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Dial one eight hundred five 29 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: two two forty seven hundred in Wyoming, or visit www 30 00:01:52,960 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: dot one eight hundred gambler dot net in West Virginia. 31 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: All right, Welcome to Hoops Tonight, presented by FanDuel here 32 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: at the volume. Happy Wednesday, everybody. I hope all of 33 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 1: you guys are having a great week so far. We 34 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: are live on AMP. Don't forget if you're watching on 35 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: YouTube or listening on the podcast feeds that AMP is 36 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: the very first place that you guys can get these shows. 37 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: We have a jam packed show today. We're gonna hitting 38 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 1: on four games from the last two days. The Lakers 39 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 1: got another huge win last night against the Memphis Grizzlies. 40 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: The Philadelphia seventy six ers went on the road to 41 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: a red hot Minnesota Timberwolves team and kick their ass, 42 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: which I thought was super interesting. We're gonna cover a 43 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 1: game from Monday night when the Calves beat the Celtics, 44 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: coming from behind late and winning in overtime. And then, 45 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 1: last but not least, the Golden State Warriors and their 46 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 1: road struggles continue, allowing just a shit ton of points 47 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,839 Speaker 1: in an ugly loss on the road in Oklahoma City. 48 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: We're gonna touch on that game as well. You guys 49 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: know the drill before we get started. Subscribe to the 50 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 1: Volumes YouTube channel so you don't miss any more of 51 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: our videos. Follow me on Twitter at underscore Jason lt 52 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: so you guys don't miss any show announcements. And then, 53 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: last but not least, for whatever reason, you guys miss 54 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: one of these shows and you can't get back over 55 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 1: to YouTube to finish. Don't forget. You can find them 56 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. Under hoops tonight, All right, 57 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: let's talk some basketball. So the Lakers win one twelve 58 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 1: to one oh three. Anthony freaking Davis thirty points and 59 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: twenty two rebounds on just seventeen shots completely dominated the 60 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 1: game on both ends of the floor, lockdown the paint defensively, 61 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,239 Speaker 1: scored what ten points in transition, he scored in isolation, 62 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 1: he scored in pick and roll. As a role man, 63 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 1: he had four points just working his ass off on 64 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: the offensive glass. He scored seven points directly in the post. 65 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: He completely dominated the game and was just a complete monster. 66 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: And this was just the latest reminder of why I've 67 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: always been so high on the Lebron James and Anthony 68 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: Davis pairing. There have been a lot of times over 69 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: the last year and a half where I've gotten some crap, 70 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: you know, for saying, like, hey, like through all of this, 71 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 1: they're one trade away. If they can make it a 72 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: solid rush trade, they'll be a real contender. And I've 73 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 1: been saying that forever because I believe that Lebron James 74 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 1: and Anthony Davis have the highest ceiling of any duo 75 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 1: in the league. We did our top five duos yesterday 76 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: and I had them fifth, and I had them fifth 77 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: because of their availability issues. I'm sorry, but that is 78 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: you know, there's the old saying the best ability is availability, 79 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: and essentially not being able to maintain your ceiling is 80 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: absolutely something we should factor in when comparing you to 81 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 1: the other duos around the league. So I don't think 82 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: Lebron and A d have a case to be any 83 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: higher than fifth on that list. But when they are right, 84 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 1: when they are healthy, there is no duo in the 85 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:51,159 Speaker 1: NBA that can match what Lebron James and Anthony Davis 86 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: can do on both sides of the floor. When Anthony 87 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 1: Davis is healthy, he is a top tier superstar. When 88 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 1: Lebron James is healthy, he is a to your superstar. 89 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 1: How many players would you even consider taking over the 90 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: two of them in a playoff series if they are healthy, 91 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 1: I'd say Janis, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Luka don Chich, 92 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: Nikola Yokich, and Joel embat Those are the only six 93 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: that you can make a reasonable case that you take 94 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 1: over both of them healthy in a playoff series. And 95 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 1: I would argue they have cases over several of those players. 96 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: So that means at worst, the Lakers have like the 97 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 1: seventh and eighth best player that you would want on 98 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: your team in a key playoff series. And here's the thing. 99 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: Johannis Katie, Steph Luca, Nikola Yoki, and Joel Embiid they're 100 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: all on different teams. Lebron and Anthony Davis both play 101 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 1: for the Lakers, and they've both demonstrated that top tier 102 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: ceiling within this season. After the win last night, the 103 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: Lakers are now thirty and twenty four since they're two 104 00:05:56,720 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 1: in ten spart start. That's the tenth best record in 105 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: the league over that span. That includes Lebron, James, and 106 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis combining to miss forty one games during that stretch. 107 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: That includes playing most of that stretch without any forwards. 108 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 1: That includes playing crunch time with Russell Westbrook and a 109 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: general lack of offensive skill in the backcourt. I pulled 110 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: some numbers today. The Lakers were ten and fourteen when 111 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 1: Russ played clutch minutes for them. They are nine and 112 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 1: four this year when they played clutch minutes without Russ. 113 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:35,599 Speaker 1: That includes bad luck with deficiating. There was that Tatum 114 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: foul on Lebron at the buzzer in the Celtics game. 115 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 1: There was that play against the Mavericks when Christian Would 116 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: hacked Lebron on a buzzer layup. That's two plays where 117 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 1: Lebron would have had two chances to make one free 118 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 1: throw to win a game with no time on the clock. 119 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 1: Despite all of that, they are thirty and twenty four 120 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: in their last fifty four games. Because to start that run, 121 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: when Lebron was out, Anthony Davis played like the best 122 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: player in the world to carry the team to wins. 123 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: And then later on when Anthony Davis was out, Lebron 124 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 1: James played like one of the best players in the 125 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 1: world to float the team when Anthony Davis was out. Obviously, 126 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: lots of other guys stepped up during that stretch, but 127 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: those two guys led the way. You're not winning games 128 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: in the NBA without type of top end talent. And 129 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: by the way, the Lakers are seven and three since 130 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: the new trade pieces started playing. They have the number 131 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: one defense in the league over that span by a 132 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: large margin. They are two points per one hundred possessions 133 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: better than the Bucks, who are second place in that span. 134 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 1: And just within that ten game span, Anthony Davis, Lebron James, 135 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: and D'Angel Russell have combined him his fifteen games, they 136 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: are three and oh. When all three of those guys 137 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 1: play together. I say all that to say this, this 138 00:07:55,920 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 1: is a legitimately very dangerous basketball team in the Western Conference. Again, 139 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: Lebron and ad have both flashed that top five upside 140 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: when they're healthy. Within this season. They now have an 141 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: extremely skilled backcourt. D'Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley compliment Lebron 142 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: and Anthony Davis really well. Austin Reeves has been excellent 143 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 1: coming off the bench in a lead ball handling role 144 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 1: as of late. He's also like the fifth guy that 145 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 1: you'd want to slide into closing lineups in for Malik Beasley. 146 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: It's kind of a much better two way fit in 147 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: that specific situation. We'll talk more about Austin Reeves here 148 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: in a minute, because I want to do a deep 149 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: dive into his recent improvements. Dennis Ruder is as good 150 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: of a backup point guard as you'll find in the league. 151 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,719 Speaker 1: He provides like a defensive changeup to the offensive fastball 152 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:44,199 Speaker 1: of D'Angelo Russell, and he did a number on Desmond 153 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 1: bayin yesterday chasing him around an applying ball pressure. He's 154 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: just an excellent option to throw about to throw out 155 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: just about any guard in the league. Jared Vanderbilt has 156 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: become an extremely versatile defensive weapon that can guard the 157 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: other team's best player, regardless of archetype. He's basically handled 158 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 1: every type of matchup they've thrown him at. The only 159 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 1: guy that you probably not feel comfortable with is like 160 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: a yoga er and eimbid. But he can guard guards, 161 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: he can guard two guards, he can guard wings, he 162 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: can guard bigger forwards, big strong forwards. He'll get another 163 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: challenge to guard a big, strong forward against the Nicks 164 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: on Sunday. I'm interested to see how he fares there. 165 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: Ruy hatch Mura has responded to him getting limited minutes 166 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: and going to the bench for Jared Vanderbilt. He's responded 167 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 1: to that by just diving in heart and soul into 168 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,080 Speaker 1: the rebounding and defensive areas of the game. This has 169 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: been one of the most impactful role player stretches I've 170 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 1: seen from Ruy hatch Mura, just in all the dirty 171 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 1: work that he's doing on the floor, motivated by what 172 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: he needs to do to get minutes. He also provides 173 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: an interesting offensive changeup to Jared Vanderbilt's Jared Vanderbilt's defensive 174 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: fastball inclosing groups. Ruey hatch Murra is shooting seventy five 175 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 1: percent in clutch situations this year in the Leakers are 176 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 1: four and one when they've gone to him in clutch games. 177 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 1: Brown Junior has been outstanding taking on tough defensive assignments, 178 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: and now he can't miss from three. Over the course 179 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:08,079 Speaker 1: of the last several games, he's up to thirty eight 180 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: percent on the season. And they have some real matchup 181 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 1: flexibility off the bench. Defensively at the center position, they 182 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: can go smaller and faster with more pace with when 183 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: you in Gabriel, or they can play a more traditional 184 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: drop coverage big against teams that don't have as much 185 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: pull up shooting in mo Bamba. They check a lot 186 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 1: of boxes now and they have better top end talent 187 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 1: when healthy than anybody in the league. Yes, there are 188 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 1: guys that are better than Lebron. Yes there are guys 189 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: that are better than a d but there's nobody in 190 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: the league that can put the two of them together 191 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: and who could do anything that resembles what the two 192 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:47,560 Speaker 1: of them do at the top end, even as unlikely 193 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: as that is. Yes, health is a real risk for them. 194 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: That's why I had them as fifth in my duos yesterday. 195 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: It's still a big question mark. But if they are 196 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 1: healthy in April, I'm extremely tempted to pick them as 197 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 1: the team that could get out of the West, and 198 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: we'll make that call when we get there. But if 199 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis is going to be this good, and you're 200 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 1: gonna get the Lebron who broke the scoring record earlier 201 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 1: this season, with this group of role players in a 202 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 1: Western conference full of teams that are flawed, I think 203 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: you'd be foolish to act as though they do not 204 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 1: have a serious chance to get out of the conference. 205 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 1: I wanted to talk about Austin Reeves for a minute 206 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: because a couple games ago, the last time they lost Memphis, 207 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: I talked a lot about Anthony Davis and how he 208 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: needs competent ball handling. It's ironically the reason why Lebron 209 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 1: and Anthony Davis are such a great pair. Anthony Davis's 210 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 1: greatest weakness, which is perimeter initiation, is Lebron james greatest strength. 211 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: And Lebron james greatest weakness at this point in his career, 212 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 1: which is really engaging himself with his athleticism on the 213 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 1: defensive end of the floor and as a rebounder. That's 214 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis's greatest strength. They compliment each other incredibly well 215 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:04,960 Speaker 1: for that reason. But AD's lack of perimeter initiation. Has 216 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: been flashing a lot lately. At three assists to seven 217 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: turnovers last night, Anthony Davis has eleven assists to twenty 218 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 1: turnovers in his last four games. He needs competent ball handling. 219 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: We saw what happened against Memphis last time. They couldn't 220 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: take care of the basketball, they had no chance of winning. 221 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: We saw what happened against against Golden State on Sunday. 222 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: We talked about how Lonnie Walker and Malik Beasley and 223 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: Austin Reeves and Dennis rod Are kind of cobbled together 224 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 1: a really efficient backcourt night and they won the game. 225 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 1: And then last night, Austin Reeves and Dennis Schroder combined 226 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: for thirty four points and sixteen assists on just two turnovers. 227 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 1: So they are somehow without D'Angelo Russell, without Lebron James, 228 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:51,439 Speaker 1: cobbling together now competent ball handling, which is what is 229 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 1: allowing Anthony Davis to carry his incredible two way impact 230 00:12:56,559 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: as a play finisher offensively and as a defensive anchor 231 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,559 Speaker 1: on the defensive end of the floor. I wanted to 232 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,440 Speaker 1: show some you know, because we talked a lot about 233 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:08,959 Speaker 1: Dennis shoulder earlier and what he does defensively, but one 234 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,200 Speaker 1: of the biggest developments of this season for the Lakers 235 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:13,800 Speaker 1: has been the improvements that Austin Reeves has made in 236 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: terms of his offensive skill and it really is remarkable. 237 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:19,679 Speaker 1: So I did some diving for those of you guys 238 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 1: who want to see these numbers visually, I tweeted them 239 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 1: out earlier today, but I wanted to go over just 240 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 1: some numbers to demonstrate how much Austin Reeves has improved 241 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 1: over the course of the last two seasons. So in 242 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:32,440 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two, Austin Reeves averaged zero point nine four 243 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 1: points points per post up possession excuse me, points per 244 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:41,559 Speaker 1: spot up possession. That was one hundred and ninety second 245 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:44,079 Speaker 1: out of two hundred and fifty seven players to log 246 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 1: at least one hundred spot up possessions. This season, When 247 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: spotting up one point two four points per possession, that's 248 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 1: a thirty point increase in offensive writing in those situations. 249 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 1: That's thirteenth out of one hundred and forty seven players 250 00:13:57,640 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 1: to log at least one hundred and fifty spot up possessions. 251 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:02,719 Speaker 1: So in one summer, he transformed himself from one of 252 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 1: the worst spot up players in the league to one 253 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: of the best spot up players in the league in 254 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 1: shot creation situations on the ball, he has improved his 255 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: efficiency despite massively improving his volume. He went from zero 256 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 1: point nine six points per possession in pick and roll 257 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: last year to zero point nine eight this year, despite 258 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 1: going from eighty one reps to two hundred and three reps. 259 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 1: Isolation up from one point zero seven points per possession 260 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: to one point one one, And most of it's coming 261 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: down to the jump shots. So last year Austin Reeves 262 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: effective field goal percentage on catching shoot jump shots fifty 263 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 1: two percent, dribble jump shots thirty six percent. This year 264 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 1: fifty nine percent, affective field goal percentage on catching shoe jumpers, 265 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: fifty three percent, effective field goal percentage on dribble jump shots, 266 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 1: and his rim finishing has improved from sixty eight percent 267 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: to sixty nine percent despite increased volume. It's extremely difficult 268 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 1: to do that over a five season gap, let alone 269 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: in one season. I tweeted this earlier today, but there's 270 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 1: a couple of guys and somebody actually on my Twitter 271 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 1: fe pointed out Javon Carter as well. But Javon Carter, 272 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: Austin Reeves, Josh Green. There are some recent examples of 273 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 1: some of these spot up players around the league that 274 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: in one summer must have just spent hours and hours 275 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: every single day building out and refining their skill set 276 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 1: in preparation for bigger roles this year, and Austin Reeves 277 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: is just the latest example of that. Watch out for 278 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: those Lakers, man. They have a couple days off before. 279 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 1: If you look at their schedule down the stretch here 280 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: like they've got a lot of winnable games on the horizon. 281 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: Next is Friday night at home against the Toronto Raptors. 282 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 1: That's a winnable game, obviously Nicks on Sunday. The Knicks 283 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 1: are playing really well, but they're a team that can 284 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 1: struggle to score sometimes in a half court So the 285 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 1: Lakers will have a chance to win, and at some 286 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 1: point over the course of the next few weeks, I 287 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: expect Lebron James to return, maybe not as soon as 288 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 1: he needs to. If they keep winning at this rate, 289 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: we'll see. Let's go out to the first National TV 290 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 1: game from yesterday, seventy six Ers timber Wolves. So Sixers 291 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: beat the hell out of the Wolves. Outside of Anthony Edwards, 292 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 1: nobody from Minnesota could make a shot. Embiad was masterful 293 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 1: once again, thirty nine points on twenty two shots three blocks. 294 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 1: Joel Embiad scored twenty points just on jump shots yesterday. 295 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: He was four for four from three four for eight 296 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 1: on jump shots outside of the paint. He is now 297 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 1: up to fifty six percent effective field goal percentage on 298 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 1: catch and shoot jumpers this year and forty four percent 299 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: effective field goal percentage on dribble jump dribble jump shots 300 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: this year. Those are decent numbers for a star guard, 301 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: let alone for a center. So that perimeter jump shooting 302 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 1: thing for Joel Embiid continues to be a revelation. Tyrese 303 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: Maxie was awesome with James Harden now he had twenty 304 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: seven and five and it was good to see to 305 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 1: buy his Harris back after that calf injury took him 306 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: out in the middle of that Bucks game. He's really 307 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 1: important for them on the wing defensively because they're a 308 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: little fin there. And he grabbed fourteen rebounds, which is 309 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 1: a big part of triggering that transition attack with guys 310 00:16:57,080 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 1: like Tyrese Maxie. But in his walk off interview on TNT, 311 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 1: Joel Embiid had this quote that I thought was really interesting. 312 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 1: He said, no disrespect to any of them, but no 313 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 1: disrespect to any of them MVPs, but defense. Excuse me, 314 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 1: I'm reading this quote and butchering it. No disrespect to 315 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 1: any of them, but MVPs Defensive Player of the Year. 316 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean anything to me. I'm still going to 317 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:24,239 Speaker 1: be the best player on the floor. So first of all, 318 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 1: in the speech, you can kind of see just a 319 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:29,439 Speaker 1: little bit of contempt in his voice, and I get that. 320 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 1: I understand, I understand, and beats frustration. I don't think 321 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: embiad is the MVP. I'd have him third right now. 322 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: But I do get very frustrated by the MVP voting process. 323 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 1: It's one of the most annoying conversations every year. The 324 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 1: voters predominantly seem to be like MBA hipsters that galaxy. 325 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 1: The galaxy brain themselves into overly complicated opinions. I don't 326 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:53,719 Speaker 1: think playoff success is valued nearly enough. Yes, I know 327 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: it's a regular season award, but why do we play 328 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:59,639 Speaker 1: the regular season. It's all one giant journey towards the 329 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: Larry O'Brien Trophy. So acting as though that your playoff 330 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: translatability doesn't matter just because we're focusing on the regular 331 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:10,960 Speaker 1: season is really silly to me, But I digress. I 332 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:13,399 Speaker 1: was impressed by the quote because to me, it is 333 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 1: the latest example of Joel Embiad's demeanor throughout this season, 334 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 1: which is just fighting like hell on the court to 335 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: win games, regardless of what the prevailing opinion is about him, 336 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: regardless of whatever narratives you can cling to. I look, 337 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 1: I think he can be an infuriating foul grifter sometimes, 338 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:34,200 Speaker 1: but you know, that is what it is. He's been 339 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 1: relatively healthy this year, but he's had some health issues 340 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 1: in the past, so people will cling to those sorts 341 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:41,919 Speaker 1: of things. But he's shutting out all of that and 342 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 1: he's just focusing on dominating basketball games on the court. 343 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: He's gone to war every single night. He's outplayed Giannis 344 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 1: head to head. Recently, He's outplayed Nickel Yokich head to head. Recently, 345 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:57,720 Speaker 1: he outplayed Anthony Davis earlier this year. All he's doing 346 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:01,680 Speaker 1: is winning where it matters on the court. The Sixers 347 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:03,920 Speaker 1: are nine points per one hundred possessions better with him 348 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 1: than without him, and the Sixers are thirty one in 349 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:09,040 Speaker 1: ten since December eighth, which is still the second best 350 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 1: record in the league over that span, just to Denver. 351 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 1: That's a half season sample size with some signature wins. 352 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 1: They're owing three against Boston this year, but they're three 353 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: and one against Denver and Milwaukee, which lends credence to 354 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:24,439 Speaker 1: my matchup take that I always have, like, especially in 355 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 1: the Eastern Conference. This year, matchups are going to matter. 356 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: Who plays who is going to matter, and it benefits 357 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 1: Philadelphia if Boston ends up getting the one seed, so 358 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 1: they can catch Milwaukee in that second round, because I 359 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: think that's a better matchup for them. Before we move on, 360 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 1: I wanted to talk about Minnesota for a second because 361 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: this is a tough loss. Obviously, you get your butt 362 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 1: kicked when you're on a three game winning streak at home. 363 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 1: But before last night, they ripped off three straight wins 364 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 1: against three pretty good teams, all on the road. They 365 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: beat the Clippers on the road, they beat the Lakers 366 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 1: on the road, they beat the Kings on the road. 367 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:58,919 Speaker 1: And so I want to go optimistic here with the 368 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 1: Timberwolves because and kind of start to see just an 369 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:05,879 Speaker 1: identity starting to form, an identity that makes sense as 370 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: a foundation for a really good basketball team. Starts with 371 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis as your two way superstar. Aunt's last twenty 372 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:15,919 Speaker 1: games twenty seven, six and five, fifty eight percent true shooting, 373 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: thirty seven percent on pull up threes during that span, 374 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:24,440 Speaker 1: all pretty damn good numbers. Anthony Anthony Edwards and Jaden 375 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:29,120 Speaker 1: McDaniels have made a frightening perimeter defensive duo. I've talked 376 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 1: about that a lot on the show in recent weeks. 377 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: They've given nightmares to many of the game's best offensive 378 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:37,480 Speaker 1: players this season. They have these stretches where they lock 379 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 1: in and guys just can't even get shots off, and 380 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: they have one of the best defensive anchors in the 381 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 1: league behind them and Rudy Gobert. So you've got the 382 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 1: future superstar, and you've got the potential to be a 383 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: truly great defense. And they've still been a good defense 384 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:52,920 Speaker 1: this year, their tenth in defensive rating. But you can 385 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:55,359 Speaker 1: see a version of this where they can in the 386 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:58,199 Speaker 1: future on the strength of those three guys Aunt at 387 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:00,880 Speaker 1: the point of attack, Jade McDaniels guys on the wing, 388 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:03,360 Speaker 1: and Rudy Gobert on the back line, that they can 389 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:06,879 Speaker 1: be a truly great defense. What they need is they 390 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:10,919 Speaker 1: need a good playmaking guard that can defend next to 391 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:13,440 Speaker 1: Anthony Edwards. Some of that's a little more methodical, a 392 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: little bit more of a guy looking to set guys up. 393 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: And then Jade McDaniels represents that like thin, wiry, great 394 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 1: athlete forward. But they need that bigger, stronger, lower center 395 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 1: of gravity like kind of power, traditional power type of forwards. 396 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 1: So basically think of it as like the better version 397 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:34,440 Speaker 1: of Mike Conley and the better version of Kyle Anderson. 398 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 1: And for the record, I don't think it should be 399 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 1: Carl Towns. I just think your overall foot speed in 400 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:39,879 Speaker 1: the lineup gets too low there and he's not a 401 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: good enough defensive player. So obviously, with all the assets 402 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 1: they gave up in the Gobert trade, it's probably gonna 403 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 1: have to be Carl Towns as used as the chip 404 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: to make that happen. But I think they're gonna be 405 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:52,199 Speaker 1: looking in that direction eventually anyway. But if they can 406 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:57,120 Speaker 1: upgrade those two positions, a good skilled forward that's big 407 00:21:57,119 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 1: and strong at the four and a good skilled guard 408 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:02,959 Speaker 1: that can pass and playmake and defend a little bit 409 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 1: at the two, that's that's a damn good five man group, 410 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:10,120 Speaker 1: especially if Anthony Edwards continues to progress at this rate, 411 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:12,119 Speaker 1: so I would be I would be very excited for 412 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 1: the future if I was a Wolves fan. What's up, guys, 413 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,679 Speaker 1: it's soups Tonight, presented by FanDuel. The sports calendar is 414 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 1: packed and there's no better place to get in on 415 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 1: the action than with FanDuel. 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So download the FanDuel app 424 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: today to start making every moment more All right, let's 425 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 1: move on to Monday night's game between the Caves and 426 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 1: the Celtics. So the Calves one in OT one eighteen 427 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:56,400 Speaker 1: to one fourteen. It's a weird game. Boston set out 428 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:58,640 Speaker 1: three starters. Jason Tatum was out, Al Horford's out, Robert 429 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:00,199 Speaker 1: Williams is still out. He's gonna be out for their 430 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:03,239 Speaker 1: week or so. Cleveland went small down the stretch. They 431 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 1: bench Jared Allen and went with Lamar Stevens and Evan 432 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:08,160 Speaker 1: Mobile in the front court. Donovan Mitchell was awesome down 433 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:10,679 Speaker 1: the stretch, just attacking the rim, taking advantage of Boston 434 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:14,120 Speaker 1: being down their rim protection, not settling for stupid shots. 435 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:17,680 Speaker 1: Lamar Stevens was one of the biggest impact players down 436 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:18,879 Speaker 1: the stretch of this game. He had a bunch of 437 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:21,479 Speaker 1: offensive rebounds down the stretch and regulation and then an 438 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 1: Ot had back to back monster offensive plays. He hit 439 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:26,840 Speaker 1: a corner three on a kickout, and then he had 440 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:29,120 Speaker 1: a play where he drove and dropped his shoulder and 441 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:32,359 Speaker 1: went right through Mike Muscala to get a layup. That 442 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 1: just goes to show you what competent forward play looks 443 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 1: like next to that specific core of players, which is 444 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:41,320 Speaker 1: exactly why I've been saying that if they could upgrade 445 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:44,440 Speaker 1: that position or get more consistent production out of that position, 446 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 1: I'd be so much hard higher on them. But the 447 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:50,120 Speaker 1: Celtics blew an eleven point lead late in this game, 448 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 1: and the Celtics have lost three of their last four 449 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 1: games and are just twenty four and sixteen since that 450 00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 1: Golden State loss in early December. Now here's the thing, 451 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 1: a lot of Celtics fans are freaking out, and I 452 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:09,160 Speaker 1: very much am not. Even that long extended slump, going 453 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:12,200 Speaker 1: twenty four and sixteen is still the sixth best record 454 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 1: in the league over that span. That's how ridiculously even 455 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:18,960 Speaker 1: the league is down the line. I think most of 456 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:22,359 Speaker 1: their issues as of late are related to some lineup inconsistency, 457 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:26,160 Speaker 1: as they've been cautious with injuries and general malaise, which 458 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:30,400 Speaker 1: can happen to really good teams in March, especially when 459 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:33,480 Speaker 1: they have a comfortable position in the standings. Obviously they're 460 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:35,960 Speaker 1: jocking for that one two seed, but like they're in 461 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:38,400 Speaker 1: pretty safe shape, so they don't have the same urgency 462 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:39,680 Speaker 1: that a lot of the other teams in the league 463 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:43,439 Speaker 1: are playing with. So I have not seen anything in 464 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 1: the last three months that would change my opinion of 465 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:50,400 Speaker 1: the Celtics. But I did have a Celtics fan ask 466 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 1: me last night how Boston keeps blowing these games, and 467 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:55,679 Speaker 1: I wanted to hit on that for a minute. So, 468 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:57,640 Speaker 1: first of all, the Celtics are twenty one in ten 469 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 1: in games that involved clutch situations. This year that third 470 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 1: best in the entire league, behind Milwaukee and Denver, and 471 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:04,880 Speaker 1: a hell of a lot better than they were last year, 472 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:06,959 Speaker 1: so this hasn't really been that big of a problem. 473 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:10,680 Speaker 1: But they've had some tough clutch games this season that 474 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:14,119 Speaker 1: resembled last year, and they've blown three of their last 475 00:25:14,160 --> 00:25:17,119 Speaker 1: four close games, so it's worth touching on for a minute. 476 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:23,360 Speaker 1: I attribute these clutch Celtics issues to two things, stagnation 477 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:28,440 Speaker 1: and decision making at the rim. So, first of all, stagnation, 478 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:30,880 Speaker 1: so when the game slows down in these clutch situations, 479 00:25:30,920 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 1: the Celtics have way too many possessions where they just 480 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:35,719 Speaker 1: walk the ball up the floor. And what ends up 481 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: happening in those types of situations is they don't actually 482 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:40,920 Speaker 1: start trying to create an advantage until there's like ten 483 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:43,439 Speaker 1: eleven seconds left on the shot clock, and so if 484 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: that first drive gets contained, they're making a swing pass 485 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:50,200 Speaker 1: to somebody who doesn't have much of an advantage with 486 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:52,639 Speaker 1: like four seconds on the shot clock. And so a 487 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:56,240 Speaker 1: lot of those possessions end in these late clock contested 488 00:25:56,359 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 1: pull up jumpers, which are going to be low percentage 489 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:01,480 Speaker 1: shots for everybody in the league, even the best players. 490 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 1: So the way to fight that is to play with tempo. 491 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:06,560 Speaker 1: You want to bring the ball up the floor quickly. 492 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:09,159 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean you have to shoot right away. You 493 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:13,440 Speaker 1: don't have to. Like, playing with pace doesn't necessarily mean 494 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:15,720 Speaker 1: shooting in the first five seconds of every shot clock. 495 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:18,000 Speaker 1: It just means moving the ball at the floor quickly 496 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:20,439 Speaker 1: and getting into that first action that might give you 497 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:23,160 Speaker 1: some time to run a set or maybe if you're 498 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 1: playing driving kickball, that first guy, even if he kind 499 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:29,119 Speaker 1: of gets contained, he can throw that swing pass and 500 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:31,639 Speaker 1: that next guy has a chance to attack that close 501 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:33,479 Speaker 1: out and maybe he can make a kick, and then 502 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:35,040 Speaker 1: the next guy can attack, and you might be able 503 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 1: to get four or five attacks in the same possession, 504 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:41,920 Speaker 1: which is what allows you the better opportunity to get 505 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:46,119 Speaker 1: better dribble penetration, to get better shots. So that that 506 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:49,680 Speaker 1: to me is step one. Play with better tempo, bring 507 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 1: the ball up quickly so you have multiple opportunities to 508 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:55,280 Speaker 1: attack the rim. The second thing is rim decision making. 509 00:26:56,119 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 1: There were back to back possessions in this game when 510 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 1: Austin was up one two ninety three where Jalen Brown 511 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 1: made poor decisions at the rim and it turned the 512 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:10,639 Speaker 1: game like this. Once on a cut, once on a drive, 513 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:13,960 Speaker 1: and both times he made poor decisions. First, he challenged 514 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 1: Evan Mobley on a cut when Luke Cornette was cutting 515 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: out of the week side corner wide open. Instead of 516 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:24,480 Speaker 1: challenging the rim protector and getting blocked, you read the 517 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:27,639 Speaker 1: floor and you make that hook pass to Cornette cutting 518 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:30,680 Speaker 1: on the baseline, it's a dunk. On the second one, 519 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:35,240 Speaker 1: he drove to the basket on Evan Mobley, Mobley's challenging 520 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:38,919 Speaker 1: him from behind. Lamar Stevens comes up and helps Derek 521 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:41,520 Speaker 1: White's wide open on the left wing, and Marcus Smart 522 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:44,320 Speaker 1: is wide open in the corner. Because the entire Calves 523 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:48,159 Speaker 1: team collapses and Jaylen Brown challenges them and misses the layout. 524 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:53,680 Speaker 1: And here's the problem. Missed layups or blocked layoups trigger 525 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:56,480 Speaker 1: fast breaks. I learned this lesson a million times when 526 00:27:56,480 --> 00:27:58,400 Speaker 1: I was covering the Lakers with Westbrook over the last 527 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 1: couple of years. All of miss layups would inevitably lead 528 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:06,119 Speaker 1: to these runouts the other way. And it's it's pretty simple. 529 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 1: Every team usually has one guy on the floor who's 530 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 1: pretty slow footed already probably a big right. So when 531 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:17,359 Speaker 1: one of your better athletes misses a layup and is 532 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:20,679 Speaker 1: now behind the rim, your floor balance is off, and 533 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:23,000 Speaker 1: you're playing three on five back the other way in transition. 534 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 1: It just puts your transition defense in a really tough spot. 535 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 1: This is where you know, getting dribble penetration is the 536 00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:32,560 Speaker 1: first step, but making the right decision when you engage 537 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:35,600 Speaker 1: help defenders is the important second step. I used to 538 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:39,880 Speaker 1: talk a lot about, you know, when we were talking 539 00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 1: about analytics two days ago. I think I told you 540 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 1: guys about how you know we don't properly account for 541 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 1: shot quality. Right, Like, Yes, threes and the rim are 542 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 1: the two best shots in basketball in terms of value, 543 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 1: right because you can finish at a high rate at 544 00:28:56,360 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 1: the rim typically, and threes are worth one and a 545 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:03,440 Speaker 1: half points compared to a shot inside. Right, when I 546 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 1: have times as many points, I should say, here's the thing. 547 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:11,480 Speaker 1: A wide open, in rhythm fifteen footer is worth more 548 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:16,320 Speaker 1: points per possession than a contested three or a contested 549 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 1: rim attempt. That's the important detail. Rim attempts are not 550 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:22,600 Speaker 1: good if they're in a ship ton of traffic and 551 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 1: you can't make them. Threes are not good if they're 552 00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:30,800 Speaker 1: a heavily contested, difficult off the dribble three. By playing 553 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:34,400 Speaker 1: stagnant and not getting dribble penetration, you take a lot 554 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:38,600 Speaker 1: of contested dribble threes, which are low percentage shots if 555 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:41,000 Speaker 1: you make if you get drible penetration and you make 556 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:44,600 Speaker 1: poor rim decisions, you get a lot of contested, tough 557 00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:48,280 Speaker 1: layups at the rim. But if you play with tempo, 558 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:52,520 Speaker 1: you get the drible penetration and you make good rim decisions, 559 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:55,440 Speaker 1: now you're getting wide open catch and shoot threes on 560 00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:58,200 Speaker 1: the back end, or if you work the advantage enough 561 00:29:58,240 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 1: you might get a wide open, higher percentage rim attempt. 562 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 1: So playing with tempo and making good rim decisions is 563 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:09,560 Speaker 1: the difference between getting contested threes and contested rim attempts 564 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:12,880 Speaker 1: and quality catch and shoot threes and quality rim attempts. 565 00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 1: That little execution detail is the specific problem that has 566 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:19,080 Speaker 1: popped up with the Celtics time and time again over 567 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:21,600 Speaker 1: the years, challenging bam at a Bio at the rim, 568 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:25,320 Speaker 1: challenging Brook Lopez at the rim, challenging kevon Looney and 569 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:28,360 Speaker 1: Dramon Green at the rim. Rather than making the right decision, 570 00:30:28,640 --> 00:30:31,760 Speaker 1: playing stagnant in not getting enough tribal penetration. Again, it 571 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:34,520 Speaker 1: hasn't been as bad this year as it was in 572 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:37,080 Speaker 1: the postseason last year, or the year or in the 573 00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:40,440 Speaker 1: regular season last year. But that specific issue has been 574 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:42,920 Speaker 1: what has caused their crunch time issues, and it's happened 575 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:44,480 Speaker 1: in three of the last four games. So it's just 576 00:30:44,520 --> 00:30:46,600 Speaker 1: something to keep an eye on as we go down 577 00:30:46,640 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 1: the stretch. But I remain unworried about the Celtics in general, 578 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:53,400 Speaker 1: and I do think they deserve their fair chance to 579 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:56,000 Speaker 1: prove us all wrong in the postseason, all right quickly 580 00:30:56,040 --> 00:30:57,640 Speaker 1: before we get out of here. So Golden State loses. 581 00:30:57,640 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 1: I I don't have too many thoughts on this game. 582 00:30:59,280 --> 00:31:00,960 Speaker 1: I just want to hit on a couple of quick points. 583 00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:04,600 Speaker 1: Golden State loses an embarrassing game in Oklahoma City one 584 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:08,760 Speaker 1: thirty seven to one twenty eight. First of all, shakiel 585 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:11,400 Speaker 1: Just Alexander actually played in this game after missing a bunch, 586 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:14,200 Speaker 1: and he's the top fifteen player in the world, So 587 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:18,440 Speaker 1: that doesn't necessarily take away how embarrassing the losses, but 588 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:22,000 Speaker 1: it does color it a little bit differently. Like going 589 00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:24,640 Speaker 1: into Oklahoma City and beating Shakil Just Alexander and the 590 00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:27,480 Speaker 1: Thunder is not exactly an easy task, but it is 591 00:31:27,480 --> 00:31:31,520 Speaker 1: a game the Warriors should have won. Secondly, a lot 592 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:34,280 Speaker 1: of Warriors fans and some non Warriors fans were hyper 593 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:38,560 Speaker 1: focused on Golden State's size in this game. That specifically 594 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:41,280 Speaker 1: has been one of the larger talking points surrounding the 595 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 1: Warriors in recent weeks, how big they are. Colin and 596 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:46,760 Speaker 1: I even talked about it a little bit in the 597 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 1: last time we did the show. And look, the Warriors 598 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:53,840 Speaker 1: are not a huge basketball team, obviously, but this is 599 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:57,520 Speaker 1: the same core that was big enough to win the 600 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:03,600 Speaker 1: title last year through Yoki running through Memphis and their 601 00:32:03,680 --> 00:32:06,800 Speaker 1: gigantic front line of Jaron Jackson Junior and Brandon Clark 602 00:32:06,840 --> 00:32:10,920 Speaker 1: and Stephen Adams, and the Celtics were much bigger than them, 603 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 1: basically at every position, and they won the title. So, like, 604 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:19,680 Speaker 1: I'm not necessarily that worried about Golden State size. And 605 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:21,760 Speaker 1: here's the reality. Two of last night's game, their two 606 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:26,160 Speaker 1: best athletes were unavailable. Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton are 607 00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:30,560 Speaker 1: two of the top tier athletes at their positions. When 608 00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:33,360 Speaker 1: they don't play, the Warriors are not nearly as physical, 609 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:38,000 Speaker 1: physically imposing. That's just a fact. But here's why I'm concerned. 610 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:42,840 Speaker 1: Regardless of what personnel was available for the Warriors last night. 611 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:46,240 Speaker 1: They had more than enough to win that game, and 612 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:50,200 Speaker 1: they just were not sharp defensively in this game. They 613 00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:52,280 Speaker 1: were not sliding their feet on the perimeter to contain 614 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:55,200 Speaker 1: ball handlers. They were slow in their rotations, they were 615 00:32:55,240 --> 00:32:57,560 Speaker 1: slow to the basketball and missus so they got destroyed 616 00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:59,560 Speaker 1: on the glass and they turned the ball over twenty 617 00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:04,800 Speaker 1: one time. That's just all sloppiness and laziness. I don't 618 00:33:04,840 --> 00:33:07,840 Speaker 1: want to hear about size and athleticism when I've seen 619 00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:11,640 Speaker 1: this same group of players do infinitely better in all 620 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 1: of those same areas just in the last couple of weeks, 621 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 1: primarily when they're at home. So the concerning thing is 622 00:33:21,160 --> 00:33:23,880 Speaker 1: is that in a situation where the team should be 623 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:27,560 Speaker 1: playing with high urgency, they are not playing with high urgency. 624 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:34,160 Speaker 1: They're establishing bad habits that can get them beat, especially 625 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:36,320 Speaker 1: on the road. And here's the thing, They're going to 626 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:38,880 Speaker 1: be playing on the road a lot in this postseason. Potentially, 627 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:45,400 Speaker 1: that's the concern. It's not over, but they had better 628 00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:47,560 Speaker 1: get their ship together quickly. They're running out of time 629 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:51,600 Speaker 1: to rectify this, and that was a discouraging loss, to 630 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 1: say the least. If you're optimistic about the Warriors last night. 631 00:33:56,160 --> 00:33:58,800 Speaker 1: All right, guys, that's all I have for today. I 632 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:03,000 Speaker 1: believe we're taking tomorrow. Oh wait, we are. Were covering 633 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:05,360 Speaker 1: Grizzlies Warriors tomorrow night. So we're gonna be live on 634 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:08,560 Speaker 1: AMP right after the final buzzer of that game, and 635 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:11,319 Speaker 1: then we have a show on I'm recording Friday night 636 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:13,279 Speaker 1: that will air on Saturday morning, and then when I'm 637 00:34:13,280 --> 00:34:24,279 Speaker 1: recording Saturday night that will air on Sunday morning. The 638 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:24,840 Speaker 1: volume