1 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Jason tim Podcast. Thank you guys so 2 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: much for taking time out of your nights to come 3 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: hang out with another Jason. My guy, Jason Maples has 4 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: agreed to hang out and talk some hoops with me tonight. 5 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: We've had a really hard time getting our schedules to 6 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 1: match up, but tonight some stuff broke out perfectly and 7 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:34,880 Speaker 1: it worked out. Man. How you doing. I really appreciate 8 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: you coming on O good man. I can't complain, and 9 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: so it's good to be on with you live. It's different, 10 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: it's different, but but yeah, and before we get started, 11 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 1: I just wanted to say congratulations on everything going on 12 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: with your podcast. Honestly, man, you got you and Kings 13 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 1: are doing great. I know you see all the numbers 14 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: and stats and stuff. I'm sure you're liking what you're 15 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: seeing because it seems like it's doing great man, And 16 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: I think it's awesome and I wish you got is 17 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: all the success in the world. Yeah, man, thank you 18 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: for just you know, Kis definitely brings another element. I 19 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: think I think that was probably kind of just kind 20 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: of bounce off each other. I think it's just just 21 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:12,039 Speaker 1: a good team. Yeah, we got we got some new 22 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: announced coming soon too, so you know, stay tuned to 23 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: look out for that. We got some big to announced 24 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,039 Speaker 1: coming up, so looking forward to let y'all know about that. 25 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 1: I appreciate you. But every time I see you, probably 26 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: at the time I stop what I'm doing and check 27 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: it out and throw the headphones on. So be here 28 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:28,679 Speaker 1: a part of it for once. Yeah, So, guys, that 29 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: is the temple of hoop podcasts. You all probably already 30 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: listened to it, but if you haven't, that's where you 31 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 1: can find it. But yeah, the best part about it 32 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 1: is you guys both know what you're talking about and 33 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: you can have some fun while also knowing what you're 34 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 1: talking about. And uh, I mean for you in particular, 35 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: I mean this is literally your job. I mean you 36 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: you work in the business of basketball. You know what 37 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: you're talking about. And uh, I think people should listen 38 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: when you're talking. But co COVID killing us, but it's fun. 39 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 1: I got more time to NBA basketball now COVID killing us. 40 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: But I'm yeah, I hear you, man, I hear you. 41 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: I feel I feel bad for these kids because like 42 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: I would be pulling my hair out if I was 43 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: in college and I was missing out on games for 44 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 1: something like this ugly anyway. All Right, So we're gonna 45 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,920 Speaker 1: talk a lot about tonight's game, obviously, but there are 46 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 1: also a couple of things that, uh, things that I've 47 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 1: been beating the drum on all season long that I'm 48 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 1: really interested to hear your opinion on. We've kind of 49 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 1: bounced a little bit on Twitter about them, but I 50 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: want to hear a little bit more in depth your 51 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: opinion on. But I want to start with tonight's game. Obviously. 52 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: It's crazy, Uh, the the Celtics only had eleven points 53 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter through ten and a half minutes. 54 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: The Lakers seemingly put it away with a couple of 55 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: big Lebron threes in a Dennis shrewder and one, and 56 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: then they go really cold, a couple of sloppy mistakes 57 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: Lebron and they d each have a turnover, and Tatum 58 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:47,400 Speaker 1: just absolutely takes over there down down the stretch and 59 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: almost almost steals the game. So obviously a lot a 60 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: lot of good Both teams are playing extremely hard. It 61 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: had kind of a playoff feel to it. No one 62 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: was in a weird like back to back or anything 63 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: like that. It was a really really good game. To 64 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,359 Speaker 1: get a feel for both teams. What what was your 65 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:04,839 Speaker 1: initial takeaway in the positive respect to what you saw 66 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: from the Lakers tonight. May think me they got it 67 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: out of rope there in the thick of this long 68 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,239 Speaker 1: road trip and they got it out of win after 69 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: an ugly loss. And I think that, um, just to 70 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:18,799 Speaker 1: perseverance that this the Lakers team. They're they're a very 71 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: tough team. I think that that showed tonight that's just 72 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,919 Speaker 1: very tough in general. They didn't panic when Boston made 73 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:27,360 Speaker 1: their run. Um kind of fell apoint late with some 74 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 1: of the turnovers, but like I said, man, just very 75 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:32,679 Speaker 1: heavy and tough team like on that even on that 76 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: last plaster the turn after the turnover, Caruso has to 77 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: wear with all to sprint back instead of panicking and 78 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: just rapped the final play and at least to Kimba 79 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,119 Speaker 1: taking an off balance shot that I was my heart 80 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: stopped when he shot at because that's a shot he's 81 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: made for everybody. Caruso being able to disrupt the fast 82 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: break to keep from getting easy one. Just stuff like 83 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: that just part of a champion. Pretty much as tacky 84 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: as it sounds, that's pretty much what it was. Yeah, 85 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 1: Jared Dudley's tweeted after the game he said that was 86 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: their best win of the season, and which you kind 87 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: of agree with it, because you know, when it comes 88 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: to winning on the road, there's literally only one thing 89 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: that matters, and it's getting in the bus and getting 90 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: out of there with the w. Literally nothing else matters. 91 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter what it looks like, it doesn't matter 92 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: who played well. It's just it's extremely difficult to win 93 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:19,840 Speaker 1: on the road, especially against a really good team, especially 94 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 1: at the end of a long road trip like this. 95 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 1: And and the truth of the matter is like the 96 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: Lakers were the better team tonight. The margin didn't appear 97 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 1: to be uh that type of margin because of what 98 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 1: Tatum did at the end and because of some sloppiness, 99 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 1: but the Lakers showed a lot of good tonight and 100 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:37,039 Speaker 1: and and all you have to do is look back 101 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: and like you said, like you have to make these 102 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 1: little plays in these rock fight type of games in 103 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: order to get a win. And you know, even in 104 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: the Philadelphia game, it's a really really similar sequence, not 105 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 1: the craziness leading up to it, but you know, the 106 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: third best player on the other team, with what you 107 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 1: would consider to be a mismatch given the other players 108 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:58,160 Speaker 1: on the floor, because the Lakers had Crusoe and Davis 109 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: and Lebron and attacking that matchup getting to a little 110 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 1: you know, shoulder in the chest step back jump shot. 111 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:08,840 Speaker 1: Tobias made it over the contest and and Kimba missed it. 112 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:11,919 Speaker 1: But the Lakers made the plays that they needed to 113 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: do to win both games. It's just you know, maker, 114 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: miss league. I just want to say that maker, maker, 115 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 1: miss league. That's nothing. That's all it comes down to. 116 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 1: But they they're on the road against what I team. Uh, 117 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 1: I think the Billy is the best team in these 118 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: to me, something so our French contender. I think they 119 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:28,840 Speaker 1: have a lot of they have a move to be 120 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,599 Speaker 1: made to show up their center position. I'm not sure 121 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 1: how Kimba is gonna be improved as the season goes on, 122 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 1: but there are French contender. To me, those are two, uh, 123 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:41,840 Speaker 1: just two great games of watching. One of the Lakers 124 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: obviously lost, but this game the Lakers were able to 125 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:45,159 Speaker 1: get it out. Man. That was that was a fun 126 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:47,600 Speaker 1: game to watch. Just I like those games better than 127 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:51,160 Speaker 1: the you know, high scoring get forty three's up, make nineteen. 128 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 1: I like the Rock five games like those are more 129 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 1: playoff oriented. That's what the that's what it looks like 130 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 1: at the end of the season. So I was how 131 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: I enjoyed myself. Yeah, it was. I thought it was 132 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 1: their best defensive performance of the season. Um, with the 133 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 1: exception of a couple of crazy sequences where you know, 134 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,280 Speaker 1: a guy got hacked complaining about a non call, didn't 135 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: get back in transition, that kind of thing with accepting 136 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 1: that's my biggest pem peeve with the Lakers this season. 137 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: But guy does not get a call, he just stops playing. 138 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: Just wait, Oh, I guess that's my only is nippicking 139 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: because the team I think is great. But my my 140 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:25,359 Speaker 1: biggest complaint is if they don't get a call they 141 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: like that guy stops playing and it drives me nuts. 142 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: It's insane and uh. But like, outside of those sequences, 143 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 1: they defended extremely well. There was a lot they forced 144 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 1: the Celtics to make tough shots and they did. Um. 145 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: There were a couple of players where they gave up 146 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: offensive rebounds, but a lot of that is a virtue 147 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: of the way their defensive scheme is set up. Because 148 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 1: they're frequently cotton rotations and things along those lines. Uh. 149 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 1: The Kimba stuff you brought up is interesting to me 150 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 1: because I remember, you know, Kemba made a lot more 151 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 1: sense with the Celtics when they initially signed him, because 152 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:57,600 Speaker 1: Tatum and Brown were earlier in their development and they 153 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:01,479 Speaker 1: really needed his on ball creation in order to be 154 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: kind of an engine in that offense. But now we're 155 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:08,479 Speaker 1: in this like awkward zone where Tatum is is ascending 156 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: into this top ten type of status, Jalen Brown is 157 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: hot on his heels. You know, last year, the Celtics 158 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 1: came to Staples Center and Kemba sat out. I don't 159 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 1: know if you remember this, but I think he was 160 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 1: dealing with some knee issues at that time as well. 161 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 1: And I remember everyone before the game is like, oh, 162 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: this that sucks. Kemba's out for this big showdown. And 163 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 1: I remember thinking like, I'm more worried about the Celtics 164 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 1: like this because at the time Tatum was killing it 165 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: last year. But that game and then and UH and 166 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 1: the the the uh Kemba being out caused them to 167 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 1: lean more on lineups that were more switchable and and 168 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: that didn't have that that Kemba Walker week link. And 169 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 1: I remember thinking like that was one of the big 170 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: reasons why they were able to stay so competitive with 171 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 1: the Lakers. In that game, Lebron had to hit a 172 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: game winner to steal that game, if you remember. And like, literally, 173 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: as I look at the Celtics now, like it almost 174 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: makes more sense to use Kimba almost in like a 175 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: sixth man type of role where he's bringing where he's 176 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 1: bringing offense outside of their core lineups, because honestly, right now, 177 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: it doesn't make as much sense to have him out 178 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: there with how good Tatum and Brown are defense or offensively, 179 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: and how much Kempa hurts them on the defensive end 180 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 1: of the right. It's it's it's just crazy how the 181 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 1: how the league changes, because I remember that everybody was 182 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: so big on them because Kimba was our Kyrie replacement. 183 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: Right He's supposed to be the less. He's more, he's 184 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: more of an intangible fit. But I think what people 185 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: are missing this isn't even me watching the Celtics last year. 186 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: Not as much. They miss Gordon Hayward, his playmaking. What 187 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,199 Speaker 1: he does. He's a ball mover, he gets the ball 188 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 1: moving side to side. He's very high cool guy. He 189 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: played a lot of points forward and kind of let 190 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: Tatum and Brown kind of focus on scoring, which is 191 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 1: their strongest suit offensively, are right right now scoring, so 192 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,439 Speaker 1: they miss Gordon Hayward. And I just think, like again, 193 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 1: I can't reason. I can't put them on the same 194 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 1: level as a Philadelphe or even a Brooklyn the center position, 195 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:05,079 Speaker 1: like Tyson is a sixth man to me, he's a 196 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 1: d he's a bench player. To me, he's just in 197 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: a series against him beat we saw last year against Bam. 198 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: He just it's just he's just overmatched against those type 199 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: of players. And I think until they make a move 200 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: for a center, whether even if it's just a guy 201 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 1: like Drummond, Yeah, I know it's expensive and harder to 202 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: make the money where, but they just they need a 203 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: center who can not be bullied by the top of 204 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: the East, the big guys, the top of these even 205 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: Indiana's looking like they're gonna be a top three or 206 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: four seeds. So you know, Boston got some work to do. 207 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 1: I think from a roster construction standpoint, no, I agree 208 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:38,240 Speaker 1: with you. I think anybody who has them ahead of 209 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 1: of of Brooklyn or Philly right now is kind of 210 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 1: not taking into a into effect how good those two 211 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 1: teams are the Uh, I'm with you. I was actually 212 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: pro Brooklyn until the hard and trade. I really think 213 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 1: the loss of Jared Allen puts them at a huge 214 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 1: disadvantage in a playoff matchup against Philly Um. But yeah, 215 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 1: the the interesting thing with Boston is I actually predicted 216 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 1: they would struggle start the year because of the fact that, 217 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,719 Speaker 1: you know, playmaking, like taking on a different playmaking role 218 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 1: than you had the previous season just takes reps like 219 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 1: you gotta figure it out, and they lean so heavily 220 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,199 Speaker 1: on Tatum and Brown the first couple of months of 221 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 1: the season after not leaning on them as much because 222 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: of Kemba and because of Gordon last season that I 223 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: expected them to struggle. So I I take them as 224 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 1: a team that has more potential to peak later in 225 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: the year as they just get more comfortable in their 226 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: newer roles on the team, like they're they're they're actually 227 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,319 Speaker 1: in a stretch right now where almost every night they're 228 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 1: coming out and giving you fifty five points efficiently in 229 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 1: locking up on the other end of the floor. So 230 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 1: they definitely had that potential. But there, you know, styles 231 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 1: make fights. You're not talking about this all the time 232 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: there's there's there's a huge, huge mismatch problem with Joe 233 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 1: l Embiid and there's not a person on that roster 234 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 1: and you could even stay in single coverage. That alone 235 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 1: forced him to work harder do any of the other 236 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: things that you want out of that that defensive role. 237 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 1: So but yeah, speaking of matchups, though, I thought this 238 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 1: was an interesting one for the Lakers in the sense 239 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 1: that you know, you and I have talked a lot 240 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 1: about how the Clippers present matchup problems for the Lakers 241 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:13,559 Speaker 1: in the form of their wings, because the Laker defense 242 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:16,439 Speaker 1: is built on these like quicker, undersized guards you know 243 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: right around that six five to six three range who 244 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: are super quick, play really hard, put a lot of 245 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 1: ball pressure on the three point line, and kind of 246 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 1: funnel guys into the into the basket where all their 247 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 1: length is. But the problem is is when you run 248 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: into a Kauai or a Paul George or a Jalen 249 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 1: Brown or a Jason Tatum, can they can really take 250 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 1: advantage in in uh in these like mismatches in the 251 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 1: post against guys like Struder is a great defender, but 252 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 1: all of a sudden he gets into uh, he gets 253 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:47,439 Speaker 1: in the post against against Jalen Brown and it looks 254 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 1: like trouble. So my my question for you is what 255 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 1: what do the Lakers have to do to survive those 256 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 1: types of matchups in a playoff series. I think they'll 257 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 1: be fine because this is a thing from me last year. 258 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: I feel like, um, Lebron and a D take more 259 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,440 Speaker 1: defensive responsibility in the playoffs. I think they did that. 260 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 1: They took them more the more marquee matchups. Um. Also 261 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 1: I feel that, um, they just been for me the 262 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 1: Lakers this year that I've seen. The little that make 263 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: them just a little kink in the armor is like 264 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 1: you said, they do that funnel thing where they funnel. 265 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 1: They're hard on the three point live funnel guys in 266 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 1: the key. They don't have the same amount of size 267 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 1: as they had last year. Uh. Also think when they 268 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 1: put a D at the five more so in the playoffs, 269 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:36,200 Speaker 1: I think that will be like, he's an excellent rent 270 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:39,079 Speaker 1: protector that'll do it. So it's not so much it's 271 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 1: one of those things that don't have to work around's 272 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 1: not necessarily it's just something you can attack them with. 273 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: But who else has Jayson Tatum and Jayon Brown and 274 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 1: Coally and Paul George. Right, it's two teams. It's it's 275 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 1: just not gonna be teams with you know, those are 276 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: the best four wings in basketball outside of Lebron in 277 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 1: my opinion, So so it's uh, nobody else has that 278 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: type of personnel to bring them like that. So I'm 279 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 1: okay with it. What I'm worried about is, uh, I'm 280 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:07,559 Speaker 1: petrified of the Philadelphia seventies. I've said this before the season, 281 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 1: looking at the roster construction they bought. Darryl Morien. He fixes, 282 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: He puts the best spacing that Joel Uh and then 283 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 1: have had in their career. So I'm nervous about the 284 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: seventi sixers. If that matchup happens, is a long way 285 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: way got fight a whole playoff series. But yeah, that's 286 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 1: what I'm That's what I'm nervous. But I'm not worried 287 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 1: about the Lakers defending wings that work around that. Yeah. 288 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:35,839 Speaker 1: And well, so I agree with you. The Celtics and 289 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:39,599 Speaker 1: the Clippers are the only two teams that present that problem, 290 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 1: and both of them have the same problem on the 291 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 1: other end with their inability to match up with Anthony Davis. 292 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:48,559 Speaker 1: So it kind of goes it kind of goes both ways. 293 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: As for the Philly matchup, actually, I was really really 294 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 1: fascinated with how uh Anthony Davis guarded and beat at 295 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 1: the end of that game and be killed the Lakers 296 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:02,199 Speaker 1: for the most part, drawing fouls and and getting into 297 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 1: the lane and making his array of crazy shots until 298 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: the end of the game when Anthony Davis started giving 299 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 1: him more space and trying to bait him into into 300 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 1: step backs and things along those lines and just kind 301 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: of beating him to the spot. He had one random 302 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: crazy play at the end of the game where he 303 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 1: like chested up on em beat and then beat just 304 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: through and got an and one. And I remember sitting 305 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 1: there thinking like, man, like, what do you what are 306 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: you doing? Like you're giving him, You're you're playing right 307 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 1: into his one single advantage over you, which is ridiculous strength, 308 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: you know, compared to you. You know, but you're you're 309 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: just as long as him. You're you're you're quicker than him. 310 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: You can beat him to the spot and force him 311 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: to shoot over the top. But you know, so my 312 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: I I always say, like, you know, a team like 313 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: the Lakers have enough defensive versatility to peek at the 314 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: right time at the end of the series defensively in 315 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: order to overcome those types of matchups. Great example are 316 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: are the Damian Lillard matchup, the the the Jamal Murray matchup, 317 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: and the James it In match up. The Lakers basically said, like, 318 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 1: we're gonna double and and we're gonna count on the 319 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: fact that over the course of this series, we're gonna 320 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: figure out how to rotate on the back end so 321 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,920 Speaker 1: that we're not that like towards the end of these 322 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 1: pivotal moments in these games, you guys just are going 323 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: to be getting the same quality shots as you might 324 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 1: early in the series. I think that's a big part 325 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 1: of why they lost Game one and in the first 326 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: two rounds and lost an early game against Denver, and 327 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 1: we're able to kind of peek at the end of 328 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 1: the series. They just figured out, you know, we can 329 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: double and rotate. So the same thing goes for a 330 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 1: Joe l MB matchup, and the same thing goes for 331 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: a Jale and Brown matchup. The idea is like, don't 332 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 1: leave him on an island with Dennis Shooter. Just double 333 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 1: and rotate. You guys are good at this. This is 334 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: literally the bread and butter of your defense. You've got 335 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: all these super quick players, you all play really hard, 336 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 1: you communicate, you kind of cover each other's flaws. So 337 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 1: just double and rotate, double and rotate. What I don't 338 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 1: like is leaving him on an island and letting him 339 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: get cooked, and then everybody staring at each other and 340 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: being what happened? You know what I mean? Yeah, I 341 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: mean there's been a lot of you know, I like, 342 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: I'll cry about Vogel and all that, But my thing 343 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 1: is he's won a championship. They've done it. So if 344 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 1: you have you noticed my complaining about the Lakers way 345 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 1: down this season. It's like, I'm so relaxed watching these games. 346 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 1: It's just like, you know, whatever, don't even anything that 347 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 1: bothers me is Caruso should be playing way more. Um, 348 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: But other than that, like they won a championship, the 349 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: cold coaching staff and show them that know how to 350 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 1: adjust from a team of team rounding around. So I'm 351 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: just enjoying the games, man, I just I can't they 352 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: want this, don't need to apply pressure at that level. 353 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: They've they've shown that they can adjust in the series 354 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 1: and what they do in the playoffs, So it's fine, 355 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 1: but please play Crusso more. Yeah, and for the record, 356 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 1: you were the complainer last year, so what you win 357 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 1: a championship is definit me to complain about and say 358 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 1: they know show Maker win. We're all good now, just 359 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 1: just just play Crusso more for him, you though, Yeah, 360 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 1: you you had some complaints and the Lakers overcame them. 361 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 1: So you you're you're a man of your word, if 362 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 1: if not anything else. I am naturally an optimist with 363 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 1: this kind of stuff. So I'm like on another level 364 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:09,439 Speaker 1: of confidence with this team because even last year when 365 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 1: they were showing flaws like I had, I just I have, like, 366 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: you know, these basic pillars of what I think wins 367 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:19,360 Speaker 1: NBA basketball games, especially in the playoffs, you know, defensive versatility, 368 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: super high end offensive players, and then having that alpha 369 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: that doesn't shrink from the moment. And I just I 370 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 1: was like, the Lakers got all of these bases covered 371 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:30,440 Speaker 1: many times over. I just was always really really confident 372 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,200 Speaker 1: that they would be fine. And now that they have one, it's, 373 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 1: like I said, it's just it's just another level of 374 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: confidence in my opinion. Um, so let's start with a D. 375 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: So this was eighties I thought best game of the 376 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,160 Speaker 1: season in terms of the way he attacked offensively against 377 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: a good team. He's had some big numbers games against 378 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:50,159 Speaker 1: bad teams. But I thought he was much much better defensively. 379 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:52,360 Speaker 1: He was actually shutting off the rim in a way 380 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:55,680 Speaker 1: he had it earlier in the season. Um. But I 381 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: I just thought he looked more aggressive, and I just 382 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: thought he was finally kind of taking the game series 383 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: reiviously in a way that he had him before. Do 384 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: you think that he was coasting or do you think 385 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 1: he was hurt? What did you think was going on 386 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 1: with him earlier in the season. Uh, probably a little 387 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 1: of both. Man. I talked this, We and Kings have 388 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,720 Speaker 1: talked about this is just I didn't come into season 389 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:19,119 Speaker 1: inspecting apply pressure. It was such a short turnaround. And 390 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 1: he's not the most he hasn't has a history of 391 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 1: being the most dirtiest guy anyway. So if he's patient himself, 392 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:26,679 Speaker 1: I'm not going to, you know, hold too much, you know, 393 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 1: hold that against him too much. He understands his body. Um. 394 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:36,359 Speaker 1: What I do think is that on paper, he had 395 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 1: a matchup advantage against the Celtics, just looking at without them, 396 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 1: just have a matchups where Lebron was obviously gonna be 397 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 1: not stopped, but the wings that for the Celtics, it 398 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:46,879 Speaker 1: was a little like it so harder matchup whether the 399 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: rather going against Christian Thompson and you know, daniel tys 400 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 1: that's food for a D. He took ten shots in 401 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:53,920 Speaker 1: the first quarter. I was like, this is his game. 402 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 1: I telt you, I said, this is his game if 403 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:57,879 Speaker 1: he wants it tonight. And it seemed like, you know, 404 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 1: he was aggressive like seven and thirteen. He had a 405 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: couple of moments on defense where he kind of forgot 406 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:04,479 Speaker 1: the box out. He got to sell poster ride by 407 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 1: you know, daniel chais not forgetting to the blackout. He 408 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 1: got back cut a couple of times by Jaylen Brown 409 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 1: on on the week side. But you know, those things 410 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 1: happened in the basketball game. You don't play the perfect game, 411 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:18,119 Speaker 1: so sir, but uh, I think people need to relax 412 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 1: on the A D kind of like he's catching a 413 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 1: lot of flak because he's not going a hundred a 414 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:25,359 Speaker 1: hundred miles per every game. But I think he's fine. 415 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:27,680 Speaker 1: He'll turn it up this I think when the second 416 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: half of the season comes and get ready for the playoffs. 417 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,199 Speaker 1: I think he's just trying to make it like, you know, 418 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: we're we're in our thirties, so older guys like seventies 419 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:37,240 Speaker 1: seventy days for a new NBA season, that is a 420 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: quick turnaround, man. And you gotta understand, even with the 421 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 1: Lakers to stoppage last year, they didn't stop breaking out. 422 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,360 Speaker 1: They were staying in shape. So they really went over 423 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:50,159 Speaker 1: a year straight of staying in in season NBA shape. 424 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: So you gotta factor all that in coming back to 425 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:54,639 Speaker 1: this year. You know, he's not the most thirty or 426 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:57,680 Speaker 1: you know guys, so you gotta come from slack man, 427 00:19:57,800 --> 00:19:59,679 Speaker 1: Like when they get to the second half of the season, 428 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 1: they'll turn up to I have no doubt they're turned 429 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:04,880 Speaker 1: up the intensity and be a dominant team. There's still 430 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 1: the first seed or a half game out. You talk 431 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 1: for the first see anyway, So what are we complaining 432 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 1: about here? Yeah? No, I agree like that. Everything's nipicky. 433 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:14,639 Speaker 1: This is this is what I said in my last podcast, 434 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 1: and I mean it sincerely. Like I I think it's 435 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 1: okay to acknowledge that he hasn't been playing well. I 436 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:25,879 Speaker 1: just I just also don't care at all, Like I 437 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: just I just don't like I I could, I could 438 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: not You used to say the same thing last year 439 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 1: during the regular season, when Lebron was going through some 440 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: down stretches. You're like, he's not the one I'm worried about. 441 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:38,159 Speaker 1: It's these other kinds. Like I was like, I'm not 442 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: never know, Yeah, And that's kind of where I'm at 443 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 1: with a D. It's like, of all of the things 444 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:45,119 Speaker 1: to think about with this season, the one thing that 445 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: I worry about with a D is the same thing 446 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:49,920 Speaker 1: I worried about last year. And it's just this this 447 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:52,200 Speaker 1: leaning on his jump shot thing. I looked. I looked 448 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: heavily into shot profile last week, Like so basically Lebron 449 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 1: takes a lot of jump shots now. But with Lebron, 450 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:07,199 Speaker 1: he's thirty six, he's he's literally coasting for good reason. 451 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:09,640 Speaker 1: And and if you look at his numbers like he 452 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 1: I can I can't remember the exact numbers, but just 453 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 1: a little under two for one, he's taking a shot 454 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:17,680 Speaker 1: outside of ten feet twice for every one shot he's 455 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 1: taking in the paint. That's just a little bit less 456 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 1: than two to one. And but he's thirty six, well, 457 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: a D s at the exact same ratio. And he's 458 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:30,400 Speaker 1: a big man who's in his twenties who So from 459 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 1: that standpoint, like if there's one great to have with 460 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: a D he's leaning more than ever into that jump shot, 461 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 1: almost to the level of an old vet who's coasting 462 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 1: through the season. But he's making it at a at 463 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:44,320 Speaker 1: a lesser rate than he usually has been, although he 464 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:46,359 Speaker 1: was making them tonight. So that that's the one thing 465 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:48,640 Speaker 1: that's weird to me, is like he's he's shooting poorly 466 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 1: yet shooting more than ever from the perimeter, and he's 467 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:53,920 Speaker 1: a and the Lakers aren't playing a five man underneath 468 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,199 Speaker 1: the basket while he while he's posting up anymore like this, 469 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 1: This theoretically should have been a season where he was 470 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:01,280 Speaker 1: being more physically I been around the basket. That that's 471 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 1: just the one thing that I think is weird. That 472 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:04,919 Speaker 1: crazy that you said that, because because of what you 473 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 1: just said, he was my m v P pick before 474 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: the season started. That's funny, That's exactly I was like, 475 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: you know, I got the spacing now this Saul's gonna 476 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: have to get respected from the three point line and 477 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: won't be clogged up. I thought Lebron would take kind 478 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 1: of a not a back seat, but just hey, I'm 479 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 1: gonna coast to the second half of the season. It 480 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 1: seems like those guys have reverse Lebron is like, let's go. 481 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 1: I love the hoop seventy seven days, I don't care, 482 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 1: let's go, and A D is like, uh, I'm gonna 483 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:32,360 Speaker 1: work my way back into it. Yeah, it's been. It's been. 484 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 1: One of the more confusing things that I can remember 485 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 1: seeing in my time as a fan, is that that 486 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:39,440 Speaker 1: kind of role reversal, because like there was every reason 487 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:41,240 Speaker 1: in the world for Lebron to coast through the season. 488 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:43,400 Speaker 1: He literally said he was going to He literally said 489 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 1: in a podcast like jokingly, I might not be there, 490 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:49,679 Speaker 1: Like it's literally what he said. And but he's just 491 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,159 Speaker 1: he's just been attacking this season. I think Lebron. I 492 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 1: think Lebron is one of those guys that he really 493 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 1: really wants his break and he was looking forward to 494 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:03,439 Speaker 1: his break. But mentally, once he accepted the fact that 495 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:06,400 Speaker 1: he was going to be playing basketball from December to July, 496 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 1: once he mentally crossed that barrier, he was all in again, 497 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:12,159 Speaker 1: and it was like and it was like there was 498 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,119 Speaker 1: no half asking for him from that from that respect, 499 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:16,960 Speaker 1: and you know, even in the past, people that like 500 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,240 Speaker 1: joke about Lebron coasting through the regular season, and he 501 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:21,879 Speaker 1: has in the past, but it's usually on the defensive end. 502 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 1: And this team, because of Frank Vogel and his ridiculous 503 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 1: scouting reports and his ridiculous demand of guys on the 504 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:30,879 Speaker 1: defensive end, Anthony Davis and his demand on the defensive end, 505 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,399 Speaker 1: Alex Cruzo and these guys, he can't coast on the 506 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 1: defensive end of the floor. Literally get as asked you 507 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:37,119 Speaker 1: by all the other guys on the team. So I 508 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:40,359 Speaker 1: think I think it's it's it's just classic Lebron settling 509 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:43,280 Speaker 1: into being a professional and just playing his ass off 510 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:47,680 Speaker 1: and understanding that it's gonna inevitably, uh inevitably just lead 511 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:49,639 Speaker 1: to him succeeding on the court because of his habits 512 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:52,160 Speaker 1: in his process. Do you what do you have him 513 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:55,080 Speaker 1: in the MVP race right now? I have a second 514 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 1: behind Joel Embiide, But if you give it to him, 515 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:00,360 Speaker 1: I wouldn't complain. Let me look at the the net 516 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:03,360 Speaker 1: rating stuff, the Lakers record, it's just us all there, 517 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:06,719 Speaker 1: like even just all them narrative stuff aside the shooting. 518 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:09,920 Speaker 1: I think he's number one came into them tonight. Number 519 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 1: one went off the dubble three point shooting, which is 520 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:13,959 Speaker 1: nuts for him to be doing that in year eighteen. 521 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 1: I just think, yeah, yeah, they said before the game, 522 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 1: they said number one in the NBA off the dribble 523 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 1: three point percentage. Um. I just think Joel has been 524 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:25,879 Speaker 1: especially this last ten days. He's had like thirty seven 525 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,639 Speaker 1: and twelve a game and he's at fifty forty and 526 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:32,000 Speaker 1: eight shooting the last seven and ten days. It's just 527 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 1: where he is now. But it's also it's like this, 528 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:37,400 Speaker 1: So I think it's like this. So you know, Lebron 529 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:39,439 Speaker 1: in a d I think they're gonna be Lember Lebron 530 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 1: and Joel. They'll be battling for it all season. Uh. 531 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:45,159 Speaker 1: If Joel can stay healthy upright, I think it'll be 532 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 1: it'll be his to lose, but Lebron will be right there. 533 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 1: Like I said, if you give it to Lebron, I 534 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:51,679 Speaker 1: wouldn't complain at all because it definitely earned, which I 535 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:55,399 Speaker 1: have without he's playing this season. Um, it's just I 536 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 1: was telling you know, Kings, it reminds me just watching 537 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:01,679 Speaker 1: the old grade players, you know, the Michael Jordan, the 538 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:04,919 Speaker 1: Kobe As they start to lose a bit athletically, you 539 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 1: see how cerebral they are with the game. You can 540 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 1: see everything moving in slow motion, and I think Lebron's 541 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:11,520 Speaker 1: at that stage right now. You know, he's not a 542 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 1: he's not a one percent athlete anymore. Still a very 543 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:15,119 Speaker 1: good athlete. That one percent athlete he used to be 544 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 1: where everything's shoulders above the rim. But seeing the way 545 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:21,080 Speaker 1: he dies sects the game from cerebral standpoint, seeing everything 546 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:24,400 Speaker 1: two steps ahead, the jump shots flowing, it's just incredible 547 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 1: to watch that year eight team. Like I said, he 548 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:30,679 Speaker 1: he's an uncharted territory as far as being this effective 549 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:32,760 Speaker 1: and at the top of the league at this far 550 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 1: down the line. So it's like, we have no choice 551 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:36,919 Speaker 1: but to enjoy the right We have no there's no 552 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:39,439 Speaker 1: precedent for when this stops, so you just kind of 553 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 1: enjoy it, and you know, I'm happy you're doing as 554 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:47,639 Speaker 1: a Laker. Yeah, no kidding. I've been really impressed by 555 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 1: the cerebral side too, because you know, people were joking 556 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:51,800 Speaker 1: last year you were actually one of them, and and 557 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 1: I wasn't too worried because I had seen him in 558 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:56,359 Speaker 1: the in the regular season a lot, but you know, 559 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 1: he was struggling with bigger athletic wings when he would 560 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:02,560 Speaker 1: go against really athletic teams, he would look old, you know. 561 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 1: And then he obviously had a lot of success in 562 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 1: March against you know, Janice and and Quiet in those 563 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 1: last couple of games of the regular season. But there 564 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 1: was some yeah, he but he was struggling for a 565 00:26:14,520 --> 00:26:16,160 Speaker 1: little bit early in the season where he just looked 566 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:18,439 Speaker 1: he just was shooting, he was shooting poorly. He didn't 567 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:20,639 Speaker 1: seem like he was getting the same separation. And I 568 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 1: don't think Lebron is anymore athletic than he was at 569 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 1: that point in the season last year. I think it 570 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:28,640 Speaker 1: is the cerebral cerebral side. Like you can tell Lebron 571 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:31,919 Speaker 1: has adjusted the way he drives to the basket compared 572 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:33,520 Speaker 1: to the way it used to be. Like one of 573 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:36,360 Speaker 1: the things he's doing all the time now is he's 574 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:39,280 Speaker 1: calling for the screen and roll, getting the defender on 575 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:41,399 Speaker 1: his hip, and then instead of trying to like really 576 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:43,679 Speaker 1: rip through and go all the way, he's kind of 577 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 1: like taking a dribble up to the free throw line, 578 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:48,919 Speaker 1: getting the defender behind him, kind of bumping him a 579 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:51,200 Speaker 1: little bit from like to get him off, and then 580 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:53,400 Speaker 1: he's going to the rim and he's doing all these 581 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:55,960 Speaker 1: like little old man tricks that he didn't used to do, 582 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:57,920 Speaker 1: that never used to be in his game in terms 583 00:26:57,920 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 1: of the way that he would attack the basket. And 584 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:02,000 Speaker 1: so I've just been really impressed in the sense that 585 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 1: like he he even at this point in his career, 586 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 1: isn't afraid to change the way he plays. And then, 587 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:10,680 Speaker 1: like we said, he's taking more threes off the dribble, 588 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:13,280 Speaker 1: he's still like, Yeah, there was a stretch there in 589 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:15,120 Speaker 1: the second quarter of the game where the Lakers where 590 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaker 1: the where Brad Stevens was just doubling him every single 591 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 1: time he got the ball inside the three point line. 592 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:21,879 Speaker 1: He never once forced a shot over the double. He 593 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:24,120 Speaker 1: just kept making the right play moving around. The dude, 594 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:26,160 Speaker 1: he's just seeing the game and slow motion right now. 595 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:29,520 Speaker 1: He never gets scared. I yeah, I I think it's 596 00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:32,679 Speaker 1: been one of the more fun stretches of basketball for 597 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:35,239 Speaker 1: me as a Lebron fan to root for him, just 598 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 1: because like he just there's the ring. The fourth ring 599 00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:42,560 Speaker 1: added like this whole other level of confidence to to 600 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:45,480 Speaker 1: his game, and it's just he's just he's just floating 601 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:48,240 Speaker 1: through these things and everyone else is like like crazy 602 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:50,280 Speaker 1: running around their hair cut off and he's hair on 603 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:54,879 Speaker 1: fire and he's just like cruising through these games. Um 604 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:58,640 Speaker 1: so uh uh. Two other things I wanted to touch 605 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:01,880 Speaker 1: on before I let you go. So first of all, 606 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:04,560 Speaker 1: one of the things that stood out to me tonight 607 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 1: and has stood out to me lately, and I'm interested 608 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:09,440 Speaker 1: to hear your open and so Mantres had three blocks tonight, 609 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 1: and but all three of them came in scenarios where 610 00:28:13,280 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 1: the the offensive player was into a second defender kind 611 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:22,359 Speaker 1: of like shoulder to chest, trying to get some separation 612 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:25,679 Speaker 1: and throwing something up, and Tred's would come flying in 613 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:29,120 Speaker 1: and help side and and swat the ball out of bounds. 614 00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:32,400 Speaker 1: Where I think Tread's is actually a really bad rim 615 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:36,240 Speaker 1: defender is is when he's actually head up with the guys. 616 00:28:36,240 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 1: I think, like on that last play where Tatum got 617 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:40,880 Speaker 1: the h the jumper over the top of the little 618 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 1: floater over the top of him, or any other sequence 619 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:46,360 Speaker 1: where someone's coming freight trained down the down the middle 620 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: and Trends is waiting under the basket. He's actually not 621 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:51,440 Speaker 1: all that great of a rim protector. When the offensive 622 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:54,360 Speaker 1: player sees him coming, I I really struggle with him 623 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:56,680 Speaker 1: and pick and roll coverage too, because he always catches 624 00:28:56,720 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 1: himself in no man's land. He's never he's never actually 625 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:06,120 Speaker 1: up bothering the ball handler. But he's enough. Yeah, yeah, 626 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:09,080 Speaker 1: it's it's honestly like So, I was down on the 627 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:11,000 Speaker 1: tread signing from the beginning of the year. I didn't 628 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:12,920 Speaker 1: like the way to hardcap the team. I liked Dwight 629 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 1: Howard in that role better. I've been pretty like, I've 630 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 1: been pretty disappointed with it, and and now he's playing 631 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:21,160 Speaker 1: crunch time. He was in there and crunch time again tonight, 632 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 1: Like I've been really confused by what if your what's 633 00:29:23,640 --> 00:29:25,680 Speaker 1: been your kind of outlook on the Montres Harald things 634 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:27,440 Speaker 1: so far this year I was kind of lean with 635 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:32,080 Speaker 1: you where I was kind of against it, But tonight 636 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 1: I think down the stretch it was wow because it 637 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:36,680 Speaker 1: shrunk the floor because he was on the floor with 638 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 1: Lebron in a D and I think it made it laters. 639 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:41,720 Speaker 1: I think that's why they got staggning late, because the 640 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:43,960 Speaker 1: floor is really shrunk when all those guys on there. 641 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:47,840 Speaker 1: But in general, I think treads Is effectiveness has been 642 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:50,720 Speaker 1: dictated by the matchup. I think some teams are gonna 643 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 1: feel like tonight he was able to have a big night. 644 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:54,800 Speaker 1: I think it was eight for ten or eight four eleven. 645 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:57,640 Speaker 1: He had, he made some, he had something, just not 646 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:02,680 Speaker 1: a big team with a certain games, the the Blazers 647 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:06,200 Speaker 1: game early on where just Nur Kitchen and Canada just 648 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 1: a handful for him. He's got a great defender, those 649 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:10,720 Speaker 1: big guys. He plays center when he's in with a 650 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:13,160 Speaker 1: D because a D just playing playing power forward all 651 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 1: right now, Um, the sixer game, it's tough sometimes even 652 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 1: the teams with those big with those big Burley centers, 653 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:24,520 Speaker 1: I think that's not the matchup for him. But teams 654 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:27,440 Speaker 1: like this, where's the guy like Tyson and and Thompson, 655 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:29,360 Speaker 1: guys he can beat up and down the floor, Guys 656 00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:31,080 Speaker 1: that he can face up and get by and and 657 00:30:31,160 --> 00:30:33,040 Speaker 1: kind of body up. It's a good match up form. 658 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 1: So he's a good matchup. Got to add um, I 659 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 1: think he'll be in the hunt for six man. I 660 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 1: think my my biggest underestimation of Tras was on nights 661 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:44,280 Speaker 1: when the Lakers lack of energy. That's where he brings 662 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:46,040 Speaker 1: like no matter what, he's gonna play hard. He'll make 663 00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:48,040 Speaker 1: hi play to spark the team. And I think that's 664 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:50,440 Speaker 1: the positive. What he brings to the team kind of intangibly, 665 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:54,120 Speaker 1: but tangible effect just depends on the matchup, which is 666 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:56,320 Speaker 1: fine because like again it's a testment to the Lakers 667 00:30:56,320 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 1: death Man. They're literally eleven deep. They got eleven brote 668 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:02,880 Speaker 1: players India, which is unheard of these days. Yeah, there 669 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:04,719 Speaker 1: are teams like that are killed to have Wesley Matthews 670 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 1: and Markis Morris and jout tonight right are the thing 671 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:12,200 Speaker 1: that tries that bothers me is I feel like sometimes 672 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:14,240 Speaker 1: he's set up to fail. And and what I mean 673 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:15,760 Speaker 1: by that is, like, you know, when you're dealing with 674 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:19,200 Speaker 1: a flawed basketball player, you need to try to put 675 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:21,440 Speaker 1: them in a position where their strengths are shown and 676 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:23,440 Speaker 1: not their flaws. So that that was the reason why 677 00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:25,280 Speaker 1: I brought up the rim protection stuff a little a 678 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:29,200 Speaker 1: little bit ago, because you know, asking Montrez Harrold to 679 00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:32,120 Speaker 1: stop guys on a on a freight train to the basket, 680 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 1: you're asking him to fail. You're putting him in a 681 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:36,400 Speaker 1: position to fail. That's not that's not a strength of his. 682 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:39,440 Speaker 1: So so what are Montress Harold strength. So he's he 683 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:42,600 Speaker 1: has a super high motor, and he's got he's got 684 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,760 Speaker 1: really long arms, and he's pretty quick right for a 685 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 1: big though, those are like his strengths defensively, So to me, 686 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:51,600 Speaker 1: in the defensive scheme that that's a big part of 687 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:54,880 Speaker 1: why you know, Tim Tim Cranch just was talking about 688 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:56,120 Speaker 1: this for a long time with the way there they 689 00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:58,720 Speaker 1: adjusted their pick and roll coverage. But like to me, 690 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:01,479 Speaker 1: it makes a lot more sense to never have him 691 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:04,280 Speaker 1: drop because you're putting him in a position there to fail, 692 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:07,200 Speaker 1: but to use his strength. So if he's if he's quick, 693 00:32:07,280 --> 00:32:09,720 Speaker 1: and he has long arms, it makes a lot more 694 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:12,160 Speaker 1: sense to have him trap and double screen and roll 695 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:15,480 Speaker 1: because in that in that scenario, he can run around 696 00:32:15,480 --> 00:32:17,440 Speaker 1: in rotation and be another big man on the floor 697 00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:20,480 Speaker 1: use his Like there was a play Jason Tatum runs 698 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:23,360 Speaker 1: screen and roll. It's Lebron and Tres in the action, 699 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:28,080 Speaker 1: Uh Tatum comes off the screen, Mantres literally dives with 700 00:32:28,160 --> 00:32:30,680 Speaker 1: both arms down on the ball, takes the ball away 701 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:33,920 Speaker 1: from him, leads to a fast break for Lebron the 702 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:35,320 Speaker 1: other way, and I think he drew a foul, I 703 00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:37,040 Speaker 1: can't remember, but it led to a basket or points 704 00:32:37,040 --> 00:32:38,720 Speaker 1: the other way for the Lakers. And on that player, 705 00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:41,560 Speaker 1: I remember sitting there thinking like that's asking Montres to 706 00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:45,880 Speaker 1: do something he's good at that he is actually capable 707 00:32:45,920 --> 00:32:48,920 Speaker 1: of being an impact defensive player when you use him 708 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:51,680 Speaker 1: the way that he's supposed to be used. He's never 709 00:32:51,760 --> 00:32:54,200 Speaker 1: been a good rim protector. If you ask he he 710 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:56,840 Speaker 1: can block shots and helps that if if a guy's 711 00:32:57,040 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 1: doesn't see him coming and he comes and he can 712 00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:01,560 Speaker 1: really load up and come iron in the blocking shot. Yeah, 713 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:04,400 Speaker 1: sure he can do that, But you're you gotta ask 714 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:06,280 Speaker 1: him to play to his strengths and the same thing 715 00:33:06,320 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 1: goes offensively, like you said, attacking matchups. Yeah, when he 716 00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:12,720 Speaker 1: has a chance against a small a smaller team to 717 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:15,120 Speaker 1: be super aggressive, that's when you need to keep feeding 718 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:17,240 Speaker 1: him kind of like they did tonight, and then they're 719 00:33:17,240 --> 00:33:19,080 Speaker 1: gonna be games where he needs to take a back seat. 720 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:21,680 Speaker 1: But I I feel like some of the some of 721 00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:24,280 Speaker 1: the gripe with Montrez is he's been asked to do 722 00:33:24,320 --> 00:33:26,160 Speaker 1: a lot of the same things that the Clippers asked 723 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,920 Speaker 1: him to do, which is a drop coverage big where 724 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:31,280 Speaker 1: he's just gonna get killed, Like that's strength, you know 725 00:33:31,320 --> 00:33:33,640 Speaker 1: what I mean? Yeah? I agree, And I did say 726 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:37,440 Speaker 1: to to the As far as using him better, uh, 727 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:40,080 Speaker 1: Vogle did talk about today about that and actually had 728 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:42,200 Speaker 1: a coaches beating about getting him a more picking rolls, 729 00:33:42,360 --> 00:33:44,760 Speaker 1: so like that was actually said today, So I think 730 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:47,280 Speaker 1: that's going to look out for going forward. Also to 731 00:33:47,320 --> 00:33:50,320 Speaker 1: keep him mind of the practice time is basically zero, 732 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:53,160 Speaker 1: like in season, you're playing every other day because it's 733 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:55,560 Speaker 1: a condensed schedule. So there's that part of it too, 734 00:33:55,680 --> 00:33:58,000 Speaker 1: like guys knee reps. So we'll see how it looks 735 00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:00,640 Speaker 1: has the season goes on. Yeah, they have all sorts 736 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:02,440 Speaker 1: of time to figure this out, and I think that's 737 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:04,040 Speaker 1: I think that's one of the things too. And people 738 00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:06,920 Speaker 1: are always like, oh, like why is leron playing every night? 739 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:08,560 Speaker 1: Like he should be taking some rest, and I think 740 00:34:08,560 --> 00:34:10,400 Speaker 1: a d has actually been dealing with an injury at 741 00:34:10,880 --> 00:34:14,680 Speaker 1: this quad contusion. But like, if if I'm these guys, 742 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:16,840 Speaker 1: I'm like, I want to play all seventy two because 743 00:34:17,239 --> 00:34:19,400 Speaker 1: I'm playing I'm playing thirty two minutes a night if 744 00:34:19,400 --> 00:34:21,200 Speaker 1: I'm a Star, and if I'm a role player, I'm 745 00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:23,880 Speaker 1: playing twenty five and if I'm Crusoe, I'm playing seventeen 746 00:34:23,920 --> 00:34:25,960 Speaker 1: for some reason. So like if I'm if I'm one 747 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:28,520 Speaker 1: of these guys, I'm like, three times a week, I'm 748 00:34:28,520 --> 00:34:31,879 Speaker 1: gonna play twenty minutes of basketball like that, and I'll 749 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:33,480 Speaker 1: play by ass off in those minutes to get in 750 00:34:33,520 --> 00:34:35,640 Speaker 1: shape and to get to get the feel of the team. 751 00:34:35,680 --> 00:34:38,920 Speaker 1: So one last thing. So I talked a lot in 752 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:42,080 Speaker 1: my last podcast about my beef with Schroeder in the 753 00:34:42,120 --> 00:34:44,360 Speaker 1: starting lineup, and I'm really interested to hear your opinion 754 00:34:44,360 --> 00:34:47,360 Speaker 1: on this. So basically, the quick version of the breakdown 755 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:52,080 Speaker 1: is this, because Schroeder's in the starting lineup, it's forcing 756 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:54,480 Speaker 1: them to play Lebron by himself a lot in the 757 00:34:54,520 --> 00:34:57,840 Speaker 1: way that the lineups breakdown. So for instance, when Schroeder's 758 00:34:57,880 --> 00:35:01,880 Speaker 1: with Lebron and a D, they're killing teams. When Lebron 759 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:05,719 Speaker 1: is with Schroeder, they're killing teams. When Lebron's with a D, 760 00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:08,960 Speaker 1: they're killing teams a D and Schroeder's not doing super great. 761 00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 1: But that a lot of that had to do with 762 00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:12,959 Speaker 1: how a D was playing. But there's like a huge 763 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:15,400 Speaker 1: chunk of minutes, like two minutes, it's over two hundred 764 00:35:15,400 --> 00:35:18,560 Speaker 1: minutes now, I think where Lebron has been playing with 765 00:35:18,840 --> 00:35:22,479 Speaker 1: neither Schroeder nor a D. And I think a big 766 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:24,600 Speaker 1: part of that is the way the rotation breaks down 767 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:27,919 Speaker 1: because they start Schroeder and then and then they take 768 00:35:28,040 --> 00:35:30,160 Speaker 1: Lebron out with like five minutes left in the first 769 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:32,560 Speaker 1: Schroeder and a D run the end of the first quarter, 770 00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:35,880 Speaker 1: and then Lebron comes back in and both a Schroeder 771 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:37,880 Speaker 1: and a D go to the bench, and now Lebron's 772 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:39,960 Speaker 1: running the show by himself, and they're barely floating the 773 00:35:39,960 --> 00:35:42,359 Speaker 1: ship in those minutes. And so there are a lot 774 00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:45,080 Speaker 1: of reasons to in my opinion, to let Schroeder come 775 00:35:45,080 --> 00:35:46,520 Speaker 1: off the bench because he can come out and be 776 00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:49,080 Speaker 1: super aggressive. It helps you to get a D in 777 00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:51,120 Speaker 1: a rhythm earlier in the game because you're less worried 778 00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:55,080 Speaker 1: about Schroeder's rhythm. But most importantly, it's forcing them, with 779 00:35:55,160 --> 00:35:57,759 Speaker 1: the way the rotations break down, to play Lebron by 780 00:35:57,840 --> 00:36:00,440 Speaker 1: himself or not by himself, but with regular role players 781 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:02,920 Speaker 1: for large chunks of these games. So I have a 782 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:05,879 Speaker 1: problem with that from a strategy standpoint. What is your 783 00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:08,080 Speaker 1: opinion on the whole Shoulder in the starting lineup thing. 784 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:14,120 Speaker 1: The reason I am not for change right now is 785 00:36:14,120 --> 00:36:17,680 Speaker 1: because Shoulder was literally playing at all defensive level. I mean, 786 00:36:17,719 --> 00:36:19,319 Speaker 1: he has opposing If you look at the go down 787 00:36:19,360 --> 00:36:22,239 Speaker 1: list of the shooting percentage of the opposing blank guards 788 00:36:22,280 --> 00:36:24,960 Speaker 1: that he's gone against, it's been he has had those 789 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:27,680 Speaker 1: guys literally locked down. Like tonight again was another one. 790 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:30,799 Speaker 1: Kimball was one for twelve. Even on the last step back, 791 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:32,640 Speaker 1: he didn't get enough space for shoulder to get a 792 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:35,440 Speaker 1: clean look. Should us all the way up in him, shoulders, 793 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:38,160 Speaker 1: shoulders chasing arale, picking rolls. That's why I'm kind of 794 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:40,719 Speaker 1: those are valid points you're raising, by the way, but 795 00:36:40,760 --> 00:36:43,640 Speaker 1: I think just there the Lakers have made it knowing 796 00:36:43,719 --> 00:36:46,680 Speaker 1: that they are a defensive team first, and I think 797 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:49,719 Speaker 1: you just kind of gotta reward that. If anything, I 798 00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:53,080 Speaker 1: say that you tinker with the subs a little bit 799 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:55,160 Speaker 1: to begin with, maybe take your shoulder right a little 800 00:36:55,160 --> 00:36:57,880 Speaker 1: earlier and then take Lebrian and then bringing back together 801 00:36:58,040 --> 00:37:00,520 Speaker 1: or making so that one is on the court all times, 802 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:02,799 Speaker 1: where either shooter or a D s on the court 803 00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:04,600 Speaker 1: with le Bron at all times, like you just have 804 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:06,839 Speaker 1: two of them on the at the at ever every 805 00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:09,479 Speaker 1: moment of the game. But I'm against the starting change 806 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:12,319 Speaker 1: because he's playing so well defensively. I think you gotta 807 00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:15,719 Speaker 1: you gotta kind of reward that, you know, Yeah, I 808 00:37:16,040 --> 00:37:18,080 Speaker 1: hear you, and and and it does make sense to me, 809 00:37:18,120 --> 00:37:20,239 Speaker 1: and like a valid points of those are those are 810 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:22,520 Speaker 1: points that those are good pointing raids. Though it's definitely 811 00:37:22,520 --> 00:37:26,719 Speaker 1: something to talk about, and like Schroeder is the third 812 00:37:26,760 --> 00:37:29,160 Speaker 1: best player on the team, and he's a really good 813 00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:31,880 Speaker 1: point guard, Like he's definitely good enough to be a 814 00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:34,560 Speaker 1: starting point guard in this league. That's not the problem 815 00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:37,200 Speaker 1: for me, and and I totally see what we're coming 816 00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:39,200 Speaker 1: from it. For the record, this is just me complaining 817 00:37:39,239 --> 00:37:42,160 Speaker 1: because they're not gonna make They're not gonna make a change, 818 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:44,880 Speaker 1: Like why why would they? There's literally no reason for 819 00:37:44,960 --> 00:37:46,719 Speaker 1: them to make this change. Schroeder has been playing a 820 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:48,360 Speaker 1: lot better in the last couple of games than he 821 00:37:48,360 --> 00:37:50,440 Speaker 1: had been in the games before that, so there's no 822 00:37:50,480 --> 00:37:52,800 Speaker 1: real reason for it. But it's just it's just frustrating 823 00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:54,880 Speaker 1: to me because like I think of it from Schroeder 824 00:37:54,960 --> 00:37:59,840 Speaker 1: Schroeder's perspective, Like, you know, I would much rather play 825 00:38:00,160 --> 00:38:03,920 Speaker 1: freely knowing that I can be aggressive and not have 826 00:38:03,960 --> 00:38:06,240 Speaker 1: to worry about the way it's impacting the other players 827 00:38:06,239 --> 00:38:08,440 Speaker 1: on the floor if I'm in that role, you know, 828 00:38:08,560 --> 00:38:11,160 Speaker 1: and in that case, like you can tell, I think 829 00:38:11,160 --> 00:38:12,880 Speaker 1: one of the big reasons why Schroeder went into a 830 00:38:12,880 --> 00:38:15,359 Speaker 1: little bit of an offensive slump there is it is 831 00:38:15,400 --> 00:38:19,440 Speaker 1: difficult to to figure out. Like, imagine if I dropped 832 00:38:19,480 --> 00:38:22,800 Speaker 1: you Jason Maples on the court with Lebron and a 833 00:38:22,920 --> 00:38:25,040 Speaker 1: D tomorrow in a pickup game, would you even know 834 00:38:25,080 --> 00:38:26,960 Speaker 1: where to go stand or what to do other than 835 00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:31,640 Speaker 1: to go spot up in the corner? Like this is 836 00:38:31,680 --> 00:38:33,640 Speaker 1: what I'm saying, So like it's just hard, it's hard 837 00:38:33,680 --> 00:38:35,719 Speaker 1: to figure out, and like and whereas like what if 838 00:38:35,719 --> 00:38:38,360 Speaker 1: I told you, like, Okay, Lebron and a D are 839 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:40,840 Speaker 1: checking out, I need you to go in and shoot 840 00:38:40,840 --> 00:38:42,799 Speaker 1: five shots in the next four minutes, you know, like that, 841 00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:44,560 Speaker 1: That's where it's like a it's a different it's a 842 00:38:44,600 --> 00:38:48,359 Speaker 1: different type of of of approach mentally to that game. 843 00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:52,280 Speaker 1: And to your point, that can be handled by tinkering 844 00:38:52,360 --> 00:38:54,439 Speaker 1: the subs a little bit. My point is like, when 845 00:38:54,440 --> 00:38:57,279 Speaker 1: you have three players of that caliber, there's never a 846 00:38:57,280 --> 00:38:59,840 Speaker 1: reason to have one of them on the court unless 847 00:39:00,040 --> 00:39:02,040 Speaker 1: of them is literally sitting out like a D did 848 00:39:02,040 --> 00:39:04,080 Speaker 1: the other night. That's really the only that the only 849 00:39:04,080 --> 00:39:06,919 Speaker 1: time to ever ever do it like that, Um, real quick, 850 00:39:06,920 --> 00:39:08,960 Speaker 1: before you leave, what's your what's your take on the 851 00:39:09,400 --> 00:39:13,600 Speaker 1: hardened Kyrie uh Durant nets how do you feel about 852 00:39:13,640 --> 00:39:16,960 Speaker 1: him so far? I'll say the people who are saying 853 00:39:17,080 --> 00:39:19,960 Speaker 1: that there's not there's just one ball, those people are nuts. 854 00:39:20,560 --> 00:39:23,640 Speaker 1: You've got three generational scores, hard and an excellent passer, 855 00:39:24,160 --> 00:39:29,880 Speaker 1: k D and Kyrie already played off the ball before. Um. 856 00:39:30,040 --> 00:39:33,239 Speaker 1: My issument is they cannot stop anybody. Okay, see's not 857 00:39:33,280 --> 00:39:36,000 Speaker 1: a good offense. They gave up one. They just can't 858 00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:37,640 Speaker 1: stop anybody. But my thing is if they can even 859 00:39:37,640 --> 00:39:40,160 Speaker 1: get the defense to average though, they're going to the finals. 860 00:39:40,600 --> 00:39:43,320 Speaker 1: They just become passable on defense, they'll go to the finals. 861 00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:44,960 Speaker 1: This is when you have three guys who can fill 862 00:39:44,960 --> 00:39:48,000 Speaker 1: it up like that. It's just, uh, it's fun to 863 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:49,759 Speaker 1: watch there there there are fun to watch. I just 864 00:39:49,760 --> 00:39:52,080 Speaker 1: I don't think they'll get the stops. I'm hanging onto. 865 00:39:53,040 --> 00:39:56,080 Speaker 1: Philly has my number one to come out the East. Uh. 866 00:39:56,160 --> 00:39:58,560 Speaker 1: I do have them better than the Milwaukee though, but 867 00:39:58,800 --> 00:40:02,319 Speaker 1: a is uh Buds running that crazy scheme where you 868 00:40:02,360 --> 00:40:05,200 Speaker 1: give up threes the just all out close off the paint. 869 00:40:05,680 --> 00:40:09,279 Speaker 1: Those guys score two well for that, So I don't 870 00:40:09,280 --> 00:40:12,680 Speaker 1: think they'll beat that. They'll beat Milwaukee. UM. Indiana is 871 00:40:12,719 --> 00:40:16,960 Speaker 1: interesting because Indiana's strength is right where the nets weakness is, 872 00:40:17,040 --> 00:40:19,680 Speaker 1: which is inside. I think Sa Bonus and Turner have 873 00:40:19,719 --> 00:40:22,840 Speaker 1: a field day, but I think that's probably like a 874 00:40:22,880 --> 00:40:24,600 Speaker 1: six or seven gamer. But I think the Nets win. 875 00:40:24,680 --> 00:40:29,360 Speaker 1: I think the only competition for them is Philly. But 876 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:33,080 Speaker 1: let me I'll put a little pause on that. Let 877 00:40:33,080 --> 00:40:35,960 Speaker 1: me see Miami at full strength. I think they just harrow. 878 00:40:36,200 --> 00:40:39,680 Speaker 1: Somebody in Tyler Harrow's house called COVID, so he has 879 00:40:39,680 --> 00:40:41,120 Speaker 1: to sit for two weeks now, so they able to 880 00:40:41,160 --> 00:40:43,480 Speaker 1: get give me back after two weeks. They gotta sit 881 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:46,080 Speaker 1: the Harrow down for two weeks. So just the carousel 882 00:40:46,239 --> 00:40:48,759 Speaker 1: goes on for them. Let me if Milwaukee can put 883 00:40:48,920 --> 00:40:51,760 Speaker 1: if Miami can put two months together of just having 884 00:40:51,800 --> 00:40:56,560 Speaker 1: everybody there. Uh. I'll like to see Miami play the 885 00:40:56,600 --> 00:40:58,440 Speaker 1: Nets in the series too, But right now, I think 886 00:40:58,480 --> 00:41:00,640 Speaker 1: Philly is a team to the team to come out 887 00:41:00,680 --> 00:41:04,560 Speaker 1: these But that seems gonna be amazing. Offensively, Yeah, any 888 00:41:04,560 --> 00:41:07,879 Speaker 1: any complaints about them offensively didn't make any sense to um. 889 00:41:08,360 --> 00:41:09,839 Speaker 1: I do believe. I don't want to dive too much 890 00:41:09,840 --> 00:41:11,640 Speaker 1: into it, but I do that I do believe a 891 00:41:11,680 --> 00:41:14,600 Speaker 1: little bit in the law of diminishing returns offensively. Kind 892 00:41:14,600 --> 00:41:18,000 Speaker 1: of this idea that like when a Kyrie level talent 893 00:41:18,719 --> 00:41:23,440 Speaker 1: is basically turned into a spot up shooter, um, it 894 00:41:23,560 --> 00:41:26,560 Speaker 1: does on on large portion for large portions of the game. 895 00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:29,360 Speaker 1: It does like Kyrie is only so good as a 896 00:41:29,360 --> 00:41:32,160 Speaker 1: spot up shooter compared to like, say a Wesley Matthews, 897 00:41:32,239 --> 00:41:33,640 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, Like Kyrie is a great 898 00:41:33,640 --> 00:41:36,040 Speaker 1: spot up shooter, but like if Kyrie is going to 899 00:41:36,160 --> 00:41:39,040 Speaker 1: hit that at fifty, but Wesley Matthews can hit the 900 00:41:39,040 --> 00:41:42,640 Speaker 1: wide open three for thirty percent or fort but you know, 901 00:41:42,719 --> 00:41:45,320 Speaker 1: Kyrie can make the crazy crossover one, but Wesley Matthews 902 00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:47,440 Speaker 1: can't even do that. There's like this idea like of 903 00:41:47,480 --> 00:41:50,520 Speaker 1: diminishing returns, where there's so much offensive talent on the 904 00:41:50,560 --> 00:41:53,680 Speaker 1: floor that like there's some limit there. But people were 905 00:41:53,719 --> 00:41:55,520 Speaker 1: crazy to think that they wouldn't find a way to 906 00:41:55,719 --> 00:41:59,200 Speaker 1: write whatever that ceiling is, they're gonna find it. Whatever 907 00:41:59,239 --> 00:42:02,759 Speaker 1: the whatever the absolute peak of NBA offenses, those guys 908 00:42:02,800 --> 00:42:05,360 Speaker 1: are gonna find it. That's not my worry. Here's the problem. 909 00:42:05,440 --> 00:42:08,520 Speaker 1: The It's not even just about defense. You need to 910 00:42:08,560 --> 00:42:11,160 Speaker 1: be able to do three things to win a basketball game. 911 00:42:11,480 --> 00:42:13,920 Speaker 1: You need to be able to score. You also need 912 00:42:13,960 --> 00:42:15,880 Speaker 1: to be able to stop the other team from scoring. 913 00:42:16,360 --> 00:42:19,200 Speaker 1: You also need to be able to get the rebound 914 00:42:19,200 --> 00:42:23,400 Speaker 1: when the other thing is a shot. Okay, those things exactly. 915 00:42:23,440 --> 00:42:26,160 Speaker 1: They are. They're not just bad in the other two, 916 00:42:26,320 --> 00:42:30,440 Speaker 1: they're really bad exactly. So those are those would be 917 00:42:30,520 --> 00:42:32,400 Speaker 1: my concerns. Not to me, this fix is easy. It's 918 00:42:32,440 --> 00:42:37,520 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant. You know, Kevin Durant is Anthony Davis's physical ability. 919 00:42:37,800 --> 00:42:41,400 Speaker 1: You know, Kevin Durant could be the guy who gets 920 00:42:41,440 --> 00:42:47,560 Speaker 1: them from basement offense or defense, basement rebounding two or 921 00:42:47,560 --> 00:42:49,560 Speaker 1: whatever it is that they need to be to where 922 00:42:49,560 --> 00:42:52,279 Speaker 1: their unbelievable offense can get them over the top. I 923 00:42:52,360 --> 00:42:57,840 Speaker 1: just think that that's a lot to ask him to do, exactly. 924 00:42:57,920 --> 00:42:59,480 Speaker 1: And like you know, I saw they picked up Hmon 925 00:42:59,560 --> 00:43:02,480 Speaker 1: Schuppert's day. I like him on Schumper, but he's not 926 00:43:02,520 --> 00:43:05,160 Speaker 1: going to be a difference maker in that regard. Plus 927 00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:08,120 Speaker 1: with the guard redundancy that they have on that roster, 928 00:43:08,360 --> 00:43:11,280 Speaker 1: it's like, how if you play him with Joe Harris, 929 00:43:11,320 --> 00:43:14,719 Speaker 1: Kyrie and James Harden, you're making yourself even more undersized, 930 00:43:14,760 --> 00:43:18,600 Speaker 1: Like you need to, you need to, Like it's gonna 931 00:43:18,640 --> 00:43:20,719 Speaker 1: come down to Jeff Green and Katie in the front 932 00:43:20,719 --> 00:43:22,360 Speaker 1: court and whether or not they can match up with 933 00:43:22,400 --> 00:43:24,799 Speaker 1: some of these really big teams. And and if I'm 934 00:43:24,880 --> 00:43:27,239 Speaker 1: if I'm Bam and Jimmy Butler, I'm having a field 935 00:43:27,320 --> 00:43:30,800 Speaker 1: day on them on the other end of the last week. Yeah, 936 00:43:31,239 --> 00:43:34,560 Speaker 1: if if I'm honest, like, good luck man, jannest is 937 00:43:34,560 --> 00:43:37,239 Speaker 1: going for forty three points a game in that series. Like, 938 00:43:37,239 --> 00:43:39,239 Speaker 1: it just doesn't make any sense to me. So I 939 00:43:39,320 --> 00:43:43,080 Speaker 1: just was, you know, I think, like I think people 940 00:43:43,160 --> 00:43:47,239 Speaker 1: have oversimplified basketball into you know, people people who are 941 00:43:47,239 --> 00:43:49,000 Speaker 1: saying they wouldn't be able to score, we're idiots. That 942 00:43:49,040 --> 00:43:52,840 Speaker 1: was that was absolutely crazy. But but the idea that 943 00:43:52,840 --> 00:43:54,839 Speaker 1: that was the only thing they needed to do to win, 944 00:43:54,880 --> 00:43:57,080 Speaker 1: I thought was silly. And and there's a there's a 945 00:43:57,080 --> 00:44:00,960 Speaker 1: little bit of like a a h a willingness from 946 00:44:00,960 --> 00:44:04,560 Speaker 1: that because they're early in this season and they're they've 947 00:44:04,600 --> 00:44:06,560 Speaker 1: already kind of let their foot off the gas on 948 00:44:06,600 --> 00:44:08,720 Speaker 1: the defensive end of the ball, Like Katie was awesome 949 00:44:08,760 --> 00:44:10,719 Speaker 1: the first couple of games of the year, and then 950 00:44:10,760 --> 00:44:13,640 Speaker 1: he's kind of let off, and like, my thing is like, 951 00:44:13,640 --> 00:44:16,239 Speaker 1: like it's this is the time when they should be 952 00:44:16,320 --> 00:44:20,120 Speaker 1: most excited. They just got James Harden. You know they're 953 00:44:20,239 --> 00:44:22,799 Speaker 1: going to build something. You got build something exactly. This 954 00:44:22,840 --> 00:44:25,640 Speaker 1: should be the time when they're like really stoked about 955 00:44:25,640 --> 00:44:28,919 Speaker 1: trying to play defense. And I'm so, I'm I'm less 956 00:44:28,920 --> 00:44:31,319 Speaker 1: worried about them, and but at the same time, like 957 00:44:31,360 --> 00:44:34,879 Speaker 1: I think you said this and agree with you. If 958 00:44:34,880 --> 00:44:37,279 Speaker 1: you give if you gave me one summer as the 959 00:44:37,320 --> 00:44:39,120 Speaker 1: GM of that team, I'd figure out a way to 960 00:44:39,120 --> 00:44:43,120 Speaker 1: turn them into a contender, like they summer. They they 961 00:44:43,160 --> 00:44:45,840 Speaker 1: just need they just need Katie to make a couple 962 00:44:45,840 --> 00:44:49,680 Speaker 1: of phone calls to free agents. No, seriously, a couple 963 00:44:49,680 --> 00:44:52,120 Speaker 1: of key free agents this year. They're like, hey, listen, man, 964 00:44:52,160 --> 00:44:53,759 Speaker 1: like we're gonna do this, you know what I mean. 965 00:44:53,880 --> 00:44:56,959 Speaker 1: But um, anyway, hey dude, I really appreciate you taking 966 00:44:56,960 --> 00:44:59,680 Speaker 1: the time to do this. I'm really they appreciate you. 967 00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:02,360 Speaker 1: Oh I love it, man, I appreciate it. But you 968 00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:03,719 Speaker 1: have a good rest of your night and good rest 969 00:45:03,760 --> 00:45:05,399 Speaker 1: of your weekend. And let's try to do this again 970 00:45:05,400 --> 00:45:08,400 Speaker 1: in a couple of months. Not fichel Man loop. Let 971 00:45:08,400 --> 00:45:09,279 Speaker 1: me know what says Nothing