1 00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: The volume. All I want for the holidays this year 2 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: is some NBA action. This week, new customers can score 3 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty instantly in bonus bets just for 4 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: betting five bucks an instant dub just for you guys. 5 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: The MVP odds are heating ups. Just you guys know. 6 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 1: On DraftKings to Day December eighteenth, Nikola jokicch plus two ten, 7 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 1: Luka Doncic plus four hundred, Joel Embiid plus four twenty 8 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: five shake kills Us, Alexander plus nine hundred, Yannis plus 9 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: nine hundred, Jason Tatum plus eighteen hundred. Download the Draftking 10 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: Sports Book AP now and use code hoops. 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Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino 21 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 1: and Resort in Kansas. Twenty one plus age varies by 22 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: jurisdiction void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire one hundred and 23 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:30,480 Speaker 1: sixty eight hours after issuance. See dkang dot com slash 24 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: basketball for eligibility and deposit restrictions, terms and responsible gaming resources. 25 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: All right, welcome to hoops and I here at the volume. 26 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 1: Happy Wednesday, everybody. I hope all of you guys are 27 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: having a great start to your week. We got fun 28 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: show today from Christmas evening the Dallas Mavericks on the 29 00:01:56,720 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: strength of a fifty point game from Luka Doncic. Kind 30 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: of you au miliated the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix, and 31 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: so I want to talk a lot about both teams 32 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 1: from that particular game. We're gonna be doing a deep 33 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:09,239 Speaker 1: dive there. And then because of Christmas Day in the 34 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: jovonn video yesterday, we haven't had a chance to do 35 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: our power rankings yet for this week, so we're gonna 36 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: be doing an update on our power rankings. You guys 37 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:18,959 Speaker 1: have the drill before we get started. Subscribe to a 38 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 1: brand new YouTube channel. It mean a lot to me 39 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 1: if you guys would take a second to scroll down 40 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: and hit that subscribe button. Don't forget about our podcast feeds. 41 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: Wherever you get your podcasts under Hoops Tonight. Follow me 42 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: on Twitter at Underscore Jason Lts. You guys, don't miss 43 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: any show announcements or the film threads I do from 44 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: time to time, and keep dropping mail bag questions. This weekend. 45 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: I'm taking Friday through Monday off, but I want to 46 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 1: have some content coming out over the weekend. So on Thursday, 47 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be recording a long mail bag episode that 48 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 1: will kind of release over the course of the New 49 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: Year holiday. So drop a bunch of basketball related questions 50 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: about whatever you guys want, and then let's get weird too. 51 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: Any non basketball stuff. Drop it in the mail bag 52 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 1: in this YouTube videos comments. We'll put together the out 53 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: from this video and we will record that on Thursday, 54 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 1: so that we have some content over the weekend before 55 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: we head into the stretch before the trade deadline and 56 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:09,959 Speaker 1: then the stretch before the playoffs. Things are going to 57 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 1: be heating up here over the course of the next 58 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: couple of months, all right, let's talk some basketball. So 59 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 1: this game. It was interesting because that last night I 60 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 1: turned it on after a long day, you know, Christmas, 61 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 1: after I finished recording those two episodes, and you know, 62 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 1: it's funny. Obviously, so many people work on Christmas Day. 63 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: It's not just me. So I'm not complaining to buy 64 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: any stretch. But obviously it was a weird day for 65 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: me because like, I'm like at one Christmas event, then 66 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: I'm driving back to go record, and then I'm going 67 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: over to my parents' house to see my family in 68 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: town and we're trying to find time to celebrate, but 69 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: that I like have to run back to record after 70 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: Lakers Celtics, and then I finally go back to my 71 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 1: parents and we finished celebrating, and then finally I get 72 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: home last night and my wife's passed out in the 73 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: bed and it's like ten thirty and I'm just like, oh, look, 74 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 1: the Suns are playing, and I turn it on and 75 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: it was pretty bad. Specifically, when I turned it on, 76 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 1: it was one sixteen to one ten if I remember correctly, 77 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: and the wheels came out. I won sixteen to one twelve, 78 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: I think. And Devin Booker has like a driving right 79 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: handed layup and then the wheels just come off. They 80 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: give up a bucket on almost every trip down the floor, 81 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: having trouble blitzing and rotating off of Luca, and then 82 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: just like a bunch of really careless turnovers on the 83 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 1: other end. They looked somewhat disinterested, and so I was like, ah, man, 84 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: like Luca putting up fifty suns, are in some trouble. 85 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: This is the game that I need to do a 86 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: deep dive on today. And so sat down today and 87 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 1: I just watched the entire game, and the truth of 88 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 1: the matter is is Luca just broke Phoenix's defense. And 89 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,159 Speaker 1: you know, for all the struggles Phoenix have had has had, 90 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: it's primarily on the offensive end of the four. They've 91 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: actually been one of the best rebounding teams in the 92 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: league over this recent span. And they've been a slightly 93 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: above average defense for most of the year, and that 94 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 1: you know, in that middle of the pack range. I 95 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 1: think before last night's game they were fourteenth. Even during 96 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: the stretch that they were struggling, they've been a decent defense, 97 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 1: not good, but they've been a decent defense, and they 98 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: were in shambles in that second half against Dallas. And 99 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:07,159 Speaker 1: you know, one of the things I thought was super 100 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: interesting that Luca was doing is he was taking advantage 101 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 1: because they were loading up on him in the half court, 102 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:16,799 Speaker 1: blitzing pick and rolls. They had kd zoning up on ISOs. Remember, 103 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: zoning up means ignoring his man entirely, but going on 104 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: the opposite side of the painted area so that he 105 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 1: doesn't get a defense of three seconds. So he's basically 106 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 1: like it's like a soft double team, essentially allowing the 107 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:30,920 Speaker 1: primary on ball defender to press up on the jump shot, 108 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: knowing that Kadie's waiting behind him in help. And so 109 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 1: in the half court, Luca wasn't really getting opportunities to 110 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 1: look to be aggressive, at least as a score, not 111 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: as frequently, right, But he was having a lot of 112 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 1: success in semi transition. Now we talk about this concept 113 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 1: a lot, but semi transition is like whatever is not 114 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: a runout layup, meaning like a one on zero, two 115 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: on one, you know, pass past layer, you know the 116 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: stuff you do in high school for drills when you're 117 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 1: working on layups and transition, right, something that is not 118 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 1: that but also not a half court possession. It's like 119 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 1: between the two. It's like usually off of a miss, 120 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: usually it starts as like a four on three with 121 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 1: the other three guys kind of lingering back into the play. 122 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:15,559 Speaker 1: And usually what it is is it's a gap where 123 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: you don't have an opportunity to like just necessarily drive 124 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 1: unimpeded to the basket. But at the same time, the 125 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 1: defense isn't in their configured half court set. Right. We 126 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: just talked about all the things that Frank Vogel was 127 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: doing to Luca in the half court, but if before 128 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 1: they even get set up to do those things, he 129 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 1: was finding some opportunities, mainly just to attack an iso. 130 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: Like there was a play in the fourth quarter where 131 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: he just was dribbling down the floor and his on 132 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 1: ball defender is Grayson Allen, and he's kind of opened 133 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: up with his left shoulder open and there's no help 134 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 1: side defense because guys aren't matched up, and Luca just 135 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: hits him with like a basic hesitation move, gets all 136 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: the way to the basket and lays it in. That's 137 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,359 Speaker 1: step back three that he's been taking a lot. He 138 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: was hunting that in that semi transition phase. These were 139 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:06,919 Speaker 1: not like, oh, get a switch, pull the big out 140 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: take a step back three with five on the shot clock. 141 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: He was taking quick fire step back three's in semi transition, 142 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: and those have like a whole debilitating, discouraging element to them, 143 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: because your defense just feels hopeless when he's when you're 144 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 1: getting him to take one of the tougher shots that 145 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: he takes the step back three early in the possession, 146 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: and he just keeps making it. And then you know, 147 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 1: one of the things I've talked about with Lucas is 148 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: a lot of his pull up shooting is the same angle. 149 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 1: Like his post up fadeaways always fades over his right 150 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: shoulder right. If he's gonna take a turn around jumper, 151 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: it's over his right shoulder step back, he's always going 152 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 1: to step back going to his left. But then in 153 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 1: that stretch he had a ball screen that they set 154 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: in semi transition where the MAVs just weren't or the 155 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 1: Sons just weren't even matched up. Chimezi Metu was guarding nobody, 156 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 1: and so they were able to go up and set 157 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: a quick screen on Luca and it was basically like 158 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 1: a two on one offensive possession, and he actually went 159 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 1: into like a like one of those pull up threes. 160 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: You see the hyper athletic guards take where he like 161 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: comes off the screen to his right, plants left right, 162 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: elevates pretty high off the ground for a Luca jumpshot 163 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: and he sticks that too, And it just got to 164 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: the point where I think when I turned it on 165 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: and or one sixteen one twelve, the damage was already done. 166 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: Like the Sons didn't really have any belief in their 167 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: ability to win the game at that point, and so 168 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: it was interesting to go back and look and be like, oh, yeah, 169 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 1: that's why. It's because you couldn't do anything with the guy. 170 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 1: Like as soon as they the Sons went on their 171 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 1: little run in the late third quarter, which was primarily 172 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: fueled by Grayson Allen who just got super hot shooting 173 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: the basketball and Katie was making some good passing reads 174 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 1: as well. They get hot, they take a brief like 175 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 1: five point lead, and every single time Phoenix got the 176 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: lead to five, Luca would just go down and hit 177 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: another step back three and it's two again. Oh, they 178 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 1: got it back up to four, Luca hits another shot, 179 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 1: it's one again. It was just this onslought that just 180 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: sapped the Sons of any sort of belief, which I 181 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: think directly led to their discouraged effort there down the stretch. 182 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 1: It was just a really, really impressive psychological domination by 183 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: Luka Doncicz. And again the theme of the game was 184 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 1: the Suns had to blitz Hi pick and roll, and 185 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 1: when they blitzed him pick and roll, they were just 186 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 1: getting a lot of really key contributions. Derek Jones Junior 187 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: was doing a great job in that short role position 188 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:25,960 Speaker 1: of attacking the rim athletically and finishing over Kevin Durant 189 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 1: at the rim. Derek Lively had some possessions in the role. 190 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 1: He also had some possessions where he wasn't the roller. 191 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 1: He was in the dunker spot and as guys got 192 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 1: up and missed shots, he was cleaning things up on 193 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 1: the offensive glass. Derek Jones hit a couple of big 194 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: corner threes. Grant Williams had a turnaround jumper in the lane. 195 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: Tim Hardaway Junior had one of those semi transition driving 196 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 1: layups that he got. I can't remember who's guarding him 197 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:51,200 Speaker 1: on that particular play, but gets an easy bucket there. 198 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: They were getting lots of contributions down the line, and 199 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:57,319 Speaker 1: that there is the key because this to me feels 200 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: like a real MVP type of campaign from Luka Doncics. Now, 201 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 1: whether or not he wins it is dependent on so 202 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 1: many other things, mainly because the league is so damn 203 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: stacked with talent that it's just really difficult to separate 204 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 1: yourself these days. But Luca looks like an MVP, and 205 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:16,439 Speaker 1: we're gonna talk about all these specific basketball things, but 206 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: most importantly, the biggest element of the case, in my opinion, 207 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 1: is he has instilled his teammates with a sense of 208 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 1: belief and confidence that what they're doing will lead to 209 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: victories in basketball games. And this is a team, by 210 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,559 Speaker 1: the way, that was limited in talent when they were 211 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: fully healthy. But Kyrie's missed significant time, Josh Green's missed 212 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 1: significant time, Maxic Cliba dislocated his toe has been out forever. 213 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: That's three of their most important rotation players and their 214 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 1: secondary creator arguably easily their second most important player, and 215 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 1: he's kept them afloat they're eighteen and twelve, They're right 216 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 1: in the mix of things, and a huge part of 217 00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 1: it is just every single guy on that team has 218 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:03,319 Speaker 1: a belief that what they're doing is going to work, 219 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:08,199 Speaker 1: and as a result, they're incredibly bought in, They're incredibly focused. 220 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 1: It's interesting to see the juxtaposition of the kinds of 221 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 1: extra efforts that you're seeing guys on the Mavericks make, 222 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 1: and then you're seeing Devin Booker yelling at his teammates 223 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:22,680 Speaker 1: for not getting back after turning the basketball over, which, 224 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 1: by the way, Devin's correct to be upset about. But 225 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:30,439 Speaker 1: the point is is you're seeing similar types of supporting casts. 226 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 1: These are all castaways. The Sun's got all these veteran 227 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 1: minimum guys and the Mavericks got all these veteran minimum guys. Really, 228 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: Grant Williams is the one guy we can point to 229 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:40,559 Speaker 1: is like, Okay, they got him to a sign and 230 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 1: trade and got him at a decent salary number. But 231 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 1: the difference is they're the guys on the MAVs they're 232 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: locked into their roles, and the guys on the Suns 233 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 1: it just it's just not coming together the same way. 234 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: And that, to me is the is the strongest part 235 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 1: of Luca's MVP case that set. By the way, before 236 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: we get to the Lucas stuff, they're thirteenth in defense 237 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: over the last fifteen games, and like Luca has been 238 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:11,440 Speaker 1: making solid defensive rotations. He's closing out with an intensity 239 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 1: that you're not accustomed to seeing from Luca. He's been 240 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:16,200 Speaker 1: found found himself in a lot of low man situations 241 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:19,319 Speaker 1: and weak side situations where he's like guarding two guys 242 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 1: and having to kind of like split the difference and 243 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 1: try to bait a guy into making a pass and 244 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 1: then closing out. And he's doing a really nice job 245 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: of it. And it's from the top down, it's trickling down. 246 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,319 Speaker 1: It's outstanding leadership in my opinion, very very different from 247 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 1: the Luca that we saw that was so disengaged towards 248 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: the tail end of last year. And I think it's 249 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 1: a direct you know, it's a direct driving force between 250 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 1: a lot of the success for a lot of the 251 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: success they've had this season on the Luka Doncis front. 252 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 1: Everything starts with pull up shooting. He has made forty 253 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 1: four more pull up jumper or taken excuse me, he's 254 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:57,200 Speaker 1: taken forty four more pull up jumpers than anyone else 255 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 1: in the league. He's the only player in the NBA 256 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 1: he's taken over three hundred pull up jump shots and 257 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: he's getting one point zero nine points per shot on them. 258 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 1: A couple of things. He's taking these pull up jump 259 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 1: shots as threes instead of twos, which is driving up 260 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,439 Speaker 1: the efficiency, right, and that step back three one of 261 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: the things I like. He's quickened his release a little 262 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 1: bit too. He's making it more of like an athletic 263 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: move is as opposed to kind of like a user 264 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: size and lean back move. His release looks a little 265 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: bit quicker, but he's just dialed in and he's locked 266 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:27,720 Speaker 1: in with that pull up jump shot. And again we 267 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 1: talk about making the shot at a at a at 268 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 1: a phase that's untenable. If you're taking a lot of 269 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:36,839 Speaker 1: long twos, for for instance, like Kevin Durant does, and 270 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: even if you're shooting a higher percentage in LUCA, they're 271 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 1: worth fewer points. It can be something where the defense 272 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 1: is like, ah, we can live with that shot, right, 273 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: But when it's one point zero nine points per shot, 274 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 1: it can get to the point, especially on a night 275 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 1: like last night, where he's so locked in, it can 276 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 1: get to a point where it's like it's untenable. We 277 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:56,440 Speaker 1: have to zone up on this guy and iso blitz 278 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 1: him in pick and rolls, just find a way to 279 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: get the ball out of his hands. That's the primary 280 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 1: driving force with him from the perimeter, and then he 281 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 1: handles pressure extremely well. So the smaller, at like quick 282 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:09,199 Speaker 1: defenders that are handsy, they don't bother him. A lot 283 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:10,599 Speaker 1: of that is just he's really good at protecting the 284 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: basketball and he's big as hell, and then he can 285 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: beat anyone off the dribble right now. We talked about 286 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 1: this when they beat the Lakers a while back. But like, 287 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 1: like it doesn't matter if he's starting from a triple 288 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 1: threat from the elbow or off the dribble from thirty feet, 289 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: if he uses a ball screen isolation, it just doesn't 290 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: matter because of his size in his command of the basketball, 291 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: he's gonna get an angle and he's gonna shoot that gap, 292 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: and he's gonna get dribble penetration, and then from there 293 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:34,800 Speaker 1: he's got every shot in the book. I was pulling 294 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 1: up the Synergy sheet today and Synergy has this page 295 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: called shot types, and when you pull it up is 296 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 1: where I get a lot of there's different there's play 297 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: types and there's shot types. Those are the two primary 298 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: screens that I use on Synergy. And you know, play 299 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: types are gonna sort it through to like spot up possessions, 300 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: pick and roll, ball handler, transition, cutting, offensive rebound, putbacks, 301 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 1: ISO post up, all these different play types, right, and 302 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 1: then even then you can sort him out to different 303 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: sides of the floor, different driving angles, that all these 304 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 1: different things. Synergy is a great tool. But on the 305 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 1: shot types element, like there's they have jump shot, and 306 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: then it's split down and then it's like there's catch 307 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: and shoots, and there's unguarded catch and shoots, there's guarded 308 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: catch and shoots. There's off the dribble jump shots, there's 309 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: what they call early jumpers, which is basically like when 310 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: you isolate and you shoot it quick in the possession. 311 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 1: There's floaters, there's hook shots, there's layups, there's dunks. That's 312 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: sorted all out there. And what was crazy is every 313 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 1: single shot a type shot type on that list, including contested, uncontested, 314 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 1: catch and shoot, off the dribble, floater, hook everything, He's 315 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 1: up over a point per possession, every single shot type. 316 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: Luca's shooting fifty nine percent on floaters this year, seventy 317 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 1: eight percent at the rim. And so it's just an 318 00:15:55,880 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 1: incredibly efficient set of shot making that makes it untapnible 319 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: to leave him in any sort of basic traditional coverage 320 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 1: or single coverage. As a result, career high in points 321 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 1: per game, career high in true shooting percentage. This is 322 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 1: just the best we've ever seen from Luca, And like 323 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 1: I said, when you combine that with the leadership and 324 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 1: the way it's held this team together through some pretty 325 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 1: tough circumstances. I mean, we'll see. We got to do 326 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 1: our MVP rankings later on this week or next week, 327 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 1: and he's going to be higher than where he was, 328 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 1: and we'll see again. A lot of things have to 329 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: break right for him with in terms of competition, like 330 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 1: other people that are up for the award, But this 331 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 1: looks like an MVP type of season from Luka Dancics 332 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: to this point. For Phoenix, there are some personnel limitations there, 333 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: but I do see a lot of improvement, a lot 334 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 1: of room for improvement, I should say, all over the floor. 335 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 1: The defense can be better. One of the big issues 336 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 1: in this particular game is Kevin Durant, who's been a 337 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 1: very good low man throughout his career, especially after he 338 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 1: went to Golden State. He had a really bad game. 339 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 1: He was particularly the two things that stood out to me. 340 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: He was slow in that low man rotation, so he's 341 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 1: getting there too late in a lot of cases, and 342 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:06,640 Speaker 1: then when he got there, he wasn't using his verticality 343 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: to make guys make shots over the top. A lot 344 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 1: of the times He's like trying to get him down 345 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:12,400 Speaker 1: low or he'd have his hands down and guys were 346 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:14,919 Speaker 1: just going over the top and finishing. And it's like 347 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant when vertical is a pretty damn big obstacle 348 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 1: to try to go through. And so by virtue of 349 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 1: Katie just being a little more focused, getting there a 350 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 1: little bit earlier and then using his verticality to make 351 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 1: guys make tough shots over the top of him, I 352 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:30,640 Speaker 1: think that could help a lot in their help side defense. 353 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:33,640 Speaker 1: Grayson Allen and Devin Booker in particular, were really sloppy 354 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:37,320 Speaker 1: in their off ball rotations, which is like absolutely crucial 355 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 1: to running a successful blitz in pick and roll because 356 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 1: you end up with these four on threes in the backside, 357 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:45,919 Speaker 1: and like Kevin Durant can protect the rim for you, 358 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:48,720 Speaker 1: but in order to take away the three point shots elsewhere, 359 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: you need to get more solid rotations out of those guys. 360 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 1: So I think the defense can be a lot better 361 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: on offense, Devin Booker's just not playing very well. He 362 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 1: doesn't look comfortable getting to his spots, which leads me 363 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: to think he doesn't have his legs underneath them all 364 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 1: the way. He's not shooting well. He's forty three percent 365 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:05,359 Speaker 1: from the field in twenty one percent from three in 366 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:08,359 Speaker 1: his last five games. Kevin Durant all season has been 367 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:11,200 Speaker 1: kind of inefficient in ISO, which is tough because that's 368 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 1: one of their most frequent play types. Kevin Durant's getting 369 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 1: only zero point eighty to eight points per possession in 370 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 1: ISO this year, which is down from what we expect 371 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:21,480 Speaker 1: from Kevin Durant. Right and then as a team, the 372 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:23,879 Speaker 1: Sons are not converting spot up possessions. They're getting just 373 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: one point zero three points per possession in spot up situations, 374 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 1: which ranks twentieth in the NBA. Brad Beal returning should 375 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:33,639 Speaker 1: help in a ton of these areas because a big 376 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:37,880 Speaker 1: part of what makes a big part of what makes 377 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant a little bit less quick in his rotations 378 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 1: on the backside as a low man is he still 379 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:46,440 Speaker 1: is being leaned on for the majority of the offensive creation. 380 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:48,439 Speaker 1: I know there's been a lot of talk about Kevin 381 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:50,399 Speaker 1: Durant being more featured in the offense. And there's no 382 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:52,880 Speaker 1: doubt that Devin Booker seems like he has the ball 383 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 1: a lot, But Kevin Durant is still very very much 384 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:59,399 Speaker 1: involved last night notwithstanding, and he's actually leading the Suns 385 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 1: in usage percentage over the course of this recent stretch 386 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: when they've been struggling. So like that to me, when 387 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: Bradley Beale can come back and actually remain on the floor, 388 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 1: it just makes so many things easier because one, you're 389 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 1: adding a ton of aggregate ball handling and shooting to 390 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:15,680 Speaker 1: the lineup, which is going to help you in every 391 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 1: single play type. It's gonna make Katie's ISOs easier, it's 392 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: gonna make get Devin Booker's pick and rolls easier. It's 393 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: gonna make the team spot up efficiency skyrocket. It's going 394 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: to allow for more resources to be devoted to the 395 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:31,760 Speaker 1: defensive end of the floor for guys like Kevin Durant 396 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:34,200 Speaker 1: and Devin Booker who haven't been as good as they need. 397 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 1: And so here's the thing, like I've seen a lot 398 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:38,200 Speaker 1: of people talking about, like, oh, you know, because Kevin 399 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 1: Durant had there there was that report that out came 400 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: out that the Suns are monitoring Kevin Durant's mood. And 401 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:45,200 Speaker 1: here's the thing. I don't think Kevin Durant's going to 402 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: be on a different team before the end of this year, 403 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: not unless it turns into an absolute catastrophe. And I 404 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:51,359 Speaker 1: think Kevin Durant knows that he kind of has to 405 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 1: make it work with what he's got in this situation, 406 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,879 Speaker 1: and I expect him to. They have the tools. The 407 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:59,159 Speaker 1: problem is, and this is important context, Like it's easy 408 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:01,560 Speaker 1: right now to be like, go, they're two week off 409 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:04,120 Speaker 1: of KDE and Devin Booker because they leaned too much 410 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 1: into these stars. But it's like that was never the 411 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 1: design of the team. The design of the team was 412 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:11,920 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Right, that was 413 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:15,159 Speaker 1: the way this was supposed to work. And so again, 414 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 1: like I think it's a little unfair to be like, oh, 415 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 1: this whole thing is a failure when it was never 416 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 1: intended to work like this. It was intended to work 417 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 1: with Bradley Beal in the picture. Now, once Bradley Beal's 418 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:26,199 Speaker 1: in the picture, are they suddenly going to become a 419 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 1: great team. We'll see we've barely seen it, so I 420 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 1: have my skepticism, but I'm not gonna jump to that 421 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:37,679 Speaker 1: conclusion until I see them play. And you know, it 422 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 1: doesn't like as long as they can continue to linger 423 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 1: around that play in and kind of and just remain 424 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:46,879 Speaker 1: within striking distance of the playoffs, if Bradley Beal can 425 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 1: come back in a few weeks and they can go 426 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:52,160 Speaker 1: on a run, everything's gonna be fine. So at least 427 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: within the context of what this team was capable of 428 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: throughout the regular season. So I think it's a little 429 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:02,119 Speaker 1: too early to come completely consider this a failure. That said, 430 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 1: there is a harsh reality here. Yes, the Suns have 431 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:08,640 Speaker 1: a lot of room for improvement within the locker room, 432 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:11,720 Speaker 1: but there is not anything really else that they can 433 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:13,880 Speaker 1: do with the roster. They might be able to make 434 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:17,680 Speaker 1: an ancillary trade for somebody like a PJ. Tucker, or 435 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 1: maybe they can go get an athlete from somewhere else 436 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:22,400 Speaker 1: in the league. It turn one of their bench skill 437 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:24,560 Speaker 1: guys into an athlete. They might be able to get 438 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:26,680 Speaker 1: a buy out guy here or a buyout guy there, 439 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:29,920 Speaker 1: but there's no high level reinforcements coming here. That's the 440 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:32,440 Speaker 1: harsh reality. So it's up to the guys in that 441 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:35,360 Speaker 1: locker room, specifically Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley bial 442 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 1: to be like, what do we gotta do to make 443 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 1: this work? Man? Because like you can get mad at 444 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:42,639 Speaker 1: Schimezi Metu, you can get mad at you know, Joshua 445 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 1: Kogi for doing something. You can get mad at Jordan 446 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 1: Goodwin for doing something. But at the end of the day, 447 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:49,119 Speaker 1: those are your teammates for this season for the most part. 448 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:51,280 Speaker 1: Like you might be able to make slight tweaks, but 449 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 1: even the guys you bring in are gonna be castaways 450 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:56,920 Speaker 1: from elsewhere, which means they're going to come with flaws. 451 00:21:57,359 --> 00:21:59,119 Speaker 1: And so it's on the stars in that locker room 452 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 1: to try to figure out a way to make it work. 453 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 1: All right. Moving on to our power rankings, So may 454 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:07,119 Speaker 1: one team drop out this week? The Orlando Magic. Both 455 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:11,440 Speaker 1: Pala Moncaro and Franz Wagner have cooled off considerably, which 456 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 1: has caused their offense to crater and as a result, 457 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 1: they've lost six of their last nine games. So the 458 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 1: Magic are out of the rankings for this week. But 459 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 1: at number ten, we have a new team, a team 460 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:22,240 Speaker 1: that hasn't made the list yet this year. They may 461 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 1: have made it once earlier in the year, but the 462 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 1: Miami Heat. They're six and two in their last eight 463 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 1: games and their offense is cooking. There'scoring one hundred and 464 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:32,239 Speaker 1: twenty points per one hundred possessions. Tyler Harrow's been on 465 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 1: fire since returning from his injury twenty six points, six rebounds, 466 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 1: and four assists per game, forty eight points or excuse me, 467 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 1: forty eight percent from the field, forty six percent from 468 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:43,640 Speaker 1: three to eighty five percent from the line. So really 469 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:47,440 Speaker 1: really high level efficient scoring from Tyler Harrow. Bam Adebayo 470 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:50,199 Speaker 1: is back and has looked great. Two other guys I 471 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:53,199 Speaker 1: want to shout out Duncan Robinson. I every time I 472 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 1: watch the Heat, I'm blown away by how him fixing 473 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 1: a simple flaw has made his greatest strength even better. 474 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 1: Always was outstanding shooter and a guy that could shoot 475 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 1: on the move, but the ability to chase him off 476 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:08,120 Speaker 1: the line and some of his limitations defensively causes impact. 477 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 1: A creator struggled in the rotation for a while, learned 478 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:13,920 Speaker 1: how to dribble and make plays. And by the way, 479 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 1: before we go any further, that's not like a oh 480 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:18,879 Speaker 1: I went to I called up piquim olaju Wan and 481 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 1: learned how to be a post player in one weekend. No, 482 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 1: that's not what this kind of stuff is. When it 483 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:26,399 Speaker 1: comes to ball handling and shooting footwork as well, for 484 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:28,440 Speaker 1: whatever that's worth, which is what makes the Hakeem Camp 485 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:30,960 Speaker 1: always so funny, But that kind of stuff does not 486 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 1: get developed in a month, doesn't get developed in two months. 487 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:38,680 Speaker 1: Like you can go do ball handling drills every single day, 488 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 1: one hundred straight days, and you're only going to see 489 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: a marginal improvement. Same goes for every sort of shooting drill, 490 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:48,280 Speaker 1: same goes for footwork stuff. Like I know because I've 491 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:50,240 Speaker 1: done this myself, Like you know what I mean. Like 492 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:54,879 Speaker 1: it just it's it's very incremental progress. And like so 493 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 1: when I see stuff like Duncan Robinson going from a 494 00:23:57,359 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 1: guy who couldn't dribble to two years later being a 495 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:02,680 Speaker 1: guy who does a pretty decent job of it, it's 496 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 1: just a testament to the relentless amount of work that 497 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:08,520 Speaker 1: Duncan Robinson has put in to turn himself into a 498 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:11,119 Speaker 1: viable off the dribble threat. When you combine that with 499 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 1: people having to panic chase him on the perimeter to 500 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:19,040 Speaker 1: chase him behind dribble handoffs and screens and to basically 501 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:21,639 Speaker 1: put them in a trail position constantly. Now you've got 502 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 1: Duncan Robinson going downhill and making decisions, which is putting 503 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:27,919 Speaker 1: the defense in rotation and getting Miami good shots. And 504 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 1: then he's also just made a lot of leaps as 505 00:24:30,840 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 1: an off ball defender. He's got good size and length, 506 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: and so just by being a player with good instincts 507 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:37,840 Speaker 1: that can read plays out on the weak side, which 508 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:39,200 Speaker 1: a lot of times those plays on the weakside, like 509 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 1: we talked about earlier with Kevin rant with it's a 510 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: lot or Luka Doncrich just to say, a lot of 511 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 1: it has to do with like splitting the difference and 512 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 1: like making it feel like you're guarding both guys when 513 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,760 Speaker 1: you're not closing out to passing lanes, like stunting and recovering. 514 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:55,480 Speaker 1: All of these things are important elements of help side 515 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 1: defense that Duncan's gotten considerably better at. And then Hi 516 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 1: may Hawk has junior. He's just he's bigger and stronger 517 00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:04,400 Speaker 1: than a lot of NBA perimeter defenders and he's weaponizing 518 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:07,440 Speaker 1: that to get quality shots despite not being the type 519 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 1: of prospect that we're accustomed to seeing in the lottery, 520 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 1: and it's he can bully his way to the rim 521 00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:16,359 Speaker 1: in transition when he's slashing. He's been an excellent post 522 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:20,480 Speaker 1: up player this year and so getting essentially when you 523 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 1: put it all together, their core guys have been playing 524 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:25,920 Speaker 1: well and they're getting key contributions from role players and 525 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:27,639 Speaker 1: as a result, they're winning game six and two in 526 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:30,600 Speaker 1: their last eight Miami Heat. At number ten, number nine, 527 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 1: the Dallas Mavericks utterly decimated by injuries, but a bona 528 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:37,720 Speaker 1: fide MVP season from Luca Doncis just kept them afloat 529 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,200 Speaker 1: in the standings. Help is on the way. We talked 530 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,320 Speaker 1: a lot about the MAVs earlier today, so if you're 531 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:46,080 Speaker 1: just watching this Power Rankings video, hit the first clip 532 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:48,560 Speaker 1: that we released from this particular episode. We did a 533 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:50,720 Speaker 1: deep dive in the MAVs in on Luca's MVP case 534 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 1: number eight, the Oklahoma City Thunder. They beat the Grizzlies 535 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 1: without jaw and the Clippers without Kawhi. Then they got 536 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:00,040 Speaker 1: manhandled by the Lakers, and that continues to be the 537 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 1: biggest weakness. They're small, and that's a death sentence in 538 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:05,240 Speaker 1: the Western Conference. In my opinion, I don't think they're 539 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:07,640 Speaker 1: capable of beating the Nuggets, the Wolves, or the Lakers 540 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,560 Speaker 1: four times out of seven as currently constructed, and so 541 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 1: I'd like to see them get aggressive at the deadline 542 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 1: to try to get someone like a Pascal Siakim or 543 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:17,640 Speaker 1: Jeremy Grant. Lori Markin is a guy that I think 544 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:20,359 Speaker 1: actually fits them best because of how good their perimeter 545 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 1: defenders are, a guy that could really help them and 546 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:25,320 Speaker 1: help side defense and rebounding and as an outstaining play 547 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:27,639 Speaker 1: finisher that I'll just push their offense up another level. 548 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 1: I'd like to see them get aggressive because this is 549 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 1: a really good team with a fatal flaw, and you 550 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:35,439 Speaker 1: want to give yourself as many opportunities to try to 551 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 1: push over the top as you can. Number seven Sacramento Kinks. 552 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:40,720 Speaker 1: They beat the Washington Wizards and Phoenix Suns this week, 553 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:43,240 Speaker 1: but then they got crushed at home by the Celtics 554 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:45,280 Speaker 1: and the Wolves. And this is a theme that we've 555 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:47,360 Speaker 1: been talking about all year. What have I been saying 556 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 1: about the Kings specifically against teams that have outstaining perimeter 557 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 1: defenders that can contain the easy dribble penetration that Daron 558 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:58,080 Speaker 1: Fox and Malakmunk bring to the table. It causes their 559 00:26:58,119 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 1: offense to stagnate and then they're not good enough to 560 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 1: defensively to make up for it. Once again, Boston and 561 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 1: Minnesota are two of the very best perimeter defense teams 562 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:09,720 Speaker 1: in the league. They're not really in a trouble in 563 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:12,960 Speaker 1: a troublesome position in terms of Sacramento's foot speed. It's 564 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:16,240 Speaker 1: an interesting example, and that's another team. That's another team 565 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 1: that I think should be looking to upgrade the four 566 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:20,639 Speaker 1: for that reason. They need to find another way to 567 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 1: break defenses down when their dribble penetration gets contained. Number 568 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 1: six the Los Angeles Clippers. Their winning streak ended with 569 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 1: back to back losses to the Thunder and Celtics, but 570 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 1: Kawhi Leonard has been out for both of those and 571 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:36,320 Speaker 1: his MVP play has been a huge driving force for 572 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:38,399 Speaker 1: this team. So I wouldn't read too much into it 573 00:27:38,440 --> 00:27:40,119 Speaker 1: other than it's just a bummer that we didn't get 574 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:41,920 Speaker 1: to see the Clippers like It would have been great 575 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 1: to see them play okay see in Boston at full 576 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:46,280 Speaker 1: strength with how well the Clippers were playing, because it 577 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:48,440 Speaker 1: would have helped us learn more about them, but that's 578 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 1: just kind of the nature of the NBA regular season 579 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:53,240 Speaker 1: at this point. Number five the Philadelphia seventy six Ers, 580 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:55,919 Speaker 1: same thing. Embiad's ankle injury kind of stopped us from 581 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:59,119 Speaker 1: getting to see another measuring stick game against the Heat 582 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:02,159 Speaker 1: on Christmas. But I thought the Minnesota win was super impressive, 583 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 1: that that was the best defense in the league still 584 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:06,280 Speaker 1: is the best defense in the league, and they had 585 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:09,080 Speaker 1: no answer for Joel Embiid, And like, we can talk 586 00:28:09,119 --> 00:28:11,159 Speaker 1: about officiating all we want, but as I've said, that 587 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:13,600 Speaker 1: has nothing to do with Joel. That is that's a 588 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:15,800 Speaker 1: take I have about the league. I've had Sixers fans 589 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:19,400 Speaker 1: ripping me new ones and mentions and YouTube comments for 590 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:21,399 Speaker 1: like a week and a half now, and it's funny 591 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:23,440 Speaker 1: because it's literally an opinion that has nothing to do 592 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: with Joel or the Sixers. It's one hundred percent focused 593 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:28,639 Speaker 1: on the NBA and the officiating. I don't think Joel 594 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:31,400 Speaker 1: Embiid is the only foul grifter in the league. I've 595 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:35,040 Speaker 1: been calling it out league wide for everybody, so Sixers fans, 596 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 1: it's not an anti Sixers take. He's my front runner 597 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 1: for MVP right now. The sixers are fifth in my 598 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 1: power rankings. Just you know, what he did to Minnesota 599 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 1: obliterating the best defense in the league was super impressive. 600 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:50,960 Speaker 1: Is probably the single most impressive game I've seen from 601 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:55,440 Speaker 1: a superstar player this season. Number four the Denver Nuggets. 602 00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:57,840 Speaker 1: How about a five and oer week. They're up to 603 00:28:57,960 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 1: seventh in defensive rating for the season. Now I happen 604 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 1: to catch three of those five wins, and late game 605 00:29:04,080 --> 00:29:07,000 Speaker 1: execution just continues to be their biggest advantage over other 606 00:29:07,040 --> 00:29:09,360 Speaker 1: teams When they get into a close game late, I 607 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:11,240 Speaker 1: just feel like they're going to win the vast majority 608 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 1: of the time because of their ability to consistently generate 609 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 1: quality shots. Number three the Milwaukee Bucks. Lots of things 610 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 1: are falling into place for them. Their overall defensive effort 611 00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:22,920 Speaker 1: is improving in terms of just execution within what their 612 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:25,960 Speaker 1: personnel is capable of. The Dame Giannis pick and roll 613 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:29,240 Speaker 1: is getting used more often and more effectively. They're running 614 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 1: it on an empty side more frequently, Dames making higher 615 00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 1: level reads out of it. Chris Middleton, after going for 616 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:37,560 Speaker 1: twenty plus points zero times in his first seventeen games 617 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:39,920 Speaker 1: this year, he's done so four times in the last 618 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 1: eight games, so that's super encouraging. But in a weekend 619 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: split against the New York Knicks, they got absolutely cut 620 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 1: to pieces by Jalen Brunson, who averaged thirty seven points 621 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 1: per game against them and had three total turnovers in 622 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:55,280 Speaker 1: two games. That continues to be their biggest flaw. They 623 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 1: are not capable of making opposing ball handlers uncomfortable. We 624 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:01,200 Speaker 1: saw this in the Pacers game as well, and in 625 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 1: my opinion, especially with a team like Boston waiting for 626 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:06,000 Speaker 1: them at the top of the Eastern Conference, I don't 627 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 1: think they're capable of beating Boston. I shouldn't say capable. 628 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 1: They're just a significant underdog in my opinion against Boston 629 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 1: unless they can upgrade at the two at this point, 630 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 1: which we'll see what they can do at the deadline. 631 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:19,080 Speaker 1: Number two the Minnesota Timberwolves. They beat the Miami Heat, 632 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:21,360 Speaker 1: the Lakers, and the Sacramento Kings. Then they lost to 633 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:23,800 Speaker 1: the Philadelphia seventy six Ers in the EMBIID game that 634 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:25,920 Speaker 1: we talked about. I want to shout out Rudy Gobert 635 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:27,720 Speaker 1: here for a second. I think he's having the best 636 00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:31,800 Speaker 1: defensive season that he's had since twenty nineteen. He's been 637 00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:35,200 Speaker 1: incredibly active on a night a night in, night out 638 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:38,400 Speaker 1: basis and has anchored that defense that has created a 639 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:40,560 Speaker 1: lot of more achievable roles for the other players on 640 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 1: that team. He also has thirty six offensive rebound putbacks 641 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,440 Speaker 1: this year, which is tied for Nicole Jokic with the 642 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 1: third most in the NBA. Combined that with his active 643 00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:51,160 Speaker 1: screening and him rolling hard to the rim and his 644 00:30:51,240 --> 00:30:54,400 Speaker 1: vertical spacing, he's been a really, really impactful player and 645 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:57,560 Speaker 1: has been one of the primary driving forces between Minnesota 646 00:30:57,840 --> 00:31:01,080 Speaker 1: or behind Minnesota in their break out season this year. 647 00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 1: Number one the Boston Celtics obviously a disappointing loss on 648 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:07,479 Speaker 1: Tuesday Night against the Golden State Warriors, but then they 649 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:09,960 Speaker 1: kicked the shit out of the Kings on the road, 650 00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:12,440 Speaker 1: kicked the shit out of the Clippers on the road, 651 00:31:12,840 --> 00:31:15,760 Speaker 1: then go into the Los Angeles against the Lakers, team 652 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:18,200 Speaker 1: that really wanted to win that game, and one comfortably. 653 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:20,920 Speaker 1: They are clearly the best team in basketball right now, 654 00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:23,560 Speaker 1: at least within the context of the regular season. Chris 655 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:27,200 Speaker 1: tops Porzingis fundamentally changes the geometry of that team and 656 00:31:27,280 --> 00:31:29,040 Speaker 1: I think could end up buying them the margin for 657 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:32,320 Speaker 1: error to overcome some of their late game offensive execution issues. 658 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:34,240 Speaker 1: Right now I have them at number one in the 659 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:36,240 Speaker 1: Power rankings. All right, guys, that's all I have for today. 660 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:40,320 Speaker 1: Remember to drop mail back questions for the episodes this weekend. 661 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:43,400 Speaker 1: We have the Nerd Sash guys coming on on Thursday 662 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:45,320 Speaker 1: to talk some league wide stuff. I will see you guys. 663 00:31:45,320 --> 00:32:13,720 Speaker 1: Then the volume