1 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:08,120 Speaker 1: Hey, it's s Doug Gottlie. Welcome into the All Ball Podcast, 2 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:12,040 Speaker 1: where all we talk about is ball ball. UM. I 3 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:16,080 Speaker 1: should point out that I'm currently crafting an article for 4 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: The Athletic on the draft this guy, don't draft that guy, 5 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: kind of like in the eat this not that mode. 6 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 1: You know, you know that those articles you see there's 7 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 1: actually a magazine. I believe eat this not that guys 8 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: that you should take a bite out of, Guys that 9 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: you should pass on. Um. I'll get to a couple 10 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: of those names a little bit later as the NBA 11 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: draft combine is ongoing. Should point out that one of 12 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: the guys that I think is going to get a 13 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:46,520 Speaker 1: lot of discussion, and frankly in the top seven eight, 14 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: I know there are thoughts that he'll that that the 15 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 1: floor for him would be somewhere like Cleveland. Trey Young 16 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: is a guy that's gonna be polarizing, gonna be discussed. 17 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: I would pass on Trey Young and take Colin Sexton, 18 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: for example. I don't know, if you're a their hand 19 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: measurements their height, and I know if you sit there 20 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: and go, wait, wait, why what is your issue with 21 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: Trey Young only being six ft and a half inch 22 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:12,680 Speaker 1: and Colin Sexton being the exact same height differences. Colin 23 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: Sexton longer arms, wider wingspan, and more than anything, far 24 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: more athletic and competitive at the defensive end of the floor. 25 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 1: And I think that those Sexton is not the passer 26 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: of Trey Young. Trey Young has a lot of skill 27 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: in an empty gym and a workout, can really pass, 28 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 1: can really shoot, can really handle. But in the athletic, 29 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: uh realm of the n B a boy he struggles 30 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: to cover. I mean just he can't guard anybody. And yes, 31 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 1: he's up to one seventy seven, which means you know, 32 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: once you start playing, you'll lose some of that weight 33 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: and you get down in the one which is still 34 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: light and slender. I would guess that some of this 35 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 1: is just man muscles and maturity, and he'll top out 36 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: somewhere in the one of range. But being only six 37 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: ft tall, which is a couple inches an inch and 38 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: a half shorter, he's six ft a half inch bare feet, 39 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: where Steph was six ft two. Steph Curry is a 40 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: freak of nature. He's a once in a lifetime, one 41 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 1: in a million, and he's also a better athlete than 42 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: Trey um. My fear with Trey Young is he's going 43 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: to be thrust into a situation and the way he's 44 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: always played is being Tray Young, taking you know, contested 45 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: deep threes, trying things in transition, trying things in the 46 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:35,359 Speaker 1: half court, and the way the NBA is evolving. I 47 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: think you're watching the evolution of the NBA before our 48 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:42,639 Speaker 1: very own eyes. If you're a smaller guard and you're 49 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: not tough, and you're not physical defensively, and sometimes even 50 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:47,920 Speaker 1: when you are, you're at a severe disadvantage because of 51 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: how teams play, because so many teams want to switch 52 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 1: things because of the overall size and length of the league. Yes, 53 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:02,399 Speaker 1: skill does matter, absolutely matters. But skill can be developed, 54 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: whereas size, strength, toughness, you can't. These are not things 55 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 1: that are developed. These are things you either have or 56 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,679 Speaker 1: don't have. And you know, I'll just tell you I 57 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: take Colin Sexton ahead of Trey Young because I think 58 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 1: he has a chance to be a dynamic, all star 59 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: caliber point guard who's also a leader. Treys trays a 60 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 1: lot of things that are very good. He's not a 61 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: bad kid in any way. Have zero bad things to 62 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: say about him as a person. But he's also not 63 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: a get behind get behind you leader. He's kind of 64 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 1: a creation of the um I want to say YouTube generation, 65 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 1: but the social media generation. Right, somebody tweets him something nice, 66 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: it's retweeted. There's pictures of him with everybody like he 67 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 1: kind of you know, I grew up with his dad 68 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: as a player in in Oaklama City as they got 69 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 1: a team and go into games and playing in all 70 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: these tournaments and whatever not. All of that stuff that 71 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: he has been able to do in this rise has 72 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: been well received by other players. So there's a guy 73 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: that I that I passed on and I would take 74 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: a call in Sexton as opposed that article be coming 75 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 1: out in the Athletic. Let me get to what we've 76 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: seen so far in the NBA Conference Finals. Let's start 77 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 1: with Celtics and the Calves. I've said this many times 78 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:21,119 Speaker 1: on radio, but I'll say it again here on this pod. 79 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: Um some of it I do fault Lebron for I mean, look, 80 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: you have over forty and you have a triple double 81 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: in game two. It's hard to go like, hey, that 82 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 1: guy didn't play well. There are many things he did. 83 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: I mean, the start of the game was incredible, but 84 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: you have to one have that reserve for the fourth quarter, 85 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: and whether he's being worn out or whether he doesn't 86 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: want to carry the team, the fact is that he 87 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 1: played the second, third, and fourth quarter kind of all 88 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 1: the same, and that that's what was missing in the 89 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 1: finals last year. So while statistically he was ridiculous, ridiculous, right, 90 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 1: forty two points in a triple double in Game two 91 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: on the road, he was incredible, But the reality of 92 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: it is that if you want to know what's missing 93 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: from those of us are like, you know, I like 94 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: Jordan a little bit better. Is I don't know if 95 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: Jordan would have been able to have the twenty one. 96 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: I mean, I know Jordan could have had on the 97 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: first quarter, but I always knew that Jordan was going 98 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 1: to bring it in the fourth quarter, was going to 99 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:26,679 Speaker 1: try and just carry a team in the fourth quarter. 100 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: And Lebron goes through stretches where he does, whether it's 101 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:34,720 Speaker 1: out of fatigue or or or age um or just 102 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 1: that he likes to dine people up and and sometimes 103 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: just facilitate whatever it is. That team collapsed. Obviously a 104 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 1: third quarter they were out scored thirty six twenty three, 105 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: but the fourth quarter. There wasn't that that kick from 106 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 1: Lebron he got Greg Monroe got him going, got an 107 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: an one. I know he's struggling something the free to 108 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 1: the line, so maybe that's one of the reasons he 109 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: doesn't drive as much. But it's really interesting that Lebron 110 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,160 Speaker 1: goes from he had the eye of the Tiger in 111 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: the first quarter, where he's like, man, this dude might 112 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 1: get fifty in the quarter, to the fourth quarter. He 113 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: just kind of played and there is something weird about 114 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: the chemistry of that team. Now, look, I think a 115 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 1: lot of it is personnel based. I think the biggest 116 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: flaw in how the Calves are not constructed, but also 117 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:26,599 Speaker 1: the lineup that they choose is this, You're operating in 118 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 1: such fashion that the most important thing is space for Lebron. Hey, 119 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:34,799 Speaker 1: let's play George Hill, Let's let's get Kyle Korver. Let's 120 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 1: have Kevin Love why because they can all really shoot. 121 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 1: Let's have j R. Smith and the If we have 122 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: one rebounder, one defender, it's gonna be Tristan Thompson. Like 123 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: that in its construction is flawed. You look at the 124 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 1: bus and Celtics and Marcus Smart may step into shots like, 125 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: he's a shooter, but he's not a great shooter. Terry 126 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:54,280 Speaker 1: Rosier is not a great shooter. But what do they have? 127 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: Incredible defensive quickness and toughness. Incredible defensive quickness and tough 128 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 1: U Now Jaylen Brown, I mean like, look, if you 129 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: saw him playing college, You're like, no way is he 130 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: going to be this good a shooter this soon. But 131 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: he shot the ball exceptionally well. What he does have 132 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: is great defensive athleticism, length, and a little bit of 133 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: underrated toughness al Horford ton of toughness, semiosla, a lot 134 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 1: of toughness and strength defensively playing like an undersized four. 135 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: And look around at what they're doing. And if you 136 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: watched Brad's teams at Butler, they were always super super physical. 137 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: And then you look at how he and Danny have 138 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: put together this team. It's been built based upon the 139 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 1: idea of defensive quickness athleticism. The Buddhist switch get into people, 140 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: whereas Cleveland, knowing that Boston doesn't have as much skill 141 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 1: shooting in the basketball, they get caught in bad switches. 142 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 1: They just have bad athletes and those same veteran players 143 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: that normally you would turn to and think this is 144 00:07:57,320 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 1: a guy that's gonna make plays in the fourth quarter 145 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: in a big game, the third quarter of an NBA playoffs, 146 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 1: they just can't contain the ball. If you can't guard 147 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: the ball, and all of a sudden you only have 148 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: one guy whom Greate shots in the whole team, you're 149 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: kind of screwed. Now. I don't think that Cleveland goes 150 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: down without a fight. I do think they win a 151 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 1: game in Cleveland, maybe two. But I think those inherent 152 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: flaws will become obvious when they return to Boston. Probably 153 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: one game in Cleveland during this Syeiares Game three is 154 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: one they probably win. Game four probably decides if this 155 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 1: series becomes a five game series or if we go seven. 156 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: That's that that's that's kind of a tipping point. And 157 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: then for Lebron, I do think you have to stop, 158 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 1: if you're the Lakers and take a take a breath 159 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 1: and realize there's a lot of great things Lebron brings 160 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 1: to There's a class, there's an elegance, there's a level 161 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: of preparedness personally that he has. But he doesn't practice 162 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: at this point in his career. He doesn't he doesn't 163 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 1: operate well on a ball movement type of offense. He 164 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: doesn't defend with nearly the same level of possession of 165 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 1: possession intensity that he did previously, and honestly, based upon 166 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: how teams play now, he's not as effective a defender. 167 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: Remember what you could do with Lebron back in, you know, 168 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 1: you go back to before everybody played four out one 169 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:19,960 Speaker 1: in or four out with the roller or five out. 170 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: You could put Lebron kind of on your power forward 171 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: and he could float and block shots and get steals 172 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: and occasionally switch on the guards. He doesn't move as 173 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 1: well now, he's still very he's still super athletic, just 174 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: again for Lebron James, he's not as athletic as he 175 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 1: used to be. And sometimes those switches he's not as good. 176 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 1: He's not really as good as containing the ball as 177 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 1: he used to be. So kind of like offensive basketball 178 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:49,599 Speaker 1: has passed Carmelo Anthony by defensively, the league is he 179 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:52,319 Speaker 1: can still switch things, but he's not as good at 180 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:54,679 Speaker 1: at it as he used to be, nor would most 181 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 1: people considering how many times he played. Like so, the 182 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 1: question is like, if you're l A, I guess you 183 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,320 Speaker 1: have to take him, But do you really want him 184 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 1: as opposed to Kauai, who's writ in the prime of 185 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: his career. If he's healthy or you know, he'll look 186 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 1: around and go Paul George, who's younger. He's not Lebron James, 187 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: But the two Kauai and Paul George might end up 188 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: working out better than Lebron, who has to play one way, 189 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 1: isn't going to move as well defensively, and the ball 190 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 1: does stop when he gets it. It's not like like you're 191 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 1: gonna sit Lebron James down the fourth quarter, right, can 192 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 1: make fascinating to see what happens. Then you have Houston 193 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 1: that I thought played really well. I thought showed great 194 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 1: toughness and resilience and decided they weren't going to be 195 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 1: punked the way they were in Game one. That said, 196 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 1: it's only one game in the series. Now some of 197 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: the old problems with the Golden State Warriors came to ahead. 198 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,959 Speaker 1: They're a high turnover team and that got them, uh 199 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: that got them playing from behind. Steph Curry continues to struggle. 200 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 1: I think he'll do better at home. Am I buying 201 00:10:56,679 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: that he's not healthy? I would say he's hurt, he's 202 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: not injured. In heard you can't play hurt, put some 203 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,199 Speaker 1: ice on it, some robotesting on it, and get back 204 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: out there. And then Clay Thompson wasn't good. But the 205 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 1: big part to me that's missing is Draymond Green has 206 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: been really ineffective as a score for the most part 207 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: in the regular season. In the playoffs, if Draymond is 208 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: not hitting shots Allison, the court shrinks. You know, play 209 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: Andrea Goo Dali in his own, play Draymond Green in 210 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:25,080 Speaker 1: his own, and simply push out on the other players. 211 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:29,839 Speaker 1: Kevin Ryan's still gonna get his because he's seemingly unguardable. 212 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,439 Speaker 1: But if you can limit the good looks of Steph Curry, 213 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 1: if you can limit the good looks of Clay Thompson 214 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,560 Speaker 1: and then you can rebound with him run off of 215 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 1: the turnovers, you give yourself a chance. So it's not 216 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: a surprise that Houston won. They shot the ball well, 217 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:48,199 Speaker 1: but it wasn't like they made twenty five three out 218 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,719 Speaker 1: of four or something crazy. They shot it well. I 219 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,079 Speaker 1: thought a lot of it was their defense, the rebounding, 220 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 1: some of their toughness, and James Harden did come off 221 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:59,199 Speaker 1: the ball. So I still think the Warriors win the series, 222 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 1: though because I think and p J. Tucker is gonna 223 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 1: have to shoot the ball well three more times or 224 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 1: so in order for them to win the series. And 225 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: I don't see that happening. Just the reality of it is, 226 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: that's not who p J. Tucker is. Let's welcome into 227 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 1: the All Ball Podcast. You played at U c L 228 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 1: A product of John Murror High School in pasting To, California, 229 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 1: same high school that produced um Stacy Agman, and Jack Vaughn, 230 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: among others. Ryan Hollins joins the show Tenure NBA vet. 231 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: Let's let's start with what happened most recently. Ryan, what's 232 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: your reaction to Houston dominating the Warriors last night? Well, 233 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 1: they just say face. Everybody's talking about sweep getting the 234 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 1: brooms out. The series is over. I don't think they 235 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 1: have a chance, but I just didn't want to see 236 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 1: him go out like that. Man in the second round 237 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 1: of the NBA playoffs was a barrass and we saw 238 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: three five ones and one. Sweet man. I just want 239 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 1: to see a good series. Let's watch some basketball. I 240 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 1: tend to agree with you. Um Steph seems to have 241 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,679 Speaker 1: struggled in Games one and two. I think some of 242 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: it is they're going at him on as many possessions 243 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:10,439 Speaker 1: as possible, trying to find the find who steps guarding 244 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 1: and that that wears on anybody. Some think he's not healthy. 245 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 1: He says he's healthy. What's your assessment of Steph Curry's 246 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: offensive struggles? Well, one thing against game planning for Steph, 247 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 1: he always amazed me for the best shooter we've ever 248 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 1: seen ever in the game of the NBA. He finds 249 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:31,720 Speaker 1: a way to get open, and that's because he runs. 250 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: He never stops moving. He's always getting sprained for he's 251 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,839 Speaker 1: got the ball in his hand and he's hindered most 252 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 1: by his movement, by his running. And obviously sometimes the 253 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:46,760 Speaker 1: greatest defense is your offense. And every time they see 254 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 1: him on the floor, they've got it. They've got the 255 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 1: grain light and Doug, you know, there's from playing ball. 256 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:55,839 Speaker 1: They're not forcing it at Steff. They're moving the ball, 257 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 1: they're letting it come organically and then it's full out 258 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 1: attack mode and that's really hard for in the guard. 259 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 1: Do you think he's healthy, No, he's not healthy. I mean, 260 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: he's healthy enough to play, but he's not. He's not 261 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 1: still he doesn't have any popping and stuff. You know 262 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: when you come back from injury. Uh, you don't feel 263 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: your pop yet. You're just kind of out there and 264 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 1: that's what you're here from, Steph. But he's gonna feel 265 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 1: a whole lot better coming home to Oracle Band, you 266 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 1: know that. Yeah? Yeah, no, I I don't doubt that 267 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: at all. I mean, like, look, p J. Tucker hadn't 268 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 1: hit shots like that most of the playoffs. He hit shots. 269 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: We know, Golden State turns it over a ton. They 270 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:33,920 Speaker 1: turned it over a bunch early, which allowed Houston to 271 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: kind of to get a lead. Um. One of the 272 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 1: interesting parts is that Kevin Durant continues to dominate, and 273 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 1: yet um it doesn't. You know, he dominating game one, 274 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: dominates in game two, and yet the results are different. 275 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: What's your assessment of Kevin Durant in terms of how 276 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,360 Speaker 1: he's actually playing. So let me break this down. Let's 277 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 1: break it down down. The team switched rolls in game one. 278 00:14:57,640 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: You saw hard and taking a bulk of the shot, 279 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: everybody else standing, and Houston took up stage out of 280 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 1: their game plan and said, well, okay, Kevin Durant unstoppable. 281 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: We're gonna stay home. We'll play him straight up and 282 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 1: we're gonna force him to drive. We're gonna force him 283 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: to finish on double moves and when he catches the ball, 284 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: we'll call these durant moves Doug, because he's seven feet 285 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 1: and he shoots the ball at the top of his 286 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: peak and he's pretty much unguardable, so they're they're crowding him. 287 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 1: You saw him literally putting the hands on him and said, 288 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 1: don't get a drunk and go drive to the basket 289 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 1: and we'll chase you from behind. Well, we're gonna take 290 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: your two versus threes. And in game one he was 291 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 1: very efficient. He catched him and shoot. Game two he 292 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: had to put the ball on the floor and a 293 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 1: lot of those other guys on him to State didn't 294 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: touch the ball. And that's not Golden State Office. Yeah, 295 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 1: that's I saw. I saw the exact same thing. It's 296 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: it's and look, we saw some of that even in 297 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: the in the Celtics series in that you know, they 298 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 1: were staying home a lot more kind of in Game 299 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 1: two when Lebron was going nuts and uh and and 300 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: you know at some point, you also you get exhausted 301 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: from going one on one, like I thought Game one, 302 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: James Hard is not a good defender, and he sometimes 303 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 1: he doesn't have energy for it. But then when you're 304 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: going one on one every time down the court, you're 305 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 1: gonna have no energy to play defense, and then they're 306 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 1: attacking with the defensive it. Doug, are you agreeing with me? 307 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 1: Because I've always felt like you were crazy with a 308 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 1: couple of yr takes. But we're seeing out today which 309 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 1: which which takes are crazy? You say a couple of 310 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 1: crazy things you've you've thrown about, you've thrown about. Where 311 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 1: are there you go? Go? Feel free? You know, feel 312 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 1: feel free? Um okay, So I I do get from 313 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: the sound of your voice, though, that it becomes a 314 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 1: different series once we go back to Oakland. Why is 315 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: that your home? Uh? Nothing like having your fans behind you. 316 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 1: I know from playing against Golden State in the playoffs, 317 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: they just run a little bit faster, shots going, you know, 318 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 1: much better before you're turning your head. Those dudes, you're 319 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 1: racing down the floor. Just the pay took the game. 320 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: You know this, Watch the pace, watch the movement. It's 321 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:07,879 Speaker 1: a difference between you playing on your hills and you 322 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:11,159 Speaker 1: are attacking down floor. You know what, even if you 323 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: score on those guys, they're chucking the ball to half 324 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 1: court and getting layups, and they've got guys that rump 325 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 1: and spreads to spin on the defensive end. And at home, 326 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 1: there's just there's just a different energy man all the 327 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 1: way back to you know, Donnie Nelson and Baron Davis 328 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: and those guys could up and down the floor. It's 329 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 1: just something about arena, man that I can explain. And 330 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:33,919 Speaker 1: I'd say also the officiating change a little bit. You know, 331 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:36,800 Speaker 1: they did a good job of bumping stuff. Uh and 332 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: you know when he was trying to finish, they didn't 333 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:42,439 Speaker 1: make any of his finishes um easy. Whereas when you 334 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:45,040 Speaker 1: when you're in Oakland, some of those fouls, some of 335 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 1: those get called foul as opposed to letting him play 336 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,960 Speaker 1: like they did last night. Is that fair? Oh? Absolutely? 337 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 1: You know it's so like the irony, Like I know, 338 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:56,640 Speaker 1: there's a coach at home driving a car out going. 339 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,159 Speaker 1: You're leading them drive to the basket. You know, and 340 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 1: since we were young, it was always contest the jump shot. 341 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 1: But both of these teams shoot at such a high 342 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 1: clip that you're almost forcing the drive. You're saying hard, 343 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 1: no step packs, you're saying curry, you know, no no 344 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 1: step back, no crossover to the legs three's, and you're 345 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 1: saying drive to the whole because your two is the 346 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:24,360 Speaker 1: worst shot than you're contested three. This is atball, Isn't 347 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: it amazing? Like you're not old enough. I think you 348 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 1: came into the tail end of the disappearing mid range game. 349 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: They used to always my era was like, man, you 350 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 1: got to develop your mid range, mid range game, mid 351 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 1: range game and then and so now now it's like, dude, 352 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:40,840 Speaker 1: don't we don't want really like, you can take a 353 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 1: mid range shop, but you better make it as as 354 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 1: opposed to get to get to the rim or kick 355 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 1: out for a three. And then the other part is, 356 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 1: and I pointed this out on the radio show, going 357 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 1: back to yesterday, I think the biggest change in the 358 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 1: NBA is you go back to the last sixty years 359 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:01,520 Speaker 1: picking the idea of a ball screen or pick and 360 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 1: roll was to get a little on a big in 361 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 1: the low post and throw the ball into a big 362 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 1: right and then and then and then you had to 363 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: double team or that guy is gonna go score. Now 364 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:13,919 Speaker 1: it's the opposite. Now you want the same ball screen, 365 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 1: but it's because you want the big on the little 366 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 1: out on the floor so that you have that mismatch 367 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:20,399 Speaker 1: and then you can get into lane and create havoc. 368 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,959 Speaker 1: And Doug, I swear you're reading my notes because I 369 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 1: also remember that I was a big always switched, went 370 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:30,440 Speaker 1: through five. That's why I worked with teen on two 371 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:33,119 Speaker 1: a little bit. I enjoyed guarding guards or whoever in 372 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 1: the perimeter, and I said, why don't we switch more? 373 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 1: And the coach is always good on me and say, well, 374 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 1: we don't want the guard to have to box out 375 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 1: the big man. But now when you kick your poison, 376 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: because these teams shoot at such a high clip, you 377 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:48,840 Speaker 1: gain rebound, you get out of the running. You had 378 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:52,440 Speaker 1: to make multiple efforts, and it's almost like a bad look. 379 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 1: Like like, Doug, are we really saying that layups are 380 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: bad looks in the NBA? Like that's all, well these scores, yeah, 381 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 1: not not layups, post stuffs, but like like right, like 382 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 1: it used to be working your post moves working, Yeah, 383 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:06,359 Speaker 1: you gotta work on your post mos now like yeah, posts, 384 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:08,919 Speaker 1: actually aren't that a fishing a shot unless you have 385 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 1: a dunk kick that sucker out Like it's now now 386 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 1: you play like the Warriors, play out of the post. 387 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 1: Where they're a great split team, right, you hit the 388 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 1: guy in the post, and now you go screen for 389 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:23,680 Speaker 1: each other. They almost never looked to score in the post. No, no, no, 390 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 1: they don't. And the only one who right now, which 391 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:28,880 Speaker 1: meanly mess them up, is when they got the ball 392 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:30,920 Speaker 1: to to Rent. That's the first time I ever saw 393 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 1: Golden State start standing. And then I look on the 394 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 1: other end and Houston is flaring, their cutting, they're diving, 395 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 1: they got all this action going on in Harten passing 396 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,880 Speaker 1: the basketball. We're going, what the heck is this? What's 397 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: the matter with the calves? You know what, chemistry, I'm 398 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 1: gonna give it chemistry. Then I'm gonna give you I'm 399 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:57,639 Speaker 1: gonna give you one big name Kardashian. We're not going 400 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:02,840 Speaker 1: to do that. But he's Uh. Tristin Thompson is the 401 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 1: missing piece. And I know we can talk about all 402 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:10,399 Speaker 1: this small volume days and what they do well and 403 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:14,760 Speaker 1: and how it helps, but Lebron James is a transcendent 404 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:19,359 Speaker 1: talent and in today's NBA, he allows you to play 405 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: Tristan Thompson. And when Tristan Thompson's not on the floor, 406 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 1: Cleveland's not that good of a basketball team. Why the 407 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 1: eras with your mistakes. Defensively, he can show out and 408 00:21:32,119 --> 00:21:36,680 Speaker 1: guard it Guarden today's small ball generation of basketball. And 409 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 1: when you check up a bad shot or you don't 410 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 1: have anything going, he can create offensive rebounds. So Lebron 411 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:47,720 Speaker 1: James allows Tristan Thompson to play, and he also makes 412 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: Kevin Love a whole lot more comfortable on the floor. 413 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 1: I played with Kevin, and no, keV doesn't want to 414 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 1: be down there blocking shots and you know, guarding guys 415 00:21:57,359 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: on the Blacks. You know, he wants to run in 416 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 1: and get some free rebound and he you know, he 417 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 1: wants to worry about scoring. And now he's got to 418 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 1: do more than expected. And you see Boston really take 419 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:11,119 Speaker 1: an advantage of that. Yeah. I would say though that 420 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 1: as much as Kevin Love doesn't want to play the five, 421 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 1: he likes to play the floor. Um, the fact is 422 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: that he a lot against a lot of teams. He 423 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:21,400 Speaker 1: has a better mismatch when he's playing the five as 424 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:22,879 Speaker 1: to when he's playing the four to where you know 425 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:24,399 Speaker 1: he can I mean, that's one of the reasons that 426 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:27,399 Speaker 1: they couldn't play Valentinis against him in Toronto is because 427 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 1: he's playing from the basket and Valentinist wants to guard 428 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 1: the rim. I the one thing I think they might 429 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:36,479 Speaker 1: want to consider doing is establishing Kevin kind of at 430 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 1: the low post, playing through him a little bit more 431 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:41,560 Speaker 1: as opposed to you keep playing through Lebron James and 432 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:43,800 Speaker 1: kind of like we talked about with Harden in game 433 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: one and Durant and game two, you get exhausted, get 434 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 1: worn out, and you get nothing from them at the 435 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 1: defensive end, and the team starts to stand. Is that 436 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:55,399 Speaker 1: a way how do they create more offense? Because it 437 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 1: doesn't feel like George Hill can get a step and 438 00:22:57,880 --> 00:22:59,919 Speaker 1: everybody else is just kind of a shooter that they 439 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 1: have that they're putting out there. Do you do you 440 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:05,440 Speaker 1: play through Kevin Love? What's the adjustment you make outside 441 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:08,040 Speaker 1: of just playing Tristan Thompson? See see this is where 442 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:10,159 Speaker 1: I showed that you're crazy because I don't think you 443 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,159 Speaker 1: post up Kevin Love. Kevin is a crafty score and 444 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: in this series, it's not balance. Julius. This Al Horford, 445 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:19,400 Speaker 1: who's actually comfortable, you know, screening out, chasing a guy 446 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: off the three point line, guarding different positions. This is 447 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 1: a poor matchup for Kevin. But I do agree, you 448 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,199 Speaker 1: gotta put in a man position to be successful. You 449 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:30,920 Speaker 1: can throw Kevin Love at the elbow and look Lebron 450 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: cut run some offense through them. I agree, You've got 451 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 1: to get some type of play making ability out of 452 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:40,040 Speaker 1: somebody other than Lebron. And you know, when Kevin just 453 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: the ball on the block, he's one of the greatest 454 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:44,639 Speaker 1: passes I've ever played with. You know, I remember diving 455 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 1: to the basket and him stowing that soon behind and stuff, 456 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:50,480 Speaker 1: you know, and he for a nice dunk or on transition. 457 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:52,800 Speaker 1: So you know, maybe take a page out of Golden 458 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 1: Space book, like you said earlier, Doug, and you know, 459 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:58,320 Speaker 1: some split action, get some cutting going, you know, just 460 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:01,120 Speaker 1: let Lebron rest a little bit. But I don't think 461 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:03,920 Speaker 1: Kevin Love on the block as a score as a 462 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:07,399 Speaker 1: score really helps you because there are poor matchups and 463 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 1: if you notice, you know they switch out guard him. 464 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:13,160 Speaker 1: You know, tell Um can guard him on the block. 465 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:17,679 Speaker 1: Marcus smarts straight up. So I'm not disagree with you. 466 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 1: How is that possible? How can Kevin Love be guarding 467 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 1: the low post by Jalen Brown? That seems that that 468 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 1: that doesn't that seems as he gotten as he regressed 469 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 1: as a post player because he's worked so much in 470 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:29,359 Speaker 1: this perimeter game like do Jaileen Brown should not be 471 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 1: able to guard Kevin Love downlow, should he? Well, let's 472 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 1: not forget. Also, Kevin is not an incredible athlete, so 473 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:38,439 Speaker 1: he's got to beat you at craft and these guys 474 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:41,280 Speaker 1: are are allowed to put their hands on him. You know, 475 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 1: they're getting physical with them. You know what they're doing 476 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 1: is they're forcing Kevin Love to his baseline spin and 477 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:49,960 Speaker 1: he's going up with his left hand. And because you're 478 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 1: not a when you're not as strong to your left hand, dug, 479 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: you use your physicality. And those guys have had a 480 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 1: year to mature in the league and they're strong enough 481 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 1: and athletic enough that they're kind of testing that left 482 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:03,119 Speaker 1: hand jump. Look at Kevin, you know, seeing it getting 483 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 1: put back in his face. And you know, the NBA 484 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:08,960 Speaker 1: playoffs are about efficiency, and if you're not scoring at 485 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:11,760 Speaker 1: a high clip and you're not defending, what are you 486 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 1: doing on the floor. So he's got to find ways 487 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:17,359 Speaker 1: because the jumper is not gonna work against those guys, 488 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:20,320 Speaker 1: and he's not necessarily jumping to the roof against them. 489 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 1: So you know, maybe he's got to be more patient. 490 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,640 Speaker 1: Maybe he's got to establish something else, but that's never 491 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 1: really been Kevin's bread and butter. But I I hear you. 492 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:31,680 Speaker 1: You gotta get something going to the basket. I think 493 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 1: there's crafty ways of doing it. And I don't think 494 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:36,439 Speaker 1: just giving him the ball on the block. He's that 495 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 1: good to get it done, even against the Brown or 496 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 1: a Tato. But I hear you, guy, how's Boston doing this? 497 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:44,640 Speaker 1: I mean, I listen, I I get that you still 498 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:47,120 Speaker 1: have and we have Jalen, but he's still really young. 499 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum, he's still really young. Like the playoffs is 500 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:54,520 Speaker 1: supposed to be about veteran dudes, and you don't have Kyrie, 501 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 1: you don't have Gordon Hayward, and you're you're up to 502 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 1: games to none. How are they doing this? Just credit 503 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:05,159 Speaker 1: Brad Stevens. This is where I credit him, because we 504 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:08,840 Speaker 1: haven't seen a close game from these teams, and in 505 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 1: a close game is where you really see how young 506 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 1: they are. In a tight finish, when you got to 507 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 1: figure out whether the offense is coming from. Now you're 508 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:19,960 Speaker 1: seeing where's Kyrie Irving, who's gonna done your stocks for 509 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:23,600 Speaker 1: a shot? What they've done? When you watch these games. 510 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 1: They're punching those third quarters so hard as if it's 511 00:26:28,119 --> 00:26:31,240 Speaker 1: an end of the game, and they're giving themselves at 512 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:35,159 Speaker 1: ten plus points buffer, you know they're coming back because 513 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 1: you know they don't want to wait until the end 514 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:41,639 Speaker 1: of the game. So amazing strategy from Brad Stevens and 515 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:44,399 Speaker 1: guys like Al Horford and Smirk looked in there before 516 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 1: telling the young guys, look, we gotta go now. We 517 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:50,240 Speaker 1: cannot wait. We're not that good of a team and 518 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 1: Lebron so far behind it's kind of like, you know, 519 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 1: there's not much he can do in these first two games. 520 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 1: Ryan Hollans joining us, all right, So, um, now we 521 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: go back to Cleveland, the home crowd, the ability to 522 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 1: be physical. Do we go back to two when we 523 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:08,679 Speaker 1: go to Boston or is Boston able to get the 524 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:11,960 Speaker 1: three one lead? In your mind? No, I think we 525 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 1: get too too. They're different team on the road, they're 526 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:18,000 Speaker 1: youth shows. And I tell you one thing, this is 527 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 1: a do or die type next two games for Cleveland 528 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:23,160 Speaker 1: and the hardest thing that I've ever seen and I've 529 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 1: ever been a part of. And I remember veterans like 530 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: you know, Paul Peters and and Dirk and Gardnett telling me, hey, 531 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 1: young solid, this is gonna be a different game because 532 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:34,399 Speaker 1: their backs are against the wall and that fight or 533 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,240 Speaker 1: flight type of human instant kicks in. Either you give 534 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:39,679 Speaker 1: up and you lay down like Toronto did, or you 535 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 1: fight with all your might. And that's what you're gonna 536 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:45,440 Speaker 1: see from Cleveland in a sense of a close out game. 537 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 1: So I see them making this thing too too, And honestly, Doug, 538 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:52,120 Speaker 1: I don't know how you feel about this. I think 539 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 1: this will be Lebron's greatest feat and greatest challenge ever 540 00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:58,879 Speaker 1: if he gets by this Boston team, even though they 541 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:01,360 Speaker 1: don't have Hayward and Carrie Irving? Is it because they're 542 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:03,719 Speaker 1: down two games to none and because of how they 543 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:06,119 Speaker 1: looked in one and two? That's how you feel. I 544 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:08,280 Speaker 1: look more at his Cleveland team right now. I look 545 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 1: more at that depleted team. I look more at the 546 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:12,920 Speaker 1: lack of chemistry. I look at more of what they 547 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:15,880 Speaker 1: lost and what they didn't gain, you know, in these 548 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 1: trades because they brought in young players, they didn't they 549 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:21,040 Speaker 1: brought in some spring chickens. They didn't bring those violet 550 00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:23,240 Speaker 1: old vests, and who would be you know, going and 551 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 1: getting it? You know, I bet they could have used 552 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:29,840 Speaker 1: some d weight now at least for one game. No, I, 553 00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:31,720 Speaker 1: I it's it. I Actually it's funny you bring up 554 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:35,119 Speaker 1: d Wade because while the trades helped them in the 555 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:38,959 Speaker 1: regular season, it's clearly hurting them in the postseason. I 556 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 1: just don't know if they could have gotten to this 557 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:43,560 Speaker 1: point in the postseason if not for having a you know, 558 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:46,360 Speaker 1: considering the path that they were on and the way 559 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:49,640 Speaker 1: in which Lebron was feeling and playing, and like, look 560 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: at the lowest plus minus in the league for seven 561 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 1: weeks there or six weeks there. Obviously he wasn't. But 562 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 1: it's crazy because well, though those guys weren't helping him, 563 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 1: then they probably would have helped him more. Now that's 564 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 1: that's that's fair, right, That's what you're getting in very 565 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:06,840 Speaker 1: very fair. And what message, Let's let's look a little forward, 566 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:08,320 Speaker 1: because we got to do it this as part of 567 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 1: their job. What message as a front office if you're 568 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 1: Lebron's team, what does that sense to Lebron that does 569 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 1: not care about tomorrow, that wants to win for the now, 570 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:21,120 Speaker 1: that needs a championship or bus because a good regular 571 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:23,560 Speaker 1: season and even an m v P doesn't mean much 572 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:27,200 Speaker 1: at all to him staying in Cleveland. So I see 573 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 1: a message to Lebron saying we're gearing up with some 574 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:33,160 Speaker 1: youth for tomorrow when you go ahead and bounce, because 575 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 1: we're expecting you to leave. But some of that is Lebron. 576 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:40,760 Speaker 1: Lebron has done that right, I mean Lebron has created 577 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:45,760 Speaker 1: this where he by by allowing the possibility of leaving 578 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:47,680 Speaker 1: to be the story of the season. All he has 579 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:49,480 Speaker 1: to do is come out and say like, I ain't leaving, 580 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:51,960 Speaker 1: this is my home. I'm staying here. You guys fix it. 581 00:29:52,520 --> 00:29:54,680 Speaker 1: None of this would have none of this would have happened. 582 00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:58,240 Speaker 1: So I'm not disagree. I completely agree with you that 583 00:29:58,360 --> 00:30:01,280 Speaker 1: Cleveland is positioning themselves of hey we got some youth, 584 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:04,160 Speaker 1: Hey we still got that draft pick. There is the 585 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:06,200 Speaker 1: sun will still rise in the eastern, said in the west, 586 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:08,920 Speaker 1: even if he leaves. But a good portion of this 587 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 1: is created by by the ambiguity that Lebron has approached 588 00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:16,040 Speaker 1: the situation with. No I agree, and and Doug, we're 589 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:19,320 Speaker 1: gonna look back on Lebron's career as this Michael Jordan 590 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 1: documentary is coming out, and we're gonna appreciate Lebron the 591 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:26,360 Speaker 1: businessman behind the scenes. We're gonna appreciate what he learned 592 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:30,160 Speaker 1: from the decision and the strategic way that he leaves 593 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:34,400 Speaker 1: Cleveland this time to where you're almost telling him, Oh, Lebron, 594 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 1: you gotta leave. But gods like me and you're speaking 595 00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:39,800 Speaker 1: to the process and say, Lebron, do you planted these 596 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:43,520 Speaker 1: seeds of leaving a long time ago? You know? But 597 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:46,400 Speaker 1: to the common eyes, you're gonna say, oh, he's gone 598 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:48,080 Speaker 1: it though it just makes sense. There's no reason for 599 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:50,920 Speaker 1: him to be in Cleveland. No, Lebron set this up 600 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:53,480 Speaker 1: completely all the way. Man. It was. It was masterful. 601 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:56,280 Speaker 1: This was this was this is the master this is 602 00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:58,479 Speaker 1: this is amazing. You're gonna look back on, man, this 603 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 1: guy is a businessman. Not only is one of the 604 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:06,160 Speaker 1: greatest basketball players of all time, we actually play the game. 605 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:10,320 Speaker 1: Does he come to l A. Yeah, Man, I've I've 606 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:12,640 Speaker 1: said championship for l A and and it's safe to 607 00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:16,000 Speaker 1: say that only option right now is looking like l 608 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:19,200 Speaker 1: A is a Lakers. Ryan, Dude, you're doing a great 609 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:22,840 Speaker 1: job killing it over at ESPN. Really appreciate you coming 610 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:26,640 Speaker 1: on with us. Oh man, anytime, Doug, I'm a big fan. 611 00:31:27,280 --> 00:31:29,680 Speaker 1: When I think you're crazy, I'll just I'll just text 612 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:32,120 Speaker 1: Ryan and tell him, you know, I want to argue 613 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:34,840 Speaker 1: with Doug a little bit. Man. So, Man, I appreciate 614 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:42,000 Speaker 1: your work. Brother, Ben, keep as firing. Our next guest 615 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 1: is an outstanding writer. He's really more known in the 616 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:49,400 Speaker 1: industry as a coach coach au teams. He's uh, he's 617 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:52,520 Speaker 1: He's been a consultant to the NBA team's international coaches 618 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:56,400 Speaker 1: as well. Um and used used to write for ESPN 619 00:31:56,440 --> 00:31:59,320 Speaker 1: dot Com, now works for Flow Sports. He's David Thorpe 620 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:03,600 Speaker 1: joins us on the Doug Gottlieb Show. Uh, David, let's 621 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:06,040 Speaker 1: let's get to last night. What do you think the 622 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:09,400 Speaker 1: difference was. Was it were the Rockets that much different 623 00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:13,440 Speaker 1: or was it simply they just played harder? Well, I 624 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:15,720 Speaker 1: mean they played faster and harder. So let's go with that, 625 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:18,680 Speaker 1: right they they not only did they get into their 626 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:21,600 Speaker 1: I have court possessions faster. I thought that hardened. It 627 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:24,640 Speaker 1: looked like on the Grief Sports somewhere in the locker room, Uh, 628 00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:26,440 Speaker 1: coach s Antonio Roll, you know, get to the top 629 00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:29,640 Speaker 1: of the key by note that was quicker, and they 630 00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:32,120 Speaker 1: just looked a race out on the way. They get 631 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:34,479 Speaker 1: the Pella running faster rim the rim and hardened through 632 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:36,880 Speaker 1: those dadahead passes, and then there were a much more 633 00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:41,120 Speaker 1: physical dog on the ball, like like the Papers normally play. 634 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:43,480 Speaker 1: That's not how the Rockets normally play. But last night 635 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:46,400 Speaker 1: they definitely got under the chin of the Warriors. Played 636 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:50,680 Speaker 1: much more physically, bumped cutters, better far better communication because 637 00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:52,920 Speaker 1: those stop a lot of screens. The Warriors will and 638 00:32:52,920 --> 00:32:55,840 Speaker 1: and run beer screens to confuse you, and so they 639 00:32:55,880 --> 00:32:58,880 Speaker 1: just were so much more locked in an intense and 640 00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:01,640 Speaker 1: going to it was casual. That was a nightmare for 641 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:06,120 Speaker 1: the Warriors, that combination. So how replicable is that effort 642 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:11,200 Speaker 1: for Houston going forward? Oh? I think very The better 643 00:33:11,280 --> 00:33:15,360 Speaker 1: question probably is if I'm faking Gold States doing the series. 644 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:19,720 Speaker 1: I'm really looking at two things. How step Curry doing 645 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:22,680 Speaker 1: because he's not doing great so far, and then the 646 00:33:22,760 --> 00:33:26,920 Speaker 1: igodala uh Draymond Green combination has been they just can't 647 00:33:26,920 --> 00:33:29,520 Speaker 1: make a shot. So if you're not getting anything from 648 00:33:29,520 --> 00:33:32,840 Speaker 1: those two guys and Steph Curry isn't somewhere near all 649 00:33:32,840 --> 00:33:36,160 Speaker 1: star level, well, now you're in Cleveland, West, I thought 650 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:38,480 Speaker 1: you played better defense. I understand that the Warriors do. 651 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:40,760 Speaker 1: But you can't just leave it on Durant. I get 652 00:33:40,920 --> 00:33:44,120 Speaker 1: that team. The Rockets are number one seed for a reason. 653 00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:46,080 Speaker 1: So I'm really looking at Curry and what he does 654 00:33:46,120 --> 00:33:49,200 Speaker 1: in in game three. Plus like the Green Nigodala combination, 655 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:51,520 Speaker 1: they just gotta start making some three Yeah, I mean, 656 00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:54,560 Speaker 1: it's it's interesting. I put it like Draymond, he stopped 657 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:56,920 Speaker 1: even looking at him, right, I mean, he stopped looking 658 00:33:56,920 --> 00:34:00,280 Speaker 1: at him. And the thing about the reason the small 659 00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:03,200 Speaker 1: ball lineup works is you go back to the first 660 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:06,080 Speaker 1: year the Warriors. One it was they weren't guarding Iguodala 661 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:08,680 Speaker 1: and he made him pay. And then you know, always 662 00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:12,279 Speaker 1: Draymond has made just enough to keep you honest. Now 663 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:15,600 Speaker 1: neither are making him and the court is shrinking around 664 00:34:15,680 --> 00:34:18,399 Speaker 1: Durant and you can you can stick to to Clay 665 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:21,440 Speaker 1: Thompson and you're you're kind of stuck like glue to 666 00:34:21,520 --> 00:34:24,719 Speaker 1: staff and being really physical with Steph. How so, how 667 00:34:24,719 --> 00:34:26,839 Speaker 1: do you fix it mid how do you fix Iguadala 668 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:31,359 Speaker 1: and Green mid series? It's a great question. I don't know, 669 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:35,239 Speaker 1: uh he I mean, Dolla was really just mailed in 670 00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:37,399 Speaker 1: the regular season, and and so a lot of us 671 00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:40,080 Speaker 1: were thinking okay, let's see round one and round two 672 00:34:40,640 --> 00:34:42,960 Speaker 1: and and sir enough, he definitely looked a lot more 673 00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:45,520 Speaker 1: plugged in, which sold us. Okay, he just mailed in 674 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:49,520 Speaker 1: the season, which well, but this is a very different level. 675 00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:51,839 Speaker 1: And I don't know that he'll be able to fix 676 00:34:52,040 --> 00:34:54,520 Speaker 1: your porn on. Draymond is very good. He remember this, 677 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:57,799 Speaker 1: remember this does it's for a long time the way 678 00:34:57,840 --> 00:35:01,120 Speaker 1: people depended Golden State. Uh, David at did this initially 679 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:04,960 Speaker 1: too great effect to halfway through that first series four 680 00:35:05,040 --> 00:35:07,719 Speaker 1: years ago now where they just really hard heads to 681 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:11,440 Speaker 1: eat and blitter double step on ball screen and Draymond 682 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:14,279 Speaker 1: with short roll and eventually Curry figured out in that 683 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:17,600 Speaker 1: series and beyond that, Draymond te facilitator on the short 684 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:20,239 Speaker 1: roll attack it down the middle, playing downhill, and they 685 00:35:20,239 --> 00:35:21,879 Speaker 1: played from the David ly As did a really good 686 00:35:21,920 --> 00:35:25,200 Speaker 1: job in that initially, and Draymond learned. But but the 687 00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:28,520 Speaker 1: rockets to switch everything and so so Curry doesn't get 688 00:35:28,560 --> 00:35:31,040 Speaker 1: any chance to play. He's not playing the two guys, 689 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:33,200 Speaker 1: and he's not playing against air. He's playing against the 690 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:37,280 Speaker 1: guy all the time. And while Curry is the solid 691 00:35:37,360 --> 00:35:40,239 Speaker 1: on ball defender, he's the worst of their starting five 692 00:35:40,280 --> 00:35:43,200 Speaker 1: guarding the ball. So that means the Rockets are kind 693 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:45,760 Speaker 1: of picking on them. I don't think they're singling amount only, 694 00:35:46,280 --> 00:35:49,040 Speaker 1: but they're certainly not afraid with all the different weapons 695 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:51,680 Speaker 1: to go at him and and bumping him all the time. 696 00:35:51,680 --> 00:35:54,279 Speaker 1: Like you just said, it's it's the process. This this 697 00:35:54,320 --> 00:35:56,920 Speaker 1: has gotta be We'll see what happens they get in 698 00:35:56,960 --> 00:35:59,080 Speaker 1: game three, but Kurt's gotta be thinking, how do I 699 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:02,239 Speaker 1: get set pretty open more they don't food, Probably more 700 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:05,400 Speaker 1: rim cuts. He'd do them as a screener and a 701 00:36:05,520 --> 00:36:08,200 Speaker 1: shaper or a screener and and then a cutter, because 702 00:36:08,239 --> 00:36:10,440 Speaker 1: you got us are getting me the baskets. And if 703 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:12,200 Speaker 1: that three is not falling or they're in a lot 704 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:15,719 Speaker 1: of trouble, Yeah, it's it's fascinating how quickly things can turn. 705 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:17,279 Speaker 1: I do love the idea of the Rockets, Like, no, 706 00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:19,839 Speaker 1: we didn't do anything different, All right, let's go to 707 00:36:19,840 --> 00:36:23,200 Speaker 1: to the Cavaliers. Um, how do they how do they 708 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:28,000 Speaker 1: fix themselves? Lebron spectacular early then he kind of peters 709 00:36:28,040 --> 00:36:29,880 Speaker 1: out and the rest of the team is just beholding 710 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:32,759 Speaker 1: around help defense for Lebron so he can create a 711 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:35,879 Speaker 1: jump shot. They're struggling just athletically to guard the ball, 712 00:36:35,960 --> 00:36:39,120 Speaker 1: struggling with the energy and depth of energy off the 713 00:36:39,120 --> 00:36:44,399 Speaker 1: bench on the boards. How how does Cleveland right itself? Yeah, 714 00:36:44,640 --> 00:36:46,680 Speaker 1: so there was two thig to head on the first 715 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:51,000 Speaker 1: thing was the ruff of Leven when Lebron took that 716 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:54,879 Speaker 1: that totally innocent but still vicious shoulder into the job 717 00:36:54,960 --> 00:36:57,279 Speaker 1: from from a six ft eight too on a plus 718 00:36:57,320 --> 00:36:59,799 Speaker 1: pound Jason Tatum and they got blown out from that. 719 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:02,280 Speaker 1: Went on, right, he just wasn't the same. Anyone watching 720 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:05,680 Speaker 1: could see that, especially at defense. He sit around a 721 00:37:05,680 --> 00:37:08,840 Speaker 1: lot in their rotations, literally just standing around and not 722 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:13,440 Speaker 1: chasing things. And then offensively, I told you that he 723 00:37:13,440 --> 00:37:16,040 Speaker 1: he became like Tom Brady as an athlete. What I 724 00:37:16,080 --> 00:37:18,440 Speaker 1: meant by that, what wasn't such a compliment. He was 725 00:37:18,520 --> 00:37:21,239 Speaker 1: core back from the top instead of playing downhill. With 726 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:24,520 Speaker 1: some exceptions, he's got to be attacking all the time. 727 00:37:24,640 --> 00:37:27,560 Speaker 1: Then the second part is those other guys don't have 728 00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:29,799 Speaker 1: a trust, right. That probably is the bigger issue here 729 00:37:30,120 --> 00:37:31,879 Speaker 1: is they don't really have a trust with each other 730 00:37:32,239 --> 00:37:34,200 Speaker 1: because they just have been together all that long, and 731 00:37:34,280 --> 00:37:37,239 Speaker 1: so if Lebron is not super human, they really have 732 00:37:37,360 --> 00:37:39,640 Speaker 1: no shot. And your point is very good it's what 733 00:37:39,719 --> 00:37:43,040 Speaker 1: I think that at the individual matchup. Forget about Brown 734 00:37:43,080 --> 00:37:48,359 Speaker 1: and Tatum being twenty one, they're outstanding basketball players at 735 00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:52,960 Speaker 1: weddeds and long and strong and hungry, smarted the beast 736 00:37:53,080 --> 00:37:56,960 Speaker 1: we know Al Warford fantastic. This is we've been underestimating 737 00:37:56,960 --> 00:37:59,480 Speaker 1: the talent of this team because they were missing too. Also, 738 00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:03,600 Speaker 1: it's not really really good, extremely well coached and confident. 739 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:06,000 Speaker 1: Cleveland has to rely on their court. And the answer 740 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:08,120 Speaker 1: you a question is the core group of guys that 741 00:38:08,160 --> 00:38:10,160 Speaker 1: have been there a while, they need to just find 742 00:38:10,200 --> 00:38:12,480 Speaker 1: a connection with the trust for each other. And then 743 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:14,279 Speaker 1: and then Lebron's has got to play a part of 744 00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:17,080 Speaker 1: the public game on both ends or or this series. 745 00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:18,440 Speaker 1: I mean, they did get out three oh, and the 746 00:38:18,600 --> 00:38:22,719 Speaker 1: dope is it is that enough? Like? Is Lebron everything 747 00:38:22,760 --> 00:38:26,759 Speaker 1: he has? Is it? Is it enough? Yeah? I I 748 00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:29,480 Speaker 1: don't think so. I think you're right. I think that's 749 00:38:29,480 --> 00:38:32,040 Speaker 1: I think it's the fair to ask that question. Boston 750 00:38:32,520 --> 00:38:34,719 Speaker 1: not playing so great, that's a different story. And let's 751 00:38:34,719 --> 00:38:36,799 Speaker 1: be honest, Boston has not been so good. I think 752 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:39,319 Speaker 1: they're one or four on the road, so that this 753 00:38:39,360 --> 00:38:41,640 Speaker 1: is so, this is part of the issue with their 754 00:38:41,640 --> 00:38:45,960 Speaker 1: fantastic at home. Uh, Cleveland, maybe they can get one 755 00:38:46,040 --> 00:38:49,319 Speaker 1: game because Boston doesn't play great. So if you got 756 00:38:49,320 --> 00:38:51,719 Speaker 1: out three one against that team, I don't know that 757 00:38:51,760 --> 00:38:53,719 Speaker 1: Cleveland enough to get back to that. So to me, 758 00:38:54,200 --> 00:38:56,120 Speaker 1: you have to hope Boston doesn't play so well, which 759 00:38:56,160 --> 00:38:58,360 Speaker 1: is possible, and so I still think that they have 760 00:38:58,440 --> 00:39:00,719 Speaker 1: a good chance to split the series and Leland, which 761 00:39:00,760 --> 00:39:03,200 Speaker 1: is what Boston really needs. Um. David Torf joining US 762 00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:05,759 Speaker 1: flow Sports, used to write for esp dot com. He's 763 00:39:05,840 --> 00:39:10,920 Speaker 1: a world renowned basketball coach, clinician, also a consultant kind 764 00:39:10,960 --> 00:39:12,799 Speaker 1: of to spend some time this year on the Doug 765 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:16,279 Speaker 1: Gottlieb Show. I saw you get into some discussion on 766 00:39:16,320 --> 00:39:19,560 Speaker 1: Twitter about some of the movement that you that were 767 00:39:19,640 --> 00:39:23,000 Speaker 1: likely to see in the off season. If you're Boston, 768 00:39:23,080 --> 00:39:26,040 Speaker 1: knowing what you know about the young talent under club 769 00:39:26,120 --> 00:39:28,799 Speaker 1: control you have, do you move those pieces to go 770 00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:33,120 Speaker 1: get a Kauai? I think you have to consider everything. 771 00:39:33,120 --> 00:39:35,680 Speaker 1: What really what I was trying to do on Twitter yesterday, 772 00:39:35,719 --> 00:39:39,120 Speaker 1: which did didn't always forget sometimes that it's not just 773 00:39:39,239 --> 00:39:41,000 Speaker 1: people like you that are followed me. It's the average 774 00:39:41,080 --> 00:39:45,040 Speaker 1: fan who loses their mind every possible game. But jams 775 00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:47,320 Speaker 1: are playing games all the time, and so I basically 776 00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:50,200 Speaker 1: posited the question, and I was waiting for someone to 777 00:39:50,239 --> 00:39:53,600 Speaker 1: answer correctly. Today finally someone did. Really, if you get 778 00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:56,040 Speaker 1: if you can wait the matiguand Doug and and not 779 00:39:56,120 --> 00:39:58,320 Speaker 1: have to pay Hayward and not have to pay Irving. 780 00:39:58,320 --> 00:40:00,440 Speaker 1: And let's assume they made to the final, even win 781 00:40:00,480 --> 00:40:02,920 Speaker 1: a game or two with this just group without Kyrie 782 00:40:02,960 --> 00:40:05,879 Speaker 1: and Gordon. Well now you're thinking, let's clear space, let's 783 00:40:06,080 --> 00:40:08,279 Speaker 1: let these guys grow. We know we're good enough to 784 00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:11,359 Speaker 1: contend without anyone. And now in two years, when when 785 00:40:11,440 --> 00:40:14,840 Speaker 1: when uh w, when someone like Anthony Davis Gave becomes deveilable, 786 00:40:14,880 --> 00:40:17,560 Speaker 1: we got plenty of money to go get them. Because 787 00:40:17,560 --> 00:40:19,359 Speaker 1: what you have to what you really have to do 788 00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:21,520 Speaker 1: with this side. Do I use these young guys to 789 00:40:21,640 --> 00:40:23,960 Speaker 1: go immediately become the best team I can be and 790 00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:27,840 Speaker 1: go get someone who others you could go after, or 791 00:40:28,040 --> 00:40:31,120 Speaker 1: do I give them oxygen, which is playing time and opportunities, 792 00:40:31,120 --> 00:40:33,160 Speaker 1: Because let me tell you this, If everybody comes back 793 00:40:33,160 --> 00:40:35,319 Speaker 1: at eight team shots the game, and Hayward comes back 794 00:40:35,320 --> 00:40:37,720 Speaker 1: at about fifteen or so shots the game, that's thirty 795 00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:40,040 Speaker 1: three or so shots that those two young guys aren't 796 00:40:40,040 --> 00:40:42,480 Speaker 1: going to get and they need that, and more importantly, 797 00:40:42,520 --> 00:40:44,600 Speaker 1: they want that. They want to get paid. They want 798 00:40:44,600 --> 00:40:46,000 Speaker 1: to be all stars. They want to see if they 799 00:40:46,000 --> 00:40:48,080 Speaker 1: can't leave the league in scoring or be a first 800 00:40:48,120 --> 00:40:50,839 Speaker 1: team all the player like hard and wanted. They're not 801 00:40:50,840 --> 00:40:52,560 Speaker 1: just gonna sit back and go back to being role 802 00:40:52,600 --> 00:40:56,440 Speaker 1: players behind those other guys. It's gonna be fascinating, absolutely 803 00:40:56,440 --> 00:41:01,680 Speaker 1: fascinating to see if you were the Lakers. You're the Lakers. 804 00:41:01,520 --> 00:41:04,600 Speaker 1: The thing about Lebron is obviously brings you credibility. He 805 00:41:04,640 --> 00:41:08,200 Speaker 1: has incredible personal work ethic, he's a professional, and he 806 00:41:08,600 --> 00:41:11,800 Speaker 1: feels like like this feels like the perfect final chapter 807 00:41:11,920 --> 00:41:14,480 Speaker 1: to his book. Right, But if you're the Lakers, he 808 00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:19,520 Speaker 1: doesn't practice. Uh he really is ball dominant and he 809 00:41:19,640 --> 00:41:22,120 Speaker 1: doesn't move nearly as well defensively. Now, and I mean, 810 00:41:22,160 --> 00:41:24,800 Speaker 1: you gotta think three or four years in that contract, 811 00:41:25,080 --> 00:41:28,400 Speaker 1: it ain't gonna be great. Do you say thanks but 812 00:41:28,480 --> 00:41:33,000 Speaker 1: no thanks and not actually truly engage in getting arguably 813 00:41:33,040 --> 00:41:37,239 Speaker 1: the greatest player in the last years all I see. 814 00:41:37,280 --> 00:41:40,680 Speaker 1: That's that's exactly my point. The GM have to play 815 00:41:40,719 --> 00:41:44,040 Speaker 1: these kinds of games, and just like any other business, 816 00:41:44,040 --> 00:41:47,520 Speaker 1: to do and talk it through. I would have serious 817 00:41:47,520 --> 00:41:51,000 Speaker 1: discussions about doing just what you said, which is, let's 818 00:41:51,040 --> 00:41:52,960 Speaker 1: just keep building with what we have. We see what 819 00:41:53,120 --> 00:41:55,719 Speaker 1: Boston's done. They went we got alf Horford. He was 820 00:41:55,760 --> 00:41:57,800 Speaker 1: an All Star, but he wasn't in He's not Lebron 821 00:41:57,880 --> 00:42:03,000 Speaker 1: James World. Uh, let's I love of talents. I think 822 00:42:03,040 --> 00:42:06,439 Speaker 1: they have a lot of upside. I would go that round. 823 00:42:06,440 --> 00:42:08,680 Speaker 1: I look at it this way. They've been dominated by 824 00:42:08,719 --> 00:42:11,520 Speaker 1: such an egoman. I go superstronomy that in such a 825 00:42:11,560 --> 00:42:14,640 Speaker 1: negative way. But we all know Kobe dominated everything and 826 00:42:14,719 --> 00:42:18,440 Speaker 1: with Fantastic and and before that they had other guys. Man, 827 00:42:18,480 --> 00:42:20,440 Speaker 1: it'd be nice and they'd be fresh to not have 828 00:42:20,560 --> 00:42:22,760 Speaker 1: to go through that once again, because when you get Lebron, 829 00:42:23,239 --> 00:42:26,080 Speaker 1: you are getting someone that's gonna dictate everything. He doesn't 830 00:42:26,080 --> 00:42:28,600 Speaker 1: want young guys. He wants the old veterans that he 831 00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:31,239 Speaker 1: can hang with and and he can trust that they 832 00:42:31,239 --> 00:42:33,600 Speaker 1: won't ever do anything wrong. Things off the courts, I 833 00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:35,839 Speaker 1: think l A. I think it'd be great to try 834 00:42:35,880 --> 00:42:37,960 Speaker 1: something different and build a little bit that it is 835 00:42:38,040 --> 00:42:39,800 Speaker 1: going to get the next guy and told all the 836 00:42:39,840 --> 00:42:42,279 Speaker 1: people are in place to win immediately that then maybe 837 00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:43,719 Speaker 1: I would do it you can follow on Twitter. You 838 00:42:43,800 --> 00:42:46,000 Speaker 1: go to his website David Thorpe dot com. Of course 839 00:42:46,040 --> 00:42:48,680 Speaker 1: you can check out his work and flow sports coach Thorpe. 840 00:42:48,680 --> 00:42:50,239 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for joining us and giving us all 841 00:42:50,280 --> 00:42:57,319 Speaker 1: that info. You gotta say, star. All right, that's it 842 00:42:57,400 --> 00:43:01,200 Speaker 1: for the All Ball Podcast. You back next week reporting 843 00:43:01,719 --> 00:43:06,080 Speaker 1: on the NBA Draft Combine course measurements are in. We 844 00:43:06,160 --> 00:43:09,840 Speaker 1: talked a little bit early on about Trey Young measured 845 00:43:09,880 --> 00:43:13,880 Speaker 1: out at six feet only a half inch. Um doesn't 846 00:43:13,920 --> 00:43:17,760 Speaker 1: have a ten ft reach, so like, look, he's as small. 847 00:43:17,840 --> 00:43:22,080 Speaker 1: He's a smaller version of Steph Curry, and I think 848 00:43:22,080 --> 00:43:25,080 Speaker 1: a less athletic version of Steph Curry. And everybody wants 849 00:43:25,120 --> 00:43:28,560 Speaker 1: him to be Steph Curry. But I see him going 850 00:43:28,560 --> 00:43:30,600 Speaker 1: lower in the draft than where Steph Curry went. But 851 00:43:30,640 --> 00:43:33,240 Speaker 1: it's gonna be fascinating to watch, fascinating. What's up NBA 852 00:43:33,360 --> 00:43:37,480 Speaker 1: Draft Combine buzz and we'll be closer and closer to 853 00:43:37,520 --> 00:43:40,440 Speaker 1: the NBA Finals. Or maybe we won't. Hey, we won't. 854 00:43:41,760 --> 00:43:45,359 Speaker 1: Make sure you rate, download and subscribe. Thanks so much 855 00:43:45,360 --> 00:43:47,480 Speaker 1: for listening. I'm Doug Gottlieb. This has been All Ball