1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:16,920 Speaker 1: The Volume. All right, welcome to Hoops Tonight. Here at 2 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 1: the Volume, Happy Friday, everybody covers to the NBA Finals. 3 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: Here at Hoops Tonight is brought to you by Chase 4 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,479 Speaker 1: Freedom Unlimited. How do You Cash Back? We are also 5 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:27,479 Speaker 1: live on AMPS, so if you're watching on YouTube or 6 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 1: listening on the podcast feed, don't forget that AMP is 7 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: the very first place that you guys can get these shows. Well, 8 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 1: the Denver Nuggets have proven so far through four games 9 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: that they are significantly better than the Miami Heat, which 10 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: I think most of us knew going into the series. 11 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: I will say, though, I've been really impressed with the 12 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: job that Miami's done in this series, just through everything 13 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: that makes them great as a basketball team, keeping it 14 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,839 Speaker 1: competitive and keeping it interesting. But I do think this 15 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: thing is over and I think the Nuggets are going 16 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: to close this out in five. But I have a 17 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: lot of stuff that I want to get into because 18 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: I think this Nuggets team represents the second team in 19 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: a row of a good trend for the NBA and 20 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 1: the direction that it's heading. I'm excited to dive at it. 21 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: Dive into that a little bit, you guys know the 22 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: drill before we get started. Subscribe to the volumes YouTube channels. 23 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: You don't miss any more of our videos. Follow me 24 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: on Twitter at underscore json lt so you guys don't 25 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: miss anyhow announcements. And if, for whatever reason, you guys 26 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 1: miss one of these videos and you can't get back 27 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:18,680 Speaker 1: over to YouTube to finish, don't forget. You can find 28 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 1: them wherever you get your podcasts under Hoops Tonight. Last, 29 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 1: but not least, you guys have heard me talk about 30 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: game Time, the fastest growing ticketing app in the United States. 31 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 1: If you're looking to get out to an NBA game, 32 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: an NHL game, a baseball game, or a concert or 33 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: even a comedy show, game Time has amazing last minute 34 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: deals on tickets to all of these. 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When I am covering 53 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 1: these series, I love to dive into the nitty gritty 54 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: of the adjustments and all the tactical things that are 55 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:35,399 Speaker 1: going on. But I also love big picture NBA basketball. 56 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: It's kind of what I was raised on, you know. 57 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: Before I started playing the game in college and covering 58 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: the game and understanding it more on a tactical level, 59 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,959 Speaker 1: I was a fan just like everyone else, and I 60 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: very much appreciated the history and the narratives and the 61 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: storylines because that, to me, is part of what makes 62 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: basketball great. It's never good when that's all we focus 63 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: on when we focus solely on legacy, narrative and drama. 64 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 1: That's bad for the game of basketball, but it is 65 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: an important part and what it should be is it 66 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:08,359 Speaker 1: should be the thing. In my opinion, it should be 67 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 1: the thing that frames what happens on the court, especially 68 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:14,799 Speaker 1: after the fact. And so I believe this series is over. 69 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 1: We're not gonna spend a ton of time talking about 70 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: tactical adjustments and things like that, because I don't think 71 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: there's much more that Miami can do at this point 72 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 1: to get back into this series, especially going on the 73 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: road into Denver, where I expect them to play great 74 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 1: and I expect them to close the deal and hoist 75 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: the Lary O'Brien in front of their home fans. But 76 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 1: I do think that there's a lot of really interesting 77 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: storylines that have come out of this Finals as it 78 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: has progressed, especially this particular game, because this was a 79 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: game where Denver looked like a well oiled machine. They 80 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: looked like a team that understood how to play with 81 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: each other at a level that most teams in the 82 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: league don't. And I think it's the second team in 83 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: a row that kind of carries that vibe and it's 84 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: a very interesting example to me of what is winning 85 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: in the modern NBA, and it's kind of to me 86 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: a logical progression as talent has increased. As we have 87 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: more and more talent in the NBA. Every team has 88 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 1: a good pull up shooter. Every team has a big 89 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 1: slashing wing, every team has a you know, an excellent 90 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 1: rim pressuring guard. You know, like the talent is spread 91 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 1: around the league and everybody's got good players. You know. 92 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: I have a lot of Nuggets fans that are like, 93 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 1: you know that are are are like, hey, why weren't 94 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: you saying these things about the Nuggets a couple months ago, 95 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 1: And it's like because coming into this playoff run, it 96 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 1: was like, take your pick. I've got the Nuggets one 97 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:39,839 Speaker 1: seed in the West, but I also have the one 98 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 1: seed in the East. Jannis Antanakopo and the Milwaukee Bucks, 99 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: who won a title in twenty twenty one and still 100 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: have largely the same core players and made some improvements 101 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: on the margins. I have the Boston Celtics that were 102 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: two wins away from a title. I have Joel Embiid 103 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: and James Harden and Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris in 104 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 1: the Philadelphia seventy six ers. Obviously, this Miami Heat team 105 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,480 Speaker 1: that we can never take for granted again. And even 106 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:03,480 Speaker 1: in the Western Conference, it's like, you've got an interesting 107 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: young Memphis Grizzlies team. You've got the Sacramento Kings team 108 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: that kicked everyone's aster in the regular season. I've got 109 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: the defending champion Golden State Warriors with the same six 110 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,720 Speaker 1: players from last year. I've got the Los Angeles Lakers 111 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 1: reincarnated with Lebron James and Anthony Davis and good role players. 112 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: And all of these great teams are in this field, 113 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: and Denver has risen well above that pack. And at 114 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 1: the beginning of the playoffs, especially given the way that 115 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: they played over the last one third of the season, 116 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 1: you were lying to yourself if you thought that they 117 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 1: were head and shoulders better than everybody, because they just 118 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:36,479 Speaker 1: hadn't shown it to that point. They have shown it since, 119 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: and that's a lesson that we've learned, and that's something 120 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: we're gonna take into next season. But what I find 121 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: is fascinating is what I just listed for you is 122 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: a bunch of really talented basketball teams, a bunch of 123 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: teams that have multiple stars, a bunch of teams that 124 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: have spent draft capital and money and have made trades 125 00:05:54,640 --> 00:06:00,040 Speaker 1: to bring in star players to fortify their rosters. And 126 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: it's funny because as we look back from right about 127 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 1: twenty seventeen to twenty twenty one, that five year stretch 128 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,719 Speaker 1: there was kind of like an age of mercenary team building, 129 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: right Like we saw the Golden State Warriors go sign 130 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant outright and free agency thanks to a cap spice, 131 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: a cap spike, and immediately win two championships in a 132 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 1: row just by sheer force of talent acquired in the 133 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: open market. And then in twenty nineteen we have the 134 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: Toronto Rafts trade their continuity for Kawhi Leonard who comes 135 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 1: into the building and overnight they become this juggernaut who 136 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 1: wins an NBA championship. Twenty twenty, the Lakers ship off 137 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: all their young players, bring back Anthony Davis, immediately win 138 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: a championship. Twenty twenty one, the Bucks make a big trade, 139 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: a splashy trade for Drew Holliday and immediately win a championship. 140 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,799 Speaker 1: So continuity was not what was winning in those years. 141 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: It was sheer force of talent. But I don't think 142 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:01,919 Speaker 1: the league was deep with talent back then as it 143 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 1: is now, and I think that's fundamentally what is different now. 144 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: Every team has multiple stars. Now, every team has, you know, 145 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: a stable of role players, and so I think the 146 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: differentiator has become continuity because this is back to back 147 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: seasons now. Whereas we looked at the playoff fields, the 148 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: playoff fields were stacked, and it was older teams that 149 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: had and I don't mean older by age, but older 150 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: in construction, that have come together and risen to the 151 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: top despite not having the overwhelming talent. To be clear, 152 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: the Nuggets are awesome. They have a ton of talent. 153 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: We're gonna talk about their players a lot tonight. The 154 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: Golden State Warriors had a ton of talent last year. 155 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:43,160 Speaker 1: I'm not trying to sit here and pretend like they 156 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 1: were bums winning a championship. That's not the case. But 157 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: they are not the same type of stacked rosters of 158 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: like that super team I hate that word, but that 159 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: or that phrase, but that super team type of vibe 160 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: that we said we had over the previous half decade. 161 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: These were more organic basketball teams that were built over 162 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 1: years and years and years with slight tweaks on the 163 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: margins that supported their core players and pushed them over 164 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 1: the top. The twenty twenty two Warriors, for instance, Right, 165 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 1: it was Steph Clay Draymond, but they had a couple 166 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 1: of savvy moves post Kevin Durant that brought them Andrew Wiggins. 167 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 1: And there was a rough year in there when they 168 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: had some supporting players that weren't very complimentary, right, guys 169 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: like Kelly Ubray and Cape bays More. Right, then they 170 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: flip those guys for guys that are more complimentary role players, 171 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 1: guys like Gary Payton, right, guys like Namaanya bi Elitza, right, 172 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: and the Otto Porter Junior, And all of a sudden, 173 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:40,679 Speaker 1: it all just clicks together, and that Steph Clay Draymond 174 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: continuity carries them over the top as they go up 175 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: against a young, talented Dallas Mavericks team and beat the 176 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: hell out of them, and they go up against a 177 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: freakishly talented Boston Celtics team and beat them three times 178 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 1: in a row to win an NBA championship. With all 179 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: of the things on the margins that win basketball games 180 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 1: and all of the things that are associated with continuity, 181 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 1: and that's what's going gone on with the Denver Nuggets 182 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: like Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokics, Michael Porter Junior. These guys 183 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 1: have been in wars, and they made an interesting move 184 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: after Jeremy Grant left in free agency bringing in Aaron 185 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 1: Gordon to try to fill that specific role and in 186 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: a way that was even more complimentary, right, but again 187 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: an ancillary piece on the margins to improve the overall 188 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: compatibility of that roster. And then two really really smart 189 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: moves this summer, flipping a guy like Will Barton for 190 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: Kntavious collwoll Pope. Right. And here's the thing. Will Barton's 191 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 1: a good basketball player. He's a good basketball player, a 192 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:48,959 Speaker 1: solid starting two guard in the NBA. But Contavius Collwo 193 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 1: Pope was a much better fit that had a better 194 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 1: big game experience coming off of that championship run with 195 00:09:55,800 --> 00:10:00,679 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty Lakers. Several specific fits with that made 196 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: a ton of a ton of sense. He is an 197 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 1: excellent lock and trail guard, which is super important defensively, 198 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 1: and drop coverage when you need to keep Nikol Jokic 199 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 1: at the basket right, excellent transition running guard right, which 200 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: is so important with a guy like Nikola Jokic who 201 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 1: can throw outlet passes so well offensively when he needs 202 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 1: to create with the ball in his hands. He's great 203 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 1: in dribble handoffs. I'm taking and making movement jump shots. 204 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: That's a super complimentary piece with Nikola jokicch That was 205 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 1: a really smart move that didn't seem like much, but 206 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:36,679 Speaker 1: was obviously going to dramatically improve the roster, just sheerly 207 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: based on fit. And then Bruce Brown as that guy 208 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 1: that could be that athletic guard defender, the guy that 209 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:45,319 Speaker 1: could be a guy who brings the ball up the 210 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: floor with a different type of pace than Jamal Murray 211 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 1: because he's more of a like a straight line athlete. 212 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 1: How clutches it that Denver could just give the ball 213 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:55,560 Speaker 1: to Bruce Brown and be like, bring the ball up 214 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 1: the floor. Oh and if you have Duncan Robbinson on 215 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 1: you and he's he's and he's you know, giving up 216 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,839 Speaker 1: an angle, just hit the jets and go to the rim. Okay, 217 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: D'Angelo Russell's on you. Just hit the jets and go 218 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 1: to the rim. These were little moves on the margins 219 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: that made a ton of sense. Christian Brown, a rookie 220 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: that has great physical tools that can play a specific 221 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 1: role off of your bench. They are very smartly put 222 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: together team built in a organic in an organic format 223 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:27,679 Speaker 1: that allowed the Nuggets to capitalize on their continuity. And 224 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: that's what I enjoy about this is we're seeing Denver 225 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,439 Speaker 1: win with the same guys they've had for years, right 226 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: after we saw the Warriors win with the same guys 227 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: they had for years, and instead of trying to trade 228 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 1: salary filler for a star, they made small moves on 229 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 1: the margins to put it all together. What was so 230 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 1: interesting to me about this night, in particular was the 231 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 1: playmaking down the roster. We talked so much about Jokic, 232 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 1: and I'm not gonna spend too much time talking about 233 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 1: him tonight because I talked about him at length over 234 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 1: the course of this series. We had our little four 235 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 1: part bit on what makes them so unstoppable the other night, 236 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: But it's everyone else that kind of keeps that engine rolling. 237 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: How many teams have we seen where there's elite playmaking 238 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 1: from one specific player and the rest of the team 239 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 1: doesn't move the ball as well. That can be a 240 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:18,200 Speaker 1: significant problem, especially in playoff basketball, when teams are targeting 241 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: your weaknesses. Look at the Celtics series for the heat 242 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 1: where Jason Tatum is really the only guy who's a 243 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 1: decent playmaker on the roster. You know, other than Marcus Marter. 244 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: You're not putting the ball in his hands a ton 245 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: and so the ball just tends to get stagnant for 246 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,839 Speaker 1: long stretches and guys aren't making those quick reads right. 247 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 1: Look at Jamal Murray twelve more assists tonight. He's got 248 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: forty two assists in the series. He had a couple 249 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 1: of rough transition sequences where he missed guys I thought, 250 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: But in the half court his playmaking was surgical, and 251 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: it's been surgical in this entire postseason. He's up over 252 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 1: ten assists a game in the finals, but he's up 253 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:57,359 Speaker 1: over well over seven assists a game for the entire playoffs. 254 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 1: Contagious call what Pope throwing a beautiful lob from from 255 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: almost half court to Aaron Gordon cutting along the baseline. 256 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 1: There was that ridiculous pass from Aaron Gordon as he 257 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 1: was on the right wing in the second second half 258 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 1: when Jamal Murray cuts off of I think he cut 259 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: off of a Jokic backscreen and Gorda just throw that 260 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:19,719 Speaker 1: like spinning bounce pass that bounced like twenty feet in 261 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 1: front of him and just hit Jamal in stride for 262 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 1: a basket. All of these guys know how to play together, 263 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: and they are an old fashioned basketball team. It's not 264 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: let's put three stars together in a bunch of veteran 265 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 1: minimums and see what happens. No, it's a bunch of 266 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:40,319 Speaker 1: really good players that aren't necessarily stars, but are stars 267 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 1: in their role. You know, I've gotten into arguments with 268 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: several people over the course of this playoff run. I 269 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:49,559 Speaker 1: do think Jamal Murray's a star, but a lot of 270 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 1: the counterpoints are like, hey, it's a lot of it 271 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: is because he's playing off Jokic. Okay, fine, let's just 272 00:13:55,320 --> 00:14:00,600 Speaker 1: acknowledge that it's because he's playing with Jokic. Regardless, he's 273 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 1: producing at a superstar level. It's the same thing with 274 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 1: Raymond Green. Hey, he's an offensive liability. Okay, fine, if 275 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: that's what you believe. But within this Warrior system, he 276 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,679 Speaker 1: is a positive offensive player. It's been on the scoreboard 277 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:18,040 Speaker 1: for them every single year. They're better when he's on 278 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: versus one he's off. So I get in a vacuum 279 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 1: for the sake of your legacy debates. If you want 280 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 1: to have a specific list based on talent and you 281 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,280 Speaker 1: want to put Jamal lower for one reason or another, 282 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: fine be my guest. But the reality is this is 283 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:33,880 Speaker 1: a game of basketball. It's not a game of one 284 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: on one, and it's about how you can contribute to 285 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: a basketball team. And every single one of these guys 286 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 1: is contributing to a basketball team at a level far, 287 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 1: far superseding what their actual talent level is. Aaron Gordon, 288 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: for instance, Yeah, if he's playing in a bigger crowd, 289 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: do I expect him to dominate in the post the 290 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 1: way that he has? Probably not, but who cares. He's 291 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 1: on a team with a bunch of shooting and in 292 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 1: his ability to capitalize on mismatches matters. Yeah. We talk 293 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 1: all about what he does defensively, and he's been excellent 294 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: defensively in this series. We talk a lot about what 295 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: he does as a cutter off in Nicola. Jokich I 296 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: tweeted out tonight, and I sincerely believe it. I think 297 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: he's the best behind the head finisher in the game, 298 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 1: which is seems stupid to say, but that's such an 299 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: important NBA skill When you've got elite passers in front 300 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: of you, in the basket behind you, and you need 301 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 1: to be able to make eye contact, catch and finish 302 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 1: behind your head. But even above and beyond that, he 303 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 1: had a much much smaller offensive role in the Lakers 304 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 1: series because the Lakers are huge. But now he's in 305 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: this Miami Heat series, and there have been two specific stretches, 306 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: the beginning of Game one and then the entire night tonight, 307 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 1: where his ability to consistently punish mismatches, especially against a 308 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: Heat team that was doing a lot more switching tonight 309 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: than they did in earlier games in the series, that 310 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: was a huge advantage. Everyone has been a star in 311 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: their role, even Michael Porter Jr. Rough series. And here's 312 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:00,080 Speaker 1: the thing, that's what the Miami heater are gonna do. 313 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: They're gonna identify weakness. He's one of the younger guys 314 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 1: on the team and right now he's a little one dimensional. 315 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 1: Not great when he puts the ball on the floor, 316 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: not great defensively, but man, can he shoot the piss 317 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 1: out of the basketball. So what have they done. They've 318 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 1: stayed glued to him off the ball, and they've run 319 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 1: him off the three point line, and so a lot 320 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: of his weaknesses have been exposed and his minutes have 321 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: been cut as a result. It's an important lesson for him. 322 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 1: And they're so damn good it doesn't matter. And even 323 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 1: then I thought he was awesome in the Lakers series 324 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:30,200 Speaker 1: when they were sending a lot more help at the 325 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 1: Murray Jokis two man game and he was getting better looks. 326 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: Everyone has been a star in their role on this 327 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: particular team. Katavi's called well, pope. I told you guys, 328 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: I loved rooting for him when he was on the Lakers. 329 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: Back to back massive stops in the fourth quarter where 330 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler is trying to drive by him and play bullyball, 331 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 1: and he knocks the ball free and then it gets 332 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 1: down on the floor and rips it out of Jimmy's hands, 333 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 1: and then he stonewalls bam Adebayo on a post up. 334 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 1: Jeffrey absolutely awful first shift in the first half. Just 335 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 1: was giving up back cuts, not paying attention to leaving 336 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:11,119 Speaker 1: shooters open. It was rough. Then he comes in in 337 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:15,360 Speaker 1: a vitally important stretch. Nikola jokicch picks up his fifth 338 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: foul and a bullshit flop from bam Medebayo awful call, 339 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 1: and so you have to play the majority of the 340 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 1: fourth quarter without Nikola Jokic. Jeff Green's at center, critical 341 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 1: late contest on a Duncan Robinson on a Duncan Robinson 342 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 1: three at the top of the key where he was 343 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 1: making a defensive effort he didn't make in the first half. 344 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: Huge three on that swing back from Jamal Murray and 345 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 1: pick and roll out of the left corner, like he 346 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: just made plays everybody. This is an old fashioned basketball team. 347 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:48,199 Speaker 1: I have thoroughly enjoyed watching them again. Like I know, 348 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: I know, Uh, this is kind of just the the 349 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 1: the nature of the sports media business, where like I'm 350 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 1: expected to make predictions and then obviously if I predict 351 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 1: against your team, you're gonna take it personally. That's so 352 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:03,200 Speaker 1: not the case. I have teams I don't like. Wasn't 353 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:05,159 Speaker 1: a huge fan of the Memphis Grizzlies this year. A 354 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 1: lot of talk, not a lot of winning in big games, right, Like, 355 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 1: not a huge fan of of of you know, Joel 356 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 1: Embiid and his foul grifting. I have things that I 357 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 1: don't like, but I love basketball like I honestly do. 358 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 1: I can't put it any more plainly than that. And 359 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 1: so guess what, I love the Miami Heat, and I 360 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: love the Denver Nuggets, and I love watching them play. 361 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: I've had so much fun diving into the film and 362 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:34,120 Speaker 1: and going over all of these adjustments. I do root 363 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,440 Speaker 1: for your team in this It just in an organic 364 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: sense as a basketball fan. The only team, like I 365 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 1: said too, I had a legit rooting interest for was 366 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:44,160 Speaker 1: the Lakers because the Lebron and he's gonna retire soon, 367 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:48,679 Speaker 1: and so I I again, I if it feels like 368 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: it's late for you Nuggets fans because I was harder 369 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 1: on them earlier in the year, it's just because I 370 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:56,919 Speaker 1: was giving preferential treatment to teams that had won championships 371 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:59,119 Speaker 1: in the past, which will always be the way that 372 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 1: I cover the game. And for the record, now that 373 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 1: I god willing, if you guys finish it off on Monday, 374 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 1: you're gonna be one of those teams that I give 375 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:10,439 Speaker 1: that same amount of preferential treatment to or that extra 376 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:13,159 Speaker 1: level of respect, because I think this is the ultimate 377 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:16,399 Speaker 1: achievement in basketball and should be respected as such. For 378 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 1: Heat fans like look, I really thought it came down 379 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,880 Speaker 1: to at the end of the day that they're accepting 380 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 1: the fact that there just wasn't enough talent. The one 381 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 1: way they were going to win this series is that 382 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: they got an incredible series out of Jimmy and Bam, 383 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 1: and in Game two they decided they were going to 384 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 1: unleash Jimmy and Bam on the Murray Jokic two man game. 385 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 1: And they got a lot of stops in Game two, 386 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: and they got a lot of stops in the first 387 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: half of Game four. But the reality was is it 388 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:46,920 Speaker 1: wore them out. Neither of them could finish around the rim. 389 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 1: Neither of them could make their pushots and their floaters 390 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 1: and their hook shots and all those little things that 391 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 1: they've been killing teams with throughout the entire postseason. Because 392 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: that's what Denver does to you. They did it to 393 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis and Lebron, they did to Kevin Durant and 394 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 1: Devin Booker outside of two games. So that's just what 395 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: they do. I don't have any sort of adjustment or 396 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 1: magic fix for you. The only way you're gonna win 397 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: in Denver on Monday is if, in my opinion, Denver 398 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 1: brings a trash defensive effort, which I don't believe they will, 399 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:19,879 Speaker 1: because that's the only way you're gonna generate quality shots. 400 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:22,159 Speaker 1: I mean, we talked a lot about Denver and everything 401 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:28,159 Speaker 1: they did offensively in this game, but like I loved 402 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 1: that quote for Mike Malone in the locker room before 403 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 1: Game four, He's like, no one was talking about it, 404 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 1: but defense is why you guys won. And if you 405 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:40,920 Speaker 1: guys remember at least those of you guys who listened 406 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 1: to the AMP Show. It got cut off for YouTube. 407 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:45,399 Speaker 1: But in the AMP Show, when I first talked to Colin, 408 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: I said, everyone's gonna talk about the Yoks two man game, 409 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 1: but defense was the biggest reason the Nuggets won Game three. 410 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:54,399 Speaker 1: And it was this team that what do they have 411 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 1: five steals in the first quarter tonight or five steals 412 00:20:57,160 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: in the first fifteen minutes or so. They had super 413 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: active hands, they were flying around in rotation, their defensive 414 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:06,199 Speaker 1: scheme work to perfection. I think the lesson here as 415 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: it pertains to that top ten defense rule is, Look, 416 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: you have to be a top ten defense if you're 417 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 1: not unguardable offensively. NBA history has taught us that, but 418 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:21,199 Speaker 1: as long as you defend well enough. The best example 419 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 1: I can think of for this particular team is the 420 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:27,880 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen Calves where they were just good enough defensively, 421 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:31,159 Speaker 1: but Kyrie Irving and Lebron James were operating at an 422 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:33,439 Speaker 1: offensive level that was high enough that it made up 423 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 1: for that gap. But I don't see an adjustment available 424 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: for the heat. The reality is is they need more talent. 425 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:43,679 Speaker 1: They need more size than any more athleticism. It's been 426 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 1: a really fun run. They've say, sure as hell of 427 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:50,720 Speaker 1: maximized what this roster is capable of. But this is 428 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,800 Speaker 1: what happens when you run into a real bona fide 429 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:59,040 Speaker 1: NBA championship team, which the Celtics were not and which 430 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:01,639 Speaker 1: the Sixers were not for all of the reasons that 431 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:05,159 Speaker 1: we've discussed over the course of the season. So not 432 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:07,200 Speaker 1: gonna do a film breakdown tomorrow just because I think 433 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 1: this series is over and it's not really necessarily worth 434 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:13,080 Speaker 1: the time. I am going on Sunday night with mister 435 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 1: Chris Mannix here at the volume to break down everything 436 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:20,400 Speaker 1: that's happened in this series, and going into Game five, 437 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 1: I will rewatch the game and watch the film at 438 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:24,840 Speaker 1: some point before then, so at least if there's something 439 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:27,120 Speaker 1: interesting that stands out, we can go over it. But again, 440 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 1: I think this thing is over all right, guys. That 441 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 1: is all I have for tonight. I will see you 442 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 1: on Sunday Night with Chris Mannicks and then again on 443 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 1: Monday night after Game five. As always, I appreciate you guys, 444 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:59,440 Speaker 1: and I will see you then. The volume