Speaker 1: Break was breaking down all the biggest NBA storylines to
Speaker 1: the Heat Check the Heat Check with Just a Crack,
Speaker 1: the best podcast covering all the drama around the association.
Speaker 2: Today, we're gonna have a chat with Grant Asset.
Speaker 3: Grant is a writer and a Dallas Mavericks reporter for
Speaker 3: Dallas Basketball dot Com SI as well as and then
Speaker 3: on top of that, the NBA Analysis Network.
Speaker 2: The dude knows is Ex's nose. He was awesome.
Speaker 3: He spent time as a beat reporter as well from
Speaker 3: the Indian Interpacers.
Speaker 2: I mean, he's just been around the league. Just don't don't.
Speaker 3: Just get on his Twitter and just check his analysis
Speaker 3: and you'll know he is legit.
Speaker 2: He's been everywhere.
Speaker 3: He went to Abu Dhabi with the team, he went
Speaker 3: to the Philippines with the team, he went to the
Speaker 3: Madrid with a team. He's just been falling around doing
Speaker 3: his thing. Welcome to the show, Grant, without further ado,
Speaker 3: let's get into it.
Speaker 2: Well, welcome to the show all the way from Madrid, Spain.
Speaker 1: Yeah, thanks for having me. I look forward to talking
Speaker 1: about it.
Speaker 2: You've been a world traveler this summer.
Speaker 1: Yeah, that I went to the Hall of Fame at first,
Speaker 1: and then the World Cup, and then yeah, the Global
Speaker 1: Games with the MAVs and Timberwolves as well, before yeah,
Speaker 1: the Real matured versus MAVs. So it's been a lot
Speaker 1: of interesting stuff in the last couple of months. For sure.
Speaker 3: What was the I guess most interesting place in all
Speaker 3: of those because it was Philippines.
Speaker 2: That's Dubai or Abu Dhabi excuse me, Abu Dhabi and
Speaker 2: now Madrid.
Speaker 1: Yeah, and then with Luca being in Japan for the
Speaker 1: start of that, I was in Okinawa for like the
Speaker 1: first two weeks of the World Cup and then the
Speaker 1: Philippines for like a week, and I thought it was
Speaker 1: interesting Okinawa. When I was landing there, it was it
Speaker 1: was like an alert system was talking about North Korean missiles,
Speaker 1: so like my phone was going off. People were like
Speaker 1: worried about that. So that was definitely an interesting thing
Speaker 1: for sure.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: I think it's interesting because you said you haven't really
Speaker 3: traveled before this much around the world, and now you've
Speaker 3: been pretty much to all of the more exotic places
Speaker 3: right outside of Madrid.
Speaker 2: Madrid's a huge city right in the middle of.
Speaker 3: Europe, but Abu Dhabi had to have been really interesting
Speaker 3: situation for you, but also interesting for the team in
Speaker 3: terms of team building, Like, are these types of trips
Speaker 3: from what you can gather valuable to build chemistry.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think that's been a big message even from
Speaker 1: before they left, they said that it'll be valuable to
Speaker 1: like put the long plane ride. Luca has also orchestrated
Speaker 1: team dinners both in Abu Dhabi and Madrid. You know,
Speaker 1: they also got to see some of his old I
Speaker 1: guess you could say stopping grounds and like sight see
Speaker 1: and all that stuff. So I think it's definitely helpful
Speaker 1: for that standpoint. I do think it may potentially make
Speaker 1: it more challenging for having like that traditional sort of
Speaker 1: comfortable like performance element of it. Like you're in different facilities,
Speaker 1: and if you have injuries, it's kind of harder to
Speaker 1: manage to those when you're on the road, especially not
Speaker 1: in an American sort of setting, I feel like, so
Speaker 1: I think that would be something to watch, you know Luca,
Speaker 1: you know, he had that that calf strain that prevented
Speaker 1: them from playing more than five minutes in that real
Speaker 1: Madrid game. And then Kyrie Irving has also been out
Speaker 1: for the last two games as well, with a growing
Speaker 1: straight or sore growing I should say, so, uh yeah
Speaker 1: that uh, I think it kind of makes it a
Speaker 1: little more complicated amandage to those on the fly.
Speaker 3: Yeah, and I'm sure Luca was super bummed to not
Speaker 3: be able to play as many minutes as he could
Speaker 3: and his old stomping grounds, Like how famous is he there?
Speaker 1: Yeah?
Speaker 2: He it was.
Speaker 1: It felt like a Mavericks game, to be honest, Like
Speaker 1: there was tons of like Luca donsis Jerseys. Everyone was
Speaker 1: just super amped for everything that he did, even when
Speaker 1: he just walked on the floor for like the warm up.
Speaker 1: It was just it was crazy. It was. It was
Speaker 1: a lot of enthusiasm for it. So yeah, it was
Speaker 1: definitely disappointing this as a basketball like like fan, I
Speaker 1: guess you could say, just to have like all those
Speaker 1: people excited for that and then have them play five
Speaker 1: minutes was kind of anti climactic, especially like finding out
Speaker 1: like so close to the game, like everyone's pulling into
Speaker 1: the arena and it's like, oh, by the way, Luca's
Speaker 1: gonna play five minutes. Oh okay. It was kind of
Speaker 1: like a like a like a suck for the enthusiasm,
Speaker 1: if you will. It was kind of strange.
Speaker 3: Yeah, and I'm sure, like you said, because the fact
Speaker 3: that they're overseas, the training situation is not nearly the
Speaker 3: same as it is in the United States, so you
Speaker 3: have to take more precautions. And then that ends up
Speaker 3: with Luca back in Madrid only playing five minutes.
Speaker 2: Is that essentially that?
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's definitely what it seemed like he was able
Speaker 1: to use like the real Madrid like facility that the
Speaker 1: basketball team uses, like in the days leading up. But
Speaker 1: I think, you know, like his injury kind of happened
Speaker 1: like the day before the game. They said he like
Speaker 1: strained the calf then, and I think there just probably
Speaker 1: was a combination of not enough time to probably get
Speaker 1: it ready to go. And I think they're just being
Speaker 1: ultra cautious as well, because I think it's a lot
Speaker 1: less you know, comfortable when you're in a different place,
Speaker 1: you're playing against players that you don't really play with
Speaker 1: in the typical season, and you're just trying to be
Speaker 1: very like like, especially with this Mavericks team that had
Speaker 1: injury problems late last year, I think it's probably a
Speaker 1: little worry some to push, if you will, like your
Speaker 1: two superstars for sure.
Speaker 3: So that every year, Grant every year. It's like, this
Speaker 3: guy's in the best shape of his life. This guy's
Speaker 3: has put on twenty pounds of muscle, this guy's lost
Speaker 3: twenty pounds of fat. Like, Luca has been someone that
Speaker 3: kind of not like exactly like Zion, but a little
Speaker 3: like Zion, where it's if Luca just was more shredded,
Speaker 3: there's this perception that maybe these injuries would be more preventable.
Speaker 3: Like where are we at this upcoming season in terms
Speaker 3: of like where his physical condition is compared to other years.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think in general, entering seasons he's been very like,
Speaker 1: you know, like very like physically ready, you know, like
Speaker 1: not this like like this season leading up, but the
Speaker 1: previous season he also had international games to be able
Speaker 1: to play. That kind of you know, helped to prepare
Speaker 1: and I think that definitely has helped him. There's been
Speaker 1: a lot of international basketball since COVID hit with the
Speaker 1: condensed calendar, with the Olympics being impacted starting then. I
Speaker 1: think the main challenge though, is kind of during that
Speaker 1: long eighty two game season. I think this is not
Speaker 1: even just for Luca, but for some other players that
Speaker 1: have a hard time with keeping weight down during the
Speaker 1: season when those like longer road trips sort of start.
Speaker 1: It's easy to like kind of put on weight when
Speaker 1: you're like in five consecutive road games and you've been
Speaker 1: gone for like ten days, twelve days, things of that nature.
Speaker 1: So I think that's usually been as like, I guess
Speaker 1: you could say the issue because he's entered season as well,
Speaker 1: but I think maintaining throughout the full eighty two games
Speaker 1: is probably like a key focus for sure.
Speaker 2: Interesting onto this upcoming season.
Speaker 3: I wanted to have you on because there's there's a
Speaker 3: lot of excitement about how the offseason for the Mavericks,
Speaker 3: and then obviously that comes on the heels of like a.
Speaker 2: Massively disappointing season.
Speaker 3: Compared to what it was the year before for players,
Speaker 3: for fans all that, but the grades for the offseason
Speaker 3: with Omax and Derek Lively and Grant Williams all very exciting.
Speaker 3: I think you got a's across the board from most
Speaker 3: people who like to evaluate that. All that being said,
Speaker 3: what do you think the expectations inside the building are
Speaker 3: right now for this team?
Speaker 1: I think they're probably pretty you know, I would say,
Speaker 1: like not like an expectation of like championship or busts
Speaker 1: or anything of that nature. But I do think they
Speaker 1: feel optimistic about their chances. I think, you know, missing
Speaker 1: the play tournament is definitely not like last year is
Speaker 1: definitely not the expectation. I do think, you know, it
Speaker 1: all relies on health. They're even saying that, like Jason
Speaker 1: Kids made comments where it's like, as long as we're healthy,
Speaker 1: and it's a little like concerning aus you could say,
Speaker 1: since as preseason and you're kind of already talking about
Speaker 1: like like Superstar help before you even played the first
Speaker 1: home preseason game, Like that's a little like like something
Speaker 1: to watch for sure, because you know these could be
Speaker 1: minor things that aren't too big of a deal, but
Speaker 1: it's still like it's always a concern because you know,
Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving has not played you know, like the like
Speaker 1: I think it's been since his last season with the Celtics.
Speaker 1: Have I remember correctly that he played like over sixty
Speaker 1: five games or seventy games something like that. Yeah, So
Speaker 1: like if you're already kind of having like, oh, he's
Speaker 1: sitting out these two preseason games, that's a little like
Speaker 1: of a red flag I guess you could say for
Speaker 1: like the health department. But I think overall, like there's
Speaker 1: also a natural like expectation that rookies are gonna make mistakes.
Speaker 1: That's a common line that you know, Jason Kids said
Speaker 1: in his comments when talking about both of the rookies
Speaker 1: Lively and Omax, And I think, you know, they really
Speaker 1: like what they have and Lively even I think right now,
Speaker 1: like I think he's been ahead of schedule, That's what
Speaker 1: they've said as well, and he's actually like last night,
Speaker 1: Jason Kidd mentioned that he's done everything that they've asked
Speaker 1: for him to basically be the starter for opening night
Speaker 1: as well, and that o Max would come off the
Speaker 1: bench if basically the season was to start today. So
Speaker 1: I think there's a lot to like about those guys
Speaker 1: right now. But I think it will be like they're
Speaker 1: both raw offensively, and it takes an adjustment period for
Speaker 1: any defender entering the NBA. So I think just that'll
Speaker 1: be a big X factor is just tracking their development
Speaker 1: throughout a full full season for sure.
Speaker 3: Yeah, because we saw Walker Kessler come in as a
Speaker 3: rookie and have an immediate impact, especially after the trade.
Speaker 3: Right So for you like from what you've seen in
Speaker 3: practice and what you've seen in terms of who you've talked.
Speaker 2: To, what do you think gives you the most hope
Speaker 2: about this team and what concerns you the most.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think the concern would definitely be what we
Speaker 1: touched on, is the health problems sometimes that pop up.
Speaker 1: You know, Lucas had some like ankle sprains and things
Speaker 1: like that in previous seasons. But you know, from the
Speaker 1: World Cup, you know, time around Slovenia, he did mention
Speaker 1: that his you know, his thye injury is not okay,
Speaker 1: and that was something that he brought up like early March,
Speaker 1: like in New Orleans, like he didn't finish out a game,
Speaker 1: he sat out the fourth quarter and then he kind
Speaker 1: of just talked to the media about it, and it's
Speaker 1: kind of been a storyline ever since. I do think
Speaker 1: he's like in the last couple of times he's talked
Speaker 1: about it, he says it's improved. But you know, I
Speaker 1: think it's kind of like it's kind of an odd comparison.
Speaker 1: But like I guess you could say, like with following NFL,
Speaker 1: like Joe Burrow, like entering a season unhealthy is probably
Speaker 1: you know, you're not gonna get more healthy playing a
Speaker 1: full season. If so, it's kind of that's something to
Speaker 1: keep an eye on, I would say, is that lingering
Speaker 1: thigh issue. And then also the you know, the caf
Speaker 1: strain is a new thing, but it's all in the
Speaker 1: left leg, so that's you know, I guess not the
Speaker 1: best situation for you, your heavy usage player to kind
Speaker 1: of be dealing with those types of things. And then
Speaker 1: you know, for Kyrie Irving, it sounds like it's not
Speaker 1: like a serious issue by any stretch, but it's still
Speaker 1: like there's like planar fasciitis he had at the end
Speaker 1: of last season and then with a groin injury. Now
Speaker 1: that's definitely like a thing to watch is his status
Speaker 1: like throughout like a full season two. But I think
Speaker 1: what gives me optimism is probably just how coachable and
Speaker 1: I guess you could say focus. The rookies are like
Speaker 1: they're they're some of the most like professional young players
Speaker 1: I think I've ever talked to, Like they know their
Speaker 1: job from day one, which I think is kind of
Speaker 1: a rare thing, Like you don't really hear rookies who
Speaker 1: are like nineteen and twenty one who step in and
Speaker 1: say I'm gonna do the dirty work. I'm going to
Speaker 1: you know, learn how to set screen as well. For
Speaker 1: Luca and Kyrie, you don't really hear that that often,
Speaker 1: so I think, you know, I think that they're definitely
Speaker 1: someone I would bet on for in season improvement if
Speaker 1: they do start off a little slow, So I think
Speaker 1: that gives me optimism. I do think, you know, they've
Speaker 1: added some interesting pieces as well, Like I think Dante
Speaker 1: Exum's look pretty solid, like both you know, like coming
Speaker 1: off the World Cup, he was good for Australia and
Speaker 1: he's continued that in preseason. And Seth Curry gives shooting.
Speaker 1: He's worked well with Luca in the past, and he's
Speaker 1: healthy now as well. He had some injuries the last
Speaker 1: couple of years, and I think, you know, like they
Speaker 1: haven't moved him hardaway.
Speaker 2: Junior.
Speaker 1: He was in a lot of trade rumors, but you know,
Speaker 1: he's someone that was actually one of the more important
Speaker 1: like swing factors, if you will, for them last year
Speaker 1: when he was hot. That was one of the few
Speaker 1: things that kind of put them over the top in
Speaker 1: like in game situations. So you know, they have some
Speaker 1: like firepower in that sense. It's just all definitely predicates
Speaker 1: on those superstars staying healthy because they don't. They don't
Speaker 1: really have the depth to like say like we're going
Speaker 1: to put the ball in this guy's hands and we're
Speaker 1: not going to feel a loss of not having Kyrie
Speaker 1: or Luca or both. Jaden Hardy's development is definitely something
Speaker 1: to watch as well, because he's kind of the player
Speaker 1: they do rely on in those situations, at least they
Speaker 1: did last season. There's more competition in the back court
Speaker 1: this year to keep an eye on with you know,
Speaker 1: Curry and Xim as I mentioned, but last year it
Speaker 1: was very interesting, like he went from like Hardy went
Speaker 1: from a DNP before that New Orleans game that I
Speaker 1: mentioned with Luca where he started to talk about that
Speaker 1: thigh injury and then he finished out the fourth quarter
Speaker 1: for Luca, and then he became the first option against
Speaker 1: the Memphis Grizzlies when Luca and Kyrie were out, and
Speaker 1: he shot like a couple consecutive games with like twenty
Speaker 1: or more field goal He had like sixty plus in
Speaker 1: a three game span. So yeah, it's like that's definitely
Speaker 1: a player like his ongoing development will be important to monitor,
Speaker 1: Like not to ramble too much, but like in Summer League,
Speaker 1: I was out there as well, and they really wanted
Speaker 1: to focus on his passing reads and you know, basically
Speaker 1: getting a better feel for controlling the game as an
Speaker 1: initiator and not just kind of coming off screens and
Speaker 1: taking tough shots and you know, just working on basically
Speaker 1: being more of a point guard. And I think that
Speaker 1: that didn't necessarily have the greatest progress. I think, you know,
Speaker 1: they were still talking about how that needs to improve.
Speaker 1: And I think, you know, even as of last night,
Speaker 1: I think that could have improved when he was relied
Speaker 1: on to kind of handle things in the fourth quarter
Speaker 1: against Real Madrid. So I think if he can something
Speaker 1: clicks for him and that like those areas, I think
Speaker 1: that would be a very important, like kind of under
Speaker 1: the radar swing factor as well.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree. I like Jayden Hardy a lot. I
Speaker 2: loved that pickup when they got him.
Speaker 3: I think what was interesting last year was this the
Speaker 3: defense was so atrocious and you got rid of dfs, right,
Speaker 3: Dorian Finny Smith, and now you've got Grant Williams there, Like,
Speaker 3: how do you think he impacts what this team can
Speaker 3: do defensively on top of the two rookies who also
Speaker 3: want to be able to switch a little.
Speaker 2: Bit of everything.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think definitely after that trade that you mentioned,
Speaker 1: like with moving Dorian Finny Smith, you know, in that
Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving trade, they like it was very staggering how
Speaker 1: small they were, Like I remember, I think it was
Speaker 1: like right before the All Star break. I think it
Speaker 1: was the last game against the Denver Nuggets. Like I
Speaker 1: was there and I was just kind of like shocked
Speaker 1: at how small they were. Like Michael Porter Junior is
Speaker 1: like a good six', Ten Aaron gordon's very big as.
Speaker 1: Well then you Have, jokic and they Had Dwight powell
Speaker 1: at the, five they Had Reggie bulock at the, four
Speaker 1: and then they Had Justin holliday who's like one hundred
Speaker 1: and eighty pounds at the. Three for that game is,
Speaker 1: well he didn't play in that, game but they started
Speaker 1: utilizing him. More and Then Josh green is you, know
Speaker 1: like six six as. Well so that was a very
Speaker 1: small sort of like three through five to have and
Speaker 1: that ended up being the case against a lot of.
Speaker 1: Teams so then they kind of just started throwing stuff
Speaker 1: at the. WALL i guess you could, say like playing
Speaker 1: big lineups Like Christian wood Alongside Dwight, Powell Maxi kliba
Speaker 1: after he you, know got healthy and just trying a
Speaker 1: lot of different stuff and that didn't end up being
Speaker 1: an answer as. Well so they kind, of you, know
Speaker 1: as you, said went to the drawing board and they
Speaker 1: managed to Get Grant. WILLIAMS i do like how he he.
Speaker 1: Fits he you, know he switched a lot with The
Speaker 1: celtics that was successful for. THEM i think that's ideally
Speaker 1: what you, know like you, know The mavericks would like
Speaker 1: to have is that versatile option that can handle multiple
Speaker 1: positions and kind of stifle those initial actions for opposing
Speaker 1: teams when they're getting into their. Offense AND i think
Speaker 1: that's the really. Lacked like he's not like the six
Speaker 1: foot nine wing by any. Stretch he's six, six but
Speaker 1: he's definitely like he's like two hundred and forty, Pounds
Speaker 1: like he's got more of that bigger. Frame, yeah he's definitely. Big,
Speaker 1: yeah he's very, big and he can handle like those
Speaker 1: matchups a lot. Better and, YEAH i just think like
Speaker 1: there was some regression from some of their guys that
Speaker 1: they had last, Season LIKE i Think Reggie, bollock LIKE
Speaker 1: i don't think he was containing the ball nearly as
Speaker 1: well as he had in the, past and you, know
Speaker 1: they were coming off of A Western Conference finals run
Speaker 1: that took a lot of games and a lot of,
Speaker 1: workload SO i, think you, know maybe there was some
Speaker 1: regression there from that. Standpoint getting different personnel in there
Speaker 1: definitely as. Important AND i, think you, know some of
Speaker 1: my fret actually touched on earlier Was Josh. GREEN i
Speaker 1: think that's an important. Player he'll probably start at the
Speaker 1: three IF i had to like make a prediction right
Speaker 1: now based off what's out there for like like what
Speaker 1: the you, know coach Of savas said and what's kind
Speaker 1: of happening. Games AND i think his. Development he's improved
Speaker 1: as a shooter of the last couple of, years but you,
Speaker 1: KNOW i think they haven't really utilized him too much
Speaker 1: as a playmaker. Yet there's been some times where he's
Speaker 1: like handled the. Ball luke has been a screener for.
Speaker 1: Him kyrie has been a screener for. Him but you,
Speaker 1: KNOW i think in, general just seeing his, progression if
Speaker 1: he's willing to take you, know like those tougher contested
Speaker 1: threes when they come his, way being more comfortable doing
Speaker 1: that and just making plays in the half, COURT i
Speaker 1: think he could really elevate their unit if that, happens
Speaker 1: because he has some really interesting, qualities like he can
Speaker 1: leave his feet deep on a drive and just make
Speaker 1: like almost like a rugby, pass like from you, know
Speaker 1: probably what he played In australia in the. Past there's
Speaker 1: a lot of different like elements to, That like he's
Speaker 1: just can finish through contact as, well like on the way.
Speaker 1: Up he can just get, contact take take the contact
Speaker 1: and finish on the way. Down like just a lot
Speaker 1: of unique stuff you don't see from role, players uh
Speaker 1: like on the wing that. Much SO i think if
Speaker 1: he you, know if that all comes, together that could
Speaker 1: be a very important factor for their team this season for.
Speaker 3: Sure. Yeah he was somebody THAT i definitely wanted to
Speaker 3: ask you about because along the, way there were multiple
Speaker 3: trade you know machine type of rumors that went, around,
Speaker 3: right and every single time it was, Like MAVs will
Speaker 3: not Include Josh green in a. Trade what is it
Speaker 3: About Josh? Green because they haven't yet extended. Him he
Speaker 3: is eligible now AND i think it's the final year
Speaker 3: of his, deal.
Speaker 1: Right and uh, yeah, YEAH i think he's got till
Speaker 1: like like Late, October, yeah a couple of weeks from
Speaker 1: now until the deadline for that extension for.
Speaker 3: Sure, Right so the QUESTION i guess, is like what
Speaker 3: do they see in him that makes them so reluctant
Speaker 3: to include him in any of those.
Speaker 1: TRAITS i think the big thing is, that you, know
Speaker 1: when you think of the like typical three AND d, player,
Speaker 1: uh he has those qualities like we were talking about
Speaker 1: that are just very. Interesting like he could just blow
Speaker 1: by a close out very. Well he can you make
Speaker 1: passes that you just don't see like usually that would
Speaker 1: end in turnovers by you, know like a normal three
Speaker 1: AND d wing that got caught doing too much with
Speaker 1: the ball in their. Hands AND i think there's been
Speaker 1: there's more untapped potential with, him think like high pick
Speaker 1: and rolls coming off. Handoffs they've experimented with, that like
Speaker 1: in this preseason so far as a, team including With Josh,
Speaker 1: green playing more out of handoffs and you, know having
Speaker 1: more like activity instead of relying on as many pick and.
Speaker 1: Rolls AND i think like he just kind of fits
Speaker 1: in that in that sort of style where he can just,
Speaker 1: catch like get the, ball turn the corner and just
Speaker 1: explode to the rim like there if that ends, up you,
Speaker 1: know like there's a lot of things that are experimental
Speaker 1: in the preseason that don't end up coming to fruition
Speaker 1: in the regular. Season but you, know that could be
Speaker 1: something to watch related to his. Impact BUT i do
Speaker 1: think defensively is a big area as. Well he actually
Speaker 1: was Like australia's top on ball defender during The World
Speaker 1: cup and he's he's wanting to fill that role for
Speaker 1: The MAVs this. Season like he, said they wanted to
Speaker 1: have a bigger defensive presence and you, know they they're
Speaker 1: trusting him to do, that AND i think how that
Speaker 1: transpires with the results will, be you, know definitely interesting to.
Speaker 1: SEE i think he's he's. Ready he physically has the.
Speaker 1: TOOLS i think he's ready for. It he can really
Speaker 1: like contain quicker, guards like run around screens and navigate those.
Speaker 1: Well AND i think he's got you, know some some
Speaker 1: pretty good like like strength to his frame as well
Speaker 1: to handle multiple. Positions SO i think that'll be a
Speaker 1: big factor because, actually like you, know when you look
Speaker 1: at Their Western conference finals, Run Reggie bolock handled those
Speaker 1: assignments like he was the guy Chasing Steph curry and
Speaker 1: players like, that and they need someone to fill that.
Speaker 1: Void AND i think their best equipped option would be you,
Speaker 1: Know Josh. GREEN i think that's kind of how they see.
Speaker 3: It, yeah of, course the like the lynchpin of things
Speaker 3: was going to be always How kyrie And luca co existed?
Speaker 2: Together, RIGHT a lot of times it felt like me
Speaker 2: and then, you and then who's going to be the guy.
Speaker 3: To close out? Games and both were a little too.
Speaker 3: Unselfish it felt like at some times it.
Speaker 2: Just didn't come.
Speaker 3: TOGETHER i think like we it maybe expected it, to
Speaker 3: or the optimists expected it.
Speaker 2: To how are those two going to?
Speaker 3: Coexist and like how is this chemistry continued to?
Speaker 1: BLOSSOM i guess, YEAH i think like so far there's
Speaker 1: been a hindrance in that process because of the injuries
Speaker 1: with the, preseason you, know they haven't had too much
Speaker 1: time and like actual real game action. Together but there
Speaker 1: was optimism with training, camp AND i guess you could
Speaker 1: say that's kind of the case with all thirty teams
Speaker 1: in THE. Nba you, know the BIG x factors are
Speaker 1: always going your way and everything like. That but you,
Speaker 1: KNOW i do think that there is like genuine reason
Speaker 1: for ogimism for. THAT i think they're on court results
Speaker 1: during like the general flow of the game was very,
Speaker 1: good like they're very efficient, offensively AND i, think as you,
Speaker 1: said you, know like the clutch time, situations that's something
Speaker 1: they even said as, well like we were unselfish to
Speaker 1: a fault at times where you, know they're like you got, it,
Speaker 1: no you got, it and then oh the clock's running
Speaker 1: down and oh it's a turnover like or a bad
Speaker 1: shot or you, know things like. THAT i think those
Speaker 1: get worked out as you have more you, know time
Speaker 1: to build that continuity. Together but you, know as we
Speaker 1: as a theme in this whole episode is kind of
Speaker 1: the availability of those. Guys you can't build that continuity
Speaker 1: until you are on the floor together for long periods
Speaker 1: of time and you go through those situations with actual
Speaker 1: margin for air to go through, them like that must
Speaker 1: win environment after a trade near the trade. Deadline that's
Speaker 1: a really high stake situation where other teams are used
Speaker 1: to their personnel and you're just figuring each other. Out
Speaker 1: SO i think if they actually can't manage to stay
Speaker 1: healthy for this early season, stretch like you, know the
Speaker 1: first quarter of games and really like build that sort
Speaker 1: of familiarity and continuity, TOGETHER i think that would go
Speaker 1: a long. WAY i do think there's also more of
Speaker 1: A i, guess like as we were saying earlier about
Speaker 1: the willingness to kind of play with handoffs and things
Speaker 1: of that, NATURE i think there could be more flow
Speaker 1: to the offense that utilizes you, know like kind of
Speaker 1: like THE i guess you coul, say the presence of each,
Speaker 1: other like instead of having it be your, turn my,
Speaker 1: turn as it has been at times like last. Season
Speaker 1: SO i think those are those are some important things
Speaker 1: for them to kind of work through as adding those
Speaker 1: those layers to half court offense where they're both utilized
Speaker 1: And luca can also get the needed breaks that, he you,
Speaker 1: know needs to. Get kyrie did mention like at times
Speaker 1: Post All Star break after that trade that he didn't
Speaker 1: want to step in and really like kind of just
Speaker 1: really change everything that they're. Doing he wanted to fit
Speaker 1: in with a team that, was you, know at the,
Speaker 1: time they were fourth in The west when they made the,
Speaker 1: trade and things you know obviously unraveled with the missing
Speaker 1: the playing. Tournament BUT i think with having that kind
Speaker 1: of clean slate and a new template to kind of
Speaker 1: work through how they want to approach, THINGS i think
Speaker 1: it'll be you, know there'll be opportunity to handle it
Speaker 1: the way they want to handle.
Speaker 3: It Was kyrie's role as like a locker room. Guy
Speaker 3: is he going to be more of the leader, now
Speaker 3: like because you Lose Jalen, brunson And Jalen brunson.
Speaker 2: Was reported to be the dude that was like the connective.
Speaker 3: Tissue and it sounds like from kind of WHAT i
Speaker 3: gathered from what you just, said is That kyrie might
Speaker 3: have more of a vocal.
Speaker 1: Role, yeah that's. CORRECT i think he's also been very
Speaker 1: helpful for you, know as he has in other teams
Speaker 1: of his, career like with young players as, Well like
Speaker 1: he a lot of them when you ask them about
Speaker 1: players that have helped them out and things of that,
Speaker 1: nature with like you, know pointers and just general, wisdom
Speaker 1: and especially these, rookies they usually will bring Up Kyrie,
Speaker 1: irving you, know HE i think he has a lot
Speaker 1: of passion for passing down. Knowledge AND i think that's
Speaker 1: even like especially with like a guard Like Jayden, hardy
Speaker 1: like being able to learn from Like Luka doncic And
Speaker 1: Kyrie irving even by example or whether intentionally with you,
Speaker 1: know on court. INSTRUCTION i think that's definitely a benefit
Speaker 1: that they have going for, them AND i think that's
Speaker 1: a way he can be a. Leader BUT i do
Speaker 1: think he does have a you, know pretty prominent voice
Speaker 1: with how you, know things. Operate LIKE i think his
Speaker 1: his presence on a team that has a lot of
Speaker 1: key players that are pretty. YOUNG i, think like a
Speaker 1: lot of the role players are, older but LIKE i
Speaker 1: think his presence is definitely valued by all of. Them
Speaker 1: like even last, year like After Maxi kleeba hit a
Speaker 1: game winner against The lakers on the, road like he,
Speaker 1: credited you, know having that calm, presence like With kyrie
Speaker 1: on the court in a game That luca wasn't basically
Speaker 1: available to play because of, injury that was you, know
Speaker 1: that's definitely another way that he can make that. Impact
Speaker 1: AND i think they've a lot of those. PLAYERS i
Speaker 1: guess you could say they made some changes to the
Speaker 1: roster where you, know they've switched out, pieces but some
Speaker 1: of those holdover players will probably already have that familiarity
Speaker 1: with that sort of presence That kyrie. Brought AND i
Speaker 1: think the new players are mostly you, KNOW i guess
Speaker 1: you say younger that respect, him grew up watching, him
Speaker 1: and you, Know Grant williams has a lot of respect
Speaker 1: him as. Well they were on The Players association, together
Speaker 1: so they've already like worked together on, things you, know
Speaker 1: beyond the game of. Basketball so there's there's some interesting connections.
Speaker 1: There AND i think he's got a relationship With Jason.
Speaker 1: Kidd you, Know Jason kidd was a player that he
Speaker 1: looked up to as a, kid and he always talks about,
Speaker 1: how you, know good their relationship, is and he's someone
Speaker 1: that he respects all SO i think all that pieces
Speaker 1: together to him being an important, presence you, know for
Speaker 1: the team as a.
Speaker 3: WHOLE i want to because you Mentioned Grant, williams is
Speaker 3: he going to be the guy that brings like levity
Speaker 3: to the locker room because him And lucas shar an
Speaker 3: agent Obviously Bill. Duffy but on top of, that everybody
Speaker 3: says That Grant williams is kind of like a, clown
Speaker 3: kind of a. Jokes you're very, vocal very. Loud Even
Speaker 3: Derek white, said you, know we have more peace In
Speaker 3: boston now because his voice is. Gone is that what
Speaker 3: we can expect from him?
Speaker 1: Too, yeah he's he's been very much a vocal. Leader
Speaker 1: like him and Actually Derek lively are very vocal like
Speaker 1: on court leaders like calling out coverages and things of that.
Speaker 1: Nature BUT i think in the locker, room you, know
Speaker 1: With lively being a, rookie that's not necessarily the place
Speaker 1: you know to be with, Leadership but With Grant, WILLIAMS
Speaker 1: i think that's definitely where he he FETs is that
Speaker 1: vocal leader to kind of be a like level, headed you,
Speaker 1: know person to kind of keep you, know LIKE i
Speaker 1: guess you could say like superstars kind of aligned and you,
Speaker 1: know help uplift young players as, well and just keep
Speaker 1: people on the message for what the coaching staff. Wants you,
Speaker 1: know he's he basically mentioned that he would really like
Speaker 1: to embrace that and bring that from what he's done
Speaker 1: in the. Past SO i think that's definitely where an
Speaker 1: area you can expect him to impact The.
Speaker 2: MAVs what do you think The MAVs?
Speaker 3: Do, like where do you think they end up in
Speaker 3: the Standings if you had to, GUESS i.
Speaker 1: Would say probably around like that six sixth. SPOT i
Speaker 1: would say probably around, there and if things don't go
Speaker 1: well with, health they probably have to like really battle
Speaker 1: it out for you, know one of those playing. SPOTS
Speaker 1: i do think that there's just a lot of things
Speaker 1: where you, know we even just the things that we've talked,
Speaker 1: about where it's like if this thing goes, well if
Speaker 1: this thing goes, well and that one also does go,
Speaker 1: well then they could do. This like it's just a
Speaker 1: lot of things to have go right for you in
Speaker 1: a situation in THE nba where eighty two games is
Speaker 1: a lot for relying on things going right for you at.
Speaker 1: Once SO i, think you, know maybe the following season
Speaker 1: they could have a little more predictability where you, know
Speaker 1: there's more experience For omax And lively and you know
Speaker 1: what you have in, them and you, know right now
Speaker 1: it's a little unpredictable for how they're going to make
Speaker 1: that impact until you kind of see it in THE
Speaker 1: nba like regular season. Situations but for all we know
Speaker 1: is you mentioned With Walker, kessler Maybe lively exceeds the
Speaker 1: expectations early and that really just changes trajectory for. Things
Speaker 1: but as of right, NOW i would definitely say with
Speaker 1: all the swing, FACTORS i would say probably the sixth
Speaker 1: spot is probably a pretty fair like estimation UNLESS i
Speaker 1: go through the whole west AND i just really think
Speaker 1: it in, detail And i'm, Like, OKAY i mentioned.
Speaker 3: Seventeen The west is so tough, too because you Got
Speaker 3: okac in. There now it looks like they're going to
Speaker 3: take another, step, Right so it's just the Whole Utah,
Speaker 3: God John, COLLINS i don't want to Give utah too much,
Speaker 3: credit BUT i Think Yonte george could be really.
Speaker 2: Good obviously The clippers when they're. Healthy it's just The
Speaker 2: west is, tough, Dude The west is really. Tough i'm
Speaker 2: curious about last. Year you mentioned not making the play in.
Speaker 3: Tournament that was like that was a huge deal in
Speaker 3: terms of how it all went. Down to get to
Speaker 3: the opportunity where you can Get Derek lively and not
Speaker 3: have to give your first round pick over to the
Speaker 3: Next is that that's not something that we would see,
Speaker 3: again right because they own their own first round.
Speaker 1: Pick, actually the theoretically that could be an opportunity because
Speaker 1: the protection conveys through twenty twenty, five so and it's
Speaker 1: all lottery protected for each of those. Years so, theoretically
Speaker 1: if they were late in the season and they were
Speaker 1: in that, position they could choose to do that. Again
Speaker 1: but that that With luca wanting to, win that's. That,
Speaker 1: yeah that's a, tough a tough thing, to you, know
Speaker 1: bounce back with all this Optimism i've off season moves
Speaker 1: and then be, like, oh by the, way it's lottery.
Speaker 1: Time you, know have you very.
Speaker 3: Challenging we saw how that worked With Damian lillard right
Speaker 3: when they shut him down and ended up you, Know
Speaker 3: blazers got scoot and immediately asked for a. Trade that
Speaker 3: does that loom over this team at? All, like from
Speaker 3: what you can, gather is Is luca's happiness something that's
Speaker 3: constantly in the minds of those who make.
Speaker 1: Decisions, YEAH i do think that they're very cognizant of.
Speaker 1: IT i think you can see as well with like
Speaker 1: you can also just actions are the best like kind
Speaker 1: of indicator as. Well like you could see that they
Speaker 1: moved a twenty thirty pick swap For Grant williams and
Speaker 1: that three team sign and, Trade AND i don't think
Speaker 1: you really like move a twenty thirty pick swap and
Speaker 1: then a twenty twenty nine first For Kyrie irving and
Speaker 1: things like that if you're not really like feeling the,
Speaker 1: like we have pressure to win, now AND i think
Speaker 1: the stakes get elevated as well when you know he's
Speaker 1: used to winning coming from Real, madrid and then you
Speaker 1: have A Western Conference finals run and it's, like how
Speaker 1: do we go From Western Conference finals the Champions, well
Speaker 1: you went From Western Conference finals to playing like missing
Speaker 1: the playing, tournamentally that's that's a big high and a
Speaker 1: big low or a low, LOW i should, say to
Speaker 1: have kind of. Simultaneously SO i definitely think another season
Speaker 1: of that would be very concerning for.
Speaker 3: Sure definitely stuff to keep in mind all the way From.
Speaker 3: Madrid Grant, assef thank you so much for your.
Speaker 2: Time we will definitely do this.
Speaker 3: Again we're gonna check in because, MAN i think that
Speaker 3: The MAVs are one of the most fascinating teams because
Speaker 3: it could go really really well or it could go
Speaker 3: off the rails pretty, quick AND i think everybody kind of.
Speaker 1: Knows, yeah it's there's a lot of a lot of what,
Speaker 1: ifs for, sure many many what.
Speaker 2: Ifs thanks so much for joining, me.
Speaker 3: Man i'll let you get some sleep or get some
Speaker 3: dinner or whatever is coming next.
Speaker 1: For, you and thank you thanks for having.
Speaker 3: Me that's all the time that we have this episode
Speaker 3: of The Heat. Check many thanks To Grant asseth learned
Speaker 3: a ton about The. Mavericks he is also kind of
Speaker 3: pessimistic about, Him so that tells you pretty much everything
Speaker 3: that you need to.
Speaker 2: Know, Marquise, BABY i did this for.
Speaker 3: You what do you think?
Speaker 2: NOW i had a dispute.
Speaker 3: With one of my good friends and he thinks The
Speaker 3: MAVs are for, real SO i had to have Grant
Speaker 3: on just to prove him. Wrong that's how fucking PETTY i.
Speaker 3: Am come back later this week for an all new.
Speaker 3: Episode check out the feed for past episodes and many
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Speaker 2: Check as we head into.
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Speaker 2: Monday