WEBVTT - Grant Afseth Joins the Heat Check! 0:00:00.520 --> 0:00:06.480 Break was breaking down all the biggest NBA storylines to 0:00:06.600 --> 0:00:09.319 the Heat Check the Heat Check with Just a Crack, 0:00:10.000 --> 0:00:13.200 the best podcast covering all the drama around the association. 0:00:15.480 --> 0:00:17.960 Today, we're gonna have a chat with Grant Asset. 0:00:18.239 --> 0:00:20.680 Grant is a writer and a Dallas Mavericks reporter for 0:00:20.760 --> 0:00:24.960 Dallas Basketball dot Com SI as well as and then 0:00:25.000 --> 0:00:26.800 on top of that, the NBA Analysis Network. 0:00:26.800 --> 0:00:28.639 The dude knows is Ex's nose. He was awesome. 0:00:28.880 --> 0:00:30.840 He spent time as a beat reporter as well from 0:00:30.840 --> 0:00:31.920 the Indian Interpacers. 0:00:32.479 --> 0:00:35.280 I mean, he's just been around the league. Just don't don't. 0:00:35.320 --> 0:00:38.520 Just get on his Twitter and just check his analysis 0:00:38.560 --> 0:00:39.680 and you'll know he is legit. 0:00:39.880 --> 0:00:40.640 He's been everywhere. 0:00:40.640 --> 0:00:42.040 He went to Abu Dhabi with the team, he went 0:00:42.080 --> 0:00:44.080 to the Philippines with the team, he went to the 0:00:44.120 --> 0:00:46.880 Madrid with a team. He's just been falling around doing 0:00:46.920 --> 0:00:50.440 his thing. Welcome to the show, Grant, without further ado, 0:00:50.640 --> 0:00:51.559 let's get into it. 0:00:51.800 --> 0:00:55.120 Well, welcome to the show all the way from Madrid, Spain. 0:00:56.680 --> 0:00:58.520 Yeah, thanks for having me. I look forward to talking 0:00:58.560 --> 0:00:58.840 about it. 0:00:59.800 --> 0:01:02.320 You've been a world traveler this summer. 0:01:03.760 --> 0:01:06.800 Yeah, that I went to the Hall of Fame at first, 0:01:07.120 --> 0:01:10.320 and then the World Cup, and then yeah, the Global 0:01:10.360 --> 0:01:13.640 Games with the MAVs and Timberwolves as well, before yeah, 0:01:13.680 --> 0:01:15.959 the Real matured versus MAVs. So it's been a lot 0:01:16.000 --> 0:01:18.520 of interesting stuff in the last couple of months. For sure. 0:01:19.280 --> 0:01:22.400 What was the I guess most interesting place in all 0:01:22.400 --> 0:01:23.920 of those because it was Philippines. 0:01:24.680 --> 0:01:27.880 That's Dubai or Abu Dhabi excuse me, Abu Dhabi and 0:01:27.920 --> 0:01:28.640 now Madrid. 0:01:29.560 --> 0:01:32.560 Yeah, and then with Luca being in Japan for the 0:01:32.560 --> 0:01:34.760 start of that, I was in Okinawa for like the 0:01:34.760 --> 0:01:37.000 first two weeks of the World Cup and then the 0:01:37.040 --> 0:01:38.679 Philippines for like a week, and I thought it was 0:01:38.720 --> 0:01:43.240 interesting Okinawa. When I was landing there, it was it 0:01:43.319 --> 0:01:48.120 was like an alert system was talking about North Korean missiles, 0:01:48.280 --> 0:01:50.840 so like my phone was going off. People were like 0:01:50.960 --> 0:01:54.800 worried about that. So that was definitely an interesting thing 0:01:54.880 --> 0:01:55.240 for sure. 0:01:56.640 --> 0:01:57.480 Yeah. 0:01:56.960 --> 0:01:59.560 I think it's interesting because you said you haven't really 0:01:59.600 --> 0:02:02.280 traveled before this much around the world, and now you've 0:02:02.280 --> 0:02:07.040 been pretty much to all of the more exotic places 0:02:07.120 --> 0:02:08.200 right outside of Madrid. 0:02:08.240 --> 0:02:10.720 Madrid's a huge city right in the middle of. 0:02:10.680 --> 0:02:14.320 Europe, but Abu Dhabi had to have been really interesting 0:02:14.760 --> 0:02:17.400 situation for you, but also interesting for the team in 0:02:17.480 --> 0:02:20.240 terms of team building, Like, are these types of trips 0:02:20.520 --> 0:02:24.000 from what you can gather valuable to build chemistry. 0:02:24.960 --> 0:02:26.919 Yeah, I think that's been a big message even from 0:02:26.960 --> 0:02:29.600 before they left, they said that it'll be valuable to 0:02:29.639 --> 0:02:33.399 like put the long plane ride. Luca has also orchestrated 0:02:33.400 --> 0:02:36.720 team dinners both in Abu Dhabi and Madrid. You know, 0:02:36.720 --> 0:02:38.840 they also got to see some of his old I 0:02:38.840 --> 0:02:41.080 guess you could say stopping grounds and like sight see 0:02:41.080 --> 0:02:43.480 and all that stuff. So I think it's definitely helpful 0:02:43.480 --> 0:02:46.360 for that standpoint. I do think it may potentially make 0:02:46.400 --> 0:02:49.920 it more challenging for having like that traditional sort of 0:02:49.960 --> 0:02:54.160 comfortable like performance element of it. Like you're in different facilities, 0:02:54.600 --> 0:02:56.320 and if you have injuries, it's kind of harder to 0:02:56.360 --> 0:02:58.720 manage to those when you're on the road, especially not 0:02:58.840 --> 0:03:02.120 in an American sort of setting, I feel like, so 0:03:02.160 --> 0:03:04.200 I think that would be something to watch, you know Luca, 0:03:04.680 --> 0:03:08.160 you know, he had that that calf strain that prevented 0:03:08.200 --> 0:03:11.000 them from playing more than five minutes in that real 0:03:11.040 --> 0:03:13.120 Madrid game. And then Kyrie Irving has also been out 0:03:13.160 --> 0:03:15.400 for the last two games as well, with a growing 0:03:15.440 --> 0:03:18.919 straight or sore growing I should say, so, uh yeah 0:03:19.160 --> 0:03:20.679 that uh, I think it kind of makes it a 0:03:20.680 --> 0:03:22.639 little more complicated amandage to those on the fly. 0:03:23.560 --> 0:03:25.680 Yeah, and I'm sure Luca was super bummed to not 0:03:25.800 --> 0:03:27.720 be able to play as many minutes as he could 0:03:27.720 --> 0:03:32.120 and his old stomping grounds, Like how famous is he there? 0:03:33.520 --> 0:03:33.720 Yeah? 0:03:33.760 --> 0:03:34.320 He it was. 0:03:34.400 --> 0:03:36.120 It felt like a Mavericks game, to be honest, Like 0:03:36.200 --> 0:03:39.560 there was tons of like Luca donsis Jerseys. Everyone was 0:03:39.680 --> 0:03:42.280 just super amped for everything that he did, even when 0:03:42.280 --> 0:03:45.280 he just walked on the floor for like the warm up. 0:03:45.320 --> 0:03:47.320 It was just it was crazy. It was. It was 0:03:47.400 --> 0:03:49.640 a lot of enthusiasm for it. So yeah, it was 0:03:49.640 --> 0:03:52.600 definitely disappointing this as a basketball like like fan, I 0:03:52.600 --> 0:03:55.280 guess you could say, just to have like all those 0:03:55.320 --> 0:03:58.200 people excited for that and then have them play five 0:03:58.200 --> 0:04:01.040 minutes was kind of anti climactic, especially like finding out 0:04:01.040 --> 0:04:03.760 like so close to the game, like everyone's pulling into 0:04:03.760 --> 0:04:05.960 the arena and it's like, oh, by the way, Luca's 0:04:05.960 --> 0:04:08.600 gonna play five minutes. Oh okay. It was kind of 0:04:08.640 --> 0:04:11.480 like a like a like a suck for the enthusiasm, 0:04:11.520 --> 0:04:13.360 if you will. It was kind of strange. 0:04:13.760 --> 0:04:16.080 Yeah, and I'm sure, like you said, because the fact 0:04:16.120 --> 0:04:20.000 that they're overseas, the training situation is not nearly the 0:04:20.040 --> 0:04:22.120 same as it is in the United States, so you 0:04:22.200 --> 0:04:24.800 have to take more precautions. And then that ends up 0:04:24.839 --> 0:04:28.239 with Luca back in Madrid only playing five minutes. 0:04:28.279 --> 0:04:29.120 Is that essentially that? 0:04:30.360 --> 0:04:32.640 Yeah, that's definitely what it seemed like he was able 0:04:32.680 --> 0:04:35.599 to use like the real Madrid like facility that the 0:04:35.600 --> 0:04:39.640 basketball team uses, like in the days leading up. But 0:04:39.839 --> 0:04:42.480 I think, you know, like his injury kind of happened 0:04:42.600 --> 0:04:46.240 like the day before the game. They said he like 0:04:46.320 --> 0:04:49.320 strained the calf then, and I think there just probably 0:04:49.360 --> 0:04:52.040 was a combination of not enough time to probably get 0:04:52.040 --> 0:04:54.520 it ready to go. And I think they're just being 0:04:54.600 --> 0:04:56.560 ultra cautious as well, because I think it's a lot 0:04:56.640 --> 0:04:58.880 less you know, comfortable when you're in a different place, 0:04:59.200 --> 0:05:01.520 you're playing against players that you don't really play with 0:05:02.040 --> 0:05:05.159 in the typical season, and you're just trying to be 0:05:05.320 --> 0:05:07.720 very like like, especially with this Mavericks team that had 0:05:07.760 --> 0:05:10.080 injury problems late last year, I think it's probably a 0:05:10.080 --> 0:05:14.280 little worry some to push, if you will, like your 0:05:14.600 --> 0:05:16.080 two superstars for sure. 0:05:16.920 --> 0:05:19.440 So that every year, Grant every year. It's like, this 0:05:19.480 --> 0:05:21.640 guy's in the best shape of his life. This guy's 0:05:21.800 --> 0:05:25.000 has put on twenty pounds of muscle, this guy's lost 0:05:25.000 --> 0:05:28.680 twenty pounds of fat. Like, Luca has been someone that 0:05:29.200 --> 0:05:32.080 kind of not like exactly like Zion, but a little 0:05:32.120 --> 0:05:36.240 like Zion, where it's if Luca just was more shredded, 0:05:36.600 --> 0:05:41.120 there's this perception that maybe these injuries would be more preventable. 0:05:41.240 --> 0:05:45.159 Like where are we at this upcoming season in terms 0:05:45.160 --> 0:05:48.880 of like where his physical condition is compared to other years. 0:05:50.000 --> 0:05:53.720 Yeah, I think in general, entering seasons he's been very like, 0:05:54.000 --> 0:05:56.960 you know, like very like physically ready, you know, like 0:05:57.080 --> 0:06:00.240 not this like like this season leading up, but the 0:06:00.240 --> 0:06:03.640 previous season he also had international games to be able 0:06:03.640 --> 0:06:05.880 to play. That kind of you know, helped to prepare 0:06:06.040 --> 0:06:09.320 and I think that definitely has helped him. There's been 0:06:09.360 --> 0:06:12.919 a lot of international basketball since COVID hit with the 0:06:12.960 --> 0:06:16.760 condensed calendar, with the Olympics being impacted starting then. I 0:06:16.800 --> 0:06:19.280 think the main challenge though, is kind of during that 0:06:19.360 --> 0:06:21.479 long eighty two game season. I think this is not 0:06:21.560 --> 0:06:23.719 even just for Luca, but for some other players that 0:06:23.839 --> 0:06:27.359 have a hard time with keeping weight down during the 0:06:27.400 --> 0:06:30.440 season when those like longer road trips sort of start. 0:06:30.760 --> 0:06:32.760 It's easy to like kind of put on weight when 0:06:32.800 --> 0:06:36.120 you're like in five consecutive road games and you've been 0:06:36.160 --> 0:06:39.360 gone for like ten days, twelve days, things of that nature. 0:06:39.680 --> 0:06:41.680 So I think that's usually been as like, I guess 0:06:41.680 --> 0:06:44.440 you could say the issue because he's entered season as well, 0:06:44.720 --> 0:06:47.799 but I think maintaining throughout the full eighty two games 0:06:47.880 --> 0:06:50.360 is probably like a key focus for sure. 0:06:50.920 --> 0:06:53.880 Interesting onto this upcoming season. 0:06:53.920 --> 0:06:57.599 I wanted to have you on because there's there's a 0:06:57.600 --> 0:07:00.920 lot of excitement about how the offseason for the Mavericks, 0:07:01.160 --> 0:07:03.520 and then obviously that comes on the heels of like a. 0:07:03.520 --> 0:07:05.680 Massively disappointing season. 0:07:05.720 --> 0:07:09.200 Compared to what it was the year before for players, 0:07:09.240 --> 0:07:12.680 for fans all that, but the grades for the offseason 0:07:12.760 --> 0:07:17.600 with Omax and Derek Lively and Grant Williams all very exciting. 0:07:17.600 --> 0:07:20.400 I think you got a's across the board from most 0:07:20.440 --> 0:07:25.160 people who like to evaluate that. All that being said, 0:07:25.600 --> 0:07:29.160 what do you think the expectations inside the building are 0:07:29.320 --> 0:07:30.440 right now for this team? 0:07:31.680 --> 0:07:34.520 I think they're probably pretty you know, I would say, 0:07:34.560 --> 0:07:38.360 like not like an expectation of like championship or busts 0:07:38.440 --> 0:07:40.320 or anything of that nature. But I do think they 0:07:40.320 --> 0:07:44.120 feel optimistic about their chances. I think, you know, missing 0:07:44.120 --> 0:07:46.920 the play tournament is definitely not like last year is 0:07:46.960 --> 0:07:50.720 definitely not the expectation. I do think, you know, it 0:07:50.760 --> 0:07:53.160 all relies on health. They're even saying that, like Jason 0:07:53.240 --> 0:07:55.720 Kids made comments where it's like, as long as we're healthy, 0:07:56.200 --> 0:07:58.960 and it's a little like concerning aus you could say, 0:07:59.080 --> 0:08:01.880 since as preseason and you're kind of already talking about 0:08:01.920 --> 0:08:06.480 like like Superstar help before you even played the first 0:08:06.480 --> 0:08:09.520 home preseason game, Like that's a little like like something 0:08:09.560 --> 0:08:11.800 to watch for sure, because you know these could be 0:08:11.800 --> 0:08:14.760 minor things that aren't too big of a deal, but 0:08:14.840 --> 0:08:17.680 it's still like it's always a concern because you know, 0:08:17.760 --> 0:08:21.280 Kyrie Irving has not played you know, like the like 0:08:21.360 --> 0:08:24.160 I think it's been since his last season with the Celtics. 0:08:24.200 --> 0:08:26.760 Have I remember correctly that he played like over sixty 0:08:26.800 --> 0:08:30.040 five games or seventy games something like that. Yeah, So 0:08:30.200 --> 0:08:32.120 like if you're already kind of having like, oh, he's 0:08:32.120 --> 0:08:35.640 sitting out these two preseason games, that's a little like 0:08:35.800 --> 0:08:37.720 of a red flag I guess you could say for 0:08:38.400 --> 0:08:41.680 like the health department. But I think overall, like there's 0:08:41.720 --> 0:08:45.440 also a natural like expectation that rookies are gonna make mistakes. 0:08:45.480 --> 0:08:47.720 That's a common line that you know, Jason Kids said 0:08:47.720 --> 0:08:50.280 in his comments when talking about both of the rookies 0:08:50.360 --> 0:08:53.800 Lively and Omax, And I think, you know, they really 0:08:53.880 --> 0:08:56.960 like what they have and Lively even I think right now, 0:08:57.000 --> 0:08:58.839 like I think he's been ahead of schedule, That's what 0:08:58.920 --> 0:09:01.920 they've said as well, and he's actually like last night, 0:09:02.320 --> 0:09:04.760 Jason Kidd mentioned that he's done everything that they've asked 0:09:04.760 --> 0:09:08.000 for him to basically be the starter for opening night 0:09:08.480 --> 0:09:10.760 as well, and that o Max would come off the 0:09:10.760 --> 0:09:13.440 bench if basically the season was to start today. So 0:09:13.480 --> 0:09:15.040 I think there's a lot to like about those guys 0:09:15.120 --> 0:09:17.640 right now. But I think it will be like they're 0:09:17.679 --> 0:09:20.840 both raw offensively, and it takes an adjustment period for 0:09:20.880 --> 0:09:24.120 any defender entering the NBA. So I think just that'll 0:09:24.160 --> 0:09:26.520 be a big X factor is just tracking their development 0:09:26.559 --> 0:09:28.600 throughout a full full season for sure. 0:09:29.080 --> 0:09:31.920 Yeah, because we saw Walker Kessler come in as a 0:09:32.000 --> 0:09:35.959 rookie and have an immediate impact, especially after the trade. 0:09:36.040 --> 0:09:38.680 Right So for you like from what you've seen in 0:09:38.760 --> 0:09:41.240 practice and what you've seen in terms of who you've talked. 0:09:41.040 --> 0:09:44.319 To, what do you think gives you the most hope 0:09:44.440 --> 0:09:47.439 about this team and what concerns you the most. 0:09:48.200 --> 0:09:49.959 Yeah, I think the concern would definitely be what we 0:09:50.040 --> 0:09:53.319 touched on, is the health problems sometimes that pop up. 0:09:53.760 --> 0:09:56.520 You know, Lucas had some like ankle sprains and things 0:09:56.559 --> 0:09:59.240 like that in previous seasons. But you know, from the 0:09:59.240 --> 0:10:02.720 World Cup, you know, time around Slovenia, he did mention 0:10:02.840 --> 0:10:05.520 that his you know, his thye injury is not okay, 0:10:05.720 --> 0:10:08.920 and that was something that he brought up like early March, 0:10:09.360 --> 0:10:11.840 like in New Orleans, like he didn't finish out a game, 0:10:12.320 --> 0:10:14.439 he sat out the fourth quarter and then he kind 0:10:14.440 --> 0:10:16.439 of just talked to the media about it, and it's 0:10:16.520 --> 0:10:19.760 kind of been a storyline ever since. I do think 0:10:19.800 --> 0:10:21.520 he's like in the last couple of times he's talked 0:10:21.559 --> 0:10:24.240 about it, he says it's improved. But you know, I 0:10:24.280 --> 0:10:27.040 think it's kind of like it's kind of an odd comparison. 0:10:27.120 --> 0:10:29.680 But like I guess you could say, like with following NFL, 0:10:29.760 --> 0:10:33.520 like Joe Burrow, like entering a season unhealthy is probably 0:10:33.800 --> 0:10:36.280 you know, you're not gonna get more healthy playing a 0:10:36.280 --> 0:10:39.440 full season. If so, it's kind of that's something to 0:10:39.600 --> 0:10:42.040 keep an eye on, I would say, is that lingering 0:10:42.120 --> 0:10:44.000 thigh issue. And then also the you know, the caf 0:10:44.080 --> 0:10:45.520 strain is a new thing, but it's all in the 0:10:45.600 --> 0:10:48.840 left leg, so that's you know, I guess not the 0:10:48.840 --> 0:10:53.120 best situation for you, your heavy usage player to kind 0:10:53.120 --> 0:10:55.400 of be dealing with those types of things. And then 0:10:55.679 --> 0:10:57.600 you know, for Kyrie Irving, it sounds like it's not 0:10:57.640 --> 0:11:00.560 like a serious issue by any stretch, but it's still 0:11:00.600 --> 0:11:04.080 like there's like planar fasciitis he had at the end 0:11:04.080 --> 0:11:06.920 of last season and then with a groin injury. Now 0:11:07.000 --> 0:11:11.040 that's definitely like a thing to watch is his status 0:11:11.080 --> 0:11:13.800 like throughout like a full season two. But I think 0:11:13.840 --> 0:11:17.000 what gives me optimism is probably just how coachable and 0:11:17.559 --> 0:11:19.559 I guess you could say focus. The rookies are like 0:11:19.640 --> 0:11:22.280 they're they're some of the most like professional young players 0:11:22.280 --> 0:11:24.560 I think I've ever talked to, Like they know their 0:11:24.640 --> 0:11:26.559 job from day one, which I think is kind of 0:11:26.600 --> 0:11:28.760 a rare thing, Like you don't really hear rookies who 0:11:28.760 --> 0:11:31.160 are like nineteen and twenty one who step in and 0:11:31.160 --> 0:11:33.320 say I'm gonna do the dirty work. I'm going to 0:11:33.960 --> 0:11:36.160 you know, learn how to set screen as well. For 0:11:36.280 --> 0:11:39.680 Luca and Kyrie, you don't really hear that that often, 0:11:39.800 --> 0:11:42.520 so I think, you know, I think that they're definitely 0:11:42.559 --> 0:11:45.480 someone I would bet on for in season improvement if 0:11:45.520 --> 0:11:48.000 they do start off a little slow, So I think 0:11:48.040 --> 0:11:51.120 that gives me optimism. I do think, you know, they've 0:11:51.120 --> 0:11:53.800 added some interesting pieces as well, Like I think Dante 0:11:53.800 --> 0:11:56.560 Exum's look pretty solid, like both you know, like coming 0:11:56.559 --> 0:11:58.600 off the World Cup, he was good for Australia and 0:11:58.640 --> 0:12:02.000 he's continued that in preseason. And Seth Curry gives shooting. 0:12:02.160 --> 0:12:04.800 He's worked well with Luca in the past, and he's 0:12:04.840 --> 0:12:06.920 healthy now as well. He had some injuries the last 0:12:06.920 --> 0:12:08.960 couple of years, and I think, you know, like they 0:12:08.960 --> 0:12:10.160 haven't moved him hardaway. 0:12:10.640 --> 0:12:11.040 Junior. 0:12:11.040 --> 0:12:12.880 He was in a lot of trade rumors, but you know, 0:12:12.920 --> 0:12:14.800 he's someone that was actually one of the more important 0:12:14.880 --> 0:12:17.079 like swing factors, if you will, for them last year 0:12:17.120 --> 0:12:19.280 when he was hot. That was one of the few 0:12:19.280 --> 0:12:21.000 things that kind of put them over the top in 0:12:21.160 --> 0:12:23.960 like in game situations. So you know, they have some 0:12:24.280 --> 0:12:28.280 like firepower in that sense. It's just all definitely predicates 0:12:28.320 --> 0:12:31.600 on those superstars staying healthy because they don't. They don't 0:12:31.640 --> 0:12:34.840 really have the depth to like say like we're going 0:12:34.880 --> 0:12:36.520 to put the ball in this guy's hands and we're 0:12:36.559 --> 0:12:38.480 not going to feel a loss of not having Kyrie 0:12:38.559 --> 0:12:42.480 or Luca or both. Jaden Hardy's development is definitely something 0:12:42.520 --> 0:12:44.800 to watch as well, because he's kind of the player 0:12:44.840 --> 0:12:47.800 they do rely on in those situations, at least they 0:12:47.840 --> 0:12:51.040 did last season. There's more competition in the back court 0:12:51.080 --> 0:12:52.960 this year to keep an eye on with you know, 0:12:53.040 --> 0:12:55.520 Curry and Xim as I mentioned, but last year it 0:12:55.600 --> 0:12:57.920 was very interesting, like he went from like Hardy went 0:12:57.920 --> 0:13:00.960 from a DNP before that New Orleans game that I 0:13:01.000 --> 0:13:03.760 mentioned with Luca where he started to talk about that 0:13:03.800 --> 0:13:06.160 thigh injury and then he finished out the fourth quarter 0:13:06.240 --> 0:13:09.280 for Luca, and then he became the first option against 0:13:09.280 --> 0:13:12.400 the Memphis Grizzlies when Luca and Kyrie were out, and 0:13:12.400 --> 0:13:15.960 he shot like a couple consecutive games with like twenty 0:13:16.040 --> 0:13:18.640 or more field goal He had like sixty plus in 0:13:18.679 --> 0:13:21.120 a three game span. So yeah, it's like that's definitely 0:13:21.120 --> 0:13:24.199 a player like his ongoing development will be important to monitor, 0:13:24.559 --> 0:13:27.280 Like not to ramble too much, but like in Summer League, 0:13:27.280 --> 0:13:29.880 I was out there as well, and they really wanted 0:13:29.920 --> 0:13:32.320 to focus on his passing reads and you know, basically 0:13:32.400 --> 0:13:35.000 getting a better feel for controlling the game as an 0:13:35.000 --> 0:13:37.960 initiator and not just kind of coming off screens and 0:13:38.000 --> 0:13:43.320 taking tough shots and you know, just working on basically 0:13:43.360 --> 0:13:46.360 being more of a point guard. And I think that 0:13:46.360 --> 0:13:49.880 that didn't necessarily have the greatest progress. I think, you know, 0:13:49.880 --> 0:13:51.840 they were still talking about how that needs to improve. 0:13:52.360 --> 0:13:55.079 And I think, you know, even as of last night, 0:13:55.080 --> 0:13:57.040 I think that could have improved when he was relied 0:13:57.080 --> 0:13:59.440 on to kind of handle things in the fourth quarter 0:13:59.480 --> 0:14:02.600 against Real Madrid. So I think if he can something 0:14:02.640 --> 0:14:05.640 clicks for him and that like those areas, I think 0:14:05.679 --> 0:14:07.480 that would be a very important, like kind of under 0:14:07.520 --> 0:14:09.160 the radar swing factor as well. 0:14:09.720 --> 0:14:11.760 Yeah, I agree. I like Jayden Hardy a lot. I 0:14:11.800 --> 0:14:13.280 loved that pickup when they got him. 0:14:13.880 --> 0:14:15.920 I think what was interesting last year was this the 0:14:15.960 --> 0:14:20.280 defense was so atrocious and you got rid of dfs, right, 0:14:20.320 --> 0:14:24.960 Dorian Finny Smith, and now you've got Grant Williams there, Like, 0:14:25.120 --> 0:14:27.960 how do you think he impacts what this team can 0:14:28.000 --> 0:14:31.200 do defensively on top of the two rookies who also 0:14:31.240 --> 0:14:32.720 want to be able to switch a little. 0:14:32.520 --> 0:14:33.040 Bit of everything. 0:14:34.120 --> 0:14:36.560 Yeah, I think definitely after that trade that you mentioned, 0:14:36.600 --> 0:14:38.880 like with moving Dorian Finny Smith, you know, in that 0:14:38.960 --> 0:14:42.840 Kyrie Irving trade, they like it was very staggering how 0:14:42.880 --> 0:14:45.240 small they were, Like I remember, I think it was 0:14:45.280 --> 0:14:46.960 like right before the All Star break. I think it 0:14:46.960 --> 0:14:49.280 was the last game against the Denver Nuggets. Like I 0:14:49.880 --> 0:14:52.160 was there and I was just kind of like shocked 0:14:52.160 --> 0:14:54.640 at how small they were. Like Michael Porter Junior is 0:14:54.680 --> 0:14:57.600 like a good six', Ten Aaron gordon's very big as. 0:14:57.640 --> 0:15:00.160 Well then you Have, jokic and they Had Dwight powell 0:15:00.440 --> 0:15:03.080 at the, five they Had Reggie bulock at the, four 0:15:03.560 --> 0:15:05.600 and then they Had Justin holliday who's like one hundred 0:15:05.600 --> 0:15:08.920 and eighty pounds at the. Three for that game is, 0:15:09.200 --> 0:15:10.720 well he didn't play in that, game but they started 0:15:10.800 --> 0:15:13.880 utilizing him. More and Then Josh green is you, know 0:15:13.920 --> 0:15:15.960 like six six as. Well so that was a very 0:15:16.000 --> 0:15:18.800 small sort of like three through five to have and 0:15:18.840 --> 0:15:20.800 that ended up being the case against a lot of. 0:15:20.880 --> 0:15:23.560 Teams so then they kind of just started throwing stuff 0:15:23.600 --> 0:15:25.360 at the. WALL i guess you could, say like playing 0:15:25.400 --> 0:15:29.680 big lineups Like Christian wood Alongside Dwight, Powell Maxi kliba 0:15:30.040 --> 0:15:32.960 after he you, know got healthy and just trying a 0:15:33.000 --> 0:15:35.240 lot of different stuff and that didn't end up being 0:15:35.240 --> 0:15:37.520 an answer as. Well so they kind, of you, know 0:15:37.600 --> 0:15:39.640 as you, said went to the drawing board and they 0:15:39.760 --> 0:15:42.320 managed to Get Grant. WILLIAMS i do like how he he. 0:15:42.400 --> 0:15:44.560 Fits he you, know he switched a lot with The 0:15:44.600 --> 0:15:47.920 celtics that was successful for. THEM i think that's ideally 0:15:47.960 --> 0:15:50.360 what you, know like you, know The mavericks would like 0:15:50.400 --> 0:15:52.840 to have is that versatile option that can handle multiple 0:15:52.840 --> 0:15:56.600 positions and kind of stifle those initial actions for opposing 0:15:56.640 --> 0:15:59.360 teams when they're getting into their. Offense AND i think 0:15:59.640 --> 0:16:01.720 that's the really. Lacked like he's not like the six 0:16:01.760 --> 0:16:04.240 foot nine wing by any. Stretch he's six, six but 0:16:04.280 --> 0:16:06.440 he's definitely like he's like two hundred and forty, Pounds 0:16:06.440 --> 0:16:09.760 like he's got more of that bigger. Frame, yeah he's definitely. Big, 0:16:10.080 --> 0:16:12.400 yeah he's very, big and he can handle like those 0:16:12.400 --> 0:16:15.680 matchups a lot. Better and, YEAH i just think like 0:16:15.680 --> 0:16:17.680 there was some regression from some of their guys that 0:16:17.720 --> 0:16:20.760 they had last, Season LIKE i Think Reggie, bollock LIKE 0:16:20.800 --> 0:16:22.600 i don't think he was containing the ball nearly as 0:16:22.600 --> 0:16:24.240 well as he had in the, past and you, know 0:16:24.240 --> 0:16:26.360 they were coming off of A Western Conference finals run 0:16:26.440 --> 0:16:27.760 that took a lot of games and a lot of, 0:16:27.760 --> 0:16:29.960 workload SO i, think you, know maybe there was some 0:16:30.080 --> 0:16:33.560 regression there from that. Standpoint getting different personnel in there 0:16:34.160 --> 0:16:36.360 definitely as. Important AND i, think you, know some of 0:16:36.360 --> 0:16:39.560 my fret actually touched on earlier Was Josh. GREEN i 0:16:39.600 --> 0:16:42.800 think that's an important. Player he'll probably start at the 0:16:42.840 --> 0:16:46.400 three IF i had to like make a prediction right 0:16:46.440 --> 0:16:50.000 now based off what's out there for like like what 0:16:50.040 --> 0:16:52.160 the you, know coach Of savas said and what's kind 0:16:52.200 --> 0:16:56.160 of happening. Games AND i think his. Development he's improved 0:16:56.160 --> 0:16:58.520 as a shooter of the last couple of, years but you, 0:16:58.560 --> 0:17:01.560 KNOW i think they haven't really utilized him too much 0:17:01.560 --> 0:17:03.960 as a playmaker. Yet there's been some times where he's 0:17:04.000 --> 0:17:05.959 like handled the. Ball luke has been a screener for. 0:17:06.040 --> 0:17:09.040 Him kyrie has been a screener for. Him but you, 0:17:09.080 --> 0:17:13.199 KNOW i think in, general just seeing his, progression if 0:17:13.240 --> 0:17:15.600 he's willing to take you, know like those tougher contested 0:17:15.680 --> 0:17:18.000 threes when they come his, way being more comfortable doing 0:17:18.040 --> 0:17:21.040 that and just making plays in the half, COURT i 0:17:21.080 --> 0:17:23.680 think he could really elevate their unit if that, happens 0:17:23.760 --> 0:17:26.119 because he has some really interesting, qualities like he can 0:17:26.200 --> 0:17:28.119 leave his feet deep on a drive and just make 0:17:28.240 --> 0:17:31.800 like almost like a rugby, pass like from you, know 0:17:31.840 --> 0:17:35.000 probably what he played In australia in the. Past there's 0:17:35.040 --> 0:17:37.360 a lot of different like elements to, That like he's 0:17:37.400 --> 0:17:39.480 just can finish through contact as, well like on the way. 0:17:39.560 --> 0:17:42.760 Up he can just get, contact take take the contact 0:17:42.840 --> 0:17:44.159 and finish on the way. Down like just a lot 0:17:44.200 --> 0:17:46.600 of unique stuff you don't see from role, players uh 0:17:46.760 --> 0:17:48.880 like on the wing that. Much SO i think if 0:17:48.880 --> 0:17:50.880 he you, know if that all comes, together that could 0:17:50.880 --> 0:17:53.439 be a very important factor for their team this season for. 0:17:53.480 --> 0:17:56.159 Sure. Yeah he was somebody THAT i definitely wanted to 0:17:56.200 --> 0:17:59.440 ask you about because along the, way there were multiple 0:17:59.560 --> 0:18:03.040 trade you know machine type of rumors that went, around, 0:18:03.119 --> 0:18:06.000 right and every single time it was, Like MAVs will 0:18:06.040 --> 0:18:09.639 not Include Josh green in a. Trade what is it 0:18:09.720 --> 0:18:12.439 About Josh? Green because they haven't yet extended. Him he 0:18:12.520 --> 0:18:15.480 is eligible now AND i think it's the final year 0:18:15.480 --> 0:18:16.160 of his, deal. 0:18:16.000 --> 0:18:19.360 Right and uh, yeah, YEAH i think he's got till 0:18:19.400 --> 0:18:22.080 like like Late, October, yeah a couple of weeks from 0:18:22.080 --> 0:18:24.359 now until the deadline for that extension for. 0:18:24.400 --> 0:18:27.600 Sure, Right so the QUESTION i guess, is like what 0:18:27.640 --> 0:18:31.040 do they see in him that makes them so reluctant 0:18:31.600 --> 0:18:32.880 to include him in any of those. 0:18:32.920 --> 0:18:36.440 TRAITS i think the big thing is, that you, know 0:18:36.480 --> 0:18:39.159 when you think of the like typical three AND d, player, 0:18:39.840 --> 0:18:43.119 uh he has those qualities like we were talking about 0:18:43.119 --> 0:18:45.920 that are just very. Interesting like he could just blow 0:18:45.960 --> 0:18:48.400 by a close out very. Well he can you make 0:18:48.520 --> 0:18:51.640