1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:02,120 Speaker 1: The volume. 2 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 2: The NBA Finals are almost here and every play could 3 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 2: be the one that changes everything. This is the NBA 4 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 2: Playoffs where heroes rise, legacies are built, and the action 5 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 2: never lets up. And with DraftKings Sportsbook and official sports 6 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 2: betting partner of the NBA, you don't just watch the madness, 7 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 2: you live it. 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Everybody, hope all you guys 37 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 2: are having a great week. 38 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: Well. 39 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 2: Game two of the Western Conference Finals looked very similar 40 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 2: to Game one, except for we didn't get the rough 41 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 2: shooting performance from shake Yelgas Alexander in the first quarter. 42 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: We got a few different defensive looks from Minnesota, neither 43 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 2: of which I thought were the answer, and once again 44 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 2: down the stretch, Oklahoma City pulls away as Minnesota just 45 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 2: gets frustrated and kind of lets go of the rope, 46 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 2: and we are headed back to Minnesota with the Thunder 47 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 2: up two to zero. In this series, we're gonna be 48 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 2: breaking down this game from the perspective of both teams. 49 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 2: I'm gonna talk about some potential adjustments. We're gonna be 50 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 2: talking a lot about SGA today and some of the 51 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 2: specific ways that he's super effective as an on ball 52 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 2: score our Microsoft segment today, we're gonna be covering Shay's 53 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 2: MVP case, lots of Shaye talk today, and then at 54 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 2: the tail end of the show, we'll take ten to 55 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 2: fifteen minutes of mailbag questions from the chat. When we 56 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 2: finish up here tonight, we're gonna be heading over to 57 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,639 Speaker 2: Playback for our usual after show. That's where we take 58 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 2: callers we watched film. We have a much more informal, 59 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 2: just have fun talking hoops type of experience. I've been 60 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 2: having a blast with those shows. I hope you guys 61 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 2: will come over and hang out with us again. That's 62 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:16,959 Speaker 2: playback dot tv slash Hoops Tonight right after we get 63 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 2: done here. On YouTube, you guys know the jope before 64 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 2: we get started. Subscribe to with Hoops and Ight YouTube channels. 65 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 2: You don't miss any more of our videos. Follow me 66 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 2: on Twitter at underscore JSNLT so you guys don't miss 67 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:27,359 Speaker 2: you announcements. Don't forget about a podcast feed wherever you 68 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 2: get your podcast under Hoops Tonight. It's also super helpful 69 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 2: if you leave a rating inter review on that front. 70 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 2: Jackson is doing great work on our social media feeds Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok. 71 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 2: Make sure you guys follow us there, and then, like 72 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 2: we mentioned earlier, keep dropping those mail bag questions in 73 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 2: the YouTube comments so we can get to them at 74 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 2: the tail end of the show from the chat. All right, 75 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 2: let's talk some basketball. So I thought tonight it was 76 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 2: a classic example of how watching the box score is 77 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 2: not the answer to who is playing better in any 78 00:03:56,160 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 2: particular game. We had a question right after game where 79 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 2: someone asked me why I wasn't more critical of Anthony 80 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 2: Edwards scoring zero points in the fourth quarter. And one 81 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 2: of the things we've talked a lot about since that 82 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 2: is the reality in the massive difference between the way 83 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 2: these two teams are guarding each other, and it was 84 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 2: way more aggressive tonight. He had thirty two, nine and 85 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 2: six and he was a minus twenty two, and I 86 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 2: didn't think he played particularly well. The reality is is 87 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 2: these two teams are guarding each other in diametrically opposed fashion. 88 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 2: The Thunder are packing the paint, conceding corner kickouts, literally 89 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 2: begging frant and Julius to try to force it into 90 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 2: traffic so that they can be inefficient and turn the 91 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 2: basketball over on the other end of the floor. In 92 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 2: the other part of it, too, is they're just trying 93 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 2: to force Minnesota their role players to take mildly contested 94 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 2: corner threes in high pressure situations on the other end 95 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 2: of the floor, With exception of a few sequences of 96 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 2: zone which we'll talk about in a little bit, which 97 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 2: a thunderscored fine against, and then kind of a haphazard 98 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 2: aggressive double team approach against Shae in the fourth quarter, 99 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:17,279 Speaker 2: a lot of just staying home on shooters and just 100 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 2: pressing up on Shae, playing one on one against him, 101 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 2: defending ball screens two on two. The job for Shae 102 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 2: in this series is to score the basketball. So what 103 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:36,160 Speaker 2: I'm looking for from Shaye is scoring volume and efficiency. 104 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 2: The job for Aunt and Julius in this series is 105 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 2: to get the ball out to their shooters on time, 106 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 2: on target in the shooting pocket so that they can 107 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 2: either make the defense pay knocking down the shot or 108 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,919 Speaker 2: drive a close out and get the defense into rotation 109 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:56,040 Speaker 2: where they can attack from there. And Ant came out tonight, 110 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 2: took eighteen shots in the first half, and like, there 111 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 2: was some good looks in there, some good three point 112 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 2: shots off the catch that I liked, some that he made, 113 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 2: some that he missed, driving layup off of a Julius 114 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 2: Randall post up where he was one pass away where 115 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 2: he finished over the top of chet driving to close out. 116 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 2: There are shots in there that I liked. There are 117 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 2: some even some one There are even some on ball 118 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 2: one on one shots that I liked in there, But 119 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 2: they were like eight or nine of those shots that 120 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 2: I thought were bad shots early clock contested pull up 121 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 2: threes against a pick and roll coverage, or trying to 122 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 2: knife through six different bodies in the paint, including his 123 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 2: own teammates, to try to finish in traffic. I thought 124 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 2: he forced the issue tonight and Minnesota couldn't score. They 125 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 2: didn't score over twenty five points in a quarter until 126 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:47,280 Speaker 2: the fourth quarter. On the other end of the floor, 127 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:52,919 Speaker 2: Shay came out and consistently and efficiently worked out of 128 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 2: ISOs and ball screens to make the Wolves pay for 129 00:06:57,440 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 2: letting them play one on one and letting them play. 130 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: Two on too. 131 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 2: So the question is how is it that Shaye continues 132 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 2: to be so successful against the defense as good as Minnesota's, 133 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 2: And it goes deeper than the game plan. Part of 134 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 2: it is the game plan, but by the way, Shaye 135 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 2: has torched Minnesota all year long. The first half of 136 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 2: Game one was the exception. He has torched these guys. 137 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 2: Part of it is the game plan. Chris Finch historically 138 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 2: has trusted his one on one defenders and wanted to 139 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 2: stay home off the ball. That is very much a 140 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 2: Chris Finch ideology. It's like the exact opposite of what 141 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 2: you see from OKC or Memphis or some of these 142 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 2: younger Ford aggressive pack to paint types of types of teams. 143 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 2: But it goes deeper than that. Minnesota has elite one 144 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 2: on one defenders. Jaden McDaniels is theoretically the perfect type 145 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 2: of player to guard a guy like Shae, a guy 146 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 2: that he can't overpower, a guy that has. He's got 147 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 2: longer arms, is taller, who moves his feet well, great 148 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 2: at contesting pull up jump shots. We even saw him 149 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 2: block Shay pull up three tonight like He's theoretically the 150 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 2: perfect type of player to guard it, but shake. Gilles 151 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 2: Alexander was the best high volume ISO player in the 152 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 2: league this year for a reason. Out of the five 153 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 2: players to run at least three hundred ISOs to take 154 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 2: at least three hundred shot attempts out ISO's his one 155 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 2: point one zero points per possession rate number one in 156 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 2: the league, and it's a simple dynamic. He is the 157 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 2: best driver of the basketball in the world, and he's 158 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 2: one of the highest field goal percentage pull up shooters 159 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:37,560 Speaker 2: in the world. That's the give and take with it. 160 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,439 Speaker 2: He logged two hundred and sixty five more drives than 161 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 2: any other player in the NBA this year, In other words, 162 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 2: four more per game than anyone in the NBA this year, 163 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 2: and he's one of the highest field goal percentage pull 164 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 2: up shooters in the world. At Out of the thirteen 165 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,040 Speaker 2: players to take at least five hundred pull up jump 166 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:01,079 Speaker 2: shots this year. Only Demarta ros In shot a higher 167 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 2: field goal percentage than Shay, and Shay was more efficient 168 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 2: because he took more threes. Shay shot forty five percent 169 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 2: on mid on pull up jump shots one point zero 170 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:15,359 Speaker 2: six points per shot. This puts every defender, even fantastic 171 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 2: defenders like Jad McDaniels and a bind. You have to 172 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 2: overreact to the drive, but at the same time you 173 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 2: have to overreact to the pull up because he's so 174 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 2: good at both. And this is where Shay's brilliance comes 175 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 2: into the equation, because he's remarkably gifted at selling one 176 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 2: or the other, changing pace, selling fakes. He has a 177 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 2: ridiculous ability to chain together counter moves. I've never seen 178 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 2: a player that can get into your body and cross 179 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 2: over and get into your body and behind the back 180 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:47,199 Speaker 2: and get into your body and spin and just counter 181 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 2: counter counter until you eventually give up that angle. And 182 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 2: when he give up, when you give up that angle, 183 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 2: that's when he goes downhill on you and if you 184 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 2: concede space. He's one of the best over the top 185 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 2: shooters in the league. One of the things he was 186 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 2: doing tonight that I found really interesting whether it was 187 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 2: in ball screens or in ISO situations, he's snaking the 188 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 2: help defender. You guys ever see this in ball screens 189 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:12,680 Speaker 2: where like a guy will come over the top of 190 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 2: the screen and then he'll cross back over to the 191 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:17,559 Speaker 2: direction he originally came from, and the big man will 192 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 2: have no idea what to do is he kind of 193 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:22,199 Speaker 2: works back towards the middle. Shay will do that on drives. 194 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 2: He'll hard drive, someone will hard step over and help, 195 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 2: and he'll just immediately cross back over into the middle. 196 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 2: And now all of a sudden, the help defenders got 197 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 2: his body, a'll shift it out of position and he's 198 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 2: right at the front of the rim again. It's one 199 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 2: of the biggest reasons why I think Minnesota absolutely must 200 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:43,840 Speaker 2: change their game plan. This whole situation gets exacerbated by 201 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,080 Speaker 2: Jada McDaniel's ball pressure. I talked about this in Game one. 202 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 2: You guys saw it again on the last driving layup 203 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 2: that he had down the right side of the lane tonight, 204 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 2: when Jaden. 205 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:55,080 Speaker 1: Is picking him up twenty eight feet. 206 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 2: From the basket, that's just food for Shay. He's going 207 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 2: right around him. Every single time we did see some 208 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 2: shift from Finch. We saw some zone that didn't work. 209 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 2: We'll talk about it in a minute. Again, they tried 210 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 2: doubling in the fourth quarter a little bit more. I 211 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 2: don't think those are the answers. I'll talk about it 212 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 2: in a minute when we start talking about Minnesota's adjustments. 213 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 2: But the weaknesses for OKC that have been on display 214 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 2: this postseason is sometimes Shay will force the issue through 215 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,679 Speaker 2: multiple bodies. When the defense is trying to force him 216 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 2: to be a passer, he'll force it sometimes. And two, 217 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:39,319 Speaker 2: their catch and shoot guys can go deadly cold sometimes 218 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 2: in this defensive scheme, which takes away catch and shoot threes, 219 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:49,200 Speaker 2: Let's Shay work one on one and pressures the ball, 220 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 2: which allows him to drive to the basket. Is literally 221 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 2: playing directly into Oklahoma City's hands. Every playoff series is 222 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,719 Speaker 2: a chess match, and that chess match starts with your 223 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 2: base line scheme, usually a defensive scheme geared towards the matchup. 224 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 2: For Chris Finch and the Wolves, it was geared towards 225 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 2: exactly what they did in the regular season. To everybody, 226 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 2: it's their kind of like stock scheme that they use 227 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 2: right and nothing is going to change for either team 228 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 2: until you show an ability to beat that base scheme. 229 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 2: You want to know why we saw zone out of 230 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 2: Minnesota tonight. You want to know why we saw doubling 231 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 2: because they're grasping at straws because Shay is killing them 232 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:30,440 Speaker 2: one on one. 233 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 1: You want to know why. 234 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 2: Okac has more or less been doing the same thing 235 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 2: on defense through the entire series to this point, It's 236 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 2: because Ant keeps trying to force his way into traffic. 237 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 2: Julius Randall forced his way right out of the game tonight. 238 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 2: They are not showing the ability to dislodge Oklahoma City 239 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 2: from their base scheme. Part of that is Minnesota's walked 240 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 2: into the series with a certain amount of ego thinking, 241 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 2: we have the best individual defenders in the league. Look 242 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 2: what we do to Luca, Look what we did to Lebron, 243 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 2: Look what we did to Austin. And you know, obviously 244 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 2: the dregs of the Golden State roster after Steph got hurt. 245 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 2: But like they went in that series thinking they were 246 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 2: gonna be just fine. And again, like, what did I 247 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 2: complain about in the Lakers series? What did I say consistently? 248 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 2: Why did Minnesota win because Lebron couldn't score, because Luca 249 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 2: couldn't score because Austin couldn't score when they needed to 250 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:29,080 Speaker 2: score in the pivotal moments of the game. Shay continually 251 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 2: has given these dudes buckets. They can't guard him one 252 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:37,520 Speaker 2: on one. And so here we are through two games, 253 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:40,680 Speaker 2: and as we head back to Minnesota, they've got to 254 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 2: they've got to shift their base scheme and we'll see 255 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 2: what happens next. I'm gonna talk some Minnesota adjust Minnesota 256 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 2: adjustments in a minute. Okome a city beating the zone. 257 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:50,679 Speaker 2: I thought it really came down to two things. Their 258 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 2: offensive rebounding and again, this is a problem with zone 259 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 2: in general. You're not matched up with individual offensive players, 260 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 2: and so there's a tendency to give up cuts and 261 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:01,199 Speaker 2: crashes because you're just not matched up with guys and 262 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:03,960 Speaker 2: you can give up offensive rebounds in that way. And 263 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 2: then Alex Cruso on his ability to score in the 264 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 2: middle of the floor. One of the things he'll see 265 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 2: against his zone, especially when you've got a chet Holmegrin 266 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 2: or an Isaiah Hartenstein that can be a vertical spacer 267 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 2: underneath the basket, the big man will not want to 268 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 2: come out to the middle of the floor. He won't 269 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 2: want to come out to the middle because he'll give 270 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 2: up that lob or that dunk. So with the top 271 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 2: guys being concerned with the guys on the top tracking 272 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 2: the three point line, corner guys the same thing, a 273 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 2: lot of two three zones will concede a catch there 274 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 2: in the middle, and Crusoe over and over again just 275 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 2: kept catching the ball in the middle of the floor 276 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 2: and scoring there as he was left open, and so 277 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 2: the zone just didn't work for Minnesota to slow down 278 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 2: Oklahoma City in this game. I J Dub and Chet 279 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 2: were both fantastic. Jet's been really effective in this series 280 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 2: around the rim as a score since basically the second 281 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 2: half of Game one, and a big part of that 282 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 2: is that same dynamic we were talking about earlier. Everything's 283 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 2: like in ball screens they're being defended two on two. 284 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 2: In the one on ones when they're offering help, they're 285 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 2: not like swarming. They're bringing one guy over, usually the 286 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 2: big in which case when he steps over, Chet's finding 287 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 2: opportunities as an offensive rebounder. Both Chet and JDub were 288 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 2: deadly in transition in this game. I thought that was big. 289 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 2: But to get fifty or to excuse me, to get 290 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 2: forty eight points from those two guys. That's one of 291 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 2: the best supporting scoring games we've seen the Thunder get 292 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 2: in this postseason. And then overall just Oklahoma City's defense, 293 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 2: which has been fantastic in this entire playoff run. They 294 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 2: erased Julius Randall in this game. If you guys remember, 295 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 2: I talked before the series about the specific thing that 296 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 2: tilted me back towards Oklahoma City. Even though my initial 297 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 2: gut feeling was that Minnesota had advantage in this series, 298 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 2: the big thing that tilted me back towards Oklahoma City 299 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 2: was the specific die you saw tonight, the inability to 300 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 2: get the ball to Julius Randall in an advantageous scoring position. 301 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 2: Oklahoma City went back to the exact same approach that 302 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 2: they used against Denver, which was just fronting the post, 303 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 2: and we saw multiple steals on plays where Julius tried 304 00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 2: to get the arm into the back and create that 305 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 2: over the top passing angle. Pass comes in over the top, 306 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 2: but there's ball pressure, so that passes like a looping pass, 307 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 2: and here comes lou Dort shooting in on the back 308 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 2: line to get that steal. I think it was Shay 309 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 2: that got the other one coming over and swiping away 310 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 2: against the post front as he brackets from behind. Their 311 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 2: defense has been fantastic in the series. The ball pressure, 312 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 2: the rim contests the Shay has been causing some problems 313 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 2: for Ant with like late contests at the rim he 314 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 2: forced to miss, he got a block on a late 315 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 2: one where Ant got bailed out by an iffy foul call. 316 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 2: There's a there is a layered effect to this Oklahoma 317 00:16:55,960 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 2: City defense that is having big time impact on Minnesota. 318 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:04,440 Speaker 2: Minnesota notes couple things. The big thing is they need 319 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 2: to change their defensive approach. I don't think the answer 320 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 2: is zoned. I don't think the answer is ball pressure. 321 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 2: I don't think the answer is double teaming. I think 322 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 2: the answer is you play defense the way Denver did 323 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 2: you have Jaden McDaniels sit in a passive defensive stance 324 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:29,639 Speaker 2: where he's meeting Shay closer to the elbows. We saw 325 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 2: that when Jaden kind of gives space, he can close 326 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 2: ground and get a great contest on a shade pull 327 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:39,119 Speaker 2: up three. Instead of pressuring Shay, he needs to be 328 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:43,880 Speaker 2: playing off, sitting back, making Shae drive into him where 329 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:47,159 Speaker 2: he has more time to anticipate the driving angle and 330 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 2: to beat him to spots, and it's more likely to 331 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:52,719 Speaker 2: bait Shae in to pull up jump shots. Then I 332 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 2: do think they need to be using the Denver approach 333 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 2: of gapping really hard, getting into the point where you've 334 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 2: got four bodies in the ain't consistently and dare Shae 335 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 2: and these guys to beat you in the half court 336 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 2: as passers. When you double team shay out at half court, 337 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 2: it creates a four on three in a massive area 338 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 2: of space. There's so much space to work with there. 339 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 2: You guys have seen the Golden State Warriors annihilate teams 340 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:22,639 Speaker 2: for a decade using those four on threes with that 341 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:27,040 Speaker 2: kind of space. When you double double team quote unquote 342 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:29,920 Speaker 2: Shae in the form of more like three four bodies 343 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:34,120 Speaker 2: in the paint consistently, that is a situation that creates 344 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 2: the advantage for Oklahoma City on the perimeter. Make Shae 345 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 2: relentlessly hunt kickout reads, make these dudes knock down contested 346 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 2: jump shots. Now, one of the things is I did 347 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:50,040 Speaker 2: think it was defensible, even though I do think this game, 348 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 2: this series was inevitably careening towards a defensive shift towards 349 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:57,399 Speaker 2: more what I'm talking about, I did think that it 350 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:02,120 Speaker 2: was defensible to try it again tonight. It was defensible 351 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:09,119 Speaker 2: because theoretically, you kept game one close and you just 352 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 2: missed a ton of kickout threes. So in theory, you 353 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:17,360 Speaker 2: go into game two, you stick with your base defensive 354 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 2: game plan, guys shoot better, and you have a chance 355 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:24,719 Speaker 2: to go back back home with a one to one series, 356 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 2: and maybe you can hold that card in your back pocket. 357 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:31,920 Speaker 2: But now through two games, it's abundantly clear that these 358 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 2: guys aren't going to be able to knock down enough 359 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 2: of those kickouts in the corner against those contests, and 360 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 2: so now it's at the point where now it's at 361 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 2: the point where you have to consider changing your defensive approach. 362 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:47,919 Speaker 2: You've got to get more stops than you've been getting. 363 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 2: Oklahoma City since the first half of Game one, has 364 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 2: consistently scored at high volume. Seventy points in the second 365 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 2: half of Game one, fifty eight points in the first 366 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:04,440 Speaker 2: half of game two, sixty points in the second half 367 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 2: of game two. They are scoring on you consistently for 368 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:09,119 Speaker 2: a game and a half. 369 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 1: Now you have to change that scheme. 370 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 2: I also think it's defensible in the sense that it's 371 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 2: hard to win on the road, and so throwing that 372 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:20,160 Speaker 2: like Game three is a must win now you gotta 373 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 2: get that one. So I like the idea of going 374 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 2: into game three and shifting your scheme in that game. 375 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 2: Or you're also getting the benefit of role players being 376 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:35,359 Speaker 2: more comfortable feeding off of the crowd, potentially Oklahoma City's 377 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:39,119 Speaker 2: role players getting less comfortable. That's where I think that could, 378 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 2: you know, especially with the scheme change, that could tilt 379 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:45,640 Speaker 2: things more heavily towards Minnesota. And so I think I 380 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:48,200 Speaker 2: think in game three there needs to be way less 381 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:52,119 Speaker 2: ball pressure, way more of a contain and compact the paint. 382 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 2: Force Shay to beat you with the pass, force Oklahoma 383 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:58,640 Speaker 2: City to beat you from the perimeter instead of letting 384 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 2: them knifeet a pieces in the middle of the lane 385 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 2: like they have through the first two games. Another fifty 386 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:06,920 Speaker 2: eight points in the paint tonight for Oklahoma City. A 387 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 2: couple other things I talked about in game one, how 388 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:14,679 Speaker 2: I would potentially consider leaning into Rudy Gobert more. No 389 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:17,200 Speaker 2: more of that. I thought Rudy was bad tonight. I 390 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 2: thought he was bad on defense, and I thought he 391 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 2: was nightmarishly bad on offense. He got thirty minutes tonight, 392 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 2: I didn't think he was effective at any point. So 393 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:28,919 Speaker 2: I'm kind of over the Rudy Gobert experience in this series. 394 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 2: The complete inability to finish anything in the pocket and 395 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:38,119 Speaker 2: then on defense like him not contesting Isaiah Hartenstein's floater 396 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:40,920 Speaker 2: down low, even though we got clear at film from 397 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 2: the Denver series that that's how you bother him. The okay, 398 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:47,160 Speaker 2: you're on a switch against Shay Gills Alexander, or handling 399 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:49,239 Speaker 2: Shay in a drop coverage, and you're just fouling him 400 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 2: every time. He's not providing any real resistance. I don't 401 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:57,439 Speaker 2: see the Rudy value in this series anymore. So we 402 00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:00,080 Speaker 2: talked about that as being a potential option to explore 403 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:02,919 Speaker 2: in game one or after game one. You explored it 404 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 2: more tonight. No more need to explore that territory. I 405 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:07,399 Speaker 2: don't think this is a series where Rudy can be 406 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 2: very effective. Julius rand last to change his approach. I 407 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 2: thought he tried to force his way through a slump today. 408 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 2: We talked a lot about this example in the last 409 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 2: few weeks in our playback sessions, but the idea of 410 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 2: like how do you get yourself out of a slump 411 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 2: when the shots aren't falling. There's option one, which is 412 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 2: take every shot you can get your eyes on. We 413 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 2: saw a lot of that with like Dante DiVincenzo in 414 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 2: Game one, for example, and in that sort of situation, 415 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:43,119 Speaker 2: you're most likely just going to compound the problem because 416 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 2: you're probably going to be taking a bunch of iffy 417 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 2: shots that are low percentage under any circumstances, especially when 418 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:52,919 Speaker 2: you're not in a good rhythm. The second method is 419 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 2: find ways to generate easy shots and derive confidence from 420 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 2: the dirty work. Defend your ass off, rebound your ass off, 421 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:08,040 Speaker 2: control everything that's in your control, which will help boost 422 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:11,159 Speaker 2: your confidence to where you feel better on the offensive end, 423 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 2: and then on the offensive end, fight for easy looks. 424 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:20,240 Speaker 2: Transition pushes, offensive rebound crashes, anything with the real advantage, 425 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:23,679 Speaker 2: whether it's a post mismatch or it's say, you know, 426 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:26,439 Speaker 2: a semi transition opportunity where you can drop your shoulder. 427 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:29,160 Speaker 2: There's a very brief stretch in the third quarter where 428 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:33,080 Speaker 2: Julius like really started to force the issue physically. He 429 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 2: got like a deep transition seal for a bucket, another 430 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:38,159 Speaker 2: like deep post up, and then a couple of like 431 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 2: semi transition pushes and I'm like, hey, like this is better. 432 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 2: But there was this huge stretch of the game where 433 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:46,080 Speaker 2: he was already one for five, one for six, and 434 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:49,400 Speaker 2: he's just taking every semi contested three he can get 435 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 2: his hands on, and like, that's just not gonna get 436 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 2: you out of that sort of slump. Again, there's this 437 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:56,920 Speaker 2: is where I'll move to the last adjustment here and 438 00:23:57,359 --> 00:24:01,520 Speaker 2: Julius have to be looking to be aggressive with an advantage, 439 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 2: not at the beginning of the possession. At the beginning 440 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 2: of the possession, they're attacking a loaded up Oklahoma City 441 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 2: defense that is praying to God that they will do 442 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:13,320 Speaker 2: something stupid like try to score through all of them 443 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:17,120 Speaker 2: in the paint. The on ball guy, whether it's Julius 444 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 2: or its Aunt, or it's one of the role players, 445 00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 2: needs to be looking in By the way, one of 446 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:22,399 Speaker 2: the things they're doing with the other role players is 447 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 2: they're not overreacting as much on those pushes or anything 448 00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:28,400 Speaker 2: in the middle of the floor. But if Julius and Aunt, 449 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,200 Speaker 2: whether it's through the post or it's through a pick 450 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 2: and roll or an ISO or whatever it is, get 451 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:36,960 Speaker 2: the ball to the middle, get it sprayed out from there, 452 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,679 Speaker 2: drive and kickspacing, get out of the middle of the 453 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:42,880 Speaker 2: floor somewhere where you can get back in a position 454 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 2: to catch that guy will either catch and shoot and 455 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:48,600 Speaker 2: make a wide open catch and shoot three or against 456 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:50,919 Speaker 2: a close out will drive and now you have an 457 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:55,399 Speaker 2: opportunity to attack when the defense is shifted and sprinting 458 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:58,360 Speaker 2: at you. That is where Aunt and Julius can look 459 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 2: to be aggressive and score. This is not an on 460 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 2: ball scoring series for Ant and Julius. It is an 461 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:09,200 Speaker 2: on ball playmaking and off ball scoring series for Aunt 462 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 2: and Julius. They have to make that adjustment or they 463 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 2: are never going to crack Okac out of their base scheme. 464 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:17,880 Speaker 2: All right, before we get to our mail back questions, 465 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:20,800 Speaker 2: let's do our course correction segment on Shay's MVP. Welcome 466 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:23,119 Speaker 2: to course Correction, brought to you by Microsoft. Just like 467 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 2: star players and teams navigating performance hurdles, business decision makers 468 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:29,240 Speaker 2: today are under immense pressure to get things right. They 469 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 2: must rise to the occasion, turning challenges into opportunities. Microsoft 470 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:37,680 Speaker 2: empowers these visionaries with AI solutions, simplified cloud and data management, 471 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:41,400 Speaker 2: and trustworthy responsible AI. And when you're in the NBA, 472 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:43,840 Speaker 2: you have your own hurdles to face. In this segment, 473 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 2: we will highlight the player every week that has risen 474 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 2: to the occasion when his team needed him. Whatever challenge 475 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:52,200 Speaker 2: you're facing, Microsoft empowers you with the expertise to say, 476 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:54,919 Speaker 2: bring it on. This week's Player of the Week is 477 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:58,560 Speaker 2: the twenty twenty five MVP of the NBA, Shay Gilders. 478 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:03,840 Speaker 2: Alexander Shay had a remarkable statistical season thirty three points 479 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:06,719 Speaker 2: per game, five rebounds, six assists, one point seven steals 480 00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:10,879 Speaker 2: in a block, sixty four percent true shooting. That's somehow 481 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 2: under selling how important he was to the Oklahoma City offense. 482 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:19,399 Speaker 2: Per cleaning the glass. The Thunder offense was nine point 483 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:23,560 Speaker 2: one points per one hundred possessions better when he was 484 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:27,760 Speaker 2: on the floor versus off. The strength of the Thunder 485 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 2: is their defense. We all know that, and their defense 486 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:32,440 Speaker 2: is elite down the roster, regardless of who was on 487 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:36,280 Speaker 2: the floor, including Shay. But they could not score with 488 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:38,919 Speaker 2: Shay off the floor this year. They had a one 489 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:42,960 Speaker 2: to fourteen point eight offensive rating with him off. For perspective, 490 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:45,640 Speaker 2: that's a lower offensive rating than the Houston Rockets log 491 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:48,679 Speaker 2: this year in the regular season, but they had a 492 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 2: one twenty four offensive rating when Shay was on the floor, 493 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:55,439 Speaker 2: which is three points better than the number one offense 494 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 2: in the league, the Cleveland Cavaliers. We were talking about 495 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:01,120 Speaker 2: Nicole Yokich having the greatest offensive season of all time. 496 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:03,960 Speaker 2: They had a won twenty six offensive rating with Yokic 497 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:08,240 Speaker 2: on the floor. Shaye was producing with that Thunder offense 498 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:12,800 Speaker 2: at nearly the same level. In other words, the Thunder 499 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:17,160 Speaker 2: offense went from mediocre to elite top tier production when 500 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:20,159 Speaker 2: Shae was on the floor. And this goes beyond the 501 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:22,159 Speaker 2: metrics to the eye test. There were so many times 502 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:25,760 Speaker 2: this year where Shaye's entire supporting cast lost their confidence 503 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:28,959 Speaker 2: and he had no choice but to completely take control 504 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 2: of the game. He was also one of the most 505 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:36,320 Speaker 2: reliably great scores in the league this year. Shay had 506 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:39,520 Speaker 2: just nine games this season where he shot below forty 507 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:43,639 Speaker 2: percent from the field. For comparison, a guy like Ant 508 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 2: twenty five such games. Oh well, Aunt takes a lot 509 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:50,680 Speaker 2: of threes. Okay, how about Brunson. Brunson's a guy who 510 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:54,280 Speaker 2: lives in the mid range. Twenty one times this year 511 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 2: Brunson shot below forty percent from the field. How is 512 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:01,480 Speaker 2: it that Shay is so reliably good on the defensive 513 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,159 Speaker 2: end of the four well for starters, two thirds of 514 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:08,520 Speaker 2: his shot attempts come within seventeen feet, so there's very 515 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:12,280 Speaker 2: little variants because there's very little long range jump shooting. 516 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 2: And then on those short range jumpers, which would be 517 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:18,640 Speaker 2: the one thing in there that has a lot of variants, 518 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:23,600 Speaker 2: he shot fifty four percent on jumpers inside of seventeen feet, 519 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:26,719 Speaker 2: so he was deadly on the one thing in his 520 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:29,680 Speaker 2: two thirds of his game that occurs within seventeen feet 521 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 2: of the rim that would theoretically come with some variants. 522 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:35,960 Speaker 2: He also got to the rim an absurd amount. We 523 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:39,160 Speaker 2: talked about his drives earlier, five hundred and fifty attempts 524 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 2: at the rim this season, according to Synergy. For Perspective, NICOLEA. 525 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:47,280 Speaker 2: Jokic logged five hundred and fifty three attempts at the 526 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:50,800 Speaker 2: rim this season, only three more than Shay did. I 527 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:54,160 Speaker 2: thought he was very much deserving of the MVP. I'm 528 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 2: a big Jokic fan, and I do think Jokic is 529 00:28:56,920 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 2: a better basketball player than Shay is. 530 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:01,720 Speaker 1: That's not the purpose of this award. 531 00:29:02,680 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 2: It's a regular season award, and Shae was the best 532 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 2: regular season player in the league this year for by 533 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 2: far the best team in the league. They finished eighteen 534 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:16,640 Speaker 2: games ahead of Denver. I also thought Jokics let go 535 00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 2: the rope defensively in the second half of the season, 536 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:21,680 Speaker 2: and that played directly into the problems they had down 537 00:29:21,720 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 2: the stretches. They slid down the standings and had to 538 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:26,400 Speaker 2: fire their coach. I heard a lot of talk about 539 00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:29,880 Speaker 2: Jokic having the greatest offensive season ever and us looking 540 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:32,920 Speaker 2: back this year and thinking that the MVP decision we 541 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:35,200 Speaker 2: made was a mistake. I don't see it that way 542 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 2: at all. I think SGA's MVP case is beyond well deserved. 543 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 2: I don't think any player in the league had a 544 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:47,320 Speaker 2: reasonable case to be over him. So congratulations to Shay. 545 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 2: Obviously you just won the MVP. But at this point 546 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:55,160 Speaker 2: I would be stunned if the Thunder didn't win the title. 547 00:29:56,680 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 2: I think they match up extremely well with both Indiana 548 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:02,440 Speaker 2: in New York, two teams that rely on guard play 549 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:05,280 Speaker 2: and speed, and Oklahoma City has just got better speed 550 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:08,720 Speaker 2: and better guard play while also being better defensively on 551 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 2: the back line than both of those teams. I think 552 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:15,600 Speaker 2: they would dispatch if both the Knicks and the Pacers 553 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:18,719 Speaker 2: in five games or less, and at this point you're 554 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:21,520 Speaker 2: up two to zero in the Western Conference Finals in Minnesota. 555 00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:25,080 Speaker 2: Hasn't even come remotely close to dislodging you from your 556 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:28,920 Speaker 2: base game plan? Or does that tell me? That tells 557 00:30:28,920 --> 00:30:30,680 Speaker 2: me this time a month from now, the Thunder are 558 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:33,080 Speaker 2: going to be hoisting the trophy and Shay won't just 559 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:37,239 Speaker 2: be an MVP, He'll be a finals MVP. And if 560 00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 2: you start to look at the Thunder and the assets 561 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:42,520 Speaker 2: they have at their disposal, and the age of their roster, 562 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:45,080 Speaker 2: and the fact that they still have so much room 563 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 2: to improve, it might not even be the first one 564 00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:52,920 Speaker 2: he gets. That's it for this week's course correction. Remember 565 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:56,760 Speaker 2: Microsoft's AI solutions empower you to take bold steps, making 566 00:30:56,800 --> 00:30:59,760 Speaker 2: form decisions, sparking new ideas to help drive your business forward. 567 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 2: Microsoft is your trusted partner. You can navigate your journey 568 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:07,040 Speaker 2: with confidence, finding innovative solutions, and reaching new possibilities. Visit 569 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:11,040 Speaker 2: microsoft dot com slash challengers to learn more. All right, 570 00:31:11,120 --> 00:31:13,120 Speaker 2: Jackson's gonna come on stage and we're gonna take ten 571 00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:14,440 Speaker 2: to fifteen minutes of questions. 572 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 3: First question, probably, and this person said, probably a little 573 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:19,480 Speaker 3: bit early to ask. 574 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:20,160 Speaker 1: This kind of question. 575 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:23,760 Speaker 3: But now that they're continuing to dominate, is this Okac 576 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:25,880 Speaker 3: defense one of the best ever? And if they win 577 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:27,880 Speaker 3: the title, will they be one of the best teams ever? 578 00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:30,720 Speaker 2: So you're never gonna hear me talk about a basketball 579 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:33,720 Speaker 2: team being one of the best basketball teams ever until 580 00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:37,600 Speaker 2: they win multiple championships. I'm consistent about this stuff. Here's 581 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:39,960 Speaker 2: a really simple way to put it. Boston had a 582 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:42,240 Speaker 2: similar year last year where they ran through the entire league, 583 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:45,920 Speaker 2: won sixty four games, kicked everyone's ass in the postseason, 584 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:49,479 Speaker 2: never even felt remotely threatened like Oklahoma City showed some 585 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:52,960 Speaker 2: flaws against Denver and looked like threatened at one point 586 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:57,800 Speaker 2: in time. I I told Boston fans at the time, 587 00:31:57,920 --> 00:31:59,680 Speaker 2: I didn't see them as an all time great team 588 00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:01,400 Speaker 2: because you kind of have to earn that, right with 589 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:03,600 Speaker 2: me and guys like, I'm pretty consistent about this stuff, 590 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:05,800 Speaker 2: Like it was the same thing with Jokic back in 591 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:09,960 Speaker 2: the day. Like I think that there's a conversation you 592 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:13,000 Speaker 2: can have about who's the best at something, But I'm 593 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:15,720 Speaker 2: usually the guy that like wants to see you accomplish 594 00:32:15,720 --> 00:32:19,640 Speaker 2: the ultimate goal first. I don't like theoretical success. I 595 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 2: like real life success. And so for me, like, I 596 00:32:22,360 --> 00:32:25,960 Speaker 2: think the Thunder have every possibility to be an all 597 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:29,920 Speaker 2: time great team that wins multiple championships and when they do, 598 00:32:30,120 --> 00:32:33,320 Speaker 2: if they do, we will acknowledge them as as such. 599 00:32:33,560 --> 00:32:33,960 Speaker 1: But I don't. 600 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:36,000 Speaker 2: I don't like to jump the gun there as far 601 00:32:36,040 --> 00:32:38,680 Speaker 2: as the defense goes, and again, we got to see 602 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:43,400 Speaker 2: see it just survive like multiple seasons. So like say say, 603 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:47,480 Speaker 2: for instance, you beat Denver again next year, different Denver team, 604 00:32:47,600 --> 00:32:50,040 Speaker 2: or you beat like a Spurs team that has Yannis 605 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 2: and Wemby and Dearren Fox. Like, the idea of winning 606 00:32:53,600 --> 00:32:58,280 Speaker 2: multiple championships involves two separate seasons where you beat four 607 00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:01,680 Speaker 2: different teams in four differ rounds that are very different 608 00:33:01,760 --> 00:33:05,000 Speaker 2: types of teams. And so the defense side of it, 609 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:08,320 Speaker 2: I need to see that defense have that success through 610 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:12,520 Speaker 2: multiple playoff runs. That said, I absolutely see that upside 611 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:16,040 Speaker 2: and I thought it manifested in them that Denver offense 612 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:20,480 Speaker 2: was unbelievable all year and for extended stretches. Not only 613 00:33:20,520 --> 00:33:25,560 Speaker 2: did they quote unquote dislodge or frustrate Denver's offense, they 614 00:33:25,560 --> 00:33:28,280 Speaker 2: played Jokic into probably the worst three game stretch I've 615 00:33:28,320 --> 00:33:31,600 Speaker 2: ever seen in play in game two three and four, 616 00:33:32,360 --> 00:33:34,479 Speaker 2: so or was it three four and five? 617 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:36,280 Speaker 1: I can't even remember. I think it was two three 618 00:33:36,320 --> 00:33:36,600 Speaker 1: and four. 619 00:33:37,040 --> 00:33:40,920 Speaker 2: But like, yeah, like the defense certainly has that capability, 620 00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:43,560 Speaker 2: The team overall certainly has that capability. I'm just not 621 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:45,480 Speaker 2: the guy to start throwing around the all time great 622 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:47,920 Speaker 2: phrase until you win multiple championships. 623 00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:50,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think that's fair. They do. 624 00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:53,320 Speaker 3: Look, it feels it feels like they're at a different 625 00:33:53,360 --> 00:33:55,640 Speaker 3: level defensively than the rest of the league, which I 626 00:33:55,680 --> 00:33:58,600 Speaker 3: think is something that speaks volumes and is why these 627 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:01,760 Speaker 3: conversations are at least it's fair to at least start them, 628 00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:04,160 Speaker 3: because even they haven't won even one title yet. They 629 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:07,160 Speaker 3: certainly haven't won too, but they it feels obvious on 630 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:09,920 Speaker 3: the eye test that they are a gap from the 631 00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:12,120 Speaker 3: second best event in the NBA, which feels like something 632 00:34:12,120 --> 00:34:14,400 Speaker 3: we didn't haven't talked about much either than like, you know, 633 00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:16,040 Speaker 3: four Pistons, you know, which is not to say that 634 00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:18,520 Speaker 3: they're as good as good as that team defensively, but 635 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,520 Speaker 3: that gap is why I think these conversations are at least, 636 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:22,520 Speaker 3: you know, reasonable at. 637 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:24,000 Speaker 2: This point, and to your point, like you want to 638 00:34:24,040 --> 00:34:27,279 Speaker 2: know why the Pistons are remembered that way. Not only 639 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:31,040 Speaker 2: did they beat Shaq and the Shaq and Kobe Lakers, 640 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:34,040 Speaker 2: but they made an additional run to the NBA finals 641 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:35,960 Speaker 2: and what I can't remember exactly what it was, but 642 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:38,520 Speaker 2: they were in the Eastern Conference finals something like five 643 00:34:38,600 --> 00:34:41,480 Speaker 2: or six years in a row. Like they were perennially 644 00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:42,879 Speaker 2: perennially playing. 645 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:43,440 Speaker 1: In May and June. 646 00:34:43,920 --> 00:34:46,840 Speaker 2: And so they they resonated with us because of that. 647 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:50,319 Speaker 2: And that's the thing, like like, guys, like all you 648 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:55,360 Speaker 2: have to do is make yourself irrefutable, like you, I 649 00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:58,120 Speaker 2: know it sounds simple to say, but like, like do 650 00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:00,440 Speaker 2: do it. And at a certain point, no one can 651 00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:02,640 Speaker 2: say anything. Like it's like the Steph Curry thing. Everyone's 652 00:35:02,640 --> 00:35:04,480 Speaker 2: all Stephan only one because of KD and injuries. Oh 653 00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:06,960 Speaker 2: Steph only one with KD and injuries. What happened? 654 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:07,120 Speaker 1: Then? 655 00:35:07,400 --> 00:35:10,680 Speaker 2: He won without KADI and without as much talent as 656 00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:12,719 Speaker 2: the team he was going against it. And now Steph is 657 00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:15,160 Speaker 2: stamped forever. If you look at Steph and you don't 658 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:18,040 Speaker 2: see why he's good, I can't even talk basketball with 659 00:35:18,120 --> 00:35:20,960 Speaker 2: you because it's unassailable what he did. This is the 660 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:24,400 Speaker 2: beginning of a potentially long journey that all they have 661 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:26,759 Speaker 2: to do is keep knocking teams out, and they're gonna 662 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:28,560 Speaker 2: have that reputation of being one of the all time 663 00:35:28,560 --> 00:35:31,400 Speaker 2: great teams on both ends of the floor for sure. 664 00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:34,239 Speaker 3: Another question about okay, see why do you think this 665 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:34,720 Speaker 3: is okay? 666 00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:36,480 Speaker 1: This is a super chat question, by the way, thank 667 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:37,239 Speaker 1: you for the super chat. 668 00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:40,920 Speaker 3: Why do you think this OKC team is so disliked 669 00:35:40,960 --> 00:35:42,719 Speaker 3: when it feels like they're similar to sort of an 670 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:45,439 Speaker 3: early two thousands era basketball team. Basketball fans have said 671 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:48,239 Speaker 3: they wanted defense and driving the ball. They got it, 672 00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:49,800 Speaker 3: and yet somehow they're still disliked. 673 00:35:49,880 --> 00:35:51,280 Speaker 1: Thoughts a couple of things. 674 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:54,840 Speaker 2: I think that when a team is kicking everyone's ass, 675 00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:59,000 Speaker 2: they tend to become universally disliked. That Jackson, I'm sure 676 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:00,320 Speaker 2: you could speak to that as a fan of the 677 00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:02,920 Speaker 2: Celtics over the years and as someone who uh you know, 678 00:36:03,080 --> 00:36:05,480 Speaker 2: worked with Draymond and covered the Warriors very closely. Like 679 00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:09,520 Speaker 2: no one likes getting their ass kicked. I think I 680 00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:12,120 Speaker 2: think everyone. I think everyone sees the writing on the 681 00:36:12,120 --> 00:36:14,600 Speaker 2: wall a little bit, which is like Oklahoma City will 682 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:18,360 Speaker 2: probably go into next season, is like a pretty substantial favorite, 683 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:20,839 Speaker 2: like probably somewhere in the like like if you had, 684 00:36:21,120 --> 00:36:24,879 Speaker 2: If I would, I would guess that okayse would enter 685 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:29,360 Speaker 2: next season at like almost even odds to win the title. 686 00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:31,760 Speaker 3: I would too, which is crazy. 687 00:36:31,520 --> 00:36:35,319 Speaker 2: Like and so like they're they're the best team that 688 00:36:35,360 --> 00:36:38,799 Speaker 2: we've seen in terms of like overall UH two way 689 00:36:38,840 --> 00:36:45,040 Speaker 2: talent to the since the team that Kevin Durant and 690 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:47,879 Speaker 2: Steph Curry were on in that Warriors uh stretch there 691 00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:51,120 Speaker 2: in the late twenty tens. But they don't have some 692 00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:54,040 Speaker 2: of the fragility that we saw with Boston, where it's like, well, 693 00:36:54,120 --> 00:36:58,040 Speaker 2: Chris tops porzingis can't stay healthy and Al Horford is 694 00:36:58,080 --> 00:37:01,560 Speaker 2: getting very old, and like Jada or excuse me, like 695 00:37:01,640 --> 00:37:04,760 Speaker 2: Jalen Willie or excuse me, Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum 696 00:37:04,760 --> 00:37:07,440 Speaker 2: are both kind of like rickety stars that have the 697 00:37:07,480 --> 00:37:11,000 Speaker 2: potential to like spiral in big moments, like Shay is 698 00:37:11,160 --> 00:37:14,680 Speaker 2: just Shay is just a more reliably great star at 699 00:37:14,719 --> 00:37:17,719 Speaker 2: the head of it. And they're younger and healthier and 700 00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:22,320 Speaker 2: more athletic, and so it's easier to see more sustained success. 701 00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:25,960 Speaker 2: And I think everyone is kind of experiencing a similar 702 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:28,720 Speaker 2: feel to what the Warriors looked like when Kevin Durant 703 00:37:28,760 --> 00:37:29,960 Speaker 2: was on the team where it's like, how the hell 704 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:32,239 Speaker 2: are we gonna beat these guys, you know? And then 705 00:37:32,280 --> 00:37:34,680 Speaker 2: I think the second part of it is like, like 706 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:37,120 Speaker 2: you and I were complaining about this before the show, 707 00:37:37,239 --> 00:37:41,000 Speaker 2: Like Shay is so amazing, and so is Jalen Brunson. 708 00:37:41,480 --> 00:37:45,200 Speaker 2: The two of them are so unbelievably good, and like 709 00:37:45,280 --> 00:37:48,919 Speaker 2: I I like, for some reason, when I see Shay 710 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:52,920 Speaker 2: go down in a pivotal third quarter run in unleash 711 00:37:53,040 --> 00:37:57,240 Speaker 2: the low gather on Nikil Alexander Walker and just drive 712 00:37:57,320 --> 00:37:59,720 Speaker 2: through his chest and then throw up a left handed 713 00:37:59,760 --> 00:38:03,520 Speaker 2: flow that like literally no basketball player would ever take 714 00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:07,200 Speaker 2: under any circumstances unless they were expressly looking for a foul, 715 00:38:07,920 --> 00:38:10,840 Speaker 2: and he banks it in and the crowd goes crazy, 716 00:38:10,840 --> 00:38:13,360 Speaker 2: and it's like this big moment, right Like it feels 717 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:16,719 Speaker 2: like Shaye driving the nail in the coffin of Game two, 718 00:38:16,760 --> 00:38:18,879 Speaker 2: and it just kind of is like, oh, but it's 719 00:38:18,880 --> 00:38:21,560 Speaker 2: a non basketball play. That's gross, And so I think 720 00:38:21,560 --> 00:38:23,439 Speaker 2: there's a certain amount of that that's kind of eating 721 00:38:23,480 --> 00:38:25,520 Speaker 2: at people a little bit. But I would I would 722 00:38:25,560 --> 00:38:28,640 Speaker 2: even say that's hails in comparison to the simple fact 723 00:38:28,640 --> 00:38:30,880 Speaker 2: that everyone's just scared shitless that these guys are going 724 00:38:30,960 --> 00:38:33,280 Speaker 2: to be impossible to beat for the next couple of years. 725 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:36,799 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that is so on point. And I 726 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:39,440 Speaker 3: think the fact that it feels like there's no other 727 00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:42,920 Speaker 3: real contender, combined with the fact that they have perfectly 728 00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:45,960 Speaker 3: seemingly executed this like draft your stars and draft your 729 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:47,960 Speaker 3: role players thing, they kind of have done it the 730 00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:51,760 Speaker 3: way that people want teams to do it, and yet 731 00:38:52,719 --> 00:38:58,759 Speaker 3: nobody likes it because they're so Unstoppable's next question, j 732 00:38:58,920 --> 00:39:00,440 Speaker 3: dev has looked a lot better this series and he 733 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:03,040 Speaker 3: did last series. What do you think he has done differently? 734 00:39:03,080 --> 00:39:04,920 Speaker 3: Has he done something differently or is it sort of 735 00:39:05,080 --> 00:39:06,360 Speaker 3: just making more shots? 736 00:39:06,480 --> 00:39:10,359 Speaker 2: It's the one. It's it's the defensive scheme. Both Shay 737 00:39:10,719 --> 00:39:14,560 Speaker 2: and Shaye and Jadubb looked bad in the second round 738 00:39:15,440 --> 00:39:18,160 Speaker 2: except for crunch time because of the fact that the 739 00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:20,480 Speaker 2: two of them kept trying to force it through Denver's 740 00:39:20,480 --> 00:39:23,840 Speaker 2: defense and take stupid ass shots Like Minnesota is letting 741 00:39:23,840 --> 00:39:25,960 Speaker 2: these dudes play one on one and both of them 742 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:28,800 Speaker 2: look way more comfortable as a result, and like that 743 00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:32,040 Speaker 2: that really, to me is like exactly what makes Minnesota's 744 00:39:32,080 --> 00:39:34,560 Speaker 2: game plan so dumb? You're the entire purpose of a 745 00:39:34,560 --> 00:39:36,560 Speaker 2: defensive game plan in the postseason is to make your 746 00:39:36,560 --> 00:39:40,040 Speaker 2: opponent uncomfortable, and they have allowed Shae and JDub and 747 00:39:40,080 --> 00:39:43,400 Speaker 2: even Chet to get comfortable because they're playing in a 748 00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:46,320 Speaker 2: setting that kind of fits their skill set perfectly. 749 00:39:47,719 --> 00:39:50,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, we'll do a couple more questions then go over 750 00:39:50,160 --> 00:39:53,319 Speaker 3: to playback. Uh hey, Jason, Minnesota seem to spark a 751 00:39:53,320 --> 00:39:56,000 Speaker 3: comeback with Rudy and Julius off the floor in the 752 00:39:56,000 --> 00:39:59,520 Speaker 3: fourth quarter. Is that type of lineup specifically or just 753 00:39:59,560 --> 00:40:02,120 Speaker 3: in general small ball something you think they can be 754 00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:03,200 Speaker 3: successful with going. 755 00:40:03,040 --> 00:40:05,400 Speaker 2: Forward A couple things. I think that they need to 756 00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:07,760 Speaker 2: go without Gobert. Anyway, I think that was pretty clear 757 00:40:08,360 --> 00:40:10,440 Speaker 2: you don't bail on Julius for the series. I thought 758 00:40:10,480 --> 00:40:12,120 Speaker 2: it made sense to bail on him tonight because he 759 00:40:12,200 --> 00:40:14,520 Speaker 2: was just out of it. But Julius, they're not winning 760 00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:17,359 Speaker 2: this series unless Julius plays better. But like I also 761 00:40:17,440 --> 00:40:19,360 Speaker 2: thought there was like a classic example of like a 762 00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:22,280 Speaker 2: little bit of a relenting of the intensity from Oklahoma City. 763 00:40:22,680 --> 00:40:24,840 Speaker 2: I thought Aunt got like two or three kind of 764 00:40:24,920 --> 00:40:28,200 Speaker 2: questionable whistles on plays where he didn't really get foul, 765 00:40:28,239 --> 00:40:30,080 Speaker 2: but he was just driving through four bodies and it's 766 00:40:30,080 --> 00:40:31,440 Speaker 2: almost like a sympathy whistle. 767 00:40:31,960 --> 00:40:33,359 Speaker 1: There was like just a level of. 768 00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:37,240 Speaker 2: Like kind of downhill desperation verve that Minnesota was playing 769 00:40:37,239 --> 00:40:39,879 Speaker 2: with that Oklahoma City wasn't matching, Like I thought, most 770 00:40:39,880 --> 00:40:41,279 Speaker 2: of what happened at the end of the game was 771 00:40:41,320 --> 00:40:45,239 Speaker 2: like kind of classic fake comeback stuff really quickly. Just 772 00:40:45,239 --> 00:40:48,240 Speaker 2: so you guys have some numbers. These zone possessions. Oklahoma 773 00:40:48,239 --> 00:40:51,799 Speaker 2: City fifteen possessions of zone one point one to three 774 00:40:51,800 --> 00:40:54,960 Speaker 2: points per possession. So they were successful against it all 775 00:40:55,040 --> 00:41:00,440 Speaker 2: night long. Minnesota's twenty one unguarded catch and shoots in 776 00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:02,600 Speaker 2: this game, and they only got zero point eighty six 777 00:41:02,640 --> 00:41:05,759 Speaker 2: points per shot, And like, really that's kind of the 778 00:41:05,800 --> 00:41:08,879 Speaker 2: main thing. And like if there's one defense to throw 779 00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:11,439 Speaker 2: at ant for him just trying to ram his head 780 00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:13,840 Speaker 2: through a brick wall tonight, it's that his teammates are 781 00:41:13,840 --> 00:41:16,080 Speaker 2: all shit in the bed because like there's a certain 782 00:41:16,120 --> 00:41:18,319 Speaker 2: amount of like none of them can score in these 783 00:41:18,360 --> 00:41:22,160 Speaker 2: advantages that Oklahoma City is gift wrapping for them. And 784 00:41:22,200 --> 00:41:23,719 Speaker 2: at a certain point, I think he's just looking at 785 00:41:23,719 --> 00:41:26,319 Speaker 2: the situation and going, I, well, never mind, I'll do 786 00:41:26,360 --> 00:41:27,160 Speaker 2: it myself, you know. 787 00:41:27,680 --> 00:41:31,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, Nikilo finally had hit some shots but when Julius 788 00:41:31,120 --> 00:41:33,960 Speaker 3: Randall and Nasried are combined too for a million, it's like, 789 00:41:33,960 --> 00:41:34,719 Speaker 3: what are you supposed to do? 790 00:41:34,840 --> 00:41:37,200 Speaker 1: Exactly exactly? Uh? 791 00:41:37,520 --> 00:41:39,959 Speaker 3: Last question before playback, Hi, Jason, big fan of the show. 792 00:41:40,239 --> 00:41:42,480 Speaker 3: What do you think has caused so many stars getting 793 00:41:42,520 --> 00:41:44,799 Speaker 3: injured in this playoffs? And is there anything to do 794 00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:45,799 Speaker 3: to prevent it? 795 00:41:46,719 --> 00:41:49,040 Speaker 2: Yes, there is something to do to prevent it. I 796 00:41:49,560 --> 00:41:52,759 Speaker 2: think that this has been pretty clear for a half 797 00:41:52,840 --> 00:41:56,839 Speaker 2: decade now, which is that the hunt for additional possessions 798 00:41:56,880 --> 00:42:01,279 Speaker 2: through higher paced play, the drive and spacing the four 799 00:42:01,320 --> 00:42:05,080 Speaker 2: out one in relocating spacing with like lots of super 800 00:42:05,080 --> 00:42:09,120 Speaker 2: hard closeouts and covering ground in transition. There's no doubt 801 00:42:09,400 --> 00:42:12,840 Speaker 2: that the style of play is infinitely harder on the 802 00:42:12,880 --> 00:42:15,880 Speaker 2: lower body than what the eighties and nineties look like 803 00:42:16,239 --> 00:42:19,520 Speaker 2: or even the two thousands, right, And so I think 804 00:42:19,560 --> 00:42:23,319 Speaker 2: that I think that the NBA has a problem that 805 00:42:23,360 --> 00:42:26,520 Speaker 2: they have to look to address, which is that in 806 00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:30,719 Speaker 2: multiple consecutive postseasons now we're not just seeing like a 807 00:42:30,760 --> 00:42:33,120 Speaker 2: couple stars get hurt, like it's happening to three, four, 808 00:42:33,320 --> 00:42:38,040 Speaker 2: five guys in every single postseason run torn achilles, torn acls, 809 00:42:38,400 --> 00:42:44,359 Speaker 2: foot injuries, like there's just a clear sign that the 810 00:42:44,360 --> 00:42:48,880 Speaker 2: modern NBA game is more taxing on the body than 811 00:42:48,920 --> 00:42:52,279 Speaker 2: it used to be. I think that there's a very 812 00:42:52,280 --> 00:42:57,319 Speaker 2: simple solution, which is to shorten the season. You cut 813 00:42:57,360 --> 00:43:01,520 Speaker 2: it down to sixty six games, play at most three 814 00:43:01,600 --> 00:43:05,600 Speaker 2: times a week. Every team has a guaranteed two day 815 00:43:05,640 --> 00:43:10,400 Speaker 2: off stretch every single week. You space out the games 816 00:43:10,400 --> 00:43:13,520 Speaker 2: in a way that one benefits you financially in the 817 00:43:13,560 --> 00:43:17,680 Speaker 2: form of stars participating more frequently in higher urgency. Because 818 00:43:17,680 --> 00:43:20,520 Speaker 2: if you shrink the season by twenty percent, you increase 819 00:43:20,560 --> 00:43:23,480 Speaker 2: the value of each regular season win by twenty percent. 820 00:43:24,080 --> 00:43:26,480 Speaker 1: Right, that's just a theoretical. 821 00:43:25,960 --> 00:43:31,120 Speaker 2: Just twenty percent increase in urgency every single night, and 822 00:43:31,160 --> 00:43:33,160 Speaker 2: then I think you give the body a chance to 823 00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:36,200 Speaker 2: recover from what is a grueling game. And then I 824 00:43:36,239 --> 00:43:39,000 Speaker 2: would do it in the postseason as well. Like there's 825 00:43:39,040 --> 00:43:42,239 Speaker 2: just so many games, it's so easy to protract it. 826 00:43:43,200 --> 00:43:45,920 Speaker 2: There's no reason at all why you can't play every 827 00:43:46,000 --> 00:43:49,800 Speaker 2: third night in the postseason. Especially if you shorten the season. 828 00:43:50,520 --> 00:43:53,880 Speaker 2: You could start playing in October, play sixty six games, 829 00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:57,359 Speaker 2: never have a back to back, have those that bit 830 00:43:57,400 --> 00:43:59,360 Speaker 2: of time off, and then you could be in a 831 00:43:59,400 --> 00:44:03,719 Speaker 2: situation the postseason where guys aren't being forced to play 832 00:44:03,760 --> 00:44:06,320 Speaker 2: every other night and traveling from city to city. I 833 00:44:06,640 --> 00:44:09,160 Speaker 2: think the NBA has got to have a real honest 834 00:44:09,200 --> 00:44:12,719 Speaker 2: conversation with themselves about whether or not the money is 835 00:44:12,800 --> 00:44:14,880 Speaker 2: worth the wear and tearor of putting on these guys' bodies, 836 00:44:14,880 --> 00:44:16,560 Speaker 2: because I think the modern game is just too much 837 00:44:16,560 --> 00:44:18,160 Speaker 2: for them. All right, guys, that is all we have 838 00:44:18,239 --> 00:44:20,239 Speaker 2: for tonight has always been sincerely appreciate you guys for 839 00:44:20,280 --> 00:44:23,160 Speaker 2: supporting us and supporting the show. Playback dot tv, slash 840 00:44:23,200 --> 00:44:25,000 Speaker 2: Hoops Tonight is where we're going for the after show. 841 00:44:25,239 --> 00:44:27,040 Speaker 1: I'll see you guys there. What's up guys? 842 00:44:27,080 --> 00:44:29,840 Speaker 2: As always, I appreciate you for listening to and supporting 843 00:44:29,880 --> 00:44:32,520 Speaker 2: Oops tonight. They would actually be really helpful for us 844 00:44:32,520 --> 00:44:34,400 Speaker 2: if you guys would take a second and leave a 845 00:44:34,520 --> 00:44:35,960 Speaker 2: rating and a review. 846 00:44:35,960 --> 00:44:37,240 Speaker 1: As always, I appreciate you guys. 847 00:44:37,080 --> 00:44:38,719 Speaker 2: Supporting us, but if you could take a minute to 848 00:44:38,719 --> 00:44:40,760 Speaker 2: do that, I really appreciate it. 849 00:44:42,600 --> 00:44:43,280 Speaker 1: The volume