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Today, 31 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: we're doing two episodes, and this particular episode we're gonna 32 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: be hitting Spurs suns from last night Victor Wembin Yama 33 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 1: versus Kevin Durant. Then we're gonna do a deep dive 34 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: on the Dallas Mavericks and a deep dive on the 35 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: Memphis Grizzlies, two teams that are performing unexpectedly to start 36 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: the season. The Grizzlies are zero and four, the Mavericks 37 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: are three and oh. We're gonna do deep dives on 38 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 1: both of them and what I've learned from film so 39 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: far this season, and then later this evening, we're gonna 40 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 1: be doing a breakdown of the two ESPN games in 41 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: the Wednesday Night Slate, finishing off with Lakers Clippers in 42 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:33,359 Speaker 1: the evening, which should be a fun one. The Clippers 43 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:35,239 Speaker 1: have had the Lakers number for a while. Lakers aren't 44 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: playing very good basketball right now, so I have a 45 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:38,919 Speaker 1: feeling they might get their butts kicks, but we'll see 46 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: how it goes. You guys know the Joe before we 47 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: get started, subscribe to our YouTube channel. This is our 48 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: brand new YouTube channel. We're trying to get it off 49 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 1: the ground. I sincerely appreciate you guys' support over the 50 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:49,839 Speaker 1: first week and a half or so. We're already over 51 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 1: twenty thousand subscribers. I am incredibly thrilled with how the 52 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:56,959 Speaker 1: show launch has gone on this channel. If you guys 53 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:58,920 Speaker 1: haven't done so yet, it would mean a lot to 54 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: me if he took a second to scrip down and 55 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 1: hit that subscribe button. Don't forget about our podcast feed 56 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: wherever Euchre podcast under Hoops tonight. Follow me on social media, 57 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:09,239 Speaker 1: particularly on Twitter, is where I've been doing when I'm 58 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 1: doing my film sessions. I'm clipping stuff that I noticed 59 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: and I'm putting it on Twitter. I posted like fifteen 60 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: clips this morning, and so I'm gonna be referencing them 61 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: throughout the show. I recommend following me there because that's 62 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: gonna be a good way to kind of get a 63 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: visual representation of some of the concepts that I talk 64 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 1: about on the show. And the last, but not least, 65 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 1: any more mailback questions. We're hitting three of them at 66 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: the end of the show today, but I need more 67 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 1: of them for the future. Put those in the YouTube comments. 68 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 1: All right, let's talk some basketball. So Victor Wemnyama versus 69 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant. You know, we forget that Kevin Durant's an 70 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 1: alien two, right, Like, We've had three players try to 71 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: iso Victor WebM Minyama so far to start this season. 72 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: There was a Dylan Brooks step back jump shot that 73 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: he missed badly. There was a Paul George step back 74 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 1: jump shot that he missed badly, and then there was 75 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving trying to recreate his twenty sixteen step back 76 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: jump shot, which was also way off on the right, 77 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: and then you know, figures, we forget that Kevin Durant 78 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: in and of himself is a unicorn in his combination 79 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: of length and size and ability to move in his 80 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 1: coordination as a score. And he ends up in a 81 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: late clock situation in a late first quarter, and he 82 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 1: tries to call a ball screen to get Victor wemen 83 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: Yama switched off of him, and Victor does a really 84 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: nice job navigating the screen and then applies a little 85 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 1: ball pressure to disrupt Kd's rhythm. But Kdie just goes, well, 86 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: guess I got to iso Wemby here, don't have enough 87 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:30,359 Speaker 1: time to do anything else, hits him with a hard 88 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 1: dribble drive to the right and a step back jump 89 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 1: shot along the baseline, gets it off over Wemby's contest 90 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: and knocks it down. It was one of those like 91 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: kind of iconic basketball moments you see him over the years. 92 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 1: It reminded me of this clip that you can find 93 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: if you look around of Wilt Chamberlain blocking back to 94 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: back Kurreem abdul Jabbar skyhooks, and it's one of those 95 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: things where Kareem was kind of like that generation's you know, 96 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: Victor in a lot of ways, and then you know 97 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,599 Speaker 1: Wilt is the previous generations, and like he's winning that 98 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: individ duel battle, right And that's the thing is, like, 99 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: it's kind of weird seeing Kevin Durant at this phase 100 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: in his career where he's kind of like the elderly scholar, 101 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 1: the guy that we're like, oh yeah, I forgot. He's 102 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: freaking incredible as we've kind of turned our focus towards 103 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 1: the future, and it just kind of felt like a 104 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: cool moment to watch that game last night. The Sun's 105 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: controlled the game throughout. Kevin Durants is on a ridiculous 106 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:22,039 Speaker 1: offensive run right now, twenty seven to seven and five 107 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: on fifty nine percent true shooting, despite his co stars 108 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: being out and facing unbelievably aggressive defensive coverages. Again, like 109 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 1: the Suns right now, with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal 110 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,040 Speaker 1: out of the lineup, are playing a lot of players 111 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: that teams aren't gonna guard at the three point line. 112 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 1: Josha Kogi is not getting guarded out there, Jordan Goodwin's 113 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 1: not getting guarded out Their use of Nurkic made a 114 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: couple threes in crunch time last night, but they're all open. 115 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 1: They're not guarding him out there. Drew Eubanks is a 116 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:52,039 Speaker 1: non scoring threat. And then to here little who knocked 117 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 1: down a couple of threes in the game last night, 118 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: also not being guarded when he's at the three point line. 119 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:00,159 Speaker 1: And so as a result, teams are able to to 120 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 1: zone up on the strong side, meaning like ignore a 121 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 1: player off ball to then come on the other side 122 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 1: of the block so that they don't get a defensive 123 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: three seconds call and just basically make driving not an 124 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: option for KD so that he has to take pull 125 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: up jump shots right and then they're basically just filling 126 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 1: the gaps on the weak side to make those skip 127 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: passes difficult. They're doubling him on ball screens, they're doubling 128 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: him a lot on ISOs as well. They're able to 129 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 1: throw the kitchen sync at KD because there's just not 130 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 1: a lot of offensive skill around him. Right now, that said, 131 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:32,799 Speaker 1: they do you know, this is what the third game 132 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: in a row that the Sons have played without Booker 133 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: and Beal, and so they're starting to get that little 134 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: you know, driving kick thing down on the back side 135 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 1: of that to generate high quality threes. They did not 136 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 1: shoot very well in the Jazz game or in the 137 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: Laker game, but they did shoot much better in this 138 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 1: particular game generate a lot of high quality threes that 139 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 1: guys were knocking down. Kind of were stiff arming the 140 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: Spurs around like ten points for most of the game, 141 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 1: but then Greg Popovich breaks breaks out a three to 142 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 1: two zone in the middle of the fourth quarter. They 143 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 1: get three stops in a row on it, and then 144 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: Devin Vessel has a nice little scoring run where he 145 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: rejects the ball screen with Josha Koge on him and 146 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: gets downhill, hits a and one over use of Nurkic, 147 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 1: and then he hits a nasty step back three over 148 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: Eric Gordon and suddenly it's a three point game, right, 149 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 1: And so then the Spurs go back to Manda Man 150 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 1: and Keldon Johnson's guarden Kevin Durant on a couple of 151 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: possessions and kd gets him twice in a row, one 152 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 1: on one to put the Spurs back up by five. 153 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 1: But then down the stretch the Spurs just straight up 154 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: steal the game. They're down by five, they run a 155 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: baseline out of bounds play where KD and you do 156 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 1: want to Nobby accidentally miscommunicate to switch. Uta is a 157 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: little slow to get out, and Victor just hits a 158 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: really nice shot, a little movement jump shot, a little 159 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: seventeen footer kind of move into his right, rises up 160 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 1: and knocks the shot down. On the very next possession, 161 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: the Suns once again rotate the ball around and hit 162 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 1: you to want Nabby for a wide open three in 163 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 1: the left corner, and again it's maker, miss league. You 164 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: just shot fifty one percent on corner threes last year, 165 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 1: missed this one. Suddenly it's a three point game and 166 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 1: the Spurs have the ball, and so they run this 167 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: play like a ball screen action with Victor. Webbin Yaman, 168 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: Devin Vessel, and Reggie Miller on the TNT broadcast said 169 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: a really nice I've been calling out how Victor was 170 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 1: bailing out of screens early, and this is something he's 171 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 1: gonna have to work on, because, like there's a tendency 172 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: when you're setting ball screens to want to get out 173 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: quickly because you want to be ready for the basketball, right, 174 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: So you want to roll quickly, you want to pop 175 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 1: quickly and you want to be ready to catch the 176 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: ball right. But at the end of the day, your 177 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: opening is actually going to be a bigger result of 178 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 1: how good of a screen you set, because if you 179 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 1: don't set a solid screen and the on ball defender 180 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:44,959 Speaker 1: is able to stay with the primary initiator, then then 181 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: they don't need to overhelp on the backside and you 182 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 1: just won't be open. But if you set a solid 183 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:52,720 Speaker 1: screen and you allow your ball handler to get separated 184 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: from Josha Kogi or whoever it is that's at the 185 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: point of attack, then the backside has to help. And 186 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 1: when the backside has to help, that's when if you 187 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:02,199 Speaker 1: pick and pop to the top of the key, you're 188 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: gonna be wide open. Or if you're rolling down the lane, 189 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: you're either gonna be open for the pocket pass or 190 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:08,959 Speaker 1: the skip pass is going to be open. It requires 191 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 1: you to set a good screen, and this is something 192 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: that doesn't get discussed nearly enough in the league. Like, 193 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: for instance, a matchup like Jokich and Anthony Davis, Like 194 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 1: we talk about all these differences between them, but one 195 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:21,719 Speaker 1: of the key differences between them is Nikole Jokis is 196 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 1: an excellent screener and Anthony Davis is a bad screener 197 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: for his position, and so that sort of thing is 198 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: a huge area of opportunity with big men in the NBA, 199 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 1: and it's something that Victor has to get better at. 200 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: But anyway, he bails out of the screen right and 201 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: so when Devin Vessel dribbles over to the right side 202 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: of the floor, the on ball defenders on him, so 203 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 1: the play completely falls apart. But on the play, Devin 204 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: Vessel settles for a tough pull up three and Kevin 205 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: Durant gets caught ball watching and doesn't box Victor wemen 206 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: Yam out, who slips right behind him for the tip 207 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: dunk to make it one fourteen to one thirteen. And 208 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: then on the inbounds play again, like a lot of 209 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,439 Speaker 1: times traps on the inbounds what they'll do is the 210 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: guy who throws the inbound pass, the guy guarding him 211 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 1: will then quick trap right, and then a lot of 212 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:07,320 Speaker 1: times like teams will rotate down and take away the 213 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:09,559 Speaker 1: inbounder as he comes in and make you throw it 214 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 1: over the top pass. But the Spurs didn't even do that. 215 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: They ignored a kogie when he slid back in bounds, 216 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 1: and so he was right there waiting for the basketball, 217 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: but Katie just didn't see him, didn't even and then 218 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: he also didn't see Keldon Johnson looping around behind him 219 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: for that steal takes the ball away. Then Keldon Johnson 220 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 1: just goes right downhill and attacks the rim and makes 221 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 1: the shot to end up essentially winning the game. KD 222 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: misses a prayer at the buzzer that was an extremely 223 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: difficult shot. Now, this is kind of the reality of 224 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 1: Phoenix's offensive limitations without Devin Booker and Bradley Bial. This 225 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: is the second time in the last three games that 226 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 1: the Sons basically controlled a game throughout and then blew 227 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 1: it late, particularly struggling on the offensive end of the floor, 228 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: because they've actually been a really good defensive team without 229 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: Devin Booker and Bradley Bial For the season, the Suns 230 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 1: are sixth in defensive rating. They are eleventh and half 231 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 1: court defense. According to Cleaning the Glass, they have the 232 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 1: third best transition defense. They are allowing again, like they 233 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:08,199 Speaker 1: don't have a ton of interior side, so they're struggling 234 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:10,199 Speaker 1: a little bit. In the paint. They're nineteenth and opponent's 235 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: points in the paint allowed per one hundred possessions, but 236 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: they are sixth and opponent three three pointers made in 237 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: second and opponent three point percentage. You're seeing a lot 238 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 1: of the elements that Frank Vogel brings to a team 239 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: taking place, physical point of attack defense, right chasing teams 240 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 1: off the three point line, especially on the ball. He's 241 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 1: always into ball pressure and chasing over the top of 242 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: screens to try to funnel to his rim protection. Now, 243 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 1: his rim protection is not great, but he's doing a 244 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: great job of making opposing stars feel uncomfortable. And then 245 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:42,080 Speaker 1: another thing, and again, remember I covered Frank Vogel pretty 246 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 1: closely when he was with the Lakers, when I covered 247 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: the Lakers full time, and another element of Frank Vogel's 248 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 1: kind of defensive philosophy is leave the right guy open. Essentially, 249 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: at any given moment, if there is a guy that 250 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:57,840 Speaker 1: he doesn't trust to be able to consistently knock down shots, 251 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 1: he will basically ignore that guy and overhelp on the 252 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 1: other side of the floor. And the idea there is 253 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 1: make their stars feel uncomfortable, guard their good shooters, leave 254 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: their bad shooters open. They're gonna get wide open shots, 255 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: but they'll get wide open shots for the wrong guys, 256 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:14,599 Speaker 1: And that's a great example of that. They're second in 257 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 1: opponent three point percentage, so that what that's telling me 258 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 1: is that when teams are getting three point looks, it's 259 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: for the right shooters, right, and that that's textbook Frank 260 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: Vogel basketball. I definitely did did not do a good 261 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:30,320 Speaker 1: enough job in my season preview and just kind of 262 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:35,440 Speaker 1: accounting for what Frank Vogel's defensive philosophy and just his 263 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 1: ability to get buy in would due to this basketball team. 264 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 1: Now again, the question will be are they going to 265 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 1: be able to maintain that level of physicality and attention 266 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 1: to detail when Bradley Beal and Devin Booker get back 267 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: in the lineup. My guess is yes, but we'll see. 268 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 1: But every game is felt like Kevin Durant is being 269 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:58,439 Speaker 1: heroic on offense until eventually the other team wears them 270 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 1: down with super aggressive coverage. Is then they start to 271 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: miss shots, and then they start turning the basketball over. 272 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 1: The Sons are turning the ball over at a rate 273 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 1: of twenty one point two times per one hundred possessions 274 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:11,439 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter, which is the second highest rate 275 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 1: in the league for teams turning the ball over in 276 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter, and again like it really just will ease, 277 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 1: like because Kevin Durant in general has not quite been 278 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: as good at his as his peers at managing like 279 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: super aggressive coverages. Like I've always thought that Jannis and 280 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,560 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum in particular were a little bit better at it. 281 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 1: Lebron's definitely a lot better at it, Luca is obviously 282 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:37,319 Speaker 1: a lot better at it. So like compared to the 283 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:40,680 Speaker 1: other like big you know, wing initiators in the league, 284 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: Katie hasn't been the best at that. But it's just 285 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 1: not really that relevant because the Sons aren't winning a 286 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 1: title of Devin Booker and Bradley Bal aren't playing anyway, 287 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:50,439 Speaker 1: and Bradley Bal excuse me, Devin Booker said on the 288 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 1: broadcast last night that he'll be back soon. Now who 289 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 1: knows what that means, but him coming back is going 290 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 1: to solve a lot of the problems on the Spurs front. 291 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: Victor women Yama once again super confident in a clutch situation, 292 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:04,960 Speaker 1: four key points in crunch time. It's a huge story 293 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: early here in the season. These are the leaders, the 294 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 1: league leaders for clutch baskets made. Now, remember that's within 295 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:14,200 Speaker 1: five minutes less than five points. Lebron is number one 296 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 1: with eight clutch field goals, but then Victor wem Minyama 297 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: is tied for second with Luka Doncicc at six clutch 298 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 1: field goals made. He's six for nine from the field 299 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 1: in clutch situations. He's got two blocks in his steel 300 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 1: in clutch situations, three offensive rebounds in clutch situations, once 301 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: again crashing the offensive glass for key bucket late last night, 302 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: and the Spurs are plus nine and fifteen minutes of 303 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: clutch basketball with Victor wem Minyama on the floor, and 304 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: like he just looks confident, he wants the ball. He's 305 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: taking like difficult shots and making him like that. Based 306 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 1: on that of bounds play, He's been actually hitting those 307 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: movement jump shots at a high rate. I almost like 308 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: trust him more on the move than in a standstill situation. 309 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: He has a remarkable ability to slow himself down and 310 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: get really good lift as he rises up to knock 311 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 1: those shot down. There's a lot of leg strength. I 312 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 1: think people have underestimated with how thin Victor Womenyam is, 313 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: how pliable, flexible and strong he is, especially in his 314 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: lower body, with his ability to rise up and knock 315 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: down shots. He had four more blocks last night. I 316 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 1: saw this crazy piece of lineup data when I was 317 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: digging into it this morning. According to Cleaning the Glass, 318 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: with Victor wemen Yama on the floor, the Spurs have 319 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: a one hundred and three defensive rating, which is awesome. 320 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 1: That's an excellent defensive rating. When he's off the floor, 321 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 1: the Spurs have a one hundred and thirty defensive rating, 322 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 1: a twenty seven point per one hundred possession drop. So 323 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 1: you're seeing the Victor Wembenyama effect on both ends of 324 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 1: the floor here early on. And I don't even think 325 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 1: he's been as aggressive offensively as he could be in 326 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: the big picture. Just you know, he had so many 327 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 1: plays last night that I would consider to be like 328 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 1: true wow plays at the NBA level. There was that 329 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: dunk that he had at the end of the first 330 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 1: half where he beat or kd on the close out 331 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: and then rose up with his left hand. He had 332 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: another play late in the it was either late third 333 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 1: early fourth where he kind of like got pirouetted through 334 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: the lane and had his back turned and then just 335 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: like looked up and saw the rim and just threw 336 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: it in off the glass behind his head for an 337 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 1: and one. He is absolute musty television. And I can 338 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 1: tell you on this show we're going to be covering 339 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 1: him throughout the season because I just want to watch. 340 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: And if I'm going to watch, for sure is hell 341 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 1: going to talk about it. And I'm gonna enjoy covering 342 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 1: this kid's career. Devin Vessel made two huge plays late. 343 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: We talked about it, that rejected screen against Joshakogi and 344 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 1: then that step back three over Eric Gordon on the 345 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 1: left wing. He's thirteen for twenty nine and pull up 346 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 1: jump shot so far the season. That's forty five percent, 347 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 1: so that's really really good. And he's also nine for 348 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: nine at the rim, just being really selective about when 349 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 1: he goes, not over penetrating making reeds when he doesn't 350 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 1: see an option there. And then Kelden Johnson, he was 351 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 1: the victim of Frank Vogel ignoring him last night. He 352 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 1: was being left wide open at the three point line. 353 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 1: He attempted nine threes, seven of which were wide open, 354 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 1: meaning the defender was at least six feet away. He's 355 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: finding out quickly that that's the way teams are gonna 356 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:05,440 Speaker 1: guard him until he demonstrates that he can make them, 357 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 1: but last night he did. He made four of them, 358 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 1: including three kind of important ones down the stretch of 359 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 1: the game. All right, let's move on to our first 360 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 1: in depth kind of like dive in on the Dallas Mavericks. 361 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 1: So just a quick heads up for people. I want 362 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:24,119 Speaker 1: you know, I'm always wanting this show to be the 363 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 1: best it could possibly be for you guys, because obviously 364 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:31,000 Speaker 1: there is no job for me here unless you guys 365 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:34,960 Speaker 1: come watch this show. And I really really want to 366 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:39,399 Speaker 1: work on giving better coverage of the rest of the league. 367 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:41,359 Speaker 1: And one of the things that happens is we do 368 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:45,159 Speaker 1: these instant reactions, right, and I end up covering the 369 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:48,880 Speaker 1: top six or seven teams really frequently, and like we'll 370 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 1: hit of those teams will hit like two thirds of 371 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 1: their games, right, and then the rest of the league 372 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,399 Speaker 1: we end up not hitting nearly as much. And what 373 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:57,680 Speaker 1: ends up happening is then we do talk about them 374 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: at the end of some show in some instant reaction, 375 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,240 Speaker 1: and we spend five six minutes on it, and I 376 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 1: just don't really feel like we get enough into the 377 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:09,439 Speaker 1: weeds to really kind of dive into some of the 378 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,960 Speaker 1: interesting concepts that surround these teams, and so what I'm 379 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: gonna start doing more is fewer instant reactions. We're still 380 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 1: gonna do them, they're gonna be a part of the show, 381 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 1: but we're gonna do a lot more of what I'm 382 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 1: about to do right now, which is like just taking 383 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:26,440 Speaker 1: like like a three or four game sample of a 384 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: team and then just doing a deep dive and just 385 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:33,159 Speaker 1: spending ten to fifteen minutes on one team, not focusing 386 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,919 Speaker 1: on an individual game in what happened, but bigger picture trends, 387 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: which players are playing well, which lineups are performing well, 388 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: things they're doing well or poorly on both ends of 389 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 1: the floor, areas of opportunity, things I'm noticing schematically. And 390 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 1: so that's what I want to try today. And I'm 391 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,640 Speaker 1: interested in hearing your guys' feedback because I want again, 392 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: I want to cater the show towards what you guys want, 393 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: because you guys are the ones that make this all work. Right, 394 00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 1: So let's start with the Dallas Mavericks. They are three 395 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:01,359 Speaker 1: to no. They beat the Spurs in the nets in 396 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 1: their first two games, crazy crunch time games right where 397 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: Lukadancic basically saved them down the stretch but then they 398 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:12,160 Speaker 1: notch a really quality road win on the road versus 399 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: the Memphis Grizzlies without Kyrie Irving, as they controlled the 400 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 1: game throughout and went up doubled figures in the fourth 401 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: quarter and basically won without any sort of stress involved. 402 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:25,399 Speaker 1: Right they are the number one offense in the league 403 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:28,200 Speaker 1: so far one hundred and twenty one point three offensive rating. 404 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 1: They're scoring one hundred and six points per one hundred 405 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:33,880 Speaker 1: half court possessions, which is also the very best mark 406 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:35,680 Speaker 1: in the league. And it all starts with Lukadancis. He's 407 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: playing at a MVP level to start this season. Thirty 408 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 1: nine points, twelve rebounds, and ten assists, seventy percent true shooting. 409 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: His jump shot has been on fire. He's shooting seventy 410 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 1: percent in effective field goal percentage on jumpers so far 411 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: this season. A Lukadanciic jump shot is worth one point 412 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 1: four points per possession right now, which is insane. You're 413 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 1: seeing a lot of again, like seventy five percent effective 414 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:01,280 Speaker 1: field goal percentage on pull up jump shots. He's sixteen 415 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:04,159 Speaker 1: for thirty on his step back three to start the season. 416 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: You're seeing a lot of Luca beating switches in the 417 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 1: Memphis game the other night, like they kept switching Jaron 418 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 1: Jackson or Xavier Tillman onto him in pick and roll, 419 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 1: thinking like, oh, Luca's a bullyball player. We can switch 420 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 1: this action and basically force Luca to try to back 421 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 1: down players that are just as strong as him. Right. Well, 422 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 1: Luca's counter for that is the step back three. And 423 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:27,720 Speaker 1: when he's hitting it in the low thirties, it's less 424 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 1: than a point per possession. It's something that the opposing 425 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 1: coach can live with. But when he's hitting it at 426 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: sixteen for thirty to start the season, it becomes untenable. 427 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 1: And you saw it once again in that Grizzlies game. 428 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: Just step back three, step back three, step back three. 429 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,920 Speaker 1: We looked at the Brooklyn Nets game. Step back three, 430 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 1: step back three, step back three. That's becoming essentially his 431 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:50,439 Speaker 1: go to move against switches, and he's just making it 432 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:53,359 Speaker 1: at an extremely high level. He's shooting seventy five percent 433 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:56,719 Speaker 1: in the restricted area as well. His shot creation has 434 00:20:56,720 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 1: been absolutely ridiculous. He is picking everybody apart for the 435 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 1: amount of help that they offer. Wherever it is on 436 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 1: the floor, he blitzes. He's able to just quickly step 437 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:10,439 Speaker 1: back and throw that two hand over the top skip 438 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 1: pass to the right guy. He had a really nice 439 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 1: one against Memphis where he took that step back against 440 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:19,680 Speaker 1: the blitz and noticed the wide open player on the 441 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 1: right wing and kind of looked at him to get 442 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:24,480 Speaker 1: Desmond Bayn to kind of nudge up, and then he 443 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 1: hit the roll man with the overhead pass that ended 444 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 1: up getting swung to the corner for a wide open three. 445 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:32,359 Speaker 1: He's just got complete mastery of half court offense at 446 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 1: this point. The shot creation data is insane. He's averaging 447 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: one point one to four points per pick and roll 448 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:40,159 Speaker 1: in ISOs, and again, this is beating those switches that 449 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:42,840 Speaker 1: we talked about. One point four to six points per possession. 450 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 1: Luca ISOs have led to fifty four points including passes 451 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 1: so far this season's that's literally, by far the most 452 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:52,560 Speaker 1: in the league. Here's how much. Second place is Tyrese 453 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 1: Haliburton at twenty seven ISO points created. So Luka Doncic 454 00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 1: has twice as many isolation points that he is directly 455 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 1: created either by his own shot making or off the pass, 456 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 1: twice as much than the second most in the league. 457 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 1: This is like unbelievable, unprecedented perimeter shot in the perimeter 458 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:14,360 Speaker 1: initiation that we're seeing out of Luca one point three 459 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 1: to eight points per post up. All this is insane, right, 460 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 1: but again you got to have the off ball production 461 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:22,640 Speaker 1: to make it all work. Derek Lively has been an 462 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:25,440 Speaker 1: excellent pick and roll lob threat for him. He's four 463 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,119 Speaker 1: to five from the field on rollman possessions. One of 464 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:32,119 Speaker 1: the early season kind of like big exciting things for 465 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:34,440 Speaker 1: MAMS fans, Like, like we talk about this when you're 466 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: in a situation where your payroll is tied up and 467 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 1: you don't have flexibility to go out and free agency 468 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 1: and pay for players or have the ability to bring 469 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:46,760 Speaker 1: guys back because of their current salary, you know what 470 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:48,679 Speaker 1: I mean, at a decent fair number where you end 471 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 1: up not losing them, right. One of the things you 472 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:54,439 Speaker 1: end up having to do in that situation is you 473 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:57,880 Speaker 1: have to hit on veteran minimum signings because when you're 474 00:22:57,880 --> 00:22:59,679 Speaker 1: over the cap and you don't have the ability to 475 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:02,360 Speaker 1: bring certain players back with bird rights, it pretty much 476 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 1: comes down to mid level exception, veteran minimum exception, bi 477 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 1: annual exception once every other year, right, and then occasionally 478 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: you can do something like they did with Grant Williams 479 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 1: and make a sign in trade, right, But you're limited 480 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:17,800 Speaker 1: in your ability to make these types of moves, and 481 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:21,440 Speaker 1: so hitting on veteran minimum signings is like an absolute must, right. 482 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:23,879 Speaker 1: And they've just had a lot of guys that have 483 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:26,720 Speaker 1: played really well for them that they didn't have to 484 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 1: move mountains to get. Derek Jones Junior started all three games. 485 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 1: He's doing a really nice job of punishing nail help. Now. 486 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:36,919 Speaker 1: Nail help again is like just imagine you have a 487 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 1: corner three point shooter, corner three point shooter, three point 488 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: shooter on the wing right, and then you're having your 489 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: guy come up and set a ball screen. Now, Derek 490 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 1: Jones Junior is typically not a great shooter, right, but 491 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:49,679 Speaker 1: he's a very good athlete. And what a lot of 492 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:52,720 Speaker 1: teams have been doing is cutting and driving out of 493 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 1: that weak side wing as opposed to shooting. And so 494 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:59,199 Speaker 1: they're putting athletes over there rather than putting them in 495 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,679 Speaker 1: the corner in the unker spot like you would like 496 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:05,120 Speaker 1: you'd expect, right. And what's crazy is he's also making 497 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:07,520 Speaker 1: the above the break three as well. Now, what is 498 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:10,880 Speaker 1: nail help if Lucas calling for that ball screen, right, 499 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 1: or if he's even on a switch attacking an ISO 500 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: or just dribbling the ball down the floor and attacking 501 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:20,120 Speaker 1: his individual matchup. If he's on the right wing and 502 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 1: Derek Jones is on the left wing, and Derek Jones's 503 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: defender SAgs down to basically where the free throw line is, 504 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 1: where the nail is, he's taking away the left handed 505 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:32,439 Speaker 1: drive from Luka Doncics, right, But that's a closeout opportunity 506 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:35,359 Speaker 1: that's basically gift wrapped for you, right. And now, a 507 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:37,880 Speaker 1: lot of the reason why coaches will go that way 508 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:41,240 Speaker 1: is they'll think, oh, and above the break three point 509 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 1: shot is not going to be made at a high 510 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: enough clip to really bother us, right, But Derek Jones 511 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:48,120 Speaker 1: has done a really nice job of driving that as well. 512 00:24:48,119 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 1: He's made the shot. He's four for five on above 513 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:53,000 Speaker 1: the break three point shots so far this season, had 514 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 1: a bunch of them. I think he made three of 515 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:57,399 Speaker 1: them against Memphis if I remember correctly, which is funny 516 00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 1: because he's zero for five from the corner, so he 517 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 1: can't make a corner three save his life. But he's 518 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:03,320 Speaker 1: making that wing three point shot a lot. But he's 519 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:06,159 Speaker 1: also slashing to the rim off of those possessions. He 520 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:10,200 Speaker 1: had two driving layups at the rim in the last game. 521 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:13,520 Speaker 1: Attacking out of that slot. He's converting spot up possessions 522 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 1: at one point two to seven points per possession, which 523 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: is excellent. And he's also taking some of their primary 524 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:21,120 Speaker 1: point of attack assignments. So like hitting on the Derek 525 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:24,480 Speaker 1: Jones signing, just something little like that can change the 526 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:27,480 Speaker 1: trajectory of a basketball team. Josh Green has been excellent. 527 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:30,120 Speaker 1: He's shooting the ball and attacking closeouts really well. He's 528 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:33,359 Speaker 1: like a real downhill rim pressure guy attacking closeouts, and 529 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:36,000 Speaker 1: you actually see the defense on his rip throughs really 530 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:38,359 Speaker 1: react to him, and he's good at making that secondary 531 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:42,159 Speaker 1: reid attacking closeouts. Tim Hardaway Junior has been j R. 532 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:45,520 Speaker 1: Smith ESQ with some of his freelance offense. He's eight 533 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: for fourteen on pull up jump shots and three for 534 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:49,720 Speaker 1: four on pull up threes. It's not really part of 535 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 1: the offense when it's happening, it's kind of just like 536 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 1: That's why I say it reminds me of Jared Smith, 537 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 1: because like sometimes the ball just ends up in Tim 538 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:58,160 Speaker 1: Hardaway's hands and everyone just stands around and he goes 539 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:01,680 Speaker 1: one on one and really it's it's a great when 540 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 1: you have guys like that that are bucket getters. It 541 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 1: is actually a useful tool in the offense in bench 542 00:26:07,359 --> 00:26:09,840 Speaker 1: groups as long as he's knocking shots down, and early 543 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:13,160 Speaker 1: in the season he's knocking them down. Grant Williams has 544 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 1: been another signing again now through this one through the 545 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 1: sign in trade, that has been a hit so far 546 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 1: forty five percent from three on seven attempts per game. 547 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:22,879 Speaker 1: I think he's been a useful defensive player and a 548 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 1: very good rebounder for them as well, which we're going 549 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:26,679 Speaker 1: to talk about in a minute. The main area for 550 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:29,760 Speaker 1: opportunity in the MAVs offense, and again, like the MAVs 551 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:31,880 Speaker 1: are the best offense in the league, the best half 552 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:34,440 Speaker 1: court offense in the league, biggest area of opportunities. Kyrie 553 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 1: Irving's got to get going. He's passed the ball really well. 554 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:41,159 Speaker 1: I thought. I thought Kyrie was excellent down the stretch 555 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:44,239 Speaker 1: in that in that Spurs game, in particular in the 556 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:47,800 Speaker 1: early fourth quarter, setting his teammates up for easy baskets. 557 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:50,440 Speaker 1: He's got good role chemistry with Dwight Powell, but he's 558 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:52,120 Speaker 1: just not making his jump shot right now. He's five 559 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:54,320 Speaker 1: for twenty one on jump shots, and he's also missing 560 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:56,760 Speaker 1: at the rim. He's just seven for fifteen at the rim. 561 00:26:56,800 --> 00:26:59,480 Speaker 1: So that'll push them to another level when he gets 562 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:01,760 Speaker 1: going at the rate that Luke is going. But to 563 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:05,479 Speaker 1: be clear, like as bad as his individual scoring numbers 564 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:08,080 Speaker 1: have been, when Luke's off the floor and Kyrie's on 565 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 1: the floor, of the MAVs offense has been very good, 566 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:12,879 Speaker 1: so I don't view it as an issue. It's just 567 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,119 Speaker 1: something that can raise their ceiling in the big picture 568 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 1: when he gets better again. The biggest question coming into 569 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 1: the season was could they defend and rebound at a 570 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 1: high enough level to allow their offense to win games 571 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:26,399 Speaker 1: for them, And they've rebounded extremely well. They've grabbed seventy 572 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 1: five percent of available defensive rebounds. That's the sixth best 573 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:32,840 Speaker 1: mark in the league. After the Kyrie Irving trade last year, 574 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 1: they were twentieth in defensive rebound percentage, So they're rebounding 575 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 1: much better than they did at the end of last season. 576 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 1: Derek Lively has been great there, getting a lot of 577 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: contested rebounds around the basket. Luka Doncic and we're gonna 578 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:48,080 Speaker 1: talk about this in general, he's way more engaged on 579 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:50,880 Speaker 1: the details compared to where he was last year, He's 580 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:54,119 Speaker 1: competing on the glass. He's closing out hard to the 581 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 1: perimeter and funneling guys the way that he's supposed to. 582 00:27:57,040 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 1: He's averaging fourteen defensive rebounds per one hundred possessions so 583 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 1: far this season. That's thirty one percent more than he 584 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 1: averaged last year. So there's unquestionable, bit unquestionably been a 585 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 1: higher level of commitment out of Luca, and then Grant 586 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:12,919 Speaker 1: Williams and Tim Hardaway have both really helped on the 587 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 1: defensive glass. They're both really good with ball pursuit and 588 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:21,160 Speaker 1: they're they're both physically equipped to handle NBA players crashing 589 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:23,080 Speaker 1: from the perimeter, which can be a problem for some 590 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: other teams that don't have that type of physicality. Those 591 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:29,320 Speaker 1: two guys are combining to grab twelve point seven defensive 592 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:32,159 Speaker 1: rebounds per one hundred possessions. Josh Green is really the 593 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 1: only guy on the roster who's not contributing in a 594 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:37,399 Speaker 1: big way on the glass. Right now. The Mavericks are 595 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 1: allowing just eleven point six second chance points per one 596 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 1: hundred possessions, which is the sixth best mark in the league. 597 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:46,360 Speaker 1: On the defensive end of the floor. They're eighteenth in 598 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 1: defensive rating. After the Kyrie Irving trade. Last year they 599 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:52,040 Speaker 1: were twenty seventh. So again, they went from being one 600 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 1: of the very worst defense and rebounding teams at the 601 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 1: end of last season to being a very good rebounding 602 00:28:57,280 --> 00:29:00,920 Speaker 1: team and an average defensive team so far this season. 603 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 1: And that's enough when your offense is as good as 604 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 1: they are. They're twenty second in half court defense. They're 605 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 1: the eighth best team protecting the paint. Josh Green and 606 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:12,240 Speaker 1: Derek Jones have been doing a really good job of 607 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 1: applying ball pressure in funneling guys to the rim. They're 608 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:19,600 Speaker 1: offering smart help at the rim, essentially prioritizing the paint 609 00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:22,320 Speaker 1: in allowing three point shots on the back end as 610 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 1: a result, And again, like that's gonna manifest in the 611 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 1: three point numbers right Like they're giving up the twenty 612 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:31,680 Speaker 1: sixth they're twenty sixth an opponent three pointers made per 613 00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:34,720 Speaker 1: one hundred possessions. They are twenty fifth in opponent three 614 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 1: point percentage, So they're giving up a lot of threes 615 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 1: and teams are making them. But that's like the one 616 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:42,480 Speaker 1: week point. They're guarding the paint well they're rebounding well, 617 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:44,960 Speaker 1: they're actually forcing a decent amount of turnovers. They're forcing 618 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:48,000 Speaker 1: fifteen point two turnovers per one hundred possessions. That's the 619 00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:51,240 Speaker 1: twelfth most in the NBA. So, like, I like that approach. 620 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:52,920 Speaker 1: This is not a team that's going to be a 621 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:55,520 Speaker 1: top ten defense. They're not physically capable of it. They 622 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 1: don't have the players, they don't have the rim protection, 623 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:00,160 Speaker 1: they don't have the perimeter defense to be a top 624 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:02,720 Speaker 1: ten defense. But what they can be is a team 625 00:30:02,760 --> 00:30:06,120 Speaker 1: that makes your opposing stars uncomfortable, funnels you into their 626 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:09,880 Speaker 1: packed paint defense, and forces you to make good decisions 627 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 1: and make shots on the back end, which can be 628 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:14,200 Speaker 1: a problem when on the other end of the floor, 629 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:17,760 Speaker 1: Luca's killing you and it slows down the rhythm of 630 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 1: the game. It gets you in your head. We've talked 631 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:22,440 Speaker 1: about this with the Nuggets as well. Like, I'm a 632 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:25,400 Speaker 1: big believer in like, when you're making offense look easy, 633 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: it gets in the head of the other team. And 634 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:30,600 Speaker 1: so like, you put the onus on them to make 635 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:33,520 Speaker 1: the right decisions and to make those kickout passes. They're 636 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:35,920 Speaker 1: gonna miss a lot of them. Grab the rebounds when 637 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:38,360 Speaker 1: they're there, right, and then when you have opportunities to 638 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 1: force turnovers like you have, take advantage of that as well. 639 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 1: So like, I like the approach that to me is 640 00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:47,320 Speaker 1: the kind of area of opportunity for this team is 641 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:50,920 Speaker 1: be like right in that fifteen to twenty range on defense, 642 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:53,040 Speaker 1: be the best offense in the league, and be a 643 00:30:53,080 --> 00:30:56,320 Speaker 1: great rebounding team. If you do those things, you have 644 00:30:56,360 --> 00:30:59,400 Speaker 1: a puncher's chance to do some real damage in the playoffs. 645 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:01,280 Speaker 1: And again, like that was kind of why I put 646 00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 1: the MAVs. Everyone called me crazy when I said they 647 00:31:03,520 --> 00:31:06,280 Speaker 1: had a one percent chance to win the title, and 648 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:08,720 Speaker 1: I consider them to be like the ninth or tenth best, 649 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:12,280 Speaker 1: like actual championship contender. And it's because you can't count 650 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:15,479 Speaker 1: out that high level offensive initiation if they can get 651 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:17,360 Speaker 1: enough rebounds and if they can get enough stops. We 652 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:20,240 Speaker 1: literally just saw that last year with the Denver Nuggets, 653 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 1: even if it is a long shot, all right, Moving 654 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:27,360 Speaker 1: on to the Memphis Grizzlies ozh to four obviously not 655 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:30,360 Speaker 1: what you'd expect. This was a team that won consistently 656 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:33,000 Speaker 1: without John Morant and the lineup last year, and they 657 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:35,240 Speaker 1: brought in pieces to try to rectify that right with 658 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:38,680 Speaker 1: the Marcus Smart trade right, a lot of focuses on 659 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:40,640 Speaker 1: the offensive end right now, and the offense is brough 660 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 1: twenty seventh in offensive rating, a lot of specific issues. 661 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:46,600 Speaker 1: The shot creation with Marcus Smart and Desmond Bain has 662 00:31:46,640 --> 00:31:49,400 Speaker 1: actually been okay. Desmond Bain is having a really good 663 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:52,160 Speaker 1: season so far. Marcus Smart is actually having a really 664 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 1: good offensive season as well. If you look at the 665 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:58,560 Speaker 1: the uh the numbers, they have a one oh six 666 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 1: offensive rating with both been Baine and Marcus Smart on 667 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:05,760 Speaker 1: the floor, which is bad, but like not that bad, right, like, 668 00:32:06,040 --> 00:32:08,920 Speaker 1: especially if you're a great defensive team, and the offense 669 00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:10,960 Speaker 1: has actually been pretty solid when one of them's on 670 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 1: the floor and the other guy is off. But they're 671 00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:15,200 Speaker 1: playing a lot of minutes with both of them off 672 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:17,040 Speaker 1: the floor, which is confusing to me because you think 673 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:19,280 Speaker 1: they'd stagger them a little bit more considering they're their 674 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:22,680 Speaker 1: two best perimeter initiators right now. And the Grizzlies have 675 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:25,520 Speaker 1: a ninety two offensive rating when both Desmond Bane and 676 00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:27,880 Speaker 1: Marcus Smart are off the floor. But at the end 677 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:29,960 Speaker 1: of the day, like this team was always going to 678 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:31,720 Speaker 1: struggle to score in the half court. That's kind of 679 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:35,880 Speaker 1: what their identity is they just don't have enough offensive 680 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:39,760 Speaker 1: skill outside of their initiators to consistently be a great 681 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:42,960 Speaker 1: half court offense. What they've always done to bolster their 682 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:46,320 Speaker 1: offense is kill people on the offensive glass and kill 683 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:49,440 Speaker 1: people in transition. Right. Last year they were fifth in 684 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:52,000 Speaker 1: offensive rebounds per one hundred possessions. This year so far 685 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:56,040 Speaker 1: twenty fourth. That's what it's like not having Steven Adams 686 00:32:57,040 --> 00:33:01,240 Speaker 1: or in your lineup anymore. Right, And then in transition 687 00:33:01,760 --> 00:33:04,480 Speaker 1: they were fifteen. They were second in the league last 688 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:07,880 Speaker 1: year in transition points per possession excuse me, and transition 689 00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:11,480 Speaker 1: points scored per game and at one point one to 690 00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:14,240 Speaker 1: four points per possession, so really efficient number, and the 691 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:18,040 Speaker 1: second most frequent transition team. This year, they're fifteenth in 692 00:33:18,120 --> 00:33:20,720 Speaker 1: transition points per game and scoring at a rate of 693 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:23,840 Speaker 1: just one point zero eight points per possession. So usually 694 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:26,920 Speaker 1: their offense is bolstered by all of this transition offense, 695 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:30,120 Speaker 1: in all of these offensive rebound opportunities to make up 696 00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:32,880 Speaker 1: for their other limitations in half court offensively, because even 697 00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:34,920 Speaker 1: when John Muran was out there last year, they were 698 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:37,440 Speaker 1: a bad half court offense. That's not what I'm expecting 699 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:39,720 Speaker 1: from this team. I don't think they're going to fix that, right, 700 00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:42,960 Speaker 1: but they are not getting the easy stuff now, the 701 00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:46,760 Speaker 1: offensive glass without Steven Adams. That's hard to replicate. However, 702 00:33:47,080 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: you can be a good transition team like you were 703 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:52,560 Speaker 1: last year. There's a very specific reason why they haven't 704 00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:54,600 Speaker 1: been as good this year, and it comes down to 705 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:57,680 Speaker 1: the defensive end. Again, Like, this is a team different 706 00:33:57,680 --> 00:34:00,560 Speaker 1: from the Dallas Mavericks, who, like you're just trying to 707 00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:04,040 Speaker 1: strive for mediocre on defense because that gives you a 708 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 1: chance with your elite offense. This team has to go 709 00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:09,879 Speaker 1: the route of the twenty twenty Lakers in the twenty 710 00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:12,960 Speaker 1: twenty one Bucks, which is, like, we are an outstanding, 711 00:34:13,320 --> 00:34:17,839 Speaker 1: ferocious defensive team that forces a lot of turnovers and 712 00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:21,560 Speaker 1: gets out in transition after defensive rebounds. Right, that's what 713 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:25,600 Speaker 1: you're expecting from this Memphis Grizzlies team. Right Then, in 714 00:34:25,680 --> 00:34:28,920 Speaker 1: half court situations, you're hoping for Joah Moran and Desmond 715 00:34:28,920 --> 00:34:31,879 Speaker 1: Baine to just make enough plays to push you over 716 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:34,360 Speaker 1: the top, like Lebron and Ady did in twenty twenty, 717 00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:37,120 Speaker 1: like Giannis and Chris Middleton and Juw Holliday did in 718 00:34:37,160 --> 00:34:41,240 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one. Right, Like that formula works as long 719 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:45,400 Speaker 1: as you are an absolute top tier defense twenty twenty 720 00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:47,920 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis one of the best defensive playoff runs I've 721 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:50,600 Speaker 1: ever seen. Yannis twenty twenty one, one of the best 722 00:34:50,600 --> 00:34:53,600 Speaker 1: defensive playoff runs that you'll ever see. Right, that's what 723 00:34:53,640 --> 00:34:55,160 Speaker 1: you have to have. You have to have that top 724 00:34:55,200 --> 00:34:58,160 Speaker 1: tier defense. And this team has been mediocre on defense. 725 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:00,919 Speaker 1: Mediocre in a sense that it's actually kind of flown 726 00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:03,719 Speaker 1: under the radar, right, Like all the talk has been 727 00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:08,880 Speaker 1: around Memphis's offense, but they're fifteenth in defensive rating. And 728 00:35:08,920 --> 00:35:11,399 Speaker 1: this is a team that has always defended well when 729 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:13,600 Speaker 1: Jaws out of the lineup, because they usually are removing 730 00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:16,399 Speaker 1: a negative defender and putting a positive defender on the floor. Right. 731 00:35:16,760 --> 00:35:19,000 Speaker 1: According to Cleaning the Last, they're twenty third and a 732 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:21,840 Speaker 1: half court defense. And I found this really interesting, so 733 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:23,960 Speaker 1: I spent a bunch of time watching the film this morning. 734 00:35:24,719 --> 00:35:27,720 Speaker 1: Grizzlies fans, go to my Twitter feed at underscore Jason 735 00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:31,800 Speaker 1: lt I clipped like fifteen clips to demonstrate this concept 736 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:34,000 Speaker 1: that I'm about to go over. But to me, the 737 00:35:34,080 --> 00:35:37,919 Speaker 1: number one issue I'm noticing on tape is way way, 738 00:35:38,040 --> 00:35:43,080 Speaker 1: way too much unnecessary overhelping, specifically at the nail off 739 00:35:43,120 --> 00:35:46,080 Speaker 1: the ball, and then on the back line when they're 740 00:35:46,160 --> 00:35:50,320 Speaker 1: overreacting with that lowman help, that bringing that third defender 741 00:35:50,360 --> 00:35:52,560 Speaker 1: over on ball screens when they really don't need to. 742 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:56,560 Speaker 1: And I want to give some specific examples. So first 743 00:35:56,600 --> 00:35:58,880 Speaker 1: of all, nail help. You saw a bunch of examples 744 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:01,759 Speaker 1: of this at the Dallas Maverick, right, So just imagine 745 00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:04,319 Speaker 1: Luka Doncicic or whoever it is that has the ball 746 00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:06,279 Speaker 1: on the right wing right, and then you got like 747 00:36:06,360 --> 00:36:10,200 Speaker 1: Grant Williams or Derek or excuse me, Derek Jones Junior 748 00:36:10,360 --> 00:36:14,040 Speaker 1: on the left wing right, way too many possessions primary culprits. 749 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:16,400 Speaker 1: I notice on taper has been baying in Jakelbavia, But 750 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:18,400 Speaker 1: I don't really think it's their fault. I think this 751 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:20,440 Speaker 1: is a schematic thing, right, So it comes down to 752 00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:24,240 Speaker 1: Taylor Jenkins. Those guys are sitting at the nail in help, 753 00:36:24,640 --> 00:36:28,840 Speaker 1: allowing really easy swing passes to the perimeter for guys 754 00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:31,160 Speaker 1: to either knock down threes or just quick rip through. 755 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:34,400 Speaker 1: Right now, again, I the way I would do that 756 00:36:34,640 --> 00:36:37,080 Speaker 1: is I'd stay a couple of steps closer to your 757 00:36:37,080 --> 00:36:40,960 Speaker 1: shooter and then you react to drives right. A lot 758 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:44,279 Speaker 1: of these times we're seeing the ball handler not even 759 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:47,680 Speaker 1: looking to be aggressive, standing in a triple threat, fully 760 00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:51,880 Speaker 1: contained on the ball while the nail help is there 761 00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:54,960 Speaker 1: and the swing pass is taking place, and then they're 762 00:36:55,040 --> 00:36:57,399 Speaker 1: driving it or they're either knocking down the wide open three, 763 00:36:57,760 --> 00:37:00,000 Speaker 1: or they're driving it, and now your defense is in rotation, 764 00:37:00,840 --> 00:37:02,440 Speaker 1: which is the whole point of why you would offer 765 00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:04,680 Speaker 1: nail help to begin with, to keep your defense from 766 00:37:04,719 --> 00:37:08,920 Speaker 1: getting into rotation by containing the ball better right. Whereas 767 00:37:08,960 --> 00:37:11,120 Speaker 1: if you stay a little bit closer to home and 768 00:37:11,160 --> 00:37:14,080 Speaker 1: now let's say Luca rips through to the right, you 769 00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:17,520 Speaker 1: lunge in to offer that nail help right when you 770 00:37:17,560 --> 00:37:21,400 Speaker 1: see your man in a compromised position. This is a 771 00:37:21,440 --> 00:37:24,960 Speaker 1: team that has gifted perimeter defenders. They have Marcus Smart, 772 00:37:24,960 --> 00:37:27,440 Speaker 1: they have Desmond Bane right like, they can contain on 773 00:37:27,520 --> 00:37:30,520 Speaker 1: the perimeter. They just have to trust their ability to 774 00:37:30,560 --> 00:37:32,360 Speaker 1: contain on the perimeter. There was a specific play with 775 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:35,040 Speaker 1: Jake Loravia where he wasn't even at the nail, he 776 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:38,279 Speaker 1: was all the way on the opposite elbow like right 777 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:42,600 Speaker 1: behind the on ball defender. Basically, a soft double team 778 00:37:43,239 --> 00:37:46,240 Speaker 1: that just gets swung across the floor for an easy 779 00:37:46,280 --> 00:37:50,640 Speaker 1: close out opportunity. Right again, Like, there's several examples of 780 00:37:50,640 --> 00:37:52,719 Speaker 1: this that I saw on tape, and you're seeing it 781 00:37:52,719 --> 00:37:55,040 Speaker 1: in the numbers. By the way, the Memphis Grizzlies are 782 00:37:55,040 --> 00:37:58,120 Speaker 1: allowing the second most made threes per one hundred possessions 783 00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:03,719 Speaker 1: on the second highest percentage. They are allowing twenty two 784 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:07,440 Speaker 1: wide open threes per game, which means the defender is 785 00:38:07,440 --> 00:38:09,920 Speaker 1: at least six feet away. That's the fourth most in 786 00:38:09,960 --> 00:38:12,080 Speaker 1: the entire NBA. Now, the trade off is that they're 787 00:38:12,080 --> 00:38:15,480 Speaker 1: doing a good job protecting the paint, right they're keeping 788 00:38:15,480 --> 00:38:17,279 Speaker 1: teams out of the paint. They're allowing just forty one 789 00:38:17,640 --> 00:38:19,960 Speaker 1: points in the paint per one hundred possessions, that's the 790 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:22,560 Speaker 1: second best mark in the league. But it's not working 791 00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:24,719 Speaker 1: for them because they're giving up all these wide open 792 00:38:24,719 --> 00:38:27,040 Speaker 1: shots on the backside. And again, this is a team 793 00:38:27,080 --> 00:38:30,879 Speaker 1: that is capable of defending well enough at the point 794 00:38:30,880 --> 00:38:33,399 Speaker 1: of attack and they're athletic enough on the back line 795 00:38:33,400 --> 00:38:37,000 Speaker 1: in rotation to not have to do this. It's not 796 00:38:37,160 --> 00:38:41,080 Speaker 1: just the nail help. I've seen a lot of over 797 00:38:41,160 --> 00:38:43,840 Speaker 1: aggressive backside help as well. So now think of it 798 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:46,480 Speaker 1: like this, there's a two man action taking place on 799 00:38:46,480 --> 00:38:48,520 Speaker 1: the right side of the floor. You've got your low 800 00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:50,759 Speaker 1: man who's guarding the guy in the opposite corner. He's 801 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:54,200 Speaker 1: basically leaving that guy to defend that action three on two. 802 00:38:54,440 --> 00:38:56,680 Speaker 1: And then whoever it is that's guarding the man on 803 00:38:56,719 --> 00:38:58,960 Speaker 1: the right wing is now having to guard two guys 804 00:38:59,000 --> 00:39:01,600 Speaker 1: on the opposite end to the floor, and usually that 805 00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:04,919 Speaker 1: that player's dropping to the baseline and that opposite wing 806 00:39:05,040 --> 00:39:07,319 Speaker 1: is wide open. There is a play. It wasn't even 807 00:39:07,320 --> 00:39:10,080 Speaker 1: a ball screen. Seth Curry has the ball on the 808 00:39:10,160 --> 00:39:12,680 Speaker 1: right wing against John Conchar. I have this play on 809 00:39:12,680 --> 00:39:14,800 Speaker 1: my Twitter feed. You guys can find it. He rips 810 00:39:14,840 --> 00:39:17,640 Speaker 1: through to the baseline, kind of gets a step on Conchar, 811 00:39:17,920 --> 00:39:21,440 Speaker 1: but Conchard recovers and Seth Curry takes a retreat dribble. 812 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:25,400 Speaker 1: So Seth Curry has taken a retreat dribble and is 813 00:39:25,480 --> 00:39:30,320 Speaker 1: contained by John Conchar. So worst thing that can happen 814 00:39:30,360 --> 00:39:34,719 Speaker 1: there is Seth Curry takes a contested baseline pull up 815 00:39:34,760 --> 00:39:38,120 Speaker 1: jump shot right. No, because David Roddy, who's guarding the 816 00:39:38,120 --> 00:39:41,319 Speaker 1: man the weak side corner guy, just runs underneath the 817 00:39:41,320 --> 00:39:44,840 Speaker 1: basket offering help. So Seth takes one more advanced dribble 818 00:39:44,880 --> 00:39:47,840 Speaker 1: and throws a kickout pass to the opposite wing for 819 00:39:47,960 --> 00:39:51,920 Speaker 1: a wide open three. And like again, ask yourself, what 820 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:55,160 Speaker 1: would you rather give up a contested pull up jump 821 00:39:55,160 --> 00:39:58,040 Speaker 1: shot from Seth Curry or a wide open three on 822 00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:02,000 Speaker 1: the backside, This is a consistent shoe. There was another 823 00:40:02,040 --> 00:40:05,960 Speaker 1: play in the in the bench group where Jared Jackson 824 00:40:06,840 --> 00:40:08,680 Speaker 1: was helping at the basket. Because this is the third issue. 825 00:40:08,719 --> 00:40:11,200 Speaker 1: Jared Jackson, as good of a shot blocker as he is, 826 00:40:11,880 --> 00:40:15,160 Speaker 1: he's too aggressive in that regard and he often offers 827 00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:18,440 Speaker 1: shot blocking help when it's not needed, and it throws 828 00:40:18,520 --> 00:40:20,520 Speaker 1: everything out of whack on the backside in terms of 829 00:40:20,520 --> 00:40:23,640 Speaker 1: their rebounding right. There was a play where Dante ExHAM 830 00:40:23,680 --> 00:40:26,359 Speaker 1: is driving down the right lane and I believe Jake 831 00:40:26,400 --> 00:40:30,360 Speaker 1: Lorovi is guarding him doing his job, slides his feet, 832 00:40:30,640 --> 00:40:33,520 Speaker 1: taking contact in the chest, forces Dante xem into this 833 00:40:33,719 --> 00:40:37,239 Speaker 1: wild like hook shot over the top that has no 834 00:40:37,360 --> 00:40:40,440 Speaker 1: chance of going in and spoiler already missed it off 835 00:40:40,480 --> 00:40:43,480 Speaker 1: the side of the rim. But Jared Jackson, for no 836 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:45,760 Speaker 1: apparent reason at all, even though he had no chance 837 00:40:45,760 --> 00:40:48,000 Speaker 1: to block the shot, just jumps out of his shoes 838 00:40:48,040 --> 00:40:51,719 Speaker 1: to go try to block it, and so his man 839 00:40:51,800 --> 00:40:54,440 Speaker 1: taps the offensive rebound out it goes right to I 840 00:40:54,440 --> 00:40:56,759 Speaker 1: think Seth Curry on the left wing who knocks down 841 00:40:56,760 --> 00:41:00,880 Speaker 1: a three, and so like again, like they're they're doing 842 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:04,600 Speaker 1: damage to themselves defensively, they're making it more difficult than 843 00:41:04,640 --> 00:41:06,760 Speaker 1: it needs to be. This is, again, not a Dallas 844 00:41:06,840 --> 00:41:10,360 Speaker 1: Mavericks team that needs to require on defensive aggression to 845 00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:13,200 Speaker 1: make up for the fact that they're not capable of 846 00:41:13,200 --> 00:41:15,480 Speaker 1: being a great defensive team. This team is capable of 847 00:41:15,480 --> 00:41:18,760 Speaker 1: being a great defensive team. They can defend ball screens 848 00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:21,680 Speaker 1: two on two. They can contain at the point of 849 00:41:21,680 --> 00:41:24,520 Speaker 1: attack and force guys to take contested shots over the 850 00:41:24,560 --> 00:41:27,920 Speaker 1: top without constantly existing in rotation and giving up all 851 00:41:27,920 --> 00:41:30,320 Speaker 1: of these wide open threes. And again, what do we 852 00:41:30,360 --> 00:41:32,399 Speaker 1: talk about on the offensive end of the floor. This 853 00:41:32,440 --> 00:41:35,719 Speaker 1: is a team that needs to generate easy opportunities in transition. 854 00:41:36,120 --> 00:41:39,080 Speaker 1: The only way to do that is to get stops 855 00:41:39,120 --> 00:41:42,440 Speaker 1: in defensive rebounds and run, or force turnovers and run. 856 00:41:43,400 --> 00:41:46,000 Speaker 1: What's the best way to force turnovers in the NBA 857 00:41:46,480 --> 00:41:49,040 Speaker 1: guard actions two on two and one on one. Why 858 00:41:49,560 --> 00:41:53,000 Speaker 1: Because then you're home off the ball, you're playing in 859 00:41:53,040 --> 00:41:56,960 Speaker 1: the passing lane rather than on the ball. And so 860 00:41:57,520 --> 00:42:00,799 Speaker 1: let's say that Dante Exum dry and misses that right 861 00:42:00,840 --> 00:42:04,239 Speaker 1: handed hook, and so the next time he drives, you know, 862 00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:09,239 Speaker 1: Jared Jackson doesn't help. Everyone stays home. Laavia's chesting him up. 863 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:12,560 Speaker 1: And now Dante exam realizes he's in trouble and he 864 00:42:12,640 --> 00:42:14,880 Speaker 1: looks around and he just throws a pass to one 865 00:42:14,880 --> 00:42:16,800 Speaker 1: of the shooters. Except for now you've got someone in 866 00:42:16,840 --> 00:42:18,960 Speaker 1: the passing lane who catches the ball, and now they're 867 00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:22,360 Speaker 1: running the other way for a dunkin transition. So like, 868 00:42:22,640 --> 00:42:26,120 Speaker 1: not only would this be the weapon to improve their defense, 869 00:42:26,320 --> 00:42:28,120 Speaker 1: it would also be the thing that would unlock their 870 00:42:28,160 --> 00:42:30,600 Speaker 1: transition attack and get them back to where they were. 871 00:42:31,680 --> 00:42:34,600 Speaker 1: Last year, the Memphis Grizzlies were second in transition frequency. 872 00:42:34,600 --> 00:42:39,400 Speaker 1: This year they're fifteenth. It's a problem. And so again, 873 00:42:39,480 --> 00:42:42,640 Speaker 1: like it's easy to just say, oh or oh to four, 874 00:42:43,000 --> 00:42:45,440 Speaker 1: we need John Morant. And don't get me wrong, John Morant, 875 00:42:45,440 --> 00:42:48,800 Speaker 1: you need him to ever have some sort of championship ceiling, right, 876 00:42:49,440 --> 00:42:53,239 Speaker 1: But this team is just also schematically setting themselves up 877 00:42:53,239 --> 00:42:55,000 Speaker 1: to fail with what they're doing on the defensive end 878 00:42:55,040 --> 00:42:57,120 Speaker 1: of the floor. And again, you could tell when these 879 00:42:57,480 --> 00:42:59,120 Speaker 1: if you go look at these clips on my Twitter feed, 880 00:42:59,400 --> 00:43:01,799 Speaker 1: and most of these possessions, the on ball defender is 881 00:43:01,880 --> 00:43:05,960 Speaker 1: doing good work. Force those guys to either take tough 882 00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:08,239 Speaker 1: shots or turn the ball over by passing into to 883 00:43:08,280 --> 00:43:11,200 Speaker 1: your defenders who are staying home run in transition, that 884 00:43:11,239 --> 00:43:13,680 Speaker 1: will help your half court offense just enough to give 885 00:43:13,719 --> 00:43:15,200 Speaker 1: you a chance to win games. This is a team 886 00:43:15,320 --> 00:43:17,959 Speaker 1: that should be a top five defense and then hope 887 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:19,800 Speaker 1: to be in that fifteen to twenty range on the 888 00:43:19,800 --> 00:43:21,680 Speaker 1: offensive end of the floor. That is their pathway to 889 00:43:21,800 --> 00:43:24,520 Speaker 1: victory as of right now. Then when John Urank comes back, 890 00:43:25,320 --> 00:43:27,239 Speaker 1: that's when you can go over the top with what 891 00:43:27,280 --> 00:43:28,840 Speaker 1: you can be capable of on the offensive end of 892 00:43:28,840 --> 00:43:30,640 Speaker 1: the floor. And again, like I like it in the 893 00:43:30,680 --> 00:43:34,280 Speaker 1: big picture because Marcus Smart is a much better offensive 894 00:43:34,280 --> 00:43:37,319 Speaker 1: player than Dylan Brooks, and you can imagine a scenario 895 00:43:37,480 --> 00:43:39,520 Speaker 1: where the Grizzlies half court offense could operate at a 896 00:43:39,600 --> 00:43:42,200 Speaker 1: much higher level with three high level offensive players on 897 00:43:42,239 --> 00:43:44,800 Speaker 1: the floor as opposed to just two in the bigger picture. 898 00:43:45,920 --> 00:43:48,200 Speaker 1: All right, guys, so let's move on to the mail bag. 899 00:43:48,800 --> 00:43:53,160 Speaker 1: First question, is wiggins starting role threatened by Jonathan Kaminga 900 00:43:53,880 --> 00:43:56,279 Speaker 1: and Secondly, if Moody continues to play well, does that 901 00:43:56,320 --> 00:44:00,120 Speaker 1: impact Clay's contract negotiations. I do not think Wigan the 902 00:44:00,160 --> 00:44:03,359 Speaker 1: starting role is threatened by Jonathan Kaminga. He's just too 903 00:44:03,520 --> 00:44:09,719 Speaker 1: reliable of a veteran presence for a Steve Kurr in 904 00:44:09,760 --> 00:44:13,280 Speaker 1: a playoff context. I think with Jonathan Kaminga, the idea 905 00:44:13,280 --> 00:44:15,560 Speaker 1: of bringing him off the bench and then sometimes closing 906 00:44:15,600 --> 00:44:19,239 Speaker 1: with him is the perfect kind of like motivator for 907 00:44:19,320 --> 00:44:22,120 Speaker 1: Jonathan Kaminga to rain in his decision making, because he 908 00:44:22,160 --> 00:44:25,200 Speaker 1: needs to demonstrate quality decision making to be in the 909 00:44:25,200 --> 00:44:28,719 Speaker 1: playoff rotation. Right. So I think what you're doing right 910 00:44:28,719 --> 00:44:33,000 Speaker 1: now is the perfect strategy. Start Wiggins, close, which guy's 911 00:44:33,040 --> 00:44:36,480 Speaker 1: playing better, keep it simple, right. If Moody keeps playing well, 912 00:44:36,520 --> 00:44:39,920 Speaker 1: it absolutely impacts Clay's contract negotiations. Clay Thompson did not 913 00:44:39,960 --> 00:44:41,759 Speaker 1: have a good playoff run last year after a great 914 00:44:41,760 --> 00:44:45,239 Speaker 1: playoff run in the championship year, right, And so if 915 00:44:45,280 --> 00:44:46,759 Speaker 1: you have a second year in a row where Clay 916 00:44:46,760 --> 00:44:49,000 Speaker 1: doesn't play well in the playoffs and Moody looks viable, 917 00:44:49,280 --> 00:44:52,480 Speaker 1: then there's no reason for you to murder your cap 918 00:44:52,520 --> 00:44:56,160 Speaker 1: sheet by overpaying for Klay Thompson, especially when you can 919 00:44:56,280 --> 00:44:58,600 Speaker 1: probably find a decent deal elsewhere just because of his 920 00:44:58,719 --> 00:45:03,279 Speaker 1: value as a shooter. Second question, Alfred, Hi Jason. I 921 00:45:03,320 --> 00:45:04,680 Speaker 1: play in a men's league, and I'm trying to get 922 00:45:04,680 --> 00:45:06,960 Speaker 1: my teammates to focus on some of the nitty gritty 923 00:45:07,000 --> 00:45:09,719 Speaker 1: winning type plays, like making sure we are boxing out, 924 00:45:09,719 --> 00:45:13,160 Speaker 1: playing solid defense and at the base instead of going 925 00:45:13,160 --> 00:45:15,960 Speaker 1: for the block every time and fouling sprinting back and transition, etc. 926 00:45:16,560 --> 00:45:18,600 Speaker 1: I feel like I've been quite vocal about this every game, 927 00:45:18,600 --> 00:45:20,960 Speaker 1: but nothing seems to change. My teammates continue to run 928 00:45:21,000 --> 00:45:24,240 Speaker 1: and dive into defenses on offense, turn the ball over, pout, 929 00:45:24,320 --> 00:45:26,440 Speaker 1: don't run back. I can tell they're starting to be 930 00:45:26,480 --> 00:45:30,839 Speaker 1: annoyed at me for winging it, and I feel that 931 00:45:30,960 --> 00:45:33,280 Speaker 1: they are not listening because I only score two points 932 00:45:33,280 --> 00:45:36,320 Speaker 1: a game. How would you best handle this situation? So, Alfred, 933 00:45:36,560 --> 00:45:39,960 Speaker 1: I love this question. By the way, find people who 934 00:45:39,960 --> 00:45:42,040 Speaker 1: love the game as much as you do and play 935 00:45:42,080 --> 00:45:46,560 Speaker 1: in a league with them. Here's the thing, Like, some 936 00:45:46,600 --> 00:45:50,360 Speaker 1: people are crazy like me and approach men's league games 937 00:45:50,800 --> 00:45:53,239 Speaker 1: with the same level of intensity I approached every game 938 00:45:53,280 --> 00:45:56,239 Speaker 1: I was playing when I was in college. Right, and 939 00:45:56,280 --> 00:46:00,480 Speaker 1: then there are a lot. The majority of people are, like, 940 00:46:01,120 --> 00:46:04,080 Speaker 1: they like basketball. They like to play because it helps 941 00:46:04,120 --> 00:46:06,960 Speaker 1: them stay in shape. They have some camaraderie with their guys, 942 00:46:07,480 --> 00:46:09,560 Speaker 1: and so they go up on Sundays or whatever day 943 00:46:09,560 --> 00:46:11,239 Speaker 1: it is that your men's league is and they have 944 00:46:11,320 --> 00:46:14,680 Speaker 1: a good time. If you are wired like me, don't 945 00:46:14,719 --> 00:46:17,440 Speaker 1: play on a team like that, right, Like I have, 946 00:46:18,360 --> 00:46:21,880 Speaker 1: I coordinate my team, I pick the roster, and I 947 00:46:22,000 --> 00:46:24,239 Speaker 1: make sure I have guys that give a shit, And 948 00:46:24,680 --> 00:46:26,600 Speaker 1: so when I go on Sundays, it's kind of like 949 00:46:26,640 --> 00:46:29,799 Speaker 1: a fun thing for me because it kind of replicates 950 00:46:29,800 --> 00:46:31,879 Speaker 1: as close as I can at age thirty two, now 951 00:46:31,880 --> 00:46:33,960 Speaker 1: that I'm old and washed, it's as close as I 952 00:46:34,000 --> 00:46:38,440 Speaker 1: can can come to replicating what my you know, competitive 953 00:46:38,480 --> 00:46:40,959 Speaker 1: experience was like when I was younger, because I'm playing 954 00:46:41,000 --> 00:46:42,880 Speaker 1: with guys that also care, and I'm playing in a 955 00:46:42,960 --> 00:46:45,839 Speaker 1: league where I'm challenged, right, and so like again, like, 956 00:46:46,200 --> 00:46:48,879 Speaker 1: if you continue to partner with people that don't take 957 00:46:48,880 --> 00:46:50,960 Speaker 1: it as seriously as you do, you either need to 958 00:46:51,000 --> 00:46:53,800 Speaker 1: adjust your expectations or play with someone else, because otherwise 959 00:46:53,800 --> 00:46:56,640 Speaker 1: you're just gonna go crazy because they're they're not doing 960 00:46:56,680 --> 00:47:00,279 Speaker 1: anything wrong, they're being normal. We're the crazy ones. We 961 00:47:00,360 --> 00:47:02,600 Speaker 1: are the ones who care too much, so you got 962 00:47:02,600 --> 00:47:04,600 Speaker 1: to find other crazy people to play with. It's basically 963 00:47:04,640 --> 00:47:08,720 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. Last mail back question, Antonio, you always 964 00:47:08,760 --> 00:47:11,920 Speaker 1: talk about the athletic guards vers skill guard player archetypes. 965 00:47:12,080 --> 00:47:14,600 Speaker 1: Can of skill guard, say, for example, Austin Reeves, D'Angelo 966 00:47:14,640 --> 00:47:17,920 Speaker 1: Russell become athletic? Is it just hitting the gym or 967 00:47:17,920 --> 00:47:20,480 Speaker 1: a height thing? Awesome job covering the season so far? 968 00:47:20,600 --> 00:47:23,799 Speaker 1: A good question, in Tonio. I think there's a lot 969 00:47:23,800 --> 00:47:26,279 Speaker 1: of things you can do to improve your situation when 970 00:47:26,320 --> 00:47:29,480 Speaker 1: you have physical limitations at the guard position. For one, 971 00:47:29,760 --> 00:47:32,239 Speaker 1: become a great positional defender that can do a little 972 00:47:32,239 --> 00:47:34,200 Speaker 1: bit more switching. That's where you hit the weight room. 973 00:47:34,239 --> 00:47:36,600 Speaker 1: The weight room goes a long way everywhere on the 974 00:47:36,600 --> 00:47:38,560 Speaker 1: basketball court. It's like the number one thing that gets 975 00:47:38,600 --> 00:47:41,200 Speaker 1: overlooked in training. Hit the freaking weight room. It will 976 00:47:41,200 --> 00:47:44,600 Speaker 1: help you, right. But if you're less athletic, you're going 977 00:47:44,640 --> 00:47:46,399 Speaker 1: to be more of a positional defender than a ball 978 00:47:46,400 --> 00:47:49,120 Speaker 1: pressure defender, right because if you press up on a 979 00:47:49,120 --> 00:47:51,279 Speaker 1: better athlete, he's just going to go around you, right, 980 00:47:51,520 --> 00:47:54,359 Speaker 1: So you've got to take give ground and meet them 981 00:47:54,400 --> 00:47:56,880 Speaker 1: at spots and be able to absorb contact. So it's 982 00:47:56,920 --> 00:47:59,480 Speaker 1: about anticipation and your ability to hold your ground. So 983 00:47:59,520 --> 00:48:01,920 Speaker 1: the weight room is the best you can do. That said, 984 00:48:02,239 --> 00:48:04,920 Speaker 1: physical battles take place all over the basketball court, and 985 00:48:04,960 --> 00:48:07,160 Speaker 1: there are certain battles that you're just going to lose. 986 00:48:07,600 --> 00:48:10,240 Speaker 1: There was in when I was watching that Grizzlies Mavericks 987 00:48:10,280 --> 00:48:12,359 Speaker 1: game today, there is a play where Derek Jones Junior 988 00:48:12,520 --> 00:48:15,200 Speaker 1: drove into Derek Rose and had an easy layup. And 989 00:48:15,239 --> 00:48:17,480 Speaker 1: it's like, I don't care how much Derek Rose hits 990 00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:21,040 Speaker 1: the weight room. I don't care how much he's in shape. 991 00:48:21,320 --> 00:48:23,719 Speaker 1: Derek Jones Junior just is too athletic for him going 992 00:48:23,760 --> 00:48:25,960 Speaker 1: downhill and he's gonna be able to make a shot right. 993 00:48:26,239 --> 00:48:28,480 Speaker 1: And so again there's a limitation. But you do the 994 00:48:28,480 --> 00:48:31,160 Speaker 1: best you can in the weight room and through technique 995 00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:33,960 Speaker 1: and anticipation to be a good positional defender when you 996 00:48:34,000 --> 00:48:36,560 Speaker 1: have physical limitations. All right, guys, that is all I 997 00:48:36,600 --> 00:48:40,080 Speaker 1: have for this part of today's Hoops Tonight programming. We're 998 00:48:40,080 --> 00:48:42,560 Speaker 1: gonna be back later tonight breaking down the ESPN slate. 999 00:48:42,560 --> 00:48:44,279 Speaker 1: As always, I appreciate you, guys, and I'll see you 1000 00:48:44,280 --> 00:49:13,680 Speaker 1: that the volume