 690 00:31:40,320 --> 00:31:42,680 Speaker 1: J dubbed out with a hammy, and those are the 691 00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:45,240 Speaker 1: only three guys who can consistently break a defense down, 692 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:47,600 Speaker 1: and so as a result, this is a team that 693 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:50,320 Speaker 1: already kind of has a shortage of ball handling compared 694 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 1: to the other top teams in the league. You take 695 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:54,680 Speaker 1: those three guys out, it's just it's just they're too 696 00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:58,400 Speaker 1: far below that like mandatory minimum amount of ball handling. 697 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 1: Just a one toh eight offense rating this season with 698 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:04,200 Speaker 1: AJ Mitchell, Jalen Williams, and Shakos Alexander all off the 699 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:07,160 Speaker 1: floor minus five net rating them been good on defense, 700 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:10,720 Speaker 1: but not great. That's predictably led to them starting to 701 00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:13,080 Speaker 1: drop games again. It's been fun watching, like getting to 702 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:15,560 Speaker 1: see some more on ball reps for Aaron Wiggins. Cason 703 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:17,560 Speaker 1: Wallace has shown some of that off the dribble pop 704 00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:20,000 Speaker 1: that we've seen at times over the last few years. 705 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:22,080 Speaker 1: Getting to see those two guys in CHET be more 706 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:25,920 Speaker 1: aggressive is fun for seeing their potential. But this team 707 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:29,680 Speaker 1: needs their main guys back now. Allegedly Jdubb is making 708 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:31,680 Speaker 1: his return against the Lakers tonight, so that will be 709 00:32:31,720 --> 00:32:33,920 Speaker 1: a good step in the right direction, but I'm not 710 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:38,160 Speaker 1: super stoked about this. For the Thunder It's been less 711 00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:41,280 Speaker 1: than a month since his hamstring injury, and so I'm 712 00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:44,040 Speaker 1: just surprised that he's pushing it this fast. I thought 713 00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:47,080 Speaker 1: they would have taken it a little slower, just because 714 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:49,640 Speaker 1: I wonder if they're just looking at the situation and 715 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:52,400 Speaker 1: the standings and seeing some more urgency there. But like 716 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:55,480 Speaker 1: you're Okayce, you have a certain amount of confidence in 717 00:32:55,560 --> 00:32:59,080 Speaker 1: your ability to beat the teams in the Western Conference. 718 00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:02,840 Speaker 1: I'm just surprised with a soft tissue strain that Jadub 719 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:05,640 Speaker 1: is coming back as fast as he is. But fingers 720 00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:08,400 Speaker 1: cross hopefully he's able to come back and stay healthy 721 00:33:08,440 --> 00:33:12,160 Speaker 1: because this team desperately needs him to stay healthy. And lastly, 722 00:33:12,360 --> 00:33:15,000 Speaker 1: the Detroit Pistons currently plus sixteen hundred to win the 723 00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 1: title on hard Rock Bet, first time at the top 724 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:19,640 Speaker 1: of the rankings. This entire season, it's been okay see 725 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:22,040 Speaker 1: every single week except for San Antonio after the end 726 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:24,600 Speaker 1: season or not. I think it was after Christmas Day. Yeah, 727 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:27,040 Speaker 1: it was San Antonio after the Christmas Day game, and 728 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:29,240 Speaker 1: then Detroit this week. Those are the only two times 729 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:31,000 Speaker 1: that we've had somebody other than the Thunder at the 730 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:33,880 Speaker 1: top of our power rankings. They are now tied in 731 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:36,640 Speaker 1: the lost column with OKAC and with the injuries, it's 732 00:33:36,680 --> 00:33:38,640 Speaker 1: not out of the realm of possibility that Detroit could 733 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:40,600 Speaker 1: be looking at home court if they make it to 734 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:45,200 Speaker 1: the NBA Finals, even against Oklahoma City. They're kind of 735 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 1: a weird loss to Washington last week where they just 736 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:49,600 Speaker 1: didn't play very well defensively. They got fried by a 737 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:52,040 Speaker 1: couple of bench guys in Sharif Cooper and Will Riley 738 00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:54,400 Speaker 1: for Washington, but they responded with one of their best 739 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:56,800 Speaker 1: performances of the season and just a wired to wire 740 00:33:56,920 --> 00:34:00,200 Speaker 1: route of the New York Knicks. I'm still looking the 741 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:02,880 Speaker 1: Pistons is a second tier contender, and I wish they 742 00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:04,640 Speaker 1: would have done more at the deadline to try to 743 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:09,040 Speaker 1: add offensive firepower. But I have to say, strictly speaking 744 00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:12,520 Speaker 1: about the regular season, they've probably been the most impressive 745 00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:14,600 Speaker 1: team in the entire league this year, including Okay See. 746 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:17,920 Speaker 1: As a simple point of comparison, the Thunder are just 747 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:19,960 Speaker 1: fifteen to ten this year against teams that are five 748 00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:23,560 Speaker 1: hundred are better. The Pistons are sixteen and six, and 749 00:34:23,640 --> 00:34:26,040 Speaker 1: they're ten and four according to Cleaning the last against 750 00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:28,040 Speaker 1: teams that are in the top ten in point differential. 751 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:30,479 Speaker 1: That's far and away the best record in the league. 752 00:34:30,480 --> 00:34:32,719 Speaker 1: As an example, every other one of the other twenty 753 00:34:32,840 --> 00:34:36,279 Speaker 1: nine teams has at least seven losses against teams that 754 00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:38,279 Speaker 1: are in the top ten in point differential. Detroit has 755 00:34:38,400 --> 00:34:41,279 Speaker 1: just four. They're ten and four in those matchups. They've 756 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:44,040 Speaker 1: been the best regular season team this year. Again, as 757 00:34:44,040 --> 00:34:46,279 Speaker 1: I've said multiple times over the last few weeks, like 758 00:34:46,719 --> 00:34:50,200 Speaker 1: to me, it's not entirely uncommon for a young, very 759 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:53,239 Speaker 1: talented future contender to have a regular season where they're 760 00:34:53,280 --> 00:34:55,600 Speaker 1: just super engaged night tonight and they play super super 761 00:34:55,680 --> 00:34:58,520 Speaker 1: hard and they just run over everybody, and maybe they're 762 00:34:58,560 --> 00:34:59,960 Speaker 1: not as good as a playoff team as they are 763 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:01,600 Speaker 1: as a regular season team. And that is more or 764 00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:03,560 Speaker 1: less how I feel about this team. I view them 765 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:05,719 Speaker 1: as a second tier contender, just simply meaning that I 766 00:35:05,719 --> 00:35:07,759 Speaker 1: think they have a legitimate shot to win, but I 767 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:09,360 Speaker 1: don't think they're as safe a bet as some of 768 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:11,920 Speaker 1: these veteran teams that have won championships before at the 769 00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:13,960 Speaker 1: top of the league, teams like Denver, teams like Oklahoma 770 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:18,080 Speaker 1: City for example. But for now, best regular season team 771 00:35:18,239 --> 00:35:21,399 Speaker 1: in my opinion, number one in our power rankings. That's 772 00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:23,280 Speaker 1: all I have for today guys is always as sincerely 773 00:35:23,320 --> 00:35:25,480 Speaker 1: appreciate you guys for supporting us and supporting the show. 774 00:35:25,680 --> 00:35:29,200 Speaker 1: We'll be back tomorrow with some more game reaction. As always, 775 00:35:29,480 --> 00:35:30,399 Speaker 1: I will see you guys there