1 00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: The volume Lakers Tonight is presented by FanDuel Sports Book. 2 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 1: There's no better place to make every moment more than 3 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: with FanDuel. You get great odds in markets for the 4 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:16,480 Speaker 1: NBA and HL college and so much more. It's America's 5 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:19,440 Speaker 1: number one sports book. It's super easy to use. Plus 6 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: you can combine multiple bets from the same game into 7 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:25,240 Speaker 1: a same game parlay. If you are new, just download 8 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: the FanDuel Sports Book app to get started. Now sign 9 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: up with promo cod json T so they know I 10 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:35,200 Speaker 1: sent you. Twenty one plus in president Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, 11 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 1: Permitted parishes only, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Virginia 12 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: or West Virginia. First online real money wager only. Refund 13 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: issued as non withdrawalable site credit that expires in fourteen days. 14 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 1: Restrictions apply see terms at sports book dot FanDuel dot com. 15 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:55,320 Speaker 1: Gambling problem called one eight hundred, next step or text 16 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: next step to five three three four two in Arizona 17 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: one eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven 18 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: seven or visit CCPG dot org slash chat in Connecticut 19 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: one eight hundred gambler or visit FanDuel dot com slash 20 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 1: RG in Colorado, Indiana, New Jersey, in Virginia one eight 21 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: seven seven seven seven zero stop in Louisiana one eight 22 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: hundred to seven zero seven one one seven for confidential help. 23 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 1: In Michigan one eight seven seven eight Hope and why 24 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: or text hope and Why to four six seven three 25 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 1: six nine in New York. In Tennessee redline dial one 26 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: eight hundred, eight eight nine nine seven eight nine in 27 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: Tennessee visit www one eight dot one eight hundred gambler 28 00:01:46,480 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: dot net in West Virginia. All right, welcome to Hoops Tonight, 29 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 1: presented by FanDuel here at the volume. Happy Sunday, everybody. 30 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:15,119 Speaker 1: I am Jason Tiff. I hope all of you are 31 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: enjoying your weekend. Happy Mother's Day to all of them 32 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: mothers out there. Very strange game in Dallas tonight between 33 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: the Suns and the Mavericks. We're gonna break that game 34 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 1: down in its entirety. I also am going to share 35 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 1: my thoughts after all of the scuttle butts surrounding the 36 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: John Morant knee injury, and then stick around for the end. 37 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:34,639 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go over some of the stats that I 38 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:38,679 Speaker 1: found that have updated from the Celtics Bucks series. Also 39 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 1: a couple of quick housekeeping notes. Don't forget to subscribe 40 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:43,960 Speaker 1: to the Volumes YouTube channel. Also look for a link 41 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: in the description to this video to subscribe to our newsletter. 42 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: It's a great place for you to keep up to 43 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: date with all of the content at the Volume and 44 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 1: has always follow me on Twitter at underscore Jason lt 45 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: so you can see my film breakdowns that I do 46 00:02:57,880 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 1: to support a lot of the stuff that I talked 47 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: about on the show. But let's start with Dallas and 48 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 1: they're tying the series against Phoenix tonight. I told you 49 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: guys that I predicted this series to go to six games, 50 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: mainly because I trusted Luca to be able to overcome 51 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: the massive talent disadvantage between these two teams, just with 52 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 1: the way that he can control a basketball game and 53 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: his ability to control the pace and the flow with 54 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: his consistent good decision making, and ironically enough, he's still 55 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: not shooting the ball particularly well. That's gonna be the 56 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 1: thing that's gonna be really freaky for the Sons in 57 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: terms of the threat, the appropriate fear that they should 58 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: have that they can lose this series should come from 59 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: the fact that Luca, once again tonight we had twenty 60 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: six points on twenty five shots, was not efficient. Was 61 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 1: missing that step back three that he goes to. He's 62 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: been hitting that in his playoff career over our guy 63 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: Carson pointed that out on TikTok the other day. He's 64 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: one for ten tonight, and there's a version of this 65 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: story again. I'm still picking Phoenix to win this series. 66 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: I believe they'll win in six or seven games. But 67 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: the threat here for Dallas to overcome them is what 68 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: if that what if Lucas starts making some of these shots, 69 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: because that's when things could get really, really dangerous. He 70 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 1: his ability to consistently make you pay for sending double teams, 71 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: but to victimize mismatches makes them such a huge problem. 72 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 1: And I'll use an example a stretch of the game 73 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 1: there in that third quarter when he was attacking Campaign. 74 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 1: So Campaign had a really rough night tonight. He's actually 75 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,280 Speaker 1: a pretty decent backup point guard. But Dallas has been 76 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 1: really good sliding their feet and containing dribble dribble drive 77 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: guys this entire season, and they've been putting him in 78 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,279 Speaker 1: a bind. Chris Paul's foul trouble obviously was an issue. 79 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 1: We'll get to that in a little bit. But when 80 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: you play guys on the floor that are small, like 81 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 1: Campaign is, you just know that Lucas gonna go after him. 82 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 1: You know that Lucas gonna make a concerted effort to 83 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: make you pay for having a player like that on 84 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: the floor. And what was super interesting is no matter 85 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 1: where they had him, even if it was in like 86 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 1: they're weird, kind of like little matchup zone that Phoenix 87 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: was doing, Luca would just bring the ball over to 88 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: where Campaign was there and then attack him. And he's 89 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: so good like Campaign was pressuring up on him, but 90 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: he Luca almost has like that Nicola Yokich esque spin 91 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: move where I always talk about how post players one 92 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 1: of the biggest things we train them to do. We 93 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: do this with high school kids with the pad. You know, 94 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 1: the pad that you hold. You want to kind of 95 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 1: air on one side of the body because most post 96 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:23,919 Speaker 1: offenders do something like that, especially when they're trying to 97 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: front before the post entry, but they spin off on 98 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:28,839 Speaker 1: the other side. You're supposed to feel where the defender 99 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 1: is and spin to that side. It's kind of like 100 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 1: a license to use your chicken wing to like when 101 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: you spin, you can use your shoulder and elbow to 102 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: create more separation. And Luca was just doing that time 103 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 1: and time again. If Campaign stayed behind him, he'd back 104 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 1: him down and get into his post moves. If he 105 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 1: would press up, he'd spin off of him and go 106 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 1: all the way to the rim and then he you know, 107 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: and Luca has a gift for this with a pump fake. 108 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: But what he would do is they put a shooter, 109 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:56,239 Speaker 1: a good shooter one pass away, like Dorian Finny Smith 110 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 1: was incredible tonight. I believe he made eight three point shots. 111 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: They had put Dorian Finny Smith one pass away and 112 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: Luca would kind of back down cam and then just 113 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 1: go up with the pump fake and then out of 114 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: the pump fake immediately make the past because on that 115 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 1: shot fake, the guy guarding Dorian and Phinney Smith would 116 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: come over to help, and it was like the best 117 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: way to catch him in between that stunt. We call 118 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: that stunt doubling it if you don't want to if 119 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: you don't want to actually give up an open shot, 120 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: but you want to dissuade the offensive player from feeling 121 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 1: comfortable you lunge at him and then come back right. Well, 122 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 1: Luca was catching them in the lunch to get to 123 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 1: open shooters. It's all just part of what makes him 124 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 1: such a dynamic half court surgeon. The way that he is. 125 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 1: It's one of the biggest reasons why I value Luca's 126 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: skill set so much compared to some of his peers 127 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: around the league's. Obviously, his defensive issues are gonna have 128 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: to be addressed, although he's been a lot better defensively 129 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 1: in the last two games. Dallas in general has been 130 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: way better defensively in the last two games. That's the 131 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: reason why they've been as successful as they are. We've 132 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: talked about this at length on the show. Avoiding Phoenix's 133 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 1: set defense, getting cross matches in transition so that you 134 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: don't have to attack Michael Bridges every time. Everything about 135 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,479 Speaker 1: what Dallas does is predicated on what they do on 136 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: the defensive end of the floor. And you know, one 137 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 1: of the things that they've been doing it almost kind 138 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: of reminds me of um of the Utah Jazz series. 139 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 1: They're doing a good job of making it so that 140 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: they don't give up too much and switches to DeAndre 141 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: eight and by crowding him by stunting a lot of 142 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 1: all year long, Dallas has been a gimmicky defense in 143 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: the sense that, like they know, they don't have the personnel. 144 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: They don't have Phoenix Suns personnelit they don't have Boston 145 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: Celtics personnel. They don't have six wings on the on 146 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: the roster that can guard multiple positions. That's not what 147 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: they're working with. They have a handful of really good players. 148 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: Reggie Bullock and Dorian Finney Smith are fantastic two way players. 149 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: They were ten for seventeen from three to night too 150 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: between the two of them, which is awesome. Those two 151 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: guys are obviously your stereotypical traditional great defensive players Dorian 152 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: Uh Reggie Bullock can do lock and trail stuff, so 153 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: he's great to but on guys that run off of 154 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 1: screens for shots right there. He's also Bullock is very 155 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,679 Speaker 1: good with ball pressure and being disruptive. And then Dorian 156 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 1: Smith is just He's not quite the level of a 157 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: Michael Bridges, but he's a similar archetype of players. Super 158 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: long wing with super long arms that bothers really good players. 159 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 1: I remember watching Dorian Phinnie Smith back in like two 160 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: thousand seventeen or two thousand eighteen do a number on 161 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 1: Lebron James in a game in Dallas, and I was like, man, 162 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: this guy has physical tools at the wing position defensively 163 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 1: that are just really, really difficult to deal with. But Dallas, 164 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 1: outside of those two guys, has a lot of offensive 165 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 1: minded players, and Jason Kidd is just on a really 166 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 1: nice job of of talking them into committing to the 167 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: defensive end of the floor and bringing it on that 168 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: side of the four and competing, and they've stifled a 169 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: really really good Phoenix Suns defense in the last couple 170 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: of games. A lot of you know, after the first quarter, 171 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:56,680 Speaker 1: we saw Monty Williams talk about this and this is 172 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: something that I hit on heavy last night in the show. 173 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: If you guys remember dribble contained, I did this whole 174 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,679 Speaker 1: thing talking about how Memphis has a huge weakness with 175 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: dribble contain and how it's one of the most valuable 176 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: skills in the NBA right now. Well, one of the 177 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,959 Speaker 1: things that's been really hurting Phoenix in these two games 178 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: is they're giving up easy dribble drives. If you guys 179 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:17,319 Speaker 1: remember that opening quarter interview after the first quarter of 180 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: their interviewing Monny Williams, and he specifically talked about we 181 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: have to do a better job of keeping the ball 182 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: handler in front, because when we don't, we have to 183 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: help too much. That's when they get out two shooters. 184 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:31,319 Speaker 1: And I think the I think the Mavericks made fourteen 185 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: threes in the first half or something crazy like that, 186 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: you know, compared to I think Phoenix had only made five, 187 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: So like massive advantage in the three point shooting element 188 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 1: of the game, just because they were getting dribble penetration. 189 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: And that's where Phoenix, and this is part of the 190 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 1: dynamic of going on the road versus at home. Dribble 191 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 1: drive defense is so much about just sitting in a 192 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 1: defensive stance and moving your feet, and when you're feeding 193 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:55,199 Speaker 1: off the energy of the home crowd, it's just easier 194 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 1: to do that. And Phoenix is running into the classic 195 00:09:57,920 --> 00:09:59,839 Speaker 1: problem that happens when you go on the road. You 196 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: still have to compete defensively the same way you did 197 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 1: at home. There were stretches at home where it looked 198 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: like Dallas was helpless against their defense, especially late third 199 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 1: early fourth quarter of Game two. They have to find 200 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: a way to recapture that I believe they will when 201 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 1: they get home. The last thing I wanted to touch 202 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: on from this particular game was the Chris Paul foul 203 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: trouble thing. And you know, for a player in Chris Paul, 204 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 1: who's famous, like his reputation is smart decision maker, you know, 205 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:31,960 Speaker 1: the adult in the room, the guy that you can 206 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: trust to have the ball in his hands. And we're 207 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: coming on a couple of really weird games here, seven 208 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: turnovers in game three, then the foul trouble today. We'll 209 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 1: talk about the foul trouble in just a second, but 210 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: you know, with Chris Paul's playoff resume, there's some weird 211 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 1: stuff like this, like the all the decisions at the 212 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 1: end of that crazy Oklahoma City game that he tricked 213 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:53,439 Speaker 1: off and may or may not have tricked off the 214 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 1: series he has, Like there was that weird moment in 215 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:59,679 Speaker 1: the bubble in Game seven where like he was scoring 216 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 1: and switches over Robert Covington time and time again, and 217 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 1: then on the last possession he like panicked and throw 218 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: the ball to Shake Gils just Alexander and almost turned 219 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 1: it over and like and you're just like the so 220 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:14,439 Speaker 1: strange for a player who's typically so dependable in these 221 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: situations to have some black marks on his resume in 222 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:21,839 Speaker 1: the playoffs, and you know, and it's just it's just 223 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:25,080 Speaker 1: confusing because there's no excuse for the decisions that he 224 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 1: was making today, Like do I love that six foul? No? Like, yeah, 225 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 1: technically on the offensive rebound, he kind of reached in 226 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 1: on Jalen Brunson, But I thought it was a really 227 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 1: really weak foul in a playoffs setting. But at the 228 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: same time, you know that there are two different kinds 229 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:44,479 Speaker 1: of scenarios that take place on a basketball court. Scenarios 230 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 1: where you take the whistle out of the equation entirely, 231 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 1: or scenarios where you make the ref make a judgment 232 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 1: call the second you decide to reach in and hit 233 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 1: him on the arm. Like that, you have now put 234 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 1: the ref in a predicament. He now either has to 235 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 1: blow the whistle and call a foul on you to 236 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: foul you out of the game, or he has to 237 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,080 Speaker 1: ignore you hitting an offensive player on the arm while 238 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 1: he's shooting. I'll give you an example. Luca don Chech 239 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: middle of the second quarter. I believe he already had 240 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: two fouls. I think at this point he was trying 241 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: to avoid his third foul. Devin Booker's isolating him on 242 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 1: the right wing. It's clear that Devin Booker is going 243 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: to try to attack the rim on Luca with the 244 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 1: sole intent to either get a wide open lay up 245 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 1: because Luca will give him the lay up because he's 246 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 1: in foul trouble, or to try to draw that additional 247 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 1: foul and Luca, So what does Luca do? He looks 248 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 1: over at the refs, shows him his hands, puts his 249 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,960 Speaker 1: hands behind his back on that possession. He didn't keep 250 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:39,840 Speaker 1: his hands behind his back the whole time, but he 251 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: was making a statement to the ref, I am not 252 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 1: going to reach. Keep that in mind, don't call foul 253 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 1: on me. Then Devin Booker did a hard dribble drive 254 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:51,839 Speaker 1: to the left and Luca slid with him, took the 255 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:53,560 Speaker 1: drive in the chest and fell over and drew an 256 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: offensive foul. He is now playing the psychological game with 257 00:12:57,559 --> 00:13:00,079 Speaker 1: the ref. I know him in foul trouble. I know 258 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: you're watching me. I know Devin's hunting me looking for 259 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,680 Speaker 1: a foul. I'm telling you right now, I'm not going 260 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: to foul h And even though even though he might 261 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:11,439 Speaker 1: not even had legal legal guarding position like that offensive 262 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:13,800 Speaker 1: foul was a kind of a fifty fifty call, right, 263 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 1: But he was winning the psychological battle with the ref 264 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: by showing his hands the way that he did. There 265 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 1: was a time where the Lakers did this back in 266 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,719 Speaker 1: two thousand nineteen with with Brandon Ingram and Kuzma and 267 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: Lebron when they did the same thing in a game 268 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 1: against James Hard At the entire game, they're like looking 269 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 1: at the refs and showing them their hands the whole time. 270 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 1: It's the psychological game, right. Let's go back to Chris 271 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 1: Paul's fifth foul. Okay, you have four fouls in it's 272 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 1: early second half. You know you only have two left. 273 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: You get a stop and get a rebound, and you 274 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 1: dribble up the floor, deliberately veer into uh Jalen Brunson's 275 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 1: path and stop and a collision happens and there's bodies 276 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: all over the floor. Again, Yes, you have a chance 277 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,960 Speaker 1: to draw a foul there, but you have put the 278 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: referee in a predicament where he has to make a 279 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: judgment call. You put him in a predicament where he 280 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:11,839 Speaker 1: has to decide, am I calling a foul on Jalen 281 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 1: or am I calling a foul on Chris, and are 282 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: you gonna get that call? Sometimes yes, but you put 283 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 1: yourself in that predicament had you've done nothing and dribbled 284 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 1: the ball up the floor. Yes, you take away the 285 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: potential reward of drawing a bullshit foul on Jalen Brunson, 286 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 1: but you also take out the possibility of you picking 287 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: up your fifth foul. That's poor decision making. I thought, 288 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 1: at least five of the six fouls against Chris Paul 289 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: tonight we're good calls, and even the sixth one it 290 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 1: was close. That's just poor judgment. He knows better, He's 291 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 1: been in too many of these games to do that. 292 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 1: And again, it's like, I trust Chris Paul. I think 293 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 1: he's gonna pull through. I think Phoenix will win this series. 294 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: But like, it's really strange to have a player that's 295 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: historically as dependable as Chris do reckless things like that 296 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: in that type of setting. Just really really strange. Again, 297 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 1: and Dallas has a chance. Never count out Luca. They 298 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 1: absolutely can win this game this series. Their defense has 299 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: gotten considerably better. That's a huge thing that if they 300 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 1: can carry that with them to Phoenix, they have a 301 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 1: real chance to win. Lucas Steel hasn't shot well. That's 302 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 1: their chance to steal Game five as Luca goes into 303 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: Phoenix and shoots really well. But Phoenix is the better team. 304 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: They have two of the last three games at home. 305 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 1: The smart money is still on Phoenix at this point. 306 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 1: All right, let's move on to this John Moran thing 307 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 1: for a minute. So obviously this came out while we 308 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 1: were recording the show last night, so we didn't have 309 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 1: a chance to really react to it. But okay, so 310 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 1: John Moray goes on Twitter and shares out this video 311 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: of like Jordan Pool seemingly pulling on his knee while 312 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: he's planted. I didn't see another angle of this video 313 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 1: where it doesn't look so much like he pulled as 314 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 1: much as his hand was just there and jaw's knee 315 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: kind of buckled a little bit. It's hard to say, 316 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: you know. And then, and obviously John Murray ends up 317 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 1: deleting the tweet. You have. Memphis is coach come out 318 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: and basically insinuate that it might have been done intentionally. Obviously, 319 00:15:57,560 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: Jordan Pool comes out and says, I was going for 320 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: the ball. It's your textbook, he said, he said, type 321 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: of situation right now. My initial interpretation is, you know, like, 322 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: obviously it's possible that that Jordan Pool pulling on John 323 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 1: Morant's knee was responsible for the issue, But there was 324 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: also a play earlier in the game where John Morand 325 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 1: was closing out on a shooter on the three point 326 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: line on the left wing and appeared to slam his 327 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 1: knee the same knee into the shooter as he was 328 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 1: going by, so that very well may have called it. 329 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 1: It also could have been an issue he's been dealing 330 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 1: with for a while. We don't know. But the bottom 331 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 1: line is is like there's there's a gray area and 332 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 1: some of these things and then there are like clear 333 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: black and white type of issues. To me, the Dylan 334 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 1: Brooks issue was so black and white. Clearly knocking the 335 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 1: dude out of the air, clearly attempting to to hard 336 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 1: foul a player that was flying. It was obviously a 337 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: dangerous play to me. That was so cut and dry, 338 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: has to be ejected, has to be suspended, super dirty, 339 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 1: have absolutely no respect for play or anything involved in it. 340 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 1: Right then there's like, if I'm ranking the dirty fouls 341 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:07,640 Speaker 1: in the series, that's a clear number one. Then there's 342 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: a significant drop off to the Draymond thing. The Draymond 343 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 1: thing was dangerous, hit a guy in the face. I 344 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 1: thought he loaded up and did it on purpose, and 345 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 1: then he dragged Brandon Clark out of the air. However, 346 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:20,680 Speaker 1: it was clear that Draymond was trying to gather Brandon 347 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,400 Speaker 1: Clark so that he wouldn't make the layup and get 348 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,920 Speaker 1: an hand one. It was dangerous. I thought it deserved 349 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: the ejection. But it was a clear, significant level below 350 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:35,440 Speaker 1: the Dylan Brooks thing because he was obviously not branching 351 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 1: into that very very very dangerous play that Dylan Brooks 352 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,879 Speaker 1: uh did on Gary Payton to Gary Payton the second, 353 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:45,400 Speaker 1: So I thought there was a clear delineation between those two. 354 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 1: To me, the Jordan Poole thing is even further below 355 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:51,359 Speaker 1: the Draymond thing. One. I've played in a shiptown of 356 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 1: basketball games in my life, and I've played against dirty players. 357 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: I have never, ever, ever, ever, ever seen a player 358 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:02,440 Speaker 1: do anything from totally similar to that, grabbing a guy's 359 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: knee while it's planted and trying to pull it out 360 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: of whack. I've never seen that before, and so because 361 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 1: of that, to me, it's it's kind of like a 362 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:14,360 Speaker 1: benefit of the doubt type situation. We're looking at Jordan Pool, 363 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 1: a player who does not have a history of making 364 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 1: dirty plays. To me, these series is are so physical 365 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,119 Speaker 1: with the away guys are grabbing arms and shoulders to 366 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 1: get leverage on people. Right, Like the chicken wing is 367 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 1: an example. Like to me, it's like a swim move. 368 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:28,439 Speaker 1: A defensive en tries to get around an offensive lineman 369 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:30,880 Speaker 1: by kind of like swimming around him. Right. I thought 370 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:34,240 Speaker 1: Jordan Pool was trying to pull himself closer to John 371 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 1: to try to get a hand on the ball. I 372 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 1: didn't think it was intentional. Was there a chance that 373 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 1: it was intentional, Yes, but we can't jump to that conclusion. 374 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,400 Speaker 1: To me, it was safe to jump to that conclusion 375 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: with Dylan Brooks because it's a play we've seen often 376 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 1: in basketball history. It's a play we know is dangerous. 377 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,240 Speaker 1: We we know it's so dangerous that it's an unwritten 378 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 1: rule amongst basketball players that you're never supposed to do that. 379 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 1: This is a an entirely different situation. I hope Jaws okay. 380 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 1: I hope he's able to play tomorrow. We don't know. 381 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 1: There was reporting that he might not play. I hope 382 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: he's able to play the the To me, the John 383 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: and knee situation is a separate topic from the Jordan 384 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: Pool situation because I don't think it was intentional. But 385 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,119 Speaker 1: for the sake of the series, obviously I hope they 386 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 1: come back. Obviously I hope he plays. One last note, 387 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:22,120 Speaker 1: do not count out Memphis if they don't have Jaw. 388 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 1: Are they a lesser team? Yes, um what I favored 389 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:28,800 Speaker 1: Golden State. Yes, but I was gonna favor Golden State 390 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:31,560 Speaker 1: even if Job was at acent. The thing is is, 391 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 1: there's a reason why Memphis was so successful this year 392 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: with Jaw off the floor, and it had a lot 393 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:38,119 Speaker 1: to do with the fact that Jaw was their weakest 394 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:40,920 Speaker 1: defensive player. They were about five point nine points per 395 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 1: one hundred possessions better on defense without Jaw this year. 396 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 1: As a result, they actually had a better net rating 397 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 1: without Job this year. As I said so many times 398 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:49,480 Speaker 1: on the show, I don't translate to that to the 399 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: playoffs because in the playoffs, elite, high end shot creation 400 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:55,399 Speaker 1: becomes so much more valuable. So I'm obviously gonna heavily 401 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:57,879 Speaker 1: value Jaw and that predicament. Just look at this series. 402 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 1: Nobody on Memphis can create a shot sept for Jaw right, 403 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 1: So I don't think that Memphis Grozies are better without 404 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 1: jaw However, they are a different type of good team 405 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 1: without him, they go to another big wing. Usually in 406 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 1: that role, they become much bigger, much more athletic in 407 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 1: terms of like their overall size and athleticism profile the 408 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: line up. John Moran is a freak athlete, but he's 409 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 1: not a freak athlete on the defensive end of the 410 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:22,400 Speaker 1: floor in terms of like covering a ton of ground 411 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 1: and keeping guys in front and that kind of stuff. 412 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:26,880 Speaker 1: So Memphis becomes a better defensive team. They become more 413 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: imposing physically without John Morin. So that is their opportunity 414 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: to try to drag out this series is go big 415 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 1: without jaw and just try to physically dominate Golden State. 416 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 1: Still in picking Golden State, I still think Golden State 417 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 1: now would draw out if if he does end up 418 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 1: missing the series, Golden State is gonna win this series 419 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:45,920 Speaker 1: in five games, I believe, but it's still gonna be 420 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:48,119 Speaker 1: an interesting game. I still expect it to be a 421 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 1: dog fight because Memphis doesn't become a bad team without Jaw, 422 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:55,560 Speaker 1: They just become a slightly lesser different team at that point. 423 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 1: All right, before we get out of here today, I 424 00:20:57,600 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: wanted to quickly touch on some of the metrics from 425 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:02,680 Speaker 1: yesterday a Celtics Bucks game. Obviously, this is something I've 426 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 1: been keyed in on all series, particularly to the difference 427 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 1: between the way the teams are performing in half court 428 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 1: versus in transition. It's so much of this comes down 429 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:13,879 Speaker 1: to Boston's offensive decision making. It controls the pace of 430 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: the game. We talked about this a lot in last 431 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 1: night's show, but all the data tells us that Boston 432 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 1: is a significantly better half court team. But Milwaukee has 433 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:27,159 Speaker 1: managed to steal two games in transition. Like that's where 434 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 1: this this whole series has been determined to give you 435 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:34,680 Speaker 1: an idea. So for the entire series, the in transition 436 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:38,840 Speaker 1: Milwaukee is averaging one point four one points per play 437 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: compared to Boston averaging one point zero to four points 438 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 1: per play. So literally, Milwaukee is winning this series in transition, 439 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:48,080 Speaker 1: and it shows in the stats. They won Game one, 440 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: they were twenty points better than Boston in fast break points. 441 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:54,919 Speaker 1: They lost Game two, they were even in fast break points. 442 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 1: They won Game three, they were ten points better than 443 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:01,879 Speaker 1: Boston in transition. They are winning this series in transition 444 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 1: in half In the half court, Boston has consistently been 445 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 1: the better team. Obviously, they were the better team in 446 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: the first two games. We talked about that, but it's 447 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: the question was if we go to Milwaukee, will Milwaukee's 448 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:16,159 Speaker 1: half court offense get better? No, it actually has been worse. 449 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:18,399 Speaker 1: It's it was worse in Milwaukee than it was in 450 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,440 Speaker 1: the first two games. So last in yesterday's game, Milwaukee 451 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 1: average zero points seven six points per half court play. 452 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:29,280 Speaker 1: Boston average zero point eight one. So Boston was the 453 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:31,720 Speaker 1: better half court team in Boston. They've continued to be 454 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 1: the better half court team here in Milwaukee. What does 455 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 1: that mean? What that means to me is that's how 456 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:41,240 Speaker 1: this series is going to be determined. Boston has demonstrated 457 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:43,520 Speaker 1: that that is in it, that is a replicable skill 458 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:45,359 Speaker 1: to be the better team in the half court. Not 459 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: because Jan this is the best player in the series. 460 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: He's also probably the best half court creator in the series. 461 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:53,919 Speaker 1: But Boston has far more players on the floor at 462 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:57,160 Speaker 1: any given moment that can drive, that can dribble, drive, pass, 463 00:22:57,240 --> 00:23:00,200 Speaker 1: and shoot, and that combination makes them much harder to guard. 464 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:03,560 Speaker 1: Boston has our Milwaukee has some more traditional spot up guys, 465 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 1: guys that aren't grade at attacking closeouts and things along 466 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:08,159 Speaker 1: those lines, so so much more is on Janice and 467 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:11,680 Speaker 1: Drew Holiday's plate to create shots. Boston doesn't have that 468 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:16,000 Speaker 1: problem because they have more offensive talents surrounding Jayson Tatum. Right. 469 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 1: But this is how the series is going to be determined. 470 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 1: If Boston takes smart shots and can stay in the 471 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:25,280 Speaker 1: half court, they will win. If they continue to get 472 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:28,359 Speaker 1: wrapped up in poor decision making, quick three point shots 473 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:32,240 Speaker 1: off the dribble, just overall sloppy offense, they will continue 474 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:34,639 Speaker 1: to let Milwaukee get out in transition and they will lose. 475 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 1: You know that I I picked Boston to win this 476 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 1: series in five. But the reason why this is up 477 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 1: in the air is Boston has killed themselves in two 478 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:48,120 Speaker 1: of these games and transition that's where this thing has been. 479 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:52,159 Speaker 1: That that's where this series has swung. And the issue 480 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 1: is is that's controllable. If you're Boston, that's just take 481 00:23:56,840 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 1: care of the basketball, make smart decisions, don't get those 482 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:04,199 Speaker 1: kinds of things. But if you're Milwaukee, the way that 483 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:06,880 Speaker 1: you win this series is you run at all costs, 484 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:10,600 Speaker 1: push on every possible possession because in the half court 485 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:14,120 Speaker 1: you are not scoring against this Boston defense. You know, Joannice, 486 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:18,360 Speaker 1: and I mean this is a compliment to him. Um, 487 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 1: I think Janice is on a tear by himself at 488 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 1: the top of the league. I think this reminds me 489 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 1: of Lebron Circle two thousand thirteen, where it appears that 490 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:31,880 Speaker 1: there's a definitive gap between Lebron and the next guy. 491 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:33,400 Speaker 1: I thought Lebron was the best player in the world 492 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:36,960 Speaker 1: from two thousand twelves to two thousand twenty without interruption, 493 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:40,960 Speaker 1: but right around two thousand fourteen when k d rose 494 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 1: and then obviously in two thousand fifteen when Steph Roze, 495 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 1: it got close. And obviously, even though I thought Lebron 496 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 1: was better than those guys, I thought they were kind 497 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:51,480 Speaker 1: of in the same tier as him, and given night, 498 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:55,639 Speaker 1: they were capable about playing him right with Janice, it 499 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:57,719 Speaker 1: kind of feels like the way it did with Lebron 500 00:24:57,720 --> 00:24:59,679 Speaker 1: in those first couple of years when he was at 501 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:01,480 Speaker 1: the top the league, where it's like, who is the 502 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:04,119 Speaker 1: second best guy? Is it Kobe? I mean yeah, but 503 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:05,920 Speaker 1: Kobe was nowhere near as good as Lebron In two 504 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:09,239 Speaker 1: thousand thirteen, was it, you know, Katie? Yeah, but he's 505 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:12,159 Speaker 1: still he's a baby. He's not quite developed yet, Johanna 506 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:14,479 Speaker 1: seems for Jhannice, it's a different dynamic because he's kind 507 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:17,480 Speaker 1: of fending off guys that are established guys like Katie 508 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:20,440 Speaker 1: and Lebron and Steph. Right, but Janice isn't a tear 509 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: by himself at the top of the league right now. 510 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:24,440 Speaker 1: We have to just acknowledge that based on what we're 511 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 1: seeing on the floor. The interesting thing is is Boston 512 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 1: is still having a massive impact on him. Boston has 513 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:35,640 Speaker 1: held him to fifteen percent below his regular season true 514 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:38,639 Speaker 1: shooting percentage. He's shooting forty eight point nine percent in 515 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 1: true shooting in this series. That's insane. Not true shooting 516 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:44,399 Speaker 1: is just literally your field goal percentage but weighted with 517 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:46,239 Speaker 1: three point shots and free throws. That's all it is. 518 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: But it's incredibly impressive what Boston has done to him. 519 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:52,160 Speaker 1: That said, he's been able to impact the game a ton, 520 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:55,160 Speaker 1: just with his relentless attacking of the rim, in his playmaking, 521 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 1: in his defense. He's averaging thirty one, eleven and nine 522 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:01,520 Speaker 1: in this series, which is in obviously not efficient, but 523 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:04,600 Speaker 1: he's putting up the impact metrics and as I have said, 524 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:07,280 Speaker 1: credit Boston for the lack of efficiency. If they did 525 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:08,840 Speaker 1: it to k D, they were obviously going to do 526 00:26:08,920 --> 00:26:10,920 Speaker 1: it to honest they're the best defensive team of this era. 527 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,879 Speaker 1: I've said that many times, and it was really and 528 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 1: honestly was kind of nice to hear JJ Reddick and 529 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:17,760 Speaker 1: Tim Legler say the same thing on the pod that 530 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 1: they did the other day, because obviously those guys have 531 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 1: a lot more credibility than I do because they've been 532 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 1: around for a long time, they're established be guys. I 533 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 1: wasn't saying that for poops and giggles. I'm literally a 534 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 1: guy who covered the Lakers for the last two years. 535 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:31,840 Speaker 1: All my Twitter followers, for the most part, our Lakers fans. 536 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:34,920 Speaker 1: I don't stand to gain anything by advocating for the Celtics. 537 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:36,399 Speaker 1: But what I do do, guys, is I put in 538 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:38,480 Speaker 1: the work. I watched a ship ton of tape. I 539 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:41,159 Speaker 1: watched it almost every game twice, okay, And when I 540 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:43,119 Speaker 1: was digging into the tape and when I was digging 541 00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:45,879 Speaker 1: into the numbers, we are seeing things from this Boston 542 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 1: defense that we have never seen before from any other 543 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 1: team in recent NBA history. Okay, so I'm just acknowledging 544 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:55,840 Speaker 1: what I'm seeing with my eyes. That's why Boston was 545 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:58,439 Speaker 1: a minus two favorite before this series. To Janice is 546 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:02,440 Speaker 1: credit he has in so great that he has overcome 547 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:04,920 Speaker 1: that to the extent that he's been able to pull 548 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:06,960 Speaker 1: out a couple of games. It actually kind of reminds 549 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 1: me of Lebron in the two thousand fifteen finals against 550 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:13,239 Speaker 1: Golden State, them taking a two one lead on the 551 00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:16,080 Speaker 1: strength of greatness from Lebron or in this case, your 552 00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 1: honest inefficiently. Remember Lebron was horribly inefficient in that series 553 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:22,359 Speaker 1: because Golden State was loading up on him. Jannice is 554 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:25,359 Speaker 1: dealing with the same thing now. But eventually, the better 555 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 1: team that consistently gets better shots is gonna take over. 556 00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:29,919 Speaker 1: And that's what I think is gonna happen in this series. 557 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:32,840 Speaker 1: I think Boston is gonna win Game four tomorrow. I 558 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:35,439 Speaker 1: think they're gonna win. I think it'll be a relatively 559 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 1: close game, but I wouldn't be surprised if Boston won 560 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:40,080 Speaker 1: by ten fifteen points. And then I think they're gonna 561 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:41,880 Speaker 1: go home and win Game five in Boston in front 562 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 1: of their home crowd, win big. I think they'll win. 563 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:47,000 Speaker 1: I think they'll have control of that game. And then 564 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 1: I think they're gonna go into Game six in Milwaukee, 565 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:53,240 Speaker 1: and that offense, all all of the offensive things that 566 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:54,919 Speaker 1: Boston will have figured out, I think they will have 567 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: taken hold, and I think they'll be consistent there, and 568 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:58,640 Speaker 1: I think they'll be able to go on the road 569 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:00,400 Speaker 1: and win a game there. I think bos and wins 570 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:02,840 Speaker 1: the series and six. I know people think I'm crazy, 571 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:04,639 Speaker 1: but I'm just paying attention to what I'm seeing in 572 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:06,439 Speaker 1: the numbers. I'm paying attention to what I'm seeing in 573 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:09,520 Speaker 1: the film, and I'm trusting that I am also not 574 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 1: I'm not like stupid enough to think that Janice isn't 575 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 1: capable of overcoming that. Of course he is. Lebron damn 576 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:18,199 Speaker 1: near did it. In two thousand fifteen. He went in 577 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:21,320 Speaker 1: Game five in Golden State and had another crazy, you know, 578 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:24,440 Speaker 1: forty six point game or something, and it just wasn't 579 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:27,440 Speaker 1: quite enough. And maybe maybe Honest is capable of that. 580 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 1: You know, one of my friends de Monrangoula was talking 581 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:35,359 Speaker 1: on Twitter yesterday about how, you know, Joannice might have 582 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:37,680 Speaker 1: to average fifty to win this series, and he's right, 583 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:41,160 Speaker 1: he might literally have to average fifty, but he's also 584 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:43,920 Speaker 1: capable of that. That's not out of the realm of possibility. 585 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 1: That's just what he's gonna have to do. You know, 586 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:48,200 Speaker 1: Johannese is gonna have to put up put up other 587 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 1: worldly performances down the stretch of this series to win. 588 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 1: He just also might be capable of doing it. I 589 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 1: just I'm still picking Boston at this point. All right, guys, 590 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:58,280 Speaker 1: that is all I have for tonight. I sincerely appreciate 591 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:00,160 Speaker 1: your support. As always, we will be back at tore 592 00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:03,280 Speaker 1: the final buzzer of Warriors Grizzlies tomorrow night, and I'll 593 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:21,920 Speaker 1: see you guys. Then the volume