1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:20,799 Speaker 1: Mmmm. Welcome to the State of the Lakers podcast with Raj. 2 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: Thank you guys so much for all of the suggestions 3 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: for the name of the pod. But Roger and I 4 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: were talking last night and we have decided to stick 5 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:32,639 Speaker 1: with State of the Lakers. But I do appreciate all 6 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: the suggestions. Roch, how you doing, Man doing well? Man 7 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: doing well? Excited to do this weekly. I think that's 8 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: it's kind of cool. I did see a suggestion yesterday 9 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 1: that was funny. He said, like up tempo rules, but 10 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 1: I thought it was like pretty funny and creative. I 11 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: think it's kind of late, but I thought that was 12 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 1: not thought that was pretty dope. But yeah, I'm excited 13 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: to do this man. I think I think we both 14 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: give a cool perspective on it and kind of can 15 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: go back and forth. Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. 16 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: And then consistency always helps. Uh, it's it's it's Podcasting 17 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: is really really challenging, especially given the distance between most 18 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: of us, and so finding some consistency I think is 19 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: is gonna be fun. So today, you know, more or less, 20 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: nothing has changed with the Lakers since Roger and I 21 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: last talked on Friday. We kind of predicted everything that 22 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 1: happened this last week. Um, but one of the we 23 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 1: were talking about ideas for the show today and what 24 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: we decided we would do is we would each give 25 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: our three silver linings of what we've noticed out of 26 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: the Lakers during this bad losing streak, because you know, 27 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: we've all seen a lot of negativity. There's good reason 28 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: for a lot of that negativity, but there is some 29 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: good that's kind of hidden in all of this, and 30 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 1: that's what Roger and I are gonna do. We're gonna 31 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: give our three silver linings. But I do want a 32 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 1: quick start with just reiterating something that we talked about 33 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: last Friday, just having to do with the fact that 34 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: it doesn't really make a ton of sense to evaluate 35 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,559 Speaker 1: the long term, you know, success of this team based 36 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: on what we've seen in the last week. And the 37 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: example that I keep using is these role players. You know, 38 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: if the Lakers very easily could make a couple of 39 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: trades in the next few days for players of similar 40 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: value that are more conducive to success without a d 41 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,679 Speaker 1: and Dennis Shrewder right, like you could trade Alex Caruso 42 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 1: for a better, you know, playmaking guard that might not 43 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: be anywhere near as gifted defensively. You know, you could 44 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: make a series of moves to try to to help 45 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,239 Speaker 1: win with that group, but there's no point because the 46 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 1: ceiling with a D and Dennis Shrewder would shrink massively 47 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 1: if you got rid of these guys. They make a 48 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,959 Speaker 1: ton of sense with the core guys. But as we saw, 49 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: you're watching Alex Caruso running extensive you know, pick and 50 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: roll actions, and there were even isolation place for Alex 51 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,839 Speaker 1: Caruso which was never happening. Markkif Morris post ups where 52 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,799 Speaker 1: he's they're clearing aside and let Markis Morris goes go 53 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 1: to work like, yeah, I got news for you. If 54 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: that's what they're doing, they're gonna lose. But they're not 55 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:56,679 Speaker 1: going to be doing that when they have their guys back. 56 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: So I mean, I just want to keep reiterating the 57 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: fact there's really no point in over evaluating what's happening 58 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: right now because all of these guys are being asked 59 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: to do things on the court that they were never 60 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: asked to do with the way that that team was 61 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: originally constructed, right Like you wouldn't asked youre like Gardener 62 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,080 Speaker 1: to be a chef, right, like your gardener could probably cook, 63 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 1: Like he probably goes home and has to cook, but 64 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:24,239 Speaker 1: like you wouldn't hire your gardener to be a chef. 65 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: And that's kind of what's going on right now. You 66 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: have guys up a role that in some up two 67 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 1: roles right like you said with Alex Cruzo, he should 68 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: not be doing ball handling or anything like that, but 69 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: that's what he's fit into right now, running a ton 70 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: of post ups like you saw that last night. Marky 71 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: Morris got a bunch of post ups that I wouldn't 72 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 1: happened in regular games. So yeah, these role players are 73 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: specifically put in a specifically signed to play a specific role, 74 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: and when that doesn't happen, you get you get nights 75 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: like we've been having the last few where the offense 76 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: has just been created. I mean it was it wasn't 77 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: great before as well, but I think right now we're 78 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: in the bottom like twenty of shooting and we have 79 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 1: all these guys going through slums. It's just tough to 80 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: really evaluate anything that's gonna matter when the playoffs start 81 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: or something like that, for sure, And like you know, 82 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: there there's a certain uh demeanor that surrounds the team 83 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: right now that I think is interesting, Like, uh, my 84 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:17,280 Speaker 1: guy Vine was talking about this the other day. There's 85 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,600 Speaker 1: like a you can tell they know they can't win 86 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: with this group at least not against good teams. But 87 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 1: and that sucks because that's that's bad for morale. But uh, 88 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: you could tell, like even last night or in the 89 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: in the in the Jazz game, there was just this 90 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: thing hanging over the team where you could tell they 91 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,280 Speaker 1: just knew they couldn't compete now for good reason with 92 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: the way that they're structured at like in that way, 93 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: but you could just see it. You could see it. 94 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: Now that the one thing that I think is important 95 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:45,720 Speaker 1: to understand, like there's a lot of people that are 96 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 1: that that are using this as ammunition to start taking 97 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 1: shots at Lebron and to start taking shots at some 98 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 1: of these role players and and talk about you know, 99 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: uh Rob Pablinka and the signings that he's made and 100 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: all this stuff. And I would just continue to maintain that, 101 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: you know, there's a game within the game here, which 102 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: is that all of these guys are just trying to 103 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: hold down the Ford until the real identity of the 104 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 1: team comes back. Because you have to understand if Dennis 105 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 1: had a season ending injury or if Anthony Davis had 106 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: a season ending injury, then you go about the process 107 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: of trying to find a new identity for the team. 108 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:22,919 Speaker 1: You know, it's like, Okay, this is gonna be us 109 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 1: for a while. What's our new identity. Do we need 110 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: to run more in transition? Do we need to you know, 111 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 1: experiment with specific lineups, Do we need to make a trade? 112 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: But there's no reason to tinker with the identity because 113 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 1: guys are coming back, so that that that's like the 114 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 1: important detail of their strategy moving forward. There's just no 115 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: point in kind of overthinking it in that regard. Yeah, 116 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: and I was checking that the Lakers have still had 117 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 1: the fourth best defense in the last fifteen games, which 118 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 1: is funny because Anthony Davis has missed the last six. So, 119 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: I mean, their identity still has changed. They just can't score. 120 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 1: And you have every single person going through the same slump. 121 00:05:58,000 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 1: And you can see, like I know you're talking about 122 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 1: the body lane, which you can see Lebron like he 123 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: would pass it in the guy would miss. He like, man, 124 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:05,919 Speaker 1: I work so hard to get that open look right 125 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: because he has to create every single shot. He's going 126 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:11,840 Speaker 1: in isolation. He's driving, he's kicking, and guys are just missing. 127 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:13,720 Speaker 1: And then when Kuzman missed that one, I think it 128 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: was before halftime or didn't take it. Sorry, he swung 129 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: it to THHD and he could tell like he was 130 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 1: just really upset about that. So I don't blame him. 131 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: I mean, this is a tough stretch. He obviously is 132 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 1: frustrated and he wants to win, and he's playing every night, 133 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:29,920 Speaker 1: so they'll be fine. I feel like when once, as 134 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: you said, a D and sure to get back, they'll 135 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: they'll get back into the rhythm and uh, we'll get 136 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: Shureter back tonight. So he'll be a big boost for 137 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 1: for the offense going forward. Ye, and let me use 138 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: this real quick as an example to as an opportunity 139 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: to defend Lebron because so many people are criticizing his 140 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: offensive ability, so many people are criticizing his how how 141 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 1: his struggles have have heard his m v P case 142 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: Like I put it out this number yesterday. Did you 143 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 1: guys know that literally the Lakers have generated more uh 144 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 1: more wide open meaning defender closest fenders six plus feet 145 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: away then all but four teams in the league during 146 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 1: the stretch without Anthony Davis, they're generating wide open shots. 147 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: They're just hitting those wide open shots at a rate 148 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: of which would rank twenty nine in the league over 149 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 1: that span. So they're just they're generating wide open shots. 150 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: Lebron's doing his job. I mean, he's definitely let go 151 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: of the defensive rope a little bit, but he has 152 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: to because he's got to create everything on the offensive end. 153 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 1: Like there's just this, these are throwaway games. And and 154 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: and by the way, the laate like it's not like 155 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: any other m VP candidate is like taking the rope 156 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: and just and grabbing it and running with it. It's like, no, 157 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: everyone's struggling. This is just gonna be the low point 158 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 1: in the Laker season as a result of Anthony Davis's 159 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 1: injury and as a result of Dennis retters COVID suspension. 160 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: Like that's literally all they're all there is to it. 161 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 1: They're doing the best they can. It doesn't make any 162 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: sense to evaluate them either. And and there and like 163 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: you know, Crusoe, for instance, hasn't been defending as well, 164 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: and it's like it's like what do you expect? Like this, 165 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: the guy was literally shot out out of a canon 166 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: as like a defensive wrecking ball for seventeen minutes a 167 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: night before this, and now he's being leaned on for 168 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: half a game as like a primary ball handler. Like 169 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: his entire focus and roll on the on, the on, 170 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: the team has shifted, which is a perfect segue to 171 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 1: my first silver lining, which is there was a lot 172 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 1: of talk before the season and in the first month 173 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: of the season about how Alex Caruso's play and talent 174 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 1: Horton Tucker's play was going to complicate things next summer 175 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 1: for the Lakers as far as trying to resign them. 176 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: And ironically, both players have struggled in this stretch under 177 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:47,479 Speaker 1: larger roles, and I don't want to like applaud struggles, 178 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 1: but like, if there's a silver lining here, it's I 179 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: think both players have significantly limited their value in the 180 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: off season. Over the last week, Alex Crusoe has shown 181 00:08:57,360 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: that he's a different player when he's leaned on in 182 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: a bigger role, which will affect what teams are willing 183 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: to pay him, and talent Hornon Tucker has shown that 184 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,320 Speaker 1: he's still a few years away from really being able 185 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: to be leaned on. His defensive focus has gone off 186 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 1: of a cliff as of late. And so if there's 187 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:15,559 Speaker 1: one silver lining, it's that all of these guys have 188 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: particularly talent, Hornon Tucker and Alex Cruzo have diminished some 189 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: of their value, which may make it easier for the 190 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:23,959 Speaker 1: Lakers to resign. The more you think, yeah, that that's 191 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 1: a really fascinating way to think about it. I never 192 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: even thought about that. I remember, like people, well, th 193 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 1: HD was on just a crazy curve right, like he 194 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 1: was not playing at all. Then he was like getting 195 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,200 Speaker 1: in and just having insane moments every single night. People 196 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 1: are like, oh, someone offer him four years eighty, you know, 197 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: just to to mess it up, and that's not gonna 198 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: happen anymore. You could tell the league kind of figure 199 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: him out. Um, and again he's in a role that 200 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 1: is even more than he was. Right, Like, his role 201 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 1: is pushed up another level because of No a D 202 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 1: no shooter. He's the second best ball handler, Like that's 203 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:53,959 Speaker 1: even at twenty years old, the second best ball hand 204 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:55,839 Speaker 1: on the team, and they're asking him to run you know, 205 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,559 Speaker 1: units with Lebron off the floor, which is crazy for 206 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 1: a twenty year old. Right, he's driving pick and roll, 207 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:02,680 Speaker 1: driving it to go bear and be like, oh shoot, 208 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: I'm like at the rim now, like by myself, so 209 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: I think she'll be find Cruso. I feel like there 210 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:10,959 Speaker 1: was a little bit of like even myself, I was like, 211 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,079 Speaker 1: you know, play him thirty minutes, let's see what happens. 212 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: And obviously we see what happens. I think I would 213 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:17,839 Speaker 1: like him in a larger I guess more minutes in 214 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: the same role, if that makes sense, like same defensive 215 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: exactly yeah, and he did like he got better as 216 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: a shooter. I don't think he's this bad and I 217 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:27,960 Speaker 1: don't think he's as good as that he started. Right, 218 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 1: he was shooting fifty percent from three. That was never sustainable. 219 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: That was not gonna happen. He wasn't gonna be Clay 220 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:35,439 Speaker 1: Thompson from three point range. But I feel like he 221 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 1: is a better shooter than he showed. It just sucks 222 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 1: that everyone's in the slump at the same time. So 223 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 1: even like exactly an exasperates the issue, right because now 224 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 1: no one's hitting and Cruso already doesn't get respected as 225 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 1: a shooter. Even when he was shooting fifty, they were 226 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 1: still coming off him. So I think you're right. I 227 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 1: hope they keep both of them, but yeah, I want 228 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,319 Speaker 1: I would like cruising a more minutes still, but the 229 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 1: same role. He shouldn't be running screen role actions, um 230 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: uh come and going forward? Yeah, and you know, I 231 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,960 Speaker 1: want to really quickly like this, just as a little tangent, 232 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: when we're voting for all defense, why don't we factor 233 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: this kind of thing in? Because like, for like, I'll 234 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,319 Speaker 1: use Anthony Davis as an example. You know, I think 235 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:17,959 Speaker 1: he's a better defensive player than Rudy Gobert anyway, although 236 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: he floats sometimes through the regular season as of late. 237 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 1: But like like Alex Crusoe looked like an all defense 238 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 1: level player when he was strictly defending, and then suddenly 239 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 1: he gets you know, he gets thrust all these offensive 240 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: responsibilities on him and his defense kind of like like 241 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 1: he's been hardly as effective on that end. Uh, And 242 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:41,719 Speaker 1: so you know, why don't we factor that in? That 243 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:43,520 Speaker 1: Always it blows my mind, Like, you know, you'll listen 244 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:45,680 Speaker 1: to some of these uh you know, like the Hoop 245 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: Collective or the Low Post or something, and they'll talk 246 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: about how, oh, you know, well, this defensive players has 247 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 1: been better this year than you know, than Lebron or 248 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: than a d or than you know, Kauai or some 249 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:57,839 Speaker 1: other defensive player, and it's like, yeah, but that guy 250 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: doesn't have nearly as much else to work on and 251 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 1: it's on his plate. And really, you know, if if 252 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:06,960 Speaker 1: you if you strictly went up to somebody like Lebron 253 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,719 Speaker 1: or choir Anthony Davis and you said I never need 254 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: you to take a shot, I just need you to 255 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 1: walk up on the other end, they would be devastating defense. 256 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,319 Speaker 1: They would be devastating. And I just I really really 257 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:19,079 Speaker 1: think that that's something that needs to get factored in 258 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,680 Speaker 1: moving forward. Yeah, that's a good point. And Davis's averaging 259 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,520 Speaker 1: one like twenty five a game right along with the defense. 260 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 1: Rudy Goobert is at like what Tan eleven, Um, he 261 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:31,679 Speaker 1: just screens and rolls, so you can kind of that's 262 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: wide open times. Yeah, so yeah, that's an interesting way 263 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: to look at I never really thought about it that way, 264 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 1: but yeah, they should probably factor that in, h like 265 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:42,679 Speaker 1: into the defensive award. So what's your what's your first 266 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: silver lining? My first sim reliance is that I think 267 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 1: I feel like Tread's got really comfortable. Um, I feel 268 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:50,959 Speaker 1: like he wasn't comfortable in the offense and even on 269 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:53,599 Speaker 1: defense before, and I think Davis went out and I 270 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: just see him a lot more in the offense, in 271 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 1: the flow. UM. He's obviously now getting his touches, but 272 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,199 Speaker 1: I just love how he's played the UM. He didn't 273 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,199 Speaker 1: close a few games, even though I thought like he 274 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: should have, but I feel like his just game has 275 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: really opened up with down Anthony Davis the last three 276 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 1: games sixteen against Utah, twenty six against the Washington eighteen 277 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: against the Heat UM, he's rebounding as well, UM over 278 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:18,959 Speaker 1: over seven plus rebounds in each of those UM. I 279 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 1: liked how he's switched. I thought he's defended fine, and uh, 280 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: he seems he's really comfortable now. Like you could see 281 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 1: in the beginning of the season, he would just stay 282 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 1: at the dunker spot waiting for the ball, begging for 283 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 1: the ball, UM, but now he's kind of moving around. 284 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:34,479 Speaker 1: He somehow added a mid range jumper UM this offseason, 285 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:36,959 Speaker 1: so I guess that's that's going in right now. But 286 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 1: and he's their offense. I mean, when when Lebron's not creating, 287 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: they give it a tress and say here, get a bucket, 288 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 1: And for the most part he did. UM. He still 289 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 1: has his like defensive kind of issues that sometimes, but 290 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 1: I really like how this I hope he plays this 291 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: kind of same aggressiveness when a d comes back. Um, 292 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: I think they need him as a shot creator in 293 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:00,719 Speaker 1: that second unit. We'll see as far as his aggression goes. 294 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:03,439 Speaker 1: Because I talked about this u with Tommy in the 295 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 1: Pot on Wednesday. But like, that's part of the role expansions, 296 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 1: that that that that have been happening to role players 297 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: is all of a sudden, Trees is like a twenty 298 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 1: point a game like high usage guy, which you know, 299 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 1: ideally he probably shouldn't be. But what what I do 300 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 1: agree with you in the sense that, like, you know, 301 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 1: there was a lot of talk after what happened in 302 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 1: the series against the Nuggets, which was an embarrassing moment 303 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 1: for Mantrez, even though there's a lot of context there. 304 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: But there was a lot of talk about, you know, 305 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: whether or not the Lakers would be able to find 306 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: a way to make him useful on a content, and 307 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 1: I believe the Lakers have. And the answer is really simple. 308 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: He's absolutely deadly in offensive mismatches. So if you can 309 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 1: get him switched on to a smaller guy, he's as 310 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: much of a sure thing as possible, as much as 311 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: far as like getting a lamp or getting fouled. And 312 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 1: then on defense, we figured out, now the Lakers have 313 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 1: through trial and error that he cannot be floating around 314 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: is like as someone who's in drop coverage or any 315 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: sort of uh like loose coverage where he's kind of 316 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: floating in space because he just doesn't he doesn't anticipate 317 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 1: things well enough, and he's not big enough around the 318 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 1: rim as a primary defensive player. But the Lakers have 319 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: figured out that he can thrive in the chaos when 320 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: he's because he's so quick, because he's so athletic, and 321 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: he's so long, and his motor is so good. If 322 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: you get him defending in space or he's chasing guys 323 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 1: off the line and he's flying around in rotations, he's 324 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 1: actually an extremely valuable defensive big, even more so than 325 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: you know, Dwight and Javail were in similar roles. So 326 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 1: I think that I agree in the sense that, like, 327 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: it makes a lot of sense to me that the 328 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: Lakers have figured out, you know, ways to make Montrez 329 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 1: into somebody that was successful in a way that he 330 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 1: couldn't be with the Clippers. Yeah, he's much betterly, he's 331 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 1: in like a defensive stance right when he's coming off. 332 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: I hate when like he can't be the back line 333 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: of your defense. He just like those minutes with him 334 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 1: and Mark kith Morris, it's just bleeding points, like there's 335 00:15:57,480 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 1: just no there's no point of that because they're both 336 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: not rim protectors. They're both undersized as well, even for 337 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 1: the positions, and when Treads is coming off and a 338 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: drop coverage, it's pretty much he's not he's not stopping 339 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 1: the ball handled from me in the rim, or he's 340 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: not covering the big that's getting a love and man 341 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 1: against Utah. I felt like they were just walking through. 342 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: Man it that's what annoyed me about the Utah game. 343 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 1: I understand we were like not talented at all. I 344 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 1: don't know your point about this, but I was getting 345 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: upset because it felt like they were in a walkthrough, 346 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: like in a like you know, a morning shoot around. 347 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: Like it was literally Connley screen roll. They know exactly 348 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: where the help is coming past to the corner shooter 349 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: wide open three. I'm like, what what are you even 350 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 1: doing here? What's the point even getting on this plane 351 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: and come to Utah If you're gonna play it that 352 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 1: way because they're just gonna destroy you. Some of those 353 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 1: shots though, Man, they didn't even he I've never seen 354 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 1: like Mike Conley. I don't think he shot hit rim 355 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 1: last night Like that night, it was just swishing through. 356 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: So yeah, but yeah, I'm glad Tread's get a little 357 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 1: more comfortable comfortable here. Yeah. With with Utah, like it 358 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 1: was a textbook case of like the Lakers kind of 359 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 1: came in and let him get comfortable early and then like, 360 00:16:55,640 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: I mean, this is any decent sized shooter, Like I'm 361 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: I'm six ft six and I've got about a six 362 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 1: ten wingspan. If you let me get a rhythm, there's 363 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: just no one that can stop me shooting the basketball 364 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 1: because I'm too tall. Well, like when you've got Joe 365 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 1: Ingles who's six seven, and Eve Royce O'Neil is the 366 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 1: short one. It was like six five or whatever it 367 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:16,959 Speaker 1: is that he is, and and uh Bogdanovitch I think 368 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 1: is six eight, and you know, Donovan Mitchell can jump 369 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:21,240 Speaker 1: out of the gym. So like with these all these 370 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 1: big tall shooters, when you let them get their confidence 371 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:26,760 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, it doesn't matter how much you 372 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 1: defend and that that's what happened in that game, is 373 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 1: they let him get comfortable early and they made some 374 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:33,640 Speaker 1: shots and then it became like they're showing off. They're 375 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: just they're they're just they're just riding that confidence wave, 376 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 1: hitting a tough shot after tough shot after tough shot. 377 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:43,160 Speaker 1: Like that's why it's so important early in a game 378 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: to make a team feel uncomfortable. Now, as far as 379 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 1: Frank's scheme, I agree with you. I don't really like, uh, 380 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 1: the way they've been doing their pick and roll coverage 381 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: this year because to me, it's too much of an 382 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:55,920 Speaker 1: in between thing, where last year they were in a 383 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:59,639 Speaker 1: full drop coverage and this year there and then the 384 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,159 Speaker 1: play offs they did like a trapping scheme, and then 385 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: this year they've been in kind of more of like 386 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 1: an in between scheme. Uh. They call it a catch 387 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 1: heead it's uh something that that guy Crane just is 388 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:11,680 Speaker 1: always talking about on Twitter. But like it's kind of 389 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 1: like an in between thing, and I don't really like it, 390 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: and I think it's part of the reason they've had 391 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 1: some struggles. But this team, we know can thrive in 392 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 1: rotations and sprinting around the floor and you could just 393 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: tell to start that game that they just weren't really 394 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:25,800 Speaker 1: all the way dialed in uh in that respect, and 395 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: then once you talk aout their confidence, they ran off 396 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:29,920 Speaker 1: with it. As far as Tray's go real quick before 397 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:32,680 Speaker 1: we move on to the next one. You know the 398 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 1: reason why, like rim protectors are usually so tall and 399 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 1: a guy like a guy like Montrese struggles and like 400 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 1: head up rim protection because Tray's as good as like 401 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 1: a secondary rim protector, meaning like if if a guy 402 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 1: is driving to the basket and a guy's on his 403 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:53,719 Speaker 1: hip and he's changing the shot, and then Tread's can 404 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 1: really load up and come flying in and block it. 405 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: He can get some block shots at the rim. But 406 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:02,639 Speaker 1: when you when you're a primary rim protector, meaning like 407 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 1: the guy's coming at you like he's already beat his 408 00:19:05,119 --> 00:19:07,320 Speaker 1: defender and you're the only thing standing between him and 409 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 1: the rim, it's not as simple as just jumping as 410 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 1: high as you can because the usually most offensive players 411 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 1: are gonna find a way to get into your body. 412 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 1: So that's where these like really big guys like Marc Asol. 413 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:19,679 Speaker 1: It was the reason why foot Vogo went with him 414 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:21,959 Speaker 1: at the end of that game against Washington the other night. 415 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: But like Marc Asol, or like a Dwight Howard or 416 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,800 Speaker 1: or like a Rudy Gobert is there so they can 417 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 1: actually defend while standing up. So essentially, like a guy 418 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:34,440 Speaker 1: jumps into their chest and kind of takes away their jump, 419 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter because they just kind of staying there 420 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:38,200 Speaker 1: with their arms up and extend over the top, and 421 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:39,919 Speaker 1: they can they can get block shots, and they can 422 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 1: change shots. That's why it doesn't make sense to use 423 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 1: treads and any sort of drop coverage or anything that 424 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:47,879 Speaker 1: has him kind of waiting for guys around the basket. 425 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 1: It's just a waste. And you know, the Draymond is 426 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: an anomaly in that sense, and I think it has 427 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:54,880 Speaker 1: to do with because he's so strong that when guys 428 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 1: actually run into his body they lose all their lift, 429 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:00,639 Speaker 1: but treads doesn't have that that kind of strength. Defense. 430 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 1: Defense also is a communication thing, right, Like there's a 431 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 1: lot of lineups that just do not play together, and 432 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 1: treads is a lot of like when someone scores, he goes, oh, 433 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: you're supposed to be there, right, Like, there's a lot 434 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 1: of that I see that after someone scores, and just 435 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:15,480 Speaker 1: a communication thing. That's going on. Him and Kuzuma have 436 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 1: a weird defensive chemistry, where like he always thinks who's 437 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:21,199 Speaker 1: supposed to be helping or Kuzma things, treads is supposed 438 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 1: to be helping, and those two really you could tell 439 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:25,040 Speaker 1: kind of go at it um on the court that way. 440 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:26,679 Speaker 1: So I feel like when the lineups kind of get 441 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,440 Speaker 1: more stuck um, they'll be fine. Th HD over helps 442 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,400 Speaker 1: a lot. He could tell that annoys his teammates. He'll lose, 443 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: like the guy that's hit six straight threes, it's just hilarious. 444 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 1: He'll be in the pain. Well, like Joe Ingles who 445 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:40,160 Speaker 1: just hit two in a row, is wide open. You're like, ow, 446 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: what are you doing? You can see it gets frustrating 447 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: and uh yeah, like last night after after they got 448 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,440 Speaker 1: down by like fifteen, that game was over. But yeah, 449 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:49,520 Speaker 1: I don't I don't want trust to be the back line. 450 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:51,440 Speaker 1: For sure, he should be playing with a d or 451 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:53,880 Speaker 1: you know, I don't see him playing a lot with Mark, 452 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 1: But they know how to use and Vogo knows what 453 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 1: he has has in trust. The th HT thing with 454 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 1: with over helping has been a problem with him all season, 455 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:04,400 Speaker 1: and that's gonna be something he's got to figure out 456 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 1: because there's a balance there. And this is something that 457 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:09,880 Speaker 1: Crusoe does so well, uh early from time to time. 458 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:12,439 Speaker 1: He last year he was kind of bad and help defense, 459 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 1: but he's been better this year. But like a KCP 460 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: is actually a better example. And Dennis is really good 461 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:21,239 Speaker 1: at this too, where it's like they're they're in uh 462 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 1: kind of like a shell drill type of position where 463 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:26,280 Speaker 1: the halfway halfway to the ball, but their weight is 464 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 1: on their inside legs, so they're prepared to quit close out. 465 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: So it's almost like he's only there to discourage the 466 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 1: drive and he's already planning on closing out on the 467 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: on the shooter, and that's something he has to get 468 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: better at. But the biggest thing that bothered me with 469 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: th h T and so the best, the best comp 470 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 1: that I could use for somebody like him with his 471 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 1: body type is like an Eric Gordon as far as 472 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:51,000 Speaker 1: like really strong in his shoulders, not overly tall, but 473 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:54,680 Speaker 1: has really long arms. Eric Gordon does an amazing job 474 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:57,960 Speaker 1: fighting over the top of screens using his strength. And 475 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 1: what was still frustrating with th HT in that game 476 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 1: is you know, he got matched up on Connolly and 477 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,119 Speaker 1: and Clarkson a lot in that game, and he just 478 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 1: did he just did a really poor job fighting over 479 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:11,680 Speaker 1: the top of screens. And like it's one yeah, it's 480 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: one thing if you're a skinny guy and you struggle, 481 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 1: but like you're strong and you've got a really wide base, 482 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 1: you can fight over the top of these screens with 483 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 1: your strength and then you use your length to bother 484 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:25,920 Speaker 1: the shooter from behind and that and that's what you know, 485 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 1: like Tony Allen used to do so well in his career, 486 00:22:28,119 --> 00:22:31,920 Speaker 1: and it's just I think there's he has defensive potential. 487 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 1: Uh that goes on for days, and it's gonna be 488 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:38,800 Speaker 1: really exciting to see what he turns into. But yeah, 489 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:40,440 Speaker 1: it was. It was not a pretty night. It was 490 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:43,680 Speaker 1: not a pretty night for him for sure. Um. But 491 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:50,760 Speaker 1: so my second silver lining is was that ironically, um 492 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:53,879 Speaker 1: and this is just part of the Laker experience with 493 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 1: how you know, you know, how uh you know polarizing 494 00:22:57,640 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: they are, h And part of this has to do with, 495 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:01,879 Speaker 1: you know, being a fan of any team, you have 496 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 1: a tendency to kind of get stuck in the fish 497 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 1: bowl and only pay attention to what's happening to you. 498 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:09,720 Speaker 1: But every everyone's struggling. And I talked about this with 499 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 1: with Tommy the other day. But I mean, the Clippers 500 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: went into uh Memphis last night and got worked, like 501 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 1: got beat like handily with all their guys, you know, 502 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:23,479 Speaker 1: like it, you know, Philly, Uh Philly gotta win last night. 503 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 1: But they've dropped I think five games in their last 504 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 1: twelve if I remember correctly, or something like that. I 505 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:31,119 Speaker 1: can't remember exactly for sure. Denver lost again last night 506 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:34,480 Speaker 1: to Washington, who, by the way, is beating everybody. Ironically, 507 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 1: the Clippers are the only team it was able to 508 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 1: kind of handle them the other day. Um, but everyone's struggling, 509 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: and the Lakers after all of this like probably the 510 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:46,399 Speaker 1: worst stretch they've had in the last two seasons, absolutely 511 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 1: the worst stretch they've had in the last two seasons. 512 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 1: They're half game back a second place in the West, 513 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:52,680 Speaker 1: in second place, the second place in the whole league. 514 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 1: Their half came back, and so I think if one 515 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:57,800 Speaker 1: silver lining I would say is that, like you know, 516 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 1: with with everything that's happened, everything is still on the 517 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 1: table for the Lakers. Now there's six losses back of Utah, 518 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 1: so the one seed might be a little bit tough, 519 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 1: but they're they're they're right there in the thick of things. 520 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 1: They're still in a position where if they do beat Utah, 521 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 1: they could have home court advantage in the NBA Finals 522 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:18,720 Speaker 1: because they have a better record than all the teams 523 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:21,399 Speaker 1: out East. So it's one of those things where for 524 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 1: as bad as things have been, uh, there's still a 525 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: lot of opportunity here to salvage this regular season. Yeah, 526 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:30,760 Speaker 1: it's crazy because it's weird when I see like the 527 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:33,359 Speaker 1: Clippers lose, I feel like it puts less pressure on 528 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:35,520 Speaker 1: the Lakers again on their next game. Like every single 529 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:37,920 Speaker 1: time they lose, some of the Clippers just lose again, 530 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 1: or the Sun's lose. I think the Sun's lost to 531 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 1: who they just lost to in a close game. But yeah, 532 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 1: when you when you see the standing man, it's crazy 533 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 1: the Hornets. Yes, yes, LaMelo went, LaMelo went insane, But yeah, 534 00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:51,600 Speaker 1: it's kind of crazy looking at the standings that they're 535 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 1: still tied and the Clippers have had all other guys. 536 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 1: I think back for a little while now, and yeah, 537 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:58,639 Speaker 1: that that just shows how they started the season right, 538 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 1: it felt like doomsday. But the Lakers still have like 539 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 1: a four game lead. I think they've lost that, but um, 540 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,639 Speaker 1: it's tied second place. What's great about this? Because I 541 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 1: feel like you watched the rest of the league a 542 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 1: lot more than I do. I kind of watch the 543 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:13,639 Speaker 1: Lakers um a lot more than other teams. So do 544 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 1: you see like the same similarness or is it just 545 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:19,360 Speaker 1: like is everyone tired? Or is it like I catch 546 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 1: like the highlights a lot. I don't really watch the 547 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 1: full games of other teams, but at least from what 548 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 1: I saw, because I watched the whole Clippers Memphis game, 549 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: and I feel like the Clippers issues kind of just 550 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:31,680 Speaker 1: tumbled on them. So they're big time jump shooting team. 551 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 1: I don't want to talk about them a lot, but 552 00:25:33,119 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 1: I feel like Zach Close said, they're like twenty nine 553 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:36,879 Speaker 1: in the room scoring, And I know this is like 554 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:39,240 Speaker 1: a thing that you really hold true to believe that 555 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:41,199 Speaker 1: the teams in the playoffs get to the room right, 556 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:42,680 Speaker 1: they score at the rim, and they can draw free 557 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:44,440 Speaker 1: throws and they get easy shots like that, and the 558 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:48,640 Speaker 1: Cliples are like their perimeter attempts from putting PRESSU around 559 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:51,719 Speaker 1: the room correct, correct, and then PG and Quiet take 560 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 1: a lot of those mid range twos when they go 561 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:56,040 Speaker 1: in it looks absolutely beautiful, but like there again, twenty 562 00:25:56,119 --> 00:25:58,359 Speaker 1: nine scoring at the room is a really low number 563 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: for a team that's that good champions at level, So 564 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:02,439 Speaker 1: that was interesting. When I was watching in Memphis game, 565 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:04,200 Speaker 1: they were just breaking and then Memphis got out and 566 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: ran um. They actually picked on the drop coverage of 567 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 1: Zobach and us. I think Surge was like five of 568 00:26:09,760 --> 00:26:11,760 Speaker 1: his last twenty eight from three or something. I saw. 569 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 1: He's really gone cold as well. So the whole league 570 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:16,720 Speaker 1: um is kind of going. Yeah. My question you was like, 571 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:18,880 Speaker 1: do you see a similar thing that's going on, because 572 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 1: the Lakers it's some more of like who they're out 573 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:22,360 Speaker 1: right and then you could see them starting to sleepwalk? 574 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:23,960 Speaker 1: Is that what's going on the rest of the league. 575 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: I'm seeing these close games, seeing Washington run down Denver. 576 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 1: That was just an awful last play. I feel like 577 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:30,639 Speaker 1: that was that was like that four on one I 578 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 1: don't know if you got if you kind of it's 579 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:35,959 Speaker 1: one of the one of the most crazy things I've 580 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: ever seen in my life. And the basketball like you 581 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:42,480 Speaker 1: of Michael Porter Jr. On that plate that literally have 582 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 1: a dunk. Like the only explanation I can think of 583 00:26:46,119 --> 00:26:50,560 Speaker 1: is they didn't no time in score. Yeah, I'm thinking 584 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:54,320 Speaker 1: like that's his transition principles though, right, Like, obviously that's 585 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:55,840 Speaker 1: you gotta know time and score, you gotta go to 586 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:57,920 Speaker 1: the rim. But I feel like in a regular transition, 587 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 1: his job is to get to that that week, that 588 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 1: week side corners, so then the rim run comes. But 589 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:05,960 Speaker 1: he just forgot that, you know, it's two seconds left. 590 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:07,440 Speaker 1: That's a bone had play for him. That's what I 591 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:11,920 Speaker 1: was just thinking. That's my idea of They they train 592 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 1: you from high school on any form of organized basketball, 593 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:19,320 Speaker 1: that you fill lanes and transition. So the first guy 594 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:22,320 Speaker 1: up the floor always runs to the basket, the next 595 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:24,680 Speaker 1: two guys were on the wings, and then the last 596 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:28,200 Speaker 1: guy always trails. That's been the same at every level, 597 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:30,080 Speaker 1: at every basketball team I've ever played on ever, and 598 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:31,960 Speaker 1: I would imagine they still teach that in the league. 599 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 1: The only time you'd run to the wing if you 600 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:36,920 Speaker 1: were the first guy down the floor is if the 601 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:38,920 Speaker 1: guy had of you as the ball handler and you 602 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 1: were trailing the play. It just didn't make any sense 603 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:42,800 Speaker 1: to me. That's why I thought maybe time and score 604 00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 1: but or or just literally the biggest brain fart in 605 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:47,720 Speaker 1: the history of basketball. But that was that was bizarre. 606 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:49,800 Speaker 1: But as far as what you're saying, and real quickly 607 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:53,520 Speaker 1: about the Clipper, real quickly about the Clippers, the uh, 608 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:56,280 Speaker 1: this is what worries me about them with the nets 609 00:27:56,640 --> 00:28:01,400 Speaker 1: is like you know, isolation is stag nation when it's 610 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:06,280 Speaker 1: leading to strictly contested jump shots. However, and like you said, 611 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:08,400 Speaker 1: the Clippers are twenty nine in the league or whatever 612 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 1: in rim attempts, So that's something that's a real problem 613 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 1: for them is they have a tendency to strictly lean 614 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 1: on jump shooting. So what I like about the Lakers 615 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 1: or the Sixers in a matchup with Brooklyn is when 616 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:24,480 Speaker 1: they would get into isolation, it would be Ben Simmons 617 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:27,240 Speaker 1: doing ripped through's going all the way to the rim 618 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:30,320 Speaker 1: on like a Kyrie Irving and a switch or a 619 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:33,359 Speaker 1: Joe Harris and a switch, Or it would be Lebron 620 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:35,440 Speaker 1: James doing the same thing as a post up player, 621 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 1: or the Anthony Davis getting a mismatch on the glass 622 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 1: while Lebron's got a center on him and getting an 623 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:44,600 Speaker 1: offensive rebound putback, which is something he did an amazing 624 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:46,640 Speaker 1: job of in the playoffs last year if you remember, 625 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:48,760 Speaker 1: especially against Miami, and that was where he had his 626 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:53,280 Speaker 1: biggest offensive impact. So like that's where I think, uh, like, 627 00:28:53,680 --> 00:28:56,400 Speaker 1: you can beat a team that gets heavy into switching 628 00:28:56,400 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 1: because isolation score isolation as a defense of trying to 629 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 1: force isolations as a defense is great if you can 630 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 1: force them into taking jump shots, but it can be 631 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:08,560 Speaker 1: a huge problem if you're just getting beat up around 632 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 1: the basket. Um, as far as the the the schedule goes, Like, 633 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:14,800 Speaker 1: let's be clear, what's happening to the Lakers is not 634 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:17,239 Speaker 1: what's happening to some of these other teams because they 635 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:19,960 Speaker 1: literally can't win, Like they were going into that game 636 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 1: against Utah, like we can't beat these guys. They would 637 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:25,840 Speaker 1: lose to Portland's tonight if Dennis wasn't playing. That's how 638 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 1: that's how poorly constructed this roster is without Dennis and 639 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:32,320 Speaker 1: a d I truly believe that, Um, what's happening to 640 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:35,440 Speaker 1: all these other teams is more a product of just 641 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 1: ridiculous death around the league. Like Charlotte's good. You can 642 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: lose to Charlotte, Washington's good. Like Washington's beaten everybody. They 643 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:48,280 Speaker 1: beat the I just I've listed it the other day, 644 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:51,240 Speaker 1: Like they beat the Nuggets, they beat uh. I think 645 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:53,320 Speaker 1: they beat the Nuggets twice actually at the double check. 646 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:56,600 Speaker 1: But they beat Boston, they beat the Lakers, like the 647 00:29:56,640 --> 00:29:58,240 Speaker 1: Clippers are literally the only team they've lost to in 648 00:29:58,240 --> 00:30:00,640 Speaker 1: the last like two and a half weeks. Like all 649 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 1: of these teams that you're playing are so good that 650 00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:07,040 Speaker 1: if you bring lackadaisical effort, you're gonna get beat. And 651 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: and I think in every regular season, every team goes 652 00:30:11,920 --> 00:30:15,720 Speaker 1: through bouts of lackadaisical effort. And so with the depth 653 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:18,200 Speaker 1: of the league now that's just more likely to get 654 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:20,640 Speaker 1: you beat. And that's what's been so interesting about Utah 655 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:24,680 Speaker 1: is like it doesn't make sense for them to be 656 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 1: trying as hard as they are. They're trying harder than 657 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 1: every team in the league, like by a pretty significant margin. 658 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:33,480 Speaker 1: When's the last time you saw them come out and 659 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:36,880 Speaker 1: lay a negg like they got something to prove And 660 00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 1: when the wait you have every shot going into I 661 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 1: feel like it's tough. But like I think, like you 662 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:43,360 Speaker 1: said that, we're like what five games down right now 663 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 1: in the standings. UM. I remember last year, Milwaukee I 664 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:50,920 Speaker 1: think had like a six game lead. Um. I think 665 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:52,560 Speaker 1: by the All Star break as well, and then then 666 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:55,479 Speaker 1: before you know, the COVID ended the season. I think 667 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:59,320 Speaker 1: the Lakers were one game back. They caught Milwaukee because 668 00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:01,360 Speaker 1: I think every team does go through a cold. Utah 669 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:03,920 Speaker 1: is gonna lose. Like it's They're not gonna play like 670 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:06,000 Speaker 1: the seventy three win Bulls. I feel like they're I 671 00:31:06,280 --> 00:31:08,560 Speaker 1: just don't see them that kind of roster, that kind 672 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:10,960 Speaker 1: of team on the shooting is gonna go cold eventually. 673 00:31:11,120 --> 00:31:12,880 Speaker 1: But they just have a ton of guys who just 674 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:15,600 Speaker 1: who have no conscience from three and when you do that, 675 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:18,320 Speaker 1: and then they obviously are feeling good. Mitchell and go 676 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:20,560 Speaker 1: Bart are young enough. They don't They're not like, oh, 677 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:22,600 Speaker 1: I have to save myself at the playoffs, so they're 678 00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:25,320 Speaker 1: gonna go hard every night. I think I want to 679 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 1: compare them to like Hawks. I feel like Mitchell's better 680 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:31,200 Speaker 1: than whoever's on that team. But it kind of feels 681 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:32,520 Speaker 1: that way. It feels like a team that's running to 682 00:31:32,520 --> 00:31:35,080 Speaker 1: the regular season. Um, you as watching the Calves a lot. 683 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:37,440 Speaker 1: He saw those Raptor teams that would really kill in 684 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:39,760 Speaker 1: the regular season two right, and then and the playoff 685 00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:42,840 Speaker 1: comes in games change. That space that you get is 686 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:45,680 Speaker 1: like a little tighter. Um, I'm watching like DeRozan, his 687 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:47,960 Speaker 1: mid range pull ups just don't go in as much 688 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:50,240 Speaker 1: when when the game's tightened up. So that that's kind 689 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:52,000 Speaker 1: of kind of feel about them. But they're a good team. 690 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:53,680 Speaker 1: They're they're gonna go hard every night. I don't think 691 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:55,320 Speaker 1: they're they're gonna let up at all, but I do 692 00:31:55,440 --> 00:31:57,480 Speaker 1: think they'll start they'll go through a losing stretch. I 693 00:31:57,520 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 1: don't know if that would be enough for the Lakers 694 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:02,160 Speaker 1: to catch them, um, but we'll we'll see. So I 695 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:05,040 Speaker 1: I do think it's like what they're doing is impressive, 696 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:07,680 Speaker 1: Like I I never wanna you know, undercut winning. But 697 00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 1: I still think the Milwaukee Bucks are the best example 698 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:12,320 Speaker 1: of them in the sense that, like you know, I 699 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:14,080 Speaker 1: saw the stat that got thrown around on Twitter a 700 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:15,640 Speaker 1: couple It was like a week ago as when they 701 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 1: were at the Bucks wereing that losing streak, like going 702 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:22,160 Speaker 1: back to like February of last year, the Bucks were 703 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:24,600 Speaker 1: below five hundred. They might have creeved back up a 704 00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:27,160 Speaker 1: five hundred with this recent winning streak that they're on. Um, 705 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:29,680 Speaker 1: But they like they've been more or less of average 706 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:32,120 Speaker 1: basketball team for a long time. And I think I 707 00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:34,120 Speaker 1: think it has to do with scouting. Like when you 708 00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:36,200 Speaker 1: when you watch a team, like when you watch Brooklyn 709 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:39,480 Speaker 1: for instance, like you can really see why they're winning. 710 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:41,800 Speaker 1: They just have this huge talent advantage and their defense 711 00:32:41,920 --> 00:32:44,240 Speaker 1: is bothering people because it forces them into isolation and 712 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:47,240 Speaker 1: causes stagnation and blah blah blah. But when you watch 713 00:32:47,560 --> 00:32:50,760 Speaker 1: like Utah, it's like it's kind of gimmicky. That's this 714 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 1: defense where Rudy gobarts camping around the paint and no 715 00:32:53,560 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 1: one has really explored the ways to get him out 716 00:32:56,040 --> 00:32:59,959 Speaker 1: of the paint, and they just put relentless uh pressure 717 00:33:00,040 --> 00:33:01,800 Speaker 1: on you from the three point line, which causes you know, 718 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 1: this kind of cascading effect of driving lanes where it's 719 00:33:04,080 --> 00:33:05,720 Speaker 1: like driving kick and driving kick and driving kick, and 720 00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:07,600 Speaker 1: then somebody gets open and then once they get a 721 00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:09,640 Speaker 1: little bit of confidence, they just start bombing away and 722 00:33:09,720 --> 00:33:12,160 Speaker 1: they can they can blow people out. But over time, 723 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:15,760 Speaker 1: you're gonna see scouting player role. Uh. This growing schedule 724 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:18,000 Speaker 1: in the in the second half of the season might 725 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:21,080 Speaker 1: get them all. It takes like kind of like what 726 00:33:21,160 --> 00:33:23,000 Speaker 1: happened with the Lakers who were shooting so well to 727 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:24,960 Speaker 1: start the year and then suddenly went into the slump. 728 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:27,360 Speaker 1: All it takes is like a little tough break with 729 00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:29,680 Speaker 1: your schedule, and you could go into a slump yourself. 730 00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 1: And uh, you know the in the Jazz by the way, 731 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:34,520 Speaker 1: where you know they've been winning anyway because of injury luck. 732 00:33:34,760 --> 00:33:36,800 Speaker 1: They keep playing all these teams without their best players, 733 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 1: Like like they played Philly without embad. You know, they 734 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:43,520 Speaker 1: lost the Clippers with their guys, and then beat the 735 00:33:43,560 --> 00:33:46,040 Speaker 1: Clippers when Kawiet Paul George didn't play. You know, they 736 00:33:46,120 --> 00:33:49,960 Speaker 1: played the Bucks without Drew Holiday, they played the Lakers 737 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:51,960 Speaker 1: without Anthony Davison Denner shooter. Like, I don't really know 738 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:53,600 Speaker 1: what to make of them, but they're gonna end up 739 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:56,320 Speaker 1: going on some Eastern Conference road trip where they're gonna 740 00:33:56,320 --> 00:33:59,160 Speaker 1: play like Philly, Boston and Brooklyn back to back to 741 00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:01,680 Speaker 1: back in one week and they're gonna get their ass 742 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:04,480 Speaker 1: kicked and it's and and that's gonna be kind of 743 00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:07,600 Speaker 1: brings them down to earth. I they're a good team. 744 00:34:08,560 --> 00:34:12,479 Speaker 1: I just I I refuse to believe that that either 745 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:14,960 Speaker 1: or that the Lakers would losing them in the Planters. 746 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:18,640 Speaker 1: I just refused to believe. What was your second Yeah, 747 00:34:18,680 --> 00:34:20,239 Speaker 1: So it's funny. I didn't I didn't know you were 748 00:34:20,239 --> 00:34:21,719 Speaker 1: gonna go with the cruise, so and th h t 749 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:24,680 Speaker 1: um kind of uh. And I want to say lowering 750 00:34:24,760 --> 00:34:26,960 Speaker 1: their value, but I guess showing like what they are 751 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:29,040 Speaker 1: in the league kind of thing. I kind of wrote 752 00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:31,239 Speaker 1: down the opposite. I think this gives like shrewder a 753 00:34:31,360 --> 00:34:34,440 Speaker 1: real like, hey, so I am the ball Hannah, like 754 00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:37,080 Speaker 1: I am the secondary offense. I need to be aggressive. 755 00:34:37,120 --> 00:34:39,120 Speaker 1: I hope this. I don't think I think this will 756 00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:41,520 Speaker 1: do that. I think this shows his importance to the team, 757 00:34:41,760 --> 00:34:43,960 Speaker 1: not just for fans, but like to the coaching to 758 00:34:44,120 --> 00:34:47,319 Speaker 1: him to like know that he's he's like a big 759 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:49,120 Speaker 1: part of what they do on offense. UM. And I 760 00:34:49,200 --> 00:34:51,920 Speaker 1: hope this kind of gives him the confidence to be 761 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:54,560 Speaker 1: more aggressive. I feel like this is this open and 762 00:34:54,680 --> 00:34:56,200 Speaker 1: open things up for him. I'm not sure he'll get 763 00:34:56,239 --> 00:34:58,719 Speaker 1: the extension right away um that he's looking for, but 764 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:01,040 Speaker 1: I think this show was like, yeah, I'm I'm a 765 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:02,960 Speaker 1: big part of this offense and when I'm not there 766 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:05,759 Speaker 1: that the team really struggles. And yeah, I think he'll 767 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:08,560 Speaker 1: give him a big boost here UM going forward because 768 00:35:08,560 --> 00:35:10,320 Speaker 1: you can see his role like he would be aggressive 769 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:13,200 Speaker 1: some games and he'll have some like four for eight 770 00:35:13,280 --> 00:35:15,800 Speaker 1: shot games, which should not happen. He should not be 771 00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:18,239 Speaker 1: taking less than eight shots a game. Um go, So 772 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:20,239 Speaker 1: I hope this kind of makes him aggressive. I think 773 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:22,200 Speaker 1: he might have some rust tonight. I don't know what 774 00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:24,439 Speaker 1: you think, like, you know, being off for like four 775 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:27,000 Speaker 1: games because he's not even allowed into the facility, I 776 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:29,560 Speaker 1: don't think right, So I think he's gonna be a 777 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:32,080 Speaker 1: big boost. I think he helps. He helps just normalize 778 00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:35,120 Speaker 1: the offense, uh in a big way. So that that's 779 00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:37,920 Speaker 1: my other silver lining here is that like hopefully Shrewder 780 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:39,600 Speaker 1: really realized like, oh yeah, I'm a big part of 781 00:35:39,680 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 1: this team like this, this is why they signed me 782 00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:46,400 Speaker 1: to be a big offensive hub here. So you actually 783 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:49,080 Speaker 1: make an interesting counterpoint any money that they save with 784 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:52,960 Speaker 1: Crusoe THHD, Like, if I'm Dennis, I'm like, give me 785 00:35:53,040 --> 00:35:54,960 Speaker 1: the money, man, because like and that would be the 786 00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:56,680 Speaker 1: time to ask for more than ever. It kind of 787 00:35:56,719 --> 00:35:58,479 Speaker 1: reminds me, I'm a Cowboy fan. It kind of reminds 788 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:01,600 Speaker 1: me of what's happening with Dak Prescott. But uh, anyway, 789 00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:05,520 Speaker 1: like yeah, I agree, like there there's there. Uh, It's 790 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:08,279 Speaker 1: never been more apparent how important he is to that team, 791 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:10,279 Speaker 1: and it goes to show you how like even with 792 00:36:10,400 --> 00:36:12,560 Speaker 1: as bad as Rondo was last year, and you and 793 00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:15,200 Speaker 1: I think are both Rondo truthers in the sense that 794 00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:17,560 Speaker 1: we don't think he's very good, but it's just so 795 00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:20,560 Speaker 1: it's so important to have coherent ball handling on the floor, 796 00:36:21,320 --> 00:36:25,240 Speaker 1: and you know, it's what it kind of like slides 797 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:28,040 Speaker 1: down a food chain, right, So like everybody on the 798 00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:30,480 Speaker 1: Lakers is like one or two levels too high on 799 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:34,040 Speaker 1: the food chain, and by putting Dennis Shrewder in there, 800 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:37,000 Speaker 1: it just slides everybody down the food chain. It gets 801 00:36:37,040 --> 00:36:39,080 Speaker 1: back into a position where Lebron can be a role 802 00:36:39,120 --> 00:36:40,960 Speaker 1: man where he's had a lot of success. There's been 803 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:43,320 Speaker 1: a Zach Low actually talked about this on his podcast 804 00:36:43,400 --> 00:36:45,040 Speaker 1: the other day, But it's something that I've been seeing 805 00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:47,360 Speaker 1: all year, which is, you know, and Lebron used to 806 00:36:47,440 --> 00:36:50,839 Speaker 1: do this with George Hill in Cleveland in particular, used 807 00:36:50,840 --> 00:36:53,200 Speaker 1: to do with uh with Kyrie as well. When you 808 00:36:53,280 --> 00:36:56,360 Speaker 1: put Lebron as a pick and roll man, as the 809 00:36:56,600 --> 00:37:00,239 Speaker 1: as the screener, uh, he's deadly and he does that 810 00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:02,080 Speaker 1: a lot with Shrewder and has had a lot of success. 811 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:04,680 Speaker 1: But yeah, I know, I'm excited to have him back. 812 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:08,680 Speaker 1: I think, you know, I think people are going to 813 00:37:08,760 --> 00:37:12,440 Speaker 1: be stunned at how quickly the Lakers start playing better 814 00:37:12,480 --> 00:37:17,719 Speaker 1: with Dennis Shooter. I cannot possibly overstate how his loss was. 815 00:37:17,840 --> 00:37:20,840 Speaker 1: It's just it's a classic example of how when we 816 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:23,800 Speaker 1: are evaluating basketball teams, we get so caught up and 817 00:37:24,160 --> 00:37:28,000 Speaker 1: and just factoring an overall talent. And we and you 818 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:30,920 Speaker 1: and I beat this drum NonStop last year with the Clippers, 819 00:37:31,520 --> 00:37:34,040 Speaker 1: But like how much we forget that, like this is 820 00:37:34,080 --> 00:37:37,279 Speaker 1: a team sport. It's like there's a reason why we 821 00:37:37,360 --> 00:37:39,040 Speaker 1: sit there and go like, oh, well, the all forwards 822 00:37:39,080 --> 00:37:41,200 Speaker 1: lineup is getting killed. And you know this lineup that 823 00:37:41,239 --> 00:37:43,920 Speaker 1: has Crusoe, k CP and and you know West Matthews 824 00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:46,960 Speaker 1: or whatever and Labar and they they're killing everybody. It's like, oh, well, 825 00:37:47,120 --> 00:37:49,360 Speaker 1: because it's never a one on one sport, it's a 826 00:37:49,840 --> 00:37:53,000 Speaker 1: it is a five man unit that kind of moves 827 00:37:53,040 --> 00:37:55,959 Speaker 1: in unison with everything that they do. I talked about 828 00:37:55,960 --> 00:37:58,880 Speaker 1: this yesterday a little bit about like defensive metrics and 829 00:37:59,040 --> 00:38:01,480 Speaker 1: like still if things like oh, like you know, so 830 00:38:01,640 --> 00:38:04,480 Speaker 1: and so our offensive players are shooting this percentage when 831 00:38:04,480 --> 00:38:06,920 Speaker 1: Andrew Wiggins is guarding them, or like you know Lebron 832 00:38:07,080 --> 00:38:09,200 Speaker 1: is when he's guarded by Steph in the finals, shot 833 00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:11,279 Speaker 1: this percentage or Kauhi or whatever it is. And it's like, 834 00:38:12,239 --> 00:38:14,759 Speaker 1: there is no such thing in a five on five 835 00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:17,520 Speaker 1: basketball game as a one on one play. If I'm 836 00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:23,319 Speaker 1: posting up and I have a a player that that's 837 00:38:23,360 --> 00:38:26,200 Speaker 1: one pass away, that is a dead eye shooter, and 838 00:38:26,400 --> 00:38:29,080 Speaker 1: I have a stretch big who's in the opposite corner 839 00:38:29,160 --> 00:38:31,440 Speaker 1: that's keeping help out of the paint, the defenders at 840 00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:35,920 Speaker 1: a huge disadvantage. But if I'm playing in there's one 841 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:38,960 Speaker 1: bad shooter on the floor or a non floor spacing 842 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:41,239 Speaker 1: big or one guy in help is like a little 843 00:38:41,280 --> 00:38:43,520 Speaker 1: bit more shaded to my side, all of a sudden, 844 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:46,440 Speaker 1: I can only drive right now. The defender can sit 845 00:38:46,520 --> 00:38:49,320 Speaker 1: on my right hand or be mentally prepared for me 846 00:38:49,400 --> 00:38:50,960 Speaker 1: to make a move right and now he's been put 847 00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:52,480 Speaker 1: in a big advantage. And I just hate when we 848 00:38:52,600 --> 00:38:56,520 Speaker 1: oversimplify things and shrewders just a perfect example of that. Really, 849 00:38:56,960 --> 00:38:59,720 Speaker 1: what like maybe a top seventy player in the league, 850 00:39:00,080 --> 00:39:03,560 Speaker 1: like top sixty player in the league, like he's no 851 00:39:03,680 --> 00:39:06,160 Speaker 1: one is even considering him as even close to an 852 00:39:06,160 --> 00:39:09,840 Speaker 1: All Star, but he is immensely valuable to what the 853 00:39:09,960 --> 00:39:13,600 Speaker 1: five man units do for the Lakers immensely valuable. And 854 00:39:13,760 --> 00:39:16,560 Speaker 1: and and what we talked about two like, I don't know, 855 00:39:16,719 --> 00:39:19,720 Speaker 1: I don't I think Lebron hung a minus twenty against Utah, 856 00:39:20,040 --> 00:39:23,160 Speaker 1: So I don't think he's still is a positive, but 857 00:39:23,760 --> 00:39:26,360 Speaker 1: he's been. He was actually a net positive without Shrewder 858 00:39:26,440 --> 00:39:28,440 Speaker 1: and a D all season before last night's game. I 859 00:39:28,480 --> 00:39:30,760 Speaker 1: would imagine he's kind of close to zero or slightly 860 00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:34,360 Speaker 1: below zero. But that's that's the thing too, Like just 861 00:39:35,080 --> 00:39:37,880 Speaker 1: having it so that you can stagger those guys as 862 00:39:37,920 --> 00:39:40,600 Speaker 1: well will go a long way towards helping them win 863 00:39:40,719 --> 00:39:44,200 Speaker 1: games overall as well. Yeah, and they were like five 864 00:39:44,239 --> 00:39:45,920 Speaker 1: and one without a D I think, and then when 865 00:39:45,960 --> 00:39:48,520 Speaker 1: Shrewder went out. Now they're like five and four without 866 00:39:48,560 --> 00:39:50,320 Speaker 1: both of them. Um, he's a really big part. And 867 00:39:50,760 --> 00:39:53,759 Speaker 1: I feel like they've been defending like Sam's Utah because 868 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:56,239 Speaker 1: that was just that was gone before they landed. But 869 00:39:56,680 --> 00:39:59,160 Speaker 1: like they've defended well enough. I mean against Washington they 870 00:39:59,160 --> 00:40:02,840 Speaker 1: got up seventeen and then just completely again that's that 871 00:40:02,960 --> 00:40:05,040 Speaker 1: phrase that we use, like they don't put their foot 872 00:40:05,080 --> 00:40:06,239 Speaker 1: off the gas, they just get out of the Car 873 00:40:06,280 --> 00:40:08,399 Speaker 1: and they're like, we're done here, We've got we've gotten 874 00:40:08,400 --> 00:40:10,759 Speaker 1: to where we need to go, and Washington got going. 875 00:40:10,840 --> 00:40:13,840 Speaker 1: But I feel like they defended well enough. Um obviously 876 00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:15,600 Speaker 1: aid helps a defense a lot, but they've still been 877 00:40:15,640 --> 00:40:17,719 Speaker 1: wet fourth and defense. Like I said earlier, Um, they 878 00:40:17,760 --> 00:40:19,680 Speaker 1: depend on they just can't get any buckets. I mean, 879 00:40:19,719 --> 00:40:22,400 Speaker 1: Bradley Bale was just taking getting to the ram, scoring 880 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:24,799 Speaker 1: at will on KCP and when you can't score back, 881 00:40:24,920 --> 00:40:28,840 Speaker 1: Lebron's taking step back threes to try to help the offense. 882 00:40:28,920 --> 00:40:31,279 Speaker 1: So yeah, Shooter is a big Partum. I thought he 883 00:40:31,400 --> 00:40:33,200 Speaker 1: was like all star level to start the year. He 884 00:40:33,320 --> 00:40:36,160 Speaker 1: was like seventeen and like six. I think he's not 885 00:40:36,200 --> 00:40:37,560 Speaker 1: gonna make the All Star team, but I thought he 886 00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:40,080 Speaker 1: was playing like a star level for this for this squad. 887 00:40:40,200 --> 00:40:42,120 Speaker 1: I hope you can get back to kind of get 888 00:40:42,160 --> 00:40:44,759 Speaker 1: back to that and his just aggressiveness, his like flow, 889 00:40:44,880 --> 00:40:47,000 Speaker 1: his swag, like that really helps the team. Like you 890 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:48,680 Speaker 1: could tell when he gets a switch, he gets all 891 00:40:48,760 --> 00:40:51,359 Speaker 1: excited and he scored. When he scores on the big 892 00:40:51,440 --> 00:40:53,759 Speaker 1: it's a team going. Things like that really help them 893 00:40:53,760 --> 00:40:55,640 Speaker 1: when they just have nothing, teams can just load up 894 00:40:55,640 --> 00:40:58,080 Speaker 1: on Lebron and but there's when there's no shooting around, 895 00:40:58,120 --> 00:41:00,560 Speaker 1: you have guys that just aren't aggressive, um going to 896 00:41:00,600 --> 00:41:05,640 Speaker 1: the basket who can't attack the rim. So yeah, he's exactly. Yeah. 897 00:41:05,640 --> 00:41:07,960 Speaker 1: And his point of attack defense um is is huge. 898 00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:10,239 Speaker 1: Um he's he has a lot of good chemistry on 899 00:41:10,320 --> 00:41:12,839 Speaker 1: defense with with a d as well. So yeah, he's 900 00:41:12,840 --> 00:41:14,959 Speaker 1: gonna be missing. They're gonna need him against Dame tonight. 901 00:41:15,040 --> 00:41:17,760 Speaker 1: I mean Dame has been I think the Blazer Blazers 902 00:41:17,800 --> 00:41:19,200 Speaker 1: have lost three in a row, four in a row 903 00:41:19,320 --> 00:41:21,520 Speaker 1: or something, but um, Dame Dame is gonna come in. 904 00:41:21,560 --> 00:41:24,080 Speaker 1: He always cooks at Stable Center. He takes a personal 905 00:41:24,120 --> 00:41:26,400 Speaker 1: for some reason, I don't know why that he just 906 00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:31,319 Speaker 1: loves attacking us. So him and yes, yeah, Portland beat us. 907 00:41:31,320 --> 00:41:32,840 Speaker 1: I mean we were a big I think on Portland 908 00:41:32,920 --> 00:41:35,279 Speaker 1: as well, and I think, uh, they came back and 909 00:41:35,400 --> 00:41:38,279 Speaker 1: uh and beat us. So and he's gonna be really 910 00:41:38,360 --> 00:41:42,040 Speaker 1: needed tonight. Yeah. One of my favorite Dennis Shrewder memories 911 00:41:42,120 --> 00:41:45,000 Speaker 1: from the season was the Oklahoma City game, the first 912 00:41:45,080 --> 00:41:50,560 Speaker 1: one where Shakl just Alexander was just barbecuing him all right, 913 00:41:50,600 --> 00:41:52,399 Speaker 1: and then he got the two biggest stops of the game. 914 00:41:52,440 --> 00:41:54,320 Speaker 1: On him that sent the game to overtime. That that 915 00:41:54,520 --> 00:41:56,279 Speaker 1: the post up play where he forced him into that 916 00:41:56,360 --> 00:41:58,880 Speaker 1: really tough floater, and then the play where he got 917 00:41:58,920 --> 00:42:01,120 Speaker 1: beat off the dribble, and then just had this absurd 918 00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:04,120 Speaker 1: recovery play where he was like way behind and then 919 00:42:04,200 --> 00:42:06,160 Speaker 1: just like did a one two step, took off his 920 00:42:06,280 --> 00:42:09,040 Speaker 1: left foot and just like blocked him from behind. Uh. 921 00:42:09,239 --> 00:42:11,239 Speaker 1: He just has this competitive energy to him. And then 922 00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:13,120 Speaker 1: kind of similar to that food chain thing we talked 923 00:42:13,160 --> 00:42:16,000 Speaker 1: about earlier, having him as your primary point of attack 924 00:42:16,080 --> 00:42:18,759 Speaker 1: defender against the Dame or against like really any point 925 00:42:18,800 --> 00:42:21,400 Speaker 1: of attack guard like Mike Conley, it just slides all 926 00:42:21,440 --> 00:42:23,640 Speaker 1: of the other Laker defensive players down the food chain 927 00:42:23,719 --> 00:42:27,080 Speaker 1: guarding inferior players and allows them to be more successful. 928 00:42:27,560 --> 00:42:34,240 Speaker 1: Um So, my third, uh silver lining is that Lebron 929 00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:39,640 Speaker 1: looks great physically and he you know, he's still slumping 930 00:42:39,719 --> 00:42:41,600 Speaker 1: with his jump shot, which I think is a product 931 00:42:41,680 --> 00:42:43,160 Speaker 1: of a lot of things that has to do with 932 00:42:43,800 --> 00:42:47,520 Speaker 1: overall workload. Uh and just said how that wears down 933 00:42:47,560 --> 00:42:51,080 Speaker 1: his legs. One thing that I've really noticed is one 934 00:42:51,120 --> 00:42:52,800 Speaker 1: of the reasons why Lebron has had a lot of 935 00:42:52,840 --> 00:42:54,880 Speaker 1: success in his career as a jump shooter, even though 936 00:42:54,920 --> 00:42:57,360 Speaker 1: he's not the most skilled player in the world, is 937 00:42:57,440 --> 00:42:59,680 Speaker 1: that defenses have to play off of him a little 938 00:42:59,719 --> 00:43:02,719 Speaker 1: bit um as a as a result of him just 939 00:43:02,840 --> 00:43:06,000 Speaker 1: being a freight trained to the basket. But one thing 940 00:43:06,080 --> 00:43:09,239 Speaker 1: I've noticed, which I think is actually really interesting is 941 00:43:09,440 --> 00:43:14,160 Speaker 1: after the a d and Shrewder injuries, the defense has 942 00:43:14,160 --> 00:43:16,160 Speaker 1: have been able to pack the paint a little bit more. 943 00:43:16,760 --> 00:43:18,680 Speaker 1: And as a result of that, when you've got help 944 00:43:18,800 --> 00:43:21,839 Speaker 1: defense behind you, the primary defender can get a little 945 00:43:21,840 --> 00:43:24,239 Speaker 1: bit up into Lebron space. And you notice this a 946 00:43:24,320 --> 00:43:28,160 Speaker 1: lot with Hochi Mura and uh even against Utah as well. Um, 947 00:43:29,400 --> 00:43:32,640 Speaker 1: when you can actually ball pressure any guard and and 948 00:43:32,840 --> 00:43:35,239 Speaker 1: there's there's a ton of help behind you, it's hard 949 00:43:35,280 --> 00:43:38,080 Speaker 1: to shoot because now you're like you have to do 950 00:43:38,280 --> 00:43:40,400 Speaker 1: some move to get separation, like a step back or 951 00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:42,880 Speaker 1: a side step or some sort of other move. Whereas 952 00:43:42,960 --> 00:43:45,040 Speaker 1: like a lot of what Lebron was doing successfully as 953 00:43:45,040 --> 00:43:46,960 Speaker 1: a jump shooter when the team was at full strength 954 00:43:47,120 --> 00:43:49,920 Speaker 1: was there's such offensive firepower on the floor that the 955 00:43:50,200 --> 00:43:52,760 Speaker 1: there's not as much help, and now that primary defensive 956 00:43:52,760 --> 00:43:55,760 Speaker 1: player has to go underneath the screen. The primary defensive 957 00:43:55,760 --> 00:43:57,480 Speaker 1: player has to give a little bit more space to 958 00:43:57,640 --> 00:43:59,759 Speaker 1: to to deal with Lebron's driving lane. He's just a 959 00:43:59,760 --> 00:44:02,200 Speaker 1: little more comfortable with his jump shot, so that's something 960 00:44:02,239 --> 00:44:05,200 Speaker 1: to keep an eye on. However, physically he looks great. 961 00:44:05,960 --> 00:44:09,080 Speaker 1: My guy Maples has been absolutely shredded for this that 962 00:44:09,160 --> 00:44:11,840 Speaker 1: tweet that keeps getting brought up about uh. And we 963 00:44:11,920 --> 00:44:14,040 Speaker 1: all have our moments, so I'm not talking trash. But 964 00:44:14,120 --> 00:44:15,759 Speaker 1: he had that tweet where he's like all Rich Paul 965 00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:18,160 Speaker 1: gave us the Bentley with five thousand miles. There was 966 00:44:18,200 --> 00:44:21,440 Speaker 1: some concern. There was concern, I mean into that signing 967 00:44:21,560 --> 00:44:25,200 Speaker 1: like like Lebron's old like this goes south. This could 968 00:44:25,200 --> 00:44:26,880 Speaker 1: be the guy we pay a million dollars to to 969 00:44:26,960 --> 00:44:29,080 Speaker 1: just have the late Kobe years kind of thing, you 970 00:44:29,120 --> 00:44:32,560 Speaker 1: know what I mean. And he looks more athletic now 971 00:44:33,320 --> 00:44:37,319 Speaker 1: then he did uh in any of the previous two 972 00:44:37,360 --> 00:44:40,800 Speaker 1: seasons he had. He had that one transition dunk against 973 00:44:40,840 --> 00:44:44,040 Speaker 1: Denver before halftime that literally looked like he was prime 974 00:44:44,120 --> 00:44:47,640 Speaker 1: Cleveland Labron. He had another dunk against Utah coming down 975 00:44:47,719 --> 00:44:50,280 Speaker 1: the lane the other nine where it was just like jeez, 976 00:44:50,600 --> 00:44:52,320 Speaker 1: when the world is going on with this guy? So 977 00:44:53,239 --> 00:44:56,120 Speaker 1: the one there is a sense of optimism that I 978 00:44:56,200 --> 00:44:58,719 Speaker 1: would take from all of these losses, which is, you know, 979 00:44:58,840 --> 00:45:01,320 Speaker 1: Lebron struggled with try to score with this very limited 980 00:45:01,360 --> 00:45:03,560 Speaker 1: offensive group. Although he's still, as we talked about earlier, 981 00:45:03,840 --> 00:45:06,400 Speaker 1: is generating a lot of really high quality shots. But 982 00:45:07,560 --> 00:45:10,719 Speaker 1: their Lebron looks great and and when this team is 983 00:45:10,719 --> 00:45:14,040 Speaker 1: at full strength, if I said this, I tweeted this 984 00:45:14,080 --> 00:45:16,920 Speaker 1: the other day, did you guys know that Lebron in 985 00:45:17,080 --> 00:45:20,839 Speaker 1: you're a team? He's shooting a higher percentage right now 986 00:45:21,080 --> 00:45:23,279 Speaker 1: from every area of the floor than he did last year. 987 00:45:24,120 --> 00:45:26,520 Speaker 1: He's shooting a higher percentage at the rim, he's shooting 988 00:45:26,520 --> 00:45:28,719 Speaker 1: a higher percentage from mid range, he's shooting a higher 989 00:45:28,719 --> 00:45:32,239 Speaker 1: percentage from three, even after this ridiculous slump. And he 990 00:45:32,320 --> 00:45:34,880 Speaker 1: looks more athletic than he did in your seventeen when 991 00:45:34,960 --> 00:45:37,160 Speaker 1: he was second m VP voting and I, in my opinion, 992 00:45:37,200 --> 00:45:40,480 Speaker 1: should have won. So, like, this guy is better then 993 00:45:40,520 --> 00:45:42,560 Speaker 1: he has been. I mean, the last week has been weird, 994 00:45:42,680 --> 00:45:45,480 Speaker 1: but like, I think that's something to derive a lot 995 00:45:45,520 --> 00:45:48,080 Speaker 1: of confidence from. If you're a Laker fan, Yeah, he 996 00:45:48,360 --> 00:45:50,160 Speaker 1: looks awesome. Do you remember like he was early in 997 00:45:50,200 --> 00:45:52,560 Speaker 1: the season, he was getting like cornered three attempts, and 998 00:45:52,600 --> 00:45:55,520 Speaker 1: we're like Lebron getting corner three attempts, Like he's getting 999 00:45:55,560 --> 00:45:58,400 Speaker 1: a catch shoe, look at the look at the laces 1000 00:45:58,480 --> 00:46:00,439 Speaker 1: on the ball, and then take the shot. He's even 1001 00:46:00,480 --> 00:46:02,200 Speaker 1: betting with his teammates in the corner. He's gonna make it. 1002 00:46:02,400 --> 00:46:04,560 Speaker 1: He's not getting those anymore. There's no no one else 1003 00:46:04,640 --> 00:46:07,080 Speaker 1: driving and kicking allowing him to do that. Like that's 1004 00:46:07,200 --> 00:46:08,840 Speaker 1: why his shots kind of go down. He's taking a 1005 00:46:08,880 --> 00:46:11,960 Speaker 1: lot of like step back threes against switches. But yeah, man, 1006 00:46:12,040 --> 00:46:13,680 Speaker 1: he looks awesome. He can get to the rim whenever 1007 00:46:13,760 --> 00:46:16,560 Speaker 1: he wants. I remember after the Brooklyn game, Um, someone 1008 00:46:16,600 --> 00:46:18,960 Speaker 1: asked him, like, oh, did you have trouble with their switching. 1009 00:46:19,040 --> 00:46:21,120 Speaker 1: He's like, what are you are you talking about? Like 1010 00:46:21,160 --> 00:46:23,160 Speaker 1: I know exactly how to beat that, like when it matters, 1011 00:46:23,239 --> 00:46:25,279 Speaker 1: Like he's like, I got whatever I wanted. Like I 1012 00:46:25,360 --> 00:46:27,520 Speaker 1: think he shot like eighteen for thirties and he's like, 1013 00:46:27,560 --> 00:46:28,800 Speaker 1: I got whatever I wanted. I can get to the 1014 00:46:28,880 --> 00:46:30,800 Speaker 1: rim when I want. So no, it's no problem for 1015 00:46:30,880 --> 00:46:33,320 Speaker 1: me and against Utah too, Like I have no worry 1016 00:46:33,320 --> 00:46:35,040 Speaker 1: about him. He got to the room when he wanted. 1017 00:46:35,160 --> 00:46:37,480 Speaker 1: I don't think I'm really really good is good defender. 1018 00:46:37,520 --> 00:46:39,840 Speaker 1: I just don't think he stopped Lebron for doing what 1019 00:46:39,920 --> 00:46:41,920 Speaker 1: he wanted to do. He got to the basket, he's 1020 00:46:41,920 --> 00:46:43,800 Speaker 1: still finished. He got and once when he wanted to. 1021 00:46:44,280 --> 00:46:45,840 Speaker 1: Obviously he didn't have his foot on the gas the 1022 00:46:45,880 --> 00:46:48,360 Speaker 1: whole time. I think his defense is kind of stepped 1023 00:46:48,360 --> 00:46:53,239 Speaker 1: back a little bit. But yeah, he looks like he 1024 00:46:53,360 --> 00:46:55,680 Speaker 1: needed this thing. This thing I want to ask you 1025 00:46:55,719 --> 00:46:57,759 Speaker 1: because people are talking about his minutes right, Like every 1026 00:46:57,800 --> 00:47:01,120 Speaker 1: single broadcast is like, um oh, he's now number one 1027 00:47:01,160 --> 00:47:03,239 Speaker 1: in the league in minutes since uh since a d 1028 00:47:03,400 --> 00:47:06,680 Speaker 1: went down. I just like, and people are comparing this 1029 00:47:06,880 --> 00:47:08,920 Speaker 1: like the Kobe year, right where like Kobe played a 1030 00:47:08,960 --> 00:47:11,719 Speaker 1: bunch of minutes and then Tours Achilles. I've watched that 1031 00:47:11,840 --> 00:47:14,359 Speaker 1: full season. I watched, I'm watching this whole season. These 1032 00:47:14,440 --> 00:47:17,120 Speaker 1: minutes aren't the same that, Like, I'm watching Lebron and 1033 00:47:17,200 --> 00:47:19,480 Speaker 1: he is not. He's playing forty minutes, but he is 1034 00:47:19,520 --> 00:47:23,040 Speaker 1: not going for forty minutes that he's he's taking his time, 1035 00:47:23,160 --> 00:47:26,479 Speaker 1: he's you know, he's he's taking breaks on defense, taking 1036 00:47:26,520 --> 00:47:28,800 Speaker 1: breaks on offense. Like I I have no concern, like 1037 00:47:28,920 --> 00:47:31,080 Speaker 1: if he wants to play the full seventy two. I 1038 00:47:31,680 --> 00:47:33,759 Speaker 1: don't have like an issue with it. Um, I would 1039 00:47:33,760 --> 00:47:35,799 Speaker 1: like him to rest if you but I don't misue. 1040 00:47:35,920 --> 00:47:37,439 Speaker 1: Do you, like, do you have a problem with this minutes? 1041 00:47:37,480 --> 00:47:39,480 Speaker 1: I feel like he's fine. I don't think these minutes 1042 00:47:39,520 --> 00:47:42,360 Speaker 1: are too heavy on him. Maybe the over times I 1043 00:47:42,400 --> 00:47:43,879 Speaker 1: would like to, like, you know, keep down. I don't 1044 00:47:43,920 --> 00:47:45,480 Speaker 1: think we need to be in overtime every night. I 1045 00:47:45,520 --> 00:47:47,360 Speaker 1: don't think you should be going into overtime trying to 1046 00:47:47,560 --> 00:47:49,520 Speaker 1: trying to win every night. But what do you think 1047 00:47:49,520 --> 00:47:51,239 Speaker 1: about the minutes that are that are going on for 1048 00:47:51,400 --> 00:47:54,359 Speaker 1: him that he's appat. I don't care at all. I mean, 1049 00:47:54,719 --> 00:47:56,359 Speaker 1: I think I may have said this to you at 1050 00:47:56,400 --> 00:47:58,239 Speaker 1: some point in the past as well. But like I'm 1051 00:47:58,239 --> 00:47:59,919 Speaker 1: a big believer, and you just listen to your body, 1052 00:48:00,160 --> 00:48:04,600 Speaker 1: like you know, uh, we are a time obsessed society. 1053 00:48:04,760 --> 00:48:06,719 Speaker 1: It's actually a conversation I was happening with my my 1054 00:48:06,760 --> 00:48:09,120 Speaker 1: wife last night. We were talking about something completely unrelated, 1055 00:48:09,160 --> 00:48:12,160 Speaker 1: but like like like so many like old fashioned business 1056 00:48:12,200 --> 00:48:14,600 Speaker 1: people are obsessed with like butts and seats, like this 1057 00:48:14,760 --> 00:48:16,279 Speaker 1: idea that's like how many hours did you put in? 1058 00:48:16,320 --> 00:48:17,759 Speaker 1: How many hours did you put in? And it's funny 1059 00:48:17,760 --> 00:48:20,840 Speaker 1: because I run my own business, and like everything that 1060 00:48:20,960 --> 00:48:23,080 Speaker 1: I do is not based on an hourly basis. It's 1061 00:48:23,120 --> 00:48:25,240 Speaker 1: based on what I accomplish, Like what did I actually 1062 00:48:25,360 --> 00:48:27,919 Speaker 1: get done today? Because that's the only thing that's paying 1063 00:48:27,960 --> 00:48:29,960 Speaker 1: me at the end. And it's funny because that's that's 1064 00:48:29,960 --> 00:48:32,440 Speaker 1: a hundred percent how I feel about physical activity. Like 1065 00:48:32,920 --> 00:48:36,200 Speaker 1: you know, uh, it's not about how many minutes you 1066 00:48:36,280 --> 00:48:38,960 Speaker 1: work out or how many calories you might burn through 1067 00:48:39,080 --> 00:48:40,799 Speaker 1: whatever it is you're doing. It's about like what are 1068 00:48:40,800 --> 00:48:43,520 Speaker 1: you accomplishing while you're doing it? And and that's the 1069 00:48:43,600 --> 00:48:48,400 Speaker 1: thing with Lebron it's like, you know, he knows how 1070 00:48:48,560 --> 00:48:53,160 Speaker 1: much energy he's expended, how much impact his joints have taken, 1071 00:48:53,640 --> 00:48:56,040 Speaker 1: how what kind of recovery he needs, Like he he 1072 00:48:56,080 --> 00:48:57,600 Speaker 1: actually had a comment that he said, I think it 1073 00:48:57,680 --> 00:49:01,160 Speaker 1: was two games ago against Washington where he's like, uh, 1074 00:49:01,239 --> 00:49:03,200 Speaker 1: he said something. I can't remember the exact words, but 1075 00:49:03,239 --> 00:49:05,800 Speaker 1: it's something along the lines of like my advisors have 1076 00:49:05,880 --> 00:49:07,640 Speaker 1: told me what I'm doing is okay, I can't remember 1077 00:49:07,640 --> 00:49:10,000 Speaker 1: exactly what it was, something along those lines, And I 1078 00:49:10,120 --> 00:49:12,239 Speaker 1: believe I think, you know, when people talk about Lebron, no, 1079 00:49:12,360 --> 00:49:14,480 Speaker 1: he invests a million dollars into his body every year. 1080 00:49:14,480 --> 00:49:15,799 Speaker 1: You know, you realize, but all that money is going 1081 00:49:15,880 --> 00:49:18,800 Speaker 1: to it's going to like nutrition, and it's going to recovery, 1082 00:49:18,880 --> 00:49:21,080 Speaker 1: and it's going to advisors, and it's going to medical 1083 00:49:21,120 --> 00:49:23,799 Speaker 1: professionals that are giving him opinions on what he's doing. 1084 00:49:23,920 --> 00:49:27,960 Speaker 1: And you know, I just think, like, like I I 1085 00:49:28,160 --> 00:49:31,200 Speaker 1: do think that, like if he pushes himself to the 1086 00:49:31,200 --> 00:49:32,960 Speaker 1: point where he's got kind of a bang up type 1087 00:49:32,960 --> 00:49:35,480 Speaker 1: of injury and he's still going that that's done, but 1088 00:49:35,840 --> 00:49:37,879 Speaker 1: he hasn't led us to believe anything like that's going 1089 00:49:37,960 --> 00:49:41,040 Speaker 1: on where I would sit him as like especially in 1090 00:49:41,120 --> 00:49:43,160 Speaker 1: his grueling where they have eight back to backs or 1091 00:49:43,239 --> 00:49:44,919 Speaker 1: something like that, nine back to backs in the next 1092 00:49:45,280 --> 00:49:49,360 Speaker 1: in the next half. So if he tweaks his ankle, 1093 00:49:49,520 --> 00:49:51,440 Speaker 1: then you see him go down and tighten up his 1094 00:49:51,520 --> 00:49:53,319 Speaker 1: shoe and then he says after the game like all 1095 00:49:53,360 --> 00:49:55,399 Speaker 1: on playing tomorrow night in Memphis. I'd be like, yeah, 1096 00:49:55,560 --> 00:49:58,279 Speaker 1: that doesn't seem smart. But the as far as what 1097 00:49:58,320 --> 00:49:59,840 Speaker 1: he's doing now, as long as he's not banged up, 1098 00:49:59,840 --> 00:50:02,040 Speaker 1: he's fine. It's just he needs to listen to his body. 1099 00:50:02,200 --> 00:50:04,880 Speaker 1: And like, dude, you know, I've had a couple of 1100 00:50:04,960 --> 00:50:07,040 Speaker 1: stress reactions. One in my knee and one of my foot. 1101 00:50:07,520 --> 00:50:09,680 Speaker 1: One one when I was in college. One was after college, 1102 00:50:10,000 --> 00:50:12,320 Speaker 1: like your body tells you like you're like when I 1103 00:50:12,360 --> 00:50:14,560 Speaker 1: actually had the bad foot. One like my foot was 1104 00:50:15,080 --> 00:50:17,120 Speaker 1: feeling a little funky for a while. I just didn't 1105 00:50:17,160 --> 00:50:19,759 Speaker 1: listen to it, you know, like your body communicates with 1106 00:50:19,880 --> 00:50:23,440 Speaker 1: you and tells you when you're experiencing wear and tear injuries, 1107 00:50:23,480 --> 00:50:25,160 Speaker 1: you know, did whether it's tendonitis or a little bit 1108 00:50:25,160 --> 00:50:27,320 Speaker 1: of pain in one in one spot or whatever it is. 1109 00:50:27,440 --> 00:50:29,959 Speaker 1: And so as long as he's listening to those things, 1110 00:50:30,080 --> 00:50:32,560 Speaker 1: I I trust him, and I'm not worried about it, 1111 00:50:32,640 --> 00:50:34,400 Speaker 1: like I I. You know, a lot of people were 1112 00:50:34,440 --> 00:50:37,160 Speaker 1: saying he should take the game against Utah off. Yeah, 1113 00:50:37,280 --> 00:50:39,680 Speaker 1: and I would have said, okay, fine, in the sense 1114 00:50:39,760 --> 00:50:41,239 Speaker 1: that I had thought they had no chance to win. 1115 00:50:42,120 --> 00:50:44,120 Speaker 1: But like, he likes playing basketball, and he probably saw 1116 00:50:44,120 --> 00:50:46,360 Speaker 1: it as an opportunity to keep his body in shape 1117 00:50:46,480 --> 00:50:48,680 Speaker 1: or whatever it is, you know, he takes he takes 1118 00:50:48,719 --> 00:50:50,759 Speaker 1: pride in it too, right, Like he's taking obviously some 1119 00:50:50,880 --> 00:50:52,759 Speaker 1: kind of pride um. I don't know if it's the 1120 00:50:52,880 --> 00:50:54,480 Speaker 1: m v P chase or whatever, but he wants to 1121 00:50:54,480 --> 00:50:56,160 Speaker 1: play all the games, and who am I to say, like, no, 1122 00:50:56,360 --> 00:50:58,400 Speaker 1: you need to rest this one game, you know, and 1123 00:50:58,520 --> 00:51:01,520 Speaker 1: take these thirty minutes off, And he's like, what difference 1124 00:51:01,520 --> 00:51:03,640 Speaker 1: does that make in the whole season. So, um, he's 1125 00:51:03,640 --> 00:51:05,759 Speaker 1: gonna get the All Star break too coming up, or 1126 00:51:05,840 --> 00:51:07,680 Speaker 1: some kind of break. He's gonna play in the game obviously, 1127 00:51:07,800 --> 00:51:09,960 Speaker 1: But yeah, I'm fine with his minutes. I just don't like, 1128 00:51:10,040 --> 00:51:11,480 Speaker 1: I see a lot of uproar, and I feel like 1129 00:51:11,520 --> 00:51:13,920 Speaker 1: the minutes kind of don't tell the whole story obviously, 1130 00:51:14,000 --> 00:51:16,240 Speaker 1: like you always say you need to always take context 1131 00:51:16,320 --> 00:51:18,600 Speaker 1: into it, and uh, he's playing forty minutes, but I 1132 00:51:18,680 --> 00:51:21,480 Speaker 1: feel like twenty of those are kind of like, yeah, 1133 00:51:21,520 --> 00:51:24,640 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna help right here because you don't want to, 1134 00:51:24,920 --> 00:51:27,320 Speaker 1: or yeah, I'm not closing out on a guy that 1135 00:51:27,400 --> 00:51:29,680 Speaker 1: I just don't respect as a shooter, and you know, 1136 00:51:29,760 --> 00:51:31,960 Speaker 1: things like that he does all game, which I totally 1137 00:51:32,080 --> 00:51:34,879 Speaker 1: find with he's Lebron James. He shouldn't be going full 1138 00:51:34,920 --> 00:51:36,719 Speaker 1: force the whole night. So yeah, I'm not I have 1139 00:51:36,840 --> 00:51:38,520 Speaker 1: no problem with his minutes. He's number one and minutes 1140 00:51:38,600 --> 00:51:40,120 Speaker 1: right now. I think that will level out when a 1141 00:51:40,320 --> 00:51:44,960 Speaker 1: d comes back. Shrewder obviously be able to play with himself. Yeah, 1142 00:51:45,000 --> 00:51:46,880 Speaker 1: and he's still I think, at a career low in minutes, 1143 00:51:46,920 --> 00:51:50,439 Speaker 1: even with all the like, even with the craziness that's 1144 00:51:50,440 --> 00:51:53,719 Speaker 1: happened now. So I think he's fine. What was your 1145 00:51:53,760 --> 00:51:57,239 Speaker 1: third silver lining? So my third silver lining is that 1146 00:51:57,480 --> 00:52:00,120 Speaker 1: the shooting can't get any worse like this. There's no 1147 00:52:00,200 --> 00:52:02,600 Speaker 1: way that it can get anywhere so that at all. 1148 00:52:02,640 --> 00:52:04,560 Speaker 1: So in the last six games, which is really what 1149 00:52:04,680 --> 00:52:07,520 Speaker 1: a d has missed, Um, we're one in five right, 1150 00:52:07,560 --> 00:52:11,879 Speaker 1: the only uh, the only win was against Minnesota, I believe. Um. 1151 00:52:12,000 --> 00:52:16,960 Speaker 1: And so the Lakers are shooting twenty nine from three now, Like, 1152 00:52:17,120 --> 00:52:19,200 Speaker 1: I know that that seems bad. What makes it worse? 1153 00:52:19,200 --> 00:52:21,279 Speaker 1: It's like most of these are catch and shoot like 1154 00:52:21,440 --> 00:52:23,960 Speaker 1: as you said, Lebron's creating the most open looks um 1155 00:52:24,400 --> 00:52:27,080 Speaker 1: that the Lakers have had. UM, and they're just breaking threes. 1156 00:52:27,120 --> 00:52:29,120 Speaker 1: West Matthews had a bunch last night where they just 1157 00:52:29,200 --> 00:52:31,759 Speaker 1: went in and out. KCP is starting to get a 1158 00:52:31,800 --> 00:52:33,560 Speaker 1: little bit on track, but again he went cold I 1159 00:52:33,640 --> 00:52:36,719 Speaker 1: think last last night. And then UM, yes, I don't 1160 00:52:36,760 --> 00:52:39,440 Speaker 1: think this can get any worse. We saw this. I 1161 00:52:39,520 --> 00:52:41,400 Speaker 1: think you bring up the bubble shooting a lot with 1162 00:52:41,440 --> 00:52:44,560 Speaker 1: the Lakers went really cold. Um. I saw someone tweet 1163 00:52:44,640 --> 00:52:46,719 Speaker 1: I forgot who it was. They're like, oh, Utah has 1164 00:52:46,800 --> 00:52:49,560 Speaker 1: the third through ten best players if you ranked, if 1165 00:52:49,600 --> 00:52:52,040 Speaker 1: you rank the teams, And obviously that's not how basketball works, 1166 00:52:52,120 --> 00:52:54,600 Speaker 1: but that's just a product of the shooting. The Lakers 1167 00:52:54,680 --> 00:52:56,600 Speaker 1: make a couple more shots, that tweet doesn't go up, 1168 00:52:56,800 --> 00:52:59,279 Speaker 1: so uh yeah, it's just it's just funny looking at 1169 00:52:59,320 --> 00:53:00,480 Speaker 1: so I don't think you can get anywhere. It's like 1170 00:53:00,480 --> 00:53:03,560 Speaker 1: they're just shooting all awf of from everywhere, especially from 1171 00:53:03,640 --> 00:53:06,120 Speaker 1: three point line, and that just clogs everything up. There's 1172 00:53:06,120 --> 00:53:08,279 Speaker 1: nothing open. Uh, these guys they're running, I think I 1173 00:53:08,320 --> 00:53:10,680 Speaker 1: see people like, although Well needs to switch up the 1174 00:53:10,760 --> 00:53:13,600 Speaker 1: offensive scheme. I'm like, these dudes are coming off curls 1175 00:53:13,640 --> 00:53:15,800 Speaker 1: and they just don't respect. And no one's gonna No 1176 00:53:15,840 --> 00:53:18,319 Speaker 1: one's running to Chase West, mat West, Matthews off the line. 1177 00:53:18,360 --> 00:53:21,040 Speaker 1: No one's running to Chase Crusoe k CP right now, 1178 00:53:21,080 --> 00:53:22,759 Speaker 1: and you have guys just clogging the paint. I don't 1179 00:53:22,760 --> 00:53:25,160 Speaker 1: I don't know what different scheme is gonna do anything. 1180 00:53:25,239 --> 00:53:27,640 Speaker 1: I don't know what kind of like uh, different flares 1181 00:53:27,719 --> 00:53:30,200 Speaker 1: or anything's gonna work. So that's why I stillver lining here. 1182 00:53:30,280 --> 00:53:32,400 Speaker 1: It can't get anywhere is maybe it will, maybe they 1183 00:53:32,440 --> 00:53:34,800 Speaker 1: shoot one for twenty tonight from three, but I just 1184 00:53:35,000 --> 00:53:37,239 Speaker 1: I just don't think, uh, you can any worse than 1185 00:53:37,280 --> 00:53:39,279 Speaker 1: it is right now. So nowhere to go but up 1186 00:53:39,360 --> 00:53:41,800 Speaker 1: for the shooting. I agree with you, and and to me, 1187 00:53:42,000 --> 00:53:44,040 Speaker 1: there's a whole other element to this, Like the reason 1188 00:53:44,080 --> 00:53:46,800 Speaker 1: why I compared to the bubble is, you know, in 1189 00:53:46,920 --> 00:53:50,000 Speaker 1: the bubble seating games there were massive effort problems for 1190 00:53:50,040 --> 00:53:52,959 Speaker 1: the Lakers, and the reason why I think things turned 1191 00:53:53,000 --> 00:53:57,440 Speaker 1: around and like in every pivotal game if that playoff run, 1192 00:53:57,520 --> 00:54:00,480 Speaker 1: the Lakers shot really well. And I think one of 1193 00:54:00,480 --> 00:54:03,120 Speaker 1: the biggest reasons why is again it's a cascading effect. 1194 00:54:03,280 --> 00:54:05,600 Speaker 1: Like when things got you know, when it got to 1195 00:54:05,719 --> 00:54:09,720 Speaker 1: nut nutcrunching time, Lebron and a d put immense pressure 1196 00:54:09,760 --> 00:54:13,000 Speaker 1: on the rim by virtue of just them like being 1197 00:54:13,080 --> 00:54:15,239 Speaker 1: super engaged on the offensive end. When when when it 1198 00:54:15,280 --> 00:54:17,840 Speaker 1: gets really get down to the really important moments of 1199 00:54:17,960 --> 00:54:20,920 Speaker 1: these playoffs series, and when you put immense pressure on 1200 00:54:20,960 --> 00:54:23,560 Speaker 1: the rim, the defense reacts and all of a sudden, 1201 00:54:23,600 --> 00:54:26,200 Speaker 1: your shot quality is just amazing. And you know, I 1202 00:54:26,320 --> 00:54:28,360 Speaker 1: always talk about the law of diminishing returns when I 1203 00:54:28,360 --> 00:54:31,520 Speaker 1: talked about teams like Brooklyn, you know, Kyrie Irving is 1204 00:54:31,880 --> 00:54:36,640 Speaker 1: fifty times better than Wesley Matthews at creating three point 1205 00:54:36,680 --> 00:54:40,600 Speaker 1: shots for himself. However, if Wesley Matthews is wide open 1206 00:54:40,680 --> 00:54:42,600 Speaker 1: in the corner, he's going to hit it at a 1207 00:54:42,719 --> 00:54:45,680 Speaker 1: much closer rate to Kyrie uh than he would as 1208 00:54:45,719 --> 00:54:48,160 Speaker 1: like some crazy step back shot. And so what you know, 1209 00:54:48,200 --> 00:54:50,960 Speaker 1: people worry about the quality of the shooters on the Lakers, 1210 00:54:51,360 --> 00:54:53,560 Speaker 1: but when you get into these you know, really intense 1211 00:54:53,640 --> 00:54:56,760 Speaker 1: playoffs series in Lebron and a D and Dennis Shrewd 1212 00:54:56,840 --> 00:54:59,480 Speaker 1: really dial up the offensive intensity and put a ton 1213 00:54:59,560 --> 00:55:01,560 Speaker 1: of pressure are on the rim, the Lakers are just 1214 00:55:01,600 --> 00:55:04,360 Speaker 1: gonna get insanely good shot quality. And that's why, like, 1215 00:55:04,440 --> 00:55:05,880 Speaker 1: you know, they go into the Miami Heat series and 1216 00:55:05,880 --> 00:55:08,440 Speaker 1: they're like, oh, you know, after the top two players, 1217 00:55:08,560 --> 00:55:10,520 Speaker 1: you know, Miami has the next seven best guys, and 1218 00:55:10,560 --> 00:55:13,360 Speaker 1: it's like and then all of a sudden, everybody on 1219 00:55:13,440 --> 00:55:16,000 Speaker 1: the Lakers just shoots their lights out that entire series. 1220 00:55:16,040 --> 00:55:18,120 Speaker 1: It's because they're all wide open looks, because Lebron and 1221 00:55:18,200 --> 00:55:22,279 Speaker 1: A D physically dominated that series around the paint to 1222 00:55:22,440 --> 00:55:24,160 Speaker 1: create wide open shots. And this goes back to what 1223 00:55:24,239 --> 00:55:27,160 Speaker 1: we were talking about with the Clippers. The Clippers take 1224 00:55:27,239 --> 00:55:31,480 Speaker 1: too many jump shots, and they their entire philosophies outside 1225 00:55:31,560 --> 00:55:34,680 Speaker 1: in the Lakers. And you know, this is something that 1226 00:55:34,680 --> 00:55:36,120 Speaker 1: I think you taught as a really good job of 1227 00:55:36,200 --> 00:55:39,360 Speaker 1: as well. And Russell Westbrook of Late with Washington is 1228 00:55:39,400 --> 00:55:41,520 Speaker 1: doing a really good job of this. When you create 1229 00:55:41,640 --> 00:55:45,200 Speaker 1: three point shots that are a result of pressure on 1230 00:55:45,239 --> 00:55:47,359 Speaker 1: the rim, they just go in at a higher rate. 1231 00:55:47,920 --> 00:55:51,759 Speaker 1: It's just a simple reality of basketball. Yeah, definitely. And 1232 00:55:51,840 --> 00:55:54,440 Speaker 1: it's funny because right now the Lakers, the only one 1233 00:55:54,800 --> 00:55:56,600 Speaker 1: putting press on the rim is Lebron, right, so like, 1234 00:55:56,680 --> 00:55:58,960 Speaker 1: these these shots are open, but it's tiring him out, 1235 00:55:59,000 --> 00:56:01,200 Speaker 1: and his threes have gone down, and he's part of 1236 00:56:01,280 --> 00:56:03,720 Speaker 1: this bad percentage. So I feel like we're just watching 1237 00:56:03,719 --> 00:56:05,640 Speaker 1: the same movie again. We heard this all last year. 1238 00:56:05,719 --> 00:56:08,200 Speaker 1: The Lakers have enough shooting. They have a d Lebron 1239 00:56:08,400 --> 00:56:10,960 Speaker 1: and an awesome defense, which I think is even better 1240 00:56:11,000 --> 00:56:13,000 Speaker 1: than might even be better than last year. They need 1241 00:56:13,080 --> 00:56:15,560 Speaker 1: a baseline level of shooting, right, They need enough shooting 1242 00:56:15,600 --> 00:56:17,800 Speaker 1: where teams have to respect and enough to where like 1243 00:56:17,920 --> 00:56:20,080 Speaker 1: they can't send that help on a d driving to 1244 00:56:20,120 --> 00:56:21,920 Speaker 1: the rim just as much where they can't help on 1245 00:56:22,000 --> 00:56:24,040 Speaker 1: Lebron getting to the rim just as much. And then 1246 00:56:24,040 --> 00:56:25,960 Speaker 1: when you have they need one guy hot a game. 1247 00:56:26,000 --> 00:56:28,400 Speaker 1: And it's funny seeing all these dudes go cold at 1248 00:56:28,440 --> 00:56:30,480 Speaker 1: the same time, because like if they if this was 1249 00:56:30,560 --> 00:56:32,480 Speaker 1: spread out a little more like West Matthew was cold, 1250 00:56:32,480 --> 00:56:34,560 Speaker 1: but KCP has it going, you can kind of work 1251 00:56:34,600 --> 00:56:36,440 Speaker 1: it out a bit more. But they have everyone cold, 1252 00:56:36,520 --> 00:56:38,759 Speaker 1: so it's and they're losing them. That just makes them 1253 00:56:38,800 --> 00:56:41,359 Speaker 1: lose the math game every night. Um and I think 1254 00:56:41,440 --> 00:56:43,600 Speaker 1: I think Utah had eight threes in the first quarter. 1255 00:56:44,280 --> 00:56:46,600 Speaker 1: Um made made eight threes in the first quarter, and 1256 00:56:46,640 --> 00:56:49,480 Speaker 1: the Lakers I think took like eleven for the half 1257 00:56:49,640 --> 00:56:52,080 Speaker 1: or just some crazy you know math question that And 1258 00:56:52,120 --> 00:56:53,480 Speaker 1: it was crazy to see that they were only down. 1259 00:56:53,560 --> 00:56:55,959 Speaker 1: Someone said, I can't believe they're down sixteen, only because 1260 00:56:55,960 --> 00:56:58,439 Speaker 1: they were just losing the math game, like crazy, So yeah, 1261 00:56:58,480 --> 00:57:00,960 Speaker 1: that should that's just turn back. But chasing guys off 1262 00:57:01,000 --> 00:57:03,280 Speaker 1: the three point line, that's kind of their defense principle, 1263 00:57:03,320 --> 00:57:05,239 Speaker 1: which by the way, the Lakers do the same thing. 1264 00:57:06,239 --> 00:57:10,719 Speaker 1: But that that tells me just logically that their help 1265 00:57:10,800 --> 00:57:13,160 Speaker 1: defenders are a little more keen to chase people off 1266 00:57:13,160 --> 00:57:15,640 Speaker 1: the line instead of over help and it works because 1267 00:57:15,719 --> 00:57:18,480 Speaker 1: Rudy go bears in the paint um. But if you notice, 1268 00:57:18,560 --> 00:57:21,160 Speaker 1: Marcusol was just shooting wide open threes in that game 1269 00:57:21,200 --> 00:57:25,800 Speaker 1: because Rudy didn't respect him. When they go five at 1270 00:57:25,840 --> 00:57:28,400 Speaker 1: the five, you're gonna have to respect out there. And 1271 00:57:28,640 --> 00:57:30,320 Speaker 1: and guess what, You've got a team that over helps 1272 00:57:30,360 --> 00:57:32,280 Speaker 1: on the three point line. It's gonna be Dennis shooter 1273 00:57:32,360 --> 00:57:34,880 Speaker 1: and Lebron to the rim all the time. It's gonna 1274 00:57:34,920 --> 00:57:38,400 Speaker 1: be something. Yeah, I was freshakes Market, like two threes 1275 00:57:38,440 --> 00:57:40,560 Speaker 1: in a row, and I'm like, you have that every 1276 00:57:40,600 --> 00:57:43,560 Speaker 1: single time, Like it was the same place he needs to. Yeah, 1277 00:57:43,680 --> 00:57:46,120 Speaker 1: Lebron comes off the pick, does that little behind the 1278 00:57:46,200 --> 00:57:48,640 Speaker 1: back back past him. Mark at the top of the three, 1279 00:57:48,720 --> 00:57:50,880 Speaker 1: he hit one, they'd run the exact same play. He 1280 00:57:50,920 --> 00:57:53,320 Speaker 1: had another, and then the next play Lebron did the 1281 00:57:53,360 --> 00:57:56,760 Speaker 1: same thing. He decided to like fake swing and I'm like, Mark, 1282 00:57:56,840 --> 00:57:58,800 Speaker 1: just take the shot. You just hit two in a row, right, 1283 00:57:58,840 --> 00:58:01,280 Speaker 1: Just I know you're an unselfish you know, a pastor. 1284 00:58:01,320 --> 00:58:03,960 Speaker 1: I know this, but like, just shoot it again. Rudy's 1285 00:58:03,960 --> 00:58:06,000 Speaker 1: not going to defend you. And again eight is gonna 1286 00:58:06,080 --> 00:58:08,840 Speaker 1: you know, pump fake drive to the room, step back whatever, 1287 00:58:08,880 --> 00:58:10,880 Speaker 1: he's gonna do all this stuff when when that matters, 1288 00:58:10,920 --> 00:58:13,360 Speaker 1: and he takes that matchup personally as well for some reason. 1289 00:58:13,680 --> 00:58:15,640 Speaker 1: So I mean, I'm glad he does. I'm glad he does. 1290 00:58:15,720 --> 00:58:18,280 Speaker 1: But yeah, Mark needs to take those man, especially right now, 1291 00:58:18,680 --> 00:58:21,960 Speaker 1: Lebron needs any kind of helping get in Marks. Mark's 1292 00:58:22,000 --> 00:58:23,600 Speaker 1: good enough shooter in my opinion, Like he's not the 1293 00:58:23,640 --> 00:58:27,600 Speaker 1: shooter he's shown so far, like he's not this I 1294 00:58:27,680 --> 00:58:29,840 Speaker 1: think he is. Yeah, And he's taking more too, and 1295 00:58:30,080 --> 00:58:31,880 Speaker 1: he's taking like I think he Like you always say, 1296 00:58:31,880 --> 00:58:34,040 Speaker 1: it's tough to like take one when it's like the 1297 00:58:34,160 --> 00:58:36,520 Speaker 1: third quarter, when you haven't shot all game, you know, 1298 00:58:36,640 --> 00:58:38,720 Speaker 1: like you're not in any kind of rhythm. So I'm 1299 00:58:38,720 --> 00:58:41,520 Speaker 1: glad he's taking. Yeah, I'm glad he's taking more. He's 1300 00:58:41,520 --> 00:58:43,800 Speaker 1: even like posting up a little bit. She shot like 1301 00:58:43,840 --> 00:58:46,080 Speaker 1: a fade away over Rudy Gobert which didn't go in. 1302 00:58:46,160 --> 00:58:47,760 Speaker 1: But I just like him taking shots. I have no 1303 00:58:47,880 --> 00:58:51,000 Speaker 1: problem with him being aggressive anytime. He's so unselfish that 1304 00:58:51,200 --> 00:58:54,000 Speaker 1: he's never gonna ballhog or or you know, be a 1305 00:58:54,080 --> 00:58:56,040 Speaker 1: black hole on offense. So I like him to be 1306 00:58:56,160 --> 00:59:01,480 Speaker 1: more aggressive, especially with what uh especially with what they're 1307 00:59:01,520 --> 00:59:05,040 Speaker 1: working with offensively right now. So Marcus Oliver's last ten 1308 00:59:05,160 --> 00:59:08,000 Speaker 1: games is forty from three on four attempts a game, 1309 00:59:08,640 --> 00:59:12,160 Speaker 1: So that's something that's something too to be to keep 1310 00:59:12,160 --> 00:59:15,080 Speaker 1: an eye on. That's positive. So we have one question 1311 00:59:15,280 --> 00:59:17,880 Speaker 1: in our comments. You and I actually already touched on this, 1312 00:59:17,960 --> 00:59:19,440 Speaker 1: but I want to just quick reiterate so that we 1313 00:59:19,520 --> 00:59:22,160 Speaker 1: can make sure that we get to our listeners. Um. 1314 00:59:22,320 --> 00:59:25,680 Speaker 1: I think this is from Joe Um question. Does Lebron's 1315 00:59:25,760 --> 00:59:29,200 Speaker 1: age have have anything to do with it being tougher 1316 00:59:29,240 --> 00:59:31,400 Speaker 1: for him to create shots now? Just seems to be 1317 00:59:31,480 --> 00:59:33,280 Speaker 1: a little tougher for him this year or am I 1318 00:59:33,360 --> 00:59:36,120 Speaker 1: way off? So you and I talked about this earlier. 1319 00:59:36,240 --> 00:59:38,760 Speaker 1: My take on it is just uh, kind of that 1320 00:59:38,880 --> 00:59:42,400 Speaker 1: cascading effect of their limited offensive personnel right now allowing 1321 00:59:42,600 --> 00:59:45,040 Speaker 1: the primary defender to be a little bit up into 1322 00:59:45,160 --> 00:59:48,080 Speaker 1: Lebron's grill in a way that normally they can't and 1323 00:59:48,240 --> 00:59:51,160 Speaker 1: just a lot of help. Lebron's overall shot quality that 1324 00:59:51,200 --> 00:59:53,320 Speaker 1: he's getting right now is lower than it normally is, 1325 00:59:53,800 --> 00:59:57,480 Speaker 1: and that's gonna just naturally manifest in him having to 1326 00:59:57,680 --> 00:59:59,960 Speaker 1: to take tougher shots, and he's gonna and he's gonna 1327 01:00:00,400 --> 01:00:03,080 Speaker 1: what do you think? Yeah, I agree with that. He's 1328 01:00:03,080 --> 01:00:04,880 Speaker 1: taking like he really took out that. You know, he 1329 01:00:04,920 --> 01:00:06,959 Speaker 1: had that like people would laugh at it. It became 1330 01:00:07,000 --> 01:00:08,560 Speaker 1: like a meme or whatever. He would stare at the 1331 01:00:08,600 --> 01:00:11,640 Speaker 1: ball before he takes that. Yeah, before that step aactor. 1332 01:00:11,720 --> 01:00:14,120 Speaker 1: He really took that out for the most part this year. Um, 1333 01:00:14,160 --> 01:00:16,040 Speaker 1: I'm kind of seeing that come back a little bit 1334 01:00:16,120 --> 01:00:18,600 Speaker 1: because it's just no space. He's every time he drives 1335 01:00:18,640 --> 01:00:20,160 Speaker 1: to the rim, there's three bodies and then when he 1336 01:00:20,240 --> 01:00:22,160 Speaker 1: kicks it out, no one's making a shot or people 1337 01:00:22,160 --> 01:00:24,280 Speaker 1: are holding um, and so he's having to go to 1338 01:00:24,400 --> 01:00:27,240 Speaker 1: that more. Um, that shot is coming back. But yeah, 1339 01:00:27,280 --> 01:00:28,880 Speaker 1: he's taking a lot of tough ones. He's like getting 1340 01:00:28,920 --> 01:00:31,160 Speaker 1: to the mid range. Um, teams are switching in and 1341 01:00:31,280 --> 01:00:33,280 Speaker 1: he's just having to take tough step step back mid 1342 01:00:33,400 --> 01:00:36,360 Speaker 1: range ones. So I think he's fine. He's taking tougher 1343 01:00:36,400 --> 01:00:38,720 Speaker 1: shots right now. But um, but like you said, he's 1344 01:00:38,800 --> 01:00:41,520 Speaker 1: in the best physical shape that I've maybe seen him 1345 01:00:41,520 --> 01:00:45,520 Speaker 1: as a laker. He's he's still getting yeah, and he's 1346 01:00:45,520 --> 01:00:47,440 Speaker 1: still getting to the rim when he wants. UM, I 1347 01:00:47,520 --> 01:00:50,840 Speaker 1: don't think, like I said before, Rudy Gilbert really changed much. 1348 01:00:51,120 --> 01:00:53,720 Speaker 1: I thought that Washington as well. Um, the Lakers went 1349 01:00:53,760 --> 01:00:55,480 Speaker 1: down four and he just decided I'm gonna get to 1350 01:00:55,480 --> 01:00:57,440 Speaker 1: the rim and got like an ones and sent the 1351 01:00:57,520 --> 01:01:00,440 Speaker 1: game into overtime. I think so, yeah, that I think 1352 01:01:00,440 --> 01:01:04,560 Speaker 1: he's fine. Yeah. So. And the thing too, is like 1353 01:01:04,680 --> 01:01:08,200 Speaker 1: he's he's over here. I just looked up fift since 1354 01:01:08,240 --> 01:01:10,200 Speaker 1: a D went down, So it's not like he's missing 1355 01:01:10,240 --> 01:01:12,280 Speaker 1: a ton of shots. I mean he's he's shooting poorly 1356 01:01:12,320 --> 01:01:14,680 Speaker 1: from the perimeter, but he's still getting quality shots from 1357 01:01:14,680 --> 01:01:16,480 Speaker 1: the post and in the in and around the basket. 1358 01:01:16,840 --> 01:01:19,800 Speaker 1: His scoring numbers are down, He's at twenty six points 1359 01:01:19,840 --> 01:01:21,360 Speaker 1: per game since the a D injury. But that that 1360 01:01:21,480 --> 01:01:23,520 Speaker 1: tells you all you need to know, because if they 1361 01:01:23,560 --> 01:01:26,680 Speaker 1: were guarding him straight up by virtue of the limitations 1362 01:01:26,720 --> 01:01:28,080 Speaker 1: of the other personnel, he'd be taking a lot more 1363 01:01:28,120 --> 01:01:29,880 Speaker 1: shots and he'd have a lot more points. And that 1364 01:01:30,000 --> 01:01:32,760 Speaker 1: just that shows you that he's he's being guarded heavily 1365 01:01:32,840 --> 01:01:35,280 Speaker 1: as a result of the lack of talent. Now the 1366 01:01:36,680 --> 01:01:39,560 Speaker 1: um the reality. The one thing that I would nit 1367 01:01:39,640 --> 01:01:40,800 Speaker 1: pick him on is I think he needs to do 1368 01:01:40,840 --> 01:01:43,200 Speaker 1: better job take care of the ball. Um. But but 1369 01:01:43,280 --> 01:01:45,920 Speaker 1: I do think part of that is just like he's 1370 01:01:45,960 --> 01:01:48,040 Speaker 1: playing with limited offensive players and he's trying to make 1371 01:01:48,080 --> 01:01:52,040 Speaker 1: something into nothing. And I really thinks, Um, another question. 1372 01:01:52,320 --> 01:01:54,920 Speaker 1: Let's see the Lakers are obviously going to take a 1373 01:01:54,960 --> 01:01:57,000 Speaker 1: look at that buyout trade market. Who should be on 1374 01:01:57,040 --> 01:02:00,400 Speaker 1: the list? What do you think? Yeah, it's see they 1375 01:02:00,440 --> 01:02:03,000 Speaker 1: just wave when Quinn Cook right shout out Quinn Cook. Uh, 1376 01:02:03,520 --> 01:02:06,080 Speaker 1: who's an awesome Laker here? But yeah, they waved him. 1377 01:02:06,120 --> 01:02:08,760 Speaker 1: So they have two spots available. Um, A lot of 1378 01:02:08,800 --> 01:02:11,640 Speaker 1: people said, you know, Boogie Cousins. I mean, I feel 1379 01:02:11,640 --> 01:02:13,520 Speaker 1: like you would be like the last option. I feel 1380 01:02:13,520 --> 01:02:15,560 Speaker 1: like they need one more shooter maybe and then maybe 1381 01:02:15,600 --> 01:02:17,960 Speaker 1: another like a wing defender would be nice. I don't 1382 01:02:18,000 --> 01:02:21,000 Speaker 1: really know who's on the market. Um. I saw gun Robinson, 1383 01:02:21,120 --> 01:02:23,800 Speaker 1: the third I think just got released. I think he'd 1384 01:02:23,840 --> 01:02:27,080 Speaker 1: be like, okay, pick up. I really don't know who 1385 01:02:27,120 --> 01:02:29,000 Speaker 1: else would really help, because what we're talking about here 1386 01:02:29,080 --> 01:02:30,880 Speaker 1: is playoffs, right like you you don't want to get 1387 01:02:30,920 --> 01:02:32,880 Speaker 1: You don't want to get players for like the A 1388 01:02:33,040 --> 01:02:34,960 Speaker 1: D injury that's coming out right now. You don't want 1389 01:02:35,000 --> 01:02:37,600 Speaker 1: to sign a guy because of this little stretch um 1390 01:02:37,680 --> 01:02:40,120 Speaker 1: that they've been missing. So any guys who are going 1391 01:02:40,160 --> 01:02:41,600 Speaker 1: to play in the playoffs, and I really don't know 1392 01:02:41,920 --> 01:02:44,200 Speaker 1: who's available for that. I think they're gonna wait, um 1393 01:02:44,320 --> 01:02:47,560 Speaker 1: for the full buy out market and see who gets available. UM. 1394 01:02:47,800 --> 01:02:49,600 Speaker 1: I like a guy like Trevor Reason, I wouldn't be 1395 01:02:49,640 --> 01:02:52,120 Speaker 1: mad at that. UM. I don't have a problem with 1396 01:02:52,200 --> 01:02:54,760 Speaker 1: Boogie if like he's if they don't sign anyone and 1397 01:02:54,840 --> 01:02:57,919 Speaker 1: they just want to keep him on UM and so yeah, 1398 01:02:58,720 --> 01:03:01,040 Speaker 1: I feel like that would be my choice. How about you? 1399 01:03:01,800 --> 01:03:04,920 Speaker 1: So okay. A couple of quick questions came through Chris 1400 01:03:05,040 --> 01:03:07,680 Speaker 1: Taps and Hassan Whiteside. I don't First of all, as 1401 01:03:07,680 --> 01:03:09,920 Speaker 1: far as Kris STAPs goes, no one know the Lakers 1402 01:03:09,920 --> 01:03:13,040 Speaker 1: aren't getting any major key piece. That's not happening. I 1403 01:03:13,120 --> 01:03:16,000 Speaker 1: would not touch us on Whiteside with the tent football. UM, 1404 01:03:16,080 --> 01:03:17,760 Speaker 1: I don't think they need it big either. And this 1405 01:03:17,880 --> 01:03:20,000 Speaker 1: kind of goes to my answer the question, which is, like, 1406 01:03:20,640 --> 01:03:24,200 Speaker 1: I you know, first of all, NBA history tells us 1407 01:03:24,240 --> 01:03:29,200 Speaker 1: that buy out guys primarily choose based on minutes because 1408 01:03:29,440 --> 01:03:31,640 Speaker 1: the basketball players and they like to play basketball. Like 1409 01:03:31,960 --> 01:03:35,320 Speaker 1: there's so many examples as of late where teams that 1410 01:03:36,160 --> 01:03:38,320 Speaker 1: are where player player would come available in the buy 1411 01:03:38,360 --> 01:03:39,760 Speaker 1: out market, you'd be like, oh, I bet you he 1412 01:03:39,840 --> 01:03:41,480 Speaker 1: goes to the Lakers, or I bet you he goes 1413 01:03:41,520 --> 01:03:44,160 Speaker 1: to sign with the Calves in Cleveland or whatever it is, 1414 01:03:44,280 --> 01:03:47,360 Speaker 1: and they end up going to like Milwaukee or some 1415 01:03:47,720 --> 01:03:52,840 Speaker 1: random team that truly needs that piece to play big minutes. 1416 01:03:53,120 --> 01:03:55,320 Speaker 1: And so when I look at the biot market, it's like, 1417 01:03:56,080 --> 01:03:58,920 Speaker 1: you know, the Laker rotation is eleven deep now, and 1418 01:03:59,240 --> 01:04:02,040 Speaker 1: and they're gonna rink that when when when all the 1419 01:04:02,120 --> 01:04:05,160 Speaker 1: guys get back? So are in the playoffs, So when 1420 01:04:05,200 --> 01:04:08,040 Speaker 1: you look at it, it's gonna be the guards, Like 1421 01:04:08,120 --> 01:04:13,000 Speaker 1: it's gonna be kcp Wes, Caruso Dennis, and then it's 1422 01:04:13,040 --> 01:04:15,760 Speaker 1: gonna be that's four, and then it's gonna be Lebron Kuzma, 1423 01:04:15,840 --> 01:04:18,960 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis and Tre's that's eight, and then Marcusol is 1424 01:04:19,000 --> 01:04:20,840 Speaker 1: probably gonna play that's nine guys. So it's like, who 1425 01:04:20,880 --> 01:04:23,680 Speaker 1: are you kicking out of the rotation? And so from 1426 01:04:23,720 --> 01:04:25,640 Speaker 1: that standpoint, it's like, I doubt they'll be able to 1427 01:04:25,720 --> 01:04:28,800 Speaker 1: get any really quality buy out pieces by virtue of 1428 01:04:29,000 --> 01:04:31,680 Speaker 1: just the limited minutes that are available. And then secondly, 1429 01:04:31,760 --> 01:04:34,600 Speaker 1: it's like you don't you don't necessarily need them. Um, 1430 01:04:34,760 --> 01:04:36,960 Speaker 1: if if I, if I had to gun to my 1431 01:04:37,040 --> 01:04:39,560 Speaker 1: head think of something that they could get would be 1432 01:04:39,600 --> 01:04:42,880 Speaker 1: a shooter. The idea there is like you're having issues 1433 01:04:42,920 --> 01:04:45,960 Speaker 1: of spacing. You know, some of your other guards are cold, 1434 01:04:46,400 --> 01:04:49,280 Speaker 1: and your ideas is like, Okay, if I have Anthony Davis, Lebron, 1435 01:04:49,400 --> 01:04:52,840 Speaker 1: Dennis Shooter and KCP out there, uh and those who 1436 01:04:52,840 --> 01:04:56,560 Speaker 1: are so good defensively, then maybe I can fit in, 1437 01:04:56,840 --> 01:04:59,480 Speaker 1: you know, a limited defensive defensive player that can knock 1438 01:04:59,520 --> 01:05:02,400 Speaker 1: down shot and we could just cover for him and 1439 01:05:02,520 --> 01:05:05,840 Speaker 1: hopefully it just opens things up. Uh, you know at 1440 01:05:05,880 --> 01:05:07,880 Speaker 1: certain stretches of the game. But I just you know, 1441 01:05:08,680 --> 01:05:10,520 Speaker 1: the Lakers are in good shape with their roster. They 1442 01:05:10,560 --> 01:05:13,000 Speaker 1: really are. I know it's hard to see that. It's 1443 01:05:13,040 --> 01:05:14,600 Speaker 1: hard to see the forest for the trees right now, 1444 01:05:14,680 --> 01:05:17,840 Speaker 1: but I really do think they're in good shape. Uh, 1445 01:05:18,560 --> 01:05:23,040 Speaker 1: we'll take one more. Let's see, do we need to 1446 01:05:23,040 --> 01:05:24,720 Speaker 1: focus on getting a big or three and d wing 1447 01:05:24,760 --> 01:05:26,240 Speaker 1: if given a choice. So we just we just talked 1448 01:05:26,280 --> 01:05:28,840 Speaker 1: about that's basically, you know, more or less we think 1449 01:05:28,840 --> 01:05:31,600 Speaker 1: they need shooting. I don't. I don't think they need 1450 01:05:31,640 --> 01:05:33,600 Speaker 1: a big because in the playoffs they use their bigs 1451 01:05:33,680 --> 01:05:36,840 Speaker 1: less anyway, and Mark and Trez and a d are enough, 1452 01:05:37,280 --> 01:05:40,200 Speaker 1: especially since Lebron plays the four you know really well 1453 01:05:40,520 --> 01:05:43,280 Speaker 1: when it comes to that point, you got anything else? Man? 1454 01:05:44,520 --> 01:05:46,760 Speaker 1: I think that said. This was fun, This was exciting. 1455 01:05:46,960 --> 01:05:48,680 Speaker 1: It was good to go to go through this and 1456 01:05:48,760 --> 01:05:50,640 Speaker 1: do this, do this weekly. So thank you to everyone 1457 01:05:50,640 --> 01:05:53,480 Speaker 1: who who tuned in as well, Like, yeah, we got 1458 01:05:53,600 --> 01:05:56,600 Speaker 1: the podcast version will be up here and I'll do 1459 01:05:56,680 --> 01:05:59,640 Speaker 1: it right away, so give me like fifteen minutes, Roger. 1460 01:05:59,680 --> 01:06:01,480 Speaker 1: I really appreciate you, man, I'm really looking forward to 1461 01:06:01,520 --> 01:06:03,040 Speaker 1: doing this. I'm glad we found a time in our 1462 01:06:03,080 --> 01:06:07,440 Speaker 1: schedules at work. Everybody else'll you next week? Awesome