1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:01,960 Speaker 1: The volume. 2 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 2: All right, well, good to Hoopsini. You're at the volume 3 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 2: heavy twoesday everybody. Hope, hope, all of you guys are 4 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 2: having a great start to your week so far. Just 5 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:24,480 Speaker 2: a quick show for you guys today. We're going to 6 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 2: do a deep dive into one game from last night 7 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 2: as the Oklahoma City Thunder got a huge win against 8 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 2: the Denver Nuggets on a game winning step back three 9 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 2: from Shay Gildes Alexander. Tons of angles to get into 10 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 2: from that game. I want to talk about the big 11 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 2: picture debate surrounding the best player in the world conversation 12 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 2: between Shay and NIKOLEA. 13 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: Jokic. 14 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 2: I want to talk about the Denver OKC matchup and 15 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 2: why I'm seriously concerned about Denver in this matchup. Moving forward, 16 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 2: a bunch of different angles that I want to get into. 17 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 2: You guys on the joke before we get started. Subscribe 18 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 2: to Hoops and I YouTube channel so you don't miss 19 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 2: any more of our videos. Make sure you like this 20 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 2: video and sign up for post notifications. That helps us 21 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 2: a lot. And then last not at least, if you 22 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 2: guys want to get mailback questions into our mail bag, 23 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 2: drop them in our full episodes on YouTube. In the comments, 24 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:07,839 Speaker 2: just write mail bag Colon. Write your question that helps 25 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 2: me sort them out. We'll get to them on Fridays 26 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:12,039 Speaker 2: throughout the rest of the season. Also bear with me. 27 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 2: I'm on day four of this brutal flu that I've 28 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 2: been dealing with, so it's been affecting my voice and 29 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 2: it's just some other stuff, So just hit bear with 30 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 2: me a little bit. Hopefully I'll start feeling better soon enough. 31 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 2: Let's talk some basketball. So an incredibly entertaining game, super 32 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 2: high level basketball from both teams, with lots of big performances. 33 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,960 Speaker 2: Both of our MVP candidates put on insane shows. Jokic 34 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 2: goes for thirty two, fourteen and thirteen. Shay goes for 35 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 2: thirty five and fifteen with zero turnovers and hits the 36 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:44,400 Speaker 2: game winner. Huge role player performances on both sides. Aaron 37 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 2: Gordon has a twenty point first half. We'll definitely be 38 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 2: talking more about Aaron Gordon later because it's crazy how 39 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 2: much different this Nuggets team looks when he's out there. 40 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 2: Tim Hardaway Junior, unbothered by the Okac pressure, hits eight 41 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 2: threes in this game, seemingly had an answer for every 42 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 2: Oklahoma City. Jay Will had one of the best games 43 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 2: in his career, consistently making the Nuggets pay for helping 44 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 2: off of him at the three point line. He hit 45 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 2: seven threes, goes for twenty nine to twelve, and aj 46 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 2: Mitchell does an amazing job as Oklahoma City's secondary ball handler, 47 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 2: toasting people off the dribble all night long. Adds in 48 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 2: a mixed a short range shot making he goes for 49 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 2: twenty four points with zero turnovers. We're going to talk 50 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 2: more about him later as well. Just an extremely high 51 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 2: level basketball game, showcasing why both teams are in that 52 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 2: top tier of contenders. But we have to start with 53 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,799 Speaker 2: Shae Gills as Alexander. We talked a couple of weeks 54 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 2: ago about how his ISO three has become a very 55 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 2: useful weapon for him in crunch time because of how 56 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 2: frequently he draws double teams. Now, Shay has become so 57 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 2: good as he's ticked his true shooting percentage up close 58 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,079 Speaker 2: to seventy percent, that leaving him on an island has 59 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 2: become untenable and it really isn't a defender in the 60 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 2: league that can handle him. The defenders that have the 61 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 2: length to contest him up top seem to not be 62 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 2: fast enough to keep him in front. We've seen that 63 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 2: with Jayden McDaniels, and then the defenders that are quick 64 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 2: enough to keep him in front can't really bother him. 65 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 1: Over the top. Doubling on drives. 66 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 2: Is a much easier dynamic to manage than doubling, you know, 67 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 2: thirty feet from the basket. A double in the mid 68 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 2: range or on a drive can be planned for in 69 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:19,399 Speaker 2: a way that usually allows the defense to just concede 70 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 2: some sort of three point shot with a contest, and 71 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 2: if you rotate well enough, you can get a decent 72 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 2: contest and you can live with your results. Now, it's 73 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:29,679 Speaker 2: worth mentioning that OKAC made Denver pay for their doubles 74 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 2: consistently last night too, but we'll get back to that 75 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 2: later on in the show, doubles from like thirty feet 76 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 2: out they tend to spark this dynamic where there's like 77 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 2: a four on three and very extended space that has 78 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 2: a much higher risk to end in open dunks sort 79 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 2: of layups, which are much more difficult to deal with 80 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 2: possession to possession than conceding threes. Right, that's not to 81 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 2: say that you can't or shouldn't steal double Shay when 82 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 2: he's dribbling thirty feet from the rim in a situation 83 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 2: like last night. And I know a lot of Nuggets 84 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 2: fans are upset about that in particular, But the bottom 85 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 2: line is you're far less likely to see double teams 86 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 2: before you dribble inside the three point line, and Shae 87 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 2: has used that dynamic to his advantage with these ISO threes. 88 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 2: Shay has already his crazy stat. Shay has already hit 89 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 2: as many clutch threes this year twelve as he did 90 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:28,919 Speaker 2: in the previous two seasons combined. He hit three massive 91 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 2: ones just in the last week, the two big ones 92 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:33,840 Speaker 2: from last night a nasty. 93 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: One over Draymond Green in the Warriors game. 94 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 2: He's showcased the ability to hit it both ways too, 95 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 2: going to his right and going to his left. I 96 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 2: talk about this concept a lot when we talk about 97 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 2: player development, especially when we're talking about like drills and 98 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 2: what young players should be working on. But when you're 99 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 2: working on anything in your game, everything should be paired 100 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 2: with the mirror image of that move as well. So 101 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 2: let's say you're just working on hard dribble drive moves. 102 00:04:57,440 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 2: Let's say you're dribbling up to a cone or just 103 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,279 Speaker 2: to a spot of the floor. And you want to 104 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,559 Speaker 2: go to an in and out scissor dribble between the legs, 105 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 2: hard drive to your left, well, then you should be 106 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 2: repping it both ways, in and out, hard dribble through 107 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,119 Speaker 2: your legs to the right, back and forth, back and forth, 108 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:13,599 Speaker 2: in and out behind the back. Whatever it is you're doing, 109 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 2: rep your moves going both ways. Post fade aways, you 110 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 2: should be repping spinning over your left shoulder, spinning over 111 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 2: your right shoulder. When you're doing movement threes, are you 112 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 2: you should be running to your right going left right footwork, 113 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 2: and running to your left and going right left footwork, 114 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 2: you should be repping the mirror images. Step back jump 115 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 2: shots are no different. You're taking a step back and 116 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 2: you only take it going one direction. You make it 117 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 2: a little bit easier to guard. This is something I've 118 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 2: seen with James Harden over the years. James Harden, the 119 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 2: vast majority of a step back jump shots are going 120 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 2: towards his right, and so players are guarding him in 121 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 2: a way where they sit up on that left hand 122 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 2: so that take away the left hand drive and they 123 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 2: try to force him into a step back, and because 124 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:55,600 Speaker 2: they know it's coming in one direction. They can get 125 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 2: better contests on it, and it's something especially as James's 126 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 2: athleticism has started to declin a little bit, it's made 127 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 2: him a little bit easier to guard right. So like 128 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 2: having the ability to use the mirror image of every 129 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 2: move is vitally important to making yourself unguardable. We've seen 130 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 2: Shay use a ton of that dribble jab going to 131 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 2: his left right, he opens up his stance, he kind 132 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 2: of jabs at you with his right foot and goes 133 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 2: in and out dribble. We see variations of that with 134 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:22,919 Speaker 2: the push off, like the second to last three he 135 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 2: hit last night on Christian Browner. He just drives really 136 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 2: hard into your chest, extends that right arm to get separation, 137 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:31,159 Speaker 2: and steps back. But he's starting to showcase the same 138 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 2: step back three now going towards his right, and a 139 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 2: lot of it has to do with what the situation 140 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 2: calls for Shay after the game, if you guys remember 141 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 2: he had a quote where he came out where he. 142 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: Said, I have answers to the test, but like I 143 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: got to see the questions very. 144 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:48,919 Speaker 2: So I have the answers to the test, but I 145 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 2: gotta see the question first, that's literally what he means. 146 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 2: Basketball situations are fluid and they're rapidly evolving. For the 147 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 2: most part, you're playing off of instinct, but you have 148 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 2: to have the answers to the test. 149 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,279 Speaker 1: If you've repped the footwork. 150 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:08,280 Speaker 2: For every conceivable move, going every conceivable direction, then in 151 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 2: the situation, you'll be able to naturally call on those 152 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 2: moves in direct response to what each situation calls for. 153 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 2: So take, for instance, the three against Draymond Green. Go 154 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 2: back and watch the tape. Lou Dort's in the strong 155 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 2: side corner. Draymond Green is situating his stance, sitting on 156 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 2: the left hand drive for Shay. He knows Shae wants 157 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 2: to go to the step back three with his left 158 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 2: hand right. So what he's doing is he's forcing Shae 159 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 2: to put the ball in his right hand. Gi Santos 160 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 2: is guarding lou Dort and he's ignoring him. He's playing 161 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 2: about twenty feet off of him up at the right elbow, 162 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 2: and he's just sitting there ready. So the idea is 163 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 2: from Draymond as he's thinking, if I take away SHA's 164 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 2: preferred step back three and I funnel him towards his 165 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 2: right hand he's most likely going to drive. If he drives, 166 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 2: he's going to drive right into Gi Santos. Now we 167 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 2: can tilt this towards a three for lou Door. And 168 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 2: if you've ever seen Draymond Green play, you bet your 169 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 2: ass he already knows that's coming. He probably just wants 170 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 2: to force Shade to drive into Gee and then he'd 171 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 2: probably leaves Shay and sprint to the corner and get 172 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 2: a fantastic contest on Dort. Maybe you end up getting 173 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 2: a stop, but no, Shay goes I got this one too, 174 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 2: and he just goes to the same in and out 175 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 2: step back, but going into his right hand side, gets 176 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 2: the separation, rises up and knocks it down. So the 177 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 2: game plan was there to take away his preferred step 178 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 2: back three. 179 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: He had a. 180 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 2: Counter for it because he can go both ways. Same 181 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 2: thing on the Spencer Jones three. Now, it was less 182 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 2: of a game plan thing. It was more of a 183 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 2: result of a gamble. But Spencer Jones gambles on that 184 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 2: little entry pass when Shay's trying to get the basketball 185 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 2: and massively overplays the right hand side. And because there's 186 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 2: only you know, four or five seconds left at that point, 187 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 2: Shaye doesn't have time to like do a retreat dribble 188 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 2: and like set Spencer up with another move, so he 189 00:08:55,960 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 2: just attacks going towards his right, same exact dynamic. He 190 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 2: could drive, but if he drives, he's almost certainly going 191 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 2: to draw a double team. So he goes to that 192 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 2: in and out step back going towards his right, rises 193 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:12,319 Speaker 2: up and knocks it down. That's what he means. What 194 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 2: he says, he has the answers to the test. He's 195 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 2: got a move, a piece of footwork, a way to 196 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 2: approach every single thing that the defense could potentially do 197 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 2: in that situation. He just plays off of instinct in 198 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 2: direct response to what the defense is doing. The step 199 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:32,679 Speaker 2: back three being a reliable option for Shay is just 200 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 2: gonna give him another tool in his bag when we 201 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 2: get to big playoff games. I said this a couple 202 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 2: of weeks ago, but I think Shay's gonna win a 203 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 2: couple of like big games this year with step back threes, 204 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 2: meaning like you know, up to up three with forty 205 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:49,000 Speaker 2: seconds left, whether it's a tie game, whatever it is. 206 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 2: I think Shay's gonna end a couple of big playoff 207 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:53,960 Speaker 2: games with step back threes this year. You could just 208 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 2: tell he's so confident in it, he's hunting it. It's 209 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 2: something that's working really well for him. I also thought 210 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,559 Speaker 2: they just played a brilliant game all around. He applied 211 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 2: consistent pressure with his drives. He made dozens of great 212 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 2: kickout passes. When Denver swarmed his drives, he did so 213 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 2: without turning the ball over, which again, there's a lot 214 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,319 Speaker 2: of traffic that he's dribbling and passing through there. It's 215 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 2: really impressive ball handling. I thought his help side defense 216 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 2: at the rim was super valuable. Shay's actually become a 217 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 2: pretty gifted secondary rim protector. We've talked about this concept 218 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 2: over the years, but secondary rim protection just has to 219 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 2: do with the way that rim protection can come in waves. 220 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:33,679 Speaker 2: The first wave is almost always your center, either stepping 221 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 2: over and help positionally to take a charge or vertically 222 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 2: if you're a better athlete or bigger size, to help 223 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 2: at the rim. But most basketball players see that first 224 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 2: wave coming, so they make a move. They drive past 225 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,120 Speaker 2: their man, the big steps up, They make a euro, 226 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 2: They pump fake to try to get the big off 227 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 2: his feet. They drop off a pass to a cutter 228 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 2: when the big steps up, whatever it is. That's when 229 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:58,120 Speaker 2: the second wave comes in. When you have a player 230 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 2: that isn't your center, but that can make plays at 231 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:05,079 Speaker 2: the rim with length, it can really help your defense 232 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 2: because now your defense is coming at the rim in waves, 233 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 2: and Shay has just gotten really good at anticipating where 234 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 2: that secondary kind of reaction is to the rim protection 235 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 2: and then filling that gap with his length at the rim. 236 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 2: Just a brilliant all round showcase performance for Shake Gilges Alexander. 237 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:28,200 Speaker 2: He basically locked up the MVP award yesterday barring injury. 238 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 2: As long as he doesn't suffer something that causes him 239 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 2: to miss six or seven more games, this guy's getting 240 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 2: the MVP. I think he made a compelling Best Player 241 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:37,960 Speaker 2: in the World case last night. I'll want to talk 242 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 2: more about that concept later on in the show. Today's 243 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 2: show is brought to you by presenting sponsor hard Rock Bet. 244 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 2: Florida's sportsbook March is here, and that means college basketball 245 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:51,600 Speaker 2: takes center stage. The stakes are rising, the shots are falling, 246 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:53,439 Speaker 2: and now's the time to hit the hardwood with hard 247 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 2: Rock Bet. Sign up today and double your winnings on 248 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:58,719 Speaker 2: your first ten bets smacks fifty dollars that's right. 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In Ohio 267 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 2: call one eight hundred my Reset Gambling problem called one 268 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:58,719 Speaker 2: eight hundred gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Tennessee, or. 269 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 1: Virginia Jay Will. 270 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:07,439 Speaker 2: It's incredibly difficult to fill the shoes of Chet Holmgren 271 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 2: and Isaiah Harten signed under any circumstances, but especially in 272 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:15,479 Speaker 2: this matchup. Those two guys provide Oklahoma City's best defensive 273 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 2: look against the Nuggets, and we've talked about that a lot. 274 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 2: Isaiah Hartenstein over playing Jokic's right hand, trying to get 275 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 2: him to spin over his right shoulder, or Chet is 276 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 2: waiting as a rim protector in the back line. But 277 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 2: Jalen shot the ball so well last night that it 278 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 2: completely made up for missing that dynamic, especially with how 279 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 2: often Denver was doubling shee Jy Will has actually been 280 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 2: by far their best stretch five this season. I know 281 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:45,319 Speaker 2: they're similar in percentage to Chet, but Jay Will is 282 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 2: a far more confident and aggressive three point shooter, and 283 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 2: he's shooting forty nine percent from three on five attempts 284 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 2: per game over his last fourteen games. He's like a 285 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 2: legit stretch five who is actively hunting those looks, who 286 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 2: wants to take them, and so he gives the OKAC 287 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 2: offense a very different look in that respect to confidently 288 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 2: step into eleven threes with how often Denver was doubling Shay, 289 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 2: and to make seven of them. He was a scheme 290 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 2: breaker last night. If he goes cold from three, Denver 291 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 2: probably wins by double digits. With how well they were 292 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 2: scoring on the other end, It's just an interesting dynamic. 293 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 1: And most importantly it kind of comes back. 294 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 2: To a dynamic that I want to talk about later 295 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 2: in the show with how dag Nault really was leaning 296 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 2: into offense last night. And it goes beyond Jaywill because 297 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 2: with the center rotation, he was all who was available. 298 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: But even at the. 299 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 2: End of the game with them leaning on Jared McCain 300 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 2: and Isaiah Joe and aj Mitchell more like, the dynamic 301 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 2: was very much you guys can't guard Shay. That's our 302 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 2: best punch, not the traditional OKC defense that you think about. 303 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 2: I thought that was interesting in a compelling part of 304 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 2: Shay's best player in the World case, which we'll get 305 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 2: to in a little bit. Other off ball scorers, I 306 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 2: wanted to shout out Jared McCain. I think Jared McCain 307 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 2: on the opposite wing when Shay is isoing is a 308 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 2: huge problem for defenses that used to be Ja dub 309 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 2: or some other player that you'd be like, I'd live 310 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 2: with that guy shooting a three when you're helping off 311 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 2: of Jared McCain on that left wing, he's shooting forty 312 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 2: five percent since going to Oklahoma City. On catch and 313 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 2: shoot threes. Shay basically just has to drive middle and 314 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 2: he can guarantee a good look for McCain on that wing. 315 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 2: Even on the big play where Isaiah Joe got the 316 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 2: step back jump shot and crunch time along the baseline, 317 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 2: it came from them rotating to McCain off of the 318 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 2: double team. So like, just having him on that opposite 319 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 2: wing creates a very difficult dynamic. Isaiah Joe all thirteen 320 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 2: points last night came off the spot ups did's some 321 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 2: really nice job driving closeouts too. I talked about one 322 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 2: of those biggest shots in the game when he hit 323 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 2: that little step back jump shot over Jokic on the baseline. 324 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 2: He had a beautiful driving floater in the first half. 325 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 2: His off ball scoring was huge, and again one of 326 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 2: the most important subplots of that game last night was 327 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 2: how how much better Oklahoma City looked with their offensive 328 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 2: slanted personnel versus their defensive slanted personnel on the floor. 329 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 2: The Cason, Wallas and low Dort groups got crushed. Deagnauld 330 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 2: even leaned on the offensive guys in crunch time. Isaiah 331 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 2: Joe was out there for all of crunch time. There's 332 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 2: a mixed Jared McCain was out there for the first 333 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 2: chunk of it. AJ Mitchell was out there for the 334 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 2: last chunk of it. Dagnault was looking at the situation 335 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 2: and thinking, our best chance to win this game is 336 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 2: to make Shae impossible to guard, not to lean into defense. 337 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 2: We'll get back to that when we talk about Shay's 338 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 2: best player in the world case. The last player I 339 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 2: want to hit on for ok is Aj Mitchell. One 340 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 2: of my predictions for this year's playoff run is I 341 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 2: think AJ Mitchell on some nights will be okc's de 342 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 2: facto's second option. J Dubb is an incredible player, but 343 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 2: his one weakness is he doesn't have the quickest first 344 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 2: step in the world so he can be contained in 345 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 2: certain situations, particularly if you can keep him out of transition, 346 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 2: keep him out of seven I transition, and if you 347 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:05,199 Speaker 2: have a bigger wing defender that can absorb contact on 348 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:08,639 Speaker 2: his drives. In those situations, you can force JDub to 349 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:11,400 Speaker 2: settle into some tough mid range jump shots. He's still 350 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 2: an absolute monster. On most Knights, Oklahoma City can get 351 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:17,880 Speaker 2: into their transition game. Jadub helps spark their transition game 352 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 2: with his defensive playmaking, so on most Knights, Jalen will 353 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:23,400 Speaker 2: be their most reliable second option. He's their second best 354 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 2: perimeter player overall. I'm not debating that specifically, but AJ 355 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 2: Mitchell has a lightning quick first step, so his ability 356 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 2: to penetrate the defense off the dribble is more reliable 357 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:41,639 Speaker 2: situation to situation than Jay Dubb is, specifically, when you 358 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 2: end up in static. 359 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:45,400 Speaker 1: Half court environments all night long. 360 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 2: Last night, he was able to break the defense down 361 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 2: with his drives, countered it nicely with some floaters and 362 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 2: short jump shots. 363 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: On rare occasions where he did. 364 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 2: Get cut off, and again, dag Naught went away from 365 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:58,680 Speaker 2: Jared McCain in the last few minutes and went back 366 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 2: to AJ Mitchell. He paid that off with a huge 367 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 2: driving layup passed Tim Hardaway. Another situation where Shaye gets doubled, 368 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 2: passes the ball to AJ. It's a late clock situation, 369 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 2: just beats him with a dribble move to his left hand, 370 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 2: gets all the way to the rim and lays it 371 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 2: up as a big bucket, once again, able to break 372 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:19,640 Speaker 2: the defense down with the drive. He just brings another 373 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:22,119 Speaker 2: dynamic to the table for this Thunder team. I was 374 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:24,159 Speaker 2: thinking about this a lot this morning. If you're a 375 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:27,359 Speaker 2: Thunder fan, you have to be incredibly pleased with all 376 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 2: of the internal. 377 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 1: Improvement this season. 378 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 2: This team straight up presents five additional issues for opponents 379 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:39,639 Speaker 2: that weren't there last year. The Shay pull up threes again, 380 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 2: He's made just as many clutch pull up threes this 381 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 2: year as he did in the previous two seasons combined, 382 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 2: and we're in March. Jared McCain's off ball scoring. That 383 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 2: was a look you didn't have to deal with last year. 384 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:56,399 Speaker 2: The Jalen Williams confident stretch five look. I think Jaywell 385 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:58,879 Speaker 2: might play a substantial playoff role if he continues to 386 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 2: shoot the ball this well. The aj Mitchell dribble penetration. 387 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:05,200 Speaker 2: That's a completely different look. The Cason Wallace on ball 388 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 2: stuff we've seen at various times this year. The league 389 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:11,479 Speaker 2: has gotten better around them, but They've more than matched 390 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 2: that with their improvement. 391 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:13,280 Speaker 1: Internally. 392 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 2: They still have a big problem to solve in the 393 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:18,680 Speaker 2: form of the San Antonio puzzle, but I'm feeling pretty 394 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:22,920 Speaker 2: good about them as a championship favorite. Today, let's talk 395 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 2: about this Shae best Player in the World debate. Shay 396 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:29,920 Speaker 2: has been slowly making his case for the Best Player 397 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 2: in the World title over the last couple of years. 398 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 2: I think he came really close last year. I think 399 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,680 Speaker 2: had Oklahoma City dominated Denver in that second round series, 400 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 2: he probably would already have it. But Jokic was every 401 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:45,719 Speaker 2: bit as good as Shae was in that series in 402 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:49,159 Speaker 2: a deeply flawed lesser Nuggets team, a Nuggets team that 403 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 2: most people picked to lose in the first round with 404 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 2: how bad they looked for most of that season. That 405 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 2: team pushed the Thunder to seven games, and that was 406 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:58,359 Speaker 2: with Aaron Gordon going down with a hamstring injury, which 407 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:01,439 Speaker 2: obviously had a massive impact Denver's ability to compete in 408 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 2: Game seven. And even though Shae had his moments in 409 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 2: the series, he had some big shots, it very much 410 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:10,040 Speaker 2: felt like the primary matchup was Oklahoma City's defense versus 411 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 2: jokicch and the defining run of the series was that 412 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 2: late first quarter run in Game seven that was fueled 413 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 2: by Alex Crusoe fronting the high post. There was never 414 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:22,359 Speaker 2: a time when we were watching that series last year 415 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 2: where it was like, Oh, Shay's just playing better basketball 416 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:27,200 Speaker 2: than Nikola Jokic. That's not what it felt like when 417 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 2: we were watching the game, and so as a result, 418 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 2: myself and most others left that series going Jokic is 419 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 2: still the best player in the world. This year in 420 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 2: the regular season is the first time I've been watching 421 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,359 Speaker 2: these two players in their head to head matchups, and 422 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 2: I felt like Shay Is just outplayed Jokic head to head. 423 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 2: In their three matchups this year, Shay's averaging thirty five 424 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:52,919 Speaker 2: points per game on fifty six percent shooting with twelve 425 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 2: point three assists in just one point seven turnovers per game. 426 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 2: Just ridiculous numbers. Three of his top eight assist games 427 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 2: have come against Denver two is top two, fifteen, and thirteen. 428 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 2: This year against Denver, Yokich is averaging twenty four to 429 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 2: thirteen and twelve. Very impressive fifty one percent shooting in 430 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 2: four turnovers per game. So not exceptional scoring volume, pretty 431 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 2: low efficiency, mistake prone Yo Kicch just hasn't been as good. 432 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:19,880 Speaker 1: There's no real debate to have here. 433 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 2: Shae has outplayed Yo Kitchen their head to heads this year, 434 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 2: and you can really feel the dynamic when you're watching 435 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:29,360 Speaker 2: them play. It doesn't feel like the dynamic is Okc's 436 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:33,880 Speaker 2: defense versus Jokich anymore. It feels like Denver can't guard 437 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:37,920 Speaker 2: Shay at all. They're doubling in basically more than anyone. 438 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 2: As I mentioned, three of Shay's top eight assist games 439 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:43,200 Speaker 2: and his top two have come against Denver. This year's 440 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:46,480 Speaker 2: averaging over twelve assists per game against Denver. And again, 441 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 2: the clearest shot sign of that shifting dynamic in this 442 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 2: matchup is the call that Mark Dagnault made at the 443 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:55,359 Speaker 2: end of that game to go with a mix of 444 00:21:55,359 --> 00:21:57,960 Speaker 2: Isaiah Joe and Jared McCain and AJ Mitchell late in 445 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:02,800 Speaker 2: the game instead of a guy like Wallace. Mark dagnol 446 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 2: thought his best chance to win that game was making 447 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:09,440 Speaker 2: it so that Denver couldn't effectively double Shae without leaving 448 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:11,680 Speaker 2: an opening to a guy who'd probably make them pay. 449 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 2: It no longer feels like Oklahoma City's defense is their 450 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 2: best traite. Now it feels like Shae is the best 451 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:22,479 Speaker 2: and most difficult thing that you have to deal with 452 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:26,640 Speaker 2: as an opponent when you play against the Thunder. He's 453 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 2: making his case as the best offensive player in the world, 454 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 2: which is changing that dynamic. Now, as you guys know, 455 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 2: I'm not going to change my player rankings list in 456 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:40,480 Speaker 2: the regular season. I do it in the summertime after 457 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:44,639 Speaker 2: the playoffs. But to be very clear, I have not 458 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:47,680 Speaker 2: seen a player play better basketball than Shake Guilders Alexander 459 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:51,439 Speaker 2: this year. He very much looks like the best player 460 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:56,439 Speaker 2: in the world. I expect Shae to make his claim 461 00:22:56,480 --> 00:23:00,399 Speaker 2: undeniable in this playoff run. I expect the under to 462 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 2: win the Larry O'Brien Trophy. I expect Shaye to look 463 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 2: fantastic along the way. As a little indicator, Shay has 464 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 2: never posted a true shooting percentage over sixty percent in 465 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:15,439 Speaker 2: the playoffs. He usually tanks in efficiency when he gets there. 466 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 2: His last several playoff runs, his true shooting percentage is 467 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 2: plummeted based on where it was in the regular season. 468 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 2: I think this year he's going to break out as 469 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 2: an efficient playoff scorer, laying around sixty two to sixty 470 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:30,199 Speaker 2: three percent true shooting and I think when we're doing 471 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:32,359 Speaker 2: our player rankings this summer, I think putting Shay at 472 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,680 Speaker 2: number one will be an easy decision. I just can't 473 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:39,160 Speaker 2: say enough about how impressed I am by him continuing 474 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 2: to add to his game, his floor game, and his 475 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:44,640 Speaker 2: feel as a point guard or at a higher level 476 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 2: than ever. He had three double digit assist games all 477 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 2: year last year. He's got five already this season. He 478 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:53,640 Speaker 2: just looks like an iconic NBA legend in the midst 479 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:56,200 Speaker 2: of an all time great run right now, and I'm 480 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 2: really enjoying him and watching him write this story right now. 481 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 2: On the Nuggets front, Jokics was amazing. It's an easier 482 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 2: defensive look, but I thought he generated fantastic looks all night. 483 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 2: Did a ton of damage to the thunder and inverted 484 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:13,800 Speaker 2: ball screens, you know, having one of those, okay, So 485 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 2: he was basically hedging every inverted ball screens. So when 486 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 2: Yokich would rile up the wing and one of the 487 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 2: guards would screen for him, that guy would step out 488 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:23,720 Speaker 2: and hedge and Yokis would just drop it over the 489 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 2: top to one of their guards. That got all sorts 490 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 2: of good stuff out of that. He did a ton 491 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 2: of damage in the post as well, seems to have 492 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 2: his touchback on a short range shot making, which has 493 00:24:30,840 --> 00:24:34,639 Speaker 2: been an issue as of late. He's the only player 494 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:36,959 Speaker 2: this year other than maybe Wemby, And the thing with 495 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 2: Wenby is he's just not going to really get a 496 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:41,160 Speaker 2: ton of credit here until he starts playing playoff basketball. 497 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:42,600 Speaker 2: That's just how it works, and for the record, I 498 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 2: think that's how it should work. I think Wenby, if 499 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:47,159 Speaker 2: he wants to get in best Player in the World conversations, 500 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:48,679 Speaker 2: it's going to be something that he does in April, 501 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 2: May and June, not something that he does in the 502 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 2: regular season. But Jokic is the only player this year 503 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:56,960 Speaker 2: other than Wemby, where I've watched him and been like, oh, 504 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 2: he's on the same tier where Shay is. On a 505 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:04,639 Speaker 2: night where Shay through an A plus punch, Jokicic was 506 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 2: right there with him in the ring, punching back, and 507 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:10,640 Speaker 2: it was what led to such a magnificent TV product 508 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:13,480 Speaker 2: like that game was, and it's a testament to the 509 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 2: fact that like, yeah, Shay is ascending, but Yokic isn't 510 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 2: going anywhere, and he's going to continue to be a 511 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:21,800 Speaker 2: problem that Shaye and everyone else in the league is 512 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 2: going to have to deal with. I thought Jokic was 513 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 2: unbelievable last night, came this close to stealing that game 514 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:30,400 Speaker 2: with him just being unstoppable late in the game on 515 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:32,399 Speaker 2: his inside hooks and on his three point shot. 516 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 1: I've talked a lot about how. 517 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:37,439 Speaker 2: Important Aaron Gordon is to just the way that Denver 518 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 2: plays and how important he is not just in this matchup, 519 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 2: but in every matchup, and I thought that screamed off 520 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:44,720 Speaker 2: the screen in last night's game as. 521 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: Well, the posting up of Smalls. 522 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 2: He ended up missing a couple late in the game 523 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:51,720 Speaker 2: where I thought, okay, so he did a good job 524 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 2: of verticality contesting and kind of just playing through the 525 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 2: physicality and forced Aaron to miss some easy ones and 526 00:25:57,080 --> 00:25:59,919 Speaker 2: then they scram rebounded around him that would. 527 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 1: To pay those off with stops. 528 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:05,840 Speaker 2: But like Gordon had some success posting, the spacing the 529 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 2: floor from the three point line caught a little hot 530 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:10,720 Speaker 2: streak in this game with the jump shot. The vertical 531 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:14,119 Speaker 2: spacing piece, though, is the big one. There were sequences 532 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:17,720 Speaker 2: like there was a first first half sequence where Yokic 533 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:19,440 Speaker 2: is posting up on the right block. He gets a 534 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 2: guard on a switch and when he spins in towards 535 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:28,359 Speaker 2: the middle income. Here comes Jalen Williams in help, and 536 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 2: there's this sequence, the classic sequence we've seen a million 537 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:32,720 Speaker 2: times where Yokic is able to drop it off to 538 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:35,320 Speaker 2: Gordon up high and Gordon dunks it with two hands. 539 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 2: There's a timing and a vertical spacing element when Gordon's 540 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:41,720 Speaker 2: out there that allows the Nuggets to space the floor 541 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:45,119 Speaker 2: in a much more difficult way to guard when Gordon's 542 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:48,480 Speaker 2: out there versus one he's not. The vertical spacing with 543 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:51,400 Speaker 2: Gordon under the basket is what makes Denver so hard 544 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:53,880 Speaker 2: to guard because then at the three point line, you've 545 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:57,200 Speaker 2: got three dudes spread all the way out along all 546 00:26:57,240 --> 00:27:00,199 Speaker 2: that space. That's what allows the Jokic Murray too Man 547 00:27:00,280 --> 00:27:02,760 Speaker 2: game to operate in a ton of space. It's what 548 00:27:02,840 --> 00:27:05,920 Speaker 2: allows Jokic to beat that coverage that Okaysee likes to run. 549 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 2: When Chet is healthy, which is the Chet as the 550 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:12,640 Speaker 2: back line defender. There's just such a dynamic to Denver's 551 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:16,200 Speaker 2: offense that is missing when he's out there. Another big 552 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:20,000 Speaker 2: ball handler to punish smaller teams like Oklahoma City, another 553 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:22,280 Speaker 2: guy who can space the floor with reliable three point 554 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:24,680 Speaker 2: shooting another guy who can space the floor underneath the 555 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:27,840 Speaker 2: basket as a vertical spacer. I thought it was encouraging 556 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:29,800 Speaker 2: that Tim Hardaway Junior shot the ball as well as 557 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:32,879 Speaker 2: he did. He like again, Oklahoma City has a habit 558 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:36,639 Speaker 2: of causing certain shooters to decompose just under the intensity 559 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:39,720 Speaker 2: of the moment. Tim Hardaway looks comfortable. He hit a bunch. 560 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 2: I think he had eight threes last night. Really comfortable 561 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:44,640 Speaker 2: shooting there. The one thing I'll say, though, that has 562 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:49,399 Speaker 2: me a little bit concerned. I'm more worried than ever 563 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:54,640 Speaker 2: about Denver in this particular matchup with Oklahoma City because 564 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 2: the dynamic used to be that Denver was able to 565 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:01,639 Speaker 2: dislodge Oklahoma City on the offensive end of the floor. 566 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 2: So essentially they felt like, we are going to struggle, 567 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:10,760 Speaker 2: obviously to score against OKAC because of the defensive looks 568 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:13,639 Speaker 2: that they can throw at us. They certainly have a 569 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:17,080 Speaker 2: bunch of options and different versatility in terms of what 570 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:19,720 Speaker 2: schemes they can run, whether it's the Hartenstein playing on 571 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:24,119 Speaker 2: the top side of Yokic's like right hand moves with 572 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:27,240 Speaker 2: Chet behind him, whether it's putting a J dub or 573 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:31,200 Speaker 2: an Alex Caruso on jokicen fronting the posts and trying 574 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:33,199 Speaker 2: to deny him as catches on all the spots that 575 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 2: he likes to go to. There have been times over 576 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:41,000 Speaker 2: the years where they've they've been able to have enough 577 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 2: success against those looks as long as they can dislodge 578 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:48,120 Speaker 2: Oklahoma City's offense. And in that postseason, if you guys 579 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:50,880 Speaker 2: remember whether it was a mix of his own looks 580 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 2: really passive pickup point for Christian Brown, giving say space 581 00:28:56,440 --> 00:29:00,000 Speaker 2: and having guys playing into the gaps, They've had way 582 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,360 Speaker 2: that they've been able to slow Oklahoma City down that 583 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 2: no longer feels like the case. Oklahoma City has logged 584 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:11,200 Speaker 2: a one twenty offensive rating versus Denver in their matchups 585 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:15,160 Speaker 2: this season. Shay has looked comfortable, the role players have 586 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:19,600 Speaker 2: looked comfortable. Okac's offense has leveled up to a point 587 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 2: that they no longer can get dislodged by Denver And 588 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:26,840 Speaker 2: just like mixing up coverages and kind of gimmicky schemes, 589 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 2: I've been talking a lot about this this season, but 590 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:32,720 Speaker 2: the teams that are still causing problems for Oklahoma City's 591 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 2: offense are actually the teams that have elite rim protection 592 00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 2: and big physical athletes on the perimeter that make the 593 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:42,480 Speaker 2: pull up jump shot game difficult for guys like Shay J. 594 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:42,880 Speaker 1: Dubb. 595 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:46,560 Speaker 2: So like, as I'm watching this, I would be concerned 596 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:49,400 Speaker 2: today if I was a Nuggets fan, that the jig 597 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:52,160 Speaker 2: is up in terms of our ability to dislodge Oklahoma 598 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 2: City's offense and kind of beat them in rock fight 599 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 2: games because we're just a little bit better in our 600 00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:00,800 Speaker 2: half court scoring against their defense. I don't feel that 601 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 2: way anymore. It feels to me like Oklahoma City's defense 602 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:07,560 Speaker 2: or Oklahoma City's offense has solved Denver that Shay is 603 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:09,720 Speaker 2: too much of a problem for them. So I'm a 604 00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 2: little bit concerned. That doesn't mean it's over for them. 605 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 2: It doesn't mean I don't think the Nuggets can beat 606 00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 2: Oklahoma City, but I am concerned specifically about how bad 607 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:21,040 Speaker 2: their defense has looked against Oklahoma City this season, and 608 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:23,960 Speaker 2: it's something where if I'm Oklahoma City, I'm feeling pretty 609 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:27,920 Speaker 2: confident heading into that matchup in this postseason. All right, guys, 610 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 2: It's all I have for today is always to sincerely 611 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 2: appreciate you guys for supporting us and supporting the show. 612 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 2: We have another jam Pack slate Tonight, we'll have some 613 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:35,800 Speaker 2: more game reaction tomorrow. 614 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:36,920 Speaker 1: I will see you guys then