WEBVTT - Western Conference Playoff Picture Update

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<v Speaker 1>I know we just did a playoff picture on the

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<v Speaker 1>Western Conference last week, but that's how much it changes.

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<v Speaker 1>So if you're not pulling up the NBA standings on

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<v Speaker 1>a day to day basis, and you don't are not

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<v Speaker 1>aware of how the tie breakers work, what games are

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<v Speaker 1>coming up, let me help you out. We got to

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<v Speaker 1>continue to go through it because right now there is

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<v Speaker 1>a wildly tight race for the five and six spot

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<v Speaker 1>in the West, that is between the Clippers, Lakers, and

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<v Speaker 1>the Warriors. One of those three teams will be in

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<v Speaker 1>the plan. If you recall, these are the two spots

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<v Speaker 1>above the play in tournament and the ones that guarantees

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<v Speaker 1>you a winnable best of seven series against the three

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<v Speaker 1>and the four Seeds got it with just a handful

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<v Speaker 1>of games to go. We have no clarity. Zero Warriors

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<v Speaker 1>currently tumbling down the standings.

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<v Speaker 2>Man, they suck right now? Are Dubs? What is going on?

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<v Speaker 1>They threw up all over themselves on Sunday against Denver

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<v Speaker 1>without Jokic. They were giving you that game. They gave

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<v Speaker 1>it to you, and what did you do? You found

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<v Speaker 1>a way to Dennis shrewder it. Fumble the bag, baby,

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<v Speaker 1>fumble the bag could not muster up the strength to

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<v Speaker 1>win a game that was given to you, like the

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<v Speaker 1>championship caliber team that you're supposed to be. Clay blew

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<v Speaker 1>two open looks in the final five seconds to win

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<v Speaker 1>the game against the Nuggets, and now they pretty much

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<v Speaker 1>gotta win every single game left in order to avoid

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<v Speaker 1>that playing spot.

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<v Speaker 2>Lakers somehow, some way control their fate.

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<v Speaker 1>They have an equal amount of losses of the Clippers

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<v Speaker 1>and the Warriors, but one less game played. So Wednesday,

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<v Speaker 1>which is today, is a collision Well it should be today,

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<v Speaker 1>and we're recording this Monday, but it.

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<v Speaker 2>Is today for you.

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<v Speaker 1>Is a collision course between the Clippers and the Lakers.

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<v Speaker 1>At the crypt winner one hundred percent makes the top

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<v Speaker 1>six one hundred percent with just a couple of games

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<v Speaker 1>to go. Loser potentially drops into the play in tournament,

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<v Speaker 1>although given how bad the Warriors have been and their

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<v Speaker 1>schedule and how many games are left, probably not as likely.

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<v Speaker 2>Very confusing in these streets. Here's what we know.

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<v Speaker 1>Lakers currently hold the tie break over the Warriors. The

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<v Speaker 1>Clippers currently hold the tie break over the Lakers. The Wolves,

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<v Speaker 1>why are they involved, I don't know. They hold the

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<v Speaker 1>tiebreaker over the Lakers, But then what do they do.

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<v Speaker 1>They suffer the worst loss in thirty years. That was

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<v Speaker 1>the largest line, the largest favorite that we have seen since.

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<v Speaker 2>Nineteen ninety two.

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<v Speaker 1>Nineteen ninety three, there were nineteen and a half point

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<v Speaker 1>favorites at the crib to my egregiously tanking Portland Trailblazers,

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<v Speaker 1>where again they are load managing Trendon Watford and you

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<v Speaker 1>know what, somehow found a way to lose that game,

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<v Speaker 1>which means that if the Warriors, Clippers, and Lakers all

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<v Speaker 1>finish forty three and thirty nine, which given how many

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<v Speaker 1>games are left to go, the teams that they play against,

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<v Speaker 1>that kind of is what it looks like. That would

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<v Speaker 1>mean that the Clippers would get the five spot, the

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<v Speaker 1>Lakers would get the sixth spot, and the Warriors would

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<v Speaker 1>our Dubs would be in the playing tournament at seven.

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<v Speaker 1>In fact, given the fact that the Clippers play the Lakers,

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<v Speaker 1>the Warriors must win every single game that they have

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<v Speaker 1>left to avoid the inevitability of finishing in the seventh spot,

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<v Speaker 1>unless the Lakers were to do something like lose twice

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<v Speaker 1>to the Utah Jazz, who are also egregiously tanking, which

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<v Speaker 1>I don't think is going to happen.

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<v Speaker 2>But listen, look at the Wolves.

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<v Speaker 1>Anything's possible, so damn complicated, and technically the Suns who

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<v Speaker 1>are currently locked up on the fourth spot, not mathematically

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<v Speaker 1>at this very second, but really it is. There's four

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<v Speaker 1>games left, their four games behind the Kings. They decide

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<v Speaker 1>who is the five seed because they play the Lakers

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<v Speaker 1>and the Clippers before this whole thing ends. They could

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<v Speaker 1>either sit out stars let that team beat them, or

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<v Speaker 1>that they could treat that game as a playoff game

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<v Speaker 1>like against the Lakers. If I'm the Suns, I do

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<v Speaker 1>not want to play Lakers in the first round, no shot.

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<v Speaker 1>I would much prefer to play the Clippers without Paul George.

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<v Speaker 1>Let Kawhi and Nick Batoom do their very best. See

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<v Speaker 1>how that thing shakes up. Here's another little wrinkle in

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<v Speaker 1>the playoff picture. The Dallas Mavericks must be listening to

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<v Speaker 1>the heat check because after their dismal overtime loss to

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<v Speaker 1>the Atlanta Hawks, where JaVale McGee had two free throws

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<v Speaker 1>at the end of the game in order to win it,

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<v Speaker 1>decides to only make one free throw and they go

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<v Speaker 1>to overtime. They lose to the Atlanta Hawks, who are awful.

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<v Speaker 1>They are now down to the eleventh spot in the West,

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<v Speaker 1>and rumor has it they are going to shut down

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<v Speaker 1>Luca and shut down Kyrie for the rest of the year,

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<v Speaker 1>trying to get a top ten spot in the NBA

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<v Speaker 1>Draft and deciding they are going to take themselves out

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<v Speaker 1>of playoff consideration altogether. That in the West only impacts

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<v Speaker 1>the Kings, who only need one more game to win

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<v Speaker 1>in order for them to win the division and seal

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<v Speaker 1>up the three spot. My ideal matchup, My ideal ratings

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<v Speaker 1>matchup one eight. I want to see Denver play the Pelicans.

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<v Speaker 1>So You've got Zion versus Jokis. That's a fascinating matchup.

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<v Speaker 1>You've got Brandon Ingram against Michael Porter Junior amazing. You've

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<v Speaker 1>got Jamal Murray against CJ.

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<v Speaker 2>McCullum. You got Aaron Gordon being.

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<v Speaker 1>Defended by skinny ass Rangy amazing defender, Herb Jones. Fun matchup,

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<v Speaker 1>Fun watch out Nuggets two seven Warriors Grizzlies.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh my god, oh my, I need it. I need

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<v Speaker 2>it so bad.

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<v Speaker 1>Jaw and Dylan Brooks and Jaron Jackson chirp and Clay Chirping.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean the energy, the emotion, the aggression, that is

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<v Speaker 1>top tier first round matchup, top tier Clippers versus the Kings.

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<v Speaker 2>Three to six. I mean, I just want that. I

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<v Speaker 2>just want it personally.

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<v Speaker 1>I want to go down to La see the Crypt

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<v Speaker 1>without worrying about the Kings having to face the Lakers.

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<v Speaker 2>It's a good matchup.

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<v Speaker 1>They have no Paul George's the King's best shot in

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<v Speaker 1>order to win a first round series and continue to advance.

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<v Speaker 2>And then four to five Suns.

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<v Speaker 1>Lakers, Oh boy, fireworks, Lebron James against Chris Paul Banana

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<v Speaker 1>boat brothers facing off against one another. Anthony Davis trying

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<v Speaker 1>to soun DeAndre Ayton Kevin Durant now in the mix.

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<v Speaker 2>Do you remember the last time these two teams.

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<v Speaker 1>Play, Anthony Davis sprained his ankle, Lebron James got hurt,

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<v Speaker 1>and the Suns advance and then ended up in the finals.

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<v Speaker 1>This is it, folks, Oh my god, this is the

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<v Speaker 1>best stretch of final regular season games we've ever had

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<v Speaker 1>in life. In life, because the play in tournament. That's

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<v Speaker 1>why I didn't like it at first, But I tell

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<v Speaker 1>you what, it does make this very intriguing and out

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<v Speaker 1>east a lot more clarity, a lot more boredom, let's

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<v Speaker 1>be honest, not much things that are fun going out

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<v Speaker 1>in the East. The one thing that we know for

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<v Speaker 1>sure is that the Knicks are going to play the

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<v Speaker 1>Calves in the first round. Incredible matchup one, two, three Seeds, Bucks, Celtics, Sixers.

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<v Speaker 2>They don't care who they play, doesn't really matter.

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<v Speaker 1>You can play Uh, I don't know Heat, you can

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<v Speaker 1>play the Raptors, you can play the Hawks, you can

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<v Speaker 1>play the Bulls.

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<v Speaker 2>Who cares.

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<v Speaker 1>None of them pose any real threats to them in

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<v Speaker 1>the first round. We know those three teams are going

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<v Speaker 1>to advance further, doesn't matter. Zero drama, and the Nets

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<v Speaker 1>aren't gonna beat the Sixers unless Embid goes down.

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<v Speaker 2>So zero drama. Who makes it out of the play

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<v Speaker 2>in in the East? Do I care?

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<v Speaker 1>No, I give zero fucks why because they're all trash vomit.

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<v Speaker 1>Some really sad news out of Utah. Apparently they are.

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<v Speaker 1>Jazz are reportedly shutting down rookie center Walker Kessler. Nobody

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<v Speaker 1>saw that coming, but there are legit people out there

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<v Speaker 1>whose business it is to write about the NBA believe

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<v Speaker 1>that the Utah Jazz won the Rudy go Bear trade,

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<v Speaker 1>not just because of the Bonkers amount of first round

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<v Speaker 1>picks that they landed from Minnesota or the young.

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<v Speaker 2>Players that they got.

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<v Speaker 1>But because Kessler they believe is already better or as

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<v Speaker 1>good as Rudy at one tenth of the price, people

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<v Speaker 1>are legitimately saying that they would not trade Walker Kessler

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<v Speaker 1>for Rudy Go Beart straight.

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<v Speaker 2>Up right now.

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<v Speaker 1>That's how much of a fleecing Danny Ainge put on

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<v Speaker 1>our man, Tim Connolly.

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<v Speaker 2>Shame. Tim Connolly shame.

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<v Speaker 1>Probably should not surprise anyone. He was a beast at

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<v Speaker 1>Auburn seven feet one, seven foot five wingspan nine feet

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<v Speaker 1>five inches standing range reach. That'ss He had one of

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<v Speaker 1>the highest block rates in college basketball history ten blocks

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<v Speaker 1>per hundred possessions. Jesus Christ, that seems like a made

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<v Speaker 1>up stat. That's a Kenyan Martin stat.

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<v Speaker 2>It is not.

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<v Speaker 1>I promise you it is not a fake stat. Some

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<v Speaker 1>scouts thought that this was the steal of the draft,

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<v Speaker 1>considering his stats, his size, his upside, and the wild thing.

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<v Speaker 2>He did not lose a step.

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<v Speaker 1>Converting to the NBA in Utah, his seventy two percent

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<v Speaker 1>field goal percentage this year is the best in the NBA.

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<v Speaker 1>He won't win the title because He's a few shots

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<v Speaker 1>short of the minimum amount of shots to the quality

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<v Speaker 1>and one of the highest ever by a rookie.

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<v Speaker 2>He's also averaging.

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<v Speaker 1>An incredible two point three blocks per game on twenty

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<v Speaker 1>three minutes per night.

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<v Speaker 2>Let me say that again.

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<v Speaker 1>Walker Kessler currently averaging two point three blocks per game.

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<v Speaker 2>All not only twenty three minutes per night.

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<v Speaker 1>Last twelve games, he averaged thirteen ten and two with

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<v Speaker 1>three blocks and less than one turnover in twenty eight

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<v Speaker 1>minutes of playtime.

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<v Speaker 2>So pretty damn good. I'd say not really.

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<v Speaker 1>Fair to call Walker Kessler a replacement for Gobert because

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<v Speaker 1>they do different things, But in reality, oh my god,

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<v Speaker 1>he's just so much cheaper for a center and thus

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<v Speaker 1>so much more valuable to a team that's rebuilding than

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<v Speaker 1>Rudy Gobert could ever be. Honestly, keeping Rudy Gobert would

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<v Speaker 1>have been bad for the Utah Jazz. You don't want

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<v Speaker 1>to build around him with all these young guys and

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<v Speaker 1>him making forty plus million dollars a year.

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<v Speaker 2>No shot.

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<v Speaker 1>What Danny Angel will Hardy have accomplished in Utah in

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<v Speaker 1>their very first year, I think is going to go

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<v Speaker 1>down as.

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<v Speaker 2>One of the more remarkable transformations.

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<v Speaker 1>In many years, the Utah Jazz were filled with oldies,

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<v Speaker 1>guys who could not play defense, no athletes outside of

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<v Speaker 1>Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, who by the way, hated

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<v Speaker 1>each other and both were making thirty plus million dollars

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<v Speaker 1>per year, and they had no real ability to get out.

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<v Speaker 2>From under that.

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<v Speaker 1>And now all of a sudden, they have this quote

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<v Speaker 1>unquote conscious decision to tank, and they've got young guys

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<v Speaker 1>like oh Shayok and Laurie Markinen and Walker Kessler.

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<v Speaker 2>And and and and and a bajillion draft picks. Do

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<v Speaker 2>not forget blocker Kessler.

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<v Speaker 1>That's what we're calling him now, Blocker Kessler, who is

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<v Speaker 1>going to be swatting shots in Salt Lake City for

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<v Speaker 1>a long time, even though he is shut down for

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<v Speaker 1>the next three games. Because let's be honest, Utah was

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<v Speaker 1>always going to avoid being in the play in tournament

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<v Speaker 1>or the playoffs.