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Moving to the top of 29 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 2: the Eastern Conference in light of the Yannis injury and 30 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 2: apparently based on the MRI, it's been a solius injury, 31 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 2: which is apparently a muscle in your cap that has 32 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 2: nothing to do with the Achilles tendon. 33 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 3: But even with. 34 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 2: The rest that he's taking here at the end of 35 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 2: the season, his best case scenario is that he gets 36 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 2: another like eight days off before the series actually starts, 37 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 2: And especially when it comes to a calf injury, you 38 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 2: don't want to mess with the potential future implications involving 39 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,399 Speaker 2: the Achilles. So I would imagine they're going to take 40 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 2: it somewhat cautiously with Yiannis if they do, because that's 41 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 2: the other thing too, is this season has been kind 42 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 2: of a lost cause anyway, and you have an opportunity, 43 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 2: potentially through the mid level exception and the trademarket next 44 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 2: year to try to make some sort of improvement to 45 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 2: the roster and rebuild around Dame and Yannis, right, and 46 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 2: if Yannis permanently hurts himself, or not permanently but substantially 47 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 2: hurts himself, that could throw a huge wrench into those plans. 48 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 2: This is not a one year window. There is another 49 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 2: year here where they could try to make this work. 50 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 2: And so I think Yannis is there's a chance he 51 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 2: misses the first round. If he does, I don't want 52 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 2: to write off the Bucks. They're still a talented team 53 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 2: with Dame and Brook Lopez anchoring things, and they have 54 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 2: that capability. But they're gonna run into a good team 55 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:03,919 Speaker 2: in the first round. It's gonna be someone like Indiana 56 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 2: or Miami or or Philadelphia or somebody like that. And 57 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:09,960 Speaker 2: like all three of those teams, I think without Giannis, 58 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:12,079 Speaker 2: I think you have to pick them to beat Milwaukee. 59 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 2: So with that being the case, and with the news 60 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 2: that Julius Randall is not going to play for the 61 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 2: New York Knicks, in this playoff run. Although the Knicks 62 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 2: did do look really impressive without Julius Randall, still I'm 63 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 2: worried about their firepower up top. So I'm gonna pitch 64 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 2: this to you first, Logan, is there any team in 65 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 2: the East that is an actual substantial threat to Boston? 66 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 2: And if the answer is yes, or I should say, 67 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: even if it's. 68 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 3: No, and you had to pick one, who would you pick? 69 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: I would put all of my chips in Boston coming 70 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: out of the East. But I do think there are 71 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 1: still two threats. Also, fun fact, I think the soleliest 72 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: is like the most strong muscle in your body, pound abound, 73 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: like in terms of like house all it is in 74 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 1: terms of the force you can generate from it, Like 75 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 1: I think it's like the It's like the best pal. 76 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: I hope your honest is healthy. I do think it 77 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: is really detrimental to Milwaukee's like championship hopes. Now, we 78 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 1: have seen, as you mentioned, Jason Damian Lillard in games 79 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:24,600 Speaker 1: without Giannis, we have seen him, you know, go insane. 80 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: You know, just I think he has to go super nova. 81 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 4: Though you guys can. 82 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: Go ahead and call me crazy, you can, you know, 83 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 1: call me nuts for this one I still believe in 84 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: Miami a little bit with their voodoo magic. Where I 85 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 1: think that again, I think crazy things have to happen. 86 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: I think a lot of things have to break their 87 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:43,280 Speaker 1: right way. There's a little bit of a luck factor. 88 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 1: The team that I don't think has to have things 89 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 1: break their way as much out east is the Knicks. 90 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:52,039 Speaker 1: I have been so absurdly high on the Knicks, and 91 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: if we had done our contender list, uh like later 92 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,720 Speaker 1: this week or closer to the playoffs, I think the 93 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 1: Knicks might have still cracked my top ten even without 94 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: Julius Randall. And it's because of Jalen Brunson. Now, I 95 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 1: want to be clear about something. I think the next 96 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: are better with Julius Randall. They're especially better with good 97 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: Julius Randall. The size and physicality that you can have 98 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: with that lineup, you know, with a Hartenstein or a 99 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 1: Robinson a Randall, and it's it's stupid, you know. And 100 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:19,359 Speaker 1: then the shooting that you have with these guys, with 101 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 1: Evincenzo shooting the hell out of the pill this year 102 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 1: in what Brunson brings, but it still is the Knicks 103 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 1: for me. If I really had to get pushed to 104 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 1: pick a team if I want to be clear, if 105 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 1: Milwaukee isn't healthy with Giannis, I would take New York 106 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 1: Brunson over this. I think last fifteen game stretch is 107 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: thirty five, three and seven on like sixty and a 108 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 1: half percent true shooting. He's leading the league in points 109 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 1: per game, and like just those physical advantages. If Jalen 110 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: Brunson turns into Superman for a playoff run, which I 111 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,840 Speaker 1: know he is fully and totally capable of, like I 112 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 1: fully trust Brunson is my number one in the playoffs. 113 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: The way he's able to create shots for his teammates, 114 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: the way this team just plays so cohesively. Man, I 115 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: just love watching the Knicks play. If it's Brunson with 116 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 1: a dho to Ananobi and Nnob explodes into the paint. 117 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 1: If it's Brunson getting into the teeth of the defense 118 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: posting up, you know, he gets three defenders looking at 119 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 1: him and he dumps off a you know, a cut 120 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: to Devincenzo. Brunson is an awesome offensive engine, and so 121 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 1: that's where my faith with New York starts. But it's 122 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:26,239 Speaker 1: everything around them. This team is gonna bring the physicality 123 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 1: in pain defensively, they are gonna play hard all game long. 124 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 1: They're gonna crash the glass. 125 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 4: You know. 126 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: The Knicks are just gonna play really hard on defense, 127 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 1: and then Brunson is gonna generate great shot quality on offense. 128 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:43,919 Speaker 1: So there's a little bit where I like Miami. But 129 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 1: if I really had to pick a team and it's 130 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 1: not Milwaukee, with a healthy honest, I still believe in 131 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: the Knicks a little bit man like. And that's the thing, right, 132 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 1: I say the Knicks are better with Julius Randall, but 133 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: it's almost kind of a benefit a little bit, right, guys, 134 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: where it's like, oh, we don't have to worry about 135 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 1: Julius Randall like putting up to pull up mid range 136 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 1: jumpers and clanging them all that. You know, it's a 137 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:06,280 Speaker 1: double edged sword where it's like I do think the 138 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:09,119 Speaker 1: Knicks are better with great Julius Randall, but they're way 139 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 1: worse with really bad Julius Randall. So with the og 140 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: Nnobi trade with them getting boy on Bogdanovitch, right, I 141 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: know he hasn't played great with the Knicks. He's still 142 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 1: a great scorer where he could help swing a series 143 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 1: with his perimeter shooting. The Knicks are a sneaky With 144 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: Brunson playing at this level, I think the Knicks are 145 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 1: a sneaky threat out East. With a hamperd Milwaukee team. 146 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 4: The Knicks would be my second choice to this question. 147 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 4: The thing to me, Logan, when you're talking about Randall 148 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 4: being a double edged sword, is not that it's untrue. 149 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 4: I'm not a Julius Randall guy. I think there are 150 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 4: clear things about his skill set, being so reliant on 151 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 4: the pull up shooting where he just has these stretches 152 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 4: where he goes ice cold. He's super erratic, questionable playmaking, 153 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 4: just sort of black hole tendencies Like I don't like 154 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 4: Julius Randall, but when you are talking about beating the Celtics, 155 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 4: it is a pushing your ceiling to the absolute peak 156 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 4: that it can be. And there's no question to me 157 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 4: that if the Knicks want to push their ceiling, they 158 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 4: would need Julius Randall, just because you have to have 159 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 4: a second legit shot creator, mismatch attacker. If his pull 160 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 4: up jumpers are falling. Julius Randold could give you an 161 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 4: efficient twenty seven to ten and six in a series, 162 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 4: And I just think you need that because I do 163 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 4: love how the Knicks match up physically here even without Randall. 164 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 4: Like with Randall, then that would be a problem. But 165 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 4: still they're big in the front court. They just have 166 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 4: absolute dogs with Og on the floor. They have a 167 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 4: defensive rating of one hundred in the year twenty twenty four. 168 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 4: It is absurd, and they're eighteen and three when he plays. 169 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 4: I love the supporting cast, I love the death the 170 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 4: spot up shooting is so much better than last year. 171 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 4: And if Jalen Brunson plays like he has been over 172 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 4: these last fifteen games, then they probably would be the choice. 173 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 4: But I just think that sort of singular load on 174 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 4: him against a defense of Boston's caliber isn't sustainable. And 175 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 4: that's not a bruns And thing. Like I love Brunson, 176 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 4: I think because of his variety as a shot maker, 177 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 4: because of how he dominates the paint in the mid range, 178 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:18,840 Speaker 4: because of his physicality, like he scales very well. But 179 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 4: you're telling me this guy alone has to deal with 180 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 4: a full series of Derek White and Drew Holliday and 181 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 4: Jalen Brown and whatever elite physical, strong perimeter defender they 182 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 4: want to throw at him, and he has no other 183 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 4: on ball threats. Really, I just think that that's too much, 184 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 4: that's too much to put on him. So that's why 185 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 4: they are my second choice, because I do still like 186 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 4: a lot of the elements of the formula. Philly to 187 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 4: me is the team though that has the ceiling, because 188 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 4: I feel like, if you are going to beat Boston, 189 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 4: a pretty good box to check. Maybe the key box 190 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 4: is just having an unstoppable force on the floor, like 191 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 4: having the guy who is just by head and shoulders 192 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:01,319 Speaker 4: the best player out there. It's the rationale for picking 193 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 4: Yo Kitchen the Nuggets. Denver's a really really good basketball team, 194 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 4: better than Philly overall, but they also just have like 195 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 4: by far, the best player on the floor, and that's 196 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 4: why I believe in them. If you think about the 197 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 4: twenty two finals, this is a much better Boston team. 198 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 4: But Steph was just this singular force, and of all 199 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 4: the people in the East who have that sort of ceiling, 200 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 4: if we're taking honest out of it, like Embiid is 201 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 4: clearly the guy to me, I don't care about his 202 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 4: playoff resume. I do care about his playoff resume. But 203 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 4: if you're just talking about who has the most ability, 204 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 4: who has like the combination of overwhelming physical traits and 205 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:39,720 Speaker 4: skilled shot making and can dominate defensively to just completely 206 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 4: lap everybody else out there on the floor. Embiid has 207 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 4: that ceiling, and then with Melton back, I think they 208 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 4: have a pretty nice collection of perimeter defenders. Their spot 209 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,719 Speaker 4: up shooting is okay if Maxie explodes like he has 210 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 4: been volatile this year. There's been some up and down stretches, 211 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:58,559 Speaker 4: but if he's knocking down his pull up jumpers consistently, 212 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 4: it's a tough matchup having to deal with this collection 213 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 4: of Boston perimeter defenders, and especially they're so big and physical. 214 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 4: But like if Maxi has just dialed in, there's a 215 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 4: ceiling there because of the star power that I don't 216 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 4: see anybody else out east reaching. And there's a reason 217 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:16,839 Speaker 4: that Philly is thirty and eight win Joe l Embiid plays, 218 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 4: and it's because mostly he's been that overwhelmingly great and 219 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 4: they've put a nice complimentary supporting cast, and I know 220 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 4: that he's struggled historically against Boston and Horford has been 221 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:30,640 Speaker 4: like the Embiid stopper. But if his jumper's falling, that 222 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 4: to me was the biggest issue in last year's playoff 223 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 4: series between the two of them, he just couldn't make 224 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 4: a jumper. I think if that skilled shotmaking holds up, 225 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 4: then this ceiling is the roof for him, and that 226 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 4: just gives Philly more upside than anybody else to me. 227 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 3: So I. 228 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 2: Look at there being three potential threats here, and for 229 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 2: the record, for our sponsor, DraftKings, the Celtics are currently 230 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 2: minus one seventy to win the Eastern Conference. So yeah, 231 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 2: Draft Kings views Boston basically is unthreatened in the Eastern Conference. 232 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 2: I more or less feel the same way if I 233 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 2: had to pick one, though, and when I look at 234 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 2: those three options, and the three options to me are 235 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 2: the Knicks, the Bucks, and the Sixers. All three of 236 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 2: them when they're healthy, I think present a moderate threat 237 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 2: to Boston. When I say moderate meaning like capable of winning, 238 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 2: even though you're obviously picking Boston. For Milwaukee, the case is, 239 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 2: they're literally the best lineup in the league when they're 240 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 2: healthy minimum four hundred minutes. They're outscoring teams by fifteen 241 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 2: points per one hundred possessions, which is literally the best 242 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 2: net rating in the league for a lineup that's played 243 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 2: that much. For the Knicks, the case is like when 244 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 2: Julius Randall's healthy, you have a secondary shot crador I 245 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 2: love it. You have to differentiate between good and bad 246 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 2: Julius because like when Julius has a long runway and 247 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 2: is in rhythm, he's actually a pretty solid player, brings 248 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 2: some physical stuff to the game. When he's out of rhythm, 249 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 2: he's kind of bad. So like that's kind of like 250 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 2: more or less a different between the two, but without. 251 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:05,680 Speaker 2: The thing with the Knicks is like all year long, 252 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,679 Speaker 2: they've been one of the most likable and high character 253 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 2: teams in the league. They play so hard, they play 254 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,679 Speaker 2: so physical, they do all of these things well. Jalen 255 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 2: Brunson is legitimately a superstar or a fringe superstar. 256 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 3: In my opinion. 257 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 2: He's clearly one of the top fifteen players in the 258 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 2: league in my opinion after this season has had a 259 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,839 Speaker 2: much better season than Damian Lillard, for instance, He's kind 260 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,440 Speaker 2: of like taking that spot away from him in terms 261 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 2: of in terms of the regular season. But there's a 262 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 2: certain talent limitation, and you see that when they play 263 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 2: their tougher opponents. They're just seven and seventeen this year 264 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:40,560 Speaker 2: against the teams that are in the top ten in 265 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 2: point differential for cleaning the glass. They are the fourth 266 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 2: worst defense in those matchups, giving up one hundred and 267 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 2: twenty three point four points per one hundred possessions. A 268 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,680 Speaker 2: lot of small guards on the floor that the really 269 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 2: good offenses find a way to attack. So the way 270 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 2: that I look at it, like New York to me 271 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:05,439 Speaker 2: is like, if they nail their summer, they're going to 272 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 2: be a bona fide championship contender next year. I really 273 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 2: do feel that way. The thing with Philly, because I 274 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 2: agree with you, Carson, like, what if embiid just goes 275 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:16,679 Speaker 2: on a wrecking ball run? Has always been the case 276 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 2: for the upside on when it comes to Philly. However, 277 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 2: if I had to pick a season for him bid 278 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 2: to break through in that way, it wouldn't be a 279 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 2: situation like this where he's coming back from a meniscus 280 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 2: in April to try to get a ramp up and go, Like, 281 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 2: I just don't think he has the runway to suddenly 282 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 2: figure out his playoff issues that he's had in the past. 283 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 2: They they're undefeated since he returned to the lineup against 284 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 2: Oklahoma City Thunder. But outside of the Thunder game and 285 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 2: the Thunder did sit a bunch of guys in that game. 286 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 2: They really haven't played anybody, So, I mean, em beads 287 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 2: look fine, but he like, it's hard to really interpret 288 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 2: anything from that. So if I had to pick an 289 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 2: example of a thread, if I had to, the case 290 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 2: would be Milwaukee gets some sort of favorable first round matchup. 291 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 2: Like let's say Miami gets through, and Miami obviously is 292 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 2: kind of an exposer of fraudulent teams, and I'd probably 293 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 2: still pick Miami to win that series. But let's say 294 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 2: that you just ride the home crowd, because Milwaukee's been 295 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 2: like one of those teams that can be kind of 296 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 2: a buzzsaw at home. They go up two Oho, they 297 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 2: go down to Miami, they steal one, Dame goes for 298 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 2: forty five in Game five, and they win. Okay, at 299 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 2: that point, let's say Yanis returns in May, and you 300 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 2: more or less have the team that we've seen their 301 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 2: top five be so dominant. I just think of all 302 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 2: of the potential outcomes, that is the most realistic is 303 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 2: that somehow Milwaukee survives the first round. Then they get 304 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 2: Yannis back, and Yannis is not embeied. He does not 305 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 2: need a runway. That dude, walks on the court and 306 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 2: is thirty two and fifteen. So like that kind of 307 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 2: is more or less how I see the case for 308 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 2: a team, But I don't I don't necessarily see a 309 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 2: threat to Boston a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference. 310 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 2: All right, let's move out to the bottom of the West, 311 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 2: so the playan can go in a million different directions 312 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:16,440 Speaker 2: based on tonight. Tonight has some crazy showdowns. So we 313 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 2: have the Suns at the Kings, the Pelicans at the Warriors, 314 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 2: and the Lakers at the Grizzlies. And the Lakers will 315 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 2: be happy favorites against the Grizzlies, but the Grizzlies had 316 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 2: a three game winning streak this month, including they went 317 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 2: into Milwaukee and beat the Bucks with Giannis although without Dame. 318 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 2: So like the Grizzlies are feisty, they're not necessarily a 319 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 2: complete right off in that game. But to explain the 320 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 2: kind of a play in situation for everybody who doesn't 321 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 2: understand it, the Lakers, the Kings, and the Warriors are 322 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 2: all tied right now, but the Lakers, no matter what, 323 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 2: are losing the tiebreaker in those situations. The only team 324 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 2: they have a tie breaker over is the Phoenix Suns. Also, 325 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 2: all three of those teams are out of striking distance 326 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 2: of the New Orleans Pelicans, so they cannot get up 327 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:55,600 Speaker 2: to the sixth seed. The best they can all hope 328 00:16:55,680 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 2: for is seven. Now, if the Suns beat the Kings tonight, 329 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 2: and the Pelicans beat the Warriors tonight, and the Lakers 330 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:05,400 Speaker 2: beat the Grizzlies tonight, so all three road teams win, 331 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 2: the Lakers will move into that eighth spot, and then 332 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 2: we'll end up with the Kings Warriors at the bottom. 333 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 2: When we get to Sunday's games, they're all more straightforward. 334 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,879 Speaker 2: There's a Lakers at Pelicans. That's a tough game, but 335 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 2: Suns at Minnesota. That's a tough one for the Suns 336 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:21,639 Speaker 2: because the Wolves are probably going to be fending off 337 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 2: Oklahoma City at that point and need to win that game, 338 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 2: and Minnesota at home in a must win game, you're 339 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:29,919 Speaker 2: probably going to pick them there. But the Warriors have 340 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:32,119 Speaker 2: an easy game at home against the Jazz, and the 341 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:34,400 Speaker 2: Kings have an easy game at home against the Blazers. 342 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:38,119 Speaker 2: So if the Kings and Warriors win tonight against the 343 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 2: Suns and the Pelicans, then the Lakers will probably end 344 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 2: up at ten. So like it could go in all 345 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 2: of these different directions. So I don't even want to 346 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 2: try to like sort out who's gonna end up where, 347 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:52,719 Speaker 2: because that's just to me a complete and total crapshoot. 348 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:55,159 Speaker 3: So I look at it like this. 349 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 2: I think all of these teams, except for the Pelicans 350 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 2: and the Kings, meaning the Suns, Willers, and the Warriors, 351 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:03,960 Speaker 2: are teams that have a legitimate threat to go make 352 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 2: some noise in the postseason. So the way you look 353 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:09,399 Speaker 2: at it is, if you're for real, you got to 354 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:12,439 Speaker 2: be able to go win this one game sample to 355 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 2: be able to get into the postseason, no different than 356 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 2: winning a game six when you're down three games to 357 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 2: two and you got to go on the road, or 358 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 2: winning a game seven if it's a series that's tied. 359 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:26,120 Speaker 2: Right like, it's playoff basketball at this point. So from 360 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:28,880 Speaker 2: that standpoint, let's just look at the strengths of the teams. 361 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:31,919 Speaker 2: Who do we think are going to be the seven 362 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 2: and the eight seeds when the dust settles from all 363 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 2: of this, And I'm not talking about which one goes where. 364 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 2: I'm just saying who's gonna be in those spots, Who's 365 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 2: gonna be six, who's gonna be seven. Who's gonna be eight? Carson, 366 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:46,520 Speaker 2: you go first. 367 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 4: So I'm going to predict that the Pels stay at six, 368 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 4: even though they do have like two competitive games remaining. 369 00:18:56,760 --> 00:18:59,919 Speaker 4: I think the Suns are at seven because they do 370 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 4: you have this advantage in terms of record, and you said, 371 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:05,640 Speaker 4: we don't want to get too into the particulars of 372 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 4: the matchups. But if they had anybody other than the 373 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 4: Lakers in that seven eight, like I would pick them then. 374 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 4: I just think the ceiling they do have because of 375 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 4: their shot creation, their offensive skill, the level they can 376 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 4: defend at when they're engaged is not the highest, but 377 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 4: I like that formula. The Kings, to me, are just 378 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 4: like a clear weakest out of this group, especially post Herder, 379 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:28,680 Speaker 4: but especially Malik Monk injuries, Like since he went down, 380 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 4: they're three to five, they've looked very uninspiring. I just 381 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 4: think like the dribble penetration, the shot making, the playmaking 382 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 4: he brings is super important. So I kind of rule 383 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 4: them out. And then for the eight seed Lakers Warriors, 384 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 4: I do still believe in the Lakers more. The Warriors 385 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 4: are playing really good basketball. They are playing their best 386 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 4: basketball of the year. They are defending at a high level. 387 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 4: It feels like all of the key players outside of 388 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:57,119 Speaker 4: maybe Steph who hasn't been his best, but are just 389 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 4: kind of in rhythm right now. You've gotten more aggressive, 390 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 4: consistent Wiggins, But the Lakers are a brutal matchup for 391 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:09,159 Speaker 4: the Warriors because of their overwhelming size advantage. And I 392 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:12,080 Speaker 4: think that, of course, it was a different iteration last 393 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 4: year because they also had much better answers in terms 394 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,479 Speaker 4: of point of attack defense for Steph Curry, and they 395 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 4: were able to just kind of hassle him throughout that series, 396 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,679 Speaker 4: even though he still dictated things. They don't have that 397 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,239 Speaker 4: sort of point of attack defender healthy and available right 398 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 4: now at the very least. But I just think eighty 399 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 4: is a problem for the Warriors. They have not had 400 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 4: an answer for him whatsoever on the interior, on the glass, 401 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,679 Speaker 4: and defensively, like in a single game or in a 402 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 4: playoff environment. He's the guy who I want most on 403 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 4: the planet, Sam goes for like single game Lebron, who 404 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:48,440 Speaker 4: offensively since the All Star Break has been so absurdly 405 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 4: good over twenty seven and nine on sixty seven percent 406 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:55,119 Speaker 4: through shooting, And I just think like when it comes 407 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:57,680 Speaker 4: down to it, he's gonna hunt the mismatches he wants. 408 00:20:57,720 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 4: He's going to get what he wants at will when 409 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 4: he is shooting like this. What a lethal offensive player. 410 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 4: So to me, the Lakers just have more firepower. They 411 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 4: have two superstars. The Warriors have one, and they have 412 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 4: one who I still absolutely believe in but has been 413 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 4: more erratic as of late than really any stretch in 414 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 4: recent memory. But it's ultimately about the offensive burden that 415 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:22,800 Speaker 4: Steph bears in the lack of shot creation around him, 416 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 4: where even if you didn't have crazy Lebron, like, would 417 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:27,359 Speaker 4: you be shocked if Delo and Austin Reeves combined for 418 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:30,160 Speaker 4: forty five? Of course, not like they're totally capable of 419 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 4: doing that. And then I still like the Lakers the 420 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 4: most in terms of playoff prospects out of all of 421 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:39,520 Speaker 4: these playing teams. I just think their path they're probably 422 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:41,440 Speaker 4: gonna have to come from that nine to ten game. 423 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:44,640 Speaker 4: Maybe that they don't, but it just feels like these 424 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 4: teams are gonna be playing so hard. I think the 425 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,879 Speaker 4: Kings maybe end up in the ten, but I like 426 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:52,560 Speaker 4: the Lakers more than the Warriors, and so I would 427 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 4: go Suns and Lakers in the seven and eight. 428 00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:59,959 Speaker 1: I'd also go Suns and Lakers. I think LA if 429 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:01,640 Speaker 1: they have to travel again. I don't want to get 430 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:04,359 Speaker 1: too much into theoreticals. If they have to go to 431 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 1: Golden State, I think that's a tough draw first round. 432 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 1: But as I know you've mentioned, Jason, I think it 433 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 1: was a social clip a couple of weeks ago. You know, 434 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:13,680 Speaker 1: the Lakers have been a great team with their backs 435 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:17,159 Speaker 1: against the wall against great competition. They're always gonna be 436 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:19,240 Speaker 1: super physical, They're always gonna be great on the glass. 437 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:22,639 Speaker 1: And then like what Carson said, God, hey, Dan lebron Man, 438 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:25,199 Speaker 1: I can bank on those guys handling business. And it 439 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 1: really is sad that the Lakers have dug themselves this 440 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 1: hole and they've made this bed for themselves. I don't know, 441 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 1: it's funny you were talking, Jason, I think last show 442 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 1: or about the stretch after the Ncason Tournament, and it 443 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: was like after they won the NCAS and tournament and 444 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: was like, all right, guys, put off the gas man, 445 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: we already did it. You know we're gonna be great 446 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 1: come playoff time. They just they took that stretch for granted, 447 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:52,639 Speaker 1: I still do believe in the Lakers, and then yeah, 448 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:57,360 Speaker 1: in one game scenarios. I think Golden State the role 449 00:22:57,400 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 1: players have been playing better. I think Steph has to 450 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 1: go Crez and I'm not saying that's not possible, but 451 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:06,399 Speaker 1: they're a slight team, been inconsistent. I don't believe in Sacramento. 452 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: I'm a Kings fan, but without herd Or and Monk, 453 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,640 Speaker 1: it's tough. The Kings seem to have the Lakers' number, though, 454 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: so I think, I don't know. I think King's Lakers 455 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:16,600 Speaker 1: is gonna be a really interesting matchup, just the Bonus 456 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 1: is so strong, like he's just physical. He matches up 457 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 1: with eighty really well. But I'm gonna err on the 458 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:26,399 Speaker 1: side of the teams with two superstars. The Sons have 459 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 1: Katie and d Book and I think they are gonna 460 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:30,800 Speaker 1: go crazy, and then the Lakers have Lebron and Ad. 461 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: It's ironic that you know, at the end of the day, 462 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:35,680 Speaker 1: that's what it's gonna come down to, is I'm just 463 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:38,720 Speaker 1: gonna trust the teams with the most superstar talent to 464 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 1: propel themselves. So yeah, I would take Phoenix probably in 465 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:44,119 Speaker 1: the seventh spot, and then la Is. 466 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I got this on social but I didn't have 467 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 2: a chance to say it on the show. These were 468 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:50,640 Speaker 2: the crazy Lakers stats that I found the other day 469 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 2: during the three to ten stretch after the n season tournament, 470 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:56,679 Speaker 2: when Darvin ham was playing Cam Reddish Andorian Prints fifty 471 00:23:56,760 --> 00:24:01,640 Speaker 2: nine point two minutes per James. During the same span, 472 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 2: Ruyatamura Jared Vanderbilt were barely playing forty minutes a game. 473 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 2: D Lo was playing the same amount of minutes as 474 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 2: Cam Reddish. This is the real the Haymaker though. In 475 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:17,359 Speaker 2: over twenty six hundred possessions with Cam Reddish Andorian Prints 476 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:20,359 Speaker 2: off the floor this season, the Lakers have a plus 477 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:25,120 Speaker 2: nine point three net rating cleaning the glass, which her perspective, 478 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:27,400 Speaker 2: and again this is never apples to apples because the 479 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,080 Speaker 2: Timberwolves have played some bad lineups this year too, But 480 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 2: the Timberwolves have the second best net rating in the 481 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:34,639 Speaker 2: league basically at plus seven. So to give you an idea, 482 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,400 Speaker 2: the Lakers, if you just removed the Cam Reddish Tatorian 483 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 2: Prince minutes, have performed like a bona fide championship contender 484 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 2: in a massive, massive sample size. That's how much of 485 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:48,200 Speaker 2: a catastrophe that specific issue has been, which is why 486 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 2: I have still to this day I had another tweet yesterday, 487 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 2: like why is he talking about a ten seed in 488 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 2: the Western Conference? And it's like people just they struggle 489 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:59,160 Speaker 2: to sift through that, especially the Western Conference. To me, again, 490 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:02,639 Speaker 2: even the Warriors to me, belong in the same conversations 491 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:05,720 Speaker 2: as these other teams in the West. They probably deserve 492 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:07,480 Speaker 2: to be at the bottom of that list. But they're 493 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 2: the thing with the Warriors that they haven't been very 494 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 2: good against the good teams in the league this year. 495 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:13,480 Speaker 2: That's their main kind of gripe that you have to 496 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,560 Speaker 2: point to. The Lakers have seventeen wins against teams in 497 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:18,879 Speaker 2: the top ten in point differential, which is the best 498 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 2: tide for the with Oklahoma City for the most in 499 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:24,680 Speaker 2: the league, and they are fifth in point differential against 500 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 2: the teams that are in the top ten in point differential. 501 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 2: So the Lakers have been consistently good against the good 502 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 2: teams in the league this year. Here's kind of how 503 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 2: I look at this situation if I had to predict what's. 504 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:40,400 Speaker 3: Going to happen. The Warriors are are really good. 505 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:43,640 Speaker 2: Especially playing against limited teams or teams that I don't 506 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:45,960 Speaker 2: think are particularly good. For instance, the Pelicans. They're starting 507 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 2: five with CJ. McCollum and Herb Jones and Brandon Ingram 508 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:53,400 Speaker 2: and Design Williams Williamson and Jonas Malacunas that starting five 509 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 2: has a negative net rating this years. Somehow, they're just 510 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 2: to me. The Pelicans have always then the most fraudulent 511 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:04,000 Speaker 2: of those teams that are consistently in the mix there 512 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:06,919 Speaker 2: in the Western Conference. So I think that the Warriors 513 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 2: will beat the Pelicans tonight at home, and again, Pelicans 514 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:10,679 Speaker 2: can win that game. I'm not trying to write them off. 515 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:12,680 Speaker 2: They put length on Steph. Steph as a rough night. 516 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:15,359 Speaker 2: Other guys don't make shots. They could very easily lose 517 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 2: that game. But I'm gonna pick the Warriors tonight. I 518 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 2: do think the Suns will go into Sacramento and beat 519 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 2: the Kings, so that would put the Lakers up into 520 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:28,439 Speaker 2: the ninth spot, the Warriors into the eighth spot, and 521 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:32,440 Speaker 2: the Kings down at the ten spot. From there, if 522 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:36,359 Speaker 2: the Lakers beat the Pelicans and the Suns beat Minnesota, 523 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:39,480 Speaker 2: that would be the ideal outcome for the Lakers because 524 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:42,440 Speaker 2: that would kick the Suns up into the sixth seed 525 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:47,680 Speaker 2: and the Pelicans at the seven. The the Lakers would 526 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 2: still be at nine, but then the Lakers would have 527 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:52,680 Speaker 2: a home game against the Kings, and then they would 528 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:55,240 Speaker 2: get to play the loser of Golden State versus the Pelicans, 529 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:57,439 Speaker 2: which I think is are better matchups for them. The 530 00:26:57,480 --> 00:26:59,600 Speaker 2: Lakers did get their butt kicked by the Suns the 531 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 2: last time they played them, so that could be a 532 00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:03,359 Speaker 2: little bit of a concern. The Kings have been a 533 00:27:03,359 --> 00:27:07,320 Speaker 2: bad matchup for the Lakers, but without Malik Monk in 534 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:10,160 Speaker 2: the equation, they can key in on Deer and Fox Moore, 535 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 2: and I just think it gives them a substantially better 536 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:15,919 Speaker 2: chance of winning that game, So that I think is 537 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:17,440 Speaker 2: the most likely outcome. 538 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:17,880 Speaker 3: I think. 539 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:20,200 Speaker 2: I don't think the Suns will necessarily beat Minnesota. That's 540 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 2: a tough one. And the problem is is like if 541 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:28,040 Speaker 2: Oklahoma City beats Milwaukee tonight and Minnesota beats Atlanta tonight 542 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:33,120 Speaker 2: and Denver beat San Antonio tonight, then Minnesota and Oklahoma 543 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:37,000 Speaker 2: City both need to win on Sunday to maintain their standing. 544 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:39,879 Speaker 2: Or if Oklahoma City, like that is still in flux 545 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:41,960 Speaker 2: for the two three, and that obviously is home court 546 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:44,959 Speaker 2: advantage for the conference semi so that's a substantial reward 547 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 2: that you're fighting for there, and Both of those teams 548 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 2: are gonna want home court advantage because they're young, they're athletic, 549 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 2: they feed on their defense, so on and so forth. 550 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 2: So looking at it from that perspective, I think the 551 00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:58,879 Speaker 2: Wolves will beat the Sun. So my best guess is 552 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:02,760 Speaker 2: we'll have Pelicans at and then it'll be Suns Warriors 553 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:05,880 Speaker 2: in the seven eight game in Phoenix, and then it'll 554 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:08,680 Speaker 2: be Lakers Kings in the nine to ten game. I 555 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 2: think the Lakers will beat the Kings. I think Suns 556 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:16,160 Speaker 2: Warriors could go either way, but regardless of who wins 557 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:18,840 Speaker 2: that game, I would pick the Lakers to win on 558 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 2: the road against the loser of that game. So it's 559 00:28:22,359 --> 00:28:26,640 Speaker 2: going to either be Pelican's Sons Lakers or Pelican's Warriors Lakers, 560 00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 2: is my best guess. If I had to pick gun 561 00:28:29,119 --> 00:28:32,399 Speaker 2: to my head right now, I'm gonna go Pelican Sons 562 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:35,480 Speaker 2: Lakers as the six, seven eight right now. So that 563 00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:38,960 Speaker 2: was a mouthful. That was a very very confusing type 564 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,080 Speaker 2: of situation, but that's kind of the way I see 565 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 2: it breaking down. And then we have a good chance 566 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:45,240 Speaker 2: of seeing Lakers Nuggets in the first round, which would 567 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 2: be at least for that at least if that if 568 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:50,720 Speaker 2: I'm Lebron there, and I'd rather face the Nuggets later on. 569 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:53,720 Speaker 2: But if I'm Lebron there, I'm sitting there thinking like, like, 570 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:56,040 Speaker 2: at least we'll find out right away off the start year, 571 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:57,800 Speaker 2: I won't have to do I won't have to go 572 00:28:57,880 --> 00:29:00,920 Speaker 2: through a month long war with some before we see 573 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 2: the Nuggets. So all right, before we get out here today, 574 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:06,479 Speaker 2: we're gonna spend some time doing a deep dive into 575 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:09,280 Speaker 2: the Clippers versus the MAVs series. This is the one 576 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 2: series that is actually set in stone at this point. 577 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:16,360 Speaker 2: They've played three times this year, and the Clippers have 578 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:19,720 Speaker 2: won two of them, but they have not played since 579 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 2: the They have not played since the since the calendar 580 00:29:25,360 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 2: turned over, so they have one game in December, two 581 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:29,200 Speaker 2: games in November. 582 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 3: Clippers. 583 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:32,800 Speaker 2: The MAVs beat the shit out of them during that 584 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:37,880 Speaker 2: six game losing streak when when they had just made 585 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:41,240 Speaker 2: the James Harden trade. Then they played again shortly after that, 586 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 2: and the Clippers kind of handled them and really locked 587 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 2: up Luca and they struggled, and then the Clippers won 588 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:50,440 Speaker 2: a game in December where Kyrie did not play. So 589 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 2: that's more or less what we're working with. Here, So 590 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 2: we have no evidence of what it looks like with PJ. 591 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:57,360 Speaker 2: Washington and Daniel Gafford. We have no evidence of what 592 00:29:57,400 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 2: it looks like with the good MAVs versus the good 593 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:00,520 Speaker 2: version of the Clippers. 594 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:01,360 Speaker 3: A lot of this. 595 00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 2: Is gonna be basically hypothetical, but I want to go 596 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:06,320 Speaker 2: through both ends of the floor. I want to start 597 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:08,800 Speaker 2: with Clippers on offense, and let's just kind of bounce 598 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:12,160 Speaker 2: around here. Who's gonna guard Kawhi to start this series? 599 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:16,600 Speaker 2: Let's start with you, Logan, I. 600 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 1: Guess I'm sticking PJ or Derek Jones Junior. You gotta 601 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:25,280 Speaker 1: have somebody. I'm I like PJ. I probably stick PJ 602 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:25,880 Speaker 1: on Kawhi. 603 00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:26,680 Speaker 3: What about you, Carson? 604 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:30,479 Speaker 4: Yeah, I agree, I think that PJ you probably want. 605 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 4: I mean, both of him and Derek Jones Junior have 606 00:30:34,760 --> 00:30:38,640 Speaker 4: good size and good length, but PJ is just bigger, longer, 607 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:41,240 Speaker 4: and stronger, and I think Kawhi is so physical that 608 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:43,719 Speaker 4: like he's in a pretty good mold to match up 609 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:45,560 Speaker 4: with him. 610 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:48,960 Speaker 2: So they started Grant Williams on PJ Washington last time, 611 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:52,280 Speaker 2: excuse me, on Kawhi Leonard in the regular season this year. 612 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:56,080 Speaker 2: Obviously that's gonna be PJ. Washington in the starting configuration. 613 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:00,440 Speaker 2: My guess is the starting configuration will be PJ. Washington 614 00:31:00,480 --> 00:31:03,120 Speaker 2: on Kawhi and then Derrek Jones Junior on Paul George. 615 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:06,480 Speaker 2: Derek Jones Junior guarded Paul George in a lot of 616 00:31:06,520 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 2: their matchups this particular season. I prefer Derek Jones on 617 00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 2: guards personally. I like when he uses his length and quickness. 618 00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:18,080 Speaker 2: He struggles a little bit against the bigger forwards that 619 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:20,360 Speaker 2: he goes against. But this is kind of the predicament 620 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:23,200 Speaker 2: that Dallas is in with this particular matchup. Is like, 621 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:29,120 Speaker 2: if you put Derek Jones on Paul George, then you 622 00:31:29,240 --> 00:31:32,360 Speaker 2: have to put most likely Kyrie Irving onto James Harden. 623 00:31:32,520 --> 00:31:36,000 Speaker 2: And that's, you know, a matchup that James Harden is 624 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:38,680 Speaker 2: gonna feel more comfortable in than he would in some 625 00:31:38,760 --> 00:31:41,560 Speaker 2: other matchups. And so that's where it gets tricky for me, 626 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:45,960 Speaker 2: is like, is there a version of this where the 627 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 2: MAVs lean heavily into Maxie at the five and then 628 00:31:50,840 --> 00:31:54,600 Speaker 2: have Maxi on Kawhi and then try to put PJ. 629 00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:57,120 Speaker 2: Washington on Paul George so that they can put Derek 630 00:31:57,200 --> 00:32:00,680 Speaker 2: Jones on James Harden. But that like the the matchups 631 00:32:00,680 --> 00:32:02,920 Speaker 2: are a little bit tricky for Dallas in this one. 632 00:32:02,960 --> 00:32:04,880 Speaker 2: So I'm gonna I'm gonna bounce this around to you guys, 633 00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:07,360 Speaker 2: and we'll go to you first. Carson, Like, how would 634 00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:10,960 Speaker 2: you just match up in both the starting five and 635 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,760 Speaker 2: in your ideal kind of configuration against the Clippers if 636 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:14,320 Speaker 2: you're Dallas. 637 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,280 Speaker 4: So I think that you talk about an interesting counter there. 638 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:21,480 Speaker 4: And historically we've seen a bunch of like mixing and 639 00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:25,240 Speaker 4: matching and small ball in these Dallas Clippers series. It's 640 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:28,440 Speaker 4: been super fun. Like we saw the Clippers go five 641 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:31,240 Speaker 4: out because Luca was toasting Zubots every time that he 642 00:32:31,320 --> 00:32:34,720 Speaker 4: got a switch, and then the MAVs played bulbon like 643 00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:37,520 Speaker 4: legit minutes to try to counter that. So I expect 644 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:39,600 Speaker 4: there to be some of that. I also think the 645 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:42,040 Speaker 4: Clippers can't go small how they used to because they 646 00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 4: don't have Batoom. And I like what you're talking about 647 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:48,600 Speaker 4: in terms of Maxi matching up with Kawhi not having 648 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:51,479 Speaker 4: a weak perimeter defender on James Harden. My concern at 649 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:55,440 Speaker 4: that point is just like how you deal with Zubots, 650 00:32:55,480 --> 00:32:58,760 Speaker 4: because I think he is the level of interior finisher 651 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:02,200 Speaker 4: and mismatch attacker. He's like a ninetieth percentile post score 652 00:33:02,280 --> 00:33:05,920 Speaker 4: this year, and he doesn't miss those hooking touch shots. 653 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:08,840 Speaker 4: He is like the closest to Jokic in terms of 654 00:33:08,840 --> 00:33:11,360 Speaker 4: efficiency from that range, and in fact, I think this 655 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:14,200 Speaker 4: year it's much lower volume, obviously, but he's making like 656 00:33:14,400 --> 00:33:17,360 Speaker 4: sixty six percent. So I just worry about if he 657 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 4: plays those small ball looks off the floor to where 658 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:24,960 Speaker 4: they're not tenable for Dallas because they're gonna have to 659 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:27,400 Speaker 4: try to match up physically. And I think that they 660 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:30,200 Speaker 4: can with an actual five out there like Gafford, but 661 00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:34,440 Speaker 4: I'm not sure that they can survive the small ball 662 00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:34,920 Speaker 4: looks here. 663 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:40,240 Speaker 1: I wouldn't play Kleeber at all. I'm not a Kleeber guy. 664 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:43,160 Speaker 1: I also just think that having the weapon of Gafford 665 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:45,840 Speaker 1: and Lively on the court at all times is really valuable. 666 00:33:45,880 --> 00:33:47,640 Speaker 1: I want to ask those so what are we doing 667 00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:48,920 Speaker 1: with Luca in this hypothetical? 668 00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:52,840 Speaker 3: Like, who are we in a likelihood? Yeah? 669 00:33:52,920 --> 00:33:55,360 Speaker 1: Okay, Well, I'm I'm gonna be honest with you guys. 670 00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 1: I'm completely disregarding James Harden. I don't care who I 671 00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:01,560 Speaker 1: put on him. I'm expecting him to break everything dude, 672 00:34:02,160 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 1: I'm going I'm going PJ on I'm going Derek Jones 673 00:34:05,760 --> 00:34:09,799 Speaker 1: Junior on PG. PG also didn't have a great UH 674 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:13,800 Speaker 1: against small sample size three games, PG was seventeen points 675 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:15,759 Speaker 1: on you know, thirty nine to twenty five splits. Again, 676 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:17,759 Speaker 1: that's a bad stretch of the season, so it's hard 677 00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:20,520 Speaker 1: to really gauge that was a matchup thing or just 678 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:22,759 Speaker 1: you know, a bad stretch from him. But I think 679 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:25,760 Speaker 1: I'm comfortable with that PJ on Kawhi Derek Jones Junior 680 00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:31,520 Speaker 1: on PG And yeah, I don't know, man, I I'm 681 00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:32,560 Speaker 1: not a big Kleiba guy. 682 00:34:32,760 --> 00:34:35,520 Speaker 4: I guarded Kawhi ud over the years. 683 00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:37,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm very much a Kleeba guy. Put me in 684 00:34:38,160 --> 00:34:40,880 Speaker 2: team Kleeba guy over here. I don't know what Logan. 685 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:42,239 Speaker 3: Deal with man. 686 00:34:42,320 --> 00:34:46,200 Speaker 4: I mean, he's handled those big physical wings. He's like 687 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:48,560 Speaker 4: built to guard Kawhi. That's like the one player in 688 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:49,399 Speaker 4: the league who like. 689 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:52,680 Speaker 2: I have a stat from I have a stat for you, Logan. 690 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:55,839 Speaker 2: So the reason why I love I actually talked about 691 00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:58,000 Speaker 2: this a lot in my film session yesterday, But I 692 00:34:58,080 --> 00:35:01,279 Speaker 2: love the PJ. Washington, MAXI kleeb playing together in the 693 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:05,000 Speaker 2: front court configuration. Those two guys have played four hundred 694 00:35:05,040 --> 00:35:07,920 Speaker 2: and thirty five possessions together and they're plus nineteen net 695 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:11,200 Speaker 2: rating and they have a one hundred defensive rating. With 696 00:35:11,360 --> 00:35:13,960 Speaker 2: that group, they only give up an offensive rebound on 697 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:16,719 Speaker 2: twenty two point three percent of missus. So that's what 698 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:20,719 Speaker 2: a seventy seven point seven percent defensive rebound percentage, which 699 00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:24,600 Speaker 2: is incredible. The to me, like when I when I 700 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:27,960 Speaker 2: look at the starting configuration, because they're gonna start Gafford right, 701 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:31,080 Speaker 2: and so it'll be Gafford ver Zubatch And like Carson, 702 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:33,120 Speaker 2: you hinted at this, and I'm one hundred percent with you. 703 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:35,480 Speaker 2: This is a Zubatch series in so many different ways 704 00:35:35,840 --> 00:35:39,200 Speaker 2: because like, if Zubach is on the floor and playing well, 705 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:42,759 Speaker 2: Dallas will have to size up to deal with him. 706 00:35:43,160 --> 00:35:46,560 Speaker 2: If Gafford is on the floor or Lively, whoever it 707 00:35:46,640 --> 00:35:49,479 Speaker 2: is that they have at the five spot, that puts 708 00:35:49,520 --> 00:35:52,000 Speaker 2: you in a predicament with the other three guys because 709 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:56,000 Speaker 2: you need Luca to not be guarding James harden Kawhi 710 00:35:56,080 --> 00:35:59,839 Speaker 2: Leonard or Paul George right. That is going to that's 711 00:35:59,840 --> 00:36:02,200 Speaker 2: going to put a lot of pressure on Kyrie Irving 712 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:04,239 Speaker 2: to be very good defensively in the series. Now, for 713 00:36:04,280 --> 00:36:06,680 Speaker 2: the record, I think Kyrie Irving is a guy that, 714 00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:10,160 Speaker 2: like in the aggregate, is an average to blow average 715 00:36:10,200 --> 00:36:13,200 Speaker 2: defensive player. But when he does his job, he has 716 00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:16,359 Speaker 2: the tools to be an impactful defensive player. And we've 717 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:18,759 Speaker 2: seen I even thought he was very good defensively in 718 00:36:18,760 --> 00:36:21,520 Speaker 2: the twenty sixteen finals for the most part, So like 719 00:36:21,560 --> 00:36:24,000 Speaker 2: he has that in him. Obviously a much younger version 720 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:26,520 Speaker 2: of him, but like that's gonna be the big swing factor. 721 00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:30,839 Speaker 2: If Dallas can do enough damage to Zubaj that that 722 00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:34,439 Speaker 2: the Clippers end up going small, That's where I look 723 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:38,400 Speaker 2: at at or if Kleiba can somehow hang with Zubach 724 00:36:38,520 --> 00:36:42,360 Speaker 2: enough and they can get to that PJ. Washington Kliba 725 00:36:42,440 --> 00:36:45,560 Speaker 2: front court, that to me is the scariest version of 726 00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:49,239 Speaker 2: this team. If you can get Luca and Kyrie out 727 00:36:49,239 --> 00:36:54,600 Speaker 2: there with Derek Jones and PJ. Washington in MAXI Kliba. 728 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:58,240 Speaker 2: I'm putting Kleeban Kawhi, I'm putting PJ. Washington on Paul George, 729 00:36:58,480 --> 00:37:01,359 Speaker 2: I'm putting Derek Joe Junior on James Harden, and I'm 730 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:04,799 Speaker 2: hedging and recovering every action with Kyrie Irving and Luka 731 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:08,440 Speaker 2: Danciic in it, and I actually like the the MAVs 732 00:37:08,719 --> 00:37:12,440 Speaker 2: chances in that configuration. I definitely think small ball heavily 733 00:37:12,480 --> 00:37:13,840 Speaker 2: favors Dallas in this matchup. 734 00:37:13,880 --> 00:37:14,720 Speaker 3: Do you guys agree? 735 00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:19,000 Speaker 4: One thousand percent? And obviously their regular season matchups this 736 00:37:19,080 --> 00:37:22,319 Speaker 4: year were weird, but we did see, like in the 737 00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:25,040 Speaker 4: game that Dallas won convincingly a pretty extended stretch of 738 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:29,040 Speaker 4: Clippers small ball, and it just doesn't work the same 739 00:37:29,320 --> 00:37:32,239 Speaker 4: with PJ. Tucker, Like I think they're conceding too much 740 00:37:32,280 --> 00:37:36,160 Speaker 4: size and they're just not as athletic as they used 741 00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:37,880 Speaker 4: to be, Like all of these guys have lost some 742 00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:39,960 Speaker 4: athleticism to where they used to be able to hang 743 00:37:40,040 --> 00:37:43,880 Speaker 4: defensively much more. But I totally agree. I think Luca 744 00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:47,600 Speaker 4: is going to be an absolute problem no matter what 745 00:37:47,880 --> 00:37:51,839 Speaker 4: the Clippers do. But I think they're probably at their 746 00:37:51,880 --> 00:37:58,560 Speaker 4: best defensively, like starting with Zoo in, drop in Kawhi 747 00:37:58,600 --> 00:38:01,360 Speaker 4: on Luca, and then I think they're gonna have to 748 00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:04,200 Speaker 4: mix in like a heavy deal of trapping and just say, okay, 749 00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:07,879 Speaker 4: Derek Jones Junior, PJ. Washington, like knock down your spot 750 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:09,960 Speaker 4: up jumpers off this four on three because we just 751 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:12,600 Speaker 4: can't let Luca murder us in single coverage. Sorry, I 752 00:38:12,600 --> 00:38:14,399 Speaker 4: moved to Dallas offense, but I was just thinking about 753 00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:18,920 Speaker 4: that time hermutations with the getting Zoo off the floor. 754 00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:21,320 Speaker 4: I think the Clippers really want Zoo on the floor 755 00:38:21,320 --> 00:38:25,160 Speaker 4: in this. I think his physicality is rebounding, his interior defense, 756 00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:29,640 Speaker 4: and his just overall finishing offensively. It is something that 757 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:31,960 Speaker 4: they kind of need if they go small. I just 758 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:35,719 Speaker 4: think Dallas has more pop and their small ball is 759 00:38:35,719 --> 00:38:38,600 Speaker 4: also bigger than the Clippers. 760 00:38:39,480 --> 00:38:40,000 Speaker 3: It just is. 761 00:38:41,160 --> 00:38:43,399 Speaker 1: I mean, I just think Luca is just such a 762 00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:45,480 Speaker 1: problem no matter what lineup you throw at him. I 763 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:47,640 Speaker 1: mean you can go back and watch like the games 764 00:38:47,680 --> 00:38:51,560 Speaker 1: between these two teams, La threw everybody at him. If 765 00:38:51,560 --> 00:38:54,000 Speaker 1: it was Kawhi, if it was PJ, if it was Zoo, 766 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:57,040 Speaker 1: if it was Terrence Man. I don't really know if 767 00:38:57,040 --> 00:38:59,239 Speaker 1: it matters. Like to me, the high pick and roll 768 00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:03,000 Speaker 1: action with Louke is just so hard to stop every 769 00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:06,600 Speaker 1: possession down. Yeah, I don't know if it matters. And 770 00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:08,279 Speaker 1: I think Carson made a good point like if the 771 00:39:08,280 --> 00:39:11,040 Speaker 1: Clippers had but Tom, I think that's a real difference 772 00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:13,279 Speaker 1: maker and like just another look that you can throw 773 00:39:13,320 --> 00:39:14,200 Speaker 1: with him PJ. 774 00:39:14,360 --> 00:39:15,040 Speaker 4: Tucker is. 775 00:39:16,320 --> 00:39:18,359 Speaker 1: I mean, I just can he guard anybody at this age? 776 00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:20,680 Speaker 4: Like I know that he's a dog, He's a bulldog. 777 00:39:20,920 --> 00:39:22,680 Speaker 1: I mean, he's a dog. But it's like, you know, 778 00:39:22,680 --> 00:39:24,480 Speaker 1: they tried to put him on Luca, and Luca just 779 00:39:24,520 --> 00:39:27,600 Speaker 1: abused him. I mean, the Luca abuses everybody, but PJ 780 00:39:27,680 --> 00:39:33,520 Speaker 1: couldn't hold him. I think I think every lineup configuration 781 00:39:33,719 --> 00:39:36,520 Speaker 1: is a problem for la Man. Luca is just a 782 00:39:36,680 --> 00:39:39,120 Speaker 1: nightmare to deal with. Man. I don't think there's a solution. 783 00:39:40,640 --> 00:39:42,400 Speaker 2: I don't think the Clippers are going to be able 784 00:39:42,480 --> 00:39:45,880 Speaker 2: to do much switching against Luca because I think Lucas 785 00:39:45,880 --> 00:39:51,240 Speaker 2: gonna feel comfortable against every single Clipper that's not named Kawhi. Now, 786 00:39:51,360 --> 00:39:53,719 Speaker 2: the way I expect them to start the series, I 787 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:57,360 Speaker 2: expect them to start with Terrence Man on Luca, and 788 00:39:57,400 --> 00:40:00,920 Speaker 2: I expect them to start with Paul Ju on Kyrie, 789 00:40:01,920 --> 00:40:04,719 Speaker 2: and I expect them to start with Kawhi on PJ. 790 00:40:05,040 --> 00:40:07,120 Speaker 2: Washington and Help. That's just based on some of the 791 00:40:07,120 --> 00:40:10,759 Speaker 2: stuff that I saw from the regular season matchups this year. However, 792 00:40:11,560 --> 00:40:14,960 Speaker 2: this will eventually tilt towards Kawhi on Luca. That's what 793 00:40:15,080 --> 00:40:18,000 Speaker 2: happened in the previous iterations of this matchup in the postseason. 794 00:40:18,360 --> 00:40:20,440 Speaker 2: That was what turned it around last time when Luca 795 00:40:20,480 --> 00:40:22,319 Speaker 2: had them on the ropes. It was Kawhi one on 796 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:24,960 Speaker 2: Luca and was able to kind of change the dynamic 797 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:28,879 Speaker 2: of the series. What I think about happening and where 798 00:40:28,880 --> 00:40:31,480 Speaker 2: I think this is inevitably heading. As I mentioned, I 799 00:40:31,480 --> 00:40:36,600 Speaker 2: think on Luca will force Luca to call up ball screens. 800 00:40:38,160 --> 00:40:41,719 Speaker 2: So Luca has this tendency of being like, oh, I 801 00:40:41,719 --> 00:40:43,920 Speaker 2: don't want to deal with the traps, so I'm just 802 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:47,880 Speaker 2: going to take my guy in straight ISO, And obviously 803 00:40:47,920 --> 00:40:52,800 Speaker 2: a hard double in a hard double in a straight 804 00:40:52,840 --> 00:40:56,720 Speaker 2: ISO situation compromises the defense more than a hard double 805 00:40:56,719 --> 00:40:58,160 Speaker 2: in a ball screen because a hard double and the 806 00:40:58,200 --> 00:40:59,920 Speaker 2: ball screen the screeners in a little bit of a 807 00:41:00,040 --> 00:41:02,440 Speaker 2: this in fantagious position as he's trying to disengage and 808 00:41:02,480 --> 00:41:05,080 Speaker 2: get the basketball, whereas in a double team in an ISO, 809 00:41:05,120 --> 00:41:07,360 Speaker 2: you can just flash and there's usually an opening that 810 00:41:07,400 --> 00:41:11,440 Speaker 2: you can capitalize on. So from there, kind of looking 811 00:41:11,480 --> 00:41:13,320 Speaker 2: back at the Warriors game when they beat the MAVs, 812 00:41:13,480 --> 00:41:17,800 Speaker 2: what was that a week ago? Like Andrew Wiggins actually 813 00:41:18,160 --> 00:41:21,920 Speaker 2: makes Luca a little uncomfortable and specifically, he doesn't even 814 00:41:21,920 --> 00:41:24,960 Speaker 2: feel comfortable getting to his pull up three. So what 815 00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:29,880 Speaker 2: that did is that made Luca call ball streams consistently, 816 00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:33,879 Speaker 2: which allowed Golden State to trap, which then got them 817 00:41:33,880 --> 00:41:37,080 Speaker 2: in rotation. And they're not as good at the four 818 00:41:37,160 --> 00:41:39,319 Speaker 2: on threes as some of the other teams in the league. 819 00:41:39,320 --> 00:41:41,680 Speaker 2: They'll get the ball to the corners, but it's like 820 00:41:41,680 --> 00:41:43,920 Speaker 2: it's PJ. Washington shooting a corner three. It's a Derek 821 00:41:44,000 --> 00:41:47,759 Speaker 2: Jones junior corner three, it's a Maxicaliba corner three. It's 822 00:41:48,080 --> 00:41:52,040 Speaker 2: that sort of thing, and they can miss those shots. Now, 823 00:41:52,320 --> 00:41:54,880 Speaker 2: as I've said before about the MAVs, I think that 824 00:41:55,000 --> 00:41:57,759 Speaker 2: dynamic still favors Dallas in the sense that it's worth 825 00:41:57,800 --> 00:42:01,239 Speaker 2: it to have PJ. Washington and maxically as defenders in 826 00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:03,080 Speaker 2: what they can do, like it's worth it to have 827 00:42:03,120 --> 00:42:05,640 Speaker 2: the two way ceiling that the MAVs have. But my 828 00:42:05,760 --> 00:42:08,680 Speaker 2: guess is that eventually, over the course of the series series, 829 00:42:08,760 --> 00:42:12,800 Speaker 2: Kawhi will end up on Luca, and then. 830 00:42:13,000 --> 00:42:14,880 Speaker 3: They will Luca will call for ball. 831 00:42:14,760 --> 00:42:18,200 Speaker 2: Screens to attempt to get Kawhi off of him, which 832 00:42:18,200 --> 00:42:21,160 Speaker 2: will lead to a heavy trapping and rotating kind of situation. 833 00:42:21,680 --> 00:42:24,399 Speaker 2: I actually think both teams are gonna make each other 834 00:42:24,520 --> 00:42:28,440 Speaker 2: uncomfortable for extended stretches. I think when the MAVs go 835 00:42:28,600 --> 00:42:31,560 Speaker 2: small and they put Klebo Washington and Derek Jones on 836 00:42:31,600 --> 00:42:33,480 Speaker 2: the Big three, they'll be able to slow down the 837 00:42:33,719 --> 00:42:35,960 Speaker 2: Clippers for stretches. And I think the Clippers are going 838 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:37,800 Speaker 2: to be able to slow down the MAVs for stretches 839 00:42:38,200 --> 00:42:42,520 Speaker 2: by putting Kawhi on Luka don Chicch and trapping Kyrie 840 00:42:42,560 --> 00:42:45,080 Speaker 2: obviously is gonna have advantages, but Kyrie is not the 841 00:42:45,080 --> 00:42:47,440 Speaker 2: type of vor force that Luca is in terms of 842 00:42:47,480 --> 00:42:51,120 Speaker 2: like being truly unguardable in terms of specific types of matchups. 843 00:42:51,160 --> 00:42:54,279 Speaker 2: So I do think that that that's the direction this 844 00:42:54,400 --> 00:42:57,200 Speaker 2: is heading, and that's what kind of keeps me thinking 845 00:42:57,239 --> 00:42:58,000 Speaker 2: this is going to be a. 846 00:42:58,000 --> 00:42:59,000 Speaker 3: Very long series. 847 00:43:00,560 --> 00:43:04,799 Speaker 2: I would say this if Kawi was healthy, and I mean, 848 00:43:04,880 --> 00:43:08,399 Speaker 2: like obviously healthy and ramped up for this. I've called 849 00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:13,440 Speaker 2: this a seven game series, but with Kauai's question marks 850 00:43:13,520 --> 00:43:16,279 Speaker 2: and him probably being a little out of rhythm when 851 00:43:16,280 --> 00:43:19,640 Speaker 2: he enters into this series, I kind of lean towards 852 00:43:19,800 --> 00:43:23,319 Speaker 2: Dallas and six. So let's start with you, Carson, what's 853 00:43:23,360 --> 00:43:25,360 Speaker 2: your prediction for how this series is gonna go. 854 00:43:26,080 --> 00:43:28,200 Speaker 4: I'm gonna take Dallas and six as well. And just 855 00:43:28,360 --> 00:43:31,759 Speaker 4: one more fun stat real quick on the trapping, because 856 00:43:31,760 --> 00:43:33,880 Speaker 4: I do think that's gonna be important for the Clippers. 857 00:43:34,600 --> 00:43:38,359 Speaker 4: Over the last four years before this season, three out 858 00:43:38,360 --> 00:43:41,160 Speaker 4: of those four years, the MAVs were a more efficient 859 00:43:41,200 --> 00:43:43,640 Speaker 4: offense out of pick and roll when teams trapped Luca. 860 00:43:43,960 --> 00:43:46,480 Speaker 4: This year and sample sizes the factor with all this, 861 00:43:46,560 --> 00:43:49,359 Speaker 4: but they've been significantly less efficient. They average like zero 862 00:43:49,320 --> 00:43:52,640 Speaker 4: twenty eight nine points per possession, which really isn't good. 863 00:43:53,040 --> 00:43:55,080 Speaker 4: And I think the biggest factor is just that the 864 00:43:55,080 --> 00:43:57,160 Speaker 4: spot up shooting isn't as good. And you mentioned it's 865 00:43:57,160 --> 00:43:59,719 Speaker 4: like if PJ. Washington goes twenty five percent in a 866 00:43:59,760 --> 00:44:02,480 Speaker 4: season from deep, if Derek Jones Junior goes twenty five percent, 867 00:44:02,520 --> 00:44:04,920 Speaker 4: like you just wouldn't be surprised. So I think forcing 868 00:44:04,920 --> 00:44:06,959 Speaker 4: the ball out of Luca's hands just with the level 869 00:44:07,000 --> 00:44:08,480 Speaker 4: he's at, and I do think they have to have 870 00:44:08,560 --> 00:44:12,480 Speaker 4: Kawhi on him when it matters most. But ultimately, I 871 00:44:12,640 --> 00:44:15,920 Speaker 4: just love what I've been seeing from this Dallas team. 872 00:44:16,200 --> 00:44:19,440 Speaker 4: I think the offensive level that they've been at is ridiculous. 873 00:44:19,840 --> 00:44:24,000 Speaker 4: I think that they have much more consistently shown defensive 874 00:44:24,040 --> 00:44:26,520 Speaker 4: engagement as of late, and it's the playoffs, so it's 875 00:44:26,560 --> 00:44:28,080 Speaker 4: gonna be a different beast. I think we get a 876 00:44:28,120 --> 00:44:31,319 Speaker 4: better version of the Clippers defense definitely than we have. 877 00:44:31,680 --> 00:44:33,920 Speaker 4: But I do think they match up physically and athletically 878 00:44:33,920 --> 00:44:35,720 Speaker 4: in the front court and on the glass much better 879 00:44:35,760 --> 00:44:38,480 Speaker 4: than they have in recent years. So with my concerns 880 00:44:38,520 --> 00:44:42,759 Speaker 4: about Harden, with not fully knowing about Kawhi's health, and 881 00:44:42,840 --> 00:44:46,720 Speaker 4: with the fact that Luca again like you can trap, 882 00:44:46,800 --> 00:44:49,160 Speaker 4: and you can do that in stretches, but I still 883 00:44:49,200 --> 00:44:52,080 Speaker 4: think even if it comes down to him resorting to 884 00:44:52,160 --> 00:44:54,960 Speaker 4: attacking you and Iso, especially anybody other than Kawhi, like 885 00:44:55,160 --> 00:44:58,040 Speaker 4: he's just at that special level offensively right now where 886 00:44:58,080 --> 00:45:00,760 Speaker 4: it feels like he can basically get you good shots 887 00:45:01,320 --> 00:45:04,680 Speaker 4: almost no matter what. And Kyrie has been so dynamic offensively. 888 00:45:05,280 --> 00:45:08,759 Speaker 4: I'm just really, really optimistic about Dallas. But I do 889 00:45:08,800 --> 00:45:10,320 Speaker 4: think Thelippers are really good, and I think this is 890 00:45:10,360 --> 00:45:11,560 Speaker 4: going to be a hell of a series. But I 891 00:45:11,600 --> 00:45:13,800 Speaker 4: would take the MAVs in six really quickly. 892 00:45:13,800 --> 00:45:16,400 Speaker 2: Before you go, Logan, that was funny Carson referred to 893 00:45:16,440 --> 00:45:17,280 Speaker 2: them as the Lippers. 894 00:45:18,239 --> 00:45:23,920 Speaker 4: Oh well, you know, James R. I am the system. 895 00:45:24,600 --> 00:45:28,480 Speaker 2: So to Carson's point, I was just pulling up the numbers. 896 00:45:28,719 --> 00:45:32,200 Speaker 2: When the MAVs shot out of pick and roll this year, 897 00:45:32,239 --> 00:45:38,480 Speaker 2: they were a ninetieth percentile efficiency team. When they got 898 00:45:38,480 --> 00:45:40,160 Speaker 2: a shot out of a trap in pick and roll 899 00:45:40,239 --> 00:45:44,239 Speaker 2: this year, they were thirty third percentile inefficiency, and they 900 00:45:44,239 --> 00:45:46,640 Speaker 2: were about looks like about seven tenths of a point 901 00:45:46,760 --> 00:45:51,000 Speaker 2: worse on a per possession basis. So yeah, like that 902 00:45:51,000 --> 00:45:53,080 Speaker 2: that that I And by the way, we're still picking 903 00:45:53,080 --> 00:45:56,480 Speaker 2: the MAVs. I'm just saying like it is tilted in 904 00:45:56,520 --> 00:45:58,440 Speaker 2: the sense that it used to be, like, for instance, 905 00:45:58,440 --> 00:46:01,640 Speaker 2: Golden State, like they in the twenty twenty two series, 906 00:46:01,680 --> 00:46:04,080 Speaker 2: they were staying home and trying to force Luca to 907 00:46:04,120 --> 00:46:07,520 Speaker 2: score because, especially with the Wiggans matchup, it just was 908 00:46:07,560 --> 00:46:09,960 Speaker 2: a tough one for him. But they were so good 909 00:46:09,960 --> 00:46:12,400 Speaker 2: shooting off the ball. They said so much off ball shooting, 910 00:46:12,840 --> 00:46:16,239 Speaker 2: and this team is just more geared towards defensive personnel, 911 00:46:16,440 --> 00:46:19,160 Speaker 2: and yeah, like the best way to guard this Dallas 912 00:46:19,200 --> 00:46:21,160 Speaker 2: Mavericks team is to get the ball out of Luca's 913 00:46:21,160 --> 00:46:22,960 Speaker 2: hands and try to make someone else shoot, which is 914 00:46:23,160 --> 00:46:24,840 Speaker 2: typically not the way you want to deal with that 915 00:46:24,880 --> 00:46:26,640 Speaker 2: type of matchup. All right, Logan, what's your pick for 916 00:46:26,680 --> 00:46:27,120 Speaker 2: the series? 917 00:46:29,120 --> 00:46:30,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I don't mean to beat a dead horse, 918 00:46:30,800 --> 00:46:33,160 Speaker 1: but I'm completely with you. I wrote down, Dallas, do. 919 00:46:33,160 --> 00:46:34,959 Speaker 2: You want to throw in some hard in slander before 920 00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:39,600 Speaker 2: you make your Yeah, come on. 921 00:46:38,719 --> 00:46:41,759 Speaker 4: An average prediction. I'm going to predict your prediction is 922 00:46:41,800 --> 00:46:44,640 Speaker 4: four points per game on six percent shooting. 923 00:46:45,840 --> 00:46:48,240 Speaker 1: I'll give him like nine points per game on thirty 924 00:46:48,239 --> 00:46:52,480 Speaker 1: five percent. You know, maybe if Harden's feeling himself, maybe 925 00:46:52,480 --> 00:46:53,680 Speaker 1: he could get to ten. 926 00:46:54,160 --> 00:46:55,320 Speaker 4: Man, if he's really falling. 927 00:46:57,640 --> 00:47:00,720 Speaker 1: You know, I think you guys make some some great points. 928 00:47:00,719 --> 00:47:02,640 Speaker 1: I think that the key to this series to me 929 00:47:02,800 --> 00:47:06,000 Speaker 1: is Kawhi wearing out Luca throughout the duration of the series, 930 00:47:06,719 --> 00:47:09,200 Speaker 1: and yeah, forcing those guys to make shots. But the 931 00:47:09,280 --> 00:47:11,520 Speaker 1: key thing with Dallas, I think you hit on it, Carson. 932 00:47:11,680 --> 00:47:13,960 Speaker 1: I really trust this defense. They've been so locked in 933 00:47:14,040 --> 00:47:16,919 Speaker 1: down this backstretch. I think Lucas gonna be the best 934 00:47:16,920 --> 00:47:19,680 Speaker 1: player in this series. I think he is an unsolvable problem. 935 00:47:19,960 --> 00:47:22,600 Speaker 1: And then another thing to me, I think Kyrie Irving 936 00:47:23,600 --> 00:47:25,520 Speaker 1: is the best co stars that Luca has ever had 937 00:47:25,560 --> 00:47:26,960 Speaker 1: on the stage. And you know, I know that Jalen 938 00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:31,000 Speaker 1: Brunson had I mean a great stretch, you know, during 939 00:47:31,040 --> 00:47:33,319 Speaker 1: that Western Conference Finals run, even in games where Luca 940 00:47:33,440 --> 00:47:35,880 Speaker 1: wasn't out there. So this doesn't mean I don't want 941 00:47:35,880 --> 00:47:37,719 Speaker 1: to discredit what Brunson did during that run, but he's 942 00:47:37,760 --> 00:47:39,440 Speaker 1: a different player now, you know. I mean, he is 943 00:47:39,520 --> 00:47:42,480 Speaker 1: just in a different tier of ability now at this 944 00:47:42,520 --> 00:47:45,160 Speaker 1: stage in his career. This is the best co star 945 00:47:45,280 --> 00:47:47,960 Speaker 1: that you know, Luca has ever had. And with these 946 00:47:48,040 --> 00:47:50,760 Speaker 1: questions surrounding the Clippers, I just couldn't pick them. Kawhi's 947 00:47:50,760 --> 00:47:52,840 Speaker 1: health as we've talked on so much, and then yeah, 948 00:47:53,160 --> 00:47:55,359 Speaker 1: I think James Harden is due for another dud in 949 00:47:55,400 --> 00:47:59,440 Speaker 1: the playoff. Shocker, what a hot take. So yeah, I 950 00:47:59,440 --> 00:48:01,200 Speaker 1: think Dallas is just a better team. But I do 951 00:48:01,239 --> 00:48:03,839 Speaker 1: think this is gonna be a really good series, and 952 00:48:03,920 --> 00:48:07,000 Speaker 1: I wouldn't be surprised if LA somehow pushed this seven. 953 00:48:07,120 --> 00:48:09,320 Speaker 1: But I think it's uh, I think the Mavericks. 954 00:48:09,600 --> 00:48:11,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think I speak for all of us when 955 00:48:11,040 --> 00:48:13,920 Speaker 2: I say like it's I this This frustrates me every 956 00:48:13,960 --> 00:48:16,640 Speaker 2: single year. Like I I remember in the twenty twenty 957 00:48:16,640 --> 00:48:19,880 Speaker 2: two Western Conference Finals, I was like, man, this is 958 00:48:19,920 --> 00:48:23,080 Speaker 2: a total coin flip series for me. But I'm gonna 959 00:48:23,080 --> 00:48:25,279 Speaker 2: pick Dallas, and I picked Dallas in six if I 960 00:48:25,320 --> 00:48:29,120 Speaker 2: remember correctly, and then Warriors fans forever were just like. 961 00:48:29,040 --> 00:48:31,160 Speaker 3: You picked against us, blah blah blah. 962 00:48:31,239 --> 00:48:33,160 Speaker 2: You didn't believe in us, even though I picked them 963 00:48:33,160 --> 00:48:35,080 Speaker 2: in every other round that they played in that in 964 00:48:35,120 --> 00:48:37,120 Speaker 2: that playoff runt. And it's funny because that's the thing, 965 00:48:37,200 --> 00:48:41,319 Speaker 2: Like I am picking Dallas, I feel confident that they 966 00:48:41,360 --> 00:48:42,400 Speaker 2: should be the favorite. 967 00:48:43,080 --> 00:48:43,920 Speaker 3: I'll actually pull up. 968 00:48:43,840 --> 00:48:46,160 Speaker 2: The numbers on DraftKings to see if they have posted 969 00:48:46,160 --> 00:48:49,000 Speaker 2: an actual series odds for that yet. But like the 970 00:48:49,239 --> 00:48:51,879 Speaker 2: as far as I'm concerned, all of these are more 971 00:48:51,960 --> 00:48:56,760 Speaker 2: or less toss ups, like any matchup that doesn't involve 972 00:48:56,880 --> 00:48:59,799 Speaker 2: Denver in the Western Conference. For me, it's gonna be 973 00:48:59,840 --> 00:49:02,880 Speaker 2: like I'm picking this team, but like sixty forty. And 974 00:49:03,239 --> 00:49:05,480 Speaker 2: that's the thing, Like I have Dallas as my third 975 00:49:05,520 --> 00:49:07,640 Speaker 2: best championship contender. You know who's right behind him, the 976 00:49:07,640 --> 00:49:10,480 Speaker 2: Clippers at four. So even though I'm picking Dallas to 977 00:49:10,520 --> 00:49:13,360 Speaker 2: win this series, like I very much believe in the 978 00:49:13,360 --> 00:49:16,120 Speaker 2: Clippers as a playoff team, I very much believe in 979 00:49:16,160 --> 00:49:19,160 Speaker 2: them as a legitimate threat, and I don't want to 980 00:49:19,200 --> 00:49:21,520 Speaker 2: like kind of write that off, if that makes sense. 981 00:49:22,320 --> 00:49:27,479 Speaker 2: I'm not seeing any odds for the Clippers mav series, 982 00:49:27,480 --> 00:49:29,120 Speaker 2: which is kind of a bummer. They should totally have 983 00:49:29,160 --> 00:49:31,480 Speaker 2: that up. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong place. 984 00:49:31,520 --> 00:49:34,000 Speaker 2: We'll have to look it up later. But anyway, any 985 00:49:34,000 --> 00:49:35,839 Speaker 2: other thoughts on this series before we get out any 986 00:49:36,040 --> 00:49:38,160 Speaker 2: any like random kind of things you're gonna be looking 987 00:49:38,200 --> 00:49:42,160 Speaker 2: out for. Any are we gonna get like who's more 988 00:49:42,320 --> 00:49:45,800 Speaker 2: likely to botch this for the Clippers? Rt Westbrooker, Harden 989 00:49:45,920 --> 00:49:46,160 Speaker 2: like that. 990 00:49:46,160 --> 00:49:50,359 Speaker 4: Sort of It's a good question. I mean, I would 991 00:49:50,400 --> 00:49:53,120 Speaker 4: say Hardened just because of the scale of his role, 992 00:49:53,320 --> 00:49:58,400 Speaker 4: but Ross obviously could just have like brutal, brutal shooting stretches. 993 00:49:58,400 --> 00:50:00,160 Speaker 4: But I think overall what he does, like pushing the 994 00:50:00,200 --> 00:50:02,680 Speaker 4: pace with the bench units, and you mentioned obviously his 995 00:50:02,800 --> 00:50:06,120 Speaker 4: effort in the series against the Suns last year, like 996 00:50:06,160 --> 00:50:09,560 Speaker 4: defensively it was really impressive, and how he can impact 997 00:50:09,560 --> 00:50:11,759 Speaker 4: the game with his athleticism. The biggest thing for me 998 00:50:11,800 --> 00:50:14,760 Speaker 4: that we haven't really touched on is just the stakes 999 00:50:14,760 --> 00:50:18,280 Speaker 4: of this moment and like the history of this matchup, 1000 00:50:18,320 --> 00:50:20,920 Speaker 4: because these have been two of the best first round 1001 00:50:20,920 --> 00:50:23,480 Speaker 4: series in recent years, and I think this pretty clearly 1002 00:50:23,520 --> 00:50:26,000 Speaker 4: has the potential to be the best because there's just 1003 00:50:26,120 --> 00:50:29,320 Speaker 4: more basketball talent on the floor now with Kyrie out there, 1004 00:50:29,560 --> 00:50:32,040 Speaker 4: even with Harden out there as a third star level 1005 00:50:32,040 --> 00:50:34,600 Speaker 4: guy for the Clippers. Luca's better than he's ever been. 1006 00:50:34,719 --> 00:50:41,160 Speaker 4: And historically Luca just had like these ridiculous repoint shooting 1007 00:50:41,200 --> 00:50:43,920 Speaker 4: season series against the Clippers where it's like, Okay, he's 1008 00:50:43,920 --> 00:50:46,680 Speaker 4: reigning forty to forty five percent of his step back threes, 1009 00:50:47,280 --> 00:50:50,280 Speaker 4: but that has become closer and closer to the norm 1010 00:50:50,320 --> 00:50:52,640 Speaker 4: for him, Like he's just gotten so much more consistent 1011 00:50:52,680 --> 00:50:54,759 Speaker 4: in terms of his step back and pull up three 1012 00:50:54,800 --> 00:50:58,120 Speaker 4: point shooting efficiencies. So I kind of think he's gonna 1013 00:50:58,160 --> 00:51:01,919 Speaker 4: go nuclear on them again, and he just has done 1014 00:51:01,920 --> 00:51:04,160 Speaker 4: that over the years. So I'm excited to see the 1015 00:51:04,200 --> 00:51:07,160 Speaker 4: rematch and the potential Luca revenge element of it. 1016 00:51:08,440 --> 00:51:10,760 Speaker 3: I think it's gonna be a long series too. Go ahead, log. 1017 00:51:10,760 --> 00:51:14,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think they took this down. I don't know 1018 00:51:14,440 --> 00:51:16,479 Speaker 1: if like too many people were hammering it. It looks 1019 00:51:16,520 --> 00:51:20,880 Speaker 1: like the line opened up at Clippers favored minus really 1020 00:51:21,040 --> 00:51:24,399 Speaker 1: oh LUs one for it. Like I said, they took 1021 00:51:24,440 --> 00:51:27,560 Speaker 1: this down. It's not but that was what the line has. 1022 00:51:27,640 --> 00:51:30,120 Speaker 4: Is surprising to me. I thought MAVs would be a 1023 00:51:30,160 --> 00:51:32,319 Speaker 4: slight favorite. I get that they're on the road, but. 1024 00:51:32,719 --> 00:51:35,520 Speaker 2: I think they're probably holding off waiting for the Kauhi 1025 00:51:35,560 --> 00:51:36,359 Speaker 2: injury news too. 1026 00:51:36,360 --> 00:51:36,719 Speaker 3: I'm sure. 1027 00:51:36,800 --> 00:51:38,480 Speaker 2: I'm sure they're gonna wait until they have a more 1028 00:51:38,480 --> 00:51:40,520 Speaker 2: concrete and so I did some digging on it this morning. 1029 00:51:40,520 --> 00:51:42,680 Speaker 2: It sounds like he got an MRI that came back negative. 1030 00:51:42,920 --> 00:51:44,680 Speaker 2: I'm less worried about him being able to play Game 1031 00:51:44,680 --> 00:51:46,200 Speaker 2: one and more worried about how good he's going to 1032 00:51:46,239 --> 00:51:48,520 Speaker 2: be when he when he's playing in Game one. 1033 00:51:48,719 --> 00:51:50,840 Speaker 3: All right, guys, that is all we have for today. 1034 00:51:51,200 --> 00:51:52,279 Speaker 2: Before we got out of here, Carson, you want to 1035 00:51:52,280 --> 00:51:53,560 Speaker 2: shout out what you guys are working on over at 1036 00:51:53,560 --> 00:51:55,120 Speaker 2: NERDS Test. I saw you did a video on Lebron 1037 00:51:55,200 --> 00:51:56,320 Speaker 2: James he is eternal. 1038 00:51:56,520 --> 00:51:58,600 Speaker 4: Look, did do a video on Lebron. Did do a 1039 00:51:58,680 --> 00:52:03,040 Speaker 4: video on Lebron he is anal dug into just sort 1040 00:52:03,080 --> 00:52:05,200 Speaker 4: of the ways that he's adapted his game this year 1041 00:52:05,239 --> 00:52:08,319 Speaker 4: to not just continue to dominate, but even improve from 1042 00:52:08,440 --> 00:52:11,200 Speaker 4: last year. So we are doing content like that and 1043 00:52:11,280 --> 00:52:13,560 Speaker 4: want to ramp that up throughout the playoffs. That's sort 1044 00:52:13,600 --> 00:52:17,360 Speaker 4: of like ten twelve minute video breakdowns on specific players 1045 00:52:17,360 --> 00:52:20,520 Speaker 4: and topics, but we also, of course do our full 1046 00:52:20,600 --> 00:52:24,160 Speaker 4: length shows. We've been three times a week during the playoffs. 1047 00:52:24,239 --> 00:52:26,400 Speaker 4: We might even ramp that up. We'll be going live 1048 00:52:26,520 --> 00:52:29,640 Speaker 4: after games as well. But you can always find those 1049 00:52:29,680 --> 00:52:32,640 Speaker 4: full shows on the Nerd Sash YouTube page and you 1050 00:52:32,680 --> 00:52:35,239 Speaker 4: can listen across audio platforms. And if you want our 1051 00:52:35,280 --> 00:52:38,480 Speaker 4: trivia content, that's the other big thing we do. That's 1052 00:52:38,520 --> 00:52:42,680 Speaker 4: TikTok and Instagram at nerd Sash, Twitter at nerd Underscore sessh. 1053 00:52:43,280 --> 00:52:44,239 Speaker 3: The Nerds do great work. 1054 00:52:44,280 --> 00:52:45,600 Speaker 2: Make sure you guys get over to their channel on 1055 00:52:45,640 --> 00:52:48,320 Speaker 2: Subscribe and subscribe and support it. We're also gonna be 1056 00:52:48,360 --> 00:52:50,400 Speaker 2: working with them throughout the playoff run, just the you know, 1057 00:52:50,480 --> 00:52:52,400 Speaker 2: random shit talking sessions between rounds. 1058 00:52:52,440 --> 00:52:53,160 Speaker 3: You know how it goes. 1059 00:52:53,480 --> 00:52:56,480 Speaker 2: As always, we sincerely appreciate you guys for supporting us. 1060 00:52:56,800 --> 00:53:02,560 Speaker 2: No show tomorrow, but we're gonna Sunday afternoon. I'm going 1061 00:53:02,600 --> 00:53:04,520 Speaker 2: with Colin Coward, so that's the next time we'll be 1062 00:53:04,520 --> 00:53:06,680 Speaker 2: breaking down. We'll be doing a little playoff previews, so 1063 00:53:06,760 --> 00:53:08,680 Speaker 2: I will see you guys on Sunday evening. 1064 00:53:09,160 --> 00:53:10,760 Speaker 3: Until then, hope you guys enjoy your weekend. 1065 00:53:34,920 --> 00:53:35,600 Speaker 1: The volume