1 00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: The Volume. All right, welcome to's tonight. You're at the Volume, 2 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:18,920 Speaker 1: Havy Monday, everybody. Hope all of you guys had an 3 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: incredible weekend. We are live on AMPS, so if you're 4 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:24,760 Speaker 1: watching on YouTube or listening on the podcast feeds, don't 5 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:26,439 Speaker 1: forget that AMP is the very first place that you 6 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: guys can get these shows. We're continuing our top twenty 7 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: five players the last twenty five years today with number 8 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 1: ten Dirk Novitsky. Very very excited to talk about Dirk today, 9 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: but we're also going to hit a little bit of 10 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: the Steph Curry versus Magic Johnson debate that was going 11 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 1: around last week. We're hit that at the top, and 12 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: then we'll get to Dirk. You guys know the joke 13 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:47,520 Speaker 1: before we get started. Subscribe to the Volumes YouTube channel 14 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: so you don't miss any more of our videos. Follow 15 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: me on Twitter at underscore Jason lt so you guys 16 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: don't miss anyhow announcements. And last but not least, for 17 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 1: whatever reason, you guys miss one of these shows and 18 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: you can't get back over to YouTube to finish, don't forget. 19 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: You can find them wherever you get your podcasts. Under 20 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:04,759 Speaker 1: hoops tonight, all right, one last thing before we get started. 21 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:07,400 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be hitting this Steph Versus Magic debate at 22 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 1: the start of this video, but we're gonna do a 23 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 1: mailbag style question at the start of every video for 24 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:15,680 Speaker 1: the next two weeks because obviously we're just doing one 25 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: player per day on Monday through Friday this week and 26 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: Monday through Friday next week. So today we're doing this 27 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 1: Steph Curry Versus Magic Johnson debate. But underneath this video, 28 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: in the comments, I want you guys to drop mail 29 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: bag questions about absolutely anything pertaining to the NBA and 30 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: we'll pick one every single day to hit in addition 31 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: to the players that we're covering on the list. So 32 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 1: drop some questions in the comment. So the Steph vers 33 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: Magic Johnson debate, basically the genesis of this was Steph 34 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:43,479 Speaker 1: Curry himself declared himself the greatest point guard of all time, 35 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 1: and then Michael Jordan got involved in this discussion. I 36 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: believe through a text message to Steven A. Smith that 37 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: he believes Magic Johnson is clearly the greatest point guard 38 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: of all time. And I personally hate this discussion because 39 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: to me, focusing on singular position groups to rank players 40 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: doesn't make a ton of sense. I think Gilbert Arenas 41 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: was the guy who put this best when he went 42 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: on his show in the middle of this debate and 43 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 1: basically said, like, why aren't we including guys like Lebron 44 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: or Nicola Jokitchen this debate because they functionally act as 45 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: the point guard for their team. Now. I don't agree 46 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 1: with Gilbert in the sense that I wouldn't want to 47 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 1: have a point guard debate with Lebron and Nicoley Jokitchen 48 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 1: it because that doesn't make any sense to me either. 49 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: But I think the larger point that he's hitting at 50 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,920 Speaker 1: and essentially talking about the positionless nature of basketball and 51 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 1: the fact that any star should have the basketball in 52 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,239 Speaker 1: their hands a lot and functionally act as a point 53 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: guard for their team, I think represents a better way 54 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: to rank basketball players. So I would rather not focus 55 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 1: on who's the best point guard or who's the best 56 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 1: shooting guard, but rather who's the best perimeter shot creator 57 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 1: for a team. I'll give you an example. Let's say 58 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: we were talking about shooting guards. Who's the best shooting 59 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: guard in the league right now? It's probably Devin Booker. 60 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 1: Right If we go down my player rankings. Nikole Jokic 61 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: at number one was a center. Steph Curry at number 62 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:07,959 Speaker 1: two is a point guard. Yiannis at number three is 63 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: a power forward. Kd at four is a power forward 64 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 1: or small forward. Embiads center, Anthony Davis center, Tatum small forward, 65 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: Lebron power forward, Luka Doncicic power forward, point forward, point guard, 66 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: depending on what you want to call him. Devin Booker 67 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 1: shooting guard, and then Kawhi Leonard power forward. So of 68 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: my twelve bona fide superstars, I've got one shooting guard. 69 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: So technically, Devin Booker is the best shooting guard in 70 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: the league. But if I swapped Steph Curry in for 71 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 1: Devin Booker and had him do all the exact same 72 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: shit that he does for the Suns, the Suns immediately 73 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 1: become a better basketball team. Why Because Steph can play 74 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 1: shooting guard better than Devin Booker can play shooting guard. 75 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: Biggest Steph is a very versatile basketball player. They can 76 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: fill any role. But even then, let's look at what 77 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 1: that means. What does it mean to be a two 78 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: guard in the NBA? In the two guard at the 79 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 1: two guard position in the modern NBA, you're expected to 80 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: run pick and rolls, run ISOs, maybe some post ups 81 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: if you've got a size advantage, gerbil handoffs, wide pinned downs, 82 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: running the lanes and transition, spotting up and attacking closeouts. 83 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 1: But those responsibilities are the same for every perimeter star. 84 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 1: I would argue that exact same list is fulfilled by 85 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:26,159 Speaker 1: Lebron James or Jason Tatum or Kevin Durant or Jimmy 86 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: Butler or Luka Doncicch. You get the point. They're just 87 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: basketball players, perimeter oriented basketball players. Now, the ones that 88 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: are bigger might use their size more and play a 89 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: different style. Guys that are more skilled might lean on 90 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 1: that more. Obviously they played differently, but they all feel 91 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: the fundamental same role on a basketball team, which is 92 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: creating shots for your team. And so I don't see 93 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,239 Speaker 1: any point in isolating point guard as a position group 94 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: because there are a lot of players that don't technically 95 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 1: play point guard but can do point guard stuff better. 96 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,040 Speaker 1: All the point guards do and basically do that for 97 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: their team anyway, so the debate doesn't make any sense. 98 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: I prefer to rank players based on two types. Those 99 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 1: of you guys have been following the show for a 100 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: while know exactly where I'm going here. To me, you're 101 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: either a perimeter based shot creator as a star, or 102 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 1: you are a center, and that's basically it. Everybody kind 103 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:23,719 Speaker 1: of falls into those groups. The only guy that really 104 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 1: I've seen that bridges that group at the highest level 105 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: is Nikole Jokic because he's like legitimately a center, but 106 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: you can't just deny him the ball or double team 107 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 1: him out of a game the way you do with 108 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,160 Speaker 1: maybe Anthony Davis, and even Joel Embich struggles with that 109 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 1: a lot. If you do that, he can dribble, vault 110 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: the floor, and he can run. He can create offense 111 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: for himself off a live dribble. So like Jokic kind 112 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 1: of bridges that gap. But outside of that, everybody kind 113 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 1: of falls into one of those two groups. Right Like 114 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: when I don't rank Tim Duncan among perimeter players. Typically 115 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: if I'm doing all time lists now doing it for 116 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 1: our top twenty five list, because I'm grouping them all 117 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:04,919 Speaker 1: together for that list. But if I was doing just 118 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: an all time greatest players in NBA history, I'd prefer 119 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: to split it into two lists. I want to rank 120 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,159 Speaker 1: all these perimeter guys, and I want to rank my centers. 121 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:18,599 Speaker 1: Let's talk Kareem Duncan, right, Will Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neil. Let's 122 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 1: talk about those guys over here, because they do something 123 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: fundamentally different than what the perimeter players do. And then 124 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 1: let's rank the perimeter players over here. So from that lens, 125 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: there is a debate to have about Steph Curry in 126 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: Magic Johnson. Ironically, I have them right next to each 127 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: other in the list. If you look at my list, 128 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 1: I have Michael Jordan at number one, Lebron James at 129 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: number two, Kobe Bryant at number three. So if I'm 130 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:48,239 Speaker 1: talking the greatest perimeter players of all time, I'm going MJ, Lebron, 131 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:51,919 Speaker 1: Kobe won two three. At that point, the next three 132 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: guys on my list are some combination of Magic, Stephan Bird. Right, 133 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 1: it used to be Magic and Bird steps entered into 134 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 1: that conversation. But let's take a look at those three championships. 135 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: Magic Johnson five, Steph Curry four, Larry Bird three Finals, 136 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: MVPs Magic three, Steph one but should be two, Larry 137 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: Bird two, League, MVPs Magic three, Steph two, Larry Bird 138 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: three First Team All NBA's Magic nine, Steph Curry four, 139 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: Larry Bird nine. Now, one of the big things that 140 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: was going around last week I saw it was people 141 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 1: talking about supporting casts. I think that's ridiculous. I think 142 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: all three of those guys, Bird, Magic and Steph all 143 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: played on top tier talented teams in their era, from 144 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:48,679 Speaker 1: basically two thy fifteen to the to Kevin Durant leaving 145 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: the Warriors after like when Klay Thompson came back from 146 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 1: the Achilles injury, they weren't the most talented team in 147 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 1: the league anymore. And we'll talk about that twenty twenty 148 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 1: three title in a little bit, but before that, from 149 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: base sickly twenty fifteen to twenty nineteen, the Warriors were 150 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: either among the most talented teams in the league before 151 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: they got KD and then became by far the most 152 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 1: talented team in the league with KD. They like, he 153 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 1: won two titles with Kevin duran on his team. Right, 154 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 1: So you're not gonna sit here and complain about talent 155 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: as a Warriors fan, right. Magic Johnson literally plays with 156 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: played with a six time champion, one of the all 157 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: time great players in NBA history, the guy who was 158 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: a leading scorer before Lebron got there. Kareem Abdul Jabbar. 159 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: You know, Larry Bird played with Kevin McHale. Even in 160 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:35,439 Speaker 1: addition to that, they had star level role players or 161 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: guys who starred in their roles or low lower level stars, 162 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 1: whatever you want to call him. That's Klay Thompson, and 163 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: that's Straymond Green, that's James Worthy and Byron Scott. That's 164 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: Dennis Johnson and Robert Parrish or Bill Walton coming off 165 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 1: the bench in nineteen ninety six or nineteen eighty six, right, 166 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: all those teams were talented. So to me, that's irrelevant. 167 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: You're splitting hairs if you're trying to talk about which 168 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 1: team was better. The nineteen eighty six Celtics are resoundingly 169 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: considered one of the greatest teams in NBA history. The 170 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: nineteen eighty seven Lakers are resoundingly considered one of the 171 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: greatest teams in NBA history. The twenty seventeen In twenty 172 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: eighteen Warriors were literally the most talented rosters that have 173 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 1: ever been assembled in NBA history. The twenty sixteen Warriors 174 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:19,319 Speaker 1: without Kevin Urant won seventy three games. You guys get 175 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: the point. They won sixty seven games in twenty fifteen. 176 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 1: Talent is not related, is not relevant here in my opinion, 177 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: except for that twenty twenty three title, which we'll get 178 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: to in a little bit. So in terms of real 179 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 1: life actual accomplishments, it's not close in my opinion between 180 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:38,200 Speaker 1: Magic and Steph. Magic has more titles, he has more 181 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 1: finals MVPs. Even if we give Steph twenty fifteen, which 182 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 1: I do, he has more MVPs, and he has more 183 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: than twice as many first team All NBA selections. So 184 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 1: Steph does have to accomplish significantly more in my opinion 185 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: to pass Magic Johnson. Now Larry Bird is where it 186 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:58,439 Speaker 1: gets interesting. Steph has more titles, should have the same 187 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 1: number of finals MVPs, and I think the twenty twenty 188 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 1: three NBA Championship with Andrew Wiggins as his best player 189 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: is best teammate on his team against the Celtics team 190 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: that was significantly more talented than the Warriors. In my opinion, 191 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: that accomplishment was greater, in my opinion, than anything Magic 192 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 1: or Bird accomplished. Now, it's not enough to make up 193 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: the gap with Magic in my opinion, although it does 194 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: make it close, but I do think it gives him 195 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: the edge over Larry Bird. So when people ask me 196 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:30,200 Speaker 1: who's the greatest point guard of all time, Magic Johnson 197 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 1: or Steph Curry, I don't really have a take on that. 198 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 1: If I had to pick up point guard, I'm taking 199 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: Lebron because he kind of functionally played the role of 200 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:40,719 Speaker 1: a point guard. But even then you could say, you 201 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,720 Speaker 1: could say Michael Jordan did, and he played point guard 202 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: for the Bulls in the late eighties. So again, that 203 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: whole conversation is just silly to me. But if I'm 204 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: ranking the top perimeter players in NBA history, I'm going 205 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: mj at one, Lebron at two, Kobe at three, Magic 206 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: at four, Steph at five, and Bird at That's where 207 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: those guys land. For me. That's just again, everyone's gonna 208 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 1: have a different take on this. You're gonna have a 209 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 1: lot of traditionalists that are gonna be like, screw that, 210 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: at point guards to point guards a point guard, we 211 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 1: gotta rank point guards. But then they want to conveniently 212 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:15,680 Speaker 1: leave out that Magic Johnson like straight up played center 213 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: in the NBA Finals, and that he played alongside a 214 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 1: point guard who actually played point guard. You get the point, Like, 215 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 1: it's just all these things. It kind of goes back 216 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:26,959 Speaker 1: to what we were talking about with the Chris Paul situation, 217 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: Like there's anytime you set up criteria, there are holes. Right, 218 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: My criteria has holes. Your criteria as holes, and there 219 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:34,679 Speaker 1: are gonna be guys who slipped through the cracks and 220 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:37,680 Speaker 1: who are not properly rated in those situations. But for 221 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 1: me personally, I don't like to rank by positions. I 222 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: like to rank by just general archetypes of stars. You're 223 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 1: either a perimeter star or you're a center. And for me, 224 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: Stephan Magic are very close among perimeter stars. But Magic 225 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:51,600 Speaker 1: has a clear edge to be the fourth best perimeter 226 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: player of all time in my opinion. All right, let's 227 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,439 Speaker 1: move on to our number ten. Dirk Novinski. He's best 228 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 1: player on a championship team with the two eleven maps, 229 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:04,679 Speaker 1: four time First Team All NBA, twelve time All NBA overall, 230 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: We're gonna start getting into some crazy resumes from now on. 231 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: He's the MVP of the league in two thousand and 232 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 1: seven NBA Finals, MVP in twenty eleven. His prime I 233 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: put down from two thousand and one to twenty fifteen. 234 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: In that stretch, Dirk Novitski averaged twenty three points, eight rebounds, 235 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 1: and three assists per game on fifty eight percent for shooting, 236 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 1: and then in the playoffs twenty five points per game, 237 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 1: ten rebounds, and three assists per game on fifty eight 238 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 1: percent through shooting. I think Dirk's claim to fame, the 239 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:31,679 Speaker 1: thing that we'll all remember him for, is that he's 240 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 1: the best shooting big man of all time. When we 241 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: think about shooters, obviously we think about Steph number one, 242 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: Klay at number two, you know, some combination of Reggie Miller, 243 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 1: Ray Allen after that, right, But those guys are all 244 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: traditional perimeter players that you expect to be great shooters. 245 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 1: When it comes to the legitimate big men and their 246 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 1: ability to shoot the basketball, it's Dirk. He's the guy 247 00:12:56,160 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 1: that gets the recognition there. I think that Nicole Joki 248 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 1: has an opportunity to enter into that discussion in the 249 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: long run, but even then, he doesn't take enough jumpers 250 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 1: in general, just in terms of volume in my opinion, 251 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 1: although he's very, very accurate in those situations. He also 252 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 1: was one of the best scorers of all time over 253 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 1: his prime from two thousand and one to twenty fifteen, 254 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:19,720 Speaker 1: he was second to Kobe Bryant in total points score 255 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:22,560 Speaker 1: to twenty six, two hundred and ninety nine. His archetype 256 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: just a seven foot power forward. Never a great athlete, 257 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:27,959 Speaker 1: although he was a decent athlete when he was younger. 258 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,360 Speaker 1: But he was a master of manipulating defenders through leverage, 259 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 1: which we'll get to in a little bit. I want 260 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 1: to focus heavily in on the isolation situations and the 261 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: post up situation. So ISO situations for Dirk, generally speaking, 262 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: were face ups. Right. So a face up is I'm 263 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:47,319 Speaker 1: going to be a triple threat. Right, So hasn't used 264 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:50,319 Speaker 1: to dribble. He has an opportunity to dribble, usually left foot, 265 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:53,679 Speaker 1: pivot foot, and for Dirk, usually right about the nail. 266 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: They experimented with a bunch of different spots in his career, 267 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 1: but they love to use Dirk at the nail. Now 268 00:13:57,920 --> 00:13:59,320 Speaker 1: the nail is at the free throw line, right right 269 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: in the middle of the freight line. The reason why 270 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 1: they like to work with Dirk at the nail or 271 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 1: at the top of the key, somewhere between the nail 272 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: and the nail and the top of the key, is 273 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 1: because it was harder for teams to double team. So 274 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 1: we've talked about this a lot on the show, and 275 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:14,960 Speaker 1: there are advantages both ways. If you go clearside ISOs, 276 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 1: you do have a lot of space to operate, But 277 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: it's harder to beat teams with the skip pass right 278 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 1: because so for instance, I have this hyeh cleared like 279 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler was doing with the heat and he's working 280 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: off the dribble. That skip pass to the corner is 281 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: a really tough pass to make, and so teams can 282 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 1: load up and load up the paint. Although that's also 283 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: hard spots double team from right at the nail. Everywhere 284 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 1: is one pass away. Right, I'm not making a skip 285 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: pass to the corner, I can throw it to the corner, 286 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 1: throw it to the corner, throw it to the wing, 287 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: throw it to the wing, throw it to the dunker. 288 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: So it's actually a harder spot to double team out of, 289 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,119 Speaker 1: but it's also a much harder position to play offensively. 290 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 1: The reason why is you have to have really good 291 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: awareness of the entire floor looking both ways. So if 292 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 1: I have my back to the basket, I'm looking this way, 293 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: I can't see this side of the floor right, Whereas 294 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 1: if I'm on a clear side ISO and there's nobody 295 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: over there and it's just me on the left side 296 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 1: of the floor. I can look this way and see 297 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: the entire floor and kind of survey all nine other players, right, 298 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: So it's it's a harder pass to make from that 299 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 1: side of the floor, but it is actually easier to 300 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 1: make reads. But if you have a player who is 301 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: smart enough and can see the floor well enough to 302 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: make reads from the middle of the floor, that is 303 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: the hardest spot to double team from, and every pass 304 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 1: is a quick little rifle pass away. Nikole Jokic has 305 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: been destroying the NBA with this for years now. He 306 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: catches in the middle of the floor, and there are 307 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 1: so many players that catch in the middle of the 308 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 1: floor and they can't functionally see everything well enough to 309 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 1: make reads. Jokic can. Dirk could as well, so he 310 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: liked to work from the nail because when he was 311 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: in his triple threat, if any team shaded over from 312 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 1: any side, it was an easy pass to somewhere on 313 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: the floor to kill the defense for that specific mistake. 314 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 1: But that from the nails where we're starting from. Everything. 315 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 1: The foundational great skill for Dirk obviously shooting, like we 316 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 1: talked about, but from the standpoint of isolation skill it 317 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: was his ability to get that jump shot off with 318 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 1: just the tiniest bit of space. Dirk leaned back on 319 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 1: his jump shot and had a very high release, and 320 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: so even if you were up in his space, he 321 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 1: could just kind of bump you with his shoulder a 322 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 1: little bit and then quick lean back and get enough 323 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 1: separation to knock that shot down. That forced defenders to 324 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: literally get right up into his airspace. So when Dirk 325 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: would catch at the foul line, dudes were like literally 326 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 1: putting their chest on his shoulder. From there, everything is 327 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: about using his attack foot. His attack foot is his 328 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: right foot, so if he's got his left foot as 329 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 1: his pivot foot, he's leaning into you with that right 330 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 1: foot to then try to lean back to take the 331 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 1: shot or if you're pressing too far up on him 332 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 1: once he gets that attack foot past your foot, So 333 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 1: imagine the defensive player has his right foot up here. 334 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:03,400 Speaker 1: Once Dirk gets his foot past him, he's buying him. 335 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: At that point, you can use a little chicken wing 336 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 1: and he's all the way to the rim. So with Dirk, 337 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 1: he would get you into his airspace with the threat 338 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: of the jump shot and then use leverage to go 339 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,640 Speaker 1: around you. Using that attack foot, and so Dirk would 340 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 1: get a ton of dribble penetration being a guy who's 341 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 1: not a great athlete, a guy that you would think like, oh, 342 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: I'm gonna put you Donnis haslam on him, He's gonna 343 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:25,280 Speaker 1: slide his feet and be able to keep him in front. No, 344 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:28,680 Speaker 1: because Eu Donnas has to be up into his space 345 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 1: to take away the jump shot, and as soon as 346 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:34,160 Speaker 1: he does that, Dirk can feel where his body's at. 347 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:36,359 Speaker 1: Everything about this, the ISO and the post up stuff 348 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 1: with Dirk is all about feeling the body. If he's 349 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 1: got his back to the basket and the dude's leaning 350 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: heavy on his shoulder, he's pivoting this way. If he's 351 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 1: leaning heavy on his shoulder, he's pivoting that way. In 352 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 1: the drive. When he's in a face up situation, if 353 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: you're up in his space and he can get that 354 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:56,119 Speaker 1: attack foot past your foot, he's going around you. But 355 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 1: if you stay back to stop that attack foot, he's 356 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 1: leaning back and taking it shot. And it just made 357 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:07,160 Speaker 1: him completely unguardable because again, like you had to concede something, 358 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:10,439 Speaker 1: and a lot of the biggest shots in Dirk's career 359 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 1: were conundrums that he put defenders in because they didn't 360 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: know which of those two to go with. Even though 361 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,359 Speaker 1: I would argue the biggest shot of Dirk's career that 362 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:22,880 Speaker 1: game two, game winner against the Heat in the twenty 363 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:24,400 Speaker 1: eleven finals, and we're going to talk about that shot 364 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:28,399 Speaker 1: a few times here. That shot was a drive. Greatest 365 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: shooting big Man of all time. Biggest shot of his 366 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 1: career was a driving left handed layup. He ripped through 367 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 1: to the right. Dirk loved to go right left. Even 368 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 1: when he would start right, he would spin back left 369 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 1: and again like that spin. That little bit of leverage 370 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 1: with his shoulder was important to him because he wasn't 371 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 1: a great athlete, so he had to beat people with leverage. 372 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:48,959 Speaker 1: But he caught the ball against Bosh there on that 373 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: left extended elbow, and he ripped through to the right, 374 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 1: and then when Bosh slid, he spun back to the 375 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:57,679 Speaker 1: left and went all the way to the rim with 376 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:00,719 Speaker 1: that left handed layup, so getting him the ball at 377 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:02,440 Speaker 1: the nail or near the top of the floor of 378 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 1: what was really difficult to double team, weaponizing the shot 379 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 1: to force guys to press up into his body and 380 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 1: then using leverage to go past them out of the post. 381 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: It was a very similar type of situation. He preferred 382 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:17,639 Speaker 1: the right block. He would almost always go to his 383 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 1: right shoulder because he had a really good right shoulder 384 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 1: fade away. Again, like right handed players love to shoot 385 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:25,119 Speaker 1: over their right shoulder. He would just kill teams making 386 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:28,399 Speaker 1: this like little right shoulder fade away at like sixty 387 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:32,440 Speaker 1: percent clip, which was insane. But if anybody ever reached 388 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 1: behind to go for the basketball, he's just going all 389 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:37,159 Speaker 1: the way to the rim for a left handed layup. 390 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:39,880 Speaker 1: If you got out of position at all, whatsoever, he's 391 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: going around you. And so he just put teams in 392 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:45,639 Speaker 1: a really difficult predicament with how good he was at 393 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:49,160 Speaker 1: driving to the basket to compensate for his jump shot. 394 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:56,640 Speaker 1: Crowning achievement for Dirk Novitski the twenty eleven championship run. 395 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:00,440 Speaker 1: It was a perfect encapsulation of everything that peaked Dirk 396 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 1: Noovitsky could do well. His jumper was completely locked in. 397 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:05,680 Speaker 1: He shot fifty percent on catch and shoot jump shots 398 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:08,040 Speaker 1: in that playoff run, sixty percent when you weigh it 399 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 1: for threes, fifty one percent on dribble jump shots, fifty 400 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: two percent when you waited for threes, so he literally 401 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 1: made more than half of every jump shot he took 402 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: like that, that's just dead eye shooting. In the playoffs, 403 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:23,440 Speaker 1: barbecued every defender he faced in the playoff Roun twenty 404 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:26,439 Speaker 1: eight points and eight rebounds on sixty one percent true shooting. 405 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:28,639 Speaker 1: Went through the Lakers, the thunder and the Heat, so 406 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 1: he went through Kobe KD and Lebron was absolutely off 407 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,159 Speaker 1: the charts good in clutch situation. So when the score 408 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:37,879 Speaker 1: was within five with less than five minutes left, he 409 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 1: was fifteen for twenty eight from the field, three for 410 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:44,360 Speaker 1: five from three, thirty three for thirty four from the line, 411 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: so just dead eye locked in when the game was 412 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,680 Speaker 1: on the line. He had sixty six total clutch points 413 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 1: in the playoff runt. Lebron was second place in that 414 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 1: playform with forty three, so he had twenty three more 415 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 1: clutch points than anyone else in that playoff runt. In 416 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:00,680 Speaker 1: the NBA Finals, again it's a heat team that was 417 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:04,800 Speaker 1: heavily favored, he was eight for thirteen in clutch situations, 418 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,880 Speaker 1: so eight makes and five misses, one for two from three, 419 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 1: nine for nine at the line. The MAVs were plus 420 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 1: eighteen and eighteen clutch minutes with dark on the floor. 421 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: There were three big moments in that series that I 422 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 1: want to hit on. He hit the game winner in 423 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:21,160 Speaker 1: Game two. Again, that's spin move on Bosch, like we said, 424 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 1: kind of cleared side. Actually it wasn't clearst of his 425 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 1: shooter in the corner. I think it was Jason Terry 426 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:27,720 Speaker 1: in the corner if I remember correctly, But uh yeah, 427 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 1: because he sat like a wide pinned down for Dirk 428 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 1: to get up to the top of the floor and 429 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 1: Lebron couldn't help out of the corner anymore. He does 430 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 1: a hard rip through the right spin back to the left, 431 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 1: left handed layup. Game four, by the way, that and 432 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: by the way, Dirk finished Game two on a nine 433 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:48,399 Speaker 1: to two run by himself as and that was the 434 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 1: crazy comeback game. I remember the heat We're up fifteen. 435 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: D Wade was doing the celebration in front of the 436 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 1: MAVs bench. It was a big comeback win for the MAVs. 437 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 1: Game four, now, this is a pivotal game in the 438 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:01,360 Speaker 1: series because after the heat blue Game two, they went 439 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 1: into Dallas in one Game three. Dwayne Wade was incredible 440 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 1: in that game. They go up two to one in 441 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:09,639 Speaker 1: the series. So in Game four, the Mavericks have the 442 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:12,920 Speaker 1: ball up by one with twenty nine seconds left. It 443 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:15,680 Speaker 1: was eighty two to eighty one. There's a five second 444 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:18,120 Speaker 1: gap between the game game clock and the shot clock, 445 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 1: so if the Heat get a stop, they have a 446 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: chance to go down and score and win the game. 447 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:24,720 Speaker 1: They run the exact same type of play that they 448 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 1: ran in game two. They actually in this game the 449 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 1: Heat go with Eudonis Haslim on Dirk, same sort of situation. 450 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 1: They put Jason Terry in the right corner again instead 451 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:36,920 Speaker 1: of going from the left elbow, this time, Dirk's going 452 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 1: from the right elbow. They put Lebron. They stashed Lebron 453 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 1: away in the opposite corner or in the strong side 454 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 1: corner with Jason Terry on, and Lebron's not going to 455 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: help because Jason Terry was dead eye in that situation. 456 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 1: And in this case, Eudonis Haslim is heavy overplaying the 457 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:55,840 Speaker 1: left shoulder, which is taking away Dirk's jump shot. But again, 458 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:59,359 Speaker 1: like we talked about, Dirk always weaponized that leverage against 459 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 1: the defender. So eudonas is taking away the jumper, but 460 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:06,160 Speaker 1: he's literally giving a right hand drive. And it's funny 461 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:07,639 Speaker 1: because he rips through to the right and you can 462 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:10,440 Speaker 1: actually hear I think it was Jeff Van Gundy on 463 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:13,200 Speaker 1: the broadcast complaining like he's going too early. He's going 464 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:16,680 Speaker 1: too early, but Eudonas was giving him a layup, and 465 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:18,639 Speaker 1: Dirk didn't give a shit because if he makes a layup, 466 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:21,920 Speaker 1: they go up three. It's a you're safe now. They 467 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:24,160 Speaker 1: can't beat you, they can only send the game to overtime. Right, 468 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:26,680 Speaker 1: So he rips through to the right. Lebron doesn't help 469 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:30,359 Speaker 1: bosh ops to box out Dirt Tyson Chandler instead of 470 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:32,959 Speaker 1: go for the block, and Dirt gets an easy layup 471 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 1: to put them up by three. Mike Miller ends up fumbling. 472 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:40,399 Speaker 1: Adin Wade ends up fumbling the game tying possession, throws 473 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:41,879 Speaker 1: it to Mike Miller. He throws up a prayer and 474 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: he airballs it and the series is tied at two. 475 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:48,400 Speaker 1: Significant swing in that game. Dirk just getting an easy basket. 476 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 1: That's always the dead giveaway. It's like, it's not Nicole 477 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 1: jochicch in Game four against the Lakers this year, one thirteen, 478 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,439 Speaker 1: one thirteen, and he just makes it look easy to 479 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:59,400 Speaker 1: get a basket against Anthony Davis when when a guy 480 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:03,879 Speaker 1: is scoring easy in huge leverage situations, that's always a 481 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:07,200 Speaker 1: sign that you've mastered the game. And then in Game six, 482 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 1: Dirk scores ten points in the fourth quarter to execute 483 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:14,880 Speaker 1: the heat win his first title. Each of the five 484 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:16,919 Speaker 1: baskets had a little bit of that Dirk flair to 485 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:19,240 Speaker 1: it right first, one is a double pick and roll 486 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:22,760 Speaker 1: with Tyson Chandler. Jason Terry's running it with Tyson Chandler 487 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:24,960 Speaker 1: setting the screen and with Dirk set in the screen. 488 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 1: Dirk pops Tyson rolls, Jason Terry throws a really nice pass, 489 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:33,640 Speaker 1: hits Dirk. Eudonnas is just a touch slow to close out, 490 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:37,160 Speaker 1: knocks down the jumper. After that, a right block post up, 491 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:40,159 Speaker 1: same type of thing we were talking about. He's posting 492 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 1: up on that right block, left handed dribble. Eudonis's garden. 493 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:48,119 Speaker 1: Himonis just barely reaches, just barely reaches, and then changes 494 00:24:48,119 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 1: his mind and pulls back. But in that split second 495 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 1: where he went like this, Dirk just went right around him. 496 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:55,840 Speaker 1: It was crazy how good he was at reading that 497 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 1: body leverage stuff, goes right to the basket, makes a 498 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 1: left handed layup. Then there was this crazy player where 499 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:03,400 Speaker 1: Chadler gets the ball in a broken play right around 500 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:06,199 Speaker 1: the right around the nail, and Dirk is kind of 501 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:08,880 Speaker 1: relocating above him, and he pitches it back to Dirk, 502 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 1: and Chris Bosh is like all over the place, spun 503 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:14,159 Speaker 1: in circles, tries to close out, but then Dirk just 504 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:16,640 Speaker 1: hits him with a wonderable pull up and knocks it down, 505 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:19,399 Speaker 1: just beautiful wondribble pull up just hits nothing but net. 506 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:23,479 Speaker 1: And then the last one is the one we all remember, 507 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:28,439 Speaker 1: the left elbow iso against Chris Bosh cleared side. This 508 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:32,959 Speaker 1: time Bosh just smothers him along the left baseline, literally 509 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:36,119 Speaker 1: walls him up like this, and Dirk pump bakes and 510 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:38,919 Speaker 1: then literally just kind of bumps Bosh and then leans 511 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:40,919 Speaker 1: to his left and makes a jump shot, just a 512 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 1: ridiculous shot. Then he got a garbage time layup and 513 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:45,919 Speaker 1: pick and roll after the Heat had already quit, if 514 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 1: you remember, in that game, like Dirk had demoralized the 515 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:50,920 Speaker 1: Heat so much that they weren't even boxing out in 516 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 1: the final minutes and the Mass just kept getting offensive rebounds. 517 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:55,880 Speaker 1: But it was a little bit of everything that made 518 00:25:55,880 --> 00:26:00,679 Speaker 1: Dirk great showing up on the biggest stage they upset 519 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:04,200 Speaker 1: the Miami Heat to win Dirk's first NBA championship. One 520 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 1: hell of a crowning achievement, one of the most impressive 521 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:11,479 Speaker 1: playoff runs in NBA history. Biggest what if I have 522 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:13,919 Speaker 1: two for Dirk Novitski Number one, what if the MAVs 523 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,200 Speaker 1: got a better whistle in the two thousand and six finals. 524 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 1: So if you remember the two thousand and six MAVs 525 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 1: went sixteen to twenty two, Dirk was third in MVP voting. 526 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 1: By the way, Lebron James, at age twenty one, was 527 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 1: second MVP voting that year. It's crazy how good he 528 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:26,880 Speaker 1: was when he was young. The MAVs take a two 529 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:29,720 Speaker 1: zero lead in the finals, and they were up by 530 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:31,840 Speaker 1: thirteen points with six minutes left in the fourth quarter 531 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:35,560 Speaker 1: of Game three, but Dwayne Wade goes on a crazy 532 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 1: run to tie it and Gary Payton it's the pull 533 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:40,159 Speaker 1: up jump shot that puts him up by two, and 534 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:43,240 Speaker 1: then Dirk actually ends up getting fouled and misses makes 535 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:45,800 Speaker 1: the first but misses the crucial second free throw, and 536 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:47,679 Speaker 1: then they end up losing right two games to one. 537 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 1: But that starts a run where the Heat win four 538 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:51,280 Speaker 1: games in a row and they actually steal that title 539 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:55,680 Speaker 1: from the MAVs. But here's the thing. Dwayne Wade attempted 540 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:59,400 Speaker 1: an astonishing seventy three free throws over the final four 541 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:01,920 Speaker 1: games of that sit There's a lot of conspiracy theories 542 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 1: about what may or may not have been taking place, 543 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:06,840 Speaker 1: but there's no doubt that he got a good whistle. 544 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 1: Two things are true in this situation. One, the MAVs 545 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 1: could not guard Dwayne Wade. He was way too quick 546 00:27:12,119 --> 00:27:13,920 Speaker 1: for them. No one could keep him in front of 547 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:17,720 Speaker 1: the dribble, so he was constantly flying downhill. He's also 548 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 1: just an incredible athlete and he fell down a lot, 549 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 1: so he was a very difficult player to officiate. There's 550 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 1: no doubt. But he also got a lot of calls. 551 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:31,640 Speaker 1: So I think there's a version of that story where 552 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:34,480 Speaker 1: Wade gets a tighter whistle, the MAVs get the benefit 553 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:35,879 Speaker 1: of the doubt on some of those calls, and they 554 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 1: have a better chance to win that series. So Number one, 555 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:40,600 Speaker 1: what if they get a different whistle in six do 556 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:43,439 Speaker 1: the MAVs have two titles? Number two, what if the 557 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 1: mass had kept Tyson Chandler after the twenty eleven finals. 558 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 1: Tyson Chandler's rim protection played a huge role in the 559 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:51,879 Speaker 1: twenty eleven championship. The MAVs were eighth in defense that 560 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:54,040 Speaker 1: year and they were the third best defense in the 561 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:57,679 Speaker 1: league at protecting the paint, but they let the Knicks 562 00:27:57,760 --> 00:28:00,640 Speaker 1: post poach Tyson Chandler in a three team, three team 563 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:03,399 Speaker 1: sign in dread. I should say Tyson goes on to 564 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:06,120 Speaker 1: anchor really good Knicks team for the next couple of years, 565 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 1: and those were the best Knicks teams of that decade, 566 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:10,119 Speaker 1: which I think Tyson played a big part in. And 567 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 1: then the MAVs just slide their backup Brandon Haywood back 568 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 1: into that starting position. They also made a move for 569 00:28:16,119 --> 00:28:18,639 Speaker 1: Vince Carter, which was something that didn't really pay off. 570 00:28:18,680 --> 00:28:21,400 Speaker 1: He didn't play very well for them, although he did 571 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 1: hit a huge buzzer beating three at one point in 572 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:28,439 Speaker 1: a playoff game. But they were the third worst defense 573 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:31,520 Speaker 1: in the twenty twelve playoffs and they got swept by OKC. 574 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:34,560 Speaker 1: So it kind of sucks that they immediately got rid 575 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 1: of their defensive anchor right after winning a championship, and 576 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:39,880 Speaker 1: they didn't really have a legitimate chance to defend their title, 577 00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 1: which is frustrating. So that's another big what if what 578 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 1: if they had kept Tyson Chandler? Do they win the 579 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 1: twenty twelve championship or at least do they have a 580 00:28:46,560 --> 00:28:48,760 Speaker 1: rematch with Miami? And do we have a chance for 581 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:51,720 Speaker 1: Lebron to redeem himself in those situations? Right? So another 582 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:54,920 Speaker 1: big what if in drk Novitzky's career. All right, guys, 583 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 1: that is all I have for today. We will be 584 00:28:56,880 --> 00:28:58,800 Speaker 1: back tomorrow with number nine. Don't forget to drop a 585 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 1: mailbag question in the comment. So no, so you guys tomorrow. 586 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 1: The volume