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All right, okun hoops and I here 26 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: at the volume Havy Monday, everybody. I hope all of 27 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 1: you guys had an incredible weekend. In case you missed 28 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: it earlier, Yovan Bujaf from The Athletic came on the 29 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: show for about an hour of Lakers talk. You can 30 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: find that a little bit further back on the feeds 31 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: this video. We're just doing our latest edition of Power 32 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: Rankings like we do every Monday, and then I have 33 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: two tweaks that I want to make to my contenders 34 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: list after what I saw last week and then last 35 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 1: not least, we have four mail bag questions for the 36 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: end of the show as well. You guys are the 37 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:09,800 Speaker 1: Joe forourt we get started. Subscribe to our brand new 38 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: YouTube channel. It mean a lot to me if you 39 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: guys would take a second to scroll down and hit 40 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: that subscribe button. Don't forget about our podcast feeds wherever 41 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: get your podcasts under Hoops Tonight. Follow me on Twitter 42 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: at underscore Jason LT so you guys don't miss any 43 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: show announcements as well as the film threads that I 44 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: do most mornings. And then also keep dropping mail bag 45 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: questions in the YouTube comments. That's the best way for 46 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 1: you guys to tell me or try to direct the 47 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:32,919 Speaker 1: show and directions that you guys want. If you guys 48 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: want to hit specific topics, drop them in the mail 49 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 1: bag question so that we can hit them throughout these 50 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: throughout these shows towards the end. All right, let's talk 51 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: some basketball. So one team dropped out from last week 52 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: and then one new team made an entry. So our 53 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: new team is the Los Angeleslikers. Obviously they dropped off 54 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: last week, but if you guys remember in that in 55 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 1: that video I said that they're getting healthy, they're getting 56 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:58,839 Speaker 1: their forwards back. I expected them to quickly enter back 57 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: into the list, and not only did they enter back 58 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 1: into the list, but they shot quite a ways up 59 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 1: it after dominating the n season tournament the way they 60 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: did last week. And then the team that I dropped 61 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: out was the Denver Nuggets. They've lost three games in 62 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 1: a row. They're just six and eight over their last 63 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: fourteen games. Now. Nicole Jokic's counting stats are good in 64 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: that span twenty eight points, thirteen rebounds, and eleven assists, 65 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 1: but his efficiency is tanked relative to his normal standards. 66 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,360 Speaker 1: In his first nine games this season, Jokic was sixty 67 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: two percent from the field and thirty three percent from three. 68 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: In his last fourteen games, he's just forty eight percent 69 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: from the field and twenty eight percent from three. The 70 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: big thing there that stands out to me is the 71 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: jump shot. This is like kind of a thing with 72 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: Jokic's career. It's like one year he's making the jump shot, 73 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: and then the next year he's not. Like you go back, 74 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: last year, shot really well throughout the regular season, like 75 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: I think, like thirty eight percent ish from three, and 76 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: then in the postseason he shoots like forty six percent 77 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: from three. It was a huge part of the offense 78 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: for Denver as he was picking and popping, But then 79 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: you go back one year before that and he couldn't 80 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: make a three at all in regular season, and then 81 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 1: he couldn't make a three in that one playoff series 82 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 1: against the Warriors, as he was in the low thirties 83 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: during the regular season, and then in the twenties versus 84 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 1: the Warriors, and so like again, here we are into 85 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: this season and the jump SHOT's not there right like 86 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: the for the season, he's at thirty point four percent 87 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 1: from three, which is the lowest mark of his career. Now, 88 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 1: am I worried about Jokic in the grand Scheme? No? 89 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: Am I saying he's not the best player in the league. No, 90 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 1: that said he's If his jump shot isn't there this 91 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 1: year in the postseason, that is something to factor in 92 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: because that was a legitimate ceiling razor for Denver, and 93 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:37,479 Speaker 1: it's just something to keep an eye on. If he 94 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 1: can get it going before the end of the season, 95 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 1: complete non issue. But if he finishes the year shooting 96 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: like thirty one thirty two percent from three, that would 97 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 1: be something that I'd be concerned about going into a 98 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: playoff series, just because it makes it a little bit 99 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 1: easier to guard Denver if you don't have to close 100 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 1: out hard to Yokich on those picking pops. It's literally 101 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 1: that simple. It's an element of Denver's offense that you 102 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,359 Speaker 1: don't want to see weekend because I don't think this. 103 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:05,039 Speaker 1: I think this team is my championship favorite, but I 104 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: don't think they're a runaway favorite. I think they're a 105 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: favorite by a small gap, and so things like that 106 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 1: are things to keep in mind that could potentially shrink 107 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: that gap. Over this fourteen game span, their defense has 108 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:17,919 Speaker 1: slipped as well. They're down to eighteenth in defense, also 109 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 1: sixteenth in offense over that span, although Jamal Murray missed 110 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 1: most of those games. And then I did want to 111 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: hit this because I'm sure somebody's gonna ask Jason, why 112 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,599 Speaker 1: isn't Dallas in your power rankings? They are third in 113 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 1: the Western Conference, that's true, but they've played the third 114 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: easiest schedule in the league, and they've lost five of 115 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: their last seven games against teams that are five hundred 116 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: or better. They do have the Lakers and the Minnesota 117 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: Timberwolves this week, both at home, so obviously Kyrie's out 118 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: after taking that unfortunate fall from Dwight Powell. But if 119 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 1: they can get if they can look impressive in both 120 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:54,840 Speaker 1: of those games and win one of them or win 121 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: both of them, then they're definitely on the list. But 122 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 1: they just don't have as impressive a set of wins 123 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: as some of the teams that I opted to put 124 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: in over the top of them. So starting with Number ten, 125 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 1: the Cleveland Cavaliers. They beat the Orlando Magic and the 126 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 1: Miami Heat this week. They're nine and three in their 127 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: last twelve games, and they are third in defense over 128 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: that span. Some impressive wins as well. They beat Miami, 129 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 1: they beat Orlando, they beat Atlanta Toronto's not an easy win. 130 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: They beat Philly, and they beat Denver. Now they're winning 131 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:26,159 Speaker 1: with defense, but they're also getting balanced scoring. They have 132 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 1: six players averaging double figures over this span, and they 133 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: should be getting Caris Lavert back on this road trip. 134 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: They got a couple of tough games coming up to 135 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 1: They're at Orlando tonight and then they have two games 136 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: in Boston after that. So we're gonna find out a 137 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: little bit more about this Cavs hot streak at the 138 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 1: end of this week. Number nine the Oklahoma City Thunder. 139 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:50,039 Speaker 1: Now they lost in Houston, but everybody does, right. Houston 140 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 1: is nine to one at home this year. But even 141 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:56,160 Speaker 1: their win against Golden State, I wasn't super impressed by them. 142 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,359 Speaker 1: It took a Draymond Green bailout foul on chet Holmgren 143 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 1: at the buzzer to send that game to overtime. The 144 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: Warriors led the vast majority of that game and out 145 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: executed them in crunch time sands the Draymond Green foul. Right, 146 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: they are nine to one against teams that are below 147 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: five hundred, but they are just five and six against 148 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: teams that are five hundred or better. I am. I 149 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: will say this though, I was really impressed by their 150 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: perimeter defense again in that Golden State Warriors game. The 151 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 1: shot like just in general, the job that Lou Dork 152 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 1: can do not just on bigger players like Lebron and 153 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum and other big wings around the league, but 154 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: also your smaller athletic guards, guys that are difficult to 155 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 1: kind of keep in front from a shiftiness standpoint. He 156 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 1: does really good in those jobs as well. They Oklahoma 157 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: City was flying around at the end of that game 158 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 1: and really did a nice job containing Golden State off 159 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: the dribble, wore them down, and when they got that break, 160 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: when they got the Draymond Green foul, they basically ran 161 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 1: away with the game in overtime. It never really felt 162 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:55,119 Speaker 1: like Golden State had a chance there in that ot. 163 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: So again I remained super impressed by their shot creation, 164 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 1: ball handling, shooting passing. I remain incredibly impressed by their 165 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 1: perimeter defense, but their interior defense and their rebounding continue 166 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 1: to concern me. Moving on to number eight, the Philadelphia 167 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 1: seventy six er is really light week for them. They 168 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 1: beat the Wizards and the Hawks. Those two teams are 169 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: combined twelve and thirty, and Bid did score eighty eight 170 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: points in the two games on just fifty three shots. 171 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: He also had this is a crazy stat for six 172 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 1: Ers fans, Joel Embiid had another seven assist game against Washington. 173 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 1: That's the tenth time this season that Joel Embiid has 174 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:32,680 Speaker 1: put up at least seven assists in a game and 175 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:34,560 Speaker 1: we're only about a fourth of the way through the year. 176 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 1: Last year, all season, he totaled nine games with at 177 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: least seven assists, So already more seven assists of games 178 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 1: than he had seven assists games than he had all 179 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: of last year. That's an encouraging stat as we've seen 180 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:49,560 Speaker 1: Embat's playmaking go up a level this year. Nick Nurse 181 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: has just kind of simplified as reads and make the 182 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,319 Speaker 1: game easier for him, and then they're also heading into 183 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 1: a super easy stretch of their schedule after making it 184 00:08:56,320 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 1: through a tougher stretch. Their next five games are against Washington, Detroit, Detroit, Charlotte, Chicago. 185 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: So there's a really good chance that we're gonna be 186 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: here two weeks from today talking power rankings, and the 187 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 1: Sixers will probably be nineteen and seven when we get 188 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 1: to that point. Number seven the Sacramento Kings, they'd be 189 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: the best team in the league if they could beat 190 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 1: the Pelicans. The win on Friday in Phoenix was the 191 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: seventh time in their last eight tries against five hundred 192 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 1: or better teams that they beat not named the Pelicans. 193 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 1: That's what's crazy about this. They beat Phoenix, they beat Denver, 194 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 1: they beat Dallas, they beat Minnesota, they beat the Lakers, 195 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 1: they beat the Calves, they beat the Thunder, but they're 196 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: oh and three against the Pelicans. Now, what I find 197 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 1: really interesting about this is it's been a similar theme 198 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: that we saw because they're actually also zero to two 199 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 1: against the Houston Rockets, another team that has excellent point 200 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: of attack defenders to throw out their quick guards. And 201 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:54,359 Speaker 1: this is something that I noticed in the Pelicans' matchups, 202 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 1: and I think is something that's a little concerning with 203 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 1: this particular team. When teams have I have multiple great 204 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: perimeter defenders to throw at Deeron Fox and Malik Monk 205 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 1: and contain their dribble penetration, their offense can get stuck. 206 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 1: As a matter of fact, in those They're zero to 207 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 1: five against Houston and New Orleans, but in those five 208 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 1: games they were held below one hundred points three times. 209 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 1: Think about how crazy it is for a team that 210 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 1: plays as fast as Sacramento does, for a team that 211 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 1: is as skilled offensively as Sacramento is, to not reach 212 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 1: one hundred points that frequently in that type of matchup. 213 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: I think it's just something to keep an eye on 214 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:30,319 Speaker 1: from a matchup perspective when we get to the postseason. 215 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:33,319 Speaker 1: You know, if the Kings run into a series against 216 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: a team that has excellent point of attack defenders, that 217 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: could be something that could be a big problem for 218 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: them from a matchup standpoint Number six the Indiana Pacers. 219 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: I found their back to back wins against Boston and 220 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: Milwaukee incredibly impressive, not just because of their ability to 221 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: score against those teams. They hung a one to twenty 222 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: two offensive rating against Boston, they're the third best defense 223 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:55,959 Speaker 1: in the league, and then they hung a one to 224 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 1: twenty eight offensive rating against the Milwaukee Bucks, just completely 225 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:03,320 Speaker 1: exposed Malik Beasley and Damian Lillard as not good enough 226 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 1: defensively at the point of attack for a team that's 227 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: serious about winning a championship. But in addition to that, 228 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:14,080 Speaker 1: the Pacers also had a pretty solid defensive week, not 229 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: just the job that Aaron Nee Smith did on Jason 230 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 1: Tatum and Giannis and Lebron, but also just as a team, 231 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 1: a better job in rotation kind of wrecking havoc with 232 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: their foot speed. Something I've been talking about all season, like, 233 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 1: this is a team that is capable of being a 234 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 1: way better defensive team than they've shown to this point, 235 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: and we saw a little bit of it last week 236 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 1: until they ran into the Lakers. The first team, one 237 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 1: of the best teams in the league is specifically at 238 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:41,440 Speaker 1: punishing interior mismatches, which they did all game long on 239 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:43,599 Speaker 1: their way to just basically bullying the Pacers out of 240 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 1: that tournament. But I was really impressed with him on 241 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 1: both ends of the floor against Boston and Milwaukee. Tyrese Haliburton, 242 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:52,959 Speaker 1: in my opinion, is having one of the six or 243 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 1: seven most impressive individual regular seasons this year, bona fide 244 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 1: MVP candidate. I don't only think he's a superstar on 245 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 1: the rise. I think he's an all time great on 246 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: the rise. I'm super super high on Tyrese Haliburton. And 247 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 1: here's the thing. You know, the tournament, and this is 248 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: what I think is a great example of what's great 249 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 1: about the Ncason Tournament. It's like a miniature Playoffs, right, 250 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: It's clearly not the playoffs, but it's a miniature version 251 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: of it in the sense that, like everybody wants to 252 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:21,000 Speaker 1: win it, and everyone's playing super hard. The stakes are 253 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: crazy high, the games are super physical, super intense, so 254 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 1: you learn some things about basketball teams that kind of 255 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: translate to the playoffs. And I thought that that tournament 256 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: was actually a clear indicator for the Pacers that they 257 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 1: can win the East. They're capable of it, and I 258 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: think that that's gonna color the way that they approach 259 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: the trade deadline. I think they're gonna be aggressive and 260 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 1: if they nail that trade, they could be a real 261 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:45,960 Speaker 1: contender in the East. And as currently constructed, there's still 262 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: a puncher's chance threat just because of how good Tyres 263 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 1: Haliburton is and how difficult it is to guard him. 264 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: Number five the Orlando Magic lost to Cleveland and then 265 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: bounced back against Detroit. They're gonna have a revenge opportunity 266 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: tonight against the Calves, this time at home, and reinforcement 267 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 1: should be on the way soon. Wendell Carter Junior should 268 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 1: be coming back from his hand injury any day now, 269 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: markel Folt said, sounds like he's still not practicing, so 270 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 1: I'm guessing another week or two at least, But getting 271 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,080 Speaker 1: those guys back will help because they've been kind of 272 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 1: thin in some specific position groups during this last run. 273 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: I think they're like nine to one in their last 274 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: ten games if I remember correctly. Palla Bancaro's heating up. 275 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: He had forty two against the Calves on Wednesday. Last 276 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:31,240 Speaker 1: ten games for Palo twenty four points, six rebounds, and 277 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:34,199 Speaker 1: four assists on fifty four percent from the field and 278 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:37,680 Speaker 1: forty two percent from three Watch out for the Atlanto Magic. 279 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:41,439 Speaker 1: Number four the Milwaukee Bucks. They still have the third 280 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: best record in the league. They're up to third in offense, 281 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: but the Pacers loss shine a bright light on their 282 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 1: biggest weakness, which is that point of attack defense, right 283 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:56,319 Speaker 1: they could never make Tyre's Halliburton feel remotely uncomfortable at 284 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: the point of attack, struggling with him in every single coverage, 285 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 1: Tyres's went for twenty seven points, seven rebounds, and fifteen 286 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 1: assists with zero turnovers. They hung a one to twenty 287 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 1: eight offensive rating on them in a must win environment 288 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 1: like that. To put it simply, this defense right now 289 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 1: is not good enough to win the championship. They're in 290 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 1: that boat where like it's clear that something has to 291 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: be done at the point of attack. I don't think 292 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: that they're as seamless offensively as they need to be. Now, 293 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 1: they could get there. I think that's the bright side, 294 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: right Like, If you're looking for an upside to this 295 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 1: buck situation, it's you're the third best offense in the league, 296 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: and Dame is still playing well below his usual level, 297 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 1: right like and Giannis, by the way, he's playing some 298 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: of the best basketball of his career, probably the best 299 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 1: he's been at least since the trophy two and a 300 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 1: half years ago, if not the best he's ever played. 301 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: But Dame's effective field goal percentage this season is a 302 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 1: full five percent down from last year. So like I 303 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 1: think you're seeing like a very capable offense, but an 304 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 1: offense it's not where it needs to be yet. They're 305 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 1: still a little clunky at the end of games. It 306 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: didn't really look like they knew what they wanted to 307 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 1: run down the stretch against Indiana. That's concerning that to 308 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 1: some turnovers. So like, the point is, they're capable of 309 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 1: being devastating offensively, but they're not yet and right now defensively, 310 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 1: excuse me, they're capable of being devastating offensively, but not yet, 311 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 1: and defensively they're not even close to where they need 312 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: to be. And so again, as long as they have 313 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 1: Damon Giannis on the team and with what Brook Lopez 314 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 1: is capable of and Chris Middleton is starting to look 315 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 1: a little more explosive every game, a lot of exciting 316 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 1: stuff there. But I think this team is officially in 317 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 1: the has to do something with that backcourt athleticism piece 318 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 1: if they're really serious about making a run, because you're 319 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: gonna have to go through a Tyres Halliburton, right, You're 320 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: gonna have to go through a Jalen Brunson. You're gonna 321 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: have to go through those guys in Boston and it's 322 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 1: just and right now, you're just not good enough on 323 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: the perimeter defensively. It's something to keep an eye on. 324 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 1: Number three, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers are playing 325 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 1: some of the best basketball in the NBA right now. 326 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 1: They've won twelve of their last sixteen games. They have 327 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: the second best record in the league over that span. 328 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 1: They are third in defense over that span, and you 329 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: saw in that Saturday game the Lakers do what the 330 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: Celtics and Bucks could not do, which is slow down 331 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 1: that high powered pacers offense. Another encouraging stat. I've talked 332 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: a lot about how the Lakers are are not a 333 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 1: good shooting team, but they're not a bad shooting team either, 334 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: and that it was only a matter of time before 335 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 1: shots started falling. Over the last fifteen games, they're eleventh 336 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: and three point percentage. Another encouraging trend for them on 337 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 1: the offensive end of the floor. They've won four straight 338 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: games against winning teams. They have nine wins against teams 339 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: that are five hundred or better, which is the second 340 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: most in the league behind Boston and Lebron. James and 341 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis just had two of the greatest individual performances 342 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: you will ever see, Lebron just became the first player 343 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: in NBA history to notch a thirty five and five 344 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 1: in less than in less than twenty three minutes. And 345 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 1: then Anthony Davis in the championship game puts up a 346 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 1: forty one point twenty rebound, five assist, four block game 347 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: to win the trophy. And this is, like to put 348 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: it simply, People have asked like, oh, what is the 349 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:08,120 Speaker 1: n season tournament means? And the reality is we don't 350 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:11,479 Speaker 1: know because there's no reference point. But just put it 351 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 1: on face and put it on its face from the 352 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: same point of trying to see its value. There were 353 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 1: eight teams in a single elimination tournament that all thirty 354 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: teams were capable of getting into. Right, there are eight 355 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 1: teams in a single elimination tournament. In those eight were 356 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 1: four of my top tier contenders, right Boston, Milwaukee, Phoenix, 357 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:32,119 Speaker 1: and the Lakers. Right at the end of that single 358 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: elimination tournament, it's tournament tournament, Lakers had the trophy. Lebron 359 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 1: was the best player in the tournament. That's something to me. 360 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 1: It's not a championship, not even close, but it's something 361 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 1: to me, and it's a it's a strong validation of 362 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:49,359 Speaker 1: the fact that the Lakers are a clear Inner Circle contender, 363 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: and why some of our issues that we had with 364 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:53,959 Speaker 1: them early in the year, which I pointed to effort 365 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: and specific issues with forwards being out of the lineup 366 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 1: with injury, seem two have been the reality of what 367 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 1: was going on there. This team is very much capable 368 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:05,919 Speaker 1: of beating the top teams in the league. Now you 369 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 1: might say, why, like the Lakers only had to play 370 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: you know, the Suns, the Pelicans, and the Pacers, And 371 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 1: to that I would say, like, you know what, the 372 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:17,600 Speaker 1: Celtics and the Bucks had a chance to beat the 373 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: Pacers and they couldn't. So like, at a certain point, 374 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 1: it's a win over the Suns, which is a championship 375 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:27,440 Speaker 1: contender with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant playing right, It's 376 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:30,200 Speaker 1: a win against the Pelicans, a really good Western Conference team, 377 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:33,359 Speaker 1: where they utterly dominated them, and then they beat the 378 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 1: team that won the Eastern Conference bracket. It's not nothing. Now, 379 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: not only do I have the Lakers at three in 380 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 1: my power rankings, but I'm also moving them past the 381 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:46,439 Speaker 1: Bucks to third in my contender rankings. I actually have 382 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:48,479 Speaker 1: two tweaks that I want to make to my contender rankings, 383 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 1: so still of Denver at one, Boston at two. The 384 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:53,879 Speaker 1: Lakers are just better right now in my opinion than 385 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:56,400 Speaker 1: the Milwaukee Bucks, so I have them at three, Milwaukee 386 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: at four. I'm also moving Minnesota over Phoenix. I thought 387 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:03,399 Speaker 1: the game against Phoenix on Tuesday was another strong indicator 388 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 1: that their physical limitations are going to be a problem 389 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 1: when they run into teams like Denver and the Lakers 390 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 1: in Minnesota in particular, And so as of right now, 391 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:14,280 Speaker 1: until we see something from Bradley Beal that demonstrates an 392 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:17,400 Speaker 1: offensive ceiling that makes that other stuff not matter, I'm 393 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:21,160 Speaker 1: putting Minnesota over Phoenix. Phoenix will be at number six, 394 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 1: and then I still have the Golden State Warriors at 395 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: the bottom of that tier at number seven. So Denver, Boston, Lakers, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Phoenix. 396 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:32,160 Speaker 1: Golden State. Lakers are also heading into an easier stretch 397 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 1: of their schedule right now. They have Dallas on a 398 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: back to back on Tuesday. Dallas is on the back 399 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:39,880 Speaker 1: to back, the Lakers are on. The Lakers obviously haven't 400 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: played since Saturday. Then the Mavericks are also going to 401 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:46,199 Speaker 1: be without Kyrie Irving. Then they have two games in 402 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 1: San Antonio against the Spurs, where they'll be heavy favorites 403 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:51,479 Speaker 1: in both. Then they come home to play the New 404 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 1: York Knicks, and then they go on the road to Chicago. 405 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:55,639 Speaker 1: So I expect them to go four and one in 406 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: that stretch, put five and o's on the table, and 407 00:19:57,520 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 1: if they go four and one, that's eighteen and ten 408 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:03,119 Speaker 1: at that point, and they'll very likely be the second 409 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: or third seed in the Western Conference at that point, 410 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:08,920 Speaker 1: depending on what happens. Excuse me with the Minnesota Timberwolves, 411 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:10,159 Speaker 1: which we'll get to in a minute because wait to 412 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 1: hear about their upcoming schedule. Number two the Boston Celtics. 413 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:17,640 Speaker 1: I was really disappointed in their performance in the Pacers game, 414 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:21,480 Speaker 1: specifically because one, that's a defense that you expect to 415 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:23,439 Speaker 1: be able to slow down the Pacers, and they just couldn't. 416 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:25,160 Speaker 1: They put up a one to twenty two offensive rating 417 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 1: and really had no luck at the point of attack, 418 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 1: which is crazy to me, because like, like, that's the 419 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:32,920 Speaker 1: strength of that defense is they just have a plethora 420 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,159 Speaker 1: of guys they can throw on the ball, and they 421 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:37,480 Speaker 1: just didn't do a very good job. And because their 422 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: late game offensive execution once again was bad. Now Celtics 423 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: fans were complaining at me in the comments about this, like, oh, 424 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,720 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum had thirty two points? How could you blame 425 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:51,160 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum? And again, I'm not blaming Jason Tatum. We're 426 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 1: just having a conversation about the Lakers late game execution. 427 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 1: This is what I would ask you. Has anybody here 428 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:01,880 Speaker 1: has anybody been concerned about Jason Tatum's ability to fill 429 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:05,120 Speaker 1: the box score? Ever? I mean, the dude averaged over 430 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:07,360 Speaker 1: thirty points a game for an entire season last year, 431 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:11,879 Speaker 1: back to back seasons with twenty six something before that, right, So, like, 432 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:13,679 Speaker 1: no one's been worried about whether or not Jason can 433 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:16,399 Speaker 1: put up the points. The question has been can he 434 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 1: generate consistent quality shots over a fifteen to twenty possession 435 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:23,400 Speaker 1: span at the end of a tight, high stakes game. 436 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 1: And in that game, Tyre's Halliburton was getting great shots, 437 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 1: high percentage pull up jump shots for a high percentage 438 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: pull up jump shooter in Tyres Haliburton and driving and 439 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:37,439 Speaker 1: kicking and creating high quality opportunities for aaron Ne Smith 440 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 1: guys like that, Like he was playing excellent offensive basketball 441 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: and on the other end of the floor, Jason Tatum 442 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:46,879 Speaker 1: got a bunch of contested pull up jump shots. For 443 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 1: a player who gets less than a point for contested 444 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 1: pull up jump shots, It's really that simple to me, 445 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:56,120 Speaker 1: Like at the end of that game, a Tyre's Halliburton 446 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:59,239 Speaker 1: looked clearly like a better shot creator, And that to 447 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 1: me is what concerned because no matter what happens, no 448 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:03,240 Speaker 1: matter how much talent is on this team, no matter 449 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:05,639 Speaker 1: what they're capable of in the big picture, if Jason 450 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 1: Tatum can't look I to eye with another superstar when 451 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:12,440 Speaker 1: there's real stakes on the line and consistently outplay that guy, 452 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: the Celtics are not gonna win. It's literally that simple 453 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:17,600 Speaker 1: to me. And what's crazy is the Celtics have way 454 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:20,159 Speaker 1: more margin for error than most teams because of their talent, 455 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:23,200 Speaker 1: and they had more margin for error than everybody last 456 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 1: year and Tatum couldn't bring him over the top. They 457 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 1: had way more margin for air than everybody the year before. 458 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 1: He got out played by Steph and almost outplayed by 459 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 1: Jimmy and the conference finals. And again I'm not hating 460 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:37,159 Speaker 1: on Jason Tatum. He's still in his mid twenties. I 461 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:39,400 Speaker 1: would imagine he will be this guy by the time 462 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:42,560 Speaker 1: he's twenty eight, twenty nine, thirty. Right. My thing is like, 463 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:45,399 Speaker 1: this is what's tough about the Boston Celtics predicament, is like, 464 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 1: there's a window here where you can actually afford to 465 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,399 Speaker 1: keep all these guys. Five years from now or like 466 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 1: called three four years from now, it might be a 467 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 1: very different roster at that point. And so there's an 468 00:22:55,640 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 1: opportunity here for the Celtics, and that opportunity hinges on 469 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:05,360 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum's late game shot creation, and that Thursday game 470 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:09,120 Speaker 1: against the Pacers was another opportunity for him to show 471 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 1: all of us that we're wrong to be concerned about that. 472 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 1: And I didn't like the shots that he generated at 473 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 1: the end of the game. Two switches against Tyree Saliburton, 474 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:21,120 Speaker 1: long pull up jump shots, you know, switches against AARONI Smith, 475 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:24,120 Speaker 1: straight up ISOs and post ups, can't back him down 476 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:26,639 Speaker 1: even and is just settling for really tough jumper. He 477 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: made some of them, made some tough shots, drew a 478 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: Follen one of them, but like at the end of 479 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 1: the day, there just was no real cohesive offensive flow 480 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 1: for Boston down the end of that game, and that 481 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:39,800 Speaker 1: concerns me, especially against a Pacers team that they had 482 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 1: so many physical advantages against. That's it. They've played the 483 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 1: toughest schedule in the league. Their opponents have won fifty 484 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:50,399 Speaker 1: four point four percent of their games, which is been 485 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:53,000 Speaker 1: the highest percentage in the league. Despite that, they have 486 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 1: the second best record in the league and they have 487 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:57,399 Speaker 1: a league best ten wins against teams that are five 488 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:00,119 Speaker 1: hundred better. So I can't put him any lower and 489 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:02,199 Speaker 1: two on this list, and I still have them as 490 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:05,000 Speaker 1: the second best contender behind Denver. But like, I'm not 491 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 1: going to pick the Celtics to win the championship until 492 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:10,639 Speaker 1: I see clear evidence that Jason Tatum is ready to 493 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:13,439 Speaker 1: execute at the end of close games down the stretch 494 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:15,919 Speaker 1: when the trophy is on the line, when I see that, 495 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 1: and we may not even know it until it's June, right, 496 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:21,000 Speaker 1: and it'll probably be one of those things where we 497 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 1: find out when he's hosting the trophy. But right now, 498 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 1: they're just safer bets, and that's why I have the 499 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:31,720 Speaker 1: Celtics at two in my contendered here. Number one Minnesota Timberwolves. 500 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:34,199 Speaker 1: Light week for them. They won versus Memphis and then 501 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 1: one against San Antonio, but they are sixteen to two 502 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 1: in their last eighteen games, best defense in the league 503 00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 1: by a mile. Over that span, they're two point seven 504 00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:43,639 Speaker 1: points per one hundred possessions better than Orlando is in 505 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 1: second place. But they are heading into a really tough 506 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: month of basketball. This is Minnesota's schedule over the next 507 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:56,919 Speaker 1: sixteen games, which is roughly a month, So basically the 508 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 1: next month of Hoops at Pelicans at MAVs versus the 509 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 1: Pacers at the Heat at the seventy six Ers, versus 510 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 1: the Lakers at the Kings, at the Thunder versus the Mavericks, 511 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:14,520 Speaker 1: then versus the Lakers at the Knicks versus the Pelicans 512 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:17,880 Speaker 1: at the Rockets, at the Mavericks, at the Magic at 513 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 1: the Celtics. That is sixteen straight games against winning teams, 514 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:25,959 Speaker 1: eleven of which are on the road. So like, I 515 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:29,800 Speaker 1: have Minnesota at what did I put him at the 516 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 1: gout him at five on my contender list, right, yeah, 517 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 1: because it was Denver, Boston, Lakers, Bucks, Wolves, Suns, Warriors, Right, 518 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 1: So I have them down at five, and yet they've 519 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:41,800 Speaker 1: been the best team in the league so far this 520 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 1: year in the regular season, and the main reason why 521 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:46,040 Speaker 1: I have them down that far is they're not a 522 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:48,600 Speaker 1: known commodity. I don't know a ton about them in 523 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:52,480 Speaker 1: high leverage playoff situations, right, Like, I've seen Dame play 524 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:55,160 Speaker 1: in big playoff series. I've seen Giannis playing big playoff series. 525 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:58,320 Speaker 1: I've seen Lebron, seen Ad seeing Tatum and Brown, seeing 526 00:25:58,359 --> 00:26:01,440 Speaker 1: Yokichen Murray. I've seen all these guys play, right, And 527 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:03,560 Speaker 1: Minnesota is just a little bit more of an unknown 528 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 1: commodity in the sense that like, yeah, I know it 529 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:08,080 Speaker 1: played really well in a couple of playoff series over 530 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:09,600 Speaker 1: the last two years, but they lost in the first 531 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:12,439 Speaker 1: round both times, and so like I just want to 532 00:26:12,560 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 1: it's just they're a little bit more of like an unknown, right. Well, 533 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 1: that's sixteen insane games, and I think we're gonna find 534 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,639 Speaker 1: out a lot about this team over that span. And 535 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 1: if they rip through this stretch and go like eleven 536 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 1: and five, then yeah, we need to start having serious 537 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 1: conversations about moving them further up the contender list. But 538 00:26:31,119 --> 00:26:33,399 Speaker 1: to me, the next month for the Minnesota Timberwolves is 539 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:35,880 Speaker 1: very much a show us what you got type of month, 540 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 1: and like to me, again, like for the record, I'm 541 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 1: not expecting them to rip through and win all these games. 542 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:44,360 Speaker 1: Like to me, it would be a gigantic win if 543 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:47,120 Speaker 1: they went nine and seven. Why because eleven of those 544 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:49,640 Speaker 1: games are on the road. It's very difficult to win 545 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 1: road games against good basketball teams, very difficult, and you 546 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:56,000 Speaker 1: got eleven of them in the next sixteen. So again 547 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 1: I would say, like, if you go nine and seven 548 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 1: over that stretch, you're rejoicing. But the thing is is 549 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:02,639 Speaker 1: that they go nine and seven, it's very possible, but 550 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:04,920 Speaker 1: that they lose some ground in the standings, which again 551 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 1: is another indicator of the thing that I'm always talking 552 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:09,240 Speaker 1: to you guys about, which is the standings and different 553 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:11,320 Speaker 1: runs of games where you go seven and three versus 554 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 1: three and seven usually comes down to health, strength of 555 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:17,080 Speaker 1: schedule like that. That's literally what dictates this stuff more 556 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 1: often than not. But number one Minnesota Timberwolves for this week. 557 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:26,119 Speaker 1: All right, moving on to our mailbag. Four questions for 558 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:29,880 Speaker 1: you guys, Hi Jason. Watching the Lakers Pelican semi final, 559 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 1: I was really stunned over Zion's fitness levels. Guys like 560 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:35,960 Speaker 1: Chuck and Stephen A blasting him off during the broadcast. 561 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 1: Clearly the messaging over the off season that he was 562 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:39,879 Speaker 1: in the best shape of his life was just pr 563 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 1: spin and it's evident that it's affecting his ability to 564 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:45,240 Speaker 1: consistently be the downhill force that we anticipated from him. 565 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:47,480 Speaker 1: I even watched a ton of Pelicans basketball this season, 566 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:48,840 Speaker 1: so I don't have a good feel over what this 567 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 1: team needs to take the next step. But would you 568 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 1: look to trade him now just to get rid of 569 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:54,000 Speaker 1: the distraction, even if it's for thirty cents on the dollar. 570 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:56,400 Speaker 1: The Pells are doing fine with his version of Zion, 571 00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 1: so a case could be made to keep him and 572 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:01,160 Speaker 1: hope he gets in shape. I would counter that now 573 00:28:01,200 --> 00:28:02,800 Speaker 1: is the best time to move him because the team's 574 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 1: playing well with Ingram and powered is the number one 575 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:07,159 Speaker 1: option and guys like Trey Murphy back from injury. We 576 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:10,360 Speaker 1: love your thoughts because I've been going back and forth 577 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:12,320 Speaker 1: over this, but I've just lost faith in his ability 578 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 1: to take his fitness seriously. So here's the thing. None 579 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:19,439 Speaker 1: of us really know how bad it is. Right. What 580 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:22,119 Speaker 1: I mean by that is like, we don't really know 581 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 1: what Zion Williamson's attitude is. Like we hear stories, we 582 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:29,440 Speaker 1: hear secondhand accounts, right, but what we don't see, we 583 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 1: don't We're not actually in the room like I saw 584 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:34,480 Speaker 1: Stephen A. Smith do this thing this morning, as like, oh, 585 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:37,880 Speaker 1: every chef in New Orleans like wants to be friends 586 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:40,000 Speaker 1: with Zion because they know he'll eat everything. I'm like, 587 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 1: that's some weird anecdotal shit that, like what do you 588 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:46,160 Speaker 1: even make of that? Right, Like, we don't actually know 589 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 1: what his eating habits are, Like, we don't actually know 590 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:49,920 Speaker 1: what his work out habits are, Like, we don't know 591 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 1: how committed he is in the film room. We don't 592 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 1: know how committed he is in practice. So a lot 593 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:55,600 Speaker 1: of this is guestimation, right, Like, for instance, I heard 594 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 1: a lot of people slandering Zion for his defense over 595 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:01,920 Speaker 1: the past week, and like, I've actually thought he's had 596 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:04,160 Speaker 1: some moments as a help defender this year. Not a 597 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 1: good week, but this year, I think he's had some 598 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 1: moments as a help defender. And so like again, like 599 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:12,800 Speaker 1: I think a little bit gets sensationalized for the sake 600 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 1: of the take, you know what I mean? That said, 601 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 1: Like it is deeply concerning from the standpoint like Lebron 602 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 1: James looked more athletic than him in that game. That 603 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 1: can't happen because that's what you came into the league 604 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:27,360 Speaker 1: as is the one of the best athletes we've ever seen. 605 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 1: And so from that standpoint, like if I'm inside that 606 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:36,800 Speaker 1: franchise and i know because of first hand information that 607 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:39,240 Speaker 1: this is a shit show and that he's a lost 608 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:41,680 Speaker 1: cause from a personality standpoint, meaning like he's never gonna 609 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:43,400 Speaker 1: be willing to do the work, then yeah, you need 610 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:47,400 Speaker 1: to look to move him. But definitely not right now. 611 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:50,040 Speaker 1: This would be the worst time to move him, because 612 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:52,840 Speaker 1: Iron is good at basketball, and there will be some 613 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 1: ten game stretch over the course of the next forty 614 00:29:55,600 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 1: where he averages you know, twenty nine, ten and seven 615 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:03,200 Speaker 1: and and shoots sixty two percent from the field, Like 616 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:05,520 Speaker 1: he's gonna have a better stretch of games. And if 617 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 1: internally you know you want to move him, you don't 618 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: do it now. You wait and you find an opportunity 619 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:14,040 Speaker 1: when his value is at a higher level. At this point, 620 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 1: there's just no rush because as you said, they are 621 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:20,080 Speaker 1: good right now. Now in the big picture, looking at 622 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:23,040 Speaker 1: this team, let's talk about what the identity of the 623 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:26,080 Speaker 1: Pelicans should be, because what I really look at here 624 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:31,240 Speaker 1: is essentially a version of the Boston Celtics, right, because 625 00:30:31,280 --> 00:30:35,000 Speaker 1: you have all of this rangey length on the wing, 626 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:39,600 Speaker 1: right like it's Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones and Trey 627 00:30:39,720 --> 00:30:44,200 Speaker 1: Murphy and Dyson Daniels like it. Like just even CJ. 628 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:47,719 Speaker 1: McCollum is like a sixty six kind of lanky guard, right, 629 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:50,680 Speaker 1: although he's nowhere near the athlete and defensive player that 630 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:52,520 Speaker 1: those guys are. But I kind of look at this 631 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 1: more as a driving kick team, and so like what 632 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:58,200 Speaker 1: I would view the long term version of this team 633 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 1: is like finding more of a athlete rim protector, thinks 634 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 1: someone in like the Nick Claxton mold, right, and then 635 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:08,440 Speaker 1: essentially I would lean on just incredible linked and athleticism 636 00:31:08,480 --> 00:31:11,640 Speaker 1: at every position where all the guys can dribble and 637 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:14,200 Speaker 1: shoot except for Claxton, right, and then you run essentially 638 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:17,840 Speaker 1: a screen and roll system, or you could probably get 639 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:19,320 Speaker 1: away with five. I haven't seen a lot of Nick 640 00:31:19,320 --> 00:31:20,960 Speaker 1: Claxton lately to know if you'd be up for that, 641 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:23,520 Speaker 1: But it just just depends on what type of player 642 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:26,040 Speaker 1: you get, right, because we're not actually talking about Nick Claxton. 643 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 1: I just mean that archetype, like an athletic center that 644 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:33,640 Speaker 1: can protect the win the rim and switch out onto guards, right, 645 00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:35,760 Speaker 1: Like in the big picture, That's what I envisioned this 646 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:41,080 Speaker 1: team as is like a long, switchy athletic team that 647 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:43,400 Speaker 1: has a lot of ball handling and shooting to drive 648 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:45,920 Speaker 1: and kick you to death. And so right now, it's 649 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:48,640 Speaker 1: kind of like this weird group where it's like you 650 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:52,320 Speaker 1: have CJ. McCollum, who's kind of like a slow down, 651 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:55,840 Speaker 1: like methodical, herky jerky shot creator. Right then you have 652 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:58,880 Speaker 1: Jonas Mallanciunas is like this throwback center who's like a 653 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:02,200 Speaker 1: post up guy, can take threes although teams don't really 654 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:05,440 Speaker 1: guard him out there, but is below average defensive player. 655 00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:07,360 Speaker 1: And then you have like all these rangy wings in 656 00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:09,320 Speaker 1: the middle. And so it's kind of like a weird 657 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:11,800 Speaker 1: mix of players. And even Zion as the four is 658 00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:15,400 Speaker 1: a very strange fit from a basketball standpoint with everyone else. 659 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:17,960 Speaker 1: And so again, in the short term, what I would 660 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:19,680 Speaker 1: do if I was running the Pelicans is you just 661 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:21,960 Speaker 1: ride it out to the deadline and you see how 662 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:25,160 Speaker 1: everything looks then and you make a call. At that point, 663 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:26,920 Speaker 1: my guess is they're gonna keep it. My guess is 664 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:30,080 Speaker 1: that they have no intentions of getting rid of Zion. 665 00:32:30,120 --> 00:32:32,000 Speaker 1: But like, yeah, if you ask me what the best 666 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 1: version of this team is lean into your strengths. What 667 00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:36,080 Speaker 1: is this team good at. We have lots of wings. 668 00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:39,080 Speaker 1: Herb Jones is one of the best defenders of defenders 669 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:40,440 Speaker 1: in the league and is showing a lot of off 670 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:43,240 Speaker 1: the dribble pop this year. Right, Trey Murphy is kind 671 00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:45,480 Speaker 1: of like the opposite version of Herb Jones. He's like 672 00:32:45,520 --> 00:32:47,760 Speaker 1: he's the three and D guy, whereas Herb Jones is 673 00:32:47,760 --> 00:32:50,760 Speaker 1: like the D and three guy. Right, Like, Trey Murphy's 674 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 1: more of a got a lot more off the dribble pop, 675 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:56,960 Speaker 1: a lot more like a much more reliable jump shot. 676 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,160 Speaker 1: He could shoot it out to like almost thirty feet, 677 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:02,880 Speaker 1: comfortably more athletic than Herb Jones in my opinion. So 678 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 1: like you've got that, and then you have Brandon Ingram 679 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:06,480 Speaker 1: is like one of the best three level scorers and 680 00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:08,320 Speaker 1: shot creators that we have in this league, and so 681 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:10,280 Speaker 1: like that, to me, it would be the direction i'd 682 00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:12,920 Speaker 1: go is just leaning into your lanky athleticism, right. I 683 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:15,120 Speaker 1: think this team has looked its best when Dyson Daniels 684 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:17,840 Speaker 1: has been at the point guard position too, Right, But like, 685 00:33:17,880 --> 00:33:20,160 Speaker 1: as far as it pertains to Zion, we don't know 686 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:22,640 Speaker 1: how bad it is. Only they do and you sure 687 00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:24,600 Speaker 1: as hell don't trade him now. You wait until you 688 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:29,360 Speaker 1: have better value at that spot. If the Warriors are 689 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:31,160 Speaker 1: in the same corner as the Celtics were back in 690 00:33:31,160 --> 00:33:33,440 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one, twenty twenty two, which is about five 691 00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:36,880 Speaker 1: hundred and mid January, which single trade would you suggest 692 00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:40,120 Speaker 1: by them come trade deadline? The Celtics auded Derek White 693 00:33:40,120 --> 00:33:41,680 Speaker 1: and they went fifty one and thirty one in total 694 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:45,240 Speaker 1: that season. Massive improvement since the addition, what trade is 695 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:47,080 Speaker 1: there for the Warriors to have a similar regular season 696 00:33:47,080 --> 00:33:49,920 Speaker 1: in playoffs to those Celtics back in twenty twenty one, 697 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:52,680 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two. I said this with the Nerdsash guys 698 00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:54,640 Speaker 1: the other day, but to me, it's so clearly Siakam 699 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:57,080 Speaker 1: for a couple of different reasons. One, I think he's 700 00:33:57,120 --> 00:33:58,680 Speaker 1: gonna be a little bit more affordable than some of 701 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:00,760 Speaker 1: the bigger names out there, guys that go gannob Guys 702 00:34:00,800 --> 00:34:02,120 Speaker 1: like Lori Mark and I just think they're gonna be 703 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:07,960 Speaker 1: very expensive. Jeremy Grant, I just Jeremy Grant's a guy 704 00:34:07,960 --> 00:34:09,799 Speaker 1: that I would consider as well, but I'd have him 705 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:12,719 Speaker 1: as a backup plan to Pascal Siakam. Siacam to me 706 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 1: makes for a super dynamic defensive front line with Wigans, 707 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:21,239 Speaker 1: Siakam Draymond right, those three can switch and guard just 708 00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:24,520 Speaker 1: about every position. And then Sakra has a ton of 709 00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:27,920 Speaker 1: playoff experience too, not just with the Raptors when they 710 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:30,000 Speaker 1: won the title, but also with the Raptors before they 711 00:34:30,040 --> 00:34:32,360 Speaker 1: won the title. The dude's guarded Lebron in the conference 712 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:37,000 Speaker 1: finals or the conference semi finals. I think obviously he's 713 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:40,719 Speaker 1: played awesome in the twenty nineteen NBA Finals. And then 714 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:43,719 Speaker 1: also you can kind of structure his next deal in 715 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:45,440 Speaker 1: a way that makes sense to you in your in 716 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:49,000 Speaker 1: your team's future. Right, So Siakam is the guy that 717 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:51,640 Speaker 1: I would target. I think I saw this stat today 718 00:34:51,800 --> 00:34:56,160 Speaker 1: just for your Warriors fans. The Warriors have played three 719 00:34:56,239 --> 00:35:00,000 Speaker 1: games against teams that are below five hundred three all season. 720 00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:04,120 Speaker 1: As a point of perspective, the Sons have played thirteen 721 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:08,080 Speaker 1: such games. So, like, I'm very much bullish on the 722 00:35:08,080 --> 00:35:11,680 Speaker 1: Warriors still, I think they're a smart trade away from 723 00:35:11,680 --> 00:35:14,440 Speaker 1: being a top tier contender. That's why I can't write 724 00:35:14,480 --> 00:35:16,160 Speaker 1: him off to this point, Siakam is the guy that 725 00:35:16,160 --> 00:35:20,160 Speaker 1: I'd be targeting next one. Can someone please tell me 726 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:23,720 Speaker 1: if I'm crazy for preferring Lauri Markin In over Siakam 727 00:35:23,760 --> 00:35:28,640 Speaker 1: as a Warriors fan. Not crazy, it's just less achievable, right, Like, 728 00:35:28,680 --> 00:35:31,040 Speaker 1: it's just Danny Age is gonna want everything you have 729 00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:33,200 Speaker 1: and it's just not worth it if you have to 730 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:36,280 Speaker 1: give up a Zemski and Tray Jagson Davis and Moses 731 00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:40,400 Speaker 1: Moody and Jonathan Like ideally, if you're the Warriors, Jonathan 732 00:35:40,440 --> 00:35:42,719 Speaker 1: Kaminga is your big trade piece, right. Like I saw 733 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:44,480 Speaker 1: a lot of Warriors fans in the comments like Kminga 734 00:35:44,520 --> 00:35:47,040 Speaker 1: is one of our best players, and like, again, yeah, 735 00:35:47,160 --> 00:35:50,680 Speaker 1: Jonathan Kaminga is is an incredible athlete and I'm very 736 00:35:50,760 --> 00:35:53,680 Speaker 1: high on his long term ceiling. But within the scope 737 00:35:53,719 --> 00:35:57,480 Speaker 1: of this Warriors team, within the scope of this seasons, 738 00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:00,279 Speaker 1: he's young, he's inconsistent, and it's weird basketball fit in 739 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:03,880 Speaker 1: the five out system and so and to put it simply, 740 00:36:04,120 --> 00:36:07,160 Speaker 1: he's your best asset. He's the guy that, like, if 741 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:11,319 Speaker 1: you call mass Aujerry and you say we're offering Kaminga 742 00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:15,719 Speaker 1: in this deal, He's gonna listen to you. And again, 743 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:19,040 Speaker 1: if you want Pascal Siakam, you're not getting him for free. 744 00:36:19,840 --> 00:36:22,759 Speaker 1: So Warriors fans, I wouldn't look at it as like, 745 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:25,799 Speaker 1: why would we trade Jonathan Kaminga, He's one of our 746 00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:29,479 Speaker 1: best players. You'd be bringing back a player who would 747 00:36:29,520 --> 00:36:33,879 Speaker 1: be definitively your second best player, Pascal Siakam, second best 748 00:36:33,880 --> 00:36:37,759 Speaker 1: warrior overnight. Pascal Siakam gives you one of the best 749 00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:41,040 Speaker 1: starting fives in the league overnight. That's the way you 750 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:43,120 Speaker 1: have to look at that deal. It's it's less about 751 00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:46,920 Speaker 1: Kaminga and more about bringing in a veteran forward with 752 00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:49,880 Speaker 1: tons of playoff experience who's a natural basketball fit that 753 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:52,520 Speaker 1: will anchor your defense with Draymond on the front line, 754 00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:54,880 Speaker 1: and a guy that's just gonna make you from a 755 00:36:54,920 --> 00:36:57,239 Speaker 1: team that is capable of beating the best teams in 756 00:36:57,239 --> 00:36:59,400 Speaker 1: the league on any given night to a team that 757 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:00,960 Speaker 1: will be favored against all the best teams in the 758 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:02,759 Speaker 1: league on any given night. That, to me is the 759 00:37:02,760 --> 00:37:04,319 Speaker 1: way that I would look at that dynamic. But as 760 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:06,680 Speaker 1: far as Lori goes, totally different vibe, not as good 761 00:37:06,680 --> 00:37:10,800 Speaker 1: as a defensive player, definitely bigger and stronger, But at the 762 00:37:10,880 --> 00:37:13,800 Speaker 1: end of the day, it's just more about the price. 763 00:37:13,800 --> 00:37:18,640 Speaker 1: I think Siakam is a more achievable goal in that situation. Lastly, 764 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:21,840 Speaker 1: looking back at the Sabonus Haliburton trade, who do you 765 00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:25,480 Speaker 1: think won that trade? Thanks love the show, So obviously 766 00:37:25,520 --> 00:37:27,080 Speaker 1: the Kings won that trade. I do think there's a 767 00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:29,239 Speaker 1: little bit of revisionist history. There's kind of there's two 768 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:33,560 Speaker 1: different ways to look at this, right, Like one, the 769 00:37:33,640 --> 00:37:37,839 Speaker 1: Kings have had just a horrible stretch of luck that 770 00:37:38,120 --> 00:37:41,640 Speaker 1: has still led in their most interesting stretch of basketball 771 00:37:42,080 --> 00:37:45,239 Speaker 1: over the last you know, basically since the early two thousands. Right, 772 00:37:46,560 --> 00:37:49,120 Speaker 1: this team is a ton of fun. They're really good. 773 00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:51,560 Speaker 1: I've consistently had them in my power rankings this season. 774 00:37:51,560 --> 00:37:56,799 Speaker 1: I'm a believer in the Kings. That said, like, obviously 775 00:37:57,600 --> 00:38:01,000 Speaker 1: having Halliburton go off as a bone if I'd superstar 776 00:38:01,080 --> 00:38:04,479 Speaker 1: with the Pacers is discouraging because Sabonis is not that right, 777 00:38:05,120 --> 00:38:08,640 Speaker 1: and then drafting Marvin Bagley over Luka Doncic is obviously 778 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:12,560 Speaker 1: a catastrophe. That said, let's zoom in on each thing individually. 779 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:16,600 Speaker 1: Did they fuck up on the Luka Doncic thing? You bet, 780 00:38:16,760 --> 00:38:19,520 Speaker 1: you bet your ass they did. And like, I'm not 781 00:38:19,560 --> 00:38:21,680 Speaker 1: sure there's a single Kings fan that would disagree, Like 782 00:38:21,880 --> 00:38:24,480 Speaker 1: hot take, Marvin Bagley not as good as Luka Doncic. 783 00:38:24,640 --> 00:38:27,120 Speaker 1: That was just it was stupid in the moment. It 784 00:38:27,160 --> 00:38:31,160 Speaker 1: was it's stupid now, it'll always be stupid. It was. 785 00:38:31,360 --> 00:38:34,400 Speaker 1: It was self sabotage on their part. It was overthinking 786 00:38:34,920 --> 00:38:39,719 Speaker 1: the job and and and they reaped some consequences from that. Right, However, 787 00:38:40,719 --> 00:38:44,360 Speaker 1: Haliburton was really good with the Kings, but none of 788 00:38:44,480 --> 00:38:47,000 Speaker 1: us thought he was going to be this good. None 789 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:50,880 Speaker 1: of us thought that. I personally don't remember a single 790 00:38:50,920 --> 00:38:54,399 Speaker 1: person saying when Haliburton was with the Kings like this 791 00:38:54,520 --> 00:38:57,479 Speaker 1: dude has all time great potential. I don't remember saying 792 00:38:57,600 --> 00:39:00,040 Speaker 1: anybody saying that. That's the way I feel now. I 793 00:39:00,080 --> 00:39:02,680 Speaker 1: think Caliburton has all time great potential. And so like 794 00:39:02,760 --> 00:39:06,439 Speaker 1: it's revisionist history to be like, oh man, they missed 795 00:39:06,440 --> 00:39:09,000 Speaker 1: out on Halliburton. Yeah they did, but from the front 796 00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:11,400 Speaker 1: offices perspective, you look at it and it's like, Okay, 797 00:39:11,840 --> 00:39:14,200 Speaker 1: they wanted to have an offensive fulkrum in the front 798 00:39:14,239 --> 00:39:17,400 Speaker 1: court and just basically an anchor in the front court. 799 00:39:18,160 --> 00:39:20,360 Speaker 1: They had these two excellent guards and Dearon Fox and 800 00:39:20,440 --> 00:39:23,160 Speaker 1: Tyres Haliburton that they viewed to be a little bit redundant, 801 00:39:23,800 --> 00:39:26,720 Speaker 1: and they made a deal that in the moment. Everyone 802 00:39:26,840 --> 00:39:30,719 Speaker 1: knew there was some potential that Halliburton would exceed Sabonis 803 00:39:31,040 --> 00:39:33,319 Speaker 1: in the long run, but in the short run, they 804 00:39:33,320 --> 00:39:35,319 Speaker 1: looked at it as an opportunity to do something that 805 00:39:35,400 --> 00:39:38,520 Speaker 1: made more sense for that basketball team. And for the record, 806 00:39:38,719 --> 00:39:41,560 Speaker 1: the Kings are a better team after the trade than 807 00:39:41,560 --> 00:39:44,400 Speaker 1: they were before the trade because of that natural basketball 808 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:47,919 Speaker 1: fit and because Halliburton wasn't that good back then, right, 809 00:39:48,360 --> 00:39:51,920 Speaker 1: So it's obviously unfortunate now to look back and be like, 810 00:39:51,960 --> 00:39:54,839 Speaker 1: holy shit, Halliburton's probably better than Fox. Now, by the way, 811 00:39:54,880 --> 00:39:57,160 Speaker 1: I do think Tyres Haliburton is better than Daron Fox. 812 00:39:57,920 --> 00:40:01,560 Speaker 1: But that's new in from me the information we had 813 00:40:01,600 --> 00:40:05,880 Speaker 1: at the time, even though maybe I wasn't covering the 814 00:40:05,960 --> 00:40:09,520 Speaker 1: league when that trade happened, and I was a little 815 00:40:09,520 --> 00:40:12,360 Speaker 1: bit disconnected from the standpoint of the Pacers and the 816 00:40:12,800 --> 00:40:17,480 Speaker 1: Kings individually. So like obviously all the factors involved there, 817 00:40:17,520 --> 00:40:19,000 Speaker 1: I don't know what I would have done if I 818 00:40:19,080 --> 00:40:22,319 Speaker 1: was in that seat. That said, like, it is a 819 00:40:22,360 --> 00:40:25,680 Speaker 1: little it's a lot more defensible in the moment than 820 00:40:25,719 --> 00:40:27,920 Speaker 1: it is at this point in time. Right, Like when 821 00:40:27,920 --> 00:40:30,359 Speaker 1: we look back at that point in time, it's like, oh, 822 00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:33,960 Speaker 1: sa bonus for Halliburton, Like Haliburn's good, that's that's a 823 00:40:33,960 --> 00:40:36,879 Speaker 1: tough player to give away. But Sabonis is good too. 824 00:40:37,360 --> 00:40:40,040 Speaker 1: Sabonis and Fox are going to be incredible together. This 825 00:40:40,120 --> 00:40:42,000 Speaker 1: is going to be interesting, Like this might work, Like 826 00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:44,080 Speaker 1: that's the way you look at it, right, And then 827 00:40:44,200 --> 00:40:47,560 Speaker 1: only now that we know Haliburton is is a superstar, 828 00:40:47,920 --> 00:40:50,160 Speaker 1: can we look back and be like, oh shit, that sucks, 829 00:40:50,280 --> 00:40:52,000 Speaker 1: you know what I mean? But to me, the the 830 00:40:52,120 --> 00:40:56,120 Speaker 1: Luka Doncics piece surrounding Marvin Bagley, that was way more 831 00:40:56,160 --> 00:40:59,040 Speaker 1: obvious of as screw up right, And so I think 832 00:40:59,080 --> 00:41:02,000 Speaker 1: that that. I think when we talk about the Kings, 833 00:41:02,320 --> 00:41:04,880 Speaker 1: they've had a really unfortunate run of things. Some of 834 00:41:04,920 --> 00:41:07,719 Speaker 1: it's self inflicted, some of it's bad luck too. And 835 00:41:08,600 --> 00:41:11,120 Speaker 1: you know, again, like that we were talking about with 836 00:41:11,120 --> 00:41:12,920 Speaker 1: the Warriors with Kaminga, there's a version of this where 837 00:41:12,960 --> 00:41:17,760 Speaker 1: you trade Kaminga for Siakam and in two years Cominga 838 00:41:17,760 --> 00:41:19,520 Speaker 1: makes an All Star team, and then two years after 839 00:41:19,560 --> 00:41:21,399 Speaker 1: that he makes an All NBA team, and then two 840 00:41:21,440 --> 00:41:23,680 Speaker 1: years after that he's a top tier superstar. Like that's 841 00:41:23,719 --> 00:41:25,840 Speaker 1: on the table. I think it's far less likely, but 842 00:41:25,880 --> 00:41:28,359 Speaker 1: it's on the table. And so again, when you are 843 00:41:28,520 --> 00:41:30,959 Speaker 1: operating as a front office like those are the kinds 844 00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:32,719 Speaker 1: of risks that just kind of come with the job, 845 00:41:32,760 --> 00:41:34,880 Speaker 1: if that makes sense. All right, guys, that is all 846 00:41:34,920 --> 00:41:36,759 Speaker 1: I have for today. The plan as of right now, 847 00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:39,279 Speaker 1: we have Chris Mannix coming on for a Celtics deep 848 00:41:39,360 --> 00:41:45,000 Speaker 1: dive tomorrow. We're recording around noon, so actually I think 849 00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:47,200 Speaker 1: I'm recording around one o'clock here in Arizona, so that 850 00:41:47,239 --> 00:41:50,120 Speaker 1: should be up in the early evening time tomorrow, and 851 00:41:50,160 --> 00:41:52,440 Speaker 1: then we're actually staying up to cover the night slate tomorrow, 852 00:41:52,520 --> 00:41:55,480 Speaker 1: so we'll have an instant reaction Tuesday night. Then we're 853 00:41:55,480 --> 00:41:58,280 Speaker 1: taking Wednesday off, and then we're gonna have film sessions 854 00:41:58,320 --> 00:42:01,000 Speaker 1: on Thursday and Friday, old school sessions where I'll break 855 00:42:01,000 --> 00:42:03,719 Speaker 1: down a bunch of games after watching film, and then 856 00:42:03,760 --> 00:42:05,640 Speaker 1: we'll hit some mailback questions at the end of those shows, 857 00:42:05,640 --> 00:42:08,080 Speaker 1: So keep dropping mail back questions as always. I appreciate you, guys, 858 00:42:08,440 --> 00:42:38,480 Speaker 1: and I'll see you guys with Mannix tomorrow. The volume