1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:17,160 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, welcome to Hoops Tonight. You're at 2 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: the volume. Have you Thursday? Everybody? Hope all you guys 3 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: are having a great week. We are doing our final 4 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 1: division preview today with the Southeast Division. Probably the weakest 5 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: division in the NBA, but still some interesting teams, interesting 6 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: young players, and one team in particular that fits a 7 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: lot of my personal basketball philosophies that I'm very, very 8 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 1: excited about this year. So this is the Southeast Division. 9 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,240 Speaker 1: We're gonna be covering the Atlanta Hawks, the Charlotte Hornets, 10 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 1: the Miami Heat, New Orlando Magic, and the Washington Wizards. 11 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 1: You guys know the joke before we get started. Subscribe 12 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 1: to the hoops to and I YouTube channels. You don't 13 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:50,160 Speaker 1: miss any more of our videos. Follow me on Twitter, 14 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 1: underscore JCNLTS, you guys don't miss show announcements. Don't forget 15 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: about our podcast feed wherever you get your podcast under 16 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: Hoops Tonight. It's also super helpful if you leave a 17 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: rating and a review on that front. Jackson's doing great 18 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 1: work on our social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. 19 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: Make sure you guys follow us over there. In the 20 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 1: last but not least, if you want to get questions 21 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: into our mail bags, We're going to have our first 22 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:11,559 Speaker 1: mail bag of this preseason phase next week. So drop 23 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: your questions in the full episodes on YouTube in the 24 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: comments and we will get to them in our mail 25 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: bags this next week as well as throughout the remainder 26 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:21,119 Speaker 1: of the season. All Right, let's talk some basketball, starting 27 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: with the Atlanta Hawks. Quite a bit of turnover on 28 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 1: the back end of their roster. They lost Kobe Buffkin, 29 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: Click Capella out of the starting lineup obviously, Karris Lavert, 30 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: Terrence Man, Garrison Matthews, Larry NaNs Junior, and georgi' nie. 31 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: They added Nikhil Alexander Walker, one of my favorite three 32 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: and D guards in the league, Luke Canard one of 33 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: the best catch and shoot players in the league. Chris 34 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 1: topsportzingis a switch beater to help Trey Young, which we'll 35 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 1: be talking about, Charles Bassie, Caleb Houston, young wing who 36 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: showed some shooting potential last year. And then their first 37 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 1: round pick Ason Newell, athletic big who has made a 38 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: name for himself as an offensive rebounder. He had forty 39 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: two offensive rebound putbacks last year at Georgia which tied 40 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: for the second all of Division I basketball. I really 41 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: like this Atlanta Hawks roster. It's built off of basketball 42 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:11,920 Speaker 1: principles that I believe strongly in, and I believe, if 43 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 1: they can stay healthy, that they will win a lot 44 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 1: of basketball games based on this strong foundation in a 45 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: lot of ways, I'm gonna have my eye on this 46 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: team this year almost as a proof of concept for 47 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: what I believe in. If the way that I see 48 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: the game going is accurate, so to speak, I think 49 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: this Hawks team, as long as they stay healthy, is 50 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,079 Speaker 1: gonna win a lot of games. I spoke in a 51 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 1: video a few weeks ago about the idea that basketball 52 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: flows down from advantage creation. If you have a guy 53 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: who can break the defense down and create openings, just 54 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 1: about any pro hooper will be able to find a 55 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: way to thrive in those openings. For a lot of 56 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: the offenses around the NBA that the ones that struggle 57 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: usually starts with creating that initial advantage and having a 58 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 1: passer who's able to actually hit those openings when they 59 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: take place. I think Trey Young is one of about 60 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 1: a half dozen guys in the entire league that truly 61 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,639 Speaker 1: excels at this idea. Of advantage creation on a team 62 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: last year that was pretty devoid of offensive skill, and 63 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: they had lost one of their best players early in 64 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: the season and Jalen Johnson to injury. Trey Young posted 65 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: per cleaning the glass who filters out garbage time. Trey 66 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,799 Speaker 1: Young posted a one seventeen point four offensive rating when 67 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 1: he was on the floor last year. I think that's 68 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: incredibly strong given the talent that he was playing with. 69 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 1: And this roster compensates for Trey and his biggest weakness, 70 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: which is his size in athleticism, by surrounding him with 71 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: an incredible depth of high level athletic talent. Guys who 72 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: can defend, the guys who can rebound, Guys who run 73 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: the floor super well, guys who play super hard every night. 74 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: The four guys that I'm looking at here are Jalen Johnson, 75 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: Zachary Risache, Dyson Daniels, and na Keil Alexander Walker. They 76 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: bring defensive playmaking as well as end to end athleticism 77 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: I talked aboutlast year. Zachary Risaschet is one of the 78 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: most gifted open floor athletes I've seen in terms of 79 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: getting ahead of transition defense just with his end to 80 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: end speed, Jalen Johnson is obviously every bit is formidable 81 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: in that regard. So it starts with their transition attack, 82 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: forcing missus long misses in particular, and turnovers and getting 83 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: lots of easy stuff with their athleticism in the open court. 84 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 1: And then Nikil, Alexander Walker and Dyson Daniels represent one 85 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 1: of the best duos of guard defenders, of perimeter defenders 86 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 1: that you'll find in the league. They are going to 87 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,919 Speaker 1: start every defensive possession again as long as they can 88 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: stay healthy by making opposing ball handlers uncomfortable. That is 89 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 1: the beginning of every great defensive possession in basketball. Getting 90 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 1: into the ball, that's what leads into forcing a team 91 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 1: later into the clock, forcing them into tougher shots, which 92 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:54,920 Speaker 1: can lead to longer rebounds, forcing turnovers. And while all 93 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: those guys, all those four guys have their offensive limitations, 94 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: ni Kile Alexander Walker has become a really nice catch 95 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: and shoot player as well as a guy who can 96 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: put the ball on the floor. Jalen Johnson showed some 97 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: offensive pop last year. These guys have offensive skills. I've 98 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 1: talked about Zachary Rissasche and his close out attacking and 99 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: his left handed finishing. These guys all have things that 100 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: they bring to the table, but all of them are 101 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: not what you would consider to be like super high 102 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:21,599 Speaker 1: level offensive players. Right. That's where Trey Young can support 103 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: them in turn by creating high quality advantages, the kinds 104 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: of advantages that pros like them will thrive under, and 105 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: it'll make it easier for them on that end of 106 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 1: the floor. I think this is going to be a 107 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 1: team that thrives on the margins, and that's a big 108 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 1: part of why I think they're gonna win a lot 109 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: of games. I think they're going to create margin in 110 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: transition with their speed, get a lot of easy buckets 111 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 1: before even having to confront half court situations. I think 112 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: they'll create margin by forcing turnovers. This team actually forced 113 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: a lot of turnovers last year, and I think they'll 114 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: force even more this year with the addition of Nikhil 115 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: Alexander Walker and just the growth individually of their young player. 116 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: They're gonna create margin on the offensive glass depending on 117 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: how much Asonule plays him and him and on Yakakongwu, 118 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: they're a pretty devastating pair of offensive rebounders. That's a 119 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 1: group of traits. Those margins there that just make it 120 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:18,159 Speaker 1: easier to win basketball games night tonight in the NBA 121 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: regular season, and then Nanci Salad did a really nice 122 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: job of finding some complimentary offensive talent to round out 123 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,799 Speaker 1: the margins for Trey Young on that end of the floor. 124 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:31,359 Speaker 1: So again, for instance, Trey Young's biggest offensive weakness is 125 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 1: beating switches. If you can let him work against some 126 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: form of drop coverage or high drop coverage or blitz 127 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 1: or anything that's gonna involve him having his defender chase 128 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: over the top of the screen, Trey Young is gonna 129 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:46,360 Speaker 1: pick you apart. But if you can switch. His inability 130 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 1: to beat switches is something that has come up from 131 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 1: time to time in his career. Chris hops porzingis is 132 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: the antidote to that. He can beat switches with quick 133 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 1: post ups and quick face ups, somethings that he's been 134 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: doing really well for years now, dating back to when 135 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 1: he went to Washington right. Luke Canard is a super 136 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 1: high level shooting threat. He shot over fifty percent on 137 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 1: unguarded catch and shoot jump shots last year. In fact, 138 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 1: out of the one hundred and fifty five players in 139 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: the league to take at least two hundred catch and 140 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: shoot jump shots. Last year, he was the third most 141 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 1: efficient in the entire NBA. So you added one of 142 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: the best shooters in the league, one of the best 143 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: switch beaters in the league. That's going to go a 144 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: long way towards rounding things out for them on offense. 145 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: I feel very similarly about this Atlanta Hawks team to 146 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 1: how I felt about the Clippers last summer. If you 147 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 1: guys remember, I had very similar conversations about how even 148 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 1: with Kawhi Leonard out, this was a Clippers team that 149 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: had rim protection with Zubots and had a plethora of 150 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: elite perimeter defenders and a floor raising offensive engine in 151 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 1: James Harden and I talked about how I believed that 152 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: would be enough to keep them afloat during the regular season. 153 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: And that's a big part of why I'm optimistic about 154 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 1: this particular Atlanta Hawks team. I don't feel him as 155 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: a substantial threat to go win the title or anything, 156 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: but they just check too many boxes for what I 157 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: believe succeeds in the modern NBA to not win a 158 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 1: lot of games. They have an elite advantage creator, they 159 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: have complimentary play finishing talent for different types of situations. 160 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: Guys who can run the floor and transition, guys who 161 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: can beat switches in the posts, guys who can be 162 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 1: deadly from the perimeter. And they have a bunch of 163 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: high motor athleteses just a bunch of big athletic dudes 164 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 1: who play hard every single night. That is such a 165 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: key to succeeding in the NBA regular season, where ebbs 166 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 1: and flows an effort can play a massive role in 167 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 1: whether or not games go one way or another. They 168 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: have excellent perimeter defenders combined with rim protection. With Porzingis 169 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: is healthy, I think that's a foundational strength for a defense. 170 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: And they play in a pretty weak conference, so if 171 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: they stay healthy, they get sixty plus games at a 172 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:50,199 Speaker 1: Krisops Porzingis. You don't have an injury to a guy 173 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 1: like Jalen Johnson, Trey Young can stay on the floor. 174 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 1: If they get those things to go their way, I 175 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 1: think they're a real threat to finish with the top 176 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: four seed in that Eastern Conference host a first round series. Now, 177 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 1: this could obviously go wrong in a bunch of different ways, 178 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: but again, if they can stay healthy, I expect them 179 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 1: to be one of the most fun teams in the 180 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 1: NBA this year. I also view them as my personal 181 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:15,559 Speaker 1: favorite for a Yanis trade. Should the opportunity arise, they 182 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:18,840 Speaker 1: can get a deal done with Jalen Johnson and Yakakonglu 183 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 1: and draft picks. And I think it's foolish to just 184 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 1: say that Trey Young is the same as partnering Yannis 185 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: with Dame. I view those two guards as remarkably different 186 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 1: archetypes of players. I think Trey is in an entirely 187 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: different class as a playmaker than Dame, especially with pick 188 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 1: and roll partners, so I think they would thrive him 189 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 1: and Yanis to a much greater extent than Name ever 190 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:44,559 Speaker 1: could with Yannis. So just another Hawk storyline to keep 191 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 1: an eye on this year. 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In Indiana, if you or 216 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 1: someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, 217 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: call one eight hundred and nine with it gambling problem 218 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 1: called one eight hundred gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, 219 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: or Virginia the Orlando Magic. They lost Cole Anthony, Contavious Callbo, Pope, 220 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:25,320 Speaker 1: Gary Harris, Caleb Houston, and Corey Joseph. They added Desmond 221 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 1: Bane their big offseason acquisition, Tyas Jones, one of the 222 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 1: best catch and shoot players in the league. Skill guard 223 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 1: who was kind of wasted in Phoenix, who I think 224 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: will be useful there. We'll talk about that in a second. 225 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:37,319 Speaker 1: Colin Castleton and Jace Richardson, as well as Noah Penda 226 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: their two draft picks. Jase's Jason Richardson's kid. He's just 227 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 1: a really solid role player guard, and then Noah's a 228 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 1: defensive forward prospect. All eyes will be on this refined 229 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: offensive skill that they added this summer. Remember, this was 230 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: the very worst jump shooting team in the NBA last 231 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:59,080 Speaker 1: year by a country mile. Tias Jones is not the 232 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: explosive athlete that Cole Anthony was, but he's a lot 233 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: more polished now. Tias is polish. Was wasted on a 234 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 1: Phoenix Suns team that needed athleticism and physicality from the 235 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: guard position, not necessarily skill, but it will be welcomed 236 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 1: in Orlando for starters. He brings reliable shooting to a 237 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 1: team that can't shoot. He was eighty seven for one 238 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 1: seventy two on unguarded catch and shoot threes last year, 239 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: Tyas Jones. That's fifty one percent. He's going to hit 240 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: open shots and he has the ability to make some 241 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:34,960 Speaker 1: pick and roll shots in two man game. He can 242 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,680 Speaker 1: hit floaters in the mid forties. He can hit mid 243 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 1: range jump shots in the mid forties, so I think 244 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: he has the ability to run some action with Orlando 245 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 1: screeners as well. I just think he'll be a lot 246 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 1: more valuable here than he was in Phoenix, and you 247 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: don't have to worry about his physical limitations as much, 248 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: because yes, he's a poor defender and just about every facet, 249 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 1: but he'll be surrounded by elite defensive talent and you 250 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 1: won't have to depend on him in big spots because 251 00:12:56,920 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 1: he's not in your best five man groupings. Just a 252 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 1: really solid rotation player that fits a very specific need 253 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:06,959 Speaker 1: for this group. Desmond Baan, though, is the real dynamic 254 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,080 Speaker 1: piece that Orlando brought in, and I could not be 255 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 1: more excited about the natural basketball fit. I talk about 256 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 1: this idea all the time. Your value to your basketball 257 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 1: team has to do with the role you're in and 258 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: what they need from you, not what you're good at 259 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: in a vacuum. Desmond Baan may not be the superstar 260 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 1: talent that some other guys around the league are, but 261 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: his specific skill set is going to be ultra valuable 262 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 1: in this Orlando Magic system. I actually want to start 263 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 1: on the defensive end of the floor here. Anytime you 264 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 1: go and grab a skill guard, you worry about dealing 265 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 1: with an inferior athlete, right, a guy who's going to 266 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 1: give up a bunch of his production on the other 267 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: end of the floor getting attacked or making mistakes. Right. 268 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 1: That is not the case with Desmond bay He's a 269 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 1: competitive mffort who plays his ass off on defense. He's 270 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 1: got a trunky frame that makes them difficult to exploit 271 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: with size mismatches. He flies around, applies great ball pressure. 272 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: He's gonna get favorable matchups because of the partnership with 273 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 1: Jalen Suggs, so he's not gonna have to guard the 274 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 1: other team's best player or anything like that. I think 275 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:10,640 Speaker 1: he's going to contribute to Orlando's defensive identity not take 276 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:14,679 Speaker 1: away from it. In an offense, he represents the first 277 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:18,199 Speaker 1: player in the Franz and Polo era that can actually 278 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: unlock those two guys in their two man game situations, 279 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 1: whether that be ghost screens or even just using them 280 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: as role men and in two man game situations like 281 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 1: ball screens and things along those lines, any action Orlando 282 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 1: would run with their guards before Desmond Baine entered the equation. 283 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: Even decent shooters, guys like Jalen Suggs or Corey Joseph 284 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: teams would just be willing to live with the results. 285 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 1: You'd live with them taking threes slipping out of a 286 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 1: ghost screen. You'd live with them taking pull up threes 287 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 1: out of a ball screen if you got a good 288 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: screen on the on ball defender. They would make it 289 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 1: hard for guys like Palo and Franz to actually make 290 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 1: the defense pay for lingering or sticking to on the ball. 291 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 1: It also made it harder for them to get favorable 292 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: switches because you could get away with hedging and recovering 293 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: against those level of shooters. You are not going to 294 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: be able to just live with Desmond Bain getting good looks. 295 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: He shot over fifty percent on unguarded catch and shoot 296 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 1: threes last year, more than half. You cannot leave him open. So, 297 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 1: by the way, Orlando, the worst three point shooting team 298 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 1: in the NBA last year, added two fifty plus percent 299 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 1: open three point shooters. That's gonna be a big boost 300 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 1: for them in a key area. Bain was also one 301 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 1: of the best pull up shooters in the league last year. 302 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 1: Out of sixty players in the league to attempt at 303 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: least two hundred fifty pull up jump shots last year, 304 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: he was fifteenth, so in that upper fourth, ahead of 305 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:45,240 Speaker 1: guys like Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, shake Gilgess, Alexander or 306 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: Jalen Brunson. That will force defenses into more compromising positions. 307 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 1: If you give up open shots to elite shooters, they're 308 00:15:55,600 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: gonna make them. If you have Desmond Baines set a 309 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 1: screen and you stay attached to Desmond baine on a 310 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: screen for Franz or a screen for Palo, those dudes 311 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: are gonna go screaming downhill because the bigger defenders guarding 312 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 1: Palo and Franz are not gonna be good at navigating screens. 313 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 1: If you switch now, you're giving Palo and Franz favorable 314 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: size advantages, something they had struggled at times to achieve 315 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 1: against the hedge and covers that they often face in 316 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: years past. In situations where Pollow and Franz are the screener, 317 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: they should get more opportunities on the role because you'll 318 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 1: actually have to account for Desmond Baine in that situation 319 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 1: instead of just living with the guy taking a shot 320 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 1: coming off of that screen. Those two guys combined for 321 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: about one hundred and ten roll man possessions last year. 322 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: I think we could see that number double this year potentially. 323 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 1: And lastly, for clutch situations, the Magic now finally have 324 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 1: two man game combinations that they can actually go to 325 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 1: and count on getting quality stuff advantages, either for guys 326 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:04,120 Speaker 1: slipping out or for mismatch attacking situations with Smalls getting 327 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 1: onto Franz and Pollow. This was the sixth worst clutch 328 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:12,200 Speaker 1: offense in the league last year. They lost seventeen games 329 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:15,919 Speaker 1: in clutch situations. In the series against Boston when they 330 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 1: got killed in crunch time, they managed just a ninety 331 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: offensive rating in the two games in that series that 332 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: went into the clutch. I expect Desmond Baine to really 333 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 1: grease the wheels for them in these spots. The rest 334 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: of the story for the Magic this season will come 335 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:33,679 Speaker 1: down to the continued skilled development of Palo. In Franz, 336 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,119 Speaker 1: Palo showed some real growth as a short range shot 337 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:39,680 Speaker 1: maker last year. It was fifty percent on jump shots 338 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 1: inside his seventeen feet. He was forty eight percent on floaters, 339 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: but his jumper fell apart when he got further away 340 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 1: from the basket, and those short range percentages both dipped 341 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 1: down into something less favorable when they got into the playoffs, 342 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: including against Boston. He Palo is below fifty percent at 343 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:59,360 Speaker 1: the rim. So include improved skill development for Palo over 344 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 1: the course of this year year will be key, and 345 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 1: then Franz, Like I've been waiting for Franz to improve 346 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,920 Speaker 1: as a jump shooter for years. He was thirty percent 347 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,440 Speaker 1: on jump shots last year with the Magic, twenty eight 348 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: percent with Germany. This summer, he has shown, similarly to Palo, 349 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:14,680 Speaker 1: some impressive short range shot making. He's got a good 350 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: floater and he can hit the jumpers inside of seventeen feet. 351 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 1: But those two guys just improving overall as perimeter players 352 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: will be another key swing factor for Orlando this year. 353 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:27,399 Speaker 1: I think this Orlando team's gonna be really good. I 354 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 1: think with Desmond Bain, they have a legitimate chance to 355 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 1: win the conference. Bain, to me is the classic example 356 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: of your value is more specific to your situation than 357 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:41,480 Speaker 1: in a vacuum, and I think Bain plugs naturally into 358 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 1: a very specific need for this team. And now you 359 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 1: have Palo in Franz with a couple of years of 360 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:50,679 Speaker 1: playoff experience. The Celtics and Pacers are out of the mix, 361 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 1: so it kind of feels like that first real opportunity 362 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 1: for a long playoff run for the Magic. We saw 363 00:18:57,119 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 1: how their physicality caused concerns for Cleveland too years ago. 364 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 1: This is gonna be a fun season for Magic fans. 365 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: They have every reason to be very optimistic. All Right, 366 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 1: We're gonna go very quickly over the course of these 367 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 1: last three, I should say quicker over these last three 368 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 1: Mimy Heat. They lost Kyle Anderson, Alec Burks, Hayward high Smith, 369 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:20,160 Speaker 1: Kevin Love, and Duncan Robinson. They added Precious to Chewa, 370 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 1: Simone Fontechio, Norman Powell, as they're Duncan robinson replacement. I 371 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:26,879 Speaker 1: like Norman. I think he can obviously have health issues 372 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: from time to time, but when he's healthy and like 373 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 1: on the floor every night and in rhythm. He had 374 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 1: some really high level scoring stretches last year for the Clippers, 375 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 1: and then their first round pick Kasparas yakachonas basically the 376 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 1: classic big European shot creator from the perimeter type of vibe. 377 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 1: You guys have seen a bunch of that sort of 378 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 1: dude come through the league in recent years. This feels 379 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 1: like one of those years where Miami could be sneaky dangerous. 380 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:55,360 Speaker 1: There aren't any truly great teams in the Eastern Conference 381 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:57,439 Speaker 1: aside from Cleveland, and that just depends on how you 382 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 1: feel about them. I definitely think that they would qualify 383 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 1: as a team that kind of has separated themselves from 384 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:05,680 Speaker 1: the rest of the teams in the East. But whether 385 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: or not they can really contend with the Denver Oklahoma 386 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 1: City types, I think that's reasonable to debate or to 387 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 1: have some doubts about. I personally have some doubts there. 388 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 1: But there are no what I would consider to be 389 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: top tier championship contenders in the conference, and I've often 390 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: referred to Miami over the years as the bouncer to 391 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,880 Speaker 1: the championship club. A team that is so well coached 392 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:28,199 Speaker 1: and solid in every phase of basketball that they can 393 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:31,439 Speaker 1: expose teams that aren't real contenders. They'll lose to the 394 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: eventual real contender they'll lose to, like that twenty twenty 395 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: two Boston team. You know, when that particular team, when 396 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 1: they were so locked in on defense, was just at 397 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: another level that Miami couldn't reach. They lost to Denver, right, Like, 398 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:47,639 Speaker 1: they're gonna run into certain teams that are just too 399 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:51,920 Speaker 1: much for them. But anybody that's beneath that true championship 400 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 1: contender tier Miami's exposed in recent years. So I think 401 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:00,160 Speaker 1: it'd be foolish for us to just think it's impossible 402 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:02,399 Speaker 1: that we'd be watching this Heat team potentially playing the 403 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:06,120 Speaker 1: conference finals this year. The difference is Jimmy Butler's gone, 404 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 1: and maybe that ends up being the difference between those 405 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:12,120 Speaker 1: Miami Heat teams in this one. But I guess we'll see. 406 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 1: Time will tell, right. I like the change to the 407 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:18,360 Speaker 1: roster over the last year. I'm actually an Andrew Wiggins fan. 408 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:20,639 Speaker 1: I think he's one of the best perimeter defenders in 409 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:22,880 Speaker 1: the league still, and I think his athleticism is still 410 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 1: game changing. Having guys like him and Davion Mitchell as 411 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:30,240 Speaker 1: primary perimeter defense options with bam out of Bayo on 412 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 1: the back line and kill a where theoretically with the 413 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:34,679 Speaker 1: player that he can become as a rim protector, Like 414 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:38,840 Speaker 1: that's the strong foundation defensively. I think Norman Powell is 415 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:41,000 Speaker 1: going to be a great fit and bring that much 416 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 1: needed offensive firepower. Tyler Harrow is coming off of a leap. 417 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:46,879 Speaker 1: He went for twenty four five and six on sixty 418 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:50,160 Speaker 1: one percent for shooting last year. The bam Adebayo Kella 419 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:54,199 Speaker 1: where like two big look was. Honestly, it had a 420 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:58,440 Speaker 1: very promising first campaign. They were plus four points per 421 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:01,879 Speaker 1: per one hundred sessions in one thousand and eighty eight 422 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 1: percent possessions. That's a pretty large sample size of them 423 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:08,240 Speaker 1: of those two being successful. I think they're gonna be 424 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:10,919 Speaker 1: top ten defense again, and I think they have a 425 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:14,199 Speaker 1: chance with the improvement internally and with the addition of 426 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 1: Norman Powell to kind of get into that middle of 427 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 1: the pack on offense somewhere in that like fifteen to 428 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:21,600 Speaker 1: seventeen range. And if they get there, they're gonna win 429 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 1: like somewhere between forty and forty five games. And then 430 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 1: because of their coaching because of just that whatever it is, 431 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: that Miami Heat culture, or maybe it's just Spoll Show, 432 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 1: whatever it is, they're just always a threat to steal 433 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 1: a playoff series or two. I think they're a super 434 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 1: long shot to win the conference, but I think this 435 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:42,840 Speaker 1: would be a fun Miami Heat team. And then the 436 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 1: big potential curveball here is whether or not they decide 437 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 1: to make some trades. Wiggins is a guy who has 438 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 1: some interest around the league. I know the Lakers want him. 439 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:54,200 Speaker 1: They kind of make complimentary trade partners because the Heat 440 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 1: are light at power forward and the Lakers are light 441 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:58,679 Speaker 1: at small forward, and they have the ability to kind 442 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:00,639 Speaker 1: of piece that together. But I think the Heat won 443 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:02,920 Speaker 1: a first round pick, and I know the Lakers don't 444 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,120 Speaker 1: want to use a first round pick, So I think 445 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:08,479 Speaker 1: both of those positions are completely reasonable. I can totally 446 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:11,120 Speaker 1: see why Miami would not want to give up a 447 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 1: player that is such a strong foundational perimeter defender in 448 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 1: athlete and Andrew Wiggins without getting first round draft compensation. 449 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:19,800 Speaker 1: And I can totally see why the Lakers are like, 450 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:21,200 Speaker 1: we don't want to give up a first round pick 451 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:25,639 Speaker 1: with a twenty seven year old Luca and a forty 452 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:29,439 Speaker 1: year old Lebron to get a thirty year old player 453 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 1: who's theoretically at the tail end of his athletic prime. 454 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 1: So like, I think both positions there are completely reasonable, 455 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:36,720 Speaker 1: and so I can totally see why a deal hasn't 456 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:39,159 Speaker 1: gotten done, And it may never go anywhere at that 457 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:42,680 Speaker 1: point unless one of those teams becomes desperate, and we'll 458 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 1: just see if that ends up happening. I doubt it 459 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 1: at this point. I want Wiggins, but I'm reasonable enough 460 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:49,359 Speaker 1: to know that it's a long shot. And then the 461 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: Heat have some big picture questions surrounding whether or not 462 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:55,359 Speaker 1: they're committed to the bam Adebio Tyler Harrow Corps. Like 463 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:58,439 Speaker 1: I know, teams like Dallas or Houston would potentially be 464 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 1: interested in a guy like Tyler Harrow and that draft 465 00:24:01,359 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 1: compensation that they received there could spark the next era 466 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 1: of Miami Heat basketball. So that's really the final piece 467 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 1: of this Heat story this year. Are they happy with 468 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:14,360 Speaker 1: being just the feisty Eastern Conference team that could win 469 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:17,360 Speaker 1: a series or two or do they want to pivot 470 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 1: towards a full rebuild. And that's going to be the 471 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 1: other big storyline to watch with the Heat this year 472 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 1: next to Washington Wizards, at Las Sidique Bay, Malcolm Brogden, 473 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 1: Rashaun Holmes, and Jordan Poole. Added Marvin Bagley, Malachi Branham, 474 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:33,639 Speaker 1: CJ McCollum, Cam whit More, a nice flyer on an 475 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 1: athletic wing out of Houston with some upsides, and then 476 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 1: my favorite player in this year's draft lottery Trey Johnson, 477 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:43,040 Speaker 1: a very skilled guard with some good size and athleticism 478 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:45,400 Speaker 1: that can shoot off the move and shoot off the dribble, 479 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:47,919 Speaker 1: and a lot of stuff that works in the modern 480 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: NBA in terms of scoring. They also have another first 481 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: round of Will Riley, is a big wing who also 482 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:56,240 Speaker 1: has some potential as a tough shot maker. This is 483 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:59,359 Speaker 1: easily one of the most interesting young teams in the 484 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:03,120 Speaker 1: NBA that are in that rebuilding phase right because they 485 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: just have a boatload of super interesting young players. If 486 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:08,880 Speaker 1: an exciting young backcourt fueled by guys that I think 487 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 1: will be complimentary with bub Carrington and Trey Johnson. Again, 488 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:14,960 Speaker 1: Trey Johnson's ability to score off the ball in off 489 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:17,120 Speaker 1: ball action I think makes him a natural fit there. 490 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:20,440 Speaker 1: A bunch of athletic wings guys like Bolla, Coola, Bali 491 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 1: and Cam whitmore lots of shooting with the young draft 492 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:26,120 Speaker 1: picks as well as Corey Kispert. We'll see how much 493 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: guys like CJ mcollum and Chris Middleton play, but they 494 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:31,080 Speaker 1: obviously bring shooting as well. I just think in general, 495 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:33,359 Speaker 1: those are two awesome bets to have in that locker 496 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:35,440 Speaker 1: room to help with the development of your young yards. 497 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:37,359 Speaker 1: I talked about this after the draft, but like I 498 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:40,440 Speaker 1: think Trey Johnson in particular, I was watching him in 499 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:43,040 Speaker 1: the footage and he's kind of still doing everything at 500 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:45,760 Speaker 1: one hundred miles an hour, which is typical for a 501 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:48,800 Speaker 1: young player. Likes to score off screens because perpetual motion 502 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:51,960 Speaker 1: brings a bunch of advantages there, but there's a change 503 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:53,679 Speaker 1: of pace element that I think he could improve on. 504 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 1: And like CJ. McCollum is like the perfect guy as 505 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:59,920 Speaker 1: a guy who had some athletic limitations to go to 506 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:02,479 Speaker 1: tray and be like, here's three or four things you 507 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 1: can do in terms of nuances of navigating screens as 508 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:08,359 Speaker 1: an offensive player to help get yourself more openings. I 509 00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 1: think CJ is going to be a good mentor for 510 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:12,159 Speaker 1: him there. And then I think they're destined to be 511 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 1: a good defense. Alex Sar showed plenty of upside last 512 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:18,720 Speaker 1: year to think that he could become a strong defensive foundation. 513 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 1: They have an elite defensive wing prospect in Bilockolbally to 514 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 1: compliment that, plenty of athleticism down the roster. And so 515 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:27,600 Speaker 1: this is the fun year for Wizards fans because you 516 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:29,960 Speaker 1: know you're headed in the right direction, and this is 517 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:32,159 Speaker 1: the season that will be a good start to finish 518 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:35,560 Speaker 1: showcase of their young offensive talent. And we should get 519 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: a much better feel for their overall trajectory after this year, 520 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 1: which will then be informative for what the next phase 521 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 1: of Wizards basketball looks like in terms of how they 522 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 1: can rebuild around those guys. Lastly, for today, the Charlotte Hornets. 523 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:52,800 Speaker 1: They lost Seth Curry, Todge Gibson, use of Nurkics, Joshakog, 524 00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:55,200 Speaker 1: Mark Williams, and a few other young players. They added 525 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:59,720 Speaker 1: Pat Connitan, Spencer Dinwoodie, Mason Plumley, Colin Sexton, and a 526 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 1: bunch of draft picks Konk Nipple and Liam McNeely in 527 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:04,240 Speaker 1: the first round. A couple of big and skilled wings 528 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 1: sigh On James and Ryan Kalkbrenner in the early second 529 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 1: round signs like a like a fire hydrant, like Lou 530 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 1: dort build type of wing. And then Ryan Kalchbrenner is 531 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:15,919 Speaker 1: a big for a team that has probably the weakest 532 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 1: center rotation in the league right now. Of rather than 533 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 1: them or Boston, they're in that group right This is 534 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:23,480 Speaker 1: an incredibly strange team. On the one hand, I like 535 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:26,399 Speaker 1: several of their young players, like Brandon Miller had an 536 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 1: eleven game stretch last year before his injury where he 537 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 1: averaged an efficient twenty eight points per game. I think 538 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:34,920 Speaker 1: he's blossoming nicely into one of those like future star 539 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 1: wings that we're going to have in this league. I 540 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:39,560 Speaker 1: think Kan Knipple is gonna be a good NBA player. 541 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:42,080 Speaker 1: He's big, he's smart, he can shoot the ball, and 542 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 1: he knows how to make the right reads. Excuse me, 543 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:47,840 Speaker 1: he knows how to make the right reads when he's 544 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:50,159 Speaker 1: coming off of screening actions. There's a lot of value 545 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 1: in players like that in the modern NBA. Trey Mann 546 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 1: has been one of my favorite backup guards in the 547 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:57,400 Speaker 1: league for a while, just an incredibly aesthetically appealing game. 548 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 1: But I have big questions in other areas. I have 549 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 1: incredibly complex feelings about LaMelo Ball. On the one hand, 550 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:07,960 Speaker 1: I'm still a big believer in his talent on offense. 551 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 1: I know he can be a bit of an inefficient 552 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:12,600 Speaker 1: shot chucker, but I consider him to be like a 553 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:17,879 Speaker 1: real advantage creator, like one of those offensive engine types 554 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:19,600 Speaker 1: that I talked so much about, And that's just a 555 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:24,399 Speaker 1: super rare trait in this league. That Hornets team was 556 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 1: hopeless to score the basketball when he was off the 557 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:30,960 Speaker 1: floor last year, and when LaMelo was on, they were 558 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:34,000 Speaker 1: a decent offense. And I don't think that that is 559 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 1: a accomplishment to take lightly by any means. But on 560 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 1: the other hand, he's got this like general air of 561 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 1: unseriousness that bothers me in terms of his role as 562 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:47,560 Speaker 1: the leader of the team. And he's missed forty four 563 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:50,760 Speaker 1: percent of his games as a pro. He's played in 564 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:54,240 Speaker 1: two hundred and thirty one games at of four hundred 565 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:57,640 Speaker 1: and ten potential games. That means he's missed one hundred 566 00:28:57,680 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 1: and seventy nine games. He's failed to play in fifty 567 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:06,080 Speaker 1: games in three consecutive seasons. So as much as I 568 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:09,440 Speaker 1: believe in his foundational talent, I'm basically out on him 569 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:11,880 Speaker 1: as a foundational superstar at this point, a guy you 570 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 1: need to build your franchise around. Even though I believe 571 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 1: in that skill, it just he can't stay on the 572 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 1: floor and it's just delaying whatever sort of progress he 573 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:23,520 Speaker 1: can make in terms of just figuring out how to 574 00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:26,560 Speaker 1: be a pro. I I just don't see it as 575 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:30,320 Speaker 1: a foundational superstar in this league. They've loaded up on 576 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:32,200 Speaker 1: all his veteran ball handling for some reason, which I 577 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:35,000 Speaker 1: thought was strange, Like, you still have Trey Mann and 578 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:38,040 Speaker 1: Brandon Miller, and if LaMelo's healthy, obviously he's going to 579 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 1: handle the ball a ton, So like I don't understand 580 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:43,280 Speaker 1: why you'd bring in Spencer Dinwoody and Colin Sexton. I 581 00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:45,720 Speaker 1: could see one of those guys as like LaMelo insurance, 582 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 1: but I just thought that was strange. And obviously this 583 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:50,719 Speaker 1: team has one of the worst center rotations in the league, 584 00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 1: so I think they're a safe bet to compete with 585 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 1: Brooklyn as the worst team in the Eastern Conference this year. 586 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:58,800 Speaker 1: And for your Hornets fans, just enjoy watching Brandon Miller 587 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 1: and Conkin it Pull and those other d picks and 588 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:02,440 Speaker 1: just hope one of those guys popping up to give 589 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:06,440 Speaker 1: you some advantage or some optimism for the future. All Right, guys, 590 00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:08,479 Speaker 1: it's all I have for today, As always, to sincerely 591 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:10,680 Speaker 1: appreciate you guys for supporting me and supporting the show. 592 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:14,040 Speaker 1: We will be back next week as we dig into 593 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:16,840 Speaker 1: the rest of our preseason content. We're gonna be covering 594 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 1: our top contenders. We're gonna be talking about awards. We're 595 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:21,920 Speaker 1: gonna have a mail bag. We'll also have some more 596 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:29,760 Speaker 1: preseason reaction. I'll see you guys today