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In Maryland, dial one eight 26 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: seven seven eight Hope n Y. Or text Hope n 27 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: Y to four six seven three six nine in New York. 28 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: Dial one eight hundred five two two forty seven hundred 29 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: in Wyoming, or visit www dot one eight hundred gambler 30 00:01:54,320 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 1: dot net in West Virginia. All right, welcome to Hoops Tonight, 31 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 1: I presented by FanDuel here at the volume. Happy Saturday, everybody. 32 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 1: I hope all of you guys are having a great 33 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 1: weekend so far. We're just gonna briefly touch on four 34 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:17,799 Speaker 1: games from last night. The Lakers notching a huge road 35 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, locking down the seven seed 36 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: for the time being. The Philadelphia is seventy six ers 37 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: beat the Toronto Rafters, although the Raptors did make it 38 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: close there at the end, they pulled away. But I 39 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: really want to dive in on just all of the 40 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: championship boxes, like those expectations that we have for champions 41 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,359 Speaker 1: and whether or not Philly meets those expectations. I want 42 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:39,079 Speaker 1: to dive into them a little bit. Then we got 43 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,359 Speaker 1: a preview of our four five first round matchup in 44 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: the Eastern Conference between the Calves and the Heat. Jalen 45 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: Brunson notches a career high forty eight points and a 46 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 1: road win in Cleveland. And last, but not least, I 47 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: want to talk a little bit about Russell Westbrook and 48 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: his time with the Clippers, especially after his thirty six 49 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:56,359 Speaker 1: point night a couple of games ago against the Memphis Grizzlies. 50 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 1: You guys know the drill before we get started. Subscribe 51 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:00,679 Speaker 1: to the Volumes YouTube channels. Don't miss any more of 52 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 1: our videos. Follow me on Twitter at underscore Jason lt 53 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 1: so you guys don't miss any show announcements. And if 54 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: for whatever reason, you guys miss one of these videos 55 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:08,799 Speaker 1: and you can't get back over to YouTube to finish, 56 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: don't forget. You can find them wherever you get your podcasts. 57 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 1: Under Hoops tonight, all right, let's talk some basketball. So 58 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: this was a really interesting game between the Wolves and 59 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: the Lakers. I actually didn't watch the game live because 60 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: I was at a rehearsal dinner for a wedding that 61 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,519 Speaker 1: I'm going to this weekend, but I kind of saw 62 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: some of the people talking, and you know, Lakers fans 63 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,799 Speaker 1: were very optimistic about how things went, felt like they 64 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: dominated the game, but Timberwolves fans were convinced that, like, 65 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: there was this weird sequence that took place with Anthony 66 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: Davis spraining his ankle and a small little run that 67 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: the Lakers went on during that stretch, and how it 68 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: might have changed the game. And then Rudy Gobert effectively 69 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 1: credited that for what turned the game around. And so 70 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: I was really curious to watch it because it was 71 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: a classic case of like the two fan basis had 72 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: very different impressions on what went down, and so I 73 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 1: wanted to see the basketball because, you know, I do 74 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: believe that momentum swings can happen in games. We've talked 75 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: a lot about this. I talk about how you know, 76 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: we talked about it during the Mark Cuban thing with 77 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: that weird play in the Warriors Mavericks game where there 78 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: was that inbounds pass or or a misscall here or 79 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 1: a miscall the players complaining about officiating. I talk about 80 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: all the time, there's like five or six things that 81 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: happen in every single basketball game that are entirely out 82 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,040 Speaker 1: of your control. And what do I always say, Sometimes 83 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: they can all go against you, but you've got to 84 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 1: find a way to win like that, that's just the reality. 85 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: And so like that, you have to be prepared as 86 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 1: a basketball team going into a game or going into 87 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 1: a series, like there's just going to be a bunch 88 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: of shit that's completely out of your control that doesn't 89 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: go your way, and you have to find a way 90 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: to overcome that. That's just part of being a competitor. 91 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: That's part of being a winner. And so I hate 92 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: that excuse process from the start. But I wanted to 93 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 1: see what happened in the basketball So I was watching 94 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 1: the game, and you know, it's very back and forth 95 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 1: for most of the first half. The Lakers take a 96 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: little lead, the Wolves take a little lead, right but 97 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 1: just in the final few minutes of the first half, 98 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:58,280 Speaker 1: the Wolves go on a big run. Going into the 99 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: halftime period, Kyle Anders hits a corner three, Rudy Gobert 100 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: does this vicious spin move on Anthony Davis in isolation 101 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: for a layup. Anthony Edwards finally get gets going a 102 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 1: really smart play design from Chris from Chris Finch to 103 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 1: get him a backdoor cut. They have Carl Towns in 104 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 1: the left corner and they have Rudy Gobert go set 105 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: a pin down for him, and it looks like Carl 106 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: Toowns is gonna come off that screen that he didn't 107 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:22,919 Speaker 1: actually end up using it, but Rudy was setting the 108 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,279 Speaker 1: screen like he was gonna go out. So Anthony Davis, 109 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 1: because he has to be there to show out on 110 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: that screen to stop Carltown's from getting that easy catch 111 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 1: and shoot, he steps out of the lane. Anthony Edwards 112 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: just runs a backdoor cut and gets a dunk that 113 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:39,039 Speaker 1: kind of broke the ice and that I believe that 114 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:40,919 Speaker 1: was his first basket of the game at that point. 115 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: Then he gets another driving reverse layout before the half. Bam, 116 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 1: you go into halftime, you're up ten. Complexion of the 117 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,360 Speaker 1: game has completely changed. They kind of go back and 118 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 1: forth to start the third quarter for a few minutes. 119 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 1: But on film, and this is what's so funny about 120 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: Rudy Gobert with that postgame comment, I was really interested 121 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: to see if it was the Laker d that turned 122 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 1: the tide of the game or if it was just 123 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 1: some random sequence that turned the tide of the game. 124 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 1: And it was the Lakers defense. They got stops on 125 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 1: five of the previous six possessions before Anthony Davis tweaked 126 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: his ankle. That ended up being the defensive wave that 127 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 1: carried them through the rest of the game. The Lakers 128 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: had a defensive rating in the second half of this 129 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: game of eighty five point two, which is off the 130 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: charge good. So the real story of the second half 131 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 1: of this game is the Lakers just completely locked down Minnesota. 132 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,679 Speaker 1: It came down to a couple of specific schematic things. 133 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: But if I had to attribute it to one, I 134 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 1: would say Ruby Hatchamura and his ability to guard Carl 135 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:42,280 Speaker 1: Anthony Towns, because one of the predicaments that the Lakers 136 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: were put in is that when Carltowns and Rudy Gobert 137 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: were both on the court, they'd put Anthony Davis on 138 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: Rudy Gobert so that he could linger around the paint, right, 139 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 1: But that ended up putting Jared Vanderbilt on Carltowns. And 140 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:58,160 Speaker 1: the problem there is Jared Vanderbilt is a very good 141 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:01,720 Speaker 1: perimeter defender, but Carltowns is by far the biggest player 142 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: they've given him as an assignment to guard at this 143 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: point in the season, and he's just too big and 144 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: too strong and shoots the ball too well. Had twenty. 145 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: I think in the first half they were having all 146 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 1: sorts of problems guarding Carl Towns, But as soon as 147 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 1: they figured out that they could they could put Ruey 148 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 1: Hotcha Mura on Carltowns and hold their own defensively there. 149 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: That allowed Anthony Davis to remain around the basket for 150 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: the rest of the game. Because early in that second 151 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 1: half they sub Carl Towns out, they have Kyle Anderson 152 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: in the game, that's when the run starts. The run 153 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: begins with Anthony Davis protecting the rim, guarding on the 154 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: perimeter really well with guys like Jared Vanderbilt in Dennis 155 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: Schroeder and just getting into the basketball. Then when Carl 156 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: Towns came back in the game and Rudy Gobert left 157 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: the game, they were able to slide Anthony Davis over 158 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: onto Kyle Anderson, a player they want to concede three 159 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: point shots too. That was only possible because Ruey hotcher 160 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 1: Mura was able to hold his own in that Carl 161 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: Towns matchup. I tuck a about the different types of 162 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 1: forwards in the NBA. We have our wirery, lanky athletic forwards, 163 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: and then we have our bigger, stronger, more power forwards. 164 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: Jared Vanderbilt's more in the middle, to be honest, because 165 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: he's taller, like a bigger forward, and he does have 166 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: good muscle mass, but he does have a little bit 167 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 1: of a higher center of gravity and he's not going 168 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 1: to hold up against really really strong post players. We 169 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: even saw him struggle a little bit with Julius Randall 170 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:25,239 Speaker 1: in a matchup a little while back. If you guys remember, 171 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 1: the only real lanky athlete that the Lakers have is 172 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 1: a guy like Troy Brown junior who's a bit undersized, right, 173 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 1: So that's kind of like their one position that they 174 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 1: don't have, you know, your stereotypical type of athlete there. 175 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 1: But Ruby had Chamura. He struggled a little bit with 176 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: some perimeter matchups this year, but he is big and strong, 177 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 1: and he is a much lower center of gravity with 178 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 1: much stronger legs than Jared Vanderbilt. That gives him the 179 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 1: ability to hold up under more physical forwards in the NBA, 180 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:54,839 Speaker 1: So Rui had Chamurra ends up actually being a really 181 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: good matchup for a guy like Carl Town's in a 182 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: way that you wouldn't expect, even though Jared Vanderbilt's a 183 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,840 Speaker 1: better vender overall. Right, and then you saw the slotting 184 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: start to take place from there. They actually went with 185 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: Jared Vanderbilt and Ruy Hotchmer at the same time. At 186 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: one point, Now you've got Jared Vanderbilt being able to 187 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 1: slot over onto Anthony Edwards. Why because Anthony Davis can 188 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: stay on Kyle Anderson, Ruey hodcher Mura's on Carl Towns, 189 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: and then you've got Jared Vanderbilt freed up for a 190 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 1: perimeter assignment. There, then you're able to slide Dennis Schroeder 191 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 1: over onto Mike Conley, who had been red hot in 192 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: the whole game. The two big matchup problems that cause 193 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 1: the Lakers issues in this game were Carl Town's, particularly 194 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:32,680 Speaker 1: in the first half, and then Mike Conley throughout the 195 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 1: game with his shot making just that ridiculous floater that 196 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: he never misses and his pull up three that he's 197 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 1: been hitting at a high clip since coming to the 198 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 1: Minnesota Timberwolves. So you saw the matchups kind of start 199 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 1: to slot into place and then suddenly they couldn't score. 200 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 1: And the other big thing with Ruey hotcher Mura is 201 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 1: when they were running Kyle Anderson ball screens with Carl Towns, 202 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 1: they were able to just switch that and the switching ability, 203 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 1: and there were a couple possessions where Ruey actually switched 204 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: on to Rudy Gobert in fronted the post and pushed 205 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: him out of the lane. Like it just it was 206 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 1: a stifling defensive effort triggered by outstanding point of attack 207 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 1: defense from guys like Jared Vanderbilt and Dennis Schroeder, and 208 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 1: then on the back line the switchability of guys like 209 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:17,560 Speaker 1: Ruy Hatchermer and Anthony Davis. You even got like even Lebron. 210 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: Lebron had a nightmare offensive game in this game, but 211 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: he was engaged defensively. I talked a lot about how 212 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: as soon as Lebron came back, they don't need MVP Lebron. 213 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 1: They just don't. They have so much backcourt skill and 214 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis playing at such a high level they don't 215 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:35,200 Speaker 1: need him to They will need him to to beat 216 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:37,559 Speaker 1: like a team like Boston or Milwaukee, there's no doubt 217 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: they're gonna need superstar Lebron. But he's got plenty of 218 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 1: time to get his rhythm back. Jade McDaniels did a 219 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:45,560 Speaker 1: number on him yesterday. He still doesn't quite have the 220 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: lift that he needs and doesn't quite have his rhythm 221 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,320 Speaker 1: and his shot and his handle dialed in right to 222 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: be the dominant score in the against those really, really 223 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: good defensive teams. But he's got time, and we know 224 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 1: he's capable of that, just look at what he's done 225 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: during other stretches of the season. But I thought, you 226 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: know again, don't let don't get confused by the narrative. 227 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: It was a weird sequence, like, yeah, Anthony Davis fell down, 228 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 1: Rudy Gobert said he could have dunked on him. Go 229 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,680 Speaker 1: watch the three play. That's absurd. First of all, Anthony 230 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: Davis is laying on the ground in front of the basket. 231 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: Technically he's in his way. It's not like he can 232 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 1: just step on him right, so he doesn't have his 233 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: steps right to be able to dunk. And when you 234 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 1: and Gabriel's literally sitting in help, like if if Anthony 235 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,199 Speaker 1: Davis wasn't standing there, when Yan's gonna run over and 236 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 1: jump with verticality, and Rudy Goberts is not a very 237 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: good finisher around the rim, that probably turns into a 238 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 1: hook shot that he probably missed. Either way, the ball 239 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: got worked around and Mike Conley shot a wide open 240 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: three on that possession. One of their best shooters, who's 241 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 1: shooting really well that game, shot a wide open three. 242 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 1: He just missed it. Then they didn't get matched up 243 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: in transition and left Angela Russell opened for a layup 244 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 1: on a push ahead pass from Lebron And it wasn't 245 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: just about the Anthony Davis injury. They were killing him 246 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:58,199 Speaker 1: with those push ahead passes the entire game. Ruby Hotchamura 247 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 1: got a backdoor lobbed, I should say in the second half. 248 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 1: Ruey hotch Amerra got a backdoor lob dunk from Austin 249 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 1: Reeves in transition because nobody picked him up. That was 250 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 1: after the ad injury, after the game had already returned 251 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 1: to its normal flow. There was a play where Anthony 252 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 1: Davis got a deep seal in transition with nobody around 253 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:16,080 Speaker 1: him against a smaller defender. He just happened to smoke 254 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 1: a layup, but the Lakers were beating them in transition 255 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:21,560 Speaker 1: consistently as an issue there in that second half, I 256 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 1: just don't buy that. And then Jade McDaniels comes down 257 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: the floor after the d'angela Russell layup, and a d 258 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:30,319 Speaker 1: is still writhing on the floor and he's just dribbling 259 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:33,199 Speaker 1: like super careless with the basketball, and when you and 260 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 1: Gabriel just comes up and picks him clean, like, yeah, 261 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 1: it was. It was. There's no doubt it was a 262 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: weird sequence. I also wouldn't be surprised if the weirdness 263 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,680 Speaker 1: of Anthony Davis writhing around in pain on the ground 264 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:49,079 Speaker 1: had some sort of brief mental disruption to the Timberwolves. 265 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: But like I said, that's going to happen in a 266 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: basketball game. You've got to find a way to regain control. 267 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 1: There were still eighteen plus minutes left in the game, 268 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,839 Speaker 1: and the reality was is you couldn't score in The 269 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 1: Lakers started to demonstrate that before the injury, and then 270 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 1: they resoundingly demonstrated it down the stretch, and then Anthony 271 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 1: Davis just took them home in the post. And it 272 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 1: was crazy because just NonStop again like, first it was 273 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 1: against Gobert earlier in the fourth quarter, and then Gobert 274 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 1: comes off the floor and it's against Carltowns, and he's 275 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 1: just surrounded by so much offensive skill with this new 276 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 1: Laker lineup that they're leaving him on an island. And 277 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: he just took Carltowns to school. And what was crazy 278 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 1: is it wasn't even jumpers, like he hit a little 279 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 1: fade away on the baseline, but for the most part 280 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 1: he was in the damn lane, just hitting him with 281 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: pivots and fakes and spins and hookshots and just making 282 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: every single one of them. It was a clinic of 283 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: post work against Carltown's. In a little bit against Gobert 284 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 1: as well. He continues his tour of dominance with thirty 285 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:49,839 Speaker 1: eight points and seventeen rebounds with two blocks, and his 286 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 1: Steel Lakers are fourteen and seven since the deadline, despite 287 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 1: Lebron missing most of that stretch. They also lost that 288 00:13:57,280 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 1: Houston game with Anthony Davis resting and giving up seventy 289 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 1: something paint points. We'll get to see if I was 290 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: right about a d changing that matchup here on Sunday 291 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 1: when the Lakers go to Houston. Then you had that 292 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 1: heartbreak against Dallas, So they've had some a little bit 293 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: of bad luck. And they're still fourteen and seven since 294 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:14,199 Speaker 1: the deadline, which is the sixth best record in the 295 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: league during that span. They also have the very best defense, 296 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 1: and they're the fourth best rebounding team over that span. 297 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 1: So best defense, fourth best rebounding team. They're physically beating 298 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: the hell out of teams, and that's mostly without Lebron. 299 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 1: With Lebron is just a forced multiplier in that regard 300 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: with what he can do generating attention around the post, 301 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: Like defensively at this phase of his career, is still 302 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: a pretty good help defender, Like he's just going to 303 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: exacerbate that problem for teams and so, and that sort 304 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 1: of physical dominance is something that I always look at 305 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: for teams in a potential playoff run. Now they are 306 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 1: nineteenth and offense over this span, but again that's where 307 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: Lebron getting back to his ceiling offensively at some point 308 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 1: in the next couple of weeks will be the thing 309 00:14:57,840 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: that can push them over the edge offensively as well. 310 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: And here's the other thing too. One of the I 311 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: always talk about how in NBA history, you gotta be 312 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 1: a top ten defense in order to have a real 313 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: chance to win a championship. That's just unless you have 314 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: an otherworldly talent advantage, you got to be a top 315 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 1: ten defense. Here's what's crazy. The Lakers are now basically 316 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 1: in a virtual tie for tenth place in defense for 317 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: the entire season, So even that goal of getting into 318 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 1: the top ten is very much within reach if they 319 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: put together even just one more good defensive night. They 320 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: now have sole possession of the seven seed. Now, Minnesota 321 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 1: does have a tiebreaker over them, so they got to 322 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 1: make sure that they stay one game ahead of Minnesota 323 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: in the lost column. They are one game back of 324 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: both Golden State and the Clippers, but they only have 325 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: the tiebreaker against Golden State. They do not have the 326 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 1: tiebreaker against the Clippers. Obviously, three way ties, the tiebreaker 327 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: gets way more convoluted, so everything's still up in the air. 328 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: But they do control their own destiny, and they're heading 329 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: into an easier stretch of their schedule. They play the 330 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 1: Rockets in the Jazz next three of their last five 331 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 1: games against the Rockets and the Jazz, and then they've 332 00:15:58,080 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 1: got a couple of tough matchups against the Clippers and 333 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: the Suns. But the Lakers are in a good position 334 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: to potentially end up getting either that home court for 335 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 1: the first round of the play in tournament or to 336 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 1: miss the play in tournament entirely. They're they're in a 337 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: good spot right now. Good time to be a Lakers fan, 338 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 1: all right. I want to talk a little bit about 339 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: the Raptors Sixers game. Not so much about the game, 340 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 1: but I want to focus on the Sixers. The Sixers 341 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: really blew them out in this game. They had seventy 342 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 1: seven in the first half. The Raptors kind of grinded 343 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 1: back and got it close. They got back to within 344 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: two on a Fred van Vleet pull up three in 345 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 1: the middle of the fourth quarter, but then immediately the 346 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 1: Sixers won on a run and be got a bucket. PJ. 347 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: Tucker hit a corner three, James Harden had a driving layup. 348 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: James Harden was fantastic in this game, in his second 349 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 1: game returning from that achilles sore neus. We talked a 350 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 1: lot about, you know, Harden having like a revenge campaign 351 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 1: this season, and he's had some injuries that have banged 352 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: him up. Obviously the foot injury earlier on and then 353 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: the achilles injury more recently, but really for the most 354 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 1: part this season, I think James Harden has had an 355 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: excellent season both as a score and a playmaker, doing 356 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 1: exactly as much as this team needs him to do 357 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 1: to have a chance to win a championship. Most importantly, 358 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 1: Harden's legs looked explosive. He talked about how at one 359 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:15,200 Speaker 1: point he was in excruciating pain and that achilles and 360 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: that was causing him problems getting lift and pushing off. 361 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:21,919 Speaker 1: He looked spry in this game and the big, the 362 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 1: big driving layup he had that basically was the dagger 363 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 1: against the Raptors. At the end of this game. It 364 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 1: was he was against og and an Obi and Yaka 365 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:31,119 Speaker 1: Peurtle was guarding Joel Embiad and he kept calling for 366 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 1: that and bead ball screen. He's trying to get switched 367 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:34,879 Speaker 1: on to Peartles so he can get his switch, but 368 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 1: they og and Obi was just doing a really nice 369 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:40,399 Speaker 1: job of fighting through the screen, and Nick Nurse, as 370 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:44,160 Speaker 1: he always does, was like ridiculously overaggressively doubling and beat 371 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: out of the high post. So Harden just pulled it 372 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 1: out and he's like, oh shit, Like I guess I 373 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 1: got a score and an obi and he hit him 374 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:52,919 Speaker 1: with a move and a counter move and got all 375 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 1: the way to the rim and made a left handed layup, 376 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: and on that counter move, he was engaged physically with Og, 377 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:00,159 Speaker 1: and Og was playing very physical, and so for him 378 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: to be able to shed Og like that and maintain 379 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 1: his leg strength to get the necessary lift to get 380 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: up to the rim, I think is a really good 381 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:09,680 Speaker 1: sign for him physically. But I wanted to talk about 382 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: the Sixers in their championship boxes because I always talk 383 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 1: about these things that are like mandatory, right, and the 384 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:18,960 Speaker 1: Sixers more and more I look at them above and 385 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:21,480 Speaker 1: beyond the things that we don't even really have a 386 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 1: measurable way of accounting for, like, oh, James Harden's playoff performance, 387 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,920 Speaker 1: or Joel Embiat's playoff performance, or Doc Rivers playoff performance 388 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:33,119 Speaker 1: like which again, those it's I'm not saying they're not concerns, 389 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:35,680 Speaker 1: but it's just it's really hard to quantify those things 390 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:38,160 Speaker 1: in the grand scheme of things. And like, if they 391 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,239 Speaker 1: have figured it out, like we're not, the only way 392 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: we're gonna find out is they're just gonna go beat 393 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:44,440 Speaker 1: everybody in the playoffs, right, So It's hard to really 394 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:46,520 Speaker 1: plan for that, so to speak. It's just kind of 395 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: a wild card that you have to account for. But 396 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: if we set those aside, they check everything else. I 397 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 1: always talk you need to have elite rim protection. They 398 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:56,680 Speaker 1: do Joel Embiat, especially in this last half of the season, 399 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 1: his rim protection has been off the charge good. You 400 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: need to have guys who can take high leverage, perimeter assignments. 401 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 1: D Anthony Melton can take higher level ball handler like 402 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:10,400 Speaker 1: perimeter ball handler, like guard, high pick and roll assignments. PJ. 403 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:13,160 Speaker 1: Tucker can guard all of your big forwards that you're 404 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 1: gonna need to have guarded in the Eastern Conference. Even 405 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: Tobias Harris like having PJ. Tucker and Tobias Harris's options 406 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 1: to throw at you know, Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum, 407 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:25,880 Speaker 1: for instance. That's that's that's real weapon. That's a real 408 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:29,200 Speaker 1: weapon have. Especially with Joel Embiid on the back line. 409 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: You can't just attack James Harden on a switch because 410 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 1: of his ability to guard in the post right. So 411 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: they have a lot of matchup versatility. Defensively, I really 412 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 1: like that they are the very best spot up team 413 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 1: in the league. So if you do what Nick Nurse did, 414 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:46,200 Speaker 1: and you just double team the shit out of Joel Embiid. Yeah, 415 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 1: he might have some turnovers and he had five turnovers 416 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 1: in this game, but if he can make that first 417 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: pass out and have James Harden make that second read, 418 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,399 Speaker 1: there's just so much skill on the back side of 419 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 1: the floor, like PJ. Tucker was hitting his corner three 420 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 1: in this game. De Anthony Melton driving blows outs and 421 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 1: cutting off of extra passes and stuff. They just have 422 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:05,679 Speaker 1: so much skill off the ball that they're gonna be 423 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 1: able to score. And then they most importantly, they have 424 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 1: two elite shot creators, but it goes beyond what they 425 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: do individually. Yes, James Harden and Joel and beat two superstars. 426 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:17,680 Speaker 1: That gives you the ability to create shots. But it's 427 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:21,200 Speaker 1: because they can create shots in both specific defensive environments 428 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:23,960 Speaker 1: that I'm so optimistic they can. If you're in a 429 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 1: traditional drop coverage, they can pick you to part a 430 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 1: pick to pieces with pick and roll, just straight up 431 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 1: James Harden with the ball and beat sets the screen, 432 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:37,159 Speaker 1: rolls down to the free throw line, pocket pass go 433 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 1: to work, help out of the weak side you're kicking 434 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: to shooters. They can play that way, but both of 435 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:44,960 Speaker 1: them can beat switches. So if it turns into a 436 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,440 Speaker 1: thing where all of a sudden you can't run drop 437 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:49,639 Speaker 1: coverage anymore, or you're going up against a team like 438 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:52,640 Speaker 1: the Rafters that has all these forwards and they start switching. 439 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:55,920 Speaker 1: James Harden is beating some of the best perimeter defenders 440 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,160 Speaker 1: in the league to the basket still to these days, 441 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 1: to this day, and Joel Embi has been just an 442 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 1: absolute monster in isolation all season long, and so they can. 443 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 1: They have a versatility of offensive approach. I think that 444 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:11,119 Speaker 1: makes them extremely dangerous. So I mean again, I still 445 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 1: have them comfortably third behind the Bucks and the Celtics 446 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,440 Speaker 1: in the conference, but I think as a group they 447 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:18,959 Speaker 1: are right there with them, and I absolutely think they 448 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:21,399 Speaker 1: have a chance to come out of the conference. All right, 449 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:23,359 Speaker 1: So we got our preview of the four five matchup 450 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:25,919 Speaker 1: between the Knicks and Calves last night. It was interesting 451 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:27,959 Speaker 1: because both teams were really red hot in this game. 452 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:30,040 Speaker 1: Donovan Mitchell came out red hot in the first quarter, 453 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 1: but then the Calves cool off and Jalen Brunson just 454 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 1: never cooled off. And it started in the first half 455 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:39,520 Speaker 1: with like this clinic of just short rains, little pump 456 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 1: fake pull up twos and pump fake floaters and pump 457 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:47,040 Speaker 1: fake hook shots in the lane. Everything was defended extremely well. 458 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:49,920 Speaker 1: Like the Cavs defended they lost him a couple times 459 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 1: in the second half on peel off switches where like 460 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:54,480 Speaker 1: they were hedging onto Jalen Brunson and then the hedging 461 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 1: defender would leave to go back to his man, but 462 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: the original on ball defender wouldn't get back into the 463 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:00,639 Speaker 1: play and Jalen would end up wide open. There were 464 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 1: a couple of defensive mistakes, but for the most part, 465 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 1: the Cavs defended Jalen Brunson extremely well, and he just 466 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:08,639 Speaker 1: made everything. And that goes back to what I've been 467 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,400 Speaker 1: talking about forever with the Knicks is if Jalen Brunson 468 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:14,679 Speaker 1: and Julius Randall do that, which is a superstar type 469 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 1: of behavior, the ability to knock down consistently tough shots 470 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:22,639 Speaker 1: against good defense, that raises their ceiling to a level 471 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 1: that I don't think a lot of people expected from 472 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 1: the Knicks. And by the way, this is not just 473 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 1: a one game sample size. Jalen Brunson is shooting fifty 474 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 1: two percent on floaters this year. There are six players 475 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:35,200 Speaker 1: that have taken two hundred floaters, Trey Young, Josh Kiddy, 476 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:38,400 Speaker 1: John Morant, Tias Jones and Trey Jones, and Jalen Brunson. 477 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 1: Jalen Brunson's fifty two percent is best in the league, 478 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:44,199 Speaker 1: so he is the best volume floaters shooter in the 479 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: league by far. Right now, he's also shooting forty nine 480 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:51,639 Speaker 1: percent on short jumpers inside of seventeen feet, which is 481 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:53,880 Speaker 1: obviously excellent. And then he's having a really good three 482 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:56,880 Speaker 1: point shooting season two forty two percent from three this year, 483 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:58,879 Speaker 1: about thirty eight and a half percent or so on 484 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 1: pull up three, so it's not flukey that he's shooting 485 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 1: as well as he has. And it was all the 486 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 1: short stuff early, but then there in the second half 487 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: it was the pull up threes, and it seemed like 488 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:09,640 Speaker 1: every single time the Calves started to make a run, 489 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:12,959 Speaker 1: Jalen Brunson was there to knock down a huge three 490 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:16,440 Speaker 1: to stem the tide. And again, it's gonna look very 491 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 1: different in the playoff series. I'll be really interested to 492 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:21,520 Speaker 1: see how the matchups work out, because not only I 493 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 1: mean the Calves were missing Jared Allen and Isaac a 494 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:28,080 Speaker 1: Cooro obviously, and Lamar Stevens ended up drawing that Jalen 495 00:23:28,119 --> 00:23:31,640 Speaker 1: Brunson matchup. To start, I liked Lamar Stevens better on 496 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 1: bigger forwards, and I like Isaac Accorro more on the 497 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 1: quicker guards, So obviously that's a slightly better matchup. But 498 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:39,199 Speaker 1: you're not gonna get any sympathy from the Nicks. They 499 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 1: didn't have Julius Randall, and that changes matchups a lot. 500 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: And like, I know, the easy answers like, oh, we're 501 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 1: gonna put Evan Mobley on Julius Randall, but in a 502 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:48,920 Speaker 1: physical playoff environment, I wonder if he might be a 503 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 1: little too thin there. That's gonna be an interesting matchup. 504 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:53,680 Speaker 1: I would love to see how Evan Mobley can hold 505 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 1: up against Julius Randall, because if he doesn't hold up 506 00:23:56,520 --> 00:23:58,440 Speaker 1: on Julius Randall, they're gonna have to go as someone 507 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:00,880 Speaker 1: like Lamar Stevens, and Lamar Stevens will have to guard 508 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:05,399 Speaker 1: Julius Randall, which will end up putting, you know, Jalen 509 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:07,360 Speaker 1: Brunson in a position where you have to guard him 510 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:09,199 Speaker 1: with one of the guards, and that's just gonna be 511 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: barbecue chicken at that point. So it's gonna be really 512 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:15,520 Speaker 1: interesting to see how the matchups shake out, and obviously 513 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: it's gonna look very different than it did in this 514 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 1: particular game. But one thing was apparent from this game, 515 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 1: even with Lamar Stevens on the ball, Jalen Brunson looked 516 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:26,240 Speaker 1: very comfortable getting to his spots and getting to the 517 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 1: shots that he likes to take. All Right, lastly, before 518 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:30,760 Speaker 1: we get out of her, Russ versus the Grizzlies. So 519 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 1: I had a bunch of people in the comments asking 520 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:34,720 Speaker 1: why didn't I talk about Russ in his thirty six 521 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 1: point game the other night. The short version is is 522 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: the the Grizzlies sat everybody like, yeah, John Morant played, Yeah, 523 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:48,640 Speaker 1: Xavier Tilman played. John Morant's trying to get back in shape, right, 524 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 1: Dylan Brooks played, But they sat Desmond Baine, and most importantly, 525 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 1: they sat Jaren Jackson Jr. Who has been arguably the 526 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:59,199 Speaker 1: best room protector in the NBA this year. And the 527 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:02,239 Speaker 1: thing with Jaron reason we've talked about this. I think 528 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 1: John Rand's a better player overall, and he represents the 529 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 1: Grizzlies ceiling, but I think Jaron Jackson's the most valuable 530 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:13,120 Speaker 1: player to the Grizzlies that he is the foundational piece 531 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:16,159 Speaker 1: to everything they do defensively. That's why the Grizzlies are 532 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:18,359 Speaker 1: better with him on the Like his on off numbers 533 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:20,880 Speaker 1: are better than anybody else on the team. Jaron Jackson's 534 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:24,399 Speaker 1: vitally important and so honestly, like it just wasn't a 535 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: game to really learn anything because you were just basically 536 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:32,640 Speaker 1: watching a shell of the Memphis Grizzlies go against the Clippers. 537 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:34,880 Speaker 1: Right that said, Russ did play really well, and we're 538 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:37,680 Speaker 1: gonna talk about how well Russ has played with the Clippers. 539 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:39,800 Speaker 1: I just didn't think it was worth covering as a 540 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,120 Speaker 1: result of all those guys missing. And here's the thing, 541 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:46,320 Speaker 1: Jaron Jackson came back last night, and suddenly Russ went 542 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:48,879 Speaker 1: from going for thirty six to scoring four points on 543 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 1: two for eight shooting. You know, because now you had 544 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 1: rim protection, real perimeter defense on the floor. It's just 545 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:57,240 Speaker 1: a whole other battle at that point. But like, let's 546 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 1: be clear, the Russ has been excellent with the Clippers 547 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 1: in the aggregate. He's done everything that they've needed him 548 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: to do. That thirty six the other night, that was 549 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:09,720 Speaker 1: kind of more just a vintage throwback moment. It was 550 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 1: a cool moment. There was that awesome photo coming from 551 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:15,040 Speaker 1: the rafters of him laying on the ground screaming. That 552 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:18,760 Speaker 1: was cool. He was red hot from three, was getting 553 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:21,400 Speaker 1: to the rim. That was an awesome game, just as 554 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 1: a moment for a basketball fan to remember what it 555 00:26:24,359 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 1: was like when Russ was at his peak. But that's 556 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 1: not what's going to happen with the Clippers. That's not 557 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 1: what they need from him, and it's just not reliable. 558 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:34,199 Speaker 1: I mean, as you saw in what happened in the 559 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 1: next game. What really is impressive to me about rust 560 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:38,920 Speaker 1: with this time and the Clipper with the Clippers is 561 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 1: just doing everything he did for the Lakers in a 562 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 1: system that makes more sense for him. Pushing the pace 563 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 1: to generate easy shots before the team can set their 564 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 1: half court defense, applying rim pressure. We've talked about this 565 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 1: a million times, but it generates so many positive residual 566 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:55,080 Speaker 1: effects for your team when you've got a guy that's 567 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:58,720 Speaker 1: consistently pressuring the rim point of attack defense, which is 568 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 1: something that he's actually been better at this year than 569 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:02,919 Speaker 1: he's been in recent seasons. I was talking to some 570 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:04,920 Speaker 1: Clipper fans the other day who said they actually think 571 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 1: he's their best card defender right now, which is a 572 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:10,879 Speaker 1: significant asset to have on the team, and his efficiency 573 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:13,440 Speaker 1: has ticked up in large part because he's actually surrounded 574 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:16,160 Speaker 1: by shooting. It actually makes sense for him to play 575 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 1: in a team with this style as opposed to what 576 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:21,239 Speaker 1: he did with the Lakers. For example, rushtot forty one 577 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 1: point seven percent with the Lakers this year, He's shooting 578 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 1: forty eight point two percent with the Clippers. Here's how 579 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:29,679 Speaker 1: crazy the fit is from the standpoint of efficiency with 580 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:33,199 Speaker 1: the spacing that the Clippers provide. If he keeps this 581 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 1: level of efficiency where he's at right now through the 582 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 1: end of the season, which was a decent chance, this 583 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:40,919 Speaker 1: will be the first time in Russell Westbrook's entire career 584 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:43,400 Speaker 1: that he has notched for a single team in one 585 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:47,720 Speaker 1: season an effective field goal percentage above fifty percent. That's 586 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:49,960 Speaker 1: how much of a natural fit this has been with 587 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 1: the Clippers. He is more efficient now than he has 588 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:56,359 Speaker 1: ever been. That's significant. But, like I mean, I'm not 589 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:59,359 Speaker 1: going to cover the Clippers super closely simply because without 590 00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 1: Paul George they have no ceiling. Without Paul George, they're 591 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 1: just like any of those other teams. In the play 592 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:06,919 Speaker 1: and other than the Lakers, who don't actually have the 593 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 1: talent necessary to get the job done. Kauhai is a 594 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:13,240 Speaker 1: player that I believe in. But the Clippers, we've learned 595 00:28:13,280 --> 00:28:15,360 Speaker 1: this season their lack of rim protection and their lack 596 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:17,639 Speaker 1: of perimeter speed. They've got a lot of wings, but 597 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:19,440 Speaker 1: they don't have a lot of speed on the perimeter. 598 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:22,640 Speaker 1: Has made them a little bit vulnerable to specific types 599 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:24,920 Speaker 1: of matchups, and they don't have the top end star 600 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 1: power to compensate for that without Paul George. Now, maybe 601 00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 1: Paul George comes back, and if he comes back in 602 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:32,280 Speaker 1: the first round of the playoffs and he looks like 603 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:35,040 Speaker 1: Paul George, we can reevaluate the Clippers at that point. 604 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:37,560 Speaker 1: But that knee injury looked pretty narrowly and him getting 605 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 1: reevaluated in three weeks doesn't bode well for him getting 606 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 1: back onto the floor anytime soon. So love us is 607 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 1: fit with the Clippers. I think he should stay there 608 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 1: into the future as well. I'm proud of us and 609 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:52,960 Speaker 1: happy for us that he's found this spot that's working 610 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 1: out well for him, But it doesn't change the calculus 611 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:58,360 Speaker 1: for the Clippers at all whatsoever. All Right, guys, That 612 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:00,200 Speaker 1: is all I have for tonight. We will be back 613 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 1: tomorrow night after the final buzzer of Warriors Nuggets. As always, 614 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 1: I appreciate you guys and I will see you back 615 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 1: the volume