1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:16,959 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, welcome to Hoops and I here 2 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: at the volume. Happy Thursday. Everybody, got a quick show 3 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: for you guys today. We are hitting Grizzlies Timberwolves from 4 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 1: last night, as Memphis has won nine of their last 5 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: twelve games. And then I thought, in this slow down 6 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: stretch here surrounding the nd season tournament, where we don't 7 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: have a lot of basketball to talk about, it would 8 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: be fun to kind of take a set back and 9 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: take a quick look at who I think have been 10 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 1: the ten best players in the NBA so far this season. 11 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 1: Just looking at what they've done this season. Much harder 12 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:44,880 Speaker 1: than you think, because there's like twelve or thirteen guys 13 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,880 Speaker 1: that have legitimate, legitimate cases to be in a list 14 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:51,559 Speaker 1: like that. So just talking Grizzlies Timberwolves, a little bit 15 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:53,159 Speaker 1: of big picture of Grizzlies, and then we'll get into 16 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: the top ten players in the league. You guys have 17 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: the joke before we get started, subscribe to the Hoops 18 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: and I YouTube channel so you don't miss any more 19 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: of our videos. Scroll down and hit that light button 20 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 1: that helps us a lot on YouTube. And then lastly, 21 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: if you want to get questions into our mail bag, 22 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 1: We've already done our mail bag for this week, but 23 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: if you want to get one in for next week's 24 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 1: mail bag, dropping him in our full episodes here on 25 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: YouTube in the comments right mail bag with the colon 26 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: write your question. We'll get to them on Fridays throughout 27 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: the remainder of the season. All right, let's talk some basketball. 28 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: So the Grizzlies beat the Timberwolves won sixteen to one, 29 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:23,839 Speaker 1: ten for their ninth win in their last twelve games. 30 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: Kind of a fun game. It's back and forth in 31 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: the first half. Minnesota made a run to start the 32 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: second half. They've been a very good second half team 33 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:31,960 Speaker 1: this season. They went up nine in the early part 34 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: of the second half, but then Memphis really tightened the 35 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: screws on defense and flip the script and they basically 36 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: stiff arm the Wolves from their As a matter of fact, 37 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: from the eight to fifty three mark of the third 38 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: quarter through to the end of the game, the Timberwolves 39 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 1: scored just thirty six points thirty six points in twenty 40 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: one minutes of basketball. And there's two things to keep 41 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 1: in mind there. Yes, Anthony Edwards was out, but the 42 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: Wolves have actually been a pretty solid offense without him. 43 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 1: They have a one sixteen offensive rating and almost twelve 44 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: hundred possession with Anthony Edwards off the floor. Now, obviously 45 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: when Ant is out there, that shoots up to a 46 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: one to twenty two offensive rating. Is one of the 47 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: most valuable players in the league. He's going to show 48 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: up on our list later. But the point is they 49 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: are capable of scoring without Ant and then secondly, during 50 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 1: this nine and three stretch for Memphis, Memphis has been 51 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,959 Speaker 1: the third best defense in the league. We'll dig into 52 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: some of the reasons why later, but the point is 53 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:28,839 Speaker 1: very impressive effort from a Memphis defense to shut down 54 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: a decent offense there without Anthony Edwards down the stretch, 55 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: but Memphis took control by dominating that specific matchup. Minnesota 56 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: did miss some decent looks, especially in the early fourth 57 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: quarter a few wide open threes. Dante got a wide 58 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 1: open one, Nasried had a wide open one. Jada McDaniels 59 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 1: had a wide open one. Is like as a team 60 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter, Minnesota was one for six on 61 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: catch and shoot three, so definitely a little bit of 62 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: shooting variants there. But Memphis does deserve a lot of credit, 63 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 1: like they're loaded with good perimeter defenders. I thought they 64 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 1: did it awesome job on Minnesota's guards throughout the entire game. 65 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 1: And then Jaron Jackson. He really dominated Julius Randall on 66 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: both ends of the floor. But again we're talking defense 67 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: right now. On the defensive end in that fourth quarter, 68 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,960 Speaker 1: multiple stops on Julius Randall one on one, forcing him 69 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 1: into a miss at the rim on a drive where 70 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 1: he got a great contest and absorbed that physicality. He's 71 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: stone wall the baseline drive off the right side and 72 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: actually poked the ball away from him. Again, that's their 73 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: primary offensive weapon with Anthony Edwards out, and I thought 74 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: Jared just did a great job on him and then 75 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 1: the team as a whole kind of swarming him and 76 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: taking advantage of the fact that he can sometimes get 77 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 1: a little tunnel visiony. And then Jock Landale, and again 78 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: he was the offensive hero in this game, but he 79 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: also had some good deflections and rim protection sequences at 80 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: the rim. They won that game with their defense, no question, 81 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: allowing just forty eight points total in that second half 82 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: down the stretch. On offense, Jack Landel was the hero. 83 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: He just kept burning Rudy Gobert for helping at the 84 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: rim with these catch and shoot threes. Now, some of 85 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: that was Rudy Gobert's fault. There was one in particular 86 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 1: where Jalen Wells was driving down the right lane line 87 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: and Dante di Vincenzo kind of had him under control. 88 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: He was chested up, he was in position. He wasn't 89 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: going to have any sort of finished He was going 90 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: to have to basically pick up his dribble and throw 91 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: a contested kickout pass. But Rudy Gobert did him a favor, 92 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: parked right underneath the basket and help, and that allowed 93 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: Jalen Wells to just throw an easy little pitch out 94 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,159 Speaker 1: to Jock Landale on the right wing and he just 95 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: nailed the catch and shoot three. And as a matter 96 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 1: of fact, Landale hit three threes in the final seven 97 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,840 Speaker 1: minutes of that game, and each one of them felt 98 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: like a shotgun blast to the chest to this Minnesota 99 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 1: team as they were trying to get a win there. 100 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: And Jared Jackson I thought he was the best player 101 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: on the floor last night. We talked about the job 102 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: he did defensively earlier against Julius Randall, but he went 103 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:50,039 Speaker 1: twenty eight and twelve last night, ten for eighteen from 104 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,160 Speaker 1: the field, two for three from three, six for six 105 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: from the line. A lot of these, like old school 106 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: one on one buckets straight up against Julius Randall or 107 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,479 Speaker 1: straight up against Nasri. The one on once against Randall 108 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 1: were hilarious because Jaren was really trying to back him down, 109 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: and Randal's got a little bit lower center of gravity, 110 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:09,479 Speaker 1: so he's like getting up underneath him. He's clearly taking 111 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 1: it personal, trying to hold his ground, and so the 112 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: ISO has turned into something that looked more like sumo 113 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 1: wrestling rather than post basketball. But Jaren just kept getting 114 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 1: to one of his little hooks or one of his 115 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: little short jump shots, and he just kept scoring over 116 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 1: the top. He beat him with a nice off the 117 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: dribble drive too, getting to his right hand. Jaren's combination 118 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: of size and power but also really good touch and 119 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: footwork going over both shoulders that just makes him really 120 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 1: difficult to guard. As a matter of fact, he's sixty 121 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 1: percent this season on floaters and hooks. That's not quite 122 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,040 Speaker 1: jokicch territory, but it's better than everyone else. A lot 123 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: of you know, most of the good bigs in the 124 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 1: league are in the mid fifties, and that department. He's 125 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 1: just super efficient on his short range shot making. It's 126 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: been one of his foundational traits as a player for 127 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: a long time, and he just was the best player 128 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 1: on the four last night, back to back monster games 129 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 1: from Jaren. He also had thirty one a couple of 130 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: nights go against the Clippers. But once again, it's a 131 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 1: lot of defense and it's a lot of gaining margin 132 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: with the Grizzlies during this streak. They're third in defensive 133 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:11,919 Speaker 1: rating in their last twelve games. As we mentioned earlier, 134 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,720 Speaker 1: they are third in paint points allowed per one hundred possessions. 135 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: A lot of two big looks alongside Jaron Jackson Brandon 136 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 1: Clark coming back just in time with some of the 137 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,840 Speaker 1: injuries they've dealt with at the center position. They are 138 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,360 Speaker 1: plus ten points per game in points in the paint. 139 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: They've been doing a ton of damage in transition as 140 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 1: of late too. In the last six games, they're averaging 141 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 1: twenty six transition points per game. That's pretty far above 142 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:38,799 Speaker 1: their season average to this point, and they're only allowing 143 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 1: nineteen transition points per game, so that's seven more points 144 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: of margin. Every single night. They're plus one point four 145 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: points and second chance points every single game. So plus 146 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 1: ten in the paint, plus seven in transition every night, 147 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:54,559 Speaker 1: plus a point and a half on second chance points. 148 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:58,160 Speaker 1: That's a lot of margin that they're gaining to help 149 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 1: them win night to night in the regular season. Over 150 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: the course of the last month, the Grizzlies are sneaky, 151 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 1: one of the most well run teams in the league, 152 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 1: especially when it comes to acquiring like good modern basketball talent, 153 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: Like say what you want about their stars Jaws Jaw, 154 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: and we don't know how he fits really into any 155 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 1: of this moving forward. He briefly came back for two games, 156 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: but then he ended up spraining his ankle again, so 157 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: he's out again, and when he is out there, it 158 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 1: just kind of changes the pace that they play with 159 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 1: when they get into the half court. Jared Jackson was 160 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 1: awesome last night, but he's obviously a flawed player. He's 161 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 1: not a good rebounder, and you basically can't play him 162 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 1: at the five, which makes him complicated to build around. Right, 163 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: But when it comes to the depth of talent on 164 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: this roster, you can tell they have a clear basketball identity, 165 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 1: a clear type of guy that fits their basketball culture. 166 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: They like these big guards and athletic wings that have 167 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: a good combination of like competitive motor and athleticism, but 168 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: also high basketball Like you, they target smart athletes. They're 169 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: not looking for guys that are just athletic for athletics sake. 170 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: They want guys that can make good reads. They want 171 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: guys that know how to do their job in the 172 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 1: defensive scheme, and then that competitive motor, meaning the willingness 173 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: to both work within games in terms of their work 174 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: ethic on the ball, getting up and pressuring, but also 175 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 1: the work behind the scenes. And they're betting that even 176 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: though those are not necessarily the most refined skill guys, 177 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 1: they're betting on their ability to refine that over the 178 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: years because they believe in their competitiveness and they believe 179 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: in their natural basketball gifts and how those will eventually 180 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 1: materialize into good two way players. And they just have 181 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: guys that are hits and guys that I think are 182 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: gonna be hits, like Jalen Wells has been a hit, 183 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: and over the course of the last month or so, 184 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 1: he's been shooting the hell out of the basketball as well. 185 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: Cedric Coward, I think he's going to be a two 186 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 1: way monster over the years. And he's been a big 187 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 1: part of their defense in this run. And he's got 188 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 1: like this, you know, when I look at the offensive 189 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:54,439 Speaker 1: end for a lot of these guys, I'm looking at 190 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: like natural fluidity. We've talked about this, like with VJ. 191 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: Edgecomb for instance, Like I know that he's going to 192 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: be able to get to his spots because he has 193 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:05,439 Speaker 1: a natural fluidity getting separation from defenders and getting two 194 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 1: shots even if he's not making them. And I see 195 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: a lot of that with Cedric as well, Like there's 196 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 1: a natural fluidity between ball handling and footwork to where 197 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:15,959 Speaker 1: I think once he improves as a shooter, I actually 198 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,079 Speaker 1: think he'll have a lot more to his offensive game 199 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: than people think. And then when they go to their bench, 200 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: it's like it's it's Vince Williams Junior. He's got a 201 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 1: ton of all around basketball skill. Cam Spencer, he didn't 202 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: play last night, but he's been really good for them, 203 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: even a guy like Olivia Maxon's prosper Like I know 204 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: he hasn't played a ton this season, but when he does, 205 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: he looks kind of like a natural fit. And I 206 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:38,080 Speaker 1: just thought he was a smart signing for them, a 207 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: two way guy that was a cast off from Dallas, 208 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 1: and you watch him last night and he's guarding, and 209 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: he's attacking the rim with athleticism on drives and he's 210 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: getting put backs and just looks like he fits into 211 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: their culture really well. You could tell they looked at 212 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 1: it and they were like, Hey, this guy looks like 213 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 1: a guy who might be one of our guys. It 214 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:56,560 Speaker 1: looks like he might be a Memphis Grizzly type of 215 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: basketball player. Let's bring him in. And you know, we 216 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 1: talk about this all the time, but it's a proven formula. 217 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: When you have a half dozen guys who can like 218 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 1: really guard on the perimeter and you can really pressure 219 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 1: the ball for forty eight minutes, that makes for a 220 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 1: super strong defensive foundation night tonight. We were talking about 221 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 1: this with Detroit yesterday. And then especially when you have 222 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:21,319 Speaker 1: guys who can protect the rim, which Memphis definitely does, 223 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 1: it just makes for that classic kind of bracketing effect 224 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:27,680 Speaker 1: of having real size and athleticism at the rim and 225 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: dudes who are getting up into the ball on the perimeter. 226 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:32,719 Speaker 1: I just think the Memphis front office deserves a ton 227 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:34,599 Speaker 1: of credit. There are a lot of teams in the 228 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 1: league where it's really hard to tell what their front 229 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:38,959 Speaker 1: office likes. I mean, I root for one of those 230 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 1: teams in the Lakers, you don't know what their basketball 231 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 1: identity is. Each offseason kind of feels like a different approach. 232 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 1: Not hard to tell. With Memphis, they just keep finding 233 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:51,440 Speaker 1: the same types of dudes who fit their culture and 234 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 1: who add to what they're trying to do on both 235 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: ends of the floor. Memphis Grizz is playing some really 236 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 1: good basketball right now. We want to know where I've 237 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 1: been on basketball during the holiday season. 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Concerned about gambling in Florida called one eight 261 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:10,679 Speaker 1: three to three play wise in Indiana, if you were 262 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, 263 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 1: call one eight hundred and nine with it gambling problem 264 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: called one eight hundred gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, 265 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 1: New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, or Virginia. Okay, So I was curious, 266 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:27,560 Speaker 1: I got into this a little bit of a debate 267 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: between Shaye and Luca. I say a little bit. It 268 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 1: was like forty five minutes, but with the nerd Sech 269 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: guys on their pod the other day, so that'd be fun. Again, 270 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: this is just we're a third of the way through 271 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:39,079 Speaker 1: the season. There are a lot of guys who could 272 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 1: be considered here, So like, for instance, Alpera and Shangoon 273 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: would have been like eleventh for me on this list. 274 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:45,760 Speaker 1: I think he's been every bit as good as some 275 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:47,679 Speaker 1: of the guys ahead of him. It's just the nature 276 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: of how many talented players we have in the league 277 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 1: right now, and I just wanted to briefly touch base 278 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 1: on how I think the top ten has looked strictly 279 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 1: looking at how guys have played from the start of 280 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:02,439 Speaker 1: this season to where they're at right now. A combination 281 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 1: of like their availability, how good they've been when they've 282 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: been on the floor, how valuable they've been to their 283 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 1: team when they've been on the floor, and how their 284 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 1: team has been performing in the win loss column. That's 285 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 1: kind of what I'm combining here for these top ten guys. Again, 286 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 1: just how I feel right now top ten players in 287 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 1: the league based on how they've played this season. Number 288 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 1: ten Anthony Edwards sneaky having the best statistical season of 289 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 1: his career. Is averaging a career high twenty nine points 290 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 1: per game on fifty percent from the field, forty two 291 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 1: percent from three, and eighty three percent from the line, 292 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 1: sixty four percent true shooting. He's been deadly with his 293 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 1: pull up three. He's been getting to the rim more 294 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:41,439 Speaker 1: and finishing at a higher clip at the rim than 295 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 1: he ever has in his career. I think that's a 296 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 1: sign of just like the level of maturity he's developed 297 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:49,959 Speaker 1: in terms of the pacing on his drives, like slowing down, 298 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:52,680 Speaker 1: not just flying downhill and throwing something off the glass, 299 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 1: but being more methodical about when he hits his gaps, 300 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 1: waiting for the defense to react in a way that 301 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 1: gives him an opportunity to go to the rim. It's 302 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 1: weird because he's been a little bit of a downtick 303 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:03,719 Speaker 1: in his playmaking this year, But overall, he's just been 304 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 1: better because he's just been more methodical on his drives, 305 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:08,720 Speaker 1: and I think that's made him a better player overall. 306 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: What's hurting him on this list, he's already missed more 307 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 1: games than he did in the entire previous two seasons combined, 308 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 1: So there's a little bit of an availability issue, and 309 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 1: the Wolves just haven't been very good this season. They're 310 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 1: seventeen to ten, but they're just two and eight versus 311 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 1: teams that are five hundred are better. Obviously, there are 312 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 1: some guys in this list that are also producing statistically, 313 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: but that are winning at a higher clip. Take, for instance, 314 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 1: a guy like Jalen Brunson right number nine, Tyrese Maxy 315 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 1: just an insane year over year leap from him thirty 316 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 1: two points and seven assists per game on sixty percent 317 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: true shooting with only two point seven turnovers per game, 318 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 1: so really high efficiency from Tyree s MAXI we're gonna 319 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 1: be talking a lot about turnovers, especially when we get 320 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 1: later into the list. I think turnovers, especially in the 321 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 1: modern MBA, when you're dealing with teams that push in 322 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 1: transition all the time, the turnovers are like they're not 323 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 1: always pick sixes, but like teams are getting crazy offensive 324 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: ratings off of turnovers around league, sometimes as high as 325 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 1: one thirty one forty. They can be really deadly to 326 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 1: your defense, and so taking care of the basketball is 327 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 1: an important part of being a primary offensive weapon for 328 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: your team. He's shooting a preposterous forty nine percent on 329 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 1: catch and shoot threes this season, generating a ton of 330 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: offense with his ability to drive the basketball. And it's 331 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: kind of a combination of that classic conundrum of like, 332 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 1: if you play off of him, he's got the threat 333 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: of the shot. You play up on him, he's got 334 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 1: this absurd speed. It's been a major driver of this 335 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 1: team on offense. Again, I've been like a little disappointed 336 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 1: with Tyres in terms of some of his work on 337 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 1: the margins, Like I think he's been pretty bad off 338 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:41,119 Speaker 1: the ball on defense, losing shooters, losing cutters, losing crashers. 339 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 1: But overall, I think he's been doing a carry job 340 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 1: for the Sixers offense, and I think he's taken a 341 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: leap into a completely different caliber of player than what 342 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:53,320 Speaker 1: he was in years past. Number eight Steph Curry. The 343 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 1: Warriors have obviously been super disappointing this season, and that 344 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 1: certainly doesn't help Steph's case on a list like this, 345 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: But if you watch the Warriors, you know it's not 346 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: Steph's fault. Like I'm actually docking him more here for 347 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 1: availability than anything else. He just keeps getting banged up 348 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: and missing games, but when he's been healthy and on 349 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:12,320 Speaker 1: the floor, he's been amazing thirty points per game on 350 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: sixty six percent tru shooting, literally some of the highest 351 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: volume and efficiency scoring of his entire career. And then, 352 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 1: once again, just like last year, according to Cleaning the Glass, 353 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: when Steph is on the floor, they have an offensive 354 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 1: rating of one twenty. He is an elite offense in 355 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 1: and of himself, and it craters down to one oh 356 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: nine when he's off the floor. If he can stay 357 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: healthy and stay off the floor, he's closer to like 358 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 1: the sixth or fifth best player in the league and 359 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: just a guy who's playing some unbelievable basketball hidden in 360 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 1: a franchise that has failed to provide him with the 361 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: supporting talent he needs to compete in this league. Number 362 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 1: seven Victor Weminem the best defensive player in the league 363 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: when he's healthy, game breaking defensive talent that is capable 364 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 1: of feats like what he did to the Thunder in 365 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: the n Season Tournament semifinal, a predictable leap on offense. 366 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: Year over year, he's over twenty five points per game 367 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:04,360 Speaker 1: in over sixty percent true shooting, for the first time 368 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 1: in his career. He's actually at sixty or excuse me, 369 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:09,439 Speaker 1: he's actually at a twenty six points per game to 370 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: start the season. A few issues that have popped up 371 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 1: that have kept him down in this list. He keeps 372 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:15,879 Speaker 1: missing games again, he's only played in thirteen games this season, 373 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:17,880 Speaker 1: and he's had a little bit of a turnover issue, 374 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 1: especially when facing swarming defenses that don't let him work 375 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 1: one on one. That was a big trend that kind 376 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 1: of popped up there after the first couple weeks of 377 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:26,880 Speaker 1: the season. That first couple of weeks, he was allowed 378 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 1: to work one on one a lot, and he was 379 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 1: putting up massive numbers. It's definitely gotten tougher for him 380 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 1: since then. That's clearly the next step, managing physicality, managing 381 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 1: double teams, finding a way for him to get closer 382 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: to the rim for easier shots without it resulting in turnovers, 383 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 1: without him getting kind of blown up off of his base. 384 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 1: Number six Jalen Brunson a career high twenty nine points 385 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 1: per game on sixty percent true shooting the season. He's 386 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: been getting more spot up opportunities than ever thanks to 387 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 1: the new offensive system that Mike Brown has installed, and 388 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: he's functioned really well in that new system. Fewer one 389 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 1: on ones, more drives to start possessions. He's starting the 390 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: engine in a lot of ways for them. But then 391 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:08,800 Speaker 1: he's also having opportunities to rest and work off the 392 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: ball and attack with an advantage. That really is the 393 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:12,959 Speaker 1: big one to me when it comes to the increase 394 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 1: in scoring volume while maintaining efficiency. Just a lot more 395 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:19,440 Speaker 1: attacking with an advantage rather than having to go one 396 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 1: on one against a set defense, and he's helping to 397 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: spearhead one of the best year over year offensive leaps 398 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: that we've seen in the league. The Knicks as a 399 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 1: team this season are five points per one hundred possessions 400 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:33,879 Speaker 1: better on offense than they were the year before, and 401 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:37,239 Speaker 1: then within this season they crater by thirteen points per 402 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:40,159 Speaker 1: one hundred possessions on offense. When Jalen Brunson goes to 403 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 1: the bench, he's just become one of the best offensive 404 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:45,439 Speaker 1: engines in the league. And especially in the context of 405 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: how they've been winning as of late and the n 406 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 1: season tournament win, you got to have him pretty high 407 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 1: on a list like this. Number five Jannis and Tenna Kombo. 408 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:55,679 Speaker 1: To be clear upfront, I'm not dropping him off of 409 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: what I consider to be the top four top tier 410 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 1: superstars in the league. This is more just how guys 411 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 1: have played this season, and he's just missed too much time. 412 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 1: He's missed ten games this season, and that's what's docking 413 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 1: him in this situation. But when he's been healthy, he's 414 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: been an absolute monster. He's had the most efficient scoring 415 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:14,199 Speaker 1: season of his career, sixty seven percent true shooting on 416 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 1: twenty nine points per game, forty four percent from three. 417 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:18,680 Speaker 1: I'll be in on small volume. It has been weird. 418 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:20,679 Speaker 1: He's been less efficient on his mid range jumper than 419 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 1: he was last season by pretty wide margin, but slight 420 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 1: up ticking three point volume, and he's been very efficient 421 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:29,399 Speaker 1: on those threes when he's taken. Him just needs to 422 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 1: find a way to stay on the floor. It's the 423 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: main thing standing in the way of his standing in 424 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:37,200 Speaker 1: the league right now. Like I had him four coming 425 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 1: into the season, you know, there's a lot of like 426 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:42,880 Speaker 1: buzz about, oh, Jannis is actually every bit as good 427 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:44,919 Speaker 1: as Yo kitcher Giannis is actually every bit as good 428 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:46,199 Speaker 1: as Shan And it's like that may or may not 429 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,200 Speaker 1: be true, but he just can't stay on the floor, 430 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 1: and it's continued to be an issue, whether he's missing 431 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 1: postseason games like he had in previous seasons or missing 432 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 1: chunks of the regular season. He's just as he's entered 433 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:57,680 Speaker 1: into his thirties, he's just become a little bit more 434 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:01,200 Speaker 1: injury prone than he was in years past. Number four, 435 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 1: the guy you have to put passionis just because of 436 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:05,399 Speaker 1: how good he's been so far this season. Obviously, if 437 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 1: I'm drafting a team for just this season and everyone's healthy, 438 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 1: I would take Giannis Overcaid. But Kaid for me is 439 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 1: number four at this point in the season, based purely 440 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 1: on what we've seen to this point. Just a quintessential 441 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:20,879 Speaker 1: offensive engine in this league. The Pistons score at a 442 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:23,360 Speaker 1: rate of one hundred and twenty points per one hundred possessions, 443 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:25,679 Speaker 1: so one twenty offensive rating. When he's on the floor, 444 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 1: He's been absolutely dominant in crunch time. He's twenty six 445 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:33,360 Speaker 1: for forty eight from the field in the last five 446 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:35,880 Speaker 1: minutes of games when the when the scorer is within 447 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:38,879 Speaker 1: five points. He's already made four more clutch shots than 448 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:41,360 Speaker 1: he did in the entire year last year. As he's 449 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:43,400 Speaker 1: turned a team that was twenty one and twenty three 450 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 1: in clutch games last year to fourteen and four to 451 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 1: start this season. Really the biggest difference between where they 452 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:52,159 Speaker 1: were this time last year and where they are this season. 453 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 1: Twenty seven points and nine rebounds per nine assists per game, 454 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:57,919 Speaker 1: excuse me on fifty seven percent for shooting, and it 455 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:00,119 Speaker 1: still feels like he's going to eventually get better, better 456 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 1: as a shooter and as a finisher as the years 457 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 1: go by. The three point shot has been ticking up 458 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:07,160 Speaker 1: as of late, he's still just barely scratching the surface 459 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:09,919 Speaker 1: of his potential in this league, and he's already the 460 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 1: best player on a twenty one to five, number one 461 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: seed in the Eastern Conference, number three Luka Dancic. This 462 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 1: has been one of my biggest changes from before the season. 463 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:23,359 Speaker 1: I want to be clear this is this goes both ways. 464 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 1: It's not just that Luca's been somewhat disappointing, which we'll 465 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:27,960 Speaker 1: talk about in the second. Shay's also taken a leap. 466 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 1: Shay's five percent year of a year better in true 467 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 1: shooting percentage while also cutting his turnovers to one point 468 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 1: nine turnovers per game. So Shay's just considerably better than 469 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 1: he was last year. Fueled by an improved three point 470 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:42,880 Speaker 1: shot obviously, the dropping turnovers as well, and Luca, I mean, 471 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 1: after shooting incredibly well in his first three games, ever, 472 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 1: since the first three games of the season, lucas just 473 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 1: forty three percent from the field and just thirty two 474 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 1: percent from three, with four point five turnovers per game 475 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:59,120 Speaker 1: and a lot of just like grifting in the middle 476 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:00,639 Speaker 1: of the floor trying to work his way to the 477 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 1: foul line to bolster his scoring rather than focusing on 478 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:07,840 Speaker 1: making shots. And there's been just frankly, a massive chasm 479 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:10,960 Speaker 1: in efficiency between him and Shake Kildess Alexander, and that's 480 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 1: become a big differentiator between them, I even think, more 481 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:16,440 Speaker 1: so than anything on the defensive end of the floor. 482 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:19,239 Speaker 1: I think Luca's actually been pretty solid on the defensive end. 483 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 1: I Shay is obviously a better defender than him, and 484 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: I think some of the stuff with Luca's defense is 485 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:27,560 Speaker 1: more matchup dependent, specifically teams that can truly space the 486 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:30,480 Speaker 1: floor and drive. That's where he becomes a bigger issue 487 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: to me. The turnovers and the lack of efficiency on 488 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 1: actual shots is what's hurting him. Again, Like, when you 489 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 1: think about it, we talked about this a little bit 490 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: earlier in the show. But when you look at how 491 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:42,399 Speaker 1: much of the game is geared around the transition attack, 492 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:46,200 Speaker 1: like you have, you know, roughly, you know, one fifth 493 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 1: to one fourth of the possessions in the game that 494 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 1: are played in transition. And you look at how efficient 495 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: teams are off of live ball rebounds, and you look 496 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 1: at how efficient teams are off of live ball turnovers, 497 00:22:57,040 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 1: and like, especially in the Lakers ball screen attack, because 498 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: they don't pop, like they don't have bigs that pop, 499 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,119 Speaker 1: they have bigs that roll. And so when you're un 500 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 1: pick and roll at the top of the key and 501 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:08,640 Speaker 1: you've got your big man rolling and you've got your 502 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 1: guard driving, you're typically only gonna have one person above 503 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 1: the foul line, which can lead to floor balance issues. 504 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 1: So those turnovers on cross court passes or even when 505 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:18,360 Speaker 1: he's trying to grift, there's a lot of players where 506 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 1: he's trying to grift there at the foul line, and 507 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 1: he'll like pump fake, pump fake, and then lean into 508 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 1: the guy and shoot and he'll miss, and then he 509 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 1: turns and starts complaining into the refs while the team's 510 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:29,359 Speaker 1: running out the other way. In transition, he had a 511 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 1: brutally bad one in that Spurs game at the end 512 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 1: of the first half where they gave up a dunk 513 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 1: to Harrison Barnes because he was complaining at the refs 514 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 1: after a turnover. And it's like it's one of those 515 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:43,680 Speaker 1: things where, just in general, with Luca, there's this obvious 516 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 1: statistical performance. The free throws boost his true shooting percentage 517 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:51,119 Speaker 1: to where he's still relatively efficient compared to what you 518 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 1: think looking at his shooting percentages, but you're just getting 519 00:23:56,080 --> 00:24:01,120 Speaker 1: considerably more missed shots and considerably more or turnovers per game, 520 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 1: which are fueling the transition attack for the opponent, which 521 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:06,919 Speaker 1: effectively is like cutting him off at the knees in 522 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:10,640 Speaker 1: terms of the how impactful he is. Again, I'm splitting 523 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 1: hairs here. I'm comparing him to the very best players 524 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 1: in the world. I just think it's become a differentiator 525 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,119 Speaker 1: between him and a guy like Shaye. I was talking 526 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:21,120 Speaker 1: with Carson, and I didn't agree with everything Carson was saying. 527 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:22,800 Speaker 1: One of the things Carson said is like he thinks 528 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: Shay is like forever going to be better than Luca. 529 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:28,280 Speaker 1: I think Shay is obviously better than Luca now, and 530 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 1: there's probably it's probably more likely than not that Shay 531 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 1: stays better. But basketball is of what have you done 532 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 1: for me lately? Sport? Luca's gonna have his chances to improve. 533 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 1: He could play better starting tomorrow, right like I think, 534 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:41,840 Speaker 1: or tonight I should say, like, there's a there is 535 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:44,720 Speaker 1: a path for Luca to flip this script and to 536 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 1: get back to being a better basketball player than Shay. 537 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:49,680 Speaker 1: But he's lost ground at this point and it's gonna 538 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:51,359 Speaker 1: take a lot. It's gonna take a lot of work 539 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 1: for him to get past him. The big thing is 540 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:56,800 Speaker 1: just cleaning up that efficiency, you know, I think, I 541 00:24:56,840 --> 00:25:00,400 Speaker 1: think in general with Luca, it's not just the turnover either. 542 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 1: It's the little grifty stuff around the lane line. It's 543 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 1: the two or three awful step back three's he takes 544 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:08,879 Speaker 1: every game that are as bad as turnovers. To me, 545 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,119 Speaker 1: Luca's just got to trim the fat. This is the 546 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 1: phase of the Like he's averaging an efficient thirty five 547 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:16,680 Speaker 1: points per game with what nine assist per game or 548 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:18,359 Speaker 1: whatever it is. It's really easy to look at that 549 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:20,639 Speaker 1: and just be like, oh, he's incredible, and he is, 550 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 1: but there's like a big chunk of that that's being 551 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 1: undercut with some of the mistake making. He just has 552 00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 1: to refine that over the course of the next few seasons. 553 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 1: Sha KOs with Alexander to me is the clear number two. 554 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:34,399 Speaker 1: Again we talked about it earlier. Five percent year over 555 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:37,679 Speaker 1: year leap and true shooting percentage, fueled by a massively 556 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,040 Speaker 1: improved three point shot that has been deadly for him 557 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 1: in every phase, both off the catch and off the dribble. 558 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:44,639 Speaker 1: That off the dribble three has become a go to 559 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: move for him in crunch time. Multiple teams this year 560 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:50,480 Speaker 1: have taken that shotgun blast to the chest to the like, oh, 561 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:52,320 Speaker 1: we're making a run and it's a close game, but 562 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:54,480 Speaker 1: then Shay just hits a tough step back three and 563 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:58,360 Speaker 1: it just erases any momentum that you have. And then 564 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:02,400 Speaker 1: again doing all of this with cutting his turnovers down 565 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 1: to one point nine turnovers per game, I don't think 566 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:08,600 Speaker 1: it'll stay quite that low as the competition has gotten 567 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 1: more difficult. So for instance, against Phoenix and San Antonio 568 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:13,400 Speaker 1: the last two games he had nine turnovers. I think 569 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:15,560 Speaker 1: his turnovers will tick up a little bit, but they 570 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:17,359 Speaker 1: do clearly look like they're going to be trending to 571 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:19,960 Speaker 1: be below where they were last season, and that's really 572 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:21,760 Speaker 1: the case for Shay. Like, if you're looking at Shay 573 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:25,119 Speaker 1: as a basketball player, overall, his playmaking is at a 574 00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:26,639 Speaker 1: higher level than it's ever been. You can't tell in 575 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:28,359 Speaker 1: the stats because his minutes are down, but if you 576 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 1: look at a per thirty six level, he's like right 577 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:33,200 Speaker 1: around seven assists per thirty six minutes. So there's a 578 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 1: level of playmaking that he's reached and a level of 579 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 1: scoring and scoring efficiency that he's reached. Like when you're 580 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 1: a guard and you're scoring over thirty points per game 581 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 1: and you're up over sixty five percent for shooting like 582 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 1: he is. I think he's at what sixty seven percent 583 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 1: for shooting When you're in that territory, you're not talking 584 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 1: like unanimous MVP Steph Curry twenty sixteen type of numbers. 585 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:55,280 Speaker 1: Right Like that season, I think Steph was thirty points 586 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:58,160 Speaker 1: per game on sixty seven percent sure shooting, Shay's gonna 587 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 1: rival that this year. That's the time type of efficiency 588 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:03,320 Speaker 1: we're getting from the guard position. It's an entirely different 589 00:27:03,359 --> 00:27:06,480 Speaker 1: ballpark than where Luke is at right now. And then 590 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:08,800 Speaker 1: you combine that with the lack of turnovers, which then 591 00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 1: helps their transition defense. Shaye, you know, if you want 592 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:15,080 Speaker 1: to tell me purely, if you're a Luca believer and 593 00:27:15,119 --> 00:27:17,120 Speaker 1: you argue that Lucas better than Shay, and you want 594 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 1: to tell me, like you know, Luca is a more 595 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 1: high volume scoer who's still very efficient, and he's a 596 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 1: better playmaker, I would agree with you on that. Like is, 597 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 1: he clearly does score at a higher volume and he 598 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:34,760 Speaker 1: does playmake pretty well. But the gap between him and 599 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: Shay is actually very small. As a matter of fact, 600 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 1: on a per thirty six minute basis, I think Shay's 601 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 1: actually a little bit ahead of Luca right now. And 602 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:44,440 Speaker 1: then Shaye is just dramatically more efficient and he's still 603 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 1: a very good playmaker, So the gap there is really small. 604 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:50,920 Speaker 1: And where Shaye takes a massive leap over Luca is 605 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:53,240 Speaker 1: Lucas shooting himself in the foot with damn near five 606 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:56,320 Speaker 1: turnovers a game over the course of this recent stretch, 607 00:27:56,880 --> 00:27:59,480 Speaker 1: and he's just missing so many more shots in every 608 00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:02,680 Speaker 1: missed show is an opportunity for a team to run 609 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:04,960 Speaker 1: out in transition. I think Shay has been a better 610 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 1: player than Luca this year. I don't think he's been 611 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 1: quite to Jokic's level, which we're talking about in the second, 612 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,240 Speaker 1: but I think he's the clear second best player in 613 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:14,639 Speaker 1: the league to start the season. Number one. Nikole Jokic 614 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:17,920 Speaker 1: thirty points, twelve rebounds, and eleven assists this year, seventy 615 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 1: two percent true shooting, so career highs in scoring and inefficiency. 616 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:26,040 Speaker 1: There's even a gap of pretty substantial gap between where 617 00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 1: Shay is in Jokic, and that just goes to show 618 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 1: you the entire different level that Jokic is at as 619 00:28:31,359 --> 00:28:33,440 Speaker 1: an offensive player right now. To me, he's the best 620 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: offensive player in the history of the league. He's playing 621 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:38,880 Speaker 1: the very best basketball of his career. The Nuggets are 622 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 1: seventeen points better per one hundred possessions on offense with 623 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 1: him on versus off And then here's the last stat 624 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:45,480 Speaker 1: I'm going to leave you guys with tonight. That is 625 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:49,120 Speaker 1: the clearest indicator of what separates him from the pack. 626 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:52,200 Speaker 1: If you throw the ball to Nikole Jokic in the post, 627 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 1: regardless of what happens, he shoots, he passes. If you 628 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:58,680 Speaker 1: throw the ball to Nikole Jokic in the post, the 629 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 1: Nuggets have scored six of their possessions score percentage, so 630 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:05,320 Speaker 1: not points per possession, not field goal percentage, not anything. 631 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:08,120 Speaker 1: Just strictly, if I if I toss the ball to 632 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:11,040 Speaker 1: Jokic in the post, what is my chance of putting 633 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:14,880 Speaker 1: points on the board? Sixty one percent. He's the most 634 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:17,880 Speaker 1: reliable individual play type in the league. He's the most 635 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:20,920 Speaker 1: reliable offensive player in the league. He's simply the best 636 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 1: offensive player in the league, and when he's been on 637 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:25,920 Speaker 1: the floor, the Nuggets have scored at a completely preposterous rate. 638 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 1: To me, he's the best offensive player of all time, 639 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:30,920 Speaker 1: playing at the peak of his powers. He's been having 640 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 1: a pretty good defensive season as well. I have Nikola 641 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 1: Jokic still as the best player in the world. All right, guys, 642 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:38,440 Speaker 1: this is all I have for today. Is always a 643 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:41,120 Speaker 1: sincerely percent you guys for supporting us, in supporting the show. 644 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:43,240 Speaker 1: But be back on Friday with the mailbag. I'll see 645 00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 1: you guys back