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Void in Ontario one. 26 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 1: No sweat bet per new customer, issued as one bonus 27 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: bet based on amount of initial losing bet. Bonus bets 28 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: expire one hundred and sixty eight hours after issuance. See 29 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: dkang dot com slash promos for deposit wagering and eligibility restrictions, 30 00:01:47,360 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: terms and responsible gambling resources. All right, welcome to hoops tonight. 31 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: You're at the volume. Happy Thursday, everybody. Hope all of 32 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 1: you guys are having a great week. Well, just like 33 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: Boston and Denver gave us last time, we got another 34 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: incredible basketball game off the top. I just want to 35 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 1: shout out all the players or whatever they were dealing 36 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 1: with physically, forgiving it a go in this game. I 37 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: always appreciate it when the players know that we want 38 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: to see a great game, and obviously when they want 39 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 1: to compete when they see an opportunity to measure themselves 40 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: against the best in the league, and they play through 41 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 1: whatever little aches and pains they're dealing with. And we 42 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 1: just got another classic between Denver and Boston, clearly the 43 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 1: two best teams in the league in my opinion. We're 44 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: gonna break down the game from the perspective of both teams, 45 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 1: and then we'll get out of here for the night. 46 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: You guys are the joefore we get started. Subscribe to 47 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 1: a brand new YouTube channel. I mean a lot to 48 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: me if you guys would take a second to scroll 49 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: down and hit that subscribe button. Don't forget about our 50 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: podcast feed wherever you guys get your podcasts under Hoops tonight. 51 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:50,799 Speaker 1: It's also super helpful if you leave a rating and 52 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 1: a review on that front. Follow me on Twitter at 53 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: underscore JSNLTS. You guys, don't miss show announcements or the 54 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: film threads that I do from time to time. And then, 55 00:02:57,760 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 1: last but not least, keep dropping mail back questions and 56 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: those you to comments. We're gonna have a mail bag 57 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 1: in tomorrow's show. On Friday. All right, let's talk some basketball. 58 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:09,519 Speaker 1: So Nikola Jokich I got a bunch of crap. About 59 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 1: a week and a half ago when I said something 60 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:14,679 Speaker 1: that I truly believe. It was a mailbag question that 61 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 1: I got. Someone just asked like, Hey, how would you 62 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: rank the level Nikola Jokic is at relative to Kevin 63 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: Durant and Steph Curry and what they were at at 64 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: their peaks? And I said something I truly believe, which 65 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: is that I think Nicole Jokic is playing at a 66 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:31,520 Speaker 1: higher ceiling than either of those guys. I think his 67 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: ceiling is at a similar level on a trajectory that 68 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: what you've seen from the guys that are at the 69 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: very top of NBA history, guys like Lebron James and 70 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant in the light right. And 71 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: one of the big reasons behind that is like there 72 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 1: is an inevitability with NIKOLEA. Jokic. You know, down the 73 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: stretch of this game. We're gonna talk about the late 74 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: game execution here in a minute, but down the stretch 75 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 1: of his game, it was like there were a couple 76 00:03:56,720 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 1: of massive swings that went Boston's way, Like there was 77 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: that play where Nikola Jokic got fouled underneath the basket 78 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: or may or may not have gotten fouled. He certainly 79 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 1: thought he did complain and got a technical. Jalen Brown 80 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: makes a defensive play, runs out the other end, gets 81 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: an and one, and they get a technical. It's like 82 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: a six point swing and turns should have been like 83 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: a thirteen point lead down into a seven point lead 84 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: or whatever it was at that point if I remember correctly. 85 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: And then there was that sequence late where Jamal Murray 86 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: makes a couple of big mistakes, takes a bad pull 87 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 1: up jump shot early in the shot clock, and then 88 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: he dribbles too much against Jayleen Brown and gets ripped. 89 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: And on the other end, Drew Holliday, who had been 90 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 1: ice cold all night on his jump shot, takes and 91 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:37,160 Speaker 1: makes two pull up jump shots, and these swings are 92 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,119 Speaker 1: going in Boston's favor. But like, did anybody ever actually 93 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: feel like Denver wasn't gonna win that game? Did anybody 94 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: ever feel like when Nikole Jokic caught the ball on 95 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 1: the block or on the roll, regardless of whether or 96 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 1: not it was a single coverage situation or a help situation, 97 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: did you ever think that he wasn't gonna score? I 98 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 1: felt like it was inevitable. That's what it was like 99 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: for me watch the game, and I would imagine that 100 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 1: most of you guys would agree. When he was on 101 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: an island against Porzingis, it wasn't like maybe he'll make it, 102 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: maybe he won't. It's like he's going to make it. 103 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: And then every single time he drew the baseline helper, 104 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 1: Aaron Gordon is so big there on the baseline, he 105 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 1: just can hit that little pass to him underneath the 106 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: basket and he can finish. The one time Nikole Jokicic 107 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: missed a shot at the rim, he engaged the help 108 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,839 Speaker 1: defender in this case Jaylen Brown and Aaron Gordon. Because 109 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: he drew that second defender, Aaron Gordon is free and 110 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: clear underneath the basket to rise up for the second 111 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: of his two obscene dunks that he had in this game. 112 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 1: You know, like when I look at the other best 113 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 1: players in the world, it's like with a guy like 114 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: Steph Curry or Kevin Durank, just those two guys. For example, 115 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,599 Speaker 1: Kevin duran had a beautiful game the other night against Denver, 116 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: got a win. But how did he win the game? 117 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 1: He won the game by hitting a crazy difficult pull 118 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: up three off the dribble over a great Aaron Gordon contest, 119 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: a shot that he hits probably against that type of 120 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:03,039 Speaker 1: defender situation in the mid thirties, right, and then in 121 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: overtime hit a bunch of tough, contested pull up jump shots. 122 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 1: And KD is one of the best players in the 123 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 1: world and he's capable of making those shots, but there's 124 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 1: a variance element to it. Might go in, might not. 125 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:16,039 Speaker 1: And we've all seen environments where the other stars in 126 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: the league that can go cold, and like, meanwhile, Jokic 127 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 1: has a bad game against Phoenix, and it's like bizarre 128 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: because you just never see him have those types of 129 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:29,160 Speaker 1: moments because his go to moves around the basket are 130 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: shots that he makes seventy percent of the time. There 131 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: is very little variance there, and whatever covers you throw 132 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 1: to him in those situations, he will pick you apart. 133 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: There is a complete helplessness in that department that makes him, 134 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: in my opinion, by far, the best player in the world. 135 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 1: I like, literally, Boston's getting major swings down the stretch 136 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: on huge sequences and it just doesn't matter because they 137 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 1: could not get a stop, and they could not get 138 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:01,479 Speaker 1: a stop because nobody on the planet can do anything 139 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: with Nikola Jokic. You just have to pray he has 140 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: a weird game like he did against Phoenix, where he 141 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: doesn't want to shoot the basketball like it really is 142 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 1: to me, it's the most dominant stretch that I've seen 143 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: from an individual player since Lebron James in the twenty 144 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 1: twelve twenty thirteen stretch when he won those two titles 145 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: and won the Olympic gold medal. That like, that's that's 146 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: where that's the level nikole Yjokic is playing at right now. 147 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: Now he's got to close the deal, he's got to 148 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: go into this postseason and he's got to get that 149 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: second title in a row to demonstrate that dominance. But 150 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 1: in terms of just in a vacuum right now as 151 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 1: a player, what he's doing, he right now is playing 152 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: at that level and there's nobody there's there's nobody in 153 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 1: the league that can do anything with him. It was 154 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 1: it was absurd. Down the stretch of that game, you 155 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: just knew it was going in. Oh, he's at single cover. 156 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: J On Porzingis, He's going to score here. It's just 157 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: going to happen. Oh, like Jylen Brown stepped over on 158 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 1: the baseline like Aaron Gordon's gonna get a dunk here, 159 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 1: Like it's it's just going to happen. It's it is. 160 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 1: It is complete helpless basketball. And that's the That is 161 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: the by far the best regular season team in the 162 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: league in Boston, a team that has probably the best 163 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 1: accumulation of defensive personnel in the league outside of maybe Minnesota, 164 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: and they had no shot now getting into some of 165 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: the actual stuff that was happening during the game. Early 166 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: on in the game, Denver was having a lot of 167 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: success attacking Boston switching by slipping out of three man action. 168 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 1: So I've we've had a lot of opportunities to talk 169 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: about switching, but we haven't really had a chance to 170 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: kind of dive into some of the schematics of it, 171 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: because like there's multiple ways to attack switching, right, Like 172 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 1: one pigging on matchups, right, Like I want to get 173 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: this smaller defender on this bigger offensive player, and I 174 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 1: want to try to bully into the basket. I want 175 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:44,560 Speaker 1: to get this bigger defender who is slower onto my 176 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: small quick guard and I want to take him out 177 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 1: to the perimeter and I want to dust him off 178 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 1: the dribble right or the like. That's the matchup attacking 179 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 1: part of it right. Second part of it is rebounding right. Like, Okay, 180 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: I get a switch. I got a big guy underneath 181 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: the basket. I've now pulled their center out to the perimeter. 182 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:00,440 Speaker 1: All I got to do is get it shot up. 183 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 1: As long as it misses in the general vicinity of 184 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 1: the rim my guy's gonna get the offensive rebound. That's 185 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:06,959 Speaker 1: a way that you can attack switching right. But one 186 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 1: of the best ways to do it to get easy shots, 187 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 1: to get like shots within the flow of an offense, 188 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 1: is to slip out of screening actions, specifically three man 189 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:18,960 Speaker 1: actions because they're more confusing. So imagine a two man action. 190 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:22,079 Speaker 1: I'm running up the wing and I'm just doing a 191 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: dribble handoff to the guy coming out of the corner. 192 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:27,680 Speaker 1: The guy guarding on the corner, he's going to take 193 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,679 Speaker 1: me as I after I throw the dribble handoff and 194 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 1: I kind of run through, he's gonna guard me, and 195 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:34,719 Speaker 1: the guy that's guarding the ball handler's gonna switch on 196 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: to the guy who's getting the dribble handoff. There's some 197 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:38,839 Speaker 1: easier stuff there. You can still get slips out of there, 198 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: but only when the defenders are in poor position. As 199 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 1: long as they're in decent position, you can kind of 200 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: contain that. But as soon as a three man action 201 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 1: takes place, it gets way more convoluted. For the switching 202 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 1: defense at that point, there has to be so much 203 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 1: more communication and like you'll see, like you'll see like 204 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:59,319 Speaker 1: Michael Porter Junior kind of walk his man down to 205 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,439 Speaker 1: the block, like Jamal or like CACP and Nikole Jokic 206 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: will both like go down to set a pin down 207 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 1: screen and then you think Michael Porter Junior is gonna 208 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: come off, but then suddenly he slips back door and 209 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:11,839 Speaker 1: then CACP comes off, and then you'll like they'll just 210 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: do these like crazy interchanges in these three man screening actions, 211 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:20,319 Speaker 1: and they're designed to take advantage of the confusion that 212 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: arises when teams are trying to switch. And so Denver 213 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 1: had some success against Boston's defense early in this game, 214 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: capitalizing on the easy shots they could get with complicated 215 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: three man screening actions and slipping out of it. When 216 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: we got to the end of the game, it was 217 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: pretty straightforward. They were switching the Murray Jokis pick and 218 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 1: roll and then every single to every single possession. And again, 219 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: we talked about this a lot on this show, especially 220 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: the Celtics fans, Like we've been covering basically every Celtics 221 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:48,599 Speaker 1: game for the last for the last month or so, 222 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 1: and as we've been trying to kind of build out 223 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 1: our understanding of them heading into the postseason. And you know, 224 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: one of the things I talk about with Boston all 225 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:57,959 Speaker 1: the time is they kind of freelance a lot, and 226 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: they just kind of play, you know, the same style 227 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: of basketball at the end of the game that they 228 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 1: play during the middle portions of the game, right, like 229 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:08,679 Speaker 1: you like, for instance, Djew Holliday got three jump shots 230 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: down the stretch of this game, missed one badly, and 231 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 1: then made the last two right and they ended up 232 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:15,559 Speaker 1: being huge shots in the game. But like, do you 233 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: think Denver is running offense to get Contavious Calwell Pope 234 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 1: shots at the end of the game. No, Like if 235 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: the ball ends up in Casep's hands, because that's just 236 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 1: the way the play developed, as they ran in a 237 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:28,439 Speaker 1: two man action or something to try to get to 238 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: their sweet spots and it ends up in Casey P's hands. Fine, 239 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: But like Boston just kind of plays freelance basketball regardless 240 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: of the situation. To win in crunch time, it is 241 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: an extremely diligent process on both sides of the floor. 242 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:45,559 Speaker 1: On the offensive end, it is about being relentless about 243 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:50,600 Speaker 1: hunting down the best possible shot, not just a shot 244 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: you'd be cool with in the flow of the offense. 245 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,679 Speaker 1: Like Peyton Watson made some really nice jump shots in 246 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: this game. He made a kind of a pull up 247 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 1: jump shot. Wonder will pull up off of a close 248 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 1: out on the left wing, hit like a turnaround jump 249 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 1: shot over his left shoulder. If he was closing the game, 250 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: there's no way in hell he's getting that shot. For Denver, 251 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: they are going to make sure they get him into 252 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:13,720 Speaker 1: a position where he's a threat. Usually, if he's closing 253 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:15,839 Speaker 1: in that situation, he's gonna be cutting in some sort 254 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:18,200 Speaker 1: of situation where his athleticism is a factor right now. 255 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:19,719 Speaker 1: Obviously he wasn't playing at the end of this game. 256 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 1: But my point is is there's a difference in the 257 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: offense that Denver runs in the flow of the game 258 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: versus what they do in crunch time. In crunch time, 259 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 1: it is Jokis Murray two man game, and if Jokich 260 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: is getting a favorable matchup, he is going to get 261 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:36,959 Speaker 1: the ball every single time in that situation. He is 262 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:39,679 Speaker 1: going to rumble stumble his way to the basket for 263 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: a shot that he's gonna make seventy percent of the time, 264 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: or if you help off of him, he's going to 265 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 1: hit Aaron Gordon underneath the basket or a high level 266 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: shooter for an easy catch and shoot three. On the 267 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 1: weak side, They're extremely diligent about getting the right shot. Again. 268 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:54,199 Speaker 1: I talked about it earlier in the show, but like 269 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: every single time Boston got this close, Denver just got 270 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: two points again in a way that Boston was completely 271 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 1: helpless to stop. Now I have some ideas for what 272 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: Boston could potentially adjust to do to try to make 273 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 1: it a little bit more difficult, and we'll talk about 274 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:11,719 Speaker 1: that here in a minute. But that gap in late 275 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 1: game execution just just jumps off the screen. Again. Boston 276 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 1: just still doesn't quite know what they want to do 277 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: at the end of these games. And like they like 278 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 1: if the pick and pop three is falling, which is 279 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: like one of the most common shots that you'll see 280 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 1: Boston get either through a porzingis ball screen and pop 281 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: or you know, a ghost screen from one of their guards. 282 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:34,719 Speaker 1: If the pick and pop threes are falling great. You know, 283 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 1: Sam and Gundy after the game went on this rant 284 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:38,320 Speaker 1: about how like, oh, if I'm Boston, I feel good 285 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 1: about this game. We shot poorly. Here's the thing. You 286 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: shot poorly against Denver. This time. You shot poorly when 287 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: you blew the lead against Cleveland for nine straight minutes 288 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 1: to end the game. You missed every single jump shot 289 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:50,720 Speaker 1: you took. You shot poorly when you lost to Denver. 290 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:52,719 Speaker 1: The last time, you shot poorly when you lost to 291 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 1: the Lakers at home. You shot poorly when you lost 292 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:56,559 Speaker 1: to the Clippers at home. You shot poorly when you 293 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:59,839 Speaker 1: lost to the Bucks. All of their losses look like this, 294 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 1: and specifically it tends to happen against higher level competition 295 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: when the physicality ratchets up a level. You know. And 296 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: there's some real positives from Boston in this game, and 297 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 1: some stuff that makes me even feel even more confident 298 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:18,079 Speaker 1: about their chances in a series against Denver. But the 299 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: reason why Denver is the safer bet, the reason why, 300 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 1: in my opinion, Denver's been sitting there is the best 301 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: NBA Finals bet this year. They're getting like plus four 302 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: fifty odds or whatever to win the title as a team, 303 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: in my opinion, that's like got roughly a coin flip 304 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 1: chance of winning it, and if they're healthy, I'd be 305 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: surprised if they did it. And the reason why is 306 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 1: because they do in those situations always get the best 307 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 1: available shot. They do know exactly what they want to do, 308 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: and then on the other end of the floor they 309 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 1: can defend. They did a great job on Jason Tatum 310 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: in this game. Aaron Gordon got cooked by Jaylen Brown. 311 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 1: That's something we're going to talk about in a minute. 312 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: Even those last two jumpers that chrisops Porzingis took, the 313 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: one off the dribble, Jokic got a great contest on 314 00:14:57,680 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: the one above the break on the left wing. Kic 315 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 1: got a great contest on They're all guarding too. That 316 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 1: used to be the rub on this team was you 317 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: can score on them, and now it's like just they're 318 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: every bit as good as the other great defenses at 319 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 1: the top of the league. Like they may not have 320 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: the crazy stifling level that you can see in Minnesota 321 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: get to, but they can get relatively close to that. 322 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: And when you combine that with that slowdown half court execution. 323 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: It just feels inevitable. They did a really good job 324 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: forcing turnovers in this game and getting out and scoring 325 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 1: on him. They scored sixteen points on twelve Boston turnovers, 326 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 1: some really critical pick sixes. KCP in particular, were super 327 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 1: active in those passing lanes. They outscored Boston nineteen to 328 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: eleven in fast break points. Aaron Gordon got, like I said, 329 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 1: kind of cooked by Jaylen Brown, which again we're gonna 330 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: talk about here in a minute, but I thought that 331 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: he was magnificent along the baseline, that element of him 332 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 1: being able to just it's really simple because the pass 333 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 1: is always coming on time and on target. He just 334 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: sits there in the dunker spot and it's not even 335 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 1: about the pass. He waits until whoever's guarding him commits, 336 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 1: and then as soon as he commits, he just basically 337 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: gets into his one to two and jumps and then 338 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 1: from there it's like, if it's a miss, he's dunking it. 339 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: If it's a lot, he's dunking it. You know. Uh. 340 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 1: By producer Paul, we were talking about this before the show, 341 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 1: that last little hook shot that it looked like Jokic 342 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 1: shot and then Aaron Gordon dunked it. There was a 343 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 1: similar one against the Lakers. What was that last week 344 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: on Saturday? And we were talking before the show, like, 345 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: did do you think that's on purpose? And you know, 346 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 1: I honestly don't know, And I hope I'm gonna I'm 347 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: doing a show with Adam Mars tomorrow's, I'm gonna ask 348 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: him about it. But like, I hope that maybe at 349 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: some point a Denver reporter will ask him about it too. 350 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 1: But like, I wouldn't be surprised if Jokic literally talks 351 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 1: to Gordon and goes like, hey man, when I shoot 352 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 1: a hook shot, if your defender comes over to help 353 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: on the hook shot, just intercept the hook shot and 354 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 1: dunk it, like, just go for it. Just treat it 355 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: like a pass. I wouldn't be surprised if that's a 356 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 1: conversation that they've had, because again, like, do you think 357 00:16:57,800 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 1: Jokic gives a damn No, He just wants the point. 358 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: He just wants the points on the scoreboard, and that 359 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:05,640 Speaker 1: that is such a vitally important part of this. Like again, 360 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:08,400 Speaker 1: you know people, you know, one of my buddies, Anthony 361 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 1: Irwin kind of went commented underneath my tweet. I had 362 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 1: a tweet after the game where I talked about how 363 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 1: I think Nikole Jokis is at the highest level that 364 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:19,119 Speaker 1: I've seen a player be at since Lebron James in 365 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 1: twenty thirteen in terms of his how much he is 366 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 1: ahead of the rest of the league. And Anthony goes, yeah, well, 367 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 1: like that's true, but also he's surrounded by like this 368 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:31,000 Speaker 1: perfectly fitting starting five, And I want to be clear, like, 369 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: like I obviously that's the case, and Denver has done 370 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:39,639 Speaker 1: an immaculate job constructing a roster around Nikole jokicch but 371 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: you need to have a good basketball team to win. 372 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 1: There's nobody out there that's just winning with garbage. That's 373 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:49,360 Speaker 1: just not a thing. So to me, like that's a prerequisite, 374 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:51,679 Speaker 1: like that, like we're not even talking about a serious 375 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 1: basketball team if they don't have talent around their star. 376 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: And the difference between what Denver has and what a 377 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:00,479 Speaker 1: lot of other teams have is instead of like multiple 378 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 1: stars and star power, they have guys that are stars 379 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 1: in their roles. And then Jamal Murray, like I think 380 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,440 Speaker 1: he's a star at a specific skill, which is like 381 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: he just is an outstanding shot maker, and he's actually 382 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:12,680 Speaker 1: become a much better passer over the years as well. 383 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 1: And he finds a way to make defensive plays to 384 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,600 Speaker 1: get a strip on Christops Porzingis in a post up tonight, 385 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 1: and he can find a way to kind of make 386 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,399 Speaker 1: some plays there. But like everyone is just perfect in 387 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:24,879 Speaker 1: their role. And that's the thing. Like Nikole Jokich is 388 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:27,399 Speaker 1: the guy that operates further away from the basket off 389 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 1: the dribble, whether he's catching on the role in the 390 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 1: short role or he's posting up and he's rumbling and 391 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: stumbling to the basket, like we talked about all the 392 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 1: dribble handoff actions. He runs on the perimeter. So that 393 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 1: opens up the baseline because Nikole Jokic is not actually 394 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,680 Speaker 1: operating along the baseline that often. And so Aaron Gordon's 395 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: role on the team is to clean stuff up along 396 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 1: the baseline. And is he awesome at that? Sure he is, 397 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 1: But like again, that to me is not something that 398 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:55,160 Speaker 1: takes away from Nikole Jokic. Like every basketball team that's 399 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 1: accomplished anything in NBA history is awesome. Right, Like even 400 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:02,440 Speaker 1: if we go back and look at like like the 401 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen Calves that beat the Golden State Warriors. It's 402 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: like Kyrie Irving was the Jamal Murray for that particular team. 403 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 1: It's just this all time great shot maker j R. 404 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: Smith guarded extremely well on that series and was an 405 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,920 Speaker 1: outstanding shooter. He was kind of like the KCP for 406 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 1: that particular team. Right, Like Tristan Thompson was a dude 407 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 1: that did a ton of damage on the offensive glass 408 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 1: and could guard in multiple different coverages. Right, Kevin Love 409 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:26,920 Speaker 1: was the guy that could dominate on the rebounds and 410 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:30,239 Speaker 1: spot up in space the floor. Like, every team has 411 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: to have these roles filled. And I just think Aaron Gordon, Look, 412 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: is he perfectly crafted for that role. Yeah, but your 413 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 1: value to a basketball team only matters within the scope 414 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:42,880 Speaker 1: of your basketball team, and Aaron Gordon is immensely valuable 415 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:45,440 Speaker 1: to Denver because of his vertical spacing. There were two 416 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:49,639 Speaker 1: plays tonight. The lob pass from Jamal Murray it was 417 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:51,959 Speaker 1: way too high. As I'm watching, I'm like, oh, that's 418 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: too high. Just somehow grabbed it and dunked it behind 419 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 1: his head. It was absurd. And then that one and 420 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 1: Nicole Jokic spin along the baseline where he drew Jalen 421 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: Brown in help, but he missed it over the front 422 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: of the rim and he just caught it from down here, 423 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: just jackhammered it over the top of his head. Just 424 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 1: an unbelievable air in Gordon. Game did get cooked by 425 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:10,399 Speaker 1: Jaalen Brown. That's something he's gonna have to figure out. 426 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 1: But we'll talk about that in a minute. Peyton Watson 427 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:16,440 Speaker 1: just an absolute athletic wrecking ball in this game. I 428 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:20,879 Speaker 1: had a mailbag question earlier this week from someone asking, like, 429 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 1: what is it gonna take for Peyton Watson to become 430 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:25,720 Speaker 1: a guy that could be like, you know, a future, 431 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: you know, a staple in this Denver franchise, just in 432 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:30,880 Speaker 1: the long run, right, And like there are little things 433 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 1: that he has to get better at. Right, Like he 434 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 1: was hitting his jump shot tonight hit a huge three 435 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:37,680 Speaker 1: in the second half and hit three mid range jump 436 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:40,119 Speaker 1: shots if I remember correctly, But he struggled to make 437 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:42,440 Speaker 1: jump shots against Phoenix. That was an issue, right, And 438 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:45,359 Speaker 1: so like there's consistency on that front that he's gonna 439 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 1: have to work out. There was a possession in the 440 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:50,120 Speaker 1: first half where the Nuggets had a pick and roll 441 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:53,240 Speaker 1: completely under control two on two and he was guarding 442 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:55,200 Speaker 1: Sam Hauser as one of Boston's best shooters in the 443 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:56,959 Speaker 1: right corner, and he was just sinking way too far 444 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 1: in the lane for no reason, and he got beat 445 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:01,120 Speaker 1: on a skip pass and he in Sam Houser knocked 446 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 1: down the shot. But like, those are little things that 447 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 1: he has to get better at in the long run, 448 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: but he's already so good in some specific areas. And 449 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: again we talk about this all the time on the show, 450 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 1: but like high motor athletes, high motor athletes alongside stars 451 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:17,680 Speaker 1: are so incredibly valuable because they don't need to be 452 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 1: great at all of these really intricate skill things. They're 453 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 1: just human wrecking balls. And that's what Peyton Watson was 454 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 1: in this game. He was a human wrecking ball. He 455 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 1: did a really good job on the ball on Jason 456 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:31,080 Speaker 1: Tatum and individual defense, flying around and help blocking shots, 457 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: hit timely jumpers. Just a monster performance from Peyton Watson, 458 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:37,440 Speaker 1: and he just flat out does look like a guy 459 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 1: that is gonna be a foundational piece of this roster 460 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 1: in the long run. And then Jamal Murray, you know, 461 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 1: this was actually, in my opinion, an interesting example of 462 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 1: the type of ebb and flow that you can experience 463 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 1: from a Jamal Murray against a really good defensive team 464 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 1: like Boston. But I still thought he played a good game. Again, 465 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:56,320 Speaker 1: some struggles right, took some bad shots late, had some 466 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:58,520 Speaker 1: bad turnovers. Then he had five turnovers in the game. 467 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 1: Only shot seven for eighteen, but most of those seven 468 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 1: shots were timely, some big ones during the stretches when 469 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 1: Nikole Jokic was off the floor, some big ones to 470 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:11,359 Speaker 1: stop runs into bolster leads. Had eight assists in this game. 471 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 1: To me, if that's Jamal Murray's floor in this type 472 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: of series, Like, here's the thing. Jamal Murray flat out 473 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 1: out played Jason Tatum tonight and this was a bad 474 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 1: Jamal Murray game. That's a super encouraging thing for Denver 475 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:27,160 Speaker 1: in the big picture. Awesome, awesome performance from Denver again. 476 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: Even in that Phoenix game, they ran into a red 477 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 1: hot Kevin Durant in the down the stretch after he 478 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:35,159 Speaker 1: made that shot to tie it at one twelve. But 479 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 1: they looked magnificent in that game from the middle of 480 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:40,159 Speaker 1: the third quarter on as they just methodically worked their 481 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:43,120 Speaker 1: way back in, had this beautiful twelve zero run late 482 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 1: that should have won the game. Just Kevin Durant' Kevin 483 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:47,919 Speaker 1: Durant and Kevin Durant. Kevin duranted them, and they ended 484 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:50,480 Speaker 1: up losing as they went into ot right on the 485 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 1: Boston side of things, a couple of things. You know, 486 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 1: like a lot of times in matchups like this, you 487 00:22:56,960 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 1: find out things that work and find out things that 488 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:04,479 Speaker 1: don't right, Like defensively, they're just completely you know, screwed 489 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:06,120 Speaker 1: on the Yokich thing, which we're going to talk about 490 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:08,159 Speaker 1: here in a minute. But like there's some stuff that 491 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 1: did pop in a really positive way. Like Jalen Brown 492 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:14,880 Speaker 1: just barbecued Aaron Gordon at the start of the game. 493 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:16,720 Speaker 1: This is one of my favorite Jalen Brown games that 494 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 1: I've ever seen. He came out with a physical aggression 495 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: in this game that set a tone and was the 496 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 1: only reason this game was close after they got such 497 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: a like another you know, kind of ineffective Jason Tatum performance. 498 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum five for thirteen in this game. He was 499 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 1: nine for twenty four the first time they played. He 500 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 1: had five turnovers in this game, including some really bad 501 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:38,200 Speaker 1: ones that led to pick sixes going the other way. 502 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:42,640 Speaker 1: Like Tatum's got some issues and watching the physical aggression juxtaposition, 503 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 1: like Jalen Brown was going through Aaron Gordon to the rim, 504 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:49,960 Speaker 1: like through him, and Aaron Gordon is a big dude, 505 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 1: but he was just beating him with lower angles, like 506 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:55,119 Speaker 1: getting lower to the ground, getting his shoulder down, getting 507 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:59,119 Speaker 1: around him. Even in opportunities where Aaron Gordon did actually 508 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 1: chest him up, he was bringing the force and going 509 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:05,639 Speaker 1: through him to the basket. He was super active on 510 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 1: the glass, specifically on the offensive glass. Like you know, 511 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:11,359 Speaker 1: there's this thing that happens with young basketball players. Now, 512 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:14,600 Speaker 1: Jalen Brown's much further along in his process, but obviously 513 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:16,480 Speaker 1: I coach in high school and I spend a lot 514 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:19,440 Speaker 1: of time working with basketball players here in town, and 515 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:22,240 Speaker 1: there's always this moment with a young player in his 516 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 1: development where he finds out what his superpower is, like 517 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:28,920 Speaker 1: the thing that he does better than most people, whether 518 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: it's shooting, whether it's passing, whether it's ball handling, whether 519 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:34,959 Speaker 1: it's athleticism, whether it's strength, whether it's what like defense. 520 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:38,719 Speaker 1: There's a kid that was on my varsity team last year, 521 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:40,560 Speaker 1: a kid that worked really hard on skill development but 522 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 1: couldn't really get to that level, but he was just 523 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,160 Speaker 1: an outstanding on ball defender and he just leaned into 524 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 1: that and it was his way of kind of staying 525 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:50,760 Speaker 1: involved within the team, right And like that is that 526 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 1: is to me, such an important part of a basketball 527 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:55,560 Speaker 1: player's development. And like, Jalen Brown has demonstrated a ton 528 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 1: of skill over his time in the league. He's been 529 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:00,440 Speaker 1: like the best fadeaway jump shooter in the league this year. 530 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:02,680 Speaker 1: He's a guy that can get red hot from the 531 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 1: three point line as well. He's got great footwork, He's 532 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 1: got all of these really cool things that he can 533 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:10,440 Speaker 1: do from his skill perspective. But his superpower is he's 534 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:12,919 Speaker 1: one of the best athletes in the league. He's one 535 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 1: of the best athletes in the league, and dudes can't 536 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:19,560 Speaker 1: hang with him when he really engages himself in that area. 537 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:21,520 Speaker 1: And this is, by the way, for people who haven't 538 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 1: been watching Boston very closely, Jalen Brown's been playing at 539 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 1: this level. Maybe not forty whatever points that he had, 540 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:29,280 Speaker 1: but he's been playing at one of the highest levels 541 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 1: of his career now for about a month even longer. Like, 542 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 1: he's been incredible at the point of attack defensively. That 543 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 1: last possession that he did to Jamal Murray where he 544 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:39,680 Speaker 1: ripped him and went the other way. He's been doing 545 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:43,800 Speaker 1: that to people for weeks now, like the downhill aggression 546 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:46,360 Speaker 1: towards He's kind of developed this little left handed hook 547 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 1: in the lane that he goes to. He hit two 548 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:49,879 Speaker 1: of them again tonight. That's something he's been going to 549 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:53,160 Speaker 1: for a few weeks now. He's not fading as much 550 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 1: in the post. He's going aggressively towards the basket. Like 551 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:58,960 Speaker 1: I've talked a lot about how Boston needs to generate 552 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:01,880 Speaker 1: more points in the pain, Jalen Brown is the pathway 553 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 1: there in so many different ways, and I just thought 554 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: he was unbelievably good in this game. And then the 555 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:10,439 Speaker 1: other major positive for Boston, something that translates to a series, 556 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:13,400 Speaker 1: was Chris hops Porzingis. He was killing him with above 557 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:14,959 Speaker 1: the break. I didn't even think he shot as well 558 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:16,399 Speaker 1: as he could have, but he made I think it 559 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:17,879 Speaker 1: was three for ten from three, but he made some 560 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:20,760 Speaker 1: big threes from above the break and then beating switches. 561 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 1: Whenever Denver did end up with KCP or Jamal Murray 562 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 1: on him, he was able to turn and face and 563 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: hit some shots there in the mid range to do 564 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 1: some damage like that is something that that is something 565 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:33,639 Speaker 1: that I think can translate as an advantage to a 566 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 1: Boston Denver series. The question is, how do you combine 567 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:39,920 Speaker 1: that with getting Jason Tatum going and again, like, this 568 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:44,119 Speaker 1: is the thing. Jalen Brown had possessions where Aaron Gordon 569 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:46,639 Speaker 1: was in front of him and there were guys digging 570 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 1: down and he just was like, screw it, I'm going 571 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:52,359 Speaker 1: through all these guys. And he's so damn good athletically 572 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 1: he was able to get there. Tatum is that kind 573 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 1: of athlete. He is, and like Tatum has this tendency 574 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 1: when he sees the defenders squared up with him and 575 00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 1: he sees guys kind of digging down into driving lanes, 576 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:06,119 Speaker 1: He's like, ah, man, it's not there. Gonna take a 577 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:09,440 Speaker 1: pull up jump shot right or gonna pass the basketball, 578 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 1: not look to be aggressive. That's the kind of thing 579 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:13,520 Speaker 1: I'd like to see from Tatum. I want to see 580 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:16,159 Speaker 1: Tatum be like I am going through everybody here. It's 581 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:18,000 Speaker 1: gonna get ugly. You don't think Jalen Brown has some 582 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:20,879 Speaker 1: bad turnovers. Jalen Brown gets roasted for turnovers all the time. 583 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:22,520 Speaker 1: He gets roasted for not being able to dribble with 584 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:24,960 Speaker 1: his left hand. He gets all this shit but guess what, 585 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 1: Like he'll have games like this where he just goes 586 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:29,879 Speaker 1: through everybody. That's the thing for Jason Tatum, like it 587 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:33,880 Speaker 1: has to be for him a willingness to barrel into 588 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:36,720 Speaker 1: traffic and make some mistakes sometimes. And the thing is 589 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:38,960 Speaker 1: is more often than not, there's more good than bad 590 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 1: that comes from that. You barrel into the lane and 591 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 1: you throw up some bs layup that misses, but you 592 00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 1: draw three defenders in. There's people there to clean up 593 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 1: the mess, especially if Jalen Brown is doing that. If 594 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 1: they can get both of those two, Jalen Brown and 595 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:55,840 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum to play with the level of physical aggression 596 00:27:55,920 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 1: that Jalen Brown played with tonight. No one's beating these 597 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 1: guys because they're so damn talented. Like like Denver, Denver's 598 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:09,159 Speaker 1: gap over this team is an execution in Jokic. Boston 599 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:11,960 Speaker 1: is more talented. They are capable of winning this matchup. 600 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:16,360 Speaker 1: But I, unlike stan Van Gundy, I don't think it's 601 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,520 Speaker 1: gonna be because they just shoot threes really well for 602 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:20,960 Speaker 1: an entire series. I think it's gonna be because they 603 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:25,040 Speaker 1: meet force with force with Denver, and they have all 604 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:28,240 Speaker 1: sorts of advantages on the floor in this series, and 605 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 1: so I want to see them capitalize that more. And 606 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:32,360 Speaker 1: I think I think Tata I don't. I don't think 607 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:34,440 Speaker 1: it was a decision making problem for Tatum tonight. I 608 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 1: thought it was a passivity problem. It was a physical 609 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 1: passivity problem. Now, one last thing I wanted to hit 610 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 1: on Boston before we get out of here. The problem 611 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:45,760 Speaker 1: with Nicole Jokic in the post so porzingis can't guardim, 612 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:47,840 Speaker 1: Horford can't guard him, none of their guards can guard him. 613 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,960 Speaker 1: Single coverage is it's just over Like Jokic is scoring 614 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 1: every single time. You cannot bring baseline help while not 615 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:57,720 Speaker 1: occupying Aaron Gordon. If you do that, you're gonna run 616 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:01,240 Speaker 1: into issues with Aaron Gordon dunking every single thing around 617 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:03,200 Speaker 1: the rim. This is where I would like to see 618 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:06,080 Speaker 1: Boston play into variants for Denver the same way that 619 00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:08,800 Speaker 1: Denver plays into variants for Boston. So, for instance, like 620 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:11,719 Speaker 1: you know, Jason Tatum got a wide open and right 621 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 1: corner three at the end of this game and just 622 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:16,959 Speaker 1: missed it, which, by the way, even if you're one 623 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 1: of the best corner three point shooters in the world, 624 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:20,920 Speaker 1: you're gonna miss bout half of them. Right, Like, there's 625 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 1: real variance on that shot, and that's the thing is 626 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: like play into that variance with Denver when you I 627 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:30,240 Speaker 1: would double Yokich and make sure it's KCP or MPJ 628 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:32,440 Speaker 1: that's being left open. Yes, those guys are gonna make 629 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:35,280 Speaker 1: shots sometimes it's a suicide mission. That's why Denver's the 630 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:38,320 Speaker 1: best team in the world. But wouldn't you rather have 631 00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:41,680 Speaker 1: a shot that they might miss half the time than 632 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:43,840 Speaker 1: a shot that they're going to make every single time 633 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:45,760 Speaker 1: Like that, That to me is the trade off, Like 634 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 1: you gotta take away the bully ball stuff and force 635 00:29:50,080 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 1: them to make jump shots and hope that they'll be tired. Like, 636 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:57,239 Speaker 1: guess what, KCP missed a wide open corner three at 637 00:29:57,240 --> 00:29:59,160 Speaker 1: the end of this game. It was great offense if 638 00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:01,440 Speaker 1: I remember correctly. It was a all screen Yolkic caught 639 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:03,400 Speaker 1: in the middle of the floor, drew the extra defender 640 00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 1: and kicked the bad It was beautiful Denver offense. But 641 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:09,520 Speaker 1: there is variance on that shot. He might miss it, 642 00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:13,760 Speaker 1: and he did. Just like Boston can go go cold, 643 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:16,880 Speaker 1: Denver can go cold, and so again, Like from a 644 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 1: strategy standpoint, I think that was the biggest mistake they made. 645 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 1: Down the stretch of the game, they let Aaron Gordon 646 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:25,800 Speaker 1: into Coole Yokic take all the shots. That's where they've 647 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 1: got to get them out of that rhythm. They've got 648 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:30,240 Speaker 1: a double team Jokic either do a windshield wipe or 649 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:33,000 Speaker 1: rotation where they get inside position on Gordon from the 650 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 1: corner to seal him out so that whoever that baseline 651 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 1: guy is can help Jokic but force a skip pass, 652 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:40,640 Speaker 1: or they need to bring the double team from the 653 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:44,280 Speaker 1: front side and like like from whoever it is that's 654 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 1: on the wing or whatever it is on the weekside, 655 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:47,960 Speaker 1: bring that double team from the front side, so that 656 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:50,440 Speaker 1: just something to make it into a jump shot. They've 657 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:52,320 Speaker 1: got to force Denver to make jump shots at the 658 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:54,960 Speaker 1: end of the game because they will make everything around 659 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 1: the rim. That that would be the one big tactical 660 00:30:57,440 --> 00:31:01,000 Speaker 1: adjustment I looked at from the defensive possessions down the 661 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:04,120 Speaker 1: stretch against uh that post up and pick and roll 662 00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:07,040 Speaker 1: attack from Denver. All right, so we're gonna we're gonna 663 00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: call it a night for right now. We're gonna be 664 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:10,440 Speaker 1: back tomorrow. We're gonna break down Denver, my excuse me, 665 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:12,160 Speaker 1: Dallas Miami and a couple of other games, and then 666 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 1: we're gonna do mailbags. Make sure you guys drop some 667 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:16,000 Speaker 1: mail back questions. But that's it for tonight. As always, 668 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:18,000 Speaker 1: as sincerely appreciate you guys, I will see you tomorrow. 669 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:50,480 Speaker 1: The volume