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In Tennessee redline dial 26 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: one eight hundred eight eight nine nine seven eight nine 27 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 1: in Tennessee visit www one eight dot one eight hundred 28 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: gambler dot net in West Virginia. All right, welcome to 29 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 1: Hoops Tonight, presented by Fandel here at the volume. I 30 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 1: am Jason Timp Happy Thursday, everybody. Hope all of you 31 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: are having a good week. So far. We had two 32 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: amazing Game six is that we are going to get 33 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: into tonight. The Sun's behind a fourteen for fourteen from 34 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 1: the field performance from Chris Paul, go into the go 35 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:11,359 Speaker 1: into New Orleans and close out the Pelicans, and then 36 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 1: the Sixers shut everybody up by going up into Toronto 37 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 1: and killing them on their home floor to close out 38 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: the Raptors. We're gonna get into both of those games 39 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 1: as well. As looking forward for all four of those teams, 40 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: the Raptors and the Pelicans going into this off season 41 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: and what they should be addressing, as well as the 42 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 1: Sons and the Sixers going into the second round and 43 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: what they're gonna be facing looking forward in this playoff run. 44 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: But let's start with the Raptors Sixers games. So I 45 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: picked the Raptors in six and I was very wrong 46 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 1: about that. Um, I think you know, the specific things 47 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: that I was looking at as reasons why Toronto would 48 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 1: have a chance to win, We're not incorrect in a vacuum, like, 49 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: for instance, like I do believe Nick Nurse is a 50 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: better coach than Doc Rivers. I do think that Toronto 51 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: is the were athletic team, and had the series taken 52 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: a certain tone, that they could have had more success 53 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: there where I was very wrong. And the reason why 54 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: I think my prediction went so hot the Rails was 55 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 1: Toronto's inability to score in the half court ended up 56 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: directly affecting their defensive end of the floor and their 57 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: ability to disrupt Harden and their ability to disrupt Joel 58 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 1: and beat. Obviously, Toronto over the course of the last 59 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: you know, half decade has loaded up on wings and 60 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 1: they have a ton of athleticism, a ton of size, 61 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 1: and there's a great deal of value in that. But 62 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: one of the downsides there is almost all of those 63 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: wings as they came into Toronto weren't very polished offensively. 64 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 1: Now their player development has been excellent and they've turned 65 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 1: all of those wings into good enough offensive players to 66 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: be a very good team. But there's another level to 67 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: them being able to create on offense that is missing, 68 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: and that ended up being what was the killing blow 69 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: for Toronto in this series. That couldn't score when they 70 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: were in the half court, and as a result, more 71 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: often than not, Philly was attacking their defense when it 72 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: wasn't set, and so as a result, they weren't as 73 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: polished and you know, tight with their rotations, and Philly 74 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: was getting great shots. The shot quality throughout the whole 75 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: series for Philly was better. You know. I had a 76 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: I have a coach here in Tucson high school coach 77 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,840 Speaker 1: that I coached with, and he played a Division one 78 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:27,719 Speaker 1: basketball here in the US and then he went overseas 79 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 1: I believed to Italy for like seven or eight years 80 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 1: to play professionally. Very very smart basketball mind, very good 81 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,919 Speaker 1: guard is six three kind of power guard. And you know, 82 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: he used to say to me when we were talking 83 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: about our players on our team, you'd say, there are 84 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 1: shooters and there are makers, and it's a It was 85 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:48,599 Speaker 1: an interesting concept that I had never really heard before 86 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 1: in all my years playing basketball. But it's it's it's 87 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:55,159 Speaker 1: you know, it's just semantics, it's just a phrase. But 88 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 1: to me, it captures the difference between a person who 89 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 1: is like unbelievably confident in their ability to shoot versus 90 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 1: a person who can shoot. And when you start looking 91 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: at the Toronto roster, you have Gary Trent Jr. And 92 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 1: Fred VanVleet, or what I would call makers. They are 93 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:17,720 Speaker 1: guys that like, if you consistently leave them open, even 94 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 1: if they miss a handful of shots over the course 95 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:22,919 Speaker 1: of any sort of significant volume, they're gonna make you 96 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: pay for leaving their them open. They are capable of 97 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:30,359 Speaker 1: knocking down shots, but they're also unbelievably confident in their shot. 98 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 1: Whereas you'll see everyone else in the roster, all those 99 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:36,160 Speaker 1: guys like Pascal Siakim and Scottie Barnes and O. G. 100 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: N Nobi, they are capable shooters, like if you leave 101 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 1: them open. They've worked hard enough to where they're gonna 102 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: knock down a decent percentage of them, but as soon 103 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,679 Speaker 1: as they miss a few, the confidence goes out the window, 104 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 1: and there you can catch them. On the right night, 105 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 1: they'll be making everything because confidence is more attached to 106 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:57,839 Speaker 1: result for them than it is to the work and 107 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 1: their actual ability to shoot the basketball. I thought the 108 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,559 Speaker 1: turning point of this game, especially in the third quarter, 109 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 1: Philly basically just sagged off of everybody and let all 110 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:11,280 Speaker 1: those guys shoot. But the problem was as simultaneously, I 111 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 1: think Gary Trent Jr. Was actually on the bench during 112 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 1: that third quarter run. All five players on the floor 113 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:18,159 Speaker 1: were being left open on the perimeter, but none of 114 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: them were truly confident in their ability to raise up 115 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: and shoot. So the psychology of them laying off ended 116 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: up really really hurting them, and suddenly there was a 117 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 1: lid on the basket. Then they started driving into guys 118 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: that were already waiting for them in the paint and 119 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: shooting really low percentage like floaters and push shots and 120 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 1: contested you know, scooping layups and stuff around the rim, 121 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 1: and they were missing everything, and next thing you know, 122 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:44,039 Speaker 1: Philly's making everything on the other end and the game 123 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 1: is over. Now, I'll give you an example, guys like 124 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: Danny Green, Georges Kneeang, Tobias Harris. I would even argue 125 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 1: Tyrese Maxie falls into this group as well. Those guys 126 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: are makers, like they are confident in their shot. If 127 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 1: you leave them open consistently, they might miss a couple, 128 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 1: but they're eventually going to get it going. It's kind 129 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:06,040 Speaker 1: of like the difference between playing in a pickup game 130 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 1: versus playing in a full length game. Like when you 131 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: go play pick up with your friends in a game 132 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 1: to ten or a game to fifteen or whatever you 133 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: play too, you might not have enough reps to get 134 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: your rhythm, and if you happen to shoot poorly, you 135 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: might get beat. But when you go playing your men's 136 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: league and you've got you know, to twenty minute halves 137 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: of running clock in that forty minutes, you have time 138 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: if you're getting good shot quality, to get your rhythm. 139 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 1: It's kind of like a way that you guys can 140 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: relate it to when you guys play in your in 141 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: your local runs. But for for guys like Tobias Harris, 142 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: for guys like Danny Green, for for guys like George's 143 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: kneeing like if they miss a shot and they're running 144 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: back on defense and their head they're thinking, Oh, I 145 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 1: can't wait to get another look like that, because the 146 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 1: next one's going in and look. In this game, Tyrese, Maxie, 147 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: Tobias Harris, Danny Green, and George's nan went eleven for 148 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: twenty three from three damn near. A lot of attention 149 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: was being dedicated to James Harden, a lot of attention 150 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: was being dedicated to all and beat. They were getting 151 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 1: great looks and they were knocking them down because not 152 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 1: only are they capable of making shots, but they are 153 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 1: confident when they get those quality shots and they're gonna 154 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: knock them down. Conversely, Pascal siakam O, Gianna Nobi, Scottie Barnes, 155 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: that young Chris Bouche, Pressius Seshia, all guys that are 156 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: capable of knocking down shots. Those guys went five for 157 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: twenty five from three, and they were all great looks. 158 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 1: They were all dare dare you to shoot type of 159 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: shots and they just couldn't knock them down. And so 160 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 1: one of the things that's gonna be really interesting for 161 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: Toronto looking forward. They've got enough wings now they might 162 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: need to look into getting more offense. When you've got 163 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 1: what I just name off six guys that they were 164 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 1: playing in their rotation tonight that were unbelievably good athletes 165 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: and wings, it might be worth looking into moving a 166 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,199 Speaker 1: couple of them to try to get in more offensive firepower. 167 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 1: Got a type of guy that I'd be looking at 168 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: in terms of shot creation, another guy who his shooting 169 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 1: can be inconsistent. But what I'd be looking for is 170 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 1: maybe see if you can poach Donovan Mitchell away from 171 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: the Jazz this summer. We're gonna do a video on 172 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 1: the YouTube on the Utah Jazz here in the next 173 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: couple of days as soon as their series is over, 174 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: and when that happens, will dive in a little bit 175 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 1: further into what the matching machinations of that would actually 176 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 1: look like. But you need to get a very very 177 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 1: confident athletic shot creator in this lineup to help make 178 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: some of these shots easier for some of these Raptors players. 179 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: And then you need to target one or two wings 180 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 1: that maybe not that aren't as athletic, that aren't as 181 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 1: you know, capable of getting up and down the floor 182 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: in Toronto's you know, helter skelter system, but that are 183 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: confident shooters that are makers rather than shooters, Guys that 184 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 1: even if they miss a couple of open shots, they 185 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 1: will consistently and confidently feel like they're going to knock 186 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 1: them down over the course of any sort of large 187 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:54,439 Speaker 1: sample size. That's gonna be the big ask for Toronto 188 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 1: this summer. You've you've shown that you can build, you know, 189 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:01,080 Speaker 1: a brick house of wings that is a royal pain 190 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: in the ask to play against. But all of the 191 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 1: best teams in the league have some combination of that 192 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 1: in real confident, offensive polish. So you need to bring 193 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,560 Speaker 1: some of that in that needs to be there the 194 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: next direction that that franchise heads in. Let's move on 195 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: to James Harden because James Harden and CP three. Harden 196 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 1: definitely more so than CP three, but both of those 197 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 1: guys have some ugly spots on their playoff resume, and 198 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:32,199 Speaker 1: both of them tonight in hostile environments in very important 199 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:36,199 Speaker 1: playoff games against teams that actually absolutely were threats to 200 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 1: beat them. They were massive and did exactly what was 201 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 1: necessary to lead their team to victory. So we have 202 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: to give them some credit. Early in the game, James 203 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 1: Harden was aggressive to the basket. Now some of that 204 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 1: was Toronto, I thought came out really sloppy defensively to 205 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: start the game. They were weirdly over aggressive to Harden 206 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:56,839 Speaker 1: on the perimeter. Instead of making him make a couple 207 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:59,439 Speaker 1: of step back jump shots to take Philly out of 208 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 1: their offensive rhythm. They were kind of over aggressive and 209 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: James was getting easy driving lines. They weren't even really 210 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 1: making him earn his trips into the paint. But as 211 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: a result, it set a tone, and throughout the whole game, 212 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 1: I thought James Harden did an amazing job of not 213 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: forcing things. If you had the right matchup and he 214 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: had the right space, he was aggressive to the rim. 215 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 1: He was magnificent passing the basketball. I think he had 216 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: fourteen or fifteen assists during that stretch. We were talking 217 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: about shooting earlier. During that stretch in the third quarter, 218 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: when all of Toronto's shooters simultaneously got in their own 219 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 1: heads and suddenly all those shooters, not makers, were being 220 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 1: dared to shoot, and none of them felt confident, and 221 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,680 Speaker 1: it appeared there was a lid on the rim. Rim. Meanwhile, 222 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:43,479 Speaker 1: on the other end, James Harden was orchestrating fantastic basketball, 223 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 1: getting fantastic looks for really really good shooters as well 224 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:49,679 Speaker 1: as himself. It was just a really impressive performance. Now 225 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:52,959 Speaker 1: again with James Harden, this your favorite. This is a 226 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 1: first round series. The stakes will only get higher as 227 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: we go further along this deal. We're gonna run into 228 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 1: a Miami team in the next round that's definitely gonna 229 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 1: be a little bit more confident going against you and 230 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: is gonna probably pay attention to this particular series and 231 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 1: do some things that Nick Nurse didn't. Maybe dare you 232 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 1: a little bit more to be more aggressive as a 233 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 1: score and as a you know, pull up jump shooter 234 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,679 Speaker 1: and things along those lines. But to credit James Harden, 235 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: because I don't think again we were We're gonna, you know, 236 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 1: at some point in the next couple of days, I'm 237 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 1: gonna talk a little bit about Kyrie Irving and his 238 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: little rant on on Twitter about the media, and I 239 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 1: don't I don't want to get into that because I'm 240 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 1: gonna save it for a later date. But you know, 241 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 1: one of the things that I think is very important 242 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:39,079 Speaker 1: in the media is criticism has to happen because it's authentic. 243 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:41,080 Speaker 1: And if I sit up here and only say nice 244 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:42,959 Speaker 1: things about people, now I'm a liar and none of 245 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 1: you guys are gonna want to listen if I'm just 246 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 1: up here, you know, telling you things that I don't 247 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:49,280 Speaker 1: even believe. But the flip side is is you have 248 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 1: to be fair. My thing is be critical, but be fair. 249 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 1: And so in this situation, like for James Harden, a 250 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: guy that has a nightmare of a playoff resume, he 251 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: was a mon to tonight and played incredibly well in 252 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 1: a game that I had some money on fandel on 253 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: the Raptors. I was actively rooting on the Raptors throughout 254 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: the entire series. So like, you gotta give it to 255 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 1: James Harden. He went up to Toronto with his own 256 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 1: physical limitations, as he's aging and he's losing a little 257 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 1: bit of athleticism. He went in Toronto and and just 258 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 1: orchestrated an amazing offensive game and led his team to 259 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: a dominant victory. We gotta give him some credit. Joel Embid, 260 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 1: you know, I obviously he's incredible. He was monstrous again tonight. 261 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 1: I get so frustrated watching him. There was a play 262 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 1: and I think it was in the second quarter where 263 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 1: he was posting up on Pascal Siakam and he took 264 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: a hard dribble into the middle and did this like massive, 265 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 1: like drop step with a hard elbow right into Pascal 266 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 1: Siakam's chest. Pascal Siakam like buckles, but then kind of 267 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:51,680 Speaker 1: recovers and just goes with verticality. And Joel Embide like 268 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 1: throws up a lefty hook, And what have I been 269 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:56,680 Speaker 1: telling you guys? He flops like a jump shooter when 270 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: he's trying to take layups. He takes like a lefty hook, 271 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: kicks his legs up in the ground. It just sprawls 272 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 1: out on the floor, and then Toronto's running the other 273 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 1: way and he gets up and he's complaining at the reft. 274 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: Literally nobody touched him on the play. It's just I 275 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 1: want so badly to like Joel Embiid because he does 276 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: so many things that I personally respect, you know, as 277 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: a basketball fan, and I just it's he's making it 278 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 1: so hard for me to do that because of the 279 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: fact that he just consistently does things that are objectively 280 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: unlikable on the basketball court. That type of behavior is 281 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 1: just unlikable, And like I know, Philly fans get very 282 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 1: sensitive about that very particular topic. I know Joel and 283 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: beat himself is very sensitive about that about that particular topic, 284 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: but I I just can't stand it. So looking forward 285 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:43,240 Speaker 1: to this Miami Heat series, it's gonna be a little 286 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: bit different on a couple of different fronts. I think 287 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: Bamata Bio presents somebody and it'll be really interesting in 288 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: the opening minutes of the series. Uh, can bamat a 289 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 1: Bio handle Joel embat in single coverage, because if he can, 290 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 1: that changes so much about the dynamic offensively for the Sixers. 291 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: Talked earlier about guys capitalizing on attention to Joel Embiid 292 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 1: and James Harden in tonight's game, Maxi, Harris Green and 293 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 1: E eleven from three. A lot of that is because 294 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: they were getting fantastic looks. Well, if bamade Bio can 295 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 1: handle Joel Embiad in single coverage, at least well enough 296 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: that they don't have to massively compromise their defense to 297 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:22,280 Speaker 1: get attention to Joel Embiid, then it could change the 298 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: overall shot quality for what guys like Tyris s Maxie 299 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 1: and Tobias Harris are getting. It could change the amount 300 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: of free space that James Harden has to work with 301 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: and make his life even more difficult. So that'll be interesting. 302 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 1: Other side of the floor is where I really really 303 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: worry about Miami, and it's why I think Philly has 304 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: a good chance to win this series. Not making a 305 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: pick yet, will probably do so in our live show 306 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 1: on Sunday. But what worries me is Toronto did a 307 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:53,320 Speaker 1: really nice job of taking Joel Embiid outside at least 308 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: in games four in game five and driving the ball 309 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 1: on him and taking advantage of his lack of foot speed. 310 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: What worries me is Miami in particular. There they don't 311 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 1: have a ton of guys that drive to the basket heart. 312 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 1: P J. Tucker is not a slasher. Tyler Harrow and 313 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 1: Duncan Robinson are more movement shooters, although Tyler Harrow has 314 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 1: a little bit of a basket attacking game, you know, 315 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:16,800 Speaker 1: Kyle Lowry is more methodical and he's kind of dealing 316 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 1: with some injuries right now. Jimmy Butlers are only real 317 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:22,720 Speaker 1: like kind of like take you out to the perimeter 318 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: and use my foot speed to beat you to the 319 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: basket type of guy. Victor Oladipo a little bit as well, 320 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 1: but like they definitely don't have the same type of 321 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 1: you know, slashing foot speed that Toronto does. In addition 322 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 1: to that, Bama A Bio, I know he's capable as 323 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 1: a jump shooter, but he definitely falls into that shooter 324 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 1: not maker category. He's definitely the kind of guy that 325 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 1: if you dare him to shoot and he misses a couple, 326 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: he'll get in his head and then suddenly he won't 327 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 1: even want to take them anymore. And so Joel Embiat 328 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 1: in that role on Bama A Bio, if he is 329 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 1: able to drop all series, drop coverage and pick and 330 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 1: rolls and drop into the basket and help when bam 331 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: is not involved in pick and roll actions and doesn't 332 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 1: have the basketball, that could change the dynamic of the 333 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:09,879 Speaker 1: shot quality for Miami. It buys potential for guys like 334 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: Maxie and Tobias Harris and George Kneeing and James Harden 335 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: and all of the role players Danny Green, all the 336 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 1: role players for Philly to be more aggressive on the 337 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,359 Speaker 1: perimeter and push up on shooters because they don't have 338 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:23,720 Speaker 1: to worry as much about getting beat to the basket 339 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:26,359 Speaker 1: because Joel Embid has their back. It's gonna be a 340 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: super interesting dynamic. I want to dive into a bunch 341 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:31,440 Speaker 1: more film and then after I get into the film, 342 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 1: make a pick, probably on Sunday. Like I said, but 343 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: that's going to be a very very interesting series. All right, 344 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,400 Speaker 1: Let's move on to the Sun's so again. Chris Paul 345 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: another another guy that has a little bit more of 346 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: a spotty playoff resume. His his resume is very hot 347 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: and cold, like unbelievably massive performances on a bunch of 348 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:54,880 Speaker 1: different stages, but then some you know, pretty amazing collapses 349 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 1: too along the way. Another guy that has an iffy 350 00:17:57,080 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 1: playoff resume, but he you know, I have a lot 351 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: more confidence in him in big moments that I do 352 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:03,879 Speaker 1: and James Harden and it's a big reason why I 353 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,199 Speaker 1: picked Phoenix to win this series despite the Devin Booker injury. 354 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 1: And you know, I think it was game two right 355 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:12,400 Speaker 1: when Devin Booker went down, and when he went down, 356 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:15,360 Speaker 1: you know, I knew it would be difficult, but I 357 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: was thinking, if Chris Paul could just float the ship 358 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 1: long enough for Devin Booker to get back, that could 359 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 1: be the difference in this Son's team going on a 360 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 1: run and not going on a run because obviously without 361 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: their best player, there's all this potential for them to 362 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:32,439 Speaker 1: get beat if they run into the wrong matchup. Well, 363 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 1: it turns out that the Pelicans are a pretty difficult 364 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,399 Speaker 1: matchup for the Sons on a bunch of different levels. 365 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 1: Their length and athleticism really bothered Chris Paul at certain 366 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 1: points in the series. In pick and Roll, you know, 367 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: Devin Booker had a lot of success early in the 368 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:47,920 Speaker 1: series before he got hurt. It's really hard to tell 369 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 1: how that would have gone over the course of the series. 370 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 1: Made a lot of big shots tonight. But again, I'm 371 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 1: really curious to see how his hamstring holds up in 372 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: the long run. But I want to give Chris Paul 373 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 1: a ton of credit because here's the deal. You know, 374 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:04,359 Speaker 1: not everything goes your way, and sometimes you have a 375 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:08,880 Speaker 1: disastrous outcome and then you work incredibly hard to get 376 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,680 Speaker 1: back to the mountaintop and bad luck hits you along 377 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:14,119 Speaker 1: the way. It's kind of like lebron in two thousand twelve. 378 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: You're losing two thousand eleven and this disastrous collapse in 379 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 1: the NBA Finals. In the summer, you start working with 380 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:23,399 Speaker 1: the Chemolage one. You clearly take a definitive leap as 381 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:25,400 Speaker 1: a basketball player. You're the m v P of the league. 382 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 1: The next season, everything looks great, and then Chris Bosh 383 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:32,679 Speaker 1: pulls his abdominal muscle in the series against the Pacers, 384 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: and simultaneously Dwyane Wade's knee starts to give you issues, 385 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: and now you're in some trouble, and now you're I 386 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:42,119 Speaker 1: think they were down two games to one in the 387 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:45,719 Speaker 1: Indiana series and things were looking really, really rough and 388 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:48,640 Speaker 1: at multiple points. Game four obviously got a big game 389 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:50,399 Speaker 1: from d Wade in that game as well, but Lebron 390 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:52,480 Speaker 1: was a monster in Game four. And then you guys 391 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 1: remember the Boston Celtics series, which bo Bosch missed most of. 392 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:58,200 Speaker 1: They were down three two in that series as well, 393 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 1: and Lebron had to overcome that. Lebron on had to 394 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 1: float the team essentially for long enough for d Way 395 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 1: to have his little moments of significant impact and for 396 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 1: Chris Bosh to get healthy, and as a result he 397 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:12,800 Speaker 1: was rewarded with the trophy. Well, a similar thing basically 398 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:16,360 Speaker 1: happened to Chris Paul here. Imagine, you know, getting within 399 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 1: two wins of a of a championship, the championship you've 400 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 1: wanted your entire life. And then you come back into 401 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 1: the next season and have a monstrous season where you're 402 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 1: play incredibly well and your team is the definitive number 403 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 1: one seed. You seem to have, you know, you seem 404 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 1: to be poised to undo the damage of last year's 405 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 1: NBA Finals, and then your compatriot, your your teammate, Devin 406 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 1: Booker goes down with a hamstring strain in the first 407 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 1: round series. That's incredibly discouraging. And to Chris Paul's credit, 408 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 1: he just put the team on his back and he 409 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:49,720 Speaker 1: and he carried them through this stretch long enough for 410 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 1: Devin Booker to get back on the court fourteen for 411 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: fourteen in a game that the Pelicans. In the game 412 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 1: that the Sons won by four points, they needed every 413 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 1: last one of those baskets from Chris Paul continued to 414 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:05,920 Speaker 1: be aggressive in that fourth quarter, making decisions and getting 415 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: to his midrange jump shot. Just I'll tell you, like, 416 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 1: if he ends up getting a title this year, that's 417 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:14,840 Speaker 1: the game you need to look back at Game six 418 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:19,159 Speaker 1: against the Pelicans, fourteen for fourteen, avoiding that Game seven. 419 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 1: Who knows what happens in a game seven, especially if 420 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 1: Devin Booker with with his hamstring, which obviously there's a 421 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:27,160 Speaker 1: bunch of risk of re injury there as well. Just 422 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:31,240 Speaker 1: salute to Chris Paul another magnificent performance to add to 423 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 1: his playoff resume. Looking forward for the let's start with 424 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: the Sun's What concerns me is the matchup. So the 425 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 1: Pelicans unquestionably caused issues for the Sons and a couple 426 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:46,680 Speaker 1: of different areas of the game. Their length and athleticism 427 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 1: on defense bothered them in a lot of ways. Their 428 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:52,119 Speaker 1: ability to make tough shots bothered them in a lot 429 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 1: of ways, their offensive rebounding bothered them in a lot 430 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: of ways. There was a bunch of like little elements 431 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:02,920 Speaker 1: to this matchup that caused Phoenix problems. And what concerns 432 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:04,719 Speaker 1: me is we talked a little bit last night about 433 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 1: a potential match up with the Boston Celtics, and Carson 434 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:11,360 Speaker 1: was asking me, you know, are you still picking the Celtics. 435 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: If so, who do you think is most likely to 436 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:15,639 Speaker 1: beat them? And one of the big reasons why I 437 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 1: think I've I've kind of flip flopped coming into this 438 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 1: playoff run. I had Phoenix as a tier on the 439 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:23,000 Speaker 1: tier one by themselves and then Boston and a couple 440 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:25,440 Speaker 1: other teams on Tier two. Well, now I'm flipping that 441 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:28,159 Speaker 1: and I'm putting Boston in a tier up by themselves 442 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:32,160 Speaker 1: in excuse me, and Phoenix in a tier right below them. 443 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 1: And a huge part of that is Boston does a 444 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 1: lot of what New Orleans does a lot better and 445 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:41,200 Speaker 1: I think their defense is going to cause the Sun's 446 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:43,199 Speaker 1: a lot of problems in the same way that the 447 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:46,120 Speaker 1: Pelicans did. And I think they're just a better version 448 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:47,800 Speaker 1: of New Orleans, and I think it's gonna be really, 449 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:50,439 Speaker 1: really difficult for Phoenix to overcome that. Now there's a 450 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:53,400 Speaker 1: bunch of different things that can swing that matchup. Devin 451 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:56,359 Speaker 1: Booker getting back to can make a big difference. Like 452 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 1: if Devin Booker is on No holds bar forty two 453 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: minutes tonight, maybe it's not as close they're in New Orleans, right, 454 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 1: So there's other details there that are up in the air, 455 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:07,639 Speaker 1: but so much can change over the course of the 456 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:09,480 Speaker 1: next you know month that it's hard to say what 457 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 1: things are gonna look like in the NBA Finals, But 458 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 1: just strictly from a matchup standpoint, Phoenix struggled with length 459 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:18,399 Speaker 1: and athleticism in the series. Boston is a longer and 460 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 1: more athletic version of the New Orleans Pelicans, So that's 461 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:23,959 Speaker 1: a that's gonna be an interesting element to look at. 462 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: I would still pick the Celtics as of right now 463 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:29,199 Speaker 1: as my championship favorite. Now looking at the Pelicans, this 464 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:31,399 Speaker 1: gets This is a really interesting question in my opinion, 465 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:36,880 Speaker 1: because you know, as Pelicans fan, these kinds of runs 466 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 1: are what you live for. It's that that it feels 467 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:44,159 Speaker 1: like you're at the beginning of something great, right, And 468 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:45,919 Speaker 1: I think we have to give some credit to David Griffin, 469 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:47,960 Speaker 1: just like I was talking about criticism and being fair. 470 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 1: You know, we've all been super critical of David Griffin 471 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 1: for good reason. He made some moves that were genuinely 472 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 1: confounding on a bunch of different levels over the course 473 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 1: of the last couple of years. But you hit on 474 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 1: a handful of inex pensive players and it could change 475 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 1: the course of your franchise. This is the advantage of 476 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:08,159 Speaker 1: having really, really smart people in your front office and 477 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:11,399 Speaker 1: in your scouting department. You find a Herb Jones, you 478 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: find a Trey Murphy, you find a Jose Alvariedo, you 479 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:18,879 Speaker 1: find guys like that inexpensive on the fringes of the 480 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:22,119 Speaker 1: scouting sphere of basketball players. All of a sudden you 481 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:24,679 Speaker 1: find two really good three and D wings that are 482 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 1: freakishly athletic and cause a lot of problems for a 483 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:28,920 Speaker 1: bunch of players, and a bulldog of a guard and 484 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: Jose Alvariedo that brings up. But I mean, it's it's 485 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:33,880 Speaker 1: it's difficult to even put together all the different ways 486 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:36,679 Speaker 1: that Jose Alvarido impacts the game of basketball. But you 487 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 1: find you hit three guys there on the fringes, and 488 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 1: it can make up for two or three years of 489 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:45,359 Speaker 1: mistakes in general management. So the curious thing to me 490 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: with the Pelicans is what do you do? Is I 491 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:52,399 Speaker 1: on Williamson. I love the CJ. McCollum fit with Brandon Ingram. 492 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 1: I love the two of them as your primary perimeter initiators. 493 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 1: Ideally you have the two of them and two freaky 494 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 1: athletic wings, and then you have Zion at the five. 495 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 1: The trouble is Zion struggles as a traditional back line defender. 496 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:07,640 Speaker 1: What I would do now, A lot of NBA teams 497 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 1: are obsessed with traditions, So my guesses is that they'll 498 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:12,120 Speaker 1: continue to try to fit Zion in as a four. 499 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 1: But what I would do is ditch some of these 500 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:19,360 Speaker 1: traditional ideas of how to construct a defense. Don't think 501 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:21,800 Speaker 1: of it as Zion playing the five. Think of it 502 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 1: rather as doing kind of a Boston Celtics esque. We 503 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:29,240 Speaker 1: are switching everything and we just have four wings and 504 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 1: c J. McCollum you can get away with playing, you know, 505 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:35,600 Speaker 1: brandon Ingram alongside guys like Trey Murphy and Herb Jones 506 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:39,720 Speaker 1: and and Zion Williamson. You get four freak athletes that 507 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:41,720 Speaker 1: can cover a ton of ground. C J. Mcollum is 508 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 1: not a freak athlete, but the aggregate size and speed 509 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:46,600 Speaker 1: and athleticism of that lineup would be really, really good. 510 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:48,919 Speaker 1: That would be what the direction that I would go. 511 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: Just continue to load up on wings and prioritize trying 512 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:56,160 Speaker 1: to play a more modern style rather than and then 513 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,199 Speaker 1: then you have a guy like Jonas Valanciunas for a 514 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 1: different look, for a more traditional look. Jonas valancunists in 515 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:04,840 Speaker 1: this series. Even though he was dominant on the offensive 516 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 1: glass and had some battles against DeAndre and that he won. 517 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 1: I was throughout the entire series telling you guys, that 518 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:12,640 Speaker 1: in the aggregate. I didn't love the fit. I thought 519 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:14,919 Speaker 1: he hurt their footspeed and transition. I thought he was 520 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 1: clogging the plant at the paint. A lot of the time, 521 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 1: I think there are you know, there's everyone's always terrified 522 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 1: to go small because of all the things that you lose, 523 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:25,919 Speaker 1: but they never properly factor in all the things that 524 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:28,879 Speaker 1: you gain, and in this case, you gain spacing, you 525 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 1: gain Can you imagine Zion Williamson attacking the rim with 526 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: Trey Murphy in one corner and and and Herb Jones 527 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:38,919 Speaker 1: in the other corner and C. J. McCollum and Brandon 528 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:41,600 Speaker 1: Brandon ingram up on the wings. That guy is going 529 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:45,400 Speaker 1: to destroy NBA defenses in that type of setting. Now, 530 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:47,359 Speaker 1: do you give ground on the defensive end that you 531 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 1: might have to learn in the long run. Yes, it 532 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 1: took the Celtics half the season to figure out there 533 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:56,400 Speaker 1: switching and get that dialed in enough to be truly effective. 534 00:26:56,760 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 1: So you have to buy into that long term vision, 535 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 1: be willing to take some bumps and bruises along the way. 536 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 1: Try to fit Zion Williamson into this mix and see 537 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 1: if because he kind of has a very complimentary skill 538 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:12,159 Speaker 1: set to what Brandon Ingram and c Jim McCollum to 539 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 1: do together. Plus a huge part of like compensating for 540 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:19,320 Speaker 1: a lack of size is gang rebounding right crashing from 541 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: the perimeter. We talked about this last night. If you 542 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:24,399 Speaker 1: got Draymond Green inside boxing people out, you have to 543 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:26,439 Speaker 1: have a size and athleticism on the wing to come 544 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:29,600 Speaker 1: flying in to grab rebounds. There's so much athleticism in 545 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:31,639 Speaker 1: that lineup that you might be able to compensate for that, 546 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 1: even more so than you could with a guy like 547 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 1: Jonas Valancunis on the floor. So that'll be an interesting 548 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 1: dynamic as they as they go into this summer. What 549 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:44,040 Speaker 1: are they what's the idea of this existing construct adding 550 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 1: Zion Williamson or there's even a case to be made 551 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:48,719 Speaker 1: that he should be traded, which I'm not gonna get 552 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:51,359 Speaker 1: into right now. Maybe we can get into that this offseason. 553 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 1: But very very exciting future for the Pelicans. They have 554 00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:55,880 Speaker 1: a ton of talent. I'm really really interested to see 555 00:27:55,920 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 1: what they can accomplish here over the course of the 556 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:00,280 Speaker 1: next couple of years. All right, that is all I 557 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:03,680 Speaker 1: have for tonight. As always, I sincerely appreciate your guys support. 558 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:06,320 Speaker 1: We may or may not have something on Jazz MAVs 559 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:09,000 Speaker 1: tomorrow morning. I will let you guys know either way. 560 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 1: We have Friday night and Saturday Night off. Sunday we 561 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:15,479 Speaker 1: will be back. The second round begins that day, an 562 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:19,399 Speaker 1: incredible matchup between the Bucks and the Celtics. We will 563 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 1: get into all those details in Sunday night's show. Again, 564 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:25,680 Speaker 1: as always, I sincerely appreciate you guys supporting the show 565 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 1: and I will see you in a couple of days. 566 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:34,400 Speaker 1: Volume