1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: The volume. The NBA eighty two game grind is done, 2 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: and now the real fun begins. The NBA Playoffs aren't here, 3 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: and it's time for all the high stakes drama, clutch moments, 4 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: and jaw dropping plays. I can't wait. If you're looking 5 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: to make the playoffs even more exciting, DraftKings Sportsbook has 6 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: you covered as an official sports betting partner of the 7 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: NBA from the playing games all the way through to 8 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 1: the finals. Now's the time to back your favorite players 9 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: and teams as they chase glory. All season long. 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Everybody, hope all you guys are having a 36 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: great week. We're continuing our series previews today with the 37 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: Los Angeles Clippers versus the Denver Nuggets. We're gonna do 38 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: the same format we've been doing throughout this series. We're 39 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 1: gonna do our season series stuff off top the odds 40 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,800 Speaker 1: in terms of gambling, Denver on offense, the Clippers on offense, 41 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: the swing factors I see playing a role in this series, 42 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: and then finally at the end, my pick. You guys 43 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 1: know the joke before we get started. Subscribe to the 44 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: Hoops Tonight YouTube channel so you don't miss any more 45 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: of our videos. Follow me on Twitter at underscore jsonlts. 46 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 1: You guys don't miss show announcement. So't forget about a 47 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 1: podcast feed where we get your podcast under Hoops Tonight. 48 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 1: It's also super helpful if you leave a rating and 49 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: review on that front. Jackson's doing some incredible work on 50 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: our social media feeds Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Make sure 51 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: you guys follow us there, and last, but not out least, 52 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: keep dropping mail back questions in the YouTube comments so 53 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:46,519 Speaker 1: we can get to them in our mail bags throughout 54 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: the remainder of the season. All right, let's talk some basketball. 55 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 1: So Clippers and Nuggets split the season series to two. 56 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: Not really much there in terms of useful information. Quiet 57 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: didn't play a single game. Nicole Yoaka's missed a game, 58 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 1: Gordon missed a games. Just a lot of different players 59 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 1: playing for both teams. I see that a lot in 60 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: these series previews, which is unfortunate. You end up digging 61 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:09,839 Speaker 1: into like different weird parts of the film to try 62 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:11,799 Speaker 1: to find useful information, like oh, what does it look 63 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 1: like when this guy guards this guy or vice versa. 64 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: But there's not a lot of really solid data for 65 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: some of these playoff matchups, just because of the way 66 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 1: the NBA regular season works with load management, injuries and 67 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 1: all that kind of stuff. Gambling odds Denver opened as 68 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 1: a minus one to sixty five favorite, which, as I 69 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: talked about on Monday, I was super surprised by. Regardless 70 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: of who you actually think will win the series, the 71 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: Clippers have just been playing much, much better basketball for 72 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: a long time. The Clippers finished the season series finished 73 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: the season eighteen and three, and I'd argue They're win 74 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: on the road in Golden State was the most impressive 75 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: win I've seen a team get, given the uh, the 76 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: stakes and everything involved over the course that last third 77 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: of the season. That was a super impressive win against 78 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: a very good Warriors team and a must win game. 79 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: They're playing great basketball. The Nuggets finished the season eleven 80 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: and ten, and then they just fired their coach in 81 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: the middle of the home stretch. Now, to their credit, 82 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 1: they've looked a little better in the last couple games 83 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: of the season. Had a pretty impressive win on the 84 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: road in Sacramento, Sacramento Kings team that's been pretty feisty. 85 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: They looked a little better on defense, but very small 86 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 1: sample size there. It's hard to say the Clippers have 87 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 1: been playing better, so I would have made them a 88 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 1: slight favorite. People seem to agree. The betting line has 89 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 1: moved quite a bit. That line has moved all the 90 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,280 Speaker 1: way down to minus one thirty five for Denver as 91 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 1: the favorite on Draft Kings. And again, once again, all 92 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 1: of our odds are provided by Draft Kings on Denver's 93 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: side of the floor when Denver's on offense. The matchups 94 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 1: I expect to see, We'll see Kristin and Jamal Murray, 95 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: We'll see Zubats on Jokich, and we'll see Kawhi on 96 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 1: Aaron Gordon. Those are the obvious ones. I think it 97 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:54,279 Speaker 1: gets a little trickier after that, with Norman Powell and 98 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: James Harden for Michael Porter Junior and Christian Brown. Christian Brown. 99 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: Excuse me. Both guys can cause problem in different ways. Obviously, 100 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,480 Speaker 1: MPJ is more of like a spot up player and 101 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 1: Christian Brown is more of like a slasher. Right. I 102 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: would go to Norman Powell on Michael Porter Junior because 103 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: I think Norman Powell's pretty solid at lock and trail 104 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: stuff most shooters are. Most shooters are also the best 105 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 1: at defending shooters just because they know their tendencies pretty well. Powell, 106 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 1: I would have him lock and trail on MPJ with 107 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 1: Harden on Brown. Brown does most of his work going 108 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 1: towards the rim, and that way Harden can kind of 109 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:30,160 Speaker 1: camp around and the paint uses size a little bit more. 110 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 1: It's worth mentioning Harden did have some really rough off 111 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,039 Speaker 1: ball defense sequences at the end of the Warriors game. 112 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: You guys, remember when Gary Payton got blocked at the rim. 113 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: It was on a play right down there in the 114 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 1: final few minutes of the game. It was on a 115 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 1: play where Harden just wasn't paying attention and lost Gary 116 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:50,280 Speaker 1: Payton on a cut he himself miraculously recovered. But there 117 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: was another play where he lost Steph Curry and Steff 118 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: relocated up to the top of the Key and got 119 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: a wide open three, and I think it was either 120 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 1: Harden or someone else ended up having a run out 121 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 1: as base and ended up fouling Steph So Harden can 122 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 1: still be a little bit of a space case off 123 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 1: the ball, and Christian Brown can do some damage there, 124 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: but I think setting the matchups up like that, you 125 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,359 Speaker 1: get a little less damage on both fronts. Jokic post ups. 126 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 1: Jokic didn't go down to the post much against the 127 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: Clippers this year. In the three games that Jokic played 128 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:26,479 Speaker 1: against the Clippers himself, he posted just eleven times. For perspective, 129 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 1: do you guys remember when the Spurs and the Nuggets 130 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: had that back to back where they split the series 131 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: on each other's home floor. In those two games, Jokic 132 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 1: posted twenty five times, So that goes to show you 133 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: just the difference in how much he's posting based on 134 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: the matchup. And the reason is Zubots. Zubats is one 135 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 1: of the few players in the league that is nearly 136 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 1: as big and strong as Jokiic. Jokic still does have 137 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:49,039 Speaker 1: a size advantage there, just not much of one, so 138 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 1: he has to rely on more tough shot making. Out 139 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 1: of those eleven post ups that Nikola Jokic logged against 140 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 1: the Clippers this year. Six of them were direct one 141 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,479 Speaker 1: on one post ups with Zoo. In those six post ups, 142 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 1: he took three kind of difficult jump shots, a couple 143 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: face ups and then the somber shelf will kind of 144 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: turn it over his left shoulder, and then three hook shots. 145 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: He went one for six on those shots and didn't 146 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: draw a single foul. Of the three hook shots that 147 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 1: he missed, he missed all three of them. One of 148 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 1: them was kind of a tough, sweeping left handed hook 149 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: that Zoo defended really well. Another one was kind of 150 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: like a contact hook that Zoo defended really well. But 151 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 1: there was a third one that Jokic got right to 152 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: the front of the ram over his left shoulder, and 153 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 1: he just smoked a very easy layup and a couple 154 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: of the face up jumpers. He looked pretty comfortable. So 155 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: I think that even though Jokic went one for six 156 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 1: again Zoo in the regular season, in the post I 157 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: do think Zoo. I do think Jokic can have some 158 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 1: success there. I just don't think it's gonna be something 159 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: he's gonna do a ton. I think we'll see it 160 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:57,559 Speaker 1: in rescue situation, so like late shot clock, maybe something 161 00:07:57,640 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: crunch time. I just don't think we'll see it like 162 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: a super high volume of Yokic post ups agains zubots, 163 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: just because he doesn't have as much of an advantage 164 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: there as he does in other matchups. I do think 165 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: we'll see over the course of the series a dozen 166 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,600 Speaker 1: or so Jokic post ups against Smalls in like transition 167 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: cross matches, pick and roll switches, stuff like that. Jokic 168 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: in the post will play a role in the series, 169 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: just less so than it would in other matchups. Over 170 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: the course of the season. Jokic's work in this matchup 171 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: has been super diversified. Some pick and roll as the handler, 172 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 1: some pick and roll as the screener, a little bit 173 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: of posting mismatches, a lot of three point attempts he's 174 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:38,439 Speaker 1: taken seven threes per game against the Clippers this year, 175 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 1: a lot of spot ups to sixteen spot up possessions 176 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 1: that he locks. So he's doing a lot of work 177 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: where others are working, and he's just sitting out at 178 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: the three point line capitalizing on Zoo sinking down into 179 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: the paint. Lots of pick and pop stuff as well. 180 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 1: That's really high three point volume for Jokic seven per game, 181 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: also shot over fifty percent on those threes against the 182 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: Clippers the two man game. Now, as we know, the 183 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:05,439 Speaker 1: Clippers are going to have forty eight minutes of top 184 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:09,199 Speaker 1: tier perimeter defender to put on Jamal Murray or Russell Westbrook, 185 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 1: Julian Strather, whoever it is. I think we'll see a little. 186 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: I think we'll see a lot less Julian Strather than 187 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: we did in the regular season, just because James Harden 188 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 1: hunted him relentlessly in this matchup and to great effect. 189 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 1: So I'm not sure how much we'll see Strawther, but 190 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: we're gonna see a lot of Jamal Murray obviously, We're 191 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: gonna see a lot Russell Westbrook, and you're gonna see 192 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 1: a lot of Derek Jones and Chris Dunn on those guys. 193 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 1: Jamal held up pretty well in terms of efficiency. He 194 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 1: was good for twenty points a game in the matchup, 195 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:39,600 Speaker 1: over fifty percent from the field, over fifty percent from 196 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:42,719 Speaker 1: three no high volume nights. Though his season high in 197 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 1: this matchup was twenty two points. It's not like he 198 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 1: was getting off in any of the matchups. They absolutely 199 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: can get the ball to Jokic, though in the pocket 200 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 1: in pick and roll he's drawing a crowd there. He 201 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 1: was playmaking out of that a lot in this matchup 202 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 1: this year. The Nuggets did a lot of damage to 203 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: the Clippers on cuts, on spot ups, just various things 204 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 1: out of pick and roll from the attention devoted towards 205 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: Murray and Jokic. The transition battle will be huge here too. 206 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:16,679 Speaker 1: The Clippers gave up twenty three points per game just 207 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 1: in fast break points against the Nuggets this year. So 208 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:22,440 Speaker 1: the keys for Denver on this side of the floor 209 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: they need to run out in transition as much as possible. 210 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:28,839 Speaker 1: Get Christian Brown in the open floor of a hard 211 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 1: and can't handle him. Get Jokic as many transition cross 212 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: matches as possible. Get Jamal Murray freed up from the 213 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: ball pressure that he could potentially face from Chris Dunn 214 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:43,440 Speaker 1: and Derek Jones Junior. That's what you can accomplish by 215 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,680 Speaker 1: getting out in transition. Supporting scoring is going to be huge. 216 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 1: Denver's defense isn't very good. We're going to talk about 217 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:50,440 Speaker 1: it in a minute. So this is going to have 218 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 1: to be a series where the Nuggets log a you know, 219 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 1: one to twenty seven type of offensive rating. And the 220 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: only way they're going to do that is if they 221 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 1: get reliable supporting scoring from Jamal Or, from Aaron Gordon, 222 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: from Michael Porter Junior, from Russell Westbrook. Right, these guys 223 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: are all gonna need to score consistently. And by the way, 224 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: Clippers fans, watch out for Aaron Gordon. This is not 225 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: the same Aaron Gordon. You remember, he's shooting forty seven 226 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 1: percent from three on over four attempts per game since 227 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 1: early February. He's just a good shooter. Now. You can 228 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 1: see it in the form you could see it in 229 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 1: like his confidence. He's taken him in crunch time. He's 230 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: taken lots of them. He built a gym at his 231 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 1: house and put in all the work and now he's 232 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: just a good shooter. So that's something that you have 233 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 1: to keep an eye on in terms of like gapping 234 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: off of guys and letting them shoot. Letting Aaron Gordon 235 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: shoot will backfire. It's gonna have to be someone else 236 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: in that situation. Managing Russell Westbrook's decision making is going 237 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: to be key. David Adlman is done a nice job 238 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: in the early part of his tenure here of managing 239 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 1: Russ's minutes based on where he's at mentally in a game. Russ, 240 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:58,200 Speaker 1: as we know, has the potential to do a lot 241 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 1: of damage to his own team period of time. But 242 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 1: Russ is also one of the most devastating playoff athletes 243 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 1: I've ever seen, and even in this late phase of 244 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: his career, he can be a profoundly impactful athlete in 245 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: the playoffs when the physicality ramps up, when the intensity 246 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 1: ramps up, as long as his role is smaller. Right 247 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: two years ago with the Clippers in the first round 248 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 1: series against the Suns, before Kawhi got hurt, Russ didn't 249 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 1: have much of an offensive role and he was just 250 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: deployed as like this perimeter defender on Devin Booker, and 251 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 1: he was devastating. I think he'll get reps on Kawhi. 252 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: I think he'll get reps on James Harden, and I 253 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 1: think he'll look really, really good in those reps. But 254 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: he'll have to win, Like David Adaman, will have to 255 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 1: weigh all of that with how he's kind of like 256 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,439 Speaker 1: managing the game offensively to see what makes the most sense. 257 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 1: I do think we'll see more of Russ than Jalen 258 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 1: Pickett in this series, just because young players in general 259 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 1: can have a little bit of like a of an 260 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: adjustment period when it gets to the postseason. Jalen Pickett 261 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 1: is a smart basketball player. He's a control basketball player. 262 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,840 Speaker 1: Among young basketball players that I've watched, he's pretty mature. 263 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: But playoffs are a different animal. That's another swing factor here. 264 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 1: What are you getting out of Jalen Pickett in Russell Westbrook? 265 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 1: Are you getting a reliable performance out of one of 266 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 1: those two guys keys for the Clippers. Pressure the hell 267 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 1: out of Jamal Murray with physicality all the time at 268 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:23,679 Speaker 1: every point in the series. He's just coming back from 269 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: an injury. He's a little bit out of rhythm. If 270 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 1: you can do some damage to Murray, if you can 271 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,320 Speaker 1: cut that part of the offense out, you could put 272 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 1: this offense in a really, really precarious situation. Stay out 273 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: of transition as much as possible. That means good shots, selection, 274 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:41,559 Speaker 1: no turnovers, and sprint the hell back. Don't get yourself 275 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 1: caught playing in a track meet with Denver because they'll 276 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: beat you there. Swarm Denver's better offensive players, and tilt 277 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: your rotations towards allowing threes for guys like Christian Brown, 278 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 1: Jalen Pickett, in Russell Westbrook. Those guys can and will 279 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 1: hit shots this season or in this series. I mean, 280 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 1: but they can also go very cold, and you can 281 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:05,319 Speaker 1: gain some ground in stretches when they go cold. That's 282 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: where you need to tilt the offense. If you let 283 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 1: those guys, if you let everyone else play comfortable at 284 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 1: the expense of taking away those shots, that's where you 285 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: can really get torched. Moving to the Clippers on offense, 286 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: the matchups I expect that we'll see. I think we'll 287 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: see Yokich on Zubots obviously, Christian Brown on James Harden. 288 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: I think we'll see Aaron Gordon on Kawhi, Michael Porter 289 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: Junior on Norm Powell, and Jamal Murray on Chris Stunn. 290 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 1: I'm really nervous about the Nuggets on this side of 291 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 1: the floor. Post All Star Break, the Nuggets have been 292 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 1: the twenty third best defense in the league. They have 293 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 1: a one eighteen defensive rating, and they've been bad at 294 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: every level of their defense. They've been bad at the 295 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: point of attack. Jokic has been bad and is at 296 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 1: the level coverages, and their backside rotations have been bad. 297 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 1: I also think it's just a tough matchup for Denver's 298 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: defense in general. The only like really favorable natural matchup 299 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: for them is Jokic on Zoo as like a post 300 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: up and rebounding threat. But even then that could get 301 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 1: tricky in pick and roll. When Jokic has to go 302 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 1: up to the level and Zoo gets behind him, then 303 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: he's got inside position and he can do some damage there. 304 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 1: So let's start with the pick and roll part of it. 305 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: In Norman Powell screening actions and James Harden screening actions, 306 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: they're going to bring Yokic up to the level. Both 307 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 1: of them are way too good as pull up shooters, 308 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: and that's just kind of Denver's base playoff coverage anyway, 309 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 1: the other guy is going to be off the ball 310 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 1: in that situation. Ironically, in the November thirtieth game that 311 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 1: I was watching earlier this morning, there was a sequence 312 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 1: in the second half where the Clippers generated multiple consecutive 313 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 1: wide open threes for James Harden by running Norman Powell 314 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 1: screening actions on the opposite side, two on the ball, 315 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 1: drop to Zoo, four on three. James Harden's wide open 316 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: on the wing hit them both, Like, there's going to 317 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 1: be easy opportunities for the Clippers to generate those four 318 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: on threes by having Norman Powell or James Harden coming 319 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 1: off of those screening actions. A lot of it is 320 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: going to be about setting up the sequencing, setting up 321 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: the spacing to make it more difficult for the Nuggets. 322 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 1: Like you want to have Zoo rolling into the middle, 323 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 1: which means you need to run those ball screens towards 324 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: the sideline. So having Norman Power James Harden and let's 325 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: say he's on the left side, you want to almost 326 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 1: screen him towards the sideline because if you screen him 327 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 1: towards the sideline and Yokic steps up, Zoo's rolling right 328 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 1: to the elbow, and when he rolls to the elbow, 329 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 1: it's an easy little pass there. And as he turns, 330 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: it's a two to on one because the guy who 331 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 1: comes up and tags Zoo is the guy that's coming 332 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 1: off of the corner and the guy who's guarding the 333 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 1: wing is dropping to the corner or playing in between 334 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: those two, and Zoo can then make a pass, fake, 335 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: or do whatever he needs to do to read that 336 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: two on one to create that passing angle when they 337 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: set up their spacing and they're sequencing properly, those catches 338 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: in the middle of the floor for Zoo were getting 339 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 1: them great shots. And again, like we talked about, Zoo 340 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 1: had twelve offensive rebounds in just the games against Denver 341 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: this year, So there is an opportunity there for him 342 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:04,840 Speaker 1: when he gets behind Jokic in those ball screens as 343 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 1: Jokic goes up to the level for them to do 344 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: some damage. Also, we talked about James Harden getting those 345 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: catch and shoots. Norman Powell is a very very good 346 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:15,680 Speaker 1: closeout attacker. You guys saw that at the end of 347 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 1: the Warriors game, right close out attack off of the 348 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 1: left wing where he got a scooping layup in the middle, 349 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: and then another one out of the left corner where 350 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 1: he got the reverse layup. That was all off of 351 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 1: attention drawn on the strong side. Those hardened ball screens 352 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: that draw that extra defender are going to get a 353 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:33,359 Speaker 1: lot of opportunities for Norman Powell to attack from the 354 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 1: weak side. Also in ball screens, different kind guard guard 355 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: ball ball screens, James Harden will do a lot of 356 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,480 Speaker 1: matchup hunting here. He talked earlier about how he did 357 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 1: a ton of it against Julian Strawther, but he also 358 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: did a lot of it against Jamal Murray in this matchup, 359 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: setting up his ISOs getting into a step back three driving, 360 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 1: getting to the foul line. That's another thing that the 361 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:55,919 Speaker 1: Clippers are going to be able to go to in 362 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 1: the half court that I think they will have some 363 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:03,239 Speaker 1: success with Aaron Gordon on Kawhi Leonard. This is a 364 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 1: natural matchup in terms of the one on one Aaron 365 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 1: Gordon is actually one of the better defenders I've seen 366 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 1: in the Western Conference, specifically at guarding the power, you know, 367 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: size oriented wings in the league, So like Lebron you know, Cole, 368 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:23,879 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant, you know, like even against guys inn Eastern 369 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:27,880 Speaker 1: Conference like Jason Tatum or a you know, a Pala Bancaro, 370 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 1: that kind of stuff. Like Aaron Gordon is a very 371 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 1: good matchup for that type of player. But the issue 372 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: that you have with Denver is Michael Porter Juniors having 373 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:40,440 Speaker 1: one of his worst defensive seasons post All Star Break. 374 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: The Nuggets have almost a one to twenty one defensive 375 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: rating with Michael Porter Junior on the floor. If you 376 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 1: put Aaron Gordon as the guy who's guarding Kawhi out 377 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,680 Speaker 1: on the perimeter. Kawhi, who's just been Robot Kawhi, the 378 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: Kawhi that we have grown to recognize as one of 379 00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:59,919 Speaker 1: the most devastating playoff players in the league when he's healthy. 380 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:03,880 Speaker 1: That pulls Aaron Gordon away from the low man situations 381 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:07,160 Speaker 1: that he can be more impactful. Other than Peyton Watson, 382 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:11,680 Speaker 1: I'd argue, I'd argue, Aaron Gordon is your best lowman defender, 383 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:14,640 Speaker 1: so pulling him out to deal with Kawhi just could 384 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:18,119 Speaker 1: leave them in some precarious situations where it's like just 385 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 1: Michael Porter Junior on the back line where he's been 386 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 1: an issue. And there's also a little bit of a 387 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:25,360 Speaker 1: quickness thing that's starting to show up with Kawhi, where 388 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:28,200 Speaker 1: he's starting to get separation just ripping through and driving 389 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 1: on these guys. And again, Aaron Gordon is a little 390 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:33,159 Speaker 1: bit better equipped to deal with some of the power 391 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 1: stuff that Kawi does because he's big and strong and 392 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 1: also has size on Kawhi. But there's a little bit 393 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 1: of a quickness advantage there for Kawhi that wasn't showing 394 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 1: like a month ago, but now is really starting to 395 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:46,360 Speaker 1: show and I think that that's something that could swing 396 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:48,880 Speaker 1: the series if Kawhi just proved to be too fast 397 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: for a guy like Aaron Gordon. I do think we'll 398 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 1: see some Christian Brown here. I do think we'll see 399 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:57,400 Speaker 1: some Russell Westbrook here as well. But you know, Kawi 400 00:19:57,520 --> 00:19:59,119 Speaker 1: is just in one of those zones right now, and 401 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 1: it might not matter who's on him. Keys for Denver. 402 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:05,480 Speaker 1: Denver's pick and roll defense, like they just that, it's 403 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:08,000 Speaker 1: all three levels, right, have to do a better job 404 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 1: of pressuring the ball. Then when the ball gets into 405 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 1: the ball screen, Jokic has to do a better job 406 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 1: of pressuring the ball on his side of the ball screen, 407 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: on his side of the bracket, getting his hands up, 408 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: being active, making those passes go through tough windows, deflections, 409 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 1: having to throw them looping over the top, stuff that 410 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: makes your rotations easier. And then obviously that third piece 411 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: of it is those backside rotations. They have to be 412 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 1: sharp in this series testing other defenders on Kawhi. We 413 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:39,359 Speaker 1: talked about Aaron Gordon as your second best back line defender. 414 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,840 Speaker 1: If you can find a different defender that can do 415 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 1: a decent job on Kawhi, Leonard, then you can keep 416 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:48,200 Speaker 1: Aaron Gordon on the back line, which raises the floor 417 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:54,160 Speaker 1: of your defense considerably, playing more defensive personnel and counting 418 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: on Jokic to raise the offense. This is something that 419 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:58,480 Speaker 1: I would think of as a big picture goal for 420 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,280 Speaker 1: the Nuggets in terms of roster building after this season. 421 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 1: But like if Michael Porter Junior isn't in the game, mentally, 422 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:08,920 Speaker 1: more Peyton Watson, play Peyton next to Aaron Gordon, lean 423 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 1: into your defensive personnel, and count on the fact that 424 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 1: Nikole Jokic can generate those guys easier opportunities on the 425 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 1: other ends of the floor. Keys for the Clippers, I 426 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 1: would lean a lot more on James Harden than I 427 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 1: would on Kawhi Leonard in this series. The nuggets Achilles 428 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,960 Speaker 1: heel is their pick and roll defense, and Kawhi will 429 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:30,600 Speaker 1: get to play a lot in the get to be aggressive, 430 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:33,439 Speaker 1: a lot in the opportunities where James Harden's off the floor, 431 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 1: in second side opportunities, when the Nuggets do defend a 432 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 1: Harden pick and roll well, in crunch time, that sort 433 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:42,119 Speaker 1: of stuff. He's gonna have his opportunities. But I like 434 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 1: the idea of James Harden and him getting two to 435 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 1: the ball as a foundational concept for the Clippers to 436 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,199 Speaker 1: play with an advantage in the entire series. I'd lean 437 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:51,920 Speaker 1: on a lot of James Harden pick and roll in 438 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:56,880 Speaker 1: this series. Norman Pallin but bog Don mcdonovich supporting scoring. 439 00:21:57,080 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 1: Denver is very good offense. They will score quite a 440 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:03,920 Speaker 1: bit in the series. Even when the Clippers do everything right, 441 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: it will turn into a shootout at points. The shot 442 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:10,560 Speaker 1: making of Norman Powell and bog Don mcdonovitch will be 443 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:12,919 Speaker 1: really really important for the Clippers in this series. And 444 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:15,879 Speaker 1: then Chris Dunn and Dereck Jones junior hitting spot up threes. 445 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:18,200 Speaker 1: Chris Dunn went three for three against the Warriors. That 446 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 1: was a huge part of that game, played really well 447 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: out of some double teams of Kawhi Enard late. If 448 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:27,359 Speaker 1: you tilt things towards Chris Dunn and he misses, that 449 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 1: could be a big swing factor in this series as well. 450 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:31,240 Speaker 1: And so as we look at the swing factors for 451 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:33,879 Speaker 1: both teams, the play of Russell Westbrook, just because he 452 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 1: has such a high ceiling and such a high floor 453 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:38,359 Speaker 1: which direction that tilts, could play a huge role. The 454 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 1: Nuggets young guys like how much do you get out 455 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 1: of Peyton Watson. How much do you get out of 456 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:46,119 Speaker 1: Jalen Pickett in a series like this? Norman Powell, excuse me, 457 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:48,359 Speaker 1: Chris Dunn and Derreck Jones Junior and their spot up 458 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:52,119 Speaker 1: shooting like we talked about earlier. And then lastly, Kawhi's health. Obviously, 459 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:55,200 Speaker 1: this is going to be different than playing one super 460 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:58,360 Speaker 1: important regular season game. This is going to be a 461 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:00,919 Speaker 1: two week long battle with the Nuggets, and we got 462 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 1: to see if Kawhi's knee can hold up my pick. 463 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 1: This has been the hardest series for me to pick 464 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:09,359 Speaker 1: so far. So out of all the series that picked 465 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:12,399 Speaker 1: easily the closest margin. I do believe the Clippers are 466 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:15,200 Speaker 1: a slightly better team, but I think Jokic is the 467 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:17,360 Speaker 1: best player in the series by a decent margin, which 468 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:20,480 Speaker 1: I think matters. And the Nuggets have home court, so 469 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:22,879 Speaker 1: that's what kind of made this super tough for me. 470 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 1: That said, I'm picking the Clippers in six games. Going 471 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:28,760 Speaker 1: back to the comfort thing I talked about yesterday, it 472 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:30,920 Speaker 1: really comes down to me which defense has the better 473 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:34,880 Speaker 1: chance of making the opposing offense uncomfortable, and through Derek Jones, 474 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:37,360 Speaker 1: you and You're and Chris Dunn, pressuring Jamal Murray, through 475 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 1: Zoo's size on Jokic, through the Clippers just genuinely being 476 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 1: a better defensive rotation team. I think they're going to 477 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:48,320 Speaker 1: be able to do more to make Denver's offense uncomfortable 478 00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:50,639 Speaker 1: than the other end of the floor, where Denver is 479 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:53,720 Speaker 1: this abhorrent defense and the Clippers are really starting to 480 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:56,159 Speaker 1: find some formulas that are working for them on the 481 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 1: offensive end of the floor. So my prediction is that 482 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 1: Jokic is awesome, but that Murray and the rest of 483 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:06,679 Speaker 1: the Nuggets struggled to be consistently good on offense, and 484 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: that the Clippers end up getting this done. That's all 485 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:11,879 Speaker 1: I have for to get today, guys. Is always. I 486 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: sincerely appreciate you guys for supporting me and supporting the show. 487 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:17,480 Speaker 1: I'll see you guys next time. What's up guys? As always, 488 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: I appreciate you for listening to and supporting OOPS tonight. 489 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:22,639 Speaker 1: They would actually be really helpful for us if you 490 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 1: guys would take a second and leave a rating and 491 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:27,600 Speaker 1: a review. As always, I appreciate you guys supporting us, 492 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 1: but if you could take a minute to do that, 493 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:33,280 Speaker 1: I really appreciate it. The volume