1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: The volume. Who's scoring big in the NBA this season? 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: You are with all the new ways to get in 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: on the action at Draft Kings sports Book, an official 4 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: sports betting partner of the NBA. From Monster Slams to 5 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,239 Speaker 1: dishing the rock to cleaning the glass, get behind your 6 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: favorite players and the prop bets you can make on DraftKings, 7 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: the home of NBA player props. Ready to place your 8 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 1: first bet? Try betting on something simple like picking how 9 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: many points your favorite player will have. Go to the 10 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: Draft Kings Sportsbook app and make your pick right now. 11 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: The Oklahoma City Thunder have supplanted the Boston Celtics as 12 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: the favorites to win the title on DraftKings at plus 13 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: two to twenty five, with the Celtics right behind them 14 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: at plus two thirty five. First time, here's something special 15 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 1: just for you new DraftKings customers. Bet five dollars to 16 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: get one hundred and fifteen bonus bets instantly take it 17 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: to the rack with DraftKings sports Book, Every point counts. 18 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: Download the Draft Kings sports Book app and use code 19 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 1: hoops that's hoops, that's code hoops for new customers to 20 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: get one to fifteen bonus bets when you bet just 21 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: five bucks only on DraftKings. The Crown is yours. Gambling 22 00:00:57,440 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: problem called one eight hundred gambler and New York call 23 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: eight seven seven eight hope and why our text hope 24 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: and why to four six seven three six nine. Connecticut 25 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: help is available for problem gambling called eight eight eight 26 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 1: seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or visit CCPG 27 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,559 Speaker 1: dot org. Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino 28 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: and Resort in Kansas twenty one plus. Age in eligibility 29 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,119 Speaker 1: varies by jurisdiction void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire one 30 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: hundred and sixty eight hours after issuance. For additional terms 31 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 1: and responsible gaming resources, see dkang dot co. Slash b ball. 32 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:40,320 Speaker 1: All right, welcome to hoops tonight. You're at the volume 33 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:42,120 Speaker 1: heavy Monday. Everybody, oh ball of you guys had a 34 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 1: great weekend, got a damn pack show for you. Today, 35 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:47,279 Speaker 1: we're gonna be hitting on three games from yesterday's slate. 36 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: As the Golden State Warriors win their fifth time and 37 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: six tries in the Jimmy Butler era, We're gonna be 38 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: breaking that game down from the perspective of both teams. 39 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: After that, the Oklahoma City thunder got revenge on the 40 00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 1: Minnesota Timberwolves for a loss that they suffer right before 41 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 1: the All Star break where their offense broke out, and 42 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: I want to talk about some trends involving their shooting 43 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 1: that should be concerning for the other twenty nine teams 44 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: in the league, as well as talking a little bit 45 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: about chet Holmgren in the way that he kind of 46 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: unlocks additional dynamics for them on both ends of the floor. 47 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 1: And then at the tail end of the show, we 48 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: got a show down between two of the best power 49 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:22,359 Speaker 1: forwards young power forwards that we have in the NBA, 50 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: between Jared Jackson and Evan Mobley. As the Cavs got 51 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: a big win against the Memphis Grizzlies. We're going to 52 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: be talking about that game and that matchup at the 53 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: tail end of the show. You guys have the job 54 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: before we get started. It's subscribed to the Hoops Tonight 55 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 1: YouTube channel, so you don't miss any more of our videos. 56 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: Follow me on Twitter at underscore JSNLT so you guys 57 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 1: don't miss you announcements. Don't forget about our podcast feed 58 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcast on our Hoops Tonight It's 59 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: also super helpful if you leave a rating and a review. 60 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: On that front, we also brand new social media feeds 61 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. We're we're releasing content throughout 62 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: the year, and then, last but not least, keep dropping 63 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: mail bag questions in the YouTube comments so that we 64 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: can hit them on Fridays throughout the remainder of the season. 65 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 1: All right, let's talk some basketball, So really quick recap 66 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: of MAVs war The MAVs hung tough for the first 67 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: few minutes, but then the Warriors basically dominated the rest 68 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: of the way. Steph and Jimmy had a nice little 69 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 1: run in the middle of the first where they just 70 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 1: showcased their great basketball fit, their natural basketball fit, the 71 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 1: way their skill sets kind of just intertwined to help 72 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 1: accentuate each other. We're gonna talk about that in a 73 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 1: few minutes. Jimmy led a bench group without Steph. The Warriors, 74 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: by the way, plus thirty with Jimmy with a Steph 75 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 1: off the floor through the first six games of the 76 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler era, a sign of just how much stronger 77 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:32,519 Speaker 1: those units can be now that Jimmy Butler is a 78 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:34,639 Speaker 1: part of the group. But Jimmy led a group without 79 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: Steph that grew the lead. He was getting to the 80 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: foul line a bunch. He had a couple of nice 81 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: dishes to Quinton Post by the way, shout out Quinton Post. 82 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: He had a nasty poster dunk over a couple of 83 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:45,119 Speaker 1: guys that let the crowd on fire. And then late 84 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: third quarter, Steph just puts the game away with a 85 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: masterful stretch of shot making and as a result, no 86 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: starter plays over thirty minutes because the Warriors took care 87 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: of business in the first three quarters, which used to 88 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: be a hallmark of the Warriors dynasty. The Warriors again, like, 89 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: that's a big part of what has made them so 90 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: good over the years. They can take time off during 91 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: the regular season just by beating teams up right. We 92 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: got an example of that last night. But the first 93 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: thing I want to focus on today with the Warriors, 94 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: it stood out to me as I was watching, and 95 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: it's been standing out to me as I've watched them 96 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: over the course of the last couple of weeks. Just 97 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: how much more explosive Steph looks. And when I say explosive, 98 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: I'm not just talking about scoring points and doing it 99 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: more efficiently than usual, it's the way he's moving. It's 100 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: like was jarring to me as I'm watching last night, 101 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:36,280 Speaker 1: the verve he has going downhill, his ability to get 102 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: into the paint, the finishes in traffic that he was 103 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: missing earlier this year. So I was like, you know what, 104 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: I'm going to dig into the numbers and see if 105 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 1: there's been any difference in STEP's ability to score in 106 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: the paint since the Jimmy Butler trade went down. Pre 107 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 1: Jimmy trade, so up to February seventh, he was averaging 108 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: one point three makes per game in the restricted area 109 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:04,479 Speaker 1: on sixty percent shooting. Since the Jimmy Butler trade, he's 110 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 1: getting two makes in the restricted area per game at 111 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: eighty percent, from one point three up to two non 112 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: restricted area paint makes, so shots that are still in 113 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: the paint but that are outside of the restricted area. 114 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,599 Speaker 1: This short range shot making right pre Jimmy trade one 115 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: point one makes per game at forty two percent, two 116 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 1: makes post Jimmy Butler trade at sixty three percent, So 117 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: he's nearly doubled his output in paint, scoring at substantially 118 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: higher efficiency. I think a big part of this comes 119 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:38,719 Speaker 1: down to belief, Like even separate from anything having to 120 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 1: do with Jimmy Butler and his basketball impact. Like, I 121 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 1: think Steph just sees an opportunity that he didn't see 122 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:47,839 Speaker 1: earlier this season, and I think that just is bringing 123 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 1: another level of engagement and excitement out of him. But 124 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 1: it also comes down to having a legitimate secondary co 125 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: star and how that makes life easier for Steph in 126 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: terms of his energy conservation. I talked about this if 127 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,280 Speaker 1: you guys remember after the Warriors Nuggets game or excuse me, 128 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:06,679 Speaker 1: the Lakers Nuggets game on Saturday involving Luca and Lebron, 129 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: and how Lebron can be more physically aggressive in his 130 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 1: touches because he has someone that can eat up so 131 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: much usage in Luka Dancic. I think it's even showing 132 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 1: in his pull up shooting. He's getting more lyft, he's 133 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 1: getting more separation on his pull up jump shots. Pre 134 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler trade, he was shooting fifty four percent in 135 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 1: effective field goal percentage, which is just field goal percentage 136 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: weighted for threes. He was shooting fifty four percent in 137 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: effective field goal percentage on pull up jump shots and 138 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 1: getting eight point five points per game out of them. 139 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: Post Jimmy Trade up to sixty percent in effective field 140 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: goal percentage with nine point seven points per game, so 141 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: significant uptick and efficiency and output as a pull up 142 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: jump shooter as well. By the way, just classic Steph Curry. 143 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 1: Sixty percent effective field goal percentage on pull up jump 144 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: shots is outrageous and it's actually kind of hilarious looking 145 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:55,479 Speaker 1: back that we were looking at fifty four percent for 146 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:57,159 Speaker 1: him as a little bit of a down year. But 147 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: that's just another conversation, and that's just what it's like 148 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:01,600 Speaker 1: when you're dealing with the all time greats. Everything you 149 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 1: talk about in terms of the realms of normalcy for 150 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: other players is just like a totally different era of 151 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 1: statistics that were totally different area of statistics that we're 152 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: looking at with the player of his caliber. But again, 153 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 1: you have to have the legs to get separation, you 154 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: have to have the legs to get the lift after 155 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: you get the separation. That's the same sort of legs 156 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 1: you need when you're finishing in traffic. And I just 157 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: think we're just seeing a boost from Steph that's coming 158 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: partially from the belief he has in this group and 159 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 1: secondly from the partnership with Jimmy Butler. So on that note, 160 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: I want to talk a little bit about Jimmy's natural 161 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: basketball fit was Steph. One of the first things that 162 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: stood out with me stood out to me watching the 163 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: film was just a dynamic that Jimmy has as a 164 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: screener in actions with Steph, and how his one the 165 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: threat he brings, and how that can cause him to 166 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: have more screening gravity than normal players would. So like, 167 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: if an inferior player sets a screen, the guy who's 168 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: defending him is going to be primarily focused in that 169 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 1: action on defending the guy coming off of the screen, right, 170 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: Whereas if you're a threat the way that Jimmy Butler is, 171 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 1: the guy who's guarding Jimmy's going to be more concerned 172 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 1: about leaving Jimmy to help in those actions. Steph's first 173 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: layup in this game was a curl off of an 174 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 1: off ball screen from Jimmy Kessler. Edwards was guarding Steph, 175 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: and he's kind of on Jimmy's backside if it's anybody else, 176 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 1: if it's Wiggins, He's pushing off of that guy and 177 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:28,679 Speaker 1: dropping to catch Steph as he's cutting to the basket, 178 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: but Kessler's hung up on Jimmy because he's been told 179 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 1: before the game, you got the Jimmy Butler assignment. Here's 180 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 1: a list of all of the game plan stuff with 181 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler. Here's what your job is dealing with Jimmy Butler. 182 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: And that just puts Kessler Edwards into an entirely different 183 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 1: frame of mind when he's dealing with Kesler and screening 184 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 1: actions with Steph Curry. The second piece of it is 185 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: dealing with the reads that you have to make in 186 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 1: those screening actions, which Jimmy's just so incredibly smart with. 187 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: They ran another backscreen for Steph a little bit later 188 00:08:57,440 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 1: in the first quarter, two and a half minutes later, 189 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: so he sets a backscreen for Steph. They do switch it, 190 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: but when he sets the backscreen, what happens Now STEP's 191 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: man is on Jimmy's top side, and so as step 192 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,479 Speaker 1: is cutting through, all of a sudden, this big opening 193 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 1: is created in between Jimmy and the rim because Jimmy's 194 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: defender is stuck on his top side. He ends up 195 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: getting the ball and getting an easy dunk, slipping out 196 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: of that action because he has that inside seal. We 197 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 1: talked a lot about this with Jimmy Butler. He's one 198 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: of the best players in the league. I was talking 199 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: about this after their first couple of games that they 200 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 1: played together at like creating a passing angle in post 201 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: seal situations that are not traditional. Like a lot of 202 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:40,079 Speaker 1: times you think of a post up as like a 203 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 1: guy standing ten feet from the basket with a defender 204 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:45,200 Speaker 1: on his backside, you just throw it into him. But 205 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 1: a lot of times with guards, and a lot of 206 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: times in those switching actions, there's different angles. Guys trapped 207 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: on your top side, a guy's trapped on the side 208 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:54,439 Speaker 1: you're getting bracketed. With backside help, you can create these 209 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 1: pretty tight passing windows. And Jimmy's just as good as 210 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: anybody in the league, if not better, at high pointing 211 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,680 Speaker 1: the ball, getting it in traffic, coming down with it, 212 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 1: and being able to make a play there. We've talked 213 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: about the short roll stuff as to go onto the 214 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 1: ball with Steph and his ability to make reads out 215 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 1: of the middle of the floor. We've talked about zone stuff. 216 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: When teams go zone against the Warriors, Jimmy can operate 217 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: right in the middle of the floor. It allows him 218 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 1: to be really impactful offensively while Steph is on the floor, 219 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 1: but then he can shape shift and just turn into 220 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: a unit leading offensive player when Steph is off the floor. 221 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: So good at getting to the foul line. Did it 222 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 1: again last night. He's at nine point two free throw 223 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: attempts per game so far with the Warriors. So good 224 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,959 Speaker 1: at playmaking out of help, driving out of those ISOs 225 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 1: and post ups and making those kickout passes to shooters 226 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,199 Speaker 1: are getting underneath the basket for fouls or easy baskets. 227 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 1: He's run thirty seven post ups in ISOs so far 228 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 1: as a Warrior and has generated fifty one points including 229 00:10:55,760 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: passes one point three to eight points per possession. That 230 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 1: is extremely high level shot creation that the Warriors are 231 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:06,479 Speaker 1: getting out of Jimmy Butler so far, and it's manifested 232 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: in the big picture so far. Just taking the raw 233 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: data from six games, the Warriors have a one to 234 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:15,839 Speaker 1: twenty one offensive rating with Jimmy Butler on the team. 235 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 1: That's more in line with what you'd expect from a 236 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 1: Steph Curry led offense. That's why it was so important 237 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 1: to get him a co star that could help him 238 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 1: on that end when he's on the floor and anchor 239 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 1: units when Steph is off the floor. And then on 240 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 1: the defensive end, like you're just adding an additional defensive 241 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 1: playmaker to the starting unit. Even further, like I think 242 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: Andrew Wiggins, if you're just talking about guarding the other 243 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: team's best player, picking him up full court, doing all 244 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 1: that kind of stuff. Andrew Wiggins obviously has a little 245 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 1: bit more youthful exuberantz to show in that type of role, 246 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:52,199 Speaker 1: But in terms of overall defensive playmaking, Jimmy's one of 247 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: the best we got in the league. One of the 248 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: most important layers of this, too, is in the old 249 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:01,719 Speaker 1: version of the team, Brandon Pajemski was viewed as a 250 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:03,559 Speaker 1: guy that had to like lead a lot of bench 251 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 1: units as a score a lot of a lot of 252 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:10,840 Speaker 1: the ask for what Steve Kerr and the staff needed 253 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:15,440 Speaker 1: from Pods was geared towards shot creation, and like, that's 254 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:17,839 Speaker 1: not the strength of Brandon Pizempski's game. I do think 255 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 1: in the long run he'll become a better offensive playmaker 256 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 1: and offensive play starter. That's a big picture goal. He 257 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: needs to get better as a jump shooter, he needs 258 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 1: to get better at running action, that sort of stuff. 259 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: But the strength of Brandon Pazemski is a basketball player 260 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 1: right now is he's awesome at all the little things. 261 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: Excellent rebounder, excellent defensive player, excellent connective passer, and play finisher. 262 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:44,199 Speaker 1: That is the area of his game where he's at 263 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 1: his best. And so now that Jimmy Butler's on the team, 264 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 1: you've kind of facilitated an environment where it makes sense 265 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: to start Brandon Pajemski. Now that you're starting Brandon Pajemski 266 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 1: and he's now locked into a role where he's functioning 267 00:12:56,880 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: as a role player, it's accentuating his strengths, which is 268 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 1: he's really good at all of this little shit continues 269 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: to just grab a million rebounds, very very good. There 270 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: was a play where Steph Curry got PJ Washington on 271 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 1: a switch on the right wing, and Pj just tries 272 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 1: to rip through Steph and go to the basket. Pods 273 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:17,199 Speaker 1: was glued up to Kyrie irving on the Week's side 274 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: of the floor, preparing to get run off of a 275 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 1: Chicago action. He was thinking he was gonna have to 276 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: chase Kyrie off of a dribble handoff on the other 277 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:27,079 Speaker 1: end of the floor, and he sprinted under the basket 278 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 1: and vertically jumped walled up and stopped PJ. Washington there 279 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 1: and got to stop it. It was a remarkable defensive play. 280 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:37,839 Speaker 1: I'm watching Jimmy Butler as he's tracking a cutter through 281 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 1: along the baseline. Another cutter comes in behind him. The 282 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 1: pass comes in. Jimmy identifies it because he just sees 283 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 1: everything happening on the floor, peels off his man and 284 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 1: jumps the passing lane and gets the steal. I seen 285 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 1: Draymond Green help hard off of Kessler Edwards to stop 286 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: someone at the basket. The drop off passes there and 287 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 1: he turns and forces a traveling violation. You have three 288 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: extremely high level defensive playmakers that are anchoring that unit 289 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: now because of Jimmy Butler, and because of the way 290 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:12,839 Speaker 1: he's now made Brandon Pajemski's role makes sense. They were 291 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,440 Speaker 1: already a top ten defense before this trade. They are 292 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: third in defensive ratings so far through six games with 293 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler. It just all makes sense now because you 294 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 1: balance the roster. You turned several role players on a 295 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: group that had fourteen to fifteen guys that could potentially 296 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 1: play rotation minutes into a high level, do everything. Swiss 297 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: Army Knife one of the most impactful winning basketball players 298 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 1: that we have that we've had in the league in 299 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 1: the last half decade, and it's just balanced things out. 300 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: Starting group so far with Moody and Pods next to Draymond, 301 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 1: Jimmy and Steph ninety seven possessions plus eleven net ratings 302 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: so far great on both ends. Again, I want to 303 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 1: see a lot more before I start talking big picture 304 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 1: about the Warriors. I want to see the next couple 305 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 1: of weeks and what they're capable of. But this is 306 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: really exciting early returns on this partnership, all right. Moving 307 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 1: on to thunder Wolves again, really quick breakdown of the game. 308 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: It was just game of runs. The thunder went on 309 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 1: a massive forty two to seventeen run early in the game. 310 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 1: They were doing a lot of switching. There's Smalls held 311 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: up really well on Nasree. They were forcing him into 312 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 1: tough shots he was missing. They did a good job 313 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 1: shrinking the floor, making those guys playing traffic chet Holmgrin 314 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: was doing a great job both in his switches and 315 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 1: in his kind of at the level ball screen coverages 316 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 1: against Anthony Edwards of baiting him into these like tough 317 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: contested step back threies. We're going to talk about that 318 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: dynamic in a little bit because it reminds me of 319 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 1: something we were talking about in our one and one 320 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: on one tournament and how length can just be kind 321 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 1: of like the the answer to questions in terms of 322 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 1: dealing with guys that are dynamic perimeter shot creators. Shay 323 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 1: was cooking everyone, including Jayden McDaniels. The Wolves ended up 324 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:53,320 Speaker 1: needing to blitz him during that run because Shay was 325 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 1: cooking everybody, so then they started to pick him apart 326 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: with four on threes. Kenrich Williams did some really nice 327 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 1: work during that stretch as a short roller posted the 328 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: low man. It was a Nikhil Alexander Walker tag where 329 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 1: he like posted him and got in the basket for 330 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 1: anice little lefty scoop shot made a play on the 331 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 1: short role where he drew defenders in and made a 332 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 1: kick out to case On Wallace, who hit a three. 333 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 1: The Wolves were playing a lot of small ball groups 334 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 1: with like three sometimes four guards in the lineup because 335 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 1: of the injuries to Julius Randall and Rudy Gobert. They're 336 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 1: just playing a lot more smaller groups, and so it's 337 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: kind of weird seeing a dynamic where the Thunder had 338 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 1: physical advantages over the Wolves and they were taking advantage 339 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 1: of that during that stretch. But then the Wolves responded 340 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: with a thirty to six run of their own, and 341 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: it kind of the same thing that's been the theme 342 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 1: for them all year, which is when they ratchet up 343 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 1: their ball pressure and they really start getting physical on 344 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 1: the perimeter, they can cause teams to completely lose their composure, 345 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 1: and the Thunder did during that stretch. Jalen Clark, who 346 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 1: was a revolution in this game. He's just a bowling 347 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: ball of like a guard wing do everything hybrid role 348 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: player type of guy. He had four steals in this game, 349 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 1: was wrecking havoc at the point into attack. Just with 350 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 1: physical ball pressure, noz Reed and Anthony Edwards finally started 351 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 1: hitting shots. They completely regained control and they actually end 352 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:09,639 Speaker 1: up taking a little lead. And it goes back and 353 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 1: forth really throughout the rest of the second half until 354 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: in the middle of the fourth quarter the Thunder had 355 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:16,120 Speaker 1: one last run in then they go on in eighteen 356 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:19,880 Speaker 1: to two runs, spearheaded by six made three point shots. 357 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:22,879 Speaker 1: Chet Holmgren hit a three, beating noz Reed for helping 358 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: in the lane. Jay dub and Shae each hit a 359 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:27,959 Speaker 1: couple of tougher threes, Shay hit one in transition, Jay 360 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 1: dub hit like a twenty eight footer along the right wing. 361 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 1: But it was Alex Caruso who really ended that game 362 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:36,159 Speaker 1: by getting hot. He hit three threes in the run, 363 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: a couple of kickouts off of help, and then he 364 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:42,399 Speaker 1: was running two man game with Shae Gilvis Alexander where 365 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:45,879 Speaker 1: he was slipping out of it to the above the 366 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: brake line about like off the left wing and he 367 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:50,719 Speaker 1: was hitting movement. He hit a movement three slipping out 368 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 1: of that action with Shay. That was a big time 369 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:55,919 Speaker 1: performance from Alex. Crusoe has had some rough offensive nights 370 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 1: earlier in the season. The thunder shooting, I thought was 371 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,360 Speaker 1: the story of the game. Out of the twenty eight 372 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 1: catch and shoot jump shots they attempted in that game, 373 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 1: they made seventeen of them. That's pretty crazy. We've talked 374 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: about their spot up shooting the season and it will 375 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 1: continue to be a storyline heading into the playoffs. Like, 376 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 1: no matter how well they shoot now, said the same 377 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: thing with the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier. Doesn't matter how well 378 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,679 Speaker 1: you shoot now, you got to hit them in a 379 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 1: big playoff series when there's pressure and you're on the road. 380 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 1: Sometimes like obviously, no amount of shot making in the 381 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:33,640 Speaker 1: regular season will make up for the reality that guys 382 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 1: are going to have to hit shots. That said, the 383 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:38,879 Speaker 1: Thunder of sneak even shooting the ball really well for 384 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 1: a while now. The answer is if you're going to 385 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:44,479 Speaker 1: shoot poorly in the playoffs like you did last year 386 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 1: against Dallas, and you want to get to the point 387 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:48,880 Speaker 1: where you shoot better in the postseason in the future, 388 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: everyone's got to get better at shooting, and that starts 389 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:55,840 Speaker 1: with behind the scenes in practice and then in regular 390 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:59,679 Speaker 1: season games. The final challenge is doing it in postseason games. 391 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 1: But you're not going to just randomly do it in 392 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 1: postseason games. It's going to start with that process, and 393 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: it's clear that the Thunder have been putting in the 394 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 1: work behind the scenes. They're up to ninth in catch 395 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 1: and shoot jump shot efficiency this season. They're fifth in 396 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:18,879 Speaker 1: three point makes over the last fifteen games. They're third 397 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 1: in three point percentage over the last fifteen games. They're 398 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 1: shooting over thirty eight percent from three as a team 399 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 1: over this span. I've talked a lot about how in 400 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:32,159 Speaker 1: the regular season, a team like the Thunder can sometimes 401 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:35,400 Speaker 1: overachieve a little bit relative to what their talent looks 402 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:38,640 Speaker 1: like in a postseason context, simply because everyone in their 403 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 1: core eight rotation is twenty six years old or younger, 404 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: and so they just have a bunch of young guys 405 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 1: that are attacking the regular season with a certain amount 406 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 1: of energy that you're not going to see from some 407 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 1: of the older teams around the league. That's just a 408 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: reality that you have to acknowledge. But when I look 409 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: at the Thunder I look at their weaknesses, and their 410 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:01,199 Speaker 1: weaknesses generally come down to like vision making on drives 411 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:03,680 Speaker 1: and the ability of their role players to knock down shots, 412 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:08,919 Speaker 1: and they're showing growth in those areas. Another way for 413 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,120 Speaker 1: me to put it is like, yeah, you still got 414 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:13,639 Speaker 1: to do it in the postseason, but them doing it 415 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 1: this well in the final straight stretch of the regular 416 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 1: season is a really strong indicator that they could do 417 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:22,640 Speaker 1: it well in the postseason. And if they do, if 418 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:25,040 Speaker 1: these dudes hit thirty eight percent of their threes in 419 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: the playoffs, then they become just as dangerous as their 420 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:31,200 Speaker 1: regular season record would lead you to believe that they are. 421 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 1: I wanted to focus in on chet Holmgren for a 422 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:35,919 Speaker 1: minute because his impact was screaming off the screen in 423 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: this game. Obviously, his impact on defense is felt the most. 424 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: I talked a lot about him filling the role of that, 425 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: like handling Ant coming off of ball screens in the 426 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:48,360 Speaker 1: first quarter of this game, and him baiting Ant into 427 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 1: those pull up jump shots. Remember when we did the 428 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:52,400 Speaker 1: one on one tournament breakdown, how I talked about how 429 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:55,760 Speaker 1: I think Kevin Durant would beat Anthony Edwards because Ant 430 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 1: brings the best combination of like downhill force and over 431 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 1: the top shot making that you see from any player 432 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 1: in the league right now, Like he you can't keep 433 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 1: him in front of you, and he's a forty plus 434 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: percent off the dribble three point shooter, Like, what are 435 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:10,639 Speaker 1: you gonna do with that? Right? But one of the 436 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:12,400 Speaker 1: things I talked about is like Kevin Urant is kind 437 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: of the kryptonite for that because he's got such long 438 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 1: arms that he can give space to contain the drive, 439 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:21,359 Speaker 1: but just take one step forward and stick that left 440 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:23,399 Speaker 1: arm out and he's gonna get a great contest on 441 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 1: any jump shot. Same thing goes for Chet, and you 442 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 1: saw that in this game. Chet was able to play 443 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: back a little bit and then Ant was just trying 444 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 1: to go to step back moves to get separation, and yeah, 445 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: he'd get a little bit of separation, but Chet's arm 446 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: is right there and it turns into a tougher shot, 447 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 1: a shot that Aint can make, but it's a tougher 448 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 1: shot when you talk about like like Anthony Edwards with 449 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 1: his pull up three point shooting, like if he gets 450 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: great separation, it feels like it's going in every time, 451 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 1: but once you get get a heavy contest on it, 452 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 1: that percentage is going to drop by ten fifteen percent. 453 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 1: It's the same like even in the drop coverage possessions 454 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 1: when he's coming off in the defenders chasing over the top, 455 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,160 Speaker 1: same sort of thing, like Chet's just hanging a little 456 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 1: bit behind the level, but he just can take one 457 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:09,320 Speaker 1: step four and he's getting a great contest there. But 458 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 1: Chet did a ton of damage on offense in this 459 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 1: game too. We talked about him spacing Nas read out 460 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 1: earlier with catching shoot THREEZ. He had a couple of those. 461 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: He also hit a three in the early part of 462 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:20,480 Speaker 1: the game coming off of off ball action, just came 463 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:22,400 Speaker 1: out of the right corner off of a wide pin down. 464 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 1: Nas went under just rose up and knocked it down. 465 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 1: He gave a straight iso bucket to Jade McDaniels right 466 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:32,359 Speaker 1: in the middle of the floor. He was beating switches 467 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 1: and the paint. He had a ball screen with j 468 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:36,680 Speaker 1: dub where it led to his switch and he ended 469 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 1: up with Jalen Clark on him again. Jaylen Clark I 470 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 1: talked about earlier is a bowling ball of a wing. 471 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:43,800 Speaker 1: Big strong dude. Chet just buried him with a little 472 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:47,639 Speaker 1: ducking post up, created a nice easy passing angle and 473 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: just got an easy basket right at the rim. He 474 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:52,440 Speaker 1: had an easy tap in offensive rebound on a play 475 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 1: where Mike Conley got switched on to him, just waited 476 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:57,080 Speaker 1: for the shot to go up, just jumped right over 477 00:22:57,160 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 1: Conley and just calmly topped it tapped it into the basket. 478 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:02,439 Speaker 1: He runs the floor better than most bigs. He had 479 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:04,640 Speaker 1: an easy allue you dunk and transition in the fourth 480 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:08,280 Speaker 1: quarter running his lane. They weren't really running plays for him. 481 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:10,679 Speaker 1: He was just in the flow of the offense and 482 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:14,920 Speaker 1: poured in an easy nineteen points on only eleven shots. 483 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:19,159 Speaker 1: He had three blocks. He's just a ridiculous talent to 484 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,440 Speaker 1: add to this team and it was already the best 485 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:26,879 Speaker 1: regular season team in the NBA. The Wolves played well 486 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:28,440 Speaker 1: and they kept us thaying close. But I did think 487 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:30,199 Speaker 1: the thunder Throat showed a lot of their high end 488 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:32,760 Speaker 1: on the defensive end in rotation as well. They were 489 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:35,360 Speaker 1: doubling naseried post ups and closing out on the weak 490 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 1: side a lot of the same stuff we've talked about, 491 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:40,440 Speaker 1: where that first rotation closing out to the passing lane 492 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 1: where it just baits on the kind of like inconsistencies 493 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 1: of mediocre shooters who want a pump fake or they 494 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 1: don't like to shoot unless they're completely wide open. They 495 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:53,520 Speaker 1: were already this like fast fly around rotation team, and 496 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:56,680 Speaker 1: schit just brings this other layer of length and athleticism 497 00:23:56,680 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 1: that wasn't there again, like they they were the big 498 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 1: team in many of their lineup groupings against Minnesota tonight. 499 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 1: Some of that is Minnesota's injuries, but it just goes 500 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:08,360 Speaker 1: to show you how different this team looks physically. When 501 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 1: isaa Hart and Side and chet Holmgren or healthy. All right, 502 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 1: last game for today, moving on to Grizzlies. Calvs. A 503 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,679 Speaker 1: fun game that Cleveland basically controlled, but Memphis just did 504 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:31,479 Speaker 1: a good job at keeping things relatively close by shooting 505 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:35,880 Speaker 1: the ball super well. Memphis shot dramatically better than Cleveland 506 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:38,480 Speaker 1: did in this game. On catch and shoot jump shots, 507 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 1: Memphis got one point four points per attempt. Cleveland only 508 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:45,199 Speaker 1: got zero point eighty eight points per attenp They just 509 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:48,119 Speaker 1: had a rough shooting night. But the Stars for Cleveland 510 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:51,439 Speaker 1: just so badly outplayed the Stars for Memphis, and I 511 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:53,439 Speaker 1: thought that was the story of this game. Donovan Mitchell 512 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 1: really outplayed John Morant. Both teams have huge frontlines, play 513 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:02,360 Speaker 1: a lot of two big lineups packed the paint, rotate out. 514 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 1: They're making you make jump shots, and Mitchell is just 515 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 1: a way better shot maker than John Marie. Like Donovan 516 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,719 Speaker 1: Mitchell is just pouring in a variety of like step 517 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:17,240 Speaker 1: back threes, pull up threes in ball screens, ISO threes, 518 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 1: just creating his own jump shot in traffic, and John 519 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:24,160 Speaker 1: Moranch just couldn't keep up. He had a few nice 520 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:26,200 Speaker 1: transition buckets down the stretch when the game kind of 521 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 1: had already gotten a little loose. But like I thought, 522 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 1: Mitchell just proved to be the better surgical scorer in 523 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:37,199 Speaker 1: a tight half court environment like that. Ty Jerome was 524 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:40,120 Speaker 1: incredibly dominant as a scorer in this game. I thought 525 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 1: he was much better in this game than Desmond Bain 526 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:45,040 Speaker 1: was dominated the fourth quarter as a scorer. I think 527 00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:47,400 Speaker 1: he had sixteen points in the quarter if I remember correctly. 528 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 1: This was the stretch that I really pushed Cleveland over 529 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:51,359 Speaker 1: the top. It was kind of like hanging in that 530 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:53,880 Speaker 1: five to seven range. This run from ty Jerome ended 531 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 1: up pushing the lead up into double digits, and that's 532 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:57,680 Speaker 1: what really gave them their first breathing room and a 533 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:01,920 Speaker 1: couple of tough transition three where he just was he's 534 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:04,439 Speaker 1: got Tidrum clearly has like that I sense blood in 535 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:06,160 Speaker 1: the water. If I hit this shot, I can really 536 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:08,919 Speaker 1: change the dynamic of this game. Type of vibe. And 537 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 1: because he took a couple of tough ones that you 538 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 1: knew he felt good and he just wanted to drive 539 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 1: the nail into coffin, so to speak. And then he 540 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 1: just keeps doing the same exact thing to these teams again. 541 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:21,719 Speaker 1: Memphis runs a lot of drop coverage with Jared Jackson 542 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:24,399 Speaker 1: and with Zach Edie, and Tidrum was just doing the 543 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:26,440 Speaker 1: same thing every time, setting up his man for the 544 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 1: screen so that he's on his trail side coming off 545 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:31,560 Speaker 1: to the screen, waiting for the defender to catch up 546 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:33,959 Speaker 1: to his backside and then like trapping him on his 547 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 1: backside and methodically working into the lane and just shooting 548 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 1: that little push shot in the lane. Made a bunch 549 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:42,640 Speaker 1: of them in this game. He's shooting sixty five percent 550 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:47,399 Speaker 1: on floaters this year on one hundred and sixteen attempts, 551 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 1: by far the best floater shooter in the NBA, and 552 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:55,119 Speaker 1: it's not close, Like he is way better at this 553 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 1: than anybody, and it's given him a spot as one 554 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:01,800 Speaker 1: of the most respected back up guards in the NBA. 555 00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: If you put Ty Jerome against a team that runs 556 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:06,200 Speaker 1: drop coverage, he's going to be able to get to 557 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:08,080 Speaker 1: a floater and he's going to make more than half 558 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 1: of them. It really is a valuable weapon to have 559 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 1: for a bench unit in this league, especially since you're 560 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:17,720 Speaker 1: going to run into a lot of backup centers in 561 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 1: the NBA that teams have to run drop coverages with 562 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:23,359 Speaker 1: because they don't trust him coming out to the level 563 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 1: on the perimeter. But by far the most interesting part 564 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:27,720 Speaker 1: in this game, in my opinion, was the showdown between 565 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 1: two of the best young power forwards that we have 566 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 1: in the game at this point Jaron Jackson and Evan Mobley, 567 00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 1: and I thought Evan Mobley really showcased how his versatility 568 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:40,600 Speaker 1: makes him a better all around basketball player than Jaron Jackson. 569 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:44,680 Speaker 1: In this game, Jared's bigger, and he's stronger, and strictly 570 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 1: when it comes down to like scoring the ball out 571 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:51,119 Speaker 1: of the post, he's a more imposing threat. He can 572 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:54,679 Speaker 1: dislodge defenders with his big, strong shoulders. He can do 573 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:56,480 Speaker 1: it to some of the bigger defenders in the league. 574 00:27:56,480 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 1: I talked about how he did a bunch of damage 575 00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:01,040 Speaker 1: to the Suns recently by ducking in on Kevin Durant 576 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:03,880 Speaker 1: in the post. He's got really good touch with hook 577 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 1: shots over both shoulders. He can spin and connect spin moves, 578 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:09,199 Speaker 1: so he can spin from left to right, but then 579 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 1: spin back from right to left, and he can just 580 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:13,320 Speaker 1: kind of barrel downhill until he gets somewhere close to 581 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 1: the rim where he can get a little hook shot. 582 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:19,199 Speaker 1: But outside of that, the limitation start to show when 583 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:21,080 Speaker 1: he has to pass out of the post. He's very 584 00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:26,240 Speaker 1: inefficient as a playmaker. Right once you start to task 585 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:29,639 Speaker 1: him to play in traffic, the flaws can start to 586 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 1: come to the surface. Mobile's just so much more polished 587 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:34,879 Speaker 1: as an all around player, and I thought that was 588 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:38,240 Speaker 1: showing last night. First of all, his individual defense on 589 00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 1: Jared Jackson. Jared tested him a few times early in 590 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:43,200 Speaker 1: this game, tried to drop that right shoulder and go 591 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 1: to a lefty hook. Evan Mobley just rose up and 592 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:49,480 Speaker 1: blocked him. Then from the opposite block, Jared tries to 593 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:51,720 Speaker 1: post him up again, and you can tell he's nervous 594 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 1: about Evan Mobley's length and how that ended up leading 595 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:57,640 Speaker 1: to a block on his last hook shot. So he 596 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 1: ended up rushing a hook and just kind of flipped 597 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:01,920 Speaker 1: it up and shot it way over the back of 598 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 1: the rim. It was an air ball. Then he tried 599 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:06,600 Speaker 1: to iso him again in the second quarter, and you 600 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:09,640 Speaker 1: knew he wanted to create extra space because Mobley's length 601 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 1: was causing problems for him. So he really dropped the 602 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:14,200 Speaker 1: shoulder and he extended the arm out and he drew 603 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:16,600 Speaker 1: an offensive foul. So then Jaren was just like, all right, 604 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:18,480 Speaker 1: no more, I'm not going to go after Evan Mobley anymore. 605 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:21,040 Speaker 1: They started picking on Dean Wade and some different matchups 606 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 1: in the game. Evan Mobley is a substantially better rebounder. 607 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 1: This has been a consistent weakness with Jaron Jackson in 608 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:29,520 Speaker 1: his NBA career, like he gets into box outs, but 609 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:31,959 Speaker 1: he struggles to disengage from box outs and actually go 610 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 1: get the loose ball. Evan Mobley dominated this game as 611 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:37,320 Speaker 1: a rebounder, even individually against Jaron Jackson at a big 612 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:40,560 Speaker 1: inside seal for a foul in the fourth quarter of 613 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:44,760 Speaker 1: this game, and then on offense, Evan Mobley just brings 614 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:48,560 Speaker 1: so much more as a play initiator for this team. 615 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:51,200 Speaker 1: They ran a bunch of inverted ball screens in this game, 616 00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:54,200 Speaker 1: and we got it to see a classic example of 617 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 1: just how dynamic that action can be. And again we 618 00:29:56,280 --> 00:29:58,480 Speaker 1: talked about the inverted ball screens. The upside is the 619 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:02,480 Speaker 1: way they invert rolls. You're asking Biggs to fight through screens, 620 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 1: and you're asking guards to help on screens against Biggs, 621 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 1: and there's a simple dynamic that takes place when you 622 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:13,200 Speaker 1: have Donovan Mitchell screen for Evan Mobley. Donovan Mitchell screens 623 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 1: for Evan Mobley. If his man steps out and helps, 624 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:19,080 Speaker 1: Mitchell can slip out of it and he's gonna get 625 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 1: wide open. He generated an open three for Donovan Mitchell 626 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 1: he generated an open three for Max Struce out of 627 00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:28,800 Speaker 1: action where the guard ended up helping on Mobley as 628 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:31,240 Speaker 1: he was coming off of the screen. But then if 629 00:30:31,240 --> 00:30:33,640 Speaker 1: he doesn't help, There's a play in the game where 630 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:36,240 Speaker 1: Donovan Mitchell screened for Evan Mobley and he got downhill 631 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 1: to his left hand. What happens the big doesn't know 632 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:42,320 Speaker 1: how to navigate a screen and you're setting a screen 633 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:44,760 Speaker 1: on him. The guard doesn't want to help because the guard, 634 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:47,959 Speaker 1: the screening guard is slipping out and getting three point shots. 635 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:50,760 Speaker 1: What happens when Mobley comes off of a screen and 636 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:54,720 Speaker 1: there's no help, he can get downhill, gets all the 637 00:30:54,720 --> 00:30:57,600 Speaker 1: way downhill and ends up getting an easy dunk with 638 00:30:57,680 --> 00:31:01,560 Speaker 1: his left hand. Connective playmaking was the big piece that 639 00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:03,080 Speaker 1: was standing out to me in this game. I think 640 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:05,600 Speaker 1: I think Mobile had seven assists if I remember correctly, 641 00:31:05,640 --> 00:31:08,240 Speaker 1: had a bunch of assists in this game. He ends 642 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:11,040 Speaker 1: up catching the ball in these advantage situations as a 643 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:13,160 Speaker 1: cutter or a lot of times at the three point line. 644 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:16,120 Speaker 1: There's a play where he ends up flashing right to 645 00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:17,720 Speaker 1: the middle of the floor. They call it teeing up right. 646 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:19,880 Speaker 1: There's two different ways for a big to make themselves 647 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:22,920 Speaker 1: available in help side situations in the dunker spot where 648 00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 1: you're on like kind of the baseline side, just outside 649 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:28,880 Speaker 1: the block waiting for the ball, or as someone drives 650 00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:30,680 Speaker 1: the baseline, you don't want to get in their way, 651 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 1: so you flash right in front of the basket to 652 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:35,479 Speaker 1: make yourself available. He ended up catching the ball right 653 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:37,440 Speaker 1: there in the middle of the floor. All the bodies 654 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:39,280 Speaker 1: converged on him, and he ended up making a nice 655 00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:41,760 Speaker 1: easy kickout past to Sam Merrill in the left corner. 656 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:44,400 Speaker 1: He knocked down to three play where he catches the 657 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:46,480 Speaker 1: ball in the left corner. He struggled to knock down 658 00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:49,320 Speaker 1: threes in this game, so he drives a close out 659 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:51,760 Speaker 1: out of the left corner, easy drop off past to 660 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 1: Jared Allen, who was flashing right to the middle of 661 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:56,720 Speaker 1: the paint. He ends up getting a big dunk. And 662 00:31:56,760 --> 00:31:59,360 Speaker 1: then sometimes you just have to beat the coverage. There's 663 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 1: a ball screen with Mitchell and Jared Allen late in 664 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 1: the game where Santi al Dama's guarding Evan Mobley and 665 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:09,720 Speaker 1: they put two on Mitchell and they use Aldama to 666 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:12,400 Speaker 1: tag Allen. Evan Mobley's wide open at the top of 667 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:15,480 Speaker 1: the key. It's a big possession late fourth quarter. He's 668 00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:17,200 Speaker 1: got to beat the coverage. He's got to knock that 669 00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:19,000 Speaker 1: shot down. And even though he struggled to knock down 670 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:21,320 Speaker 1: the jumpers all night long, he hit the big one. 671 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 1: And he has been shooting the ball really well for 672 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:26,680 Speaker 1: the most part this season. I thought his versatility was 673 00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:29,000 Speaker 1: on display in a big way in this game. The 674 00:32:29,040 --> 00:32:31,800 Speaker 1: beautiful thing about having an offensive player like Evan Mobley 675 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:35,400 Speaker 1: is you can run action for him, and you did, 676 00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:37,600 Speaker 1: and you got good stuff out of it. But he 677 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:41,600 Speaker 1: also can function almost entirely as a connective piece and 678 00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:44,320 Speaker 1: tie everything else together from the talent do you have 679 00:32:44,400 --> 00:32:47,760 Speaker 1: elsewhere on the lineup. Evan Mobley used to struggle with 680 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:49,720 Speaker 1: playmaking in the middle of the floor. That was a 681 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:52,800 Speaker 1: huge problem in the next series. Evan Mobley used to 682 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:56,400 Speaker 1: struggle with finishing in traffic off of cuts. That was 683 00:32:56,400 --> 00:32:59,800 Speaker 1: a problem in the past. He's better at those things now. 684 00:33:00,040 --> 00:33:02,600 Speaker 1: He's playing off of two feet, confident going up and 685 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:05,080 Speaker 1: dunking everything with two hands. He's going up with an 686 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:07,440 Speaker 1: aggression and a confidence in traffic that wasn't there in 687 00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:10,160 Speaker 1: the past. He's just become a much better player. And 688 00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:13,360 Speaker 1: as I've talked about, when we talk about the Calves 689 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:15,520 Speaker 1: and this is a big win without Darius Garland at 690 00:33:15,520 --> 00:33:18,680 Speaker 1: home against a good Memphis Grizzlies team. Most of it 691 00:33:18,720 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 1: comes down to Mobley's just better now than he used 692 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:25,400 Speaker 1: to be. Darius Garland's just better now than he used 693 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:28,560 Speaker 1: to be. You've seen some of the upside of DeAndre Hunter, 694 00:33:28,760 --> 00:33:31,160 Speaker 1: just a big, physical athlete that he is, his ability 695 00:33:31,240 --> 00:33:33,120 Speaker 1: to switch on to bigger players. One of the big 696 00:33:33,160 --> 00:33:35,840 Speaker 1: things that I'm excited about with DeAndre Hunter is his 697 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:39,640 Speaker 1: ability to make tough shots, which becomes valuable when you 698 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:42,720 Speaker 1: get into the postseason and only tough shots exist for 699 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:45,640 Speaker 1: your team. Had a couple of really nice playoff type 700 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:48,200 Speaker 1: of mid range scoring moves today. Had a mid ranger 701 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:50,440 Speaker 1: over a mismatch in the middle of the floor. He 702 00:33:50,760 --> 00:33:52,880 Speaker 1: put John Morant in jail on an action where he 703 00:33:52,920 --> 00:33:54,520 Speaker 1: got him trapped on his backside and just kind of 704 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 1: worked to the middle of the floor hit a little floater. 705 00:33:57,240 --> 00:34:00,760 Speaker 1: They've just they can piece together lineups now that have 706 00:34:01,160 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 1: five really high level offensive players in various different configurations. 707 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:08,080 Speaker 1: Movement shooting like Max truth Oh, you need him to 708 00:34:08,120 --> 00:34:09,759 Speaker 1: fly off of an off ball screen and knock a 709 00:34:09,760 --> 00:34:11,680 Speaker 1: shot down. He can do it. You need someone that 710 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:13,600 Speaker 1: can run more action and do some more scoring in 711 00:34:13,600 --> 00:34:15,800 Speaker 1: the middle of the four DeAndre Hunter is there is 712 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:18,440 Speaker 1: an option. You want a bigger, longer defender that can 713 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:21,320 Speaker 1: knock down, catch and shoot threes, Well there's Dean Wade. 714 00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:24,719 Speaker 1: They're bench groups having a luxury like ty Jerome to 715 00:34:24,760 --> 00:34:27,799 Speaker 1: be able to pick apart drop coverage teams. They've got 716 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:30,000 Speaker 1: a lot of talent down there in Cleveland. That was 717 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:33,439 Speaker 1: an impressive win last night against the Memphis Grizzlies. All right, guys, 718 00:34:33,480 --> 00:34:35,040 Speaker 1: that is all I have for today. Is always, as 719 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:37,760 Speaker 1: sincerely appreciate you for supporting me and supporting the show. 720 00:34:38,200 --> 00:34:40,439 Speaker 1: We are taking tomorrow off, but we will be back 721 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:43,600 Speaker 1: on Wednesday with some more reaction content. Almost see you guys. 722 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:48,920 Speaker 1: Then the volume. What's so guys? As always, I appreciate 723 00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:51,719 Speaker 1: you for listening to and supporting OOPS tonight. They would 724 00:34:51,719 --> 00:34:53,839 Speaker 1: actually be really helpful for us if you guys would 725 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:56,680 Speaker 1: take a second and leave a rating and a review. 726 00:34:56,719 --> 00:34:58,560 Speaker 1: As always, I appreciate you guys supporting us, but if 727 00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:00,520 Speaker 1: you could take a minute to do that, I'd really 728 00:35:00,600 --> 00:35:01,279 Speaker 1: appreciate it.