1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: The volume When it comes to college basketball in March Mania, 2 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:11,000 Speaker 1: one thing is for sure. Nothing's for sure. Upsets, buzzer beaters, 3 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 1: Cinderella is advancing top seeds, going home early. It's all 4 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: gonna happen. Bet the unexpected, every upset, every day with 5 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: DraftKings Sportsbook. With live betting, exclusive content, promos, and parlays, 6 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 1: Draft Kings is the ultimate college basketball destination for March. 7 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: Ready to make your first bet, check out the matchups, 8 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: and pick a team to win. It's that simple. 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Damian Lillard is out indefinitely due 33 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: to a blood clot in his calf muscle. First of all, 34 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: this is just a huge bummer, and let's all just 35 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: hope that he can be back in time for the playoffs, because, 36 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: regardless of how we all feel about the Bucks, I 37 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: would certainly like to see them get their chance to 38 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 1: show what they can do in the postseason at full strength. 39 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: But this situation has me thinking because things look more 40 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: than bleak for Milwaukee right now, even healthy, I have 41 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: the Bucks firmly outside of my top tier of championship contenders. 42 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: I don't think they're close to good enough on either 43 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 1: end of the floor to actually win for playoff series. 44 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: And now you add this wrinkle with Dame's condition, which 45 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 1: is going to have at the best case scenario, him 46 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 1: just barely stepping on the floor before they start playing 47 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: real playoff games. So to me, it's just becoming increasingly 48 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: likely that the Bucks have a disappointing playoff performance, and 49 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: that Giannis in the trade buzz surrounding him starts to 50 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: get really loud this summer because again, I don't think 51 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: the Bucks are close. I like, there's to me if 52 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: I look at the top tier of contenders, and it's 53 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: going to be you know, five, six, seven teams when 54 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: it's all said and done, we'll see. But you know, 55 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 1: I look at Boston and Okasee as kind of like 56 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: clearly above the rest of the teams in that tier, 57 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: and the team's below there, the teams like Cleveland, Denver, 58 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: the Lakers, whether it ends up being the Knicks or 59 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: the Warriors teams like that, I view those teams as 60 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:13,079 Speaker 1: substantially less likely than Boston and Oksee to win the title. 61 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: And so when you get to the following tier after that, 62 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: I mean we're talking it's pipe dream territory for most 63 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: of these guys. And like that's with Gianni's playing as 64 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 1: well as he's been he's been playing this year, it 65 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 1: just doesn't feel like they're close. Jannis will have two 66 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: guaranteed years left as well as a player option. Obviously 67 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,519 Speaker 1: I would view that player option as something that he 68 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: would end up opting out of or extending out of. 69 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: And and so realistically, you've got these two guaranteed years 70 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: left this summer, and so if you wait an additional summer, 71 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: now you have the whole like, well, what if he 72 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: doesn't resign problem that's affecting his trade value. And so 73 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: I think it's possible that we end up seeing a 74 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: Jannis and TenneT compo trade this summer. And so we've 75 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: talked about a lot of different teams in a different 76 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 1: places that he could potentially go. But I've talked a 77 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: lot about the thunder going out after a guy like 78 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 1: a Kevin Durant or a Lori Marknen or something. What 79 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 1: if Yannis is the guy that the Thunder end up 80 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 1: going after. They obviously can afford him. He's thirty years old. 81 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: He is a perfect compliment to Chet Holmgren. As a 82 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: matter of fact, you could argue that the Hartenstein salary 83 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:19,840 Speaker 1: is the best vehicle with which to facilitate that sort 84 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,279 Speaker 1: of trade. Hartenstein and then throwing in some of the 85 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 1: younger talent, maybe someone like a case On Wallace and 86 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,039 Speaker 1: maybe one other player with a bunch of draft compensation. 87 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: You can visualize a scenario where the team is built 88 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:35,840 Speaker 1: around a core of Shay and j Dubb and Chet 89 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: with Giannis, and like Giannis would immediately make them a 90 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,559 Speaker 1: good rebounding team when they've been a terrible rebounding team 91 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: In the Shake Gibs Alexander Era, I think he's just 92 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 1: a shoe in basketball fit. In general, with all of 93 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 1: those guys, he immediately changes the physical profiles of the 94 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: team and makes them that much more bruising on the frontline, 95 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,359 Speaker 1: especially if the Thunder end up struggling this year in 96 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: the postseason and they end up like loose in the 97 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: second round. Despite someone like Shae having a great series. 98 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: I think it could end up putting more pressure on 99 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,720 Speaker 1: OKC to make a more aggressive type of deal, and 100 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 1: you could see a trade partnership kind of forming there, 101 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: and like, like it's like the Wemby problem we talked 102 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: about with San Antonio. If your star is ready to 103 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:24,040 Speaker 1: go and like ready to win the title, but your guys, 104 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: like your young players around them that are progressing at 105 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 1: the same time but maybe not at the same rate, 106 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,160 Speaker 1: and it looks like they're not ready, then you end 107 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: up in a situation where it's like, we can't just 108 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 1: wait around while you know, Victor wemin Yama becomes one 109 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 1: of the best players in the league and we can't 110 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 1: support him properly. And that's the thing, Like you don't 111 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: want to run into a situation with Shae where he 112 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: feels like the Thunder are just processing a bunch of 113 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: young talent and they're not really going for it. And 114 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 1: so if that ends up being the case, you could 115 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:56,039 Speaker 1: see that pressure start to build and you could see 116 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 1: a trade partnership start to form, and if they end 117 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: up making a deal for some like Giannis, they would 118 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 1: immediately solve all of their weaknesses and I think that 119 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: would make them the most talented team since the twenty 120 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: eighteen Warriors. So that's a dynamic that I see kind 121 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 1: of sort of taking some shape, and man, that would 122 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 1: be a crazy, league altering type of deal. Lebron goes 123 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:23,840 Speaker 1: on Pat McAfee show and he starts pontificating about Jannis 124 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 1: and what he would average in the seventies, and he 125 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 1: says Yiannis would average two hundred and fifty points if 126 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:31,600 Speaker 1: he played back in that era. And like, Frankly, I 127 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: just don't see the point in this. For the same 128 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 1: reason why it's lame when the older players start disrespecting 129 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 1: this era, I think it's lame for today's players to 130 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: do the same thing with the past. Now, for the record, 131 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: there's a reason why they're doing this. There's a reason 132 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: why JJ Reddick said those guys played against plumbers. There's 133 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 1: a reason why Lebron James is talking this shit, and 134 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:53,480 Speaker 1: it's because they're sick and tired of the old guys 135 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 1: talking shit. I just think it's pointless to stoop down 136 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: to that level. Frankly, it's just not productive. It doesn't 137 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: actually solve anything. And here's the thing. Would Yannis score 138 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 1: two hundred and fifty points a game if you played 139 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,919 Speaker 1: in the seventies, No, but yeah, he kill those guys. 140 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: He'd averaged forty probably maybe even closer to fifty. But 141 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: who cares. Comparing eras is completely pointless. Jalen Green basically 142 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: has the same career true shooting percentage as Kobe Bryant. 143 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 1: Does that mean Jalen Green was just as efficient putting 144 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: the ball in the basket as Kobe Bryant. Yeah, in 145 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: a literal sense, but not in a realistic sense, because 146 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 1: the game of basketball is very, very different now. Dudes 147 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 1: in the seventies had bad shoes, they had shitty flights 148 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 1: that they took to their road games, They played brutal schedules. 149 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 1: They had nowhere near the knowledge and understanding we have 150 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: today to make our professional athletes the best they can be. 151 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: Schematics have involved over the years as just more smart 152 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: minds have gotten involved in the game and made their 153 00:07:55,640 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: imprint strategically. I think it makes absolutely no sense to 154 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: compare basketball from fifty years ago to today, And again, 155 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: even if you justify it with the way that those 156 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 1: guys have been treated by the older generations, I just 157 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 1: think stooping to that level, all it does is further 158 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: detegrate the game. And now we're in this weird war 159 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: where like the younger players are shit talking the old days, 160 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: and the older dudes are shit talking the young guys, 161 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: and everyone's just being disrespectful to the game of basketball. 162 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: And so I hope that that stops you. And I 163 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 1: disagreed with Lebron's approach there. Last night, Brodny hits five 164 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 1: more threes, finished with seventeen points, nine rebounds, and six 165 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,559 Speaker 1: assists in a win. This is on the heels of 166 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: him dropping a career high thirty nine points in a 167 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: previous G League game a couple days prior, and that 168 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:45,440 Speaker 1: was on the heels of him dropping seventeen points in 169 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 1: a real deal NBA game against the Bucks, where he 170 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: made a lot of moves that looked very much like 171 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: a well rounded professional basketball player. I thought this was 172 00:08:55,160 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 1: a great time for us to just remind everybody that 173 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: Bronnie James was the twentieth ranked prospect in the nation 174 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: in his high school class. He was a McDonald's All American. 175 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: He was absolutely, unquestionably on an NBA trajectory before he 176 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: experienced cardiac arrest at USC But then he got his 177 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 1: NBA opportunity despite struggling for a while after the cardiac 178 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 1: arrest incident, and as a result, he became one of 179 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: the biggest stories in all of media, not just in 180 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: sports media, but the whole thing got picked up by 181 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: political media because Lebron has ventured into that arena a 182 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 1: few times and obviously has made enemies in there. That 183 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,719 Speaker 1: is one hell of a cesspool in political media, and 184 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 1: it is as contentious as it can be, and there's 185 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 1: an entire side there that will jump on every little 186 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:52,679 Speaker 1: thing that Lebron does, and so it became absolutely nasty. 187 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: Can you imagine being Bronni And again I want you 188 00:09:56,080 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 1: to disconnect from Lebron for a second. Funny James is 189 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: an entirely different human being than Lebron, an entirely different person. 190 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: Anything that he gets as an association from Lebron. Imagine 191 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 1: being in his shoes and dealing with that. Can you 192 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: imagine getting on his phone and scrolling Instagram and seeing 193 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: content creators making highlight reels of his mistakes in summer 194 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 1: League or in garbage time in an NBA game, or 195 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:32,199 Speaker 1: in the early G league days, And can you imagine 196 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 1: the comments underneath those videos and the direct messages that 197 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 1: he receives. And again, as we've talked about, like when 198 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 1: you venture into this world, there are perks that greatly 199 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 1: outweigh the negativity you face online. That doesn't make the 200 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:51,320 Speaker 1: negativity like just go away, or that it's just super 201 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: easy to handle or anything like that. It sucks. I 202 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 1: on a much much smaller level, just as a content 203 00:10:57,720 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 1: creator in the NBA media, face a certain amunt of 204 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: negation activity, Like you don't wake up one day and 205 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 1: like read the comment that's talking shit about the way 206 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 1: you look or the way you sound, and then suddenly 207 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 1: just be like, oh that's fine, No, no wherries will 208 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 1: go about our day. It still sucks. And this kid 209 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:16,959 Speaker 1: was getting it at a preposterous volume every single day 210 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:23,359 Speaker 1: because he suffered an injury and a condition that dramatically 211 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:26,679 Speaker 1: affected his basketball development. I was thinking about I was 212 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 1: actually talking about this with my buddy Richmond Weaver on 213 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: the radio a little bit earlier this morning. I remember 214 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 1: when I broke my foot in between my first two 215 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: seasons playing in college. I had a really rough first 216 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: semester in non conference play because I was struggling with 217 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: like confidence in my foot, like my ability to plant 218 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:48,319 Speaker 1: that foot I play at about back in college, I 219 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 1: was playing at two hundred and twenty five pounds, Like, 220 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 1: it's just a lot of weight to be planting really 221 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 1: heavy on a foot that I was nervous was gonna 222 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: give way, and it affected my play for months. Can 223 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:03,440 Speaker 1: you imagine cardiac arrest. Can you imagine like playing hard 224 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: after cardiac arrest? Can you imagine pushing yourself and like 225 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 1: feeling your body like start to like really get into 226 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 1: high heart rates and how that could potentially scare you, 227 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 1: How that could affect your willingness or ability to compete 228 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: to a certain extent. Like, I just have so much 229 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 1: sympathy for what Bronni has been through over the course 230 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: of this last year, in the sense that he's been 231 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 1: put through hell because of his dad in his persona, 232 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 1: and look, has Lebron done some things that has accentuated 233 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: the amount of attention on his son. Yes, he's made 234 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: some comments, He's done some things. I'm not gonna sit 235 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: here and pretend that that hasn't happened. But he's Lebron James, 236 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 1: So we're not also going to pretend that if Lebron 237 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: shut up that Bronni wouldn't be a public figure. He 238 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: still would lebron could have said nothing, and Bronni would 239 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: have faced ninety nine percent of the exact same circumstance 240 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: is that he's faced over the last year, and the 241 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 1: fact that his entire basketball pedigree and everything he accomplished 242 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 1: up until the cardiac arrest was just crumpled up and 243 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 1: thrown in the trash as part of the way that 244 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 1: whole thing was discussed. It just was nasty, and I 245 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 1: just feel really bad for him, and I'm just excited 246 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: for him that he's starting to break through on the 247 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,320 Speaker 1: other side of this and show some of that pedigree 248 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 1: that he demonstrated when he was in high school. Now, 249 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: for the record, this won't be linear. The development of 250 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: young players is not something that just goes up and 251 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 1: up and up. He'll have stretches where he has bad 252 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 1: games in the NBA, He'll have bad stretches of games 253 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: in the G League. He'll make mistakes. There will be 254 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: more content creators that have more opportunities to slander him 255 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 1: for whatever reason. But what you're starting to see is 256 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:51,959 Speaker 1: the upside. You're starting to see that he can shoot. 257 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: JJ Reddick talked the other day about how he expects 258 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 1: Brownie in the big picture to be a great shooter. 259 00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 1: You've seen some of the upside with him as a 260 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: defensive playmate, or you've seen some of the upside with 261 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:05,079 Speaker 1: him as a downhill threat towards the rim as a 262 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: playmaking talent. He's got ability in there now. I still 263 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: maintain that I think it'll be at least a year 264 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: or two before he can be a guy that plays 265 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: real rotational minutes at the NBA level as a guard 266 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: off the bench for somebody in the NBA. I still 267 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 1: think he needs quite a bit of time to get there. 268 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: But the potential has always been there. It was missing 269 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 1: in terms of the production for a little while as 270 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 1: a result of what happened to him at USC, and 271 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 1: I'm happy that we're all starting to see some of 272 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: that potential start to come to fruition right now because 273 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 1: it's just a reminder and quite frankly, a resounding statement 274 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 1: that most of the stuff that was set about Bronnie 275 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 1: and set about lebron over the course of the year 276 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: with Bronnie in his journey to where he has in 277 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 1: the NBA was just complete and utter bullshit. And Bronnie's 278 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: just rubbing that in everybody's face right now, and I'm 279 00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: happy for him. Kind of a fun question. What with 280 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: Boston and OKC looking like the clear two best teams, 281 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 1: it's very likely they could end up facing each other 282 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 1: in the finals. I'm curious to hear your take on 283 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 1: how they match up. I would imagine Porzingis would defend Sheet, 284 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: Tatum would defend Hartenstein, Brown would defend she Holiday would 285 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 1: defend Dort, Derek White would defend Jalen Williams. Is this 286 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 1: close to what you'd expect or do you disagree with me? Also, 287 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: if possible, could you maybe list what you think would 288 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: be the key factors for each team to win a 289 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: seven game series. Love the show, keep up the great work. 290 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:31,560 Speaker 1: I hope your skiing trip was tons of fun. Thank 291 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: you for the kind words and for the support. I 292 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 1: agree with you that Boston and OKAC are looking to 293 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: me like the clear two best teams. I don't think 294 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 1: they're separated enough to be on completely different tier than 295 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 1: the teams that I have below them, being right now Cleveland, 296 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: Denver and the Lakers, but teams like the Knicks or 297 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 1: the Warriors could potentially join that tier for me as well. 298 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: Before the end of the season, But I do think 299 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: that there's a slight gap between those two teams and 300 00:15:57,520 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 1: the other teams. I think it's more likely that Okay 301 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 1: gets upset in the Western Conference then Boston gets upset 302 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: in the Eastern Conference. That said, if I had to 303 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: pick what I would expect to see in the finals 304 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: at this point, I do believe it will be Boston 305 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: versus Oklahoma City. Now, with the matchups that you talked about, 306 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 1: there's an interesting dynamic that you're referencing that I think 307 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 1: gets a little bit more complicated because of the way 308 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 1: that Oklahoma City can play their two bigs together. So 309 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 1: we've seen the Celtics put Jason Tatum on centers before 310 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 1: with the intention of being able to switch ball screens 311 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 1: right and shut down the team's primary ball screen attack. Now, 312 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 1: so much of this depends on what direction the thunder 313 00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 1: go with their starters, Like is this gonna be a 314 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 1: situation where they play Chet and Isaiah Hartenstein together with 315 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 1: the starters, or is this gonna be a situation where 316 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 1: they choose to start and Alex Caruso instead and go 317 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: with Chet at center. Like those are the different dynamics 318 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 1: that could change this. But I think it's actually far 319 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: more likely that they put Tatum on Chet then on Hartenstein. 320 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 1: The main reason why is because Hartenstein is not a 321 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 1: pick and pop threat, and he's not really much of 322 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:13,679 Speaker 1: a vertical spacing threat. So it's not like the Dallas 323 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:16,399 Speaker 1: Mavericks problem where you could open up a bunch of 324 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:20,159 Speaker 1: easy lob dunks, because while Hartenstein does have some finishing 325 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:22,919 Speaker 1: ability on the role and some really good short role 326 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,360 Speaker 1: finishing ability with this floater, he's not the vertical spacing 327 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 1: threat that you see from some of the other vertical 328 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:31,680 Speaker 1: centers in the league, right, and so Chet's ability to 329 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 1: pick and pop on Porzingis would be a problem because 330 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 1: you're not gonna want to switch with Porzingis as much. 331 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 1: And if you put Porzingis on Chet, they're just gonna spam, 332 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 1: pick and pop and get Chet into space at the 333 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: top of the key with an opportunity to shoot a 334 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:46,880 Speaker 1: three or drive a close out. So if you put 335 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 1: Tatum on Chet, then you can switch the Shay Chet 336 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: ball screen or the j dub Chet ball screen, and 337 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 1: with Porzingis you can at least force Hartenstein to make 338 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:00,040 Speaker 1: his little floater that he has to make as he 339 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 1: he attacks porzingis helping in those ball screen situations. I 340 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: think that's more likely. How they'd match up the j 341 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 1: Dub and Shay thing gets really tricky because conventional wisdom 342 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 1: would tell you putting Jalen Brown on Shae, he's your 343 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 1: best perimeter defender. When he's locked in and engaged, he's 344 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:19,919 Speaker 1: your best opportunity to slow Shade down, so to speak. 345 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: But I would argue that that creates a complicated matchup 346 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: with a guy like a Jalen Williams like I don't. 347 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 1: I wouldn't put Derek White on Jalen Williams because I 348 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: think you're giving up a little bit too much strength there. 349 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 1: Derek White is such a good off ball defender, such 350 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:39,360 Speaker 1: a good rim protector as a guard, I would slide 351 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 1: Drew Holliday onto Jalen Williams and put Derek White on 352 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 1: Lou Dort and have him as the roamer, the guy 353 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 1: who's helping but still offering contests in those situations. I 354 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 1: think you could go either way with Drew on Jalen 355 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,679 Speaker 1: or excuse me, with yeah, with Drew on Jalen and 356 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: Jalen on Shay. Or you could go with Drew on 357 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 1: Shay or jayal on Jalen. But either way, I think 358 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 1: it's most important to keep Porzingis out of the pick 359 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 1: and pop and to keep Derek White out of a 360 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 1: situation where he's guarding somebody that's too strong for him, 361 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: and I think that gives them their best chance. On 362 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,200 Speaker 1: the other end of the floor, I think it's pretty straightforward. 363 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 1: You're gonna get dort On Tatum. I think you're gonna 364 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:23,719 Speaker 1: get j dub On. You're gonna get Jay dub On 365 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 1: on Jalen Brown, right, I think you're gonna end up 366 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 1: getting Hartenstein on Porzingis because he's more of a post 367 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: up threat. And again with Boston, it also depends like 368 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:33,920 Speaker 1: are they you know, how often are you gonna see 369 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: two big looks? How are you gonna match up when 370 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:37,240 Speaker 1: they do go to two big looks. There's gonna be 371 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 1: situations where that gets complicated. But I look at the 372 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 1: Thunder as more of a switch and contained type of 373 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:44,680 Speaker 1: team with trying to guard Boston, and so I think 374 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:48,200 Speaker 1: we will see some small ball looks, we will see 375 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 1: some chat at center, a lot of switching everything and 376 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: trying to contain the ball, And to me, the biggest 377 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 1: swing factor of the series is gonna be decision making 378 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,680 Speaker 1: for both teams. To me, the Thunder actually remind me 379 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:01,720 Speaker 1: a lot of the Celtics back in twenty twenty two, 380 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,439 Speaker 1: where they just have this sky high potential based on 381 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:06,040 Speaker 1: what they do on the defensive end of the floor, 382 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,679 Speaker 1: and they have all this offensive talent, but they just 383 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:12,159 Speaker 1: make some sketchy decisions a lot in big spots. And 384 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:15,160 Speaker 1: Boston has outgrown a lot of that over the last 385 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:18,280 Speaker 1: couple of years in their growth into becoming a champion. 386 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:20,639 Speaker 1: And that's my number one concern with Oklahoma City is 387 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:23,160 Speaker 1: when they get into high leverage situations, they're decision making. 388 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 1: That said, as we saw, we can see Oklahoma City 389 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 1: do similar things to Boston that Boston struggled with in 390 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: the past in terms of decision making, handling perimeter defenders 391 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:36,639 Speaker 1: that contain the ball and force them into tough, contested 392 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:39,160 Speaker 1: pull up jump shots instead of the wide open catch 393 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: and shoot jump shots that make their offense so unguardable. 394 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:45,239 Speaker 1: And so I think decision making on offense is going 395 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:48,280 Speaker 1: to be the biggest key for both teams in that series. Again, 396 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: I'll go much deeper into that. If we get to 397 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: that point, we're gonna do season. We're gonna do series 398 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 1: previews for every single playoff series like we do every 399 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 1: single year, and so no matter who ends up playing 400 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 1: in the finals, we will do deep breakdowns before the 401 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 1: series when the time comes. Hey Jason commenting from all 402 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 1: the way across the Pond and not so sunny England. 403 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 1: Love the show and I've been watching for years. How 404 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:25,639 Speaker 1: much of a realistic shot do you think Draymond has 405 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 1: a defensive Player of the Year this year? With Wemby 406 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 1: unfortunately getting hurt, it opened up for someone else to 407 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 1: sneak in and grabble this year. The Warriors went say 408 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 1: ten and three in their last games this year, and 409 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:38,159 Speaker 1: dray plays excellent defense as he did against Milwaukee. Is 410 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 1: he in with a real shot? Again? Love the show 411 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,160 Speaker 1: and hope all as well. Thanks again for support, and 412 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:44,639 Speaker 1: hopefully you get some better weather over there here in 413 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:47,639 Speaker 1: a Tucson. It's going to be like yesterday it was 414 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,880 Speaker 1: ninety six degrees, so we're already heading into the summertime. 415 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 1: I think Draymond would be my pick for defensive player 416 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:58,200 Speaker 1: of the year if the season ended today. I think 417 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 1: Evan Mobley's had a great defensive season. I just think 418 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: Draymond Green's a better and more disruptive defensive player. I 419 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:05,919 Speaker 1: think Draymond suffers a little bit from the reputation in 420 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:07,879 Speaker 1: the sense that, like, he's just been such a good 421 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 1: defender for so long that people just don't think about 422 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:13,159 Speaker 1: it as often and mobile even though he's been a 423 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 1: defensive prospect his whole life. This season has just been 424 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 1: a lot of narrative weight behind him and what the 425 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: Cavs have accomplished this year. But like, I don't think 426 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:24,679 Speaker 1: you have to do much more than just watch some 427 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 1: some of these two teams play and just watch how 428 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 1: important Draymond is to what they do defensively and his 429 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:32,120 Speaker 1: ability to show up at the level but get back 430 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 1: and he's one of the best defenders in the league 431 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 1: at being two places at once, having a foot in 432 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:39,400 Speaker 1: the paint disrupting things, but being able to close out 433 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: and get excellent contests on three point shots on the 434 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 1: weak side. He's such a great defensive playmaker. To me, 435 00:22:44,119 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 1: he's the best defensive player that I've watched this season. 436 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: On DraftKings, Draymond right now is the favorite at minus 437 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:55,320 Speaker 1: one p thirty, Evan Mobley at plus one ten, and 438 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: then Dyson Daniels at plus thirteen hundred in third place. 439 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:02,920 Speaker 1: I like that value for Draymond simply because Golden State 440 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:05,359 Speaker 1: has a lot more to play for over the course 441 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 1: of this final stretch of the season. Cleveland has nothing 442 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 1: to play for but get to mid April healthy, and 443 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,639 Speaker 1: so you're just gonna see a higher level of intensity 444 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:16,119 Speaker 1: out of the Warriors over the course of these final 445 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 1: few weeks of the season, and I think that just 446 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 1: bodes well for Draymond's capability to lock up that award. 447 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:26,360 Speaker 1: Is an interesting one. Who's a bigger liability on defense? 448 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:32,479 Speaker 1: Between Jokic and Luca, This one's tough. I think they're close, 449 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:36,320 Speaker 1: but I would give a slight edge in terms of 450 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: who's that bigger liability to Luca, And ultimately it just 451 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: comes down to size. They both really struggle. Neither of 452 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:47,440 Speaker 1: them can guard one on one on the perimeter very 453 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:52,159 Speaker 1: well in space. They're both elite defensive rebounders, which I 454 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 1: think is an asset on the defensive end of the 455 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:58,680 Speaker 1: floor that is under discussed. Like Luca has helped make 456 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:02,040 Speaker 1: the Lakers a service rebounding team despite a lack of 457 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:05,720 Speaker 1: size at the center position because he's an excellent defensive rebounder, 458 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:08,080 Speaker 1: not as an athlete, but he just has a nose 459 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:10,240 Speaker 1: for the ball, meaning he's just good at anticipating where 460 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 1: the ball is going to come off the rim, and 461 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 1: he's got a good pursuit of the ball that allows 462 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 1: him to get a lot of defensive rebounders rebounds. That said, 463 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 1: two things, Jokic is a little bit better defensive rebounder 464 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:26,359 Speaker 1: than Luca, and two Jokic is big, which allows you 465 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:29,480 Speaker 1: to set up potential defensive schemes that keep him around 466 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:31,439 Speaker 1: the rim or put him in situations where he can 467 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 1: be successful. It's harder to do with Luca. Point being, 468 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:37,360 Speaker 1: if you're building an elite defense from scratch, I think 469 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: it's a little bit easier to build one around Jokic 470 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:43,200 Speaker 1: than it is to build one around Luca. That said, 471 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 1: they're both defensive liabilities. Jokic has been a substantial defensive 472 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 1: liability since he won the title. I don't know what's 473 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:51,199 Speaker 1: going on there. He just hasn't really committed to that 474 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:52,679 Speaker 1: end of the floor as well as he used to. 475 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:55,160 Speaker 1: They're both bad on that end, but I would give 476 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 1: Yokic a slight edge as a better defender than Luca. 477 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:01,280 Speaker 1: Do you think that, but this is Lebron's last chance 478 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 1: to win a title. Next year, even they improve the team, 479 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:05,359 Speaker 1: he will be on the same level and get the 480 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 1: Lakers to come back into contention. I don't think this 481 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 1: is Lebron's last chance. I think the next year will 482 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:14,880 Speaker 1: certainly be his last chance in terms of like at 483 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:19,160 Speaker 1: a star level, there's an offseason here where the Lakers 484 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 1: immediately become a buyout destination or not a biot gestation, 485 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 1: a veteran minimum destination. The Lakers are going to get 486 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 1: some discounted talent this summer because you want to go 487 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 1: play in La for Luka Doncic and Lebron James and 488 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 1: have an opportunity to contend for a title Like that's 489 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:34,879 Speaker 1: going to be really appealing to people, especially players that 490 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:38,160 Speaker 1: are play finishers that would benefit from what Luka Doncic does. 491 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:41,119 Speaker 1: The next year. Next year's Lakers I expect to be 492 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:43,239 Speaker 1: a top tier contender right out the gates. I think 493 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:45,320 Speaker 1: they're going to be a really, really good team with 494 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 1: a summer to rebuild around Luca and Lebron. That said, 495 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 1: right before Lebron tour or not tour, but strained his 496 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:53,960 Speaker 1: groin against the Celtics, he was playing at a top 497 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:57,440 Speaker 1: five level. You combine that with Luka Doncic, who has 498 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:00,119 Speaker 1: been playing at a top five level since then, the 499 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 1: two of them together with Austin Reeves, with Ruby Hotchi Murau, 500 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: with Jackson Hayes as the vertical spacer, with Dorian Finney, 501 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:10,560 Speaker 1: Smith gave Vincent, Jared Vanderbilt. This is as this is 502 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 1: certainly the best chance he's had since twenty twenty one, 503 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 1: and I certainly consider this to be a real chance. 504 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:20,760 Speaker 1: I just think he'll probably have a slightly better chance 505 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 1: next year. Now to your point, Lebron will be forty 506 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:25,160 Speaker 1: one next year when they get to the postseason, He'll 507 00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:27,199 Speaker 1: be older, probably won't be as good. There will be 508 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:31,200 Speaker 1: some small amount of decline barring a severe injury. If 509 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: that's the case. Though, with better supporting talent, and now 510 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:37,680 Speaker 1: that Luca's in the picture, they don't need Lebron's top 511 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:42,360 Speaker 1: end as much anymore. They need a consistent floor with him, 512 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:44,600 Speaker 1: which I still think will be there next year, and 513 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:46,200 Speaker 1: I think that that's something that they will be able 514 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:49,120 Speaker 1: to leverage into competing again for a title one more 515 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 1: time next season. What's up, guys, As always, I appreciate 516 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 1: you for listening to and supporting OOPS tonight. They would 517 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:00,480 Speaker 1: actually be really helpful for us US if you guys 518 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 1: would take a second and leave a rating and a review. 519 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:05,399 Speaker 1: As always, I appreciate you guys supporting US, but if 520 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:07,440 Speaker 1: you could take a minute to do that, I'd really 521 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:08,200 Speaker 1: appreciate it.