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In Michigan one eight seven seven 29 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: eight hope n why or text hope and why to 30 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: four six seven three six nine In New York, tennessee 31 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: redline one eight hundred eight eight nine nine seven eight 32 00:01:55,640 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: nine in Tennessee. Visit www dot one eight hundred gamblert 33 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 1: net in West Virginia. All right, welcome to the Lakers Tonight, 34 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,360 Speaker 1: presented by fan Duel. Here on the volume, I am 35 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: Jason Tim. Happy Monday, everybody. I hope you all had 36 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: a great weekend. There's no Lakers basketball today, but we 37 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: are going to talk some Lakers. This is a very 38 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: important week for the Lakers. They go at home against 39 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 1: the Milwaukee Bucks tomorrow, which the Lakers have a couple 40 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: of really good wins this year, but they don't have 41 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 1: that bona fide, you know, signature win against a championship 42 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,959 Speaker 1: contender with all of their guys healthy, and that game 43 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 1: against the Bucks is a great example of an opportunity 44 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,079 Speaker 1: to get that signature win. They have won their last 45 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: two games against the Milwaukee Bucks. When Lebron James and 46 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,919 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis both play, I actually think it's a very 47 00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 1: good matchup for the Lakers because Lebron and a d 48 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:03,079 Speaker 1: person in a physical and mobile enough front court to 49 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: be able to hang with your honest a little bit 50 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: and give him some problems. So I like that matchup. 51 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: It's a good opportunity. Then they go on the road 52 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:11,520 Speaker 1: to Portland. It's a back to back, which makes it 53 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: a little bit weird, but that's a game they should 54 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: be able to win. Then they have two days off 55 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: before a game with the Warriors on Saturday, another great 56 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 1: opportunity for a big signature win. Then they have one 57 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 1: more game after that after three days off, against the 58 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: Utah Jazz, and then it's the all too all Star Break. 59 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: So this is a great opportunity for the Lakers to 60 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 1: change the complexion of this season. You know, there's an 61 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: old saying and everything every saying that's a saying is 62 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 1: a saying for a reason, and winning cures everything is 63 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 1: true in this case. If you're sitting at what's that, 64 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: I think they're twenty eight and twenty six right now. 65 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: So if you're sitting at thirty and twenty eight, and yeah, 66 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: you're only two games over five hundred, but you're two 67 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: games over five hundred with a bunch of signature wins 68 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: coming off of the trade deadline, hopefully with some reinforcements 69 00:03:57,800 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: on the way, and with a week off with the 70 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: All Star break for guys to get healthy and make 71 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:04,839 Speaker 1: a real run at things to end the season. It's 72 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: one of those things where as bad as this has been, 73 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: and it's been really bad, because if you talk about 74 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: the Lakers as a potential threat to win the Western Conference, 75 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: someone's gonna laugh you out of the chat. That's the there. 76 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 1: They've been a joke this season in that regard, But 77 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: the potential has always been there. The potential has always been, Hey, 78 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: we got Lebron and Anthony Davis. So if you get 79 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: some signature wins. There a little bit of a win 80 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: streak coming into tomorrow's game. They've won three consecutive games 81 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,799 Speaker 1: when Lebron James and Anthony Davis were actually able to finish. Again, 82 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 1: not much, but something to build on. And if you 83 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 1: build on that with some signature wins in the next 84 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:43,839 Speaker 1: week and a half, going into the All Star Break, 85 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: completely changes the vibe of the season. That's how important 86 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: this is, and that's what's at stake here. These are 87 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: good teams. These are teams that are better than the Lakers, 88 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 1: or have been better than the Lakers this season. But 89 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,160 Speaker 1: they are also teams that the Lakers are capable of beating, 90 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:01,039 Speaker 1: and I believe they have a chance to get that done. 91 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: If you look at the standings, the Lakers are only 92 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 1: three and a half games back of that sixth seed. 93 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: I think the six seed is immensely important to the 94 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: Lakers because of the fact that winning a playoff series 95 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: against the Sons or the Warriors is going to be 96 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 1: hard enough. We're gonna talk about that here in a 97 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: little bit, but it's going to be hard enough if 98 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,839 Speaker 1: you can buy yourself an extra two weeks of playoff 99 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: basketball against the team like Memphis or against the team 100 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: like Utah, a team that the Lakers are very much 101 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 1: capable of beating. Then you have a chance to go 102 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 1: into that pivotal matchup against a team like the Warriors 103 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,160 Speaker 1: or against the team like the Suns and feel more 104 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: confident in yourself and feel like you have a at 105 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 1: least at least a better opportunity to throw your best punch. 106 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 1: So big opportunity here before the All Star break. We 107 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:48,719 Speaker 1: will be going live after the Milwaukee Bucks game tomorrow, 108 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:51,160 Speaker 1: right after the final buzzer, so stay tuned for that 109 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: for those of you who are just joining us. This 110 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:56,799 Speaker 1: is Lakers Tonight, presented by Fandel here on the volume. 111 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: We were just talking a little bit about the situation 112 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: in the standings, but then ainything I wanted to talk 113 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 1: about at the top of the show tonight was Russell Westbrook. 114 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 1: In a more practical sense. I've been very critical of 115 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook over the course of this season for obvious reasons. 116 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:13,359 Speaker 1: He just hasn't panned out as a basketball fit with 117 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: this group, and I'm hopeful, as I've said, that the 118 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: leaguers will at least try to trade him before Thursday However, 119 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: the far more likely scenario under the circumstances with Russ's contract, 120 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: the far more likely scenario is that he is still 121 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: a Laker, at least through the end of the season. 122 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: So the question becomes can Russell Westbrook fit alongside Lebron 123 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 1: and Anthony Davis because he's had some good games recently, 124 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: but there are good games that existed within the context 125 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: of him in an elevated role because of injuries. The 126 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 1: truth of the matter is is we're wondering how Russ 127 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:52,479 Speaker 1: can fit as a fourth guy because Malik Monk, like 128 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 1: it or not, is a better offensive option right now 129 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: than Russ. So it's even more complicated than can rust 130 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 1: be a number three? We're asking us to be a 131 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 1: number four, at least on the offensive offensive end of 132 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:07,840 Speaker 1: the floor. So from that standpoint, the question there's basically 133 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: two schools of thought. You have the let Rusty Russ camp, 134 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 1: which namely includes Lebron James. At this point, we saw 135 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: Lebron after the game against the Nicks the other night, 136 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: go out of his way to talk about how you 137 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: know Russ is an instinctive basketball player and that he 138 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: has to get out of his head and just play 139 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 1: his game. So that's the Lebron school of thought. That's 140 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: the Russ fans school of thought. All the people that 141 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 1: have been defensive over us, that's their school of thought, 142 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 1: Like the Lakers have not done a good enough job 143 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: of letting rusby Russ. But then there's the other school 144 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:46,119 Speaker 1: of thought, which is Russ can't be Russ anymore. He's 145 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: not capable of being Russ anymore. And that's where I land. 146 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: I look at it, Like the Carmelo Anthony situation when 147 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: he was out of the league for a couple of years. 148 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 1: There were people that painted that situation as if it 149 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: was some sort of arabistique. How dare they take one 150 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: of the game's all time greats and kick him out 151 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: of the league for a little while. But I looked 152 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 1: at it from another perspective. Carmelo Anthony, from a talent perspective, 153 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: very much belonged in the NBA even in those years. However, 154 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: he was not willing to do the job that was 155 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 1: associated with his lesser role alongside Paul George and Russell Westbrook, 156 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: alongside James Harden and Chris Paul. He was unwilling to 157 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: do that. If you remember, he had press conferences where 158 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 1: he complained about the idea that he would never come 159 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: off the bench. You know, he demanded post touches, and 160 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: he was less just like when he was in his prime, 161 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 1: he was less willing to do the other role player 162 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 1: things that we ask. So he's out of the league 163 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 1: for a little while and it's kind of a humbling experience. 164 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 1: When he first came back to Portland, they used him 165 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: a lot as a starter because they had two because 166 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: of injuries. But the reality was is when Mellow came back, 167 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 1: he was much more open to a bench role. He 168 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: was much more open to his spot up role. He 169 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:03,959 Speaker 1: was much more open to giving up those post touches 170 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 1: that he loved so much. And the main reason why 171 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 1: is because Mellow acknowledged that while his game was declining, 172 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: he still had elite skills that he brought to the table. 173 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 1: He's an elite spot up shooter and he has been 174 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,439 Speaker 1: one of the best wide open jump shooters in the 175 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,599 Speaker 1: league this year. And while he's not slashing to the 176 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: basket and dunking on people anymore, he can put the 177 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 1: ball on the floor once or twice and get to 178 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 1: a one or two dribble pull up and he can 179 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: make that shot attacking a closeout. That's a valuable skill. 180 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 1: He's a good rebounder. He's still big and tall and strong, 181 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:37,679 Speaker 1: so he can defend in the post, and he can 182 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 1: he can box out and do things along those lines. 183 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 1: He honed in on what he was still good at 184 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: and he trimmed the fat the stuff that he was 185 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:48,679 Speaker 1: no longer good at, and as a result, he carved 186 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 1: out a very interesting role in this league because he's 187 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 1: one of the Laker players this year that outperformed his 188 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: veteran minimum contract. That's the phase that Russell Westbrook is 189 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: in right now. He is in the phase that Melo 190 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 1: was in while he was in Okay, see in Houston. 191 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 1: He is still thinking he's the old Russ without acknowledging 192 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: the changes and understanding that his place in the league 193 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:17,679 Speaker 1: is dependent on him adapting. You know, Lebron called like 194 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:21,680 Speaker 1: I said earlier, Lebron called Russ an instinctive basketball player. 195 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 1: Instinctive is just a really nice way of saying he 196 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 1: does things without thinking. It's a really nice way of 197 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:32,959 Speaker 1: saying he doesn't make reads. Because when you're talking about 198 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: the best players in playmaking in the league, the top tier, 199 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 1: I think is Lebron and Luka, don Chich, Nicola Yokich 200 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: and Chris Paul. Those guys are never playing off of 201 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:47,080 Speaker 1: instinct there. There's some muscle memory there. They've seen some 202 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: defenses so many times that they have muscle memory with 203 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 1: the way they react. But they're making reads. They look 204 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: at what the defense is doing and they make the 205 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 1: play that counters what the defense is doing. That is 206 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:03,439 Speaker 1: not instinctive. That is muscle memory in basketball. I you, 207 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: the calling Russ instinctive is just a really nice way 208 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: of saying he's not a very smart basketball player. Now. 209 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 1: When he was in his absolute physical prime, he was 210 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:17,440 Speaker 1: so unbelievably athletic that when he played with instinct he 211 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: was still a huge net positive. But as that has 212 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 1: faded in his game, that is no longer the case now. 213 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 1: Instinctive Russ comes with downsides, especially when you look at 214 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 1: it through the lens of what I was talking about, 215 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,319 Speaker 1: where Malik Monk is now coming into the picture as 216 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:38,679 Speaker 1: a bona fide ball handling option for this team. With 217 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: Malik Monk and Lebron James and Anthony Davis, it is 218 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: even more important for us to be willing to accept 219 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:47,680 Speaker 1: a lesser role. The other way to look at it 220 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 1: is kind of like statistical output, right, Like, if Russ 221 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:55,079 Speaker 1: is being Russ, you might get twelve assists, but you're 222 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:57,640 Speaker 1: also gonna get like seven turnovers, right or six turnover 223 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: You're gonna get the aggression that leads to the bad 224 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 1: you know. So the question becomes, would you rather have 225 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:08,080 Speaker 1: twelve assists seven turnover US or four assist one turnover US? 226 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 1: And I think it's obviously the latter. We need Russ 227 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:17,240 Speaker 1: to adapt to that lesser role, especially with Malik Monk's 228 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 1: emergence as a guy who no longer goes off of 229 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: instinct but a guy who makes reads. You know, there's 230 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 1: this funny moment that happened in a game. Gosh, it 231 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: was a couple of weeks back. I can't even remember 232 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 1: which game it was, but Shaquille O'Neil sit sit in 233 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 1: courtside and Check is kind of bantering back and forth 234 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: with Russ on the court, and he goes, you need 235 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 1: to slow down. And it's kind of hilarious because Shaquille 236 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 1: O'Neil is a center, you know, very much, not a 237 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: you know, a initiating perimeter player. He's the last guy 238 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 1: in the world, you would think would be able to 239 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:55,680 Speaker 1: offer real advice to Russell Westbrook. But the funny part 240 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: is is he was dead on and ironically Russ actually 241 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: admitted it and some of his press conferences that he's 242 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:04,199 Speaker 1: been taking advice from Shack about playing slower. It to me, 243 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:07,199 Speaker 1: to playing slower is not about like Russ not being 244 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:11,559 Speaker 1: athletic or literally playing slow. To me, it's playing slower mentally. 245 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:16,199 Speaker 1: It's slowing the game down and making reads rather than 246 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 1: playing on instinct. You understand that when you make that adjustment, 247 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:22,559 Speaker 1: if you're Russ, you're gonna lose some of the top end. 248 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 1: You're no longer gonna get the crazy scoring up. You 249 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:28,560 Speaker 1: know you're not gonna get the thirty two, fourteen, and 250 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 1: twelve anymore. You understand that that's the trade off. But 251 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 1: the other side of the trade off is you get 252 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: a functional role player, just like what you're getting from 253 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:40,839 Speaker 1: Carmelo Anthony right now. Carmelo Anthony is a functional role 254 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 1: player now when he was not when he was in Houston, 255 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 1: and that literally cost him his spot in the league 256 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 1: with Russ. I made the comparison yesterday, two days ago, 257 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:53,840 Speaker 1: actually that Marcus Smart was an example of a player 258 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 1: who kind of had that chaotic attitude, but he brought 259 00:13:57,679 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 1: so much to the floor defensively. I don't know that 260 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 1: Russ is capable of doing both, but I'm very much 261 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: sure that Russ is capable of doing those dirty work 262 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 1: responsibilities that Marcus Smart does. Another cop that I've used 263 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: in the past is dru Holiday, a player who primarily 264 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:16,000 Speaker 1: focuses his energy on the defensive end of the floor 265 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 1: and then on offense. He's a power guard. It's about 266 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 1: attacking matchups and playing off of two superior offensive players 267 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 1: in Chris Middleton in Jana Santana Coompo. That's kind of 268 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 1: like the vibe that Drew Holiday goes for it. There 269 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: are games where he has the right matchup and he's 270 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: super aggressive, but there are other games where he steps 271 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 1: way back and he feels it out. So to me, 272 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: that's the transition that Russ needs to make. Rust being 273 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 1: Russ is no longer going to work. It needs to 274 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 1: be rust being Carmelo. Obviously not in the literal sense, 275 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,680 Speaker 1: but in terms of that transition that he made. And 276 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: then the last element there is the bench. The main 277 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 1: reason why you have you know, you know it tradid 278 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: any sort of like off the bench score I think 279 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 1: give like your Jerry Stackhouse type or your Jordan Clarkson type. 280 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 1: The main reason why guys like that come off the 281 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 1: bench has to do with the fact that in the 282 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: bench phase of the game, like end first quarter, early 283 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: second quarter, when bench lineups are out there, it's a 284 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 1: little bit easier for you to do the defensive job 285 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: right because now you're guarding a bench player. You know, 286 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: this is why Dwight Howard succeeds so much as a 287 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: backup center. Dwight Howard is feasting on the lesser talented 288 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 1: backup centers in the league. You know, you bring in 289 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: a Jordan clark center Jerry Stackhouse to feast on the 290 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 1: lower quality bench lineups. Now, I don't think you can 291 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 1: ever literally Ben s Russ in the sense of taking 292 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 1: him out of the starting lineup because of his ego, 293 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 1: and that's unfortunate, but it's just the reality of the situation. However, 294 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 1: you can try to line up his minutes in a 295 00:15:56,800 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 1: way that he primarily plays with bench groups. And you've 296 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 1: now established after this game against the Knicks and then 297 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 1: much earlier this season, you have now established that you 298 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 1: can bench Russell Westbrook in a pivotal moment, you have 299 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: the ability to look him in the face and be like, 300 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 1: we are closing this game without you. So he's kind 301 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: of starting to take on that persona and some of 302 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 1: the characteristics of a bench player. You know, So start 303 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: him if you have to, but use him as a 304 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: bench player. I think by doing that you have an 305 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 1: ability to make the most of this next four months, 306 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 1: because come in this summer, Russ is gone. I think 307 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: I think the Lakers are aware enough of how much 308 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 1: of a mistake this was that they're not going to 309 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 1: sign up for an additional year of this, and moving 310 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: off of his contract becomes infinitely easier this summer when 311 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: it's just one year and now teams are basically effectively 312 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: trading for cap space in the summer. But you gotta 313 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: find a way to make this next three or four 314 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 1: months work, depending on how long their playoff run is, 315 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: and the easiest way to do that is to try 316 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 1: to convince him to change his role and to try 317 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:07,199 Speaker 1: to utilize him more against the lesser players on other 318 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 1: teams by having him attack against the bench. 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In Michigan one eight seven seven eight hope 348 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 1: and why or text hope and why to four six 349 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:06,360 Speaker 1: seven three six nine In New York, tennessee redline eight 350 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 1: nine nine seven eight nine in Tennessee visit www dot 351 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 1: gambler dot net in West Virginia. So I wanted to 352 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 1: take some time really quickly to talk about matchups, playoff matchups. 353 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:23,720 Speaker 1: Matchups are what determined and in many cases who wins 354 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 1: the title. You know, like the Calves very much beat 355 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:30,879 Speaker 1: the Warriors, but maybe the thunder team in two thousand 356 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 1: and sixteen, if they get to the finals, maybe that's 357 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 1: a different matchup. Maybe the athleticism is different, and maybe 358 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 1: it swings the who wins the championship. These styles make fights, 359 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 1: and these matchups are very important, and there the two 360 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 1: matchups I want will look at tonight are the Lakers 361 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:48,440 Speaker 1: versus the Warriors or the Lakers versus Suns. Chances are, 362 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:50,680 Speaker 1: if things don't go really well over the course of 363 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 1: the next month, they might have to face one of 364 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: these teams in the first round, but in all likelihood 365 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: they're gonna have to face at least one on the 366 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 1: way to the title, if not both. Now, the interest 367 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:03,200 Speaker 1: thing is on the defensive end of the floor, Lakers 368 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 1: on offense. Both teams match up really well with the 369 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:10,159 Speaker 1: Lakers and have multiple options. They both have a great 370 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:13,719 Speaker 1: option to throw at Anthony Davis. DeAndre Ayton straight up 371 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:17,160 Speaker 1: outplayed Anthony Davison game one of the first round series 372 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 1: last year. Now, over the course of the series, Anthony 373 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 1: Davis showed that he was better. He had back to 374 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: back thirty four point games after that, and the Lakers 375 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:28,159 Speaker 1: were in commanding position until he got hurt. However, if 376 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: you're looking at that and you're like man our center, 377 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: who's not remotely close to our bench, player outplayed Anthony 378 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 1: Davis in a playoff game. That's a huge win. And 379 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:37,680 Speaker 1: he's a great defensive option to throw at Anthony Davis. 380 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: Draymond Green. Same thing for the Warriors in that playing game, 381 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:43,880 Speaker 1: the one where Lebron made the game winner, Draymond Green 382 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: stonewalled Anthony Davison. Post up possessions in that game changed 383 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:50,680 Speaker 1: the complexion from the outset. They immediately started for force 384 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 1: feeding Anthony Davis at the beginning and he could not 385 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:56,439 Speaker 1: score against Raymond Green. That's a huge matchup advantage for 386 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:58,399 Speaker 1: the Warriors. And then on the wing, they both have 387 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 1: like that stock key, you know, veteran savvy defender to 388 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:06,200 Speaker 1: throw at Lebron for Andre Wodola for the Warriors or 389 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 1: Jay Crowded for the Suns. And then they have like 390 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:12,439 Speaker 1: the wiry, more athletic option and Andrew Wiggins or Michael Bridges. 391 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:14,440 Speaker 1: So on the defensive end, they all match up the Saint. 392 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 1: The main reason why I'm more scared or so to 393 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:21,640 Speaker 1: speaker that I think the Warriors have a better chance 394 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 1: or or more likely to beat the Lakers has to 395 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:29,439 Speaker 1: do that overwhelming star power we watched in that series 396 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: as the Lakers took a two one lead, they were 397 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 1: able to make things very difficult for Chris Paul and 398 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:39,239 Speaker 1: Devin Booker. Steph Curry is a super duper star. Is 399 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:43,439 Speaker 1: probably the third best player in the world, if not higher. 400 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 1: There is no game planning for that. There's no scheme 401 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 1: in the world. There's nothing you can do to slow 402 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:54,080 Speaker 1: down Steph Curry. And if you do, we've seen teams 403 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:56,880 Speaker 1: outright trap him as far away from the basket as possible. 404 00:21:57,119 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: And they have the best short roll big man in 405 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 1: the league and dray mung Green to catch that ball 406 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:03,120 Speaker 1: and go down the lane and make reads and make 407 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 1: you pay on the back end. That offensive element that 408 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: Steph Curry brings to the table is gonna be the 409 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 1: massive trump card in any case. Now, the Lakers are 410 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 1: still capable of winning that matchup. They are capable of 411 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 1: physically overwhelming the Warriors in the front court. Their weakness 412 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:22,199 Speaker 1: right now is their front court size. It's one of 413 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 1: the reasons why they've been connected to Sabonis and Turner 414 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:27,400 Speaker 1: so much here on the deadline. However, that's a good 415 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 1: matchup for the Lakers. The differences defensively, the Lakers are 416 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: gonna have a much harder time trying to contain Steph 417 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:37,200 Speaker 1: Curry than they will trying to contain that incessant high 418 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:39,640 Speaker 1: pick and roll from Devin Booker and Chris Paul, which, 419 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 1: by the way, is kind of playing directly into Frank 420 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:44,479 Speaker 1: vogel strong suit. He's very very good at coming up 421 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:46,640 Speaker 1: with cool pick and roll coverages to try to shut 422 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 1: those teams down. The other element to this is just 423 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 1: veteran experience. No, Chris Paul has been in the league forever, 424 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:57,119 Speaker 1: but he has not one and everyone else on the 425 00:22:57,119 --> 00:23:01,440 Speaker 1: team is very young. The Warriors, they've seen everything, man. 426 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:04,119 Speaker 1: They saw a boxing one in the NBA Finals in 427 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 1: two thousand nineteen. They've seen hardcore trapping, They've seen everything 428 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:11,119 Speaker 1: under the sun. They've seen teams completely ignored Draymond Green. 429 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:15,000 Speaker 1: They've seen it all, and they've been there and they've 430 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:18,640 Speaker 1: hoisted the trophy three times. The confidence that you gain 431 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:22,440 Speaker 1: from that is inevitably going to be something that allows 432 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 1: you to feel comfortable in big moments. If you end 433 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 1: up in a pivotal Game five with the Warriors, they're 434 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 1: going into that game feeling comfortable. If it's to two 435 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 1: and the Lakers are going to Phoenix, Phoenix is gonna 436 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:36,920 Speaker 1: feel a little less confident in that type of matchup. 437 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:40,199 Speaker 1: They don't have that experience to lean back on. So 438 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:42,159 Speaker 1: it's an interesting matchup I think. I think the Lakers 439 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: are probably gonna have to go through both of these 440 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:46,200 Speaker 1: teams just with the way things break out with the standings. 441 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:48,920 Speaker 1: But it's interesting looking at the matchups, and I think 442 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 1: the Warriors present, you know, just just with the power 443 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: of Steph Curry, just that little extra ceiling that they 444 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:57,800 Speaker 1: can get to that Phoenix can't get to. Something that 445 00:23:57,800 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 1: I've talked about a lot on the show. Phoenix just 446 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:03,600 Speaker 1: doesn't have at superstar power to lean on really quickly. 447 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 1: Before we get out of here tonight, the last thing 448 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:08,359 Speaker 1: that I wanted to hit on was this a little 449 00:24:08,359 --> 00:24:10,360 Speaker 1: bit more on the heart and trade. So Bill Simmons, 450 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,800 Speaker 1: who is very good friends with Daryl Morey, so he 451 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:15,400 Speaker 1: very well make Nelson might know something on this front. 452 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:19,399 Speaker 1: He reported that the Nets would be interested in the 453 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: trade for for Ben Simmons as long as Seth Curry 454 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:28,280 Speaker 1: was included, which inevitably brought up this question like, is 455 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:30,920 Speaker 1: it worth it to send out one of your best 456 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:34,639 Speaker 1: offensive players alongside Ben Simmons to get a player like 457 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 1: James Harden back. Now. In general, my philosophy with this 458 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:43,560 Speaker 1: kind of stuff is just get the star and figure 459 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 1: out the rest later. It is much easier after the 460 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: fact to fill in little holes on the periphery when 461 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:53,960 Speaker 1: you have that super duper star power. Now, that can backfire, 462 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 1: but it usually backfires when you trade for the wrong 463 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:01,560 Speaker 1: star Allah Russell Westbrook, when you give up really good 464 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:05,400 Speaker 1: role players and the star you get back is not 465 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 1: very good. Like the irony in that trade now is 466 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:11,400 Speaker 1: Kyle Kuzma might be a better player than Russ So 467 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 1: that backfired because you went after the wrong star. Now. 468 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:16,120 Speaker 1: I know James Harden is having one of the worst 469 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:19,440 Speaker 1: seasons of his career. I'm aware of that. But he's 470 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 1: a very finicky superstar. He's very moody, he's very dependent 471 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 1: on things going his way, and he very easily can 472 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:33,200 Speaker 1: get thrown off mentally, and that can end up being 473 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 1: a problem for him on the court. We've seen it 474 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:37,919 Speaker 1: many times throughout his career, even when he was in Houston, 475 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 1: even when things were good, they had a random year 476 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:43,480 Speaker 1: and there where he was forty one and basically didn't 477 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 1: play any defense the entire season. He's that kind of guy. Now, 478 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 1: is he ever gonna be as good as he was 479 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: in two thousand and eighteen? Again, maybe not, But I 480 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:54,199 Speaker 1: know one thing for sure, even right now, even with 481 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:58,120 Speaker 1: as poorly as he's playing, if he's reinvigorated in Houston, 482 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,359 Speaker 1: excuse me, if he's reinvigorated it in Philly, I know 483 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:03,879 Speaker 1: for a fact that he is still one of the 484 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:06,919 Speaker 1: top ten players in the NBA. That's how much of 485 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:10,960 Speaker 1: an offensive weapon he is. And yes, Seth Curry is 486 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:13,680 Speaker 1: a hugely important offensive player for the For the Sixers 487 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 1: right now, they have a ton of dribble handoff stuff 488 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 1: that they run with Joel Embiad. That's one of the 489 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:22,919 Speaker 1: pillars of their offense. However, James Harden, even in his 490 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:27,399 Speaker 1: lesson state, is a significantly better offensive engine than once 491 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:28,680 Speaker 1: you got with Seth Curry. Now, do you have to 492 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:30,280 Speaker 1: figure things out again? Are you gonna have to change 493 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:33,119 Speaker 1: your system? Sure, you gonna have to rebuild chemistry. Sure, 494 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:36,879 Speaker 1: but you're undoubtedly a better offensive team with a higher 495 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:39,920 Speaker 1: ceiling bringing in James Harden, even if you have to 496 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:43,920 Speaker 1: send out Seth Curry. And the most important detail here 497 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:48,119 Speaker 1: is that when you have the super duper stars, the 498 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:51,959 Speaker 1: reason why I believe in trading out role players for 499 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:57,880 Speaker 1: superstars is because superstars feel so many responsibilities on the floor. 500 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:00,679 Speaker 1: You know, like if you had to assigned like a 501 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:03,119 Speaker 1: pie chart or pie graph or whatever you wanna call 502 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:07,320 Speaker 1: it that lays out the responsibilities that have to be 503 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 1: filled on a basketball court. When the two superstars feel 504 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:15,240 Speaker 1: almost the entire chart with what they do, all of 505 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:17,440 Speaker 1: a sudden, those little pieces that you have to fill 506 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:21,040 Speaker 1: in become way more manageable. You'll you're not gonna be 507 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:23,400 Speaker 1: able to find a guy as good as Seth Curry 508 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:26,159 Speaker 1: as a role player next to James Harden and Joel Embiid, 509 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 1: but you can probably find somebody who's seventy eight is good, 510 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:34,199 Speaker 1: which without James Harden is a huge difference because you 511 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 1: need Seth Curry to do everything he's been doing. But 512 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 1: when James Harden is in there and all those responsibilities 513 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:44,399 Speaker 1: are filled, the job becomes easy. This is why the 514 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:47,560 Speaker 1: Lakers won the title. In all their role players looked good. 515 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:50,640 Speaker 1: All those guys that got slandered in the summer coming 516 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:54,199 Speaker 1: into the season did great. Why because Lebron and Anthony 517 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:57,800 Speaker 1: Davis both played like m vps that year, and so 518 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:00,760 Speaker 1: what they expected and needed for them. The role players 519 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 1: on the periphery was such a small and manageable goal 520 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:08,040 Speaker 1: that they all knocked it out of the park. Every 521 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:11,280 Speaker 1: single player panned out that season. Even Rondo, who struggled 522 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:13,800 Speaker 1: that whole season, was awesome in the playoffs, at least 523 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:16,160 Speaker 1: for stretches. So that's the kind of vibe you gotta 524 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 1: look at it the way you gotta look at this. 525 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:20,680 Speaker 1: If you're a filling like, yeah, we're losing Seth Curry, 526 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:23,480 Speaker 1: Yeah we're losing Ben Simmons, but he wasn't playing anyway. 527 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:26,720 Speaker 1: But you're bringing in James Harden. And by having James 528 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:28,959 Speaker 1: Harden and Joe l embiid fill up so much that 529 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:33,080 Speaker 1: pie chart, you open the door for yourself to make 530 00:28:33,160 --> 00:28:36,760 Speaker 1: easy roles available. And with those easy roles, you can 531 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 1: slot in lesser players and they can knock those roles 532 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 1: out of the park. So no matter what Philly asks, 533 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:45,880 Speaker 1: even if they ask for Tyres Maxie instead of Seth Curry, 534 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:48,040 Speaker 1: and in terms of what Brooklyn is asking for, I 535 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 1: mean even if they ask for that, even if they 536 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 1: ask for both, I don't care what they ask for. 537 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:56,280 Speaker 1: You just get the start, because this is not Russell Westbrook. 538 00:28:56,760 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 1: This is not a player that's gonna come in and 539 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 1: massively underperformed. He's gonna be reinvigorated. He's gonna be the 540 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 1: go to perimeter score. He's gonna be playing alongside one 541 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 1: of the best players in the league. He is going 542 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 1: to love it there. He's going to be completely bought 543 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 1: in and he's going to look great. I feel very 544 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 1: confident in that. So you've gotta do what it takes 545 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:18,000 Speaker 1: to get him. Now. The question becomes, do you throw 546 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:19,760 Speaker 1: everything at him now or do you wait till the summer. 547 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 1: And the reason why you go for it now is 548 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:25,440 Speaker 1: because nothing is guaranteed. The Lakers won the title in 549 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 1: that's great, but look at how the two seasons since 550 00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:32,720 Speaker 1: then have gone very easily. Could have gone the other way, 551 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 1: could have been injuries, and maybe this is the year 552 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 1: they're healthy. But you need shots at it, You need 553 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:41,960 Speaker 1: pulls at the slot machine because it is like it's 554 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 1: like a slot machine winning the title. That's how hard 555 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:46,520 Speaker 1: it is to win. And you buy yourself an extra 556 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 1: poll on the slot machine when you make the deal 557 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:51,640 Speaker 1: now instead of waiting to the summer. If you wait 558 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 1: till the summer, there's no guarantee. Next year is going 559 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:56,360 Speaker 1: to be the year it all pans out anyway, and 560 00:29:56,440 --> 00:29:59,320 Speaker 1: you double your chances if you do it now. So 561 00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 1: I hope, hope Philly puts all the chips on the 562 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 1: table and gets James Harden because I think it will 563 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 1: be the best for them. And we talked as we 564 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:08,400 Speaker 1: talked about on Saturday, I love the Ben Simmons fit 565 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: in Brooklyn, filling in a lot of responsibilities that have 566 00:30:11,920 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 1: never been filled in on that team. Alright, guys, that 567 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 1: is all I have for tonight. This will be in 568 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:21,080 Speaker 1: our podcast feed shortly. We will be back right after 569 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:23,720 Speaker 1: the Bucks game tomorrow night, right after the final buzzer. 570 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 1: As always, I appreciate your support and we will see 571 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:54,400 Speaker 1: you tomorrow. The volume