1 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:07,560 Speaker 1: The volume Lakers Tonight is presented by Fan Duel Sports Book. 2 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:10,879 Speaker 1: There's no better place to make every moment more than 3 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: with Fan Duel. It's a great place to bet on 4 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: the NBA. It's America's number one sports book, and you 5 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: get winnings delivered in as quick as two hours. Plus. 6 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: It's fun to combine multiple bets from the same game 7 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: into a same game parlay. If you are new, just 8 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 1: download Fan Duel sports Book app to get started. Now 9 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: sign up with promo co Jason T so they know 10 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 1: I sent you. 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In Michigan one eight seven seven eight 24 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: hope and why, or text hope and Why to four 25 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 1: six seven three six nine in New York. In tennessee 26 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: redline dial one eight hundred eight eight nine nine seven 27 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: eight nine in Tennessee, visit www one eight dot one 28 00:01:44,840 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: eight hundred gambler dot net in West Virginia. All right, 29 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 1: welcome to Lakers Tonight, presented by fan Duel. Here on 30 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: the volume, I am Jason Tim. Happy Monday, everybody. I 31 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: hope you all had a great weekend. I hope you 32 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: enjoyed the super Duel Super Bowl. I used fan Duel 33 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,800 Speaker 1: to bet a hundred dollars on Rams minus four and 34 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: a half, which I obviously lost, But I was fortunate 35 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: enough to jump on a live line on Vanduel in 36 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,359 Speaker 1: the middle of the game and catch the Rams at 37 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: plus one oh five, So technically I made five dollars yesterday, 38 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 1: So obviously I'm I'm feeling like a high rule high roller. 39 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 1: But we're gonna talk basketball today. We're gonna talk a 40 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: little bit about this report that came out in The 41 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: Athletic about Genie Buss in her newfound rediscovered reliance on 42 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 1: Magic Johnson. Uh. Then we're gonna talk a little bit 43 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 1: about James Harden and him missing his first opportunity to 44 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: play with the Sixers as well as the All Star Game, 45 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: whether I think that's something or nothing. And then if 46 00:02:58,200 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 1: you stick around to the end, we're gonna do our 47 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 1: first ever edition of the Power Rankings, which we're gonna 48 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 1: call Timp's Top Ten, because obviously that's what we should 49 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:07,119 Speaker 1: call it. So we're gonna try that if you stick 50 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 1: around to the end. But let's start with the Lakers. 51 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: So I'm not even gonna call it a report because 52 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: this was on the record. This was Genie bust being 53 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:21,640 Speaker 1: quoted in The Athletic essentially saying that she very much 54 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: has leaned a lot on Magic Johnson this year in 55 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 1: all of the uh drama that has surrounded the Lakers, 56 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: and it was immediately discouraging for anybody who's been following 57 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: the Lakers over the course of this stretch. I've been 58 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 1: covering the Lakers now for four years, and before we 59 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: go any further, I just really quickly wanted to read 60 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: off the highlight reel of the Laker front office and 61 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: ownership group over the course of this four year stretch, 62 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 1: because I think it does a nice job of framing 63 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 1: what I'm gonna try to say here. Now, again, this 64 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: is just in the last four years. And yes, every 65 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 1: NBA front office has black marks, every NBA front office 66 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: has made mistakes, but this is genuinely impressive. So for starters. 67 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 1: In the summer of two thousand eighteen, they let Julius 68 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: Randall walk for nothing. Mind you, this was the seventh 69 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: overall pick, a legitimate lottery player who was trending in 70 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 1: the right direction, and the Lakers just didn't want to 71 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 1: deal with whatever was associated with keeping him, whether it 72 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: was his attitude, whether it was the money, whether it 73 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 1: was the complication of trying to sign and trade him. 74 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 1: They just let him walk. Shortly thereafter, they let Brook 75 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 1: Lopez walk. Brook Lopez the center who could shoot, which 76 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:33,359 Speaker 1: obviously made a ton of sense with Lebron James, but 77 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: they decided to let him walk. He said on the 78 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 1: record later that year that he wanted to stay in 79 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: l A and they didn't extend the offer to him, 80 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:44,599 Speaker 1: and as a result, the Lakers ended up playing a 81 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 1: thirty six year old Tyson Chandler for the vast majority 82 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 1: of that season alongside JaVale McGee. And they were desperate 83 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: for having competent front court play and the option is 84 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: right there in front of him, they let him walk. 85 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 1: Then they signed Lance Stevenson and Michael Beasley because Magic 86 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: Johnson had the genius idea of getting the basketball out 87 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 1: of Lebron James hands. Mind you, this was about a 88 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 1: month after he led the Calves to the finals again 89 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: with the ball in his hands, the galaxy brain idea 90 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: of taking the ball out of Lebron's hands that Magic 91 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: Johnson had in that summer. Then they at the deadline, 92 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: Panic traded Ivica Zoo bats for Mike Muscala, which Zbach 93 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: is one of the better backup centers that you can 94 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,919 Speaker 1: find in the league. And Mike Muscala basically was just 95 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: a big guy who could shoot and didn't make any 96 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: shots with the Lakers. Another disaster. Then, going into that 97 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: off season, they traded Danny Green in the first round 98 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,479 Speaker 1: pick for Dennis Schroeder. Which again I understand the idea there, 99 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: this idea of getting playmaking around Lebron, but that was 100 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: the first step in the transition from the Lakers away 101 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: from being a big team that had shooting to a 102 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: small team and in the case of Dennis Shrewder, a 103 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: huge part of why the Lakers had such spacing problems 104 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 1: in that season. They also signed Montrese Harrold with the 105 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,919 Speaker 1: mid level exception that year. Again Montrese Harold a clutch client. 106 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,280 Speaker 1: So we had back to back off seasons where we 107 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:02,160 Speaker 1: didn't look for the best player, we looked for a 108 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 1: clutch client to join the team in that mid level 109 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 1: exception spot. They ditched their rim protecting bigs and Dwight 110 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: Howard and JaVale McGee for slower, smaller big small like 111 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: Montrese Harrold and big and slow like Marcus Al. Don't 112 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: really understand why they did that, didn't make any sense. 113 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,359 Speaker 1: The Dwight and Javaial thing worked great. They just decided 114 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: to switch things up. They then you have the Rush 115 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 1: trade and everything that has been wrapped into that. I'm 116 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 1: not even gonna get into it, but the Alex Crusoe 117 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: decision to let him walk was very much attached to 118 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 1: the rush trade. Now, looking at this, I'm not even 119 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 1: sure that Taylor Horton Tucker is. Although I'm higher on 120 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: him than most, he's having a rough season. I'm not 121 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: even sure if he was the right guy for the 122 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 1: Lakers to invest in financially. And then the last part 123 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: this last offseason, you're desperate as a fan watching the 124 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,119 Speaker 1: team sign a big guy, sign somebody who's six seven 125 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 1: and can run and jump. Nope, the only wings they 126 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,919 Speaker 1: signed were Trevor Reza who's old, and Carmelo Anthony, who's old, 127 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 1: both of which were obviously going to be in adequate 128 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,279 Speaker 1: for what the Lakers needed out of that position. And 129 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: instead they signed a million guards who can't defend and 130 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: are and have gaping holes in the important areas of 131 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: the game. Again, all those things I just read are 132 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 1: just in the last four seasons. And that makes sense 133 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 1: when you look at it from the perspective of the 134 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 1: fact that the three biggest influencing like influential forces that 135 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 1: are guiding Genie Buss and her decision making are Magic 136 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 1: Johnson literally, the guy who had the genius idea of 137 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: getting the ball out of Lebron's hands, and Kurt Rambis, 138 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: the guy who went into Frank Vogel's coaching meeting and 139 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 1: said more DeAndre Jordan's please. And Rob Polinka, who's obviously 140 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: more in the trenches than those guys are, but in 141 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: terms of when you compare him to the rest of 142 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 1: the league, is far from the best at that specific 143 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: skill set. And I don't think it's a coincidence. I 144 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:57,240 Speaker 1: think it's a it's a glaring lack of self awareness. 145 00:07:57,720 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: You know, it's funny. I was joking with my wife earlier, 146 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 1: like you remodeled the house in two thousand nineteen, and 147 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: I had a bunch of experience remodeling houses because that's 148 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 1: what I did at the time, but this was the 149 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: first one I ever remodeled for myself, and going into 150 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: we had a budget, and I had to decide which 151 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: things I would do and which things I would outsource. 152 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 1: And I decided to do the obvious things that I 153 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 1: could do. I could paint, I could swing a sledgehammer. 154 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: I could use a rate to do some landscaping. I 155 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: could install some cabinets. What I could not do was 156 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: plumbing an electrical I would have spent hours on YouTube, 157 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: and chances are I would never have gotten capable enough 158 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: of doing an adequate job on those things in the 159 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: way that a professional could, because the professional studies it 160 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:37,319 Speaker 1: every single day, because the professional is in the trenches, 161 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 1: because the professional uses continuing education to stay up on 162 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: all of the modern areas of their profession. And that's 163 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 1: what the Lakers need to be doing. Magic Johnson is 164 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: like me calling a plumber that hasn't worked since night. 165 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: I'm not sure that. Yes, he has plumbing experience, but 166 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 1: Magic Johnson's retired. Do you think Magic Johnson is in 167 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: the weeds on lead pass watching all these teams, trying 168 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 1: to get a feel for what's working in the modern NBA. 169 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: Do you think Kurt Rambis is doing that? Do you 170 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: think Kurt Rambis watched DeAndre Jordan play much before he 171 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: tried to force Frank Vogel into playing him more. And 172 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: then Rob Polinka, the guy who is you know, I'm 173 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: not gonna he's your He's more along the lines of 174 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: someone who's done good and bad over this stretch, So 175 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: I don't want to slander him to too much of 176 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 1: an extent, But he's not in the trenches the way 177 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: some of these other guys are. But it all kind 178 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,719 Speaker 1: of comes back to Genie Buss and her insistence on 179 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: leaning on what's comfortable for her. It'd be like if 180 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 1: I needed plumbing, but I decided to call my dad 181 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: to help me do it. I don't understand why I 182 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 1: would do that. He's not the man for the job. 183 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: All there is there is familiarity, But that familiarity is 184 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 1: all that matters to Genie Buss, and that extends to 185 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 1: even Lebron and a d who clearly, with their personnel 186 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 1: recommendation that they're making, are saying, let's sign clutch guys, 187 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: when very clearly coming into the season that mid level 188 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: exception needed to be used on a big wing, and 189 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: instead of it being Rudy Gay, a guy who's big 190 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: and can do big guy stuff, it was Kendrick Nutt, 191 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 1: yet another little guard who's offensively oriented. And that's really 192 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 1: troubling because you've seen as Laker fans what you get 193 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: when you get a grinder, when you get a guy 194 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: who's really in the trenches. The Laker scouting department, for instance, 195 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: is one of the best in the league. Those guys 196 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 1: find incredible gems in the undrafted class in the G League. 197 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 1: In the second round in the late first round. Their 198 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: track record is unassailable. You know that there is a 199 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: work that's being done behind the scenes to locate those guys. 200 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: But the top three guys that are influencing Laker personnel 201 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 1: decisions are literally three people that aren't doing the work. 202 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 1: They are family friends, They are close and familiar to 203 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 1: Genie Bus. They aren't the right people for the job. 204 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 1: You know, and say what you want. There's there's this 205 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:13,960 Speaker 1: war that happens on Twitter between like the blog boys 206 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: and the people who have a real basketball background. But 207 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 1: say what you want about the blog boys. Those guys 208 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 1: are working. Those guys are watching games. Sometimes they watch 209 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 1: too many spreadsheets alongside the games, but they're watching games. 210 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 1: That's what the Lakers need, not necessarily one of those guys, 211 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: but somebody with the basketball background that actually is in 212 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: the trenches, that is traveling around and watching games in Europe, 213 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:39,320 Speaker 1: that is constantly on NBA League Pass, watching dozens and 214 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:41,599 Speaker 1: dozens of games every week, not just games that the 215 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 1: Lakers playing, and actually doing the work that you need 216 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: to do to be a successful general manager in this league. 217 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 1: It doesn't take a lot to look at the landscape 218 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 1: of the league and understand that the Lakers ditched all 219 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 1: their size and that was gonna be a problem. That's 220 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:59,080 Speaker 1: literally why all of us were pleading for Wesley Matthews, 221 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 1: or pleading for Ruddy Gay, or pleading for James Nis 222 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: or whoever it was. We were pleading for the summer 223 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: when we just wanted somebody who was tall on the 224 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:10,680 Speaker 1: team because we watched the games, because we pay attention 225 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: to the league pass because we see what works in 226 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 1: the NBA these days, and that's concerning there. You know, 227 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: Like I said in the last show, Rob Polinka had 228 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: pointed out that everybody needs to look in the mirror, 229 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 1: and Genie Bust needs to be the next person to 230 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 1: look in the mirror because far too often, and that's 231 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 1: what's so crazy about this story from the Athletic in 232 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 1: terms of just being tone deaf, How is it that, 233 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:34,439 Speaker 1: with everything that's going on, you thought it was a 234 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 1: good idea to go on the record that the that 235 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:41,079 Speaker 1: the guy you're leaning on right now is the same 236 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 1: guy who made a fool of himself quitting on the 237 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:48,440 Speaker 1: franchise literally during a game last in the in the 238 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:51,559 Speaker 1: two thousand nineteen season. Again, you need to apply to 239 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:53,839 Speaker 1: a certain amount of respect to Magic Johnson for what 240 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: he accomplished in the league. I'm not trying to circumvent 241 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 1: that at all. He's the best point guard to ever 242 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 1: play the game. He deserves all the requisite respect. However, 243 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 1: this dude is not a guy who should be making 244 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: NBA personnel decisions in the year two. Neither is Kurt 245 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:14,320 Speaker 1: Rambis and neither is Kurt Polinka or Rob Polinka. So 246 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 1: Jennie Bust needs to wake up and learn from her 247 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,320 Speaker 1: scouting department and find people that are actually willing to 248 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:22,319 Speaker 1: do the work on that front, because those are the 249 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 1: guys that can look at Lebron in the face and 250 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: be like, hey, actually you don't want Russ. I've watched 251 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: every game he's played in the last three years, and 252 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: he's one of the worst defensive players in the league 253 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 1: when you factor in his lack of focus. That was 254 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: a conversation that would have happened if it was Massi 255 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: Uxurie in the front office and not Rob Polinka, and 256 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:42,840 Speaker 1: so that that that's the next area of improvement here. 257 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 1: It's funny looking back because the Laker fans literally protested 258 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 1: outside of Staples Center in the summer of but there 259 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 1: was this little lightning in a bottle that was caught 260 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 1: with that team that won the title, and it diverted 261 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: the focus away from the travesty that was take place 262 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:03,319 Speaker 1: with the ownership group in the front office and bought 263 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: them a ton of a margin for error. But they've 264 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:10,200 Speaker 1: made so many mistakes in the time since then that 265 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:14,840 Speaker 1: they have literally undone everything that that team had built. 266 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 1: And that's really unfortunate, but it's the reality of the situation. 267 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 1: FanDuel Sports Book is an official sports betting partner of 268 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 1: the n b A and with FanDuel Same game parlays, 269 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 1: you can turn little bets into big pay days. For instance, 270 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: you can bet on the Lakers to win and for 271 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: Lebron James to score over twenty five points to maximize 272 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 1: your winnings. 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So obviously there's a question of whether 302 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 1: or not James Harden is dealing with something significant because 303 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 1: he's it's been announced that he's not going to play 304 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 1: again before the deadline and that he's going to miss 305 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: the All Star break. And I think this is a 306 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: huge nothing burger, for lack of a better term, you know, 307 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 1: I think there are two big angles to this. First 308 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: of all, I think Darryl Moray knows that James Harden 309 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: has struggled with fatigue and injury at the end of seasons. 310 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 1: Before last season with his hamstring breaking down, and then 311 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 1: in previous seasons. I mean, we don't have to get 312 00:16:57,720 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: into it, but this guy has one of the most 313 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 1: miss serable playoff resumes that any NBA superstar in NBA 314 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: and in the history of the league is put together 315 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,119 Speaker 1: and specifically at the end of series. I did a 316 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 1: thing on hard in a long time ago that if 317 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 1: you take a look at his numbers in the early 318 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: games of a series compared to the end games of 319 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:16,879 Speaker 1: a series. They foll up a cliff and some of 320 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 1: that fatigue related. Some of that's his lack of ingenuity 321 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 1: and him being way too predictable, but that's all attached 322 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: to each other. I think that they probably see this 323 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 1: as an opportunity to buy him an extra two weeks arrest, 324 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 1: understanding that he has had issues with that in the past, 325 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 1: and then the other side of this is just simply optics. 326 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: Like James Harden took a lot of criticism, including from me, 327 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: for the way he behaved on his way out of Brooklyn. 328 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 1: That has to be addressed in some way. Right in 329 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 1: an easy way is to blame the injuries. Right, if 330 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 1: you sit out for another two weeks, if he doesn't 331 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 1: actually put on a Philadelphia seventy six ers jersey until 332 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:55,440 Speaker 1: late February, then he can at least claim the plausible 333 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 1: deniability that he was hurt and that was why things 334 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 1: went south the way that they did lastly on the 335 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 1: hard in front. I think he's under a lot more 336 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 1: pressure than Ben Simmons here. There's been a lot of 337 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,160 Speaker 1: talk about what it would be like for James Harden 338 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:09,640 Speaker 1: if he had to return to one of these places, 339 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 1: or what it would be like for Ben Simmons to 340 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: go on the road to Philly in a playoff series. 341 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: You have to play in front of that crowd, which 342 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: would almost certainly be you know, borderline two thousand and eleven, 343 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: Calves booing Lebron type of intensity. But the truth of 344 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 1: the matter is Ben Simmons is going up to Brooklyn 345 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 1: as a role player. The pressure for that team's outcome 346 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 1: falls on Kevin Durant because that's just the way the 347 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:33,359 Speaker 1: NBA works. When you're a superstar, even if you have 348 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 1: a superstar partner, it falls on the perimeter. Initiator, falls 349 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 1: on the guy who has the ball in his hands 350 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:41,200 Speaker 1: at the end of the game going down to Philly. 351 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 1: That's James Harden. I think right now we can all 352 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,920 Speaker 1: agree Joel and Beads a better player. But because it's 353 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 1: easy to double post players in the in the league today, 354 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: because Joel Embiad is not a great passer, and because 355 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 1: of just the way the league becomes super physical in 356 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: those late playoff environments, James hardens the guy he is 357 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:02,679 Speaker 1: going to determine the outcome. The difference between Philly. Winning 358 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 1: the title or losing to a Brooklyn or Milwaukee in 359 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 1: the second round is going to fall on James Harden 360 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:11,640 Speaker 1: and his decision making, in his ability to make shots. 361 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: That is a lot of pressure. And the truth of 362 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 1: the matter is, when you have the resume that he has, 363 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 1: he's starting to build some variety. I talked a lot 364 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:24,400 Speaker 1: and the Saturday Show about Lebron's variety and his success. Well, 365 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:27,639 Speaker 1: James Harden has a variety in his failure and adding 366 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 1: another chapter to that story only further exacerbates that. And 367 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:34,159 Speaker 1: so he's under a lot of pressure here. But again, 368 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:37,159 Speaker 1: rest up, he's got two weeks off. You have a 369 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 1: chance to make a run in it at the end. 370 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 1: You have the talent. I don't believe James can outplay 371 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant or Jana Syntenna Coupon in a playoff series, 372 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 1: but he's gonna have his opportunity, all right. Before we 373 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:49,199 Speaker 1: get out of here tonight, this is gonna be our 374 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: first ever rendition of power rankings. We're gonna call it 375 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 1: Tim's Top ten. A couple of quick rules. The way 376 00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:59,359 Speaker 1: that I am making these decisions is based on three things. One, 377 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 1: who has been best team overall to who has been 378 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:06,439 Speaker 1: the best team of late, and lastly, who projects to 379 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 1: be better in a postseason setting. You know, you guys 380 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: know me. I am constantly a denigrator of the regular season, 381 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 1: not overall, but just I understand from my years watching 382 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:20,399 Speaker 1: the game that the postseason is almost an entirely different 383 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 1: sport in the way that it's officiated, in the way 384 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:25,640 Speaker 1: that the teams are in terms of scheming and focus 385 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 1: and effort. It's just a different sport, and so the 386 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: ability to succeed on that level absolutely has to factor 387 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: into these kinds of decisions. If the point of a 388 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:37,160 Speaker 1: power ranking is to say who's the best team, it's 389 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 1: obviously going to be more complicated than who got on 390 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:42,000 Speaker 1: a hot streak in the regular season. But on that note, 391 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: let's get started. So at ten, I have the Cleveland Cavaliers. 392 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 1: This group just keeps grinding out wins. They're eleven in 393 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:53,360 Speaker 1: four in their last fifteen games. Second in defense, obviously 394 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 1: that's their story. They have all of this front court height, 395 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 1: and that really bothers teams. It's just not usual in 396 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:00,880 Speaker 1: the NBA to face three and footers in the front 397 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:03,440 Speaker 1: court that are switching and flying around and protecting the rim. 398 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:05,959 Speaker 1: It's just difficult to deal with. But this team's biggest 399 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 1: weakness will always be their ability to generate shots, especially 400 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:12,640 Speaker 1: in a playoff environment. In their last fifteen games there 401 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:17,919 Speaker 1: in offense, they rely heavily on Darius Garland to to 402 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 1: create everything, especially in pick and roll, and that's just 403 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 1: something that's difficult to do in a playoff series when 404 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 1: other teams are super physical and teams have times time 405 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 1: to scheme. That's why they went after Carris Lavert. It 406 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:30,920 Speaker 1: gives them another guy who can help make these decisions 407 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 1: at the end of the game. But if you're choosing 408 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 1: in a playoff series, who's gonna execute more than a 409 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 1: half court Lavert and Darius Garland backcourt, or you know, 410 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,640 Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant or Chris Middleton and janasun 411 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 1: Tennecompo or Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry or James Harden 412 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 1: and Joel em Bad. It's just they're an exciting story, 413 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 1: don't get me wrong, but they just don't have the 414 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 1: offensive firepower to hang with the top dogs Number nine, 415 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 1: the Chicago Bulls. This is a team that's had a 416 00:21:56,840 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 1: lot of up and down this season. They are thirteen 417 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 1: and fifteen this year against five plus teams. That's been 418 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 1: one of their biggest issues is their ability to hang 419 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 1: with the top teams in the league. There twenty three 420 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:10,479 Speaker 1: in defense over the last fifteen games, which I think 421 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:14,199 Speaker 1: is really interesting because it's showing you how important Alex 422 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:17,359 Speaker 1: Caruso is and how important a Lonzo ball is as 423 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 1: perimeter defenders. Those are two of the best perimeter defending guards, 424 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 1: point of attack defending guards that we have in the league. 425 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:24,439 Speaker 1: And one of the things I've talked about a lot 426 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 1: on the show is I believe basketball is trending in 427 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 1: the direction of making perimeter defense immensely important. The ability 428 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 1: to keep your man in front is one of the 429 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: most underrated skills in the league. Without a Lonzo and Caruso, 430 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: this team has fallen apart. I have them at number nine, 431 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 1: number eight. The Toronto Raptors their fifth and net rating 432 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:43,680 Speaker 1: in their last fifteen games. Pascale Seacom had a really 433 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,960 Speaker 1: rough night tonight, but coming into tonight in his previous 434 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 1: twelve games, he was good for ten and six on 435 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: sixty three percent true shooting. That is just an outrageous 436 00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:59,359 Speaker 1: stretch of two way play. From Pascal Siakam. He actually 437 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,680 Speaker 1: gives them yet firepower. He's had a really rough last 438 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 1: couple of years in terms of injury and just being 439 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:06,399 Speaker 1: able to get into a rhythm. He was one of 440 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 1: those guys that was clearly in a funk down in Tampa. 441 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 1: But he looks like the best version of himself right now. 442 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:15,400 Speaker 1: That that as a team, they're extremely athletic and very 443 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 1: well coached. They're gonna be really difficult to beat. Again, 444 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 1: You're not gonna pick them over those top guys, but 445 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 1: they have a puncher's chance in any matchup just because 446 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:26,240 Speaker 1: of their firepower and their coaching and athleticism. Number seven 447 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,200 Speaker 1: the Dallas Mavericks. They're fifth in defense and third and 448 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:32,639 Speaker 1: net rating in their last fifteen games. Lucas in shape. 449 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:35,879 Speaker 1: Finally came into the season weighing like two sixty pounds 450 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:37,680 Speaker 1: or something, which has been a huge problem for him 451 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:41,119 Speaker 1: this year. Um, but he's finally getting back into shape 452 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:44,959 Speaker 1: and most most importantly, he is finally embracing the defensive 453 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 1: end of the ball. This is a team that has 454 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 1: taken on a new identity this season. It used to 455 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:51,919 Speaker 1: be very much up and down the floor, lots of shooting, 456 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:55,880 Speaker 1: lots of Luca. We're gonna try to outscore you, and 457 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:59,120 Speaker 1: they's thrive in that switching environment, right, But now they're 458 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:01,919 Speaker 1: showing sign ends up being an elite defensive team. And 459 00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 1: I've always believed in the NBA that the elite defensive 460 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 1: team that has some offensive shortcomings but that has a 461 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:13,160 Speaker 1: really good offensive player is a more dangerous playoff team 462 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:16,119 Speaker 1: than you know, your offensive oriented teams, teams like the 463 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:18,439 Speaker 1: Utah Jazz, teams like the Phoenix Suns back when they 464 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 1: had Steve Nash. You know, that's why Alan Iverson got 465 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 1: to the finals. That's why Lebron got to the finals 466 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 1: a few times. In clear it's easier when you just 467 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:27,879 Speaker 1: have a bunch of guys that defend and then he 468 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:30,920 Speaker 1: can create everything. I like that direction that Dallas is 469 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:32,600 Speaker 1: going in and then little side note, I like that 470 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 1: they ditched out Chris aaps porzingis the perfect first step 471 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:40,040 Speaker 1: in their long journey to find Luca a real co star. 472 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:42,199 Speaker 1: Gent down the line a little bit, but that was 473 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 1: the first step you had to get off of all 474 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 1: that money. Number six. The Miami Heat their fourth and 475 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 1: defense in their last fifteen games. They have great balance 476 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 1: in the last fifteen games, nobody on the team is 477 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 1: averaging more than twenty points, but they have six guys 478 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:54,920 Speaker 1: averaging at least ten they and they have the high 479 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:57,720 Speaker 1: end creation in Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler that we've 480 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:00,280 Speaker 1: seen translate in the playoffs. They are a dark horse 481 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:03,200 Speaker 1: team to knock out the Milwaukee Bucks in my opinion, 482 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 1: because of all their athleticism in the front court, having 483 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler, having p J Tucker, having Bam at a bio, 484 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: having the game planned success that they've had against him 485 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:13,080 Speaker 1: in the past. They're one of those teams that has 486 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:16,919 Speaker 1: a real punchers chance to knock off Milwaukee. Speaking of Milwaukee, 487 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:20,120 Speaker 1: I have them at number five. They are losing way 488 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:22,680 Speaker 1: more games than they should, which continues to be the case. 489 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 1: They have like a nice dominant stretch and then they 490 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 1: go beat the crap out of the Clippers and Lakers, 491 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:30,359 Speaker 1: and then they get absolutely rolled by the Phoenix Suns. 492 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 1: The biggest glaring problem with them this year is their 493 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:36,120 Speaker 1: defense has slipped their twelfth and defense on the season 494 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 1: sixteen in their last fifteen games. And as you guys 495 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 1: always hear from me on the show, you have to 496 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 1: be a top ten defense to win a title unless 497 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:47,440 Speaker 1: you're the two thousand eighteen Warriors. That's pretty much what 498 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 1: NBA history tells us. If you don't have Shaquille freaking 499 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:53,679 Speaker 1: O'Neill or Kevin Durant and and and and Steph Curry, 500 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:56,160 Speaker 1: you can't afford to not be a top ten defense. 501 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:59,199 Speaker 1: And Milwaukee has let way too much slip on that 502 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 1: end of the floor this year. They will get beat 503 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:04,359 Speaker 1: unless they tighten that up here over the course of 504 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:07,080 Speaker 1: the next couple of months. Number four, our high rise 505 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 1: or our new team in the mix, is the Boston Celtics. 506 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:13,119 Speaker 1: They're twelve and three in their last fifteen games. They 507 00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:15,879 Speaker 1: have a nine defensive rating in that stretch, which is 508 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:17,680 Speaker 1: way ahead of everybody else in the field. I think 509 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:20,920 Speaker 1: second places a one oh six in that regard. They 510 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:24,440 Speaker 1: switch everything with a ton of really big athletes, which 511 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 1: is like modern basketball personified. I saw a stat earlier 512 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 1: today when Robert Williams is on the floor with Jayson 513 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 1: Tatum and Jylen Brown. In over seven hundred minutes this year, 514 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:36,680 Speaker 1: they are outscoring opponents by more than eighteen points per 515 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:40,879 Speaker 1: one possessions. That is a bona fide championship contender. Stat. 516 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 1: That's not the last fifteen games stat, mind you, that's 517 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:46,480 Speaker 1: an entire season stat. So even in the muck of 518 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 1: all their mediocrity to start the season, they have like 519 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 1: a really good, you know, foundation to fall back on, 520 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:54,680 Speaker 1: which is when we have Robert Williams holding things down 521 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 1: underneath underneath the basket and we have Tatum and Brown 522 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:00,680 Speaker 1: on the floor, we're good there, We're really really good. 523 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:02,800 Speaker 1: And that's that's something real that you can build on. 524 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:05,680 Speaker 1: I like the Derek White edition. He gives them a 525 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:08,120 Speaker 1: little bit more playmaking. He's a great assist to turnover guy. 526 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:11,280 Speaker 1: Tatum and Brown. They've always struggled with generating quality shots 527 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: for their teammates. Derek White gives them a little bit 528 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:15,040 Speaker 1: of that. They have a lot to go up. Still, 529 00:27:15,359 --> 00:27:17,960 Speaker 1: they can get a lot better. Over their last fifteen games, 530 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 1: both Tatum and Brown are shooting below from three, so 531 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 1: if they start making shots, this could even go to 532 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:26,680 Speaker 1: another level. Number two the Memphis Grizzlies. They are top 533 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:29,239 Speaker 1: seven in both offense and defense for the season. They 534 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:32,200 Speaker 1: are consistent. They are fourth and net rating. Over their 535 00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 1: last fifteen games, they are eleven in four in that stretch. 536 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 1: They are loaded in athleticism, They have a ton of 537 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:43,320 Speaker 1: shooting guys that can space the floor, and they have 538 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:47,000 Speaker 1: legit inside presences with Jaren Jackson Jr. And Steven Adams. 539 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:49,359 Speaker 1: But most importantly, the think that makes me so excited 540 00:27:49,359 --> 00:27:51,440 Speaker 1: about them, the reason why they project well in the 541 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 1: postseason setting, and the reason why I have them at 542 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:58,720 Speaker 1: number two, is John Morand he is a legitimately unguardable 543 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:02,120 Speaker 1: offensive weapon. I said on the show a while back, 544 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 1: and I truly believe it. He has the potential to 545 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 1: go on a two thousand six Dwayne Wade type of 546 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 1: playoff run, because not only are teams completely ill equipped 547 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:12,200 Speaker 1: to stay in front of him or bother him around 548 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 1: the basket, but refs have no idea what to do 549 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 1: with this guy. They have no idea what to call 550 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:20,160 Speaker 1: as he comes flying into the lane just like oh 551 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:22,680 Speaker 1: six Wade and falls on the ground half the time. 552 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:25,520 Speaker 1: And that's just a wrinkle that could swing a playoff series. 553 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:28,199 Speaker 1: So they they are not a pretender. They are not 554 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:30,640 Speaker 1: an exciting up and coming story. They are not a 555 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 1: young team with a ton of potential. They are a 556 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:36,639 Speaker 1: bona fide championship contender, and I have them at number two. 557 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:39,600 Speaker 1: Number one are runaway number one all season, the Phoenix Suns. 558 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 1: They're fourteen and one in their last fifteen games. They 559 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:45,479 Speaker 1: are five games up in the lost column on the 560 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:49,360 Speaker 1: second overall seed. Right now, they're utterly dominating everybody. They 561 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 1: have absolutely no weaknesses. They have a great playmaker, they 562 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:54,840 Speaker 1: have a great isolation score. They have great size on 563 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:56,760 Speaker 1: the wing. Their size on the wing can all shoot. 564 00:28:57,080 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 1: They have big, strong bodies to throw at wings. They 565 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:01,800 Speaker 1: have tall, skinny athletic bodies to throw out wings. They 566 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:04,440 Speaker 1: have an interior presence in DeAndre and and they finally 567 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:06,719 Speaker 1: got him a good backup in JaVale McGee. They are 568 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:11,040 Speaker 1: good across the board except for the fact that they 569 00:29:11,040 --> 00:29:13,880 Speaker 1: don't have that elite, high end star power. That will 570 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 1: be the ultimate question surrounding the Phoenix Suns this year. 571 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 1: If you built a perfect basketball team that didn't have 572 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:21,960 Speaker 1: a super duperstar, can you win a title in the 573 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 1: modern NBA? We're going to find out. Phoenix has been 574 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 1: incredibly dominant. They're a legit contender that I believe in them. 575 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 1: I just believe in those super duper stars more, which 576 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:34,440 Speaker 1: is why I'm not sure that they can get the trophy. 577 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 1: But right now they're the undisputed number one in the list. Alright. 578 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:42,360 Speaker 1: That is it for the first rendition of Tim's top ten. 579 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 1: That's all I have for tonight. Thank you guys so 580 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 1: much for coming to hang out. We will have shows 581 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 1: tomorrow and Wednesday. We will do it on Wednesday. We 582 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:52,560 Speaker 1: will be doing a normal postgame show after Lakers Jazz. 583 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 1: As always, I appreciate your guys support and I will 584 00:29:55,120 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 1: see you tomorrow night. The Volume