1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, we'll go to Hoop Tonight here 2 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: at the volume heavy Monday, everybody. If all of you 3 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,919 Speaker 1: guys had an incredible weekend as promised, today, we're going 4 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: to be doing a detailed power ranking. So we're gonna 5 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: be doing our usual power powerankings like we do every Monday, 6 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: but deeper dives into each of the ten teams along 7 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 1: the way. You guys have the drip before we get started. 8 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: Subscribe to Hoops Tonight YouTube channel so you don't miss 9 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:36,159 Speaker 1: any more of our videos. Make sure you like this 10 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:38,559 Speaker 1: video and sign up for post notifications. That helps us 11 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 1: a lot the last one at least. If you want to 12 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: get Mailbag questions into our Friday mail Bag, drop them 13 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: in the full episodes on YouTube and the YouTube comments. 14 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: But Mailbag Colin write your question. We'll get to them 15 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: on Fridays throughout the remainder of the season. All right, 16 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: let's talk some basketball. Starting with number ten. The Los 17 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: Angeles Lakers, currently plus six thousand to win the title 18 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: on hard Rock. Bag got back on track a couple 19 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: of wins this weekend and a back to back against 20 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 1: a very short handed Warriors team that had kind of 21 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: been playing some feisty basketball. They just proved to be 22 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: way too undersized on the perimeter. This Laker team this 23 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: season has been so much more diligent about hunting Smalls 24 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,320 Speaker 1: in the post than they were in the previous year. 25 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: That last year, the first year with Luca, it was 26 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 1: a lot of Luca and Lebron hunting bigs and switches. 27 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: Love how much the Lakers, through their bigs have been 28 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 1: hunting smaller defenders. This season. They just bullied Golden State 29 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: Smalls over and over and over again, really controlled the 30 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 1: flow of the game as they continued to get fantastic shots, 31 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: and the Warriors just decomposed. And then the Sacramento Kings 32 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 1: are literally the worst team in the league. So a 33 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,479 Speaker 1: couple of wins there stays in line with the Lakers 34 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: season long trend of handling the lesser teams and struggling 35 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: against the better teams. The main bit of optimism if 36 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: you're a Lakers fan from these last three games centers 37 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: from their big three, the Luca, Lebron Austin Perring, which 38 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: had struggled mightily really for the majority of the time 39 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: that they've been together. Although like one important piece of 40 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: context there, it's been constantly derailed by injuries, whether it 41 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: was Lebron's groin injury last year in the spring or 42 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 1: Lebron missing the start of this season Austin's calf injuries. 43 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 1: They haven't really had any sort of extended stretch together 44 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 1: to kind of figure out how to play, and it 45 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: hasn't looked good. The numbers have not been good. But 46 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 1: the main bit of optimism from this recent stretch in 47 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: these last three games, if you look at Phoenix, Phoenix 48 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: is a team that came into the game as a 49 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: top ten defense. Golden State came into that Saturday game 50 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: as a top ten defense. You have a couple of 51 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:34,959 Speaker 1: top ten defenses that present certain types of issues, whether 52 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 1: it's big, physical perimeter defenders like Ryan Dunn or good 53 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 1: back line defenders like Mark Williams and drop coverage looks 54 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 1: things that the Lakers have struggled against at times this season. 55 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: The Laker offense looked really good. It flew under the 56 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: radar because they were so bad in the DeAndre to 57 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: eight minutes in the Phoenix game. Did not respond well 58 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: to that whole story that came out from Dave mcmanhimon 59 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 1: last week. If you remove those DeAndre eight minutes, though 60 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: the Big scored remarkably well in the Phoenix game, did 61 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 1: so again in the Golden State game, and then did 62 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: so again against a terrible Sacramento Kings team. And so 63 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: in those last three games when Austin, Lebron, and Luca 64 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: have been on the floor together, a one to twenty 65 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:15,959 Speaker 1: eight offensive rating, so basically the best stretch of offense 66 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 1: as a trio this season. I think a big part 67 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: of it has again been the emphasis on posting smalls 68 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: rather than hunting bigs in switches. And then two the 69 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: three point shooting. Twenty seven made threes by the Big 70 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 1: Three in those three games on a combined forty eight percent. 71 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: One of the biggest things I've learned over the last 72 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: several years is it pertains to star partnerships, different stars 73 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: coming together to play if you're going to get multiple 74 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: stars to co exist on offense and actually be forced 75 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: multipliers for each other rather than kind of like a redundancy, 76 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: you know, where they kind of take away from each 77 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 1: other's effectiveness, the you know, law of diminishing returns, so 78 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 1: to speak. You need to have guys that are aggressive 79 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: and efficient from three That is what allows them to 80 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: play off of each other, and so one of the 81 00:03:57,760 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 1: biggest issues that they've had in the last you know, 82 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: year or so that this partnership has been in existence 83 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: is the inconsistent three point shooting. Whether it was Austin 84 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 1: in the Minnesota Timberwolve series last year or it was 85 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: Lebron for the majority of the regular season this year. 86 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: You need your stars to be able to knock down 87 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: threes to coexist with each other. They've started They've started 88 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: to do so in this last three games, and then 89 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 1: lastly starting to find some synergy with their horn sets 90 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: and really any of their sets that involve all three 91 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:26,280 Speaker 1: of them in some way keeping the rhythm flowing between 92 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: all of their players. I've said this for the last 93 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:31,239 Speaker 1: couple of months, but I think there's a big drop 94 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 1: off after the top nine teams in the NBA, the 95 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: other nine teams I'm hitting today, I think there's a 96 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 1: big gap between those guys in the Lakers and the 97 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:42,040 Speaker 1: rest of the league. At number ten, the Lakers are 98 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 1: probably the best team in that group after the top nine, 99 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 1: but I still think there's a big gap and they're 100 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: not on that level. They're most likely going to play Houston, 101 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,720 Speaker 1: Denver or Minnesota in round one, and as of right now, 102 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: I think they get their ass beat regardless of who 103 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 1: they play out of those three, but they have one 104 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 1: path to at least be competitive, meaning one have to 105 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: at least keep the series relatively close, not embarrass themselves, 106 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:06,600 Speaker 1: to give themselves a puncher's chance, and that's if their 107 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: offense can reach an elite level. I'm not sold on 108 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 1: a three game stretch, especially against teams of that caliber, 109 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: even though their defenses are solid, but it is progress. 110 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 1: I would personally be stunned if the Lakers like won 111 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,239 Speaker 1: multiple playoff series and made it to the conference finals, 112 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 1: but I think avoiding that first round exit at least 113 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: competing looking competitive in that first round series, or if 114 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 1: you were to steal a first round series before losing 115 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: in round two, I think that'd be a lot of momentum, 116 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: a lot of positive momentum heading into what's the most 117 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: important offseason they've had in a long time coming up 118 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 1: this summer. Number nine. The Denver Nuggets currently plus five 119 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 1: point fifty to win the title. According to hard Rock Bet, 120 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: Denver's just been in an absolute free fall since Jokic's returned. 121 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: They're just five and eight in their last thirteen games, 122 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 1: lost a couple of measuring stick games versus Oklahoma City 123 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 1: and Minnesota over the weekend and a Friday Sunday set. 124 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 1: Although it's worth mentioning that for extended stretches in the 125 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: Oklahoma City game, it looked very good as we thought, 126 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:05,720 Speaker 1: continued to see that dynamic of them, you know, managing 127 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: to contain Okayc's offense a little bit and scoring effectively 128 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 1: in half court. On the other end, we saw some 129 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,839 Speaker 1: extended stretches of success, but ultimately they ended up losing 130 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:16,280 Speaker 1: both of those games. I think there's a couple of 131 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: different ways to look at those two losses to Minnesota 132 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: and Oklahoma City. There is a lot of reality to 133 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: the idea that the Peyton Watson and Aaron Gordon injuries 134 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 1: are particularly damaging in these matchups for starters, they're literally 135 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: your two best athletes, especially when you consider size, so 136 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: like in matchups against teams like Oklahoma City and Minnesota 137 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 1: that are especially athletically imposing, those are the guys you 138 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: really don't want to be without, right, you know, and 139 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 1: I've talked about it all year, but Aaron Gordon is 140 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:45,679 Speaker 1: really their only viable vertical spacer at the four spot, 141 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: as in a guy that can like just you know, 142 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 1: remember in the NBA two K games that like standing 143 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: dunk metric. That's like Aaron Gordon's best trade on this 144 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 1: team is he can just post up underneath the basket 145 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: in the dunker spot and easily elevate and dunk anything 146 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: off of Jokic passes. That messes with their spacing quite 147 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:06,280 Speaker 1: a bit. Also, Peyton Watson and Aaron Gordon are incredibly 148 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: important to their back line defense. So when they want 149 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: to do things like they did in the second half yesterday, 150 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: where they're like sending Yokic up to the level to 151 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: try to get the ball out of Ant's hands, you're 152 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: gonna be smaller and less athletic on that back line 153 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 1: rotating in those four on threes. Ant said after the game, 154 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 1: my four is better than your three. That's true, but 155 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 1: it's especially true and that three doesn't include someone like 156 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: Peyton Watson or Aaron Gordon to help kind of clean 157 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 1: those things mess clean those things up, or like, you know, 158 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 1: look at the Jade McDaniels possessions where he's just going 159 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: right through guards, chests and just getting right to the 160 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: front of the rim, like those are matchups that would 161 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: happen less frequently when you're healthy. So I don't want 162 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 1: to sit here in act like these two games are 163 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: deeply revealing or anything like that, But I think there 164 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 1: are two issues in particular that are worth addressing, and 165 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: they involve Jokic and Murray. Won the turnovers. The Nuggets 166 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 1: ended up getting giving up over twenty points off of 167 00:07:56,400 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: turnovers in both of those games. The Minnesota game, in particular, 168 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: Yo Kitchen Murray were super sloppy. This is something that 169 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 1: we've seen at many times over the years in this 170 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 1: Minnesota matchup. Minnesota can appear to physically overwhelm those two 171 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 1: at times. That leads to those turnovers, that sparks the 172 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 1: transition attack. You saw all those transition opportunities that took 173 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 1: place in this particular game. Minnesota torch Denver in the 174 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: open floor. They had a thirty to six fast breakpoint advantage. 175 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: We've seen Denver multiple times over the years decompose offensively 176 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 1: against Oklahoma City and Minnesota, whether it's like that late 177 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:35,319 Speaker 1: first quarter stretch against Oklahoma City in Game seven or 178 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: Game two of that series, or it's Minnesota in game 179 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: the second half of Game seven of the second round 180 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: series in twenty twenty four various points during the regular season. 181 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 1: Over the last couple of years, we've also seen stretches 182 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: where Yo Kitchen Murray have methodically broken down both of 183 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:52,839 Speaker 1: those defenses, taking care of the basketball, gotten great shots 184 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: for themselves or for their teammates. So it's mostly an 185 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:58,839 Speaker 1: execution thing. I'm just saying that in order for Denver 186 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: to reach their goals, they're going to need to be 187 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: more consistent with those two guys against the best defenses 188 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 1: in the NBA. The margin for error just isn't big 189 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: enough if they're gonna have those kinds of decomposing moments. 190 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:14,839 Speaker 1: The second thing is Yokic is three point shooting. This 191 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:17,079 Speaker 1: was more prevalent in the OKC game on Friday night, 192 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 1: but we did see it pop up against Minnesota a 193 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 1: little bit, most notably in Game seven of the second 194 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 1: round series back in twenty twenty four. What ends up 195 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 1: happening is teams that are very athletic they get good 196 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 1: at swarming Jokic on the roll while also rotating well 197 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: out of it. So a lot of times those two 198 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: man games where both guys are going downhill, they can 199 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: be a little bit harder to handle as the better athletic, 200 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 1: better defensive teams can can just kind of load up 201 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 1: and rotate. So Jokic makes an adjustment, and his adjustment 202 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: in those situations is to pop in pick and rolls. Right. 203 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:52,320 Speaker 1: We saw this a lot in that late game stretch 204 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 1: against Oklahoma City. Right, you just you know, Jalen Williams 205 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 1: is on Jay will is on the floor, he's running 206 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 1: a deeper drop coverage against Jamal Murray. Yokic just popping, 207 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: and it's like, actually a smart adjustment in the sense that, 208 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 1: as we've talked about, that is literally the hardest action 209 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: to guard in terms of rotating as a pick and pop. 210 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 1: If you're in a traditional drop coverage of any kind, 211 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: even if it's at the level deeper drop, whatever it 212 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:17,439 Speaker 1: might be, if you pop out of it, it's a 213 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 1: very difficult rotation to make because usually the big is 214 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:22,679 Speaker 1: containing the ball handler down by like the foul line area, 215 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 1: and now he's got to close out usually twenty thirty 216 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,559 Speaker 1: feet across the court to a big who's popped away 217 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 1: from the play. It's just very, very difficult to guard. 218 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 1: So it's an adjustment that makes sense for yokicch but 219 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter if he can't hit the shots. And 220 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 1: as you remember, in that Game seven against Minnesota, just 221 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: miss miss miss miss miss on picking pop threes down 222 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 1: the stretch against Oklahoma City, miss miss miss miss miss 223 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: on picking pop threes. And so he's shown a propensity 224 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 1: to go into extended slumps on that front. If he 225 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 1: goes into one like that in the postseason, it could 226 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:54,839 Speaker 1: be a death sentence for this team because there isn't 227 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,560 Speaker 1: enough margin for error with how skilled the top of 228 00:10:57,559 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: the league is. I've said this multiple times over the years. 229 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: From three Jokic head and shoulders above the rest of 230 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:07,559 Speaker 1: the stars in this league thirty percent from three jokch 231 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 1: just another top tier superstar on the same level as 232 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,439 Speaker 1: Shay Luca or Jannis. They need him to find his 233 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:15,839 Speaker 1: rhythm there. He did shoot well for most of the 234 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 1: season up to this point, so there's no reason to 235 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,680 Speaker 1: think he can't figure it out. By the way, super excited. 236 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: I'm going to see Lakers Nuggets on Thursday, my first 237 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 1: time going to a Nuggets game this season. Very very 238 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 1: excited for that one. I'm super excited to tell you 239 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 1: guys about our new partnership with VIORI. Those of you 240 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: guys who are familiar with VIORI have noticed that I've 241 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:37,199 Speaker 1: been wearing it on the show almost every day now 242 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:40,439 Speaker 1: for several years. Today I am wearing the Ponto Performance 243 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 1: half Zip, one of my favorites from them. It's straight 244 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 1: up the most comfortable hoodie that I've ever worn, but 245 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: it's also super versatile. It's something that looks very nice 246 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: that I can wear out when I'm running errands, they're 247 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:51,959 Speaker 1: going to get lunch with my wife. But it's also 248 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 1: like this super stretchy, dry fit fabric that I can 249 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:58,199 Speaker 1: wear when I'm going to play basketball. 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Visit the website for full 276 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:24,840 Speaker 1: terms and conditions. Number eight Cleveland Cavaliers currently plus eleven 277 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:27,200 Speaker 1: hundred on hard rock. They've dropped three out of five, 278 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 1: but Mitchell and Harden played in only one of those games, 279 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: Harden's got a fracture in his thumb that he's playing through, 280 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 1: kind of tricky, struggling to handle the ball a little bit. 281 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 1: And then Donovan Mitchell has a little bit of a 282 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 1: groin issue. But the Oklahoma City game we covered last week, 283 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: that was the one where both stars were healthy. They 284 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: just ran into a defensive buzz saw early in the game. 285 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: Although they reacted pretty well to that. They damn near 286 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:50,320 Speaker 1: won in Milwaukee and and in Detroit without their star guards. 287 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 1: In Milwaukee, Kevin Porter Junior ended up hitting a big 288 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:56,079 Speaker 1: late jump shot that sealed the game. In the Detroit game, 289 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 1: they really should have won. It's just a lot of 290 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 1: mistakes down the stretch. When Tyson ends up fouling Dennis 291 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 1: Jenkins on a three pointer, a couple of possessions where 292 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 1: they just succumb to ball pressure and give up turnovers 293 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:09,320 Speaker 1: and runouts, just a couple, just a few too many 294 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 1: mistakes there. Dennis Schroeder had a couple of bad turnovers, 295 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 1: but for the most part, they competed really well in 296 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 1: those two games. The Detroit game in particular, one of 297 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 1: the best teams in the league on the road, and 298 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: it's because Dennis Schroeder absorbed usage well. Jared Allen has 299 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 1: been hooping his ass off put up numbers in both games. Again, 300 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 1: they really should have won at least one of those, 301 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: but it is what it is. They competed, they showed 302 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 1: their depth, Harden made his return and the winning Brooklyn 303 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 1: Jared Allen had another twenty point night. He's averaging twenty 304 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 1: two points and eleven rebounds on seventy three percent shooting 305 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: in his last twelve games. He's been fantastic, fun little 306 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: three game homestand coming up for the Cavs this week Detroit, 307 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 1: Boston and Philly. Big key here. The health piece of 308 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:51,239 Speaker 1: it is James Harden going to be able to replicate, 309 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: you know, ninety five to ninety eight percent of what 310 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: he usually is with this broken thumb. How serious is 311 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 1: Donovan Mitchell's growing Is this just a soreness thing, it's 312 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 1: more of a management thing, or is he dealing with 313 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 1: something that could end up being lingering throughout the season. 314 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 1: All eyes on the health of their two guards at 315 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 1: this point. Number seven. The Houston Rockets currently plus twenty 316 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 1: two to fifty to win the title on hard Rock Bet. 317 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 1: Very up and down a couple of weeks for the 318 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 1: Houston Rockets. You get a nice road win in Charlotte 319 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 1: against a red hot Hornets team, then you have a 320 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: devastating late game collapse against the Knicks in MSG. You 321 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: have this massive second half comeback down nineteen in Orlando, 322 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 1: Kevin Duranton, Reed Sheppard going this crazy offensive run. You 323 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: come back and you win, and then you have a 324 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 1: super disappointing loss to the Heat in Miami. I'm starting 325 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 1: to get a little concerned about Alpera and Shangoun. He's 326 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 1: been better on defense since the humiliation of being called 327 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: out by his teammate and his coach, but he's scored 328 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 1: twenty points just twice in his last eleven games. His 329 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: lack of short range touch has been a problem. Just 330 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: twenty nine percent on jump shots inside his seventeen feet, 331 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 1: just forty two percent on floaters and hooks this season, 332 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 1: just sixty four percent at the rim, which again for 333 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 1: a power player at his position, should be substantially higher. 334 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 1: The Shangun only groups, the ones that started the second 335 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 1: and fourth quarters last night just got absolutely or on Saturday, 336 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 1: I should say, got absolutely thrashed in Miami. Not all 337 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 1: his fault. Some weird lineup groupings like that second shift 338 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 1: in the early fourth quarter. Jeff Green was in the 339 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 1: lineup for that game. Other guys were making mistakes as well. 340 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 1: The team shot poorly in those stretches as well. So 341 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: it's not all Shanguon's fault. But if Shanguon could just 342 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 1: find the way to put the ball in the basket. 343 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 1: More like this is, he has literally scored twenty points 344 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: just twice in his last eleven games. If he can 345 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: find a way to put the ball in the basketball, 346 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: which we know he's capable of, it could go a 347 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 1: long way towards stabilizing things for Houston. And again, the 348 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 1: good news is, if you're a Rockets fan after all 349 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 1: of that mediocre basketball over the last few months, you're 350 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: the three seed, which is a casual reminder that everyone 351 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 1: in the West outside of San Antonio and Oklahoma City 352 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 1: has been struggling in various ways at various times over 353 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 1: the last few months. So again, you're everybody, whether it's 354 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 1: the Lakers at the sixth seed or the Rockets at 355 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 1: the three seed, you're two good weeks or two bad 356 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 1: weeks away from flipping that dynamic, and you're on the 357 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,200 Speaker 1: opposite end of it. So all of it is about 358 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: keeping your eye on the prize, one game at a time, 359 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:10,880 Speaker 1: one play at a time, keep your hands on the rope, 360 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: and hang on because this could get bad for anybody 361 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 1: or get good for anybody in a short period of time. 362 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:19,199 Speaker 1: Number six Minnesota Timberwolves currently plus three thousand to win 363 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 1: the title on hard rock bet if one three in 364 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 1: a row, six out of seven, and eleven of their 365 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 1: last fifteen. So it's definitely starting to ramp up a 366 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: little bit for the postseason. I thought the wain in 367 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:31,440 Speaker 1: Denver yesterday was one of their more impressive defensive performances 368 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 1: of the season. Those are those games that I can't 369 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 1: get out of my head when it comes to the 370 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: Timberwolves when they really turn up on defense, because they're 371 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,200 Speaker 1: just so difficult to deal with. Like I was thinking 372 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 1: about this when I was watching the game yesterday, Like 373 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: when you put two on the ball, whether it's a 374 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 1: blitz of a ball screen or just up at the 375 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 1: level coverage, or you're doubling a post up, or even 376 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: if you're digging down on a driver, any sort of 377 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:57,679 Speaker 1: situation where the defense is loaded on the basketball in 378 00:17:57,680 --> 00:17:59,880 Speaker 1: some way, shape or form. The reads are the same 379 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: for everybody. The reads out of a post up double, 380 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 1: the reads out of an at the level coverage, the 381 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:06,159 Speaker 1: reads out of a dig down on a drive, all 382 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 1: those reads are the same for the offense. But when 383 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:13,160 Speaker 1: you get there faster, when you pressure the ball more, 384 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:17,400 Speaker 1: when you're bigger and more athletic within that aggression, it's 385 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: just really difficult to pass through it or to shoot 386 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 1: over it. Like Yokich has seen double teams that have 387 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: come out of post ups a million times. But when 388 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:30,240 Speaker 1: Dante DiVincenzo is a very good athlete shoots that gap, 389 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:33,640 Speaker 1: it's just faster and more difficult to deal with when 390 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:37,200 Speaker 1: it's a lesser defensive player, when it's a lesser defensive lineup. 391 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:39,639 Speaker 1: There are some passing reads that Jamal Murray makes, some 392 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:42,560 Speaker 1: drop off passes, some swing passes where it's like, oh, 393 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: I'm trying to make this entry pass, but that's Jaden 394 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:48,960 Speaker 1: mcdaniels's long ass arm that's in the way getting that deflection, 395 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: or oh Ant's tagging the roller. I'm gonna make this 396 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 1: skip pass to the weak side. But Ant is just 397 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 1: super athletic and can stop on a dime, cut back, 398 00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 1: elevate and intercept your skip pass. As I'm watching the game, 399 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 1: I'm sitting there thinking like, it's not like Denver's necessarily 400 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 1: making the wrong reads or that they're not compromising the 401 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 1: defense like Marie and Jokicic were consistently compromising the defense 402 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 1: and drawing the defense like to collapse on them. They 403 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:16,439 Speaker 1: were seeing the right opening. Just Minnesota so fast and 404 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 1: so physical that it can overwhelm them sometimes. And that, 405 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 1: honestly is what makes me so high on this Minnesota team. 406 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 1: There's just another level of physical imposition with them. The 407 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: transition attack has been super impressive. They had thirty four 408 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,680 Speaker 1: transition points yesterday, and Denver their bench groups with Bones 409 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:34,880 Speaker 1: Highland and Io dis soon moved did an amazing job 410 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: running off of missus and turnovers and getting layups in 411 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 1: the open floor and brings a little bit of that element, 412 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 1: especially as a three point shooter. Nas Reid in that 413 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:45,879 Speaker 1: early fourth quarter stretch, those quick, little little moves, that 414 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 1: little hesitation drive to the right where he drew the 415 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: foul on Cam Johnson for the and one just a 416 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: disgusting euro step into a lefty floater in the lane 417 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: that put them up twelve in the early fourth quarter. 418 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:00,159 Speaker 1: Amazing fourth quarter run there from Nazri to hit a 419 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 1: big pull up three in that stretch as well. Big swing. 420 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,119 Speaker 1: Like I know, we already talk nuggets, but it's funny. 421 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 1: Cam Johnson has just been an absolute nightmare. I'm not 422 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:10,399 Speaker 1: ready to give up on him because I do think 423 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:12,679 Speaker 1: he can shoot way better than he has been shooting. 424 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:14,680 Speaker 1: But there's no way to look at that as of 425 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 1: right now than other than a big disappointment. But there's 426 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 1: a huge swing in that game where they get a 427 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:21,400 Speaker 1: transition three for Cam Johnson off of the right wing, 428 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:24,199 Speaker 1: he misses it. Nas Reed goes down and hits a 429 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 1: contested pull up three in Cam Johnson's face turned what 430 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 1: should have been a I shouldn't say should have been. 431 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 1: But if you hit the open three and miss the 432 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 1: contested three, it's a four point game. You miss the 433 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:35,880 Speaker 1: open three, you hit the contested three, it's a ten 434 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 1: point game. Huge swing in that game from nos Reed. 435 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 1: Jade McDaniel's just repeatedly bullying his way to the rim 436 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 1: over and over again. Didn't even hit a three yesterday, 437 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: but just was controlling the game as a driver and 438 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 1: as a bully ball player. I continue to think the 439 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:52,400 Speaker 1: Wolves have a fastball when they're at their very best, 440 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 1: that is every bit as good as the top teams 441 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: in the league. That's why I'm so high on him 442 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 1: as a championship contender. They are the fourth best record 443 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 1: in the league against teams in the top ten in 444 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 1: point differential, second best record or second best point differential 445 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:06,800 Speaker 1: in the league within those games against teams that are 446 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:10,719 Speaker 1: in the top ten in point differential number five. The 447 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 1: Boston Celtics currently plus eleven hundred to win the title 448 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:15,879 Speaker 1: on hard rock Bet. They had a disappointing loss in 449 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 1: Denver last week, with their offense fell victim to the 450 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,679 Speaker 1: same deep drop covers that they had been using to 451 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:23,239 Speaker 1: great effect against some of their recent opponents, but they 452 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 1: bounced back with wins against the Nets and the Sixers. 453 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:28,680 Speaker 1: One of Jalen Brown's best games of the season against Philly. 454 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:30,439 Speaker 1: He went for twenty seven eight to eight, but the 455 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 1: start of the game was Nimis Keda went for twenty 456 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 1: seven to seventeen in three blocks, just feasting on rolls 457 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: and cuts. Not the best Andre Drummond game that I've 458 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:42,399 Speaker 1: seen him play. Mimi just absolutely whooped his ass, but 459 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: he showed some nimble footwork on rolls where he had 460 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: to like work around defenders and go up and under 461 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:51,199 Speaker 1: for some tougher layups. Just showed some impressive hand eye 462 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 1: coordination for his position, made a couple of huge plays 463 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 1: at the room. Late in the game, he kind of 464 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 1: went to a post up and he tried to turn 465 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 1: over his left shoulder and lost the ball, but he 466 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:01,439 Speaker 1: scrapped it out in front of everybody and rose up 467 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:03,879 Speaker 1: and got an and one. Had a huge offensive rebound 468 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,000 Speaker 1: put back dunk off of this kind of bizarre sequence 469 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 1: where the ball went carrying off the backboard right into 470 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 1: his hands. And then one of his three blocks was 471 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: a huge one late in the game. Six point games, 472 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 1: two possession game, a couple of minutes left where he 473 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 1: gets Tyrese Maxey on a switch in the left corner 474 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: and ends up timing it perfectly, rising up and blocking 475 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 1: him on a pull up three. Just a hell of 476 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 1: a game for one of the great success stories of 477 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,119 Speaker 1: the Celtics organization over the last few years. And then 478 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:28,760 Speaker 1: one last thing I wanted to talk about the Celtics 479 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:31,919 Speaker 1: Baylor Shireman. I was fascinated. You know, Reggie Miller can 480 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 1: drive me crazy sometimes, but he kind of had an 481 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 1: interesting point when during the game when he was talking 482 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 1: about how like Baylor's playing through this this finger fracture 483 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 1: and essentially his whole thing is like I got my 484 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:49,840 Speaker 1: starting spot. I am not an established NBA player. If 485 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:52,440 Speaker 1: I decided to sit out and rehab this thing, someone 486 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: could take my spot and the entire league could look 487 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:56,159 Speaker 1: me behind. You never know? Did you literally never know? 488 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 1: Baylor's probably gonna get another shot no matter what. But again, 489 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,440 Speaker 1: as a player, when you've got something that you fought 490 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:04,639 Speaker 1: your entire life for, I respect the hell out of 491 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:06,480 Speaker 1: a player just deciding I'm going to find a way 492 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: to keep this spot as long as I can. And 493 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 1: one of the things with Baylor Shireman is he brings 494 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:15,920 Speaker 1: a lot of aspects that the Celtics have had kind 495 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 1: of like varying elements of from that swing forward spot, 496 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 1: where like they've had some bigger, more athletic players, but 497 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:25,680 Speaker 1: maybe they're more inconsistent on offense. Baylor Shireman brings like 498 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:28,880 Speaker 1: a more refined offensive skill, but he's still a very 499 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:31,680 Speaker 1: good rebounder for his position. He's become a very good 500 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:34,679 Speaker 1: anticipatory defender, meaning like he's very good at picking the 501 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:37,359 Speaker 1: angle to beat a defender to offensive player to a 502 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,240 Speaker 1: spot and absorb that contact and as a result, because 503 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:43,159 Speaker 1: he brings that combination of like shooting, offensive skill making 504 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:46,080 Speaker 1: reads in the driving kick, but also good size that 505 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:48,919 Speaker 1: can guard multiple positions, that's learned how to be a 506 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 1: better anticipatory defender and a great rebounder for his position. 507 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:55,120 Speaker 1: He grabs seven rebounds per thirty six minutes this year, 508 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:57,399 Speaker 1: and he pops off the screen as a relatively big 509 00:23:57,480 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 1: player on the wing as well, and as a result, 510 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:01,960 Speaker 1: these into one of their better on off guys this 511 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:06,359 Speaker 1: year in plus minus. Today's show is brought to you 512 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 1: by a presenting sponsor, hard Rock Bet. 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Hard 530 00:24:56,560 --> 00:24:59,159 Speaker 1: Rock Bet offers new promos daily, so whenever you're listening, 531 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 1: just open up the app and check out what you've got. 532 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 1: Any day of the week, download the hard rock Bet 533 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:07,240 Speaker 1: app and make your first deposit number four. The New 534 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: York Knicks currently plus fifteen hundred to win the title 535 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:13,119 Speaker 1: on hard Rock Bet. What an incredible defensive performance by 536 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: the Knicks in Madison Square Garden yesterday. They completely boxed 537 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:20,800 Speaker 1: in San Antonio's guards. Steph Castle was like legitimately struggling 538 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 1: to get to his spots, which is something I haven't 539 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:24,640 Speaker 1: seen very often from him this season. I give og 540 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:26,639 Speaker 1: Anodobi and Josh Hart a lot of credit for that. 541 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:29,639 Speaker 1: They did an amazing job. Victor women Yama scored twenty 542 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:33,040 Speaker 1: five points, but the Knicks turned him over seven times 543 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:35,440 Speaker 1: by just being super physical on his base and swarming 544 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:38,399 Speaker 1: him on his drives. As a team, the Knicks forced 545 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:41,359 Speaker 1: twenty two turnovers and scored twenty four points off of 546 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 1: those turnovers. Was one of the biggest differences in the game. Again, 547 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:48,680 Speaker 1: Steph Castle Deer and Fox Dylan Harper, none of their 548 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:51,800 Speaker 1: guards could get anything going. Just a really impressive defensive 549 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: night from the Knicks, and Jalen Brunson was a great 550 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,760 Speaker 1: all game. Mikhail Bridges was killing the Spurs with his 551 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:00,720 Speaker 1: weak side three point shooting in general all game. I 552 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 1: thought the Knicks did a great job of skipping the 553 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:05,159 Speaker 1: ball across the court when the Spurs loaded up, so 554 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 1: really impressive like early possession passing game from the Knicks. 555 00:26:08,920 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 1: This is something they've been way better at all season 556 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 1: anyway compared to last year, but especially yesterday. They generated 557 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 1: twenty three unguarded catch and shoot threes yesterday. That's super 558 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 1: impressive against one of the better defenses in the league. 559 00:26:21,119 --> 00:26:24,120 Speaker 1: Mohammed Dijuara did an amazing job staying aggressive, even though 560 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 1: he missed some of his early looks. He got thirteen 561 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:29,320 Speaker 1: threes up yesterday. I saw a stat from Nate Duncan 562 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:31,960 Speaker 1: saying it was the most threes per minute ever in 563 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:33,879 Speaker 1: the history of the league minimum. I think it was 564 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:36,240 Speaker 1: like minimum ten minutes played or something like that. But 565 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:38,160 Speaker 1: he ended up hitting four of them. Made a couple 566 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:40,679 Speaker 1: of huge defensive plays. He blocked Steph Castle on an 567 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 1: ISO drive. That was one thing that kind of stood 568 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:46,359 Speaker 1: out to me in this game, like because Steph has 569 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 1: had so much success getting to his spots, he did 570 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 1: struggle against some of the bigger, stronger forwards and I 571 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,399 Speaker 1: thought that was such an interesting thing to keep an 572 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:56,440 Speaker 1: eye on as we head into the postseason and teams 573 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 1: try to figure out how to game plan for Steph. 574 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: But Diar was plus eighteen and fifteen minutes yesterday. Karl 575 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:06,680 Speaker 1: Anthony Towns didn't have a good statistical game. He had 576 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 1: some turnovers against San Antonio double teams. But I actually 577 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 1: thought Kat was really good for the most part in 578 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: this one. He's a bit of a matchup problem for 579 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:16,159 Speaker 1: a Spurs team that's light at the forward position. The 580 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 1: Spurs started Steph Castle on him and they were switching 581 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 1: pick and rolls and the Nicks ended up getting a 582 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:22,159 Speaker 1: lot of good looks early in the game on the 583 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 1: ensuing double teams because they'd screen Kat would get deer 584 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 1: and Fox on him and they'd either throw it to 585 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: him in the post he draw double, or the double 586 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:31,200 Speaker 1: would come before the pass and they'd skip it across 587 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:33,160 Speaker 1: the court. They tried all sorts of things. They tried 588 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:35,520 Speaker 1: not switching it, they tried scram switching it to get 589 00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:38,000 Speaker 1: Wemby to take Kat as he'd run down to the post, 590 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:40,160 Speaker 1: and the Spurs made a lot of mistakes in those 591 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 1: interchanges that led to good looks. We'll talk about that 592 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:44,000 Speaker 1: when we get to the Spurs here in a few minutes. 593 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 1: But again, I thought overall, Kat was a lot better 594 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:49,000 Speaker 1: than his box score looked yesterday, even had a nice, 595 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 1: little impressive driving baseline dunk against Steph Castle in the 596 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:54,639 Speaker 1: early second half. Just a really impressive win where the 597 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 1: Knicks gave a lot of problems to a legit championship 598 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:00,679 Speaker 1: contender on both ends of the floor. Like the Knicks 599 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 1: fastball this year so much better than last year, and 600 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 1: it shows in the numbers. Last year the Knicks were 601 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 1: so bad against teams in the top part of the 602 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 1: league outside of that Boston series. Obviously, last year they 603 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:14,080 Speaker 1: were seventeenth in their record against teams on the top 604 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:17,479 Speaker 1: ten and point differential, twelve in their point differential in 605 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:20,960 Speaker 1: those games. This year they have the second best record 606 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:23,080 Speaker 1: in the NBA right now, behind the Detroit Pistons at 607 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:25,280 Speaker 1: ten and seven against teams in the top ten and 608 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:28,000 Speaker 1: point differential, and they have the fourth best point differential 609 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:31,399 Speaker 1: in those games. So much much better resilience against the 610 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: top teams. Why improvement defensively across the board, and a 611 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:38,960 Speaker 1: more equal opportunity offense that's built on driving kick early 612 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:42,000 Speaker 1: in possessions. That's generating a lot more spot up opportunities, 613 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:45,400 Speaker 1: which are some of the most efficient opportunities you'll ever 614 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 1: generate in the half court in the NBA. Just better 615 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 1: on both ends of the flour, making them better against 616 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:52,280 Speaker 1: the best teams. And here's the thing. You match up 617 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 1: really well with san Antonio, and you've consistently given them issues. 618 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 1: Even the one you game you lost was a game 619 00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:59,120 Speaker 1: that was very competitive, and then you handled them in 620 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:02,240 Speaker 1: the Ncason Tournament, handled him yesterday. So like, there's a 621 00:29:02,280 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 1: real chance san Antonio makes it out of the West. 622 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 1: That's a pathway that could benefit New York. You can 623 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:09,840 Speaker 1: imagine if New York could somehow pull out of the 624 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 1: East and San Antonio makes it out of that blood 625 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:13,840 Speaker 1: bath of a West. If you're a Knicks fan, you 626 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 1: gotta feel really good about your chances to win the 627 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:19,600 Speaker 1: title there number three the San Antonio Spurs currently plus 628 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 1: eight hundred to win the title on hard Rock Bet. 629 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:25,080 Speaker 1: The most disappointing thing about this particular game was the offense, 630 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 1: Like their defense got cut up, but it was a 631 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:29,280 Speaker 1: lot of mistakes that I think they can clean up. 632 00:29:29,440 --> 00:29:31,880 Speaker 1: A lot of transition defense mistakes like guys not getting 633 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:34,040 Speaker 1: matched up and giving up layups and dunks in transition 634 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 1: were just like simple execution errors. We talked about all 635 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:39,640 Speaker 1: those switches involving Cat. There were a lot of like 636 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 1: just basic execution errors, like the scram switch with Wenby 637 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:46,880 Speaker 1: trying to take Cat Julian Champenny's slow on his rotation 638 00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:48,600 Speaker 1: to the rim, they end up giving up a cut 639 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:51,800 Speaker 1: for an easy basket. A lot of like Bot switches 640 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 1: on interchanges with Cat where Kat would get slipped downhill 641 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:56,200 Speaker 1: into the basket or someone else would because they just 642 00:29:56,240 --> 00:29:58,840 Speaker 1: would be hesitant to switch or not knowing exactly what 643 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:01,239 Speaker 1: they want to do in those situations. I think they 644 00:30:01,280 --> 00:30:04,200 Speaker 1: can execute a lot better on defense. I'm less concerned 645 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:06,400 Speaker 1: about their defensive execution when they get to the postseason, 646 00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:08,960 Speaker 1: so that I don't really think too much about. What 647 00:30:09,080 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 1: concerns me is that the offense did look a lot 648 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 1: like what I think the Knicks will see at times 649 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 1: in the postseason. Teams will get physical with Wemby and 650 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:19,360 Speaker 1: force him into turnovers, like I expect Wemby's first playoff 651 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:21,720 Speaker 1: run to be a relatively high turnover one as he 652 00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:24,600 Speaker 1: adjusts to the physicality. It's kind of what I expect 653 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:27,200 Speaker 1: him to average more points than you think, just because 654 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:28,880 Speaker 1: of how many easy ones he can get around the 655 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:31,480 Speaker 1: rim and the flow, and then I expect him to 656 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 1: be somewhat turnover prone. Like that's more or less what 657 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 1: I expect to see in the postseason. I do think 658 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:38,720 Speaker 1: the young guards will have playoff games where they struggle 659 00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 1: to solve the puzzle of what the defense is trying 660 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 1: to do. The trump card they have is the Spurs 661 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:46,800 Speaker 1: have a veteran All star guard who can run, pick 662 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:50,160 Speaker 1: and roll and raise their floor in these situations. And 663 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:52,760 Speaker 1: Derek Fox had seven points and that was really my 664 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:54,360 Speaker 1: fear with the Spurs when I would talk about them 665 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:57,080 Speaker 1: as a playoff team. Their most reliable half court offense 666 00:30:57,560 --> 00:31:00,760 Speaker 1: will be playing through a guard who who may or 667 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:02,920 Speaker 1: may not even be a top thirty player in the 668 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:05,960 Speaker 1: NBA right now. Is that a death sentence? No, of 669 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:07,920 Speaker 1: course not. I'm not about to jump off the Spurs 670 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:11,080 Speaker 1: bandwagon because of one loss. They have tons of opportunities 671 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:13,160 Speaker 1: over the next couple of weeks to prove that they 672 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:16,520 Speaker 1: still have that top tier championship upside. They're at Philly tomorrow, 673 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 1: then they have this home stand where they played Detroit, 674 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:23,240 Speaker 1: the Clippers, Houston, Boston, Denver, and Charlotte. So many opportunities 675 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:26,880 Speaker 1: to make this loss a distant memory. But that's the 676 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:29,000 Speaker 1: kind of thing that I just see in my head, 677 00:31:29,040 --> 00:31:30,840 Speaker 1: Like what happened in that Knicks game. That's the kind 678 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:32,160 Speaker 1: of thing that I see in my head where it's 679 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 1: like a certain type of matchup that can provide bigger 680 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:39,360 Speaker 1: physical defenders for their guards, rim protection, that sort of thing, 681 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:41,720 Speaker 1: like they really struggled in that Mitchell Robinson group in 682 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 1: the late first quarter, for example, that really shut down 683 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:47,040 Speaker 1: their offense. Is the Knicks kind of overcame that initial 684 00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:49,400 Speaker 1: run from San Antonio, like, I'm just a little worried 685 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:51,840 Speaker 1: about it, not a death sentence. Can't wait to see 686 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:53,880 Speaker 1: these next couple of weeks and how they respond, but 687 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:57,360 Speaker 1: I was a little disappointed in their offense yesterday. Number 688 00:31:57,360 --> 00:32:00,120 Speaker 1: two the Oklahoma City Thunder currently plus one for the 689 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:03,360 Speaker 1: title on hard Rock bet one. Clear and defining characteristic 690 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:05,640 Speaker 1: of the last week that Shay Gills of Alexander is 691 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:09,360 Speaker 1: back and that he looks amazing. The Thunder actually racked 692 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:11,880 Speaker 1: up several really impressive wins without any of their top 693 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 1: three guards. Their defense has been super impressive. We've had 694 00:32:14,920 --> 00:32:17,920 Speaker 1: offensive contributions from guys like Caseon Wallace and Jared McCain 695 00:32:18,080 --> 00:32:20,680 Speaker 1: that have helped fill the void. But who cares about 696 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:25,160 Speaker 1: all of that. Shay is back and he looks fantastic physically, 697 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:27,320 Speaker 1: and that's the key getting wherever he wants to on 698 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:30,800 Speaker 1: the floor. He looked super explosive with his first step 699 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:33,520 Speaker 1: and on his counters in that Denver game, even had 700 00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 1: a poster dunk against the MAVs and Max Christy yesterday. 701 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:39,040 Speaker 1: In his first two games back, thirty three seven and 702 00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:42,920 Speaker 1: seven with just two turnovers per game. Looks absolutely locked 703 00:32:42,920 --> 00:32:45,120 Speaker 1: in and ready for this stretch run and then Alex 704 00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:47,880 Speaker 1: Crusoe man like, he straight up stole that Denver game. 705 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:51,240 Speaker 1: They probably lose that game without Alex his defensive playmaking 706 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:53,360 Speaker 1: down the stretch. He stopped a key fast break late 707 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:56,120 Speaker 1: with the steal, his timely spot up shooting hit a 708 00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:59,600 Speaker 1: couple of massive catch and shoot threes, arguably the best 709 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:02,360 Speaker 1: role play in the league. One of the crazier stats 710 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:05,000 Speaker 1: I've seen this year is that the Thunder are only 711 00:33:05,040 --> 00:33:07,760 Speaker 1: plus eight point five per one hundred possessions according to 712 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:10,280 Speaker 1: cleaning the Last Wing and remove garbage time plus eight 713 00:33:10,360 --> 00:33:14,320 Speaker 1: point five net with Alex Carusoe off the floor this year, 714 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:17,360 Speaker 1: which is obviously very good, but it's not earth shattering 715 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:19,680 Speaker 1: when Alex Cruso's on the floor. This year, the Thunder 716 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:22,120 Speaker 1: are beating the living shit out of everybody there. Plus 717 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:26,040 Speaker 1: twenty one points per one hundred possessions. Number one the 718 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:28,960 Speaker 1: Detroit Pistons currently plus fifteen hundred to win the title 719 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:32,440 Speaker 1: on hard Rock Bet. The Pistons are just a winning machine. Man. 720 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:34,840 Speaker 1: We talked about their loss to San Antonio last week. 721 00:33:34,840 --> 00:33:37,719 Speaker 1: They responded with three straight wins, a win over a 722 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:40,400 Speaker 1: Thunder team that had been really feisty without their star guards. 723 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:42,440 Speaker 1: As we mentioned, Kate had a really nice bounce back 724 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:45,320 Speaker 1: game after the travesty against the Spurs. They steal a 725 00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:48,840 Speaker 1: game against the Cavs thanks to debilitating ball pressure down 726 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:52,080 Speaker 1: the stretch that caused Sam Marylyn Dennis Schroeder to decompose 727 00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:54,960 Speaker 1: with some ugly turnovers that led to transition opportunities and 728 00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:57,280 Speaker 1: then Dana Jenkins drawing a foul and a three point 729 00:33:57,280 --> 00:33:59,480 Speaker 1: shot sent that game to overtime where they closed it out, 730 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:02,040 Speaker 1: and then when Caid fouled out, they needed someone to 731 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:04,800 Speaker 1: give them some buckets. Late, Tobias Harris was able to 732 00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:07,840 Speaker 1: go to that little right shoulder fade along the left baseline, 733 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:09,719 Speaker 1: that shot that he loved so much, hit a huge 734 00:34:09,719 --> 00:34:12,200 Speaker 1: one that iced the game against the Calves, and then 735 00:34:12,360 --> 00:34:15,000 Speaker 1: Tobias carried that momentum over in the Magic Game where 736 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 1: he briefly took over the offense in the mid fourth 737 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:20,000 Speaker 1: quarter when Kid took his rest, hit another right shoulder 738 00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:22,120 Speaker 1: fade he loves that shot off the same spot on 739 00:34:22,160 --> 00:34:24,960 Speaker 1: the left block, and a nice driving layup out of 740 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:27,120 Speaker 1: a ball screen that helped put things away. How about 741 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:29,880 Speaker 1: twenty three points for Tobias Harris in the win on 742 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:32,680 Speaker 1: the road in Orlando, Jalen Durn was also a monster 743 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:35,479 Speaker 1: protecting the rim down the stretch in this game. Caught 744 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:37,600 Speaker 1: a lot of like those in between sequences where people 745 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:39,640 Speaker 1: would drive at him and someone would also be cutting 746 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:42,160 Speaker 1: and his size would just be imposing enough to kind 747 00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:43,879 Speaker 1: of shut down both of those. A lot of those 748 00:34:43,880 --> 00:34:46,600 Speaker 1: like two on one advantages for Orlando around the rim 749 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:50,280 Speaker 1: that did not end in baskets rematches with the Calves 750 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:52,760 Speaker 1: and the Spurs on the road this week, a couple 751 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:55,200 Speaker 1: more measuring stick games. The Calves will almost certainly have 752 00:34:55,239 --> 00:34:57,360 Speaker 1: at least James Harden, maybe Donovan Mitchell as well, so 753 00:34:57,440 --> 00:35:00,760 Speaker 1: different challenge there, and the San Antonio game in particular 754 00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:02,799 Speaker 1: I have my eye on because Caid was so, so, 755 00:35:02,800 --> 00:35:04,919 Speaker 1: so bad in that first one, and as we talked 756 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:07,080 Speaker 1: about on the show, it was really his first opportunity 757 00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:09,880 Speaker 1: to even attempt to solve the Victor women Yama puzzle. 758 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:12,959 Speaker 1: That's a really hard puzzle for anybody to solve. I'm 759 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:15,600 Speaker 1: just curious to see Kaid's response after a bunch of film, 760 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:18,640 Speaker 1: after having a couple of really good games after that. 761 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:22,880 Speaker 1: I'm excited to see how he responds on the Road 762 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:26,680 Speaker 1: in San Antonio against that same victor women Yama problem. 763 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:28,320 Speaker 1: All right, guys, It's all I have for today is 764 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:30,560 Speaker 1: always to sincerely appreciate you guys for supporting us and 765 00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:33,440 Speaker 1: supporting the show. We'll be back tomorrow with some game reaction. 766 00:35:33,680 --> 00:35:34,680 Speaker 1: I will see you guys then