1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: The volume. The NBA season is in full swing, and 2 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: when I can't get enough of the action on the court, 3 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:10,800 Speaker 1: I spice things up betting on Draft King sports Book, 4 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: an official sports betting partner of the NBA. Right now, 5 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 1: new customers bet five bucks and get one hundred and 6 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: fifty dollars instantly in bonus bets. Right now, the championship 7 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: favorite is the Boston Celtics at plus one ninety. You 8 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 1: can also get the Lakers at plus thirty five hundred, 9 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: so if you're a believer in their late season run, 10 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:31,720 Speaker 1: that is a big number. 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Later tonight, 31 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: I'm going with Colin Coward and we're gonna do a 32 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: deep dive on a bunch of stuff for the NBA playoffs. 33 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: So you're gonna want to head over to the Colin 34 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: Coward podcast feed later tonight to see that episode. This episode, 35 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna give you, guys, like fifteen minutes my 36 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: initial reactions on everything that went down in this chaotic day, 37 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: final day of the NBA regular season. Not gonna do 38 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: any sort of deep dives into playoff series previews because 39 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 1: we're gonna start that tomorrow. We're gonna do deep dives 40 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 1: on the three, six, and four to five matchups that 41 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:17,080 Speaker 1: we haven't hit yet, including film. We did already do 42 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 1: the the four or five matchup out west, the Clippers 43 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 1: MAVs series. We did a series preview with the Nerd 44 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: Sash guys, so you can find that a little bit 45 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 1: further back on the feed. You guys know the joke 46 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 1: four we get started. Subscribe to our brand of YouTube channels. 47 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: You don't miss any more of our videos. Follow me 48 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 1: on Twitter at underscore json lt so you guys don't 49 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 1: miss show announcements as well as the film threads that 50 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: I do from time to time. Don't forget about our 51 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: podcast feed wherever you get your podcast under Hoops Tonight. 52 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: It's also super helpful if you leave a rating in 53 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,519 Speaker 1: a review on that front. And then, last but not least, 54 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: keep dropping mail back questions in the YouTube comments. We're 55 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:48,119 Speaker 1: gonna be hitting some mailbag during the week coming up. 56 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:51,360 Speaker 1: All right, let's talk some basketball. So we had a 57 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: bunch of blowouts today, but there was one in particular, 58 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 1: two in particular that we're funky because the Pelicans and 59 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: the Wolves were trying. The Wolves were trying to maintain 60 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:03,519 Speaker 1: the two seed, the all important two seed for home 61 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 1: court advantage in a series against the Denver Nuggets, right 62 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 1: if they were to make it to the second round. 63 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 1: And then for the Pelicans, if they won today, they 64 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 1: were guaranteed the sixth seed to stay out of the 65 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: play in tournament. But both of them lose, and starting 66 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: on Lakers Pelicans, you know, the Lakers have been a 67 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 1: really tough matchup for the Pelicans all season. And I 68 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 1: think I've talked a lot about how after you get 69 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 1: past Denver, I think there are tiers still like I 70 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 1: kind of have like the Pelicans, the Warriors, and the 71 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: Kings kind of in that bottom tier, and then I 72 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: have the Lakers, Suns, Mavericks, Clippers, Wolves, and Thunder and 73 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: that tier right below Denver. Basically, but really all of 74 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: those teams past Denver have significant flaws. That's why they're 75 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: not Denver. And that makes them specifically matchup dependent, meaning 76 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 1: if they play a certain type of team, they're gonna 77 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: look great. If they play a different type of team, 78 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: they can look bad. And so the Pelicans, for instance, 79 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: the strength of that team is their perimeter defense. They've 80 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: got tons of lanky on ball defenders for both the 81 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 1: guard position and the wing position. They force a ton 82 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 1: of turnovers, they get out in transition, and they score 83 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: as a result. They're top ten in turnovers forced as 84 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 1: a team, and they're top five in points scored off 85 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: of turnovers per game. And so when they run into 86 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: teams like Golden State, who are they depend entirely on 87 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:25,719 Speaker 1: a smaller guard perimeter initiator or Sacramento, a team that 88 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,280 Speaker 1: the Pelicans are also really dominated against this year. I 89 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: think they're five and zero against the Pelicans or against 90 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: the Kings this year. That's a small guard offense initiated team, 91 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: so they can bother them with length, and then those 92 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 1: teams also can occasionally struggle with turnovers, right, So like 93 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:42,919 Speaker 1: that's a big part of what allows the Pelicans to 94 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 1: be successful in those particular matchups. Also, specifically with Golden State, 95 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: they don't really have a ton of interior size to 96 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:53,279 Speaker 1: punish the Pelicans, who can be really weak defensively in 97 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: the front court. Again, Zion Yonis or Zion at the five, 98 00:04:57,360 --> 00:04:59,599 Speaker 1: or Zion and Larry Nance like that, that's just not 99 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,919 Speaker 1: good defensive personnel on the front line, and the problem 100 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: is you go over to the other side of the Lakers, 101 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: and it's like a perfect matchup for them. Like the 102 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 1: Pelicans are a heavy ball pressure team. They want to 103 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 1: get up into the ball handler and make him feel uncomfortable. 104 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 1: The best counter for ball pressure is size, because any 105 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: sort of large ball handler can just turn his back 106 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: to the guy and protect the basketball as he kind 107 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 1: of works his way up the floor. Ball pressure doesn't 108 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:23,279 Speaker 1: work on Lebron's too big, it is too strong. He 109 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: completely picked the Pelicans apart in that game. And then 110 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: aggression on the ball and aggression in the passing lanes 111 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: puts a heavy emphasis on your back line to clean 112 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 1: things up, and the Pelicans don't have good back line personnel, 113 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 1: and so it literally plays directly into the Lakers' shrinks. 114 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: All that ball pressure, all that aggression in the passing lanes, 115 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 1: Lebron's just handling it and picking you apart and getting 116 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: wide open dunks and layups on the back line. How 117 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: many times did you see Anthony Davis slip behind the 118 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 1: screen to defender for a love. How many times did 119 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: you see Ruey cut along the baseline and get a 120 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: little dunk underneath the basket as Lebron's picking them apart. 121 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: There they had a fifty This is crazy. The Lakers 122 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: had a fifty to twelve points in the paint advantage. 123 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 1: So that's a big part of how these matchups tend 124 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: to work out. And so even for the Pelicans, like 125 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: it sucks because now you got to play the Lakers 126 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 1: again in that playing game, and we're gonna talk about 127 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: that in a minute, but like the upside is if 128 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 1: you do drop that playing game, you're gonna play either 129 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: the Kings or the Warriors in that second playing game, 130 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: and that's a team that more fits into your matchups. 131 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,480 Speaker 1: And then also, like here's another thing too happen. If 132 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: you happen to win that game, you get the one 133 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: seed Oka See And I would pick okay See to 134 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: win that series, but Oklahoma City, if you had to pick, 135 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: if you're a Pelicans fan, if you had to pick 136 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 1: between Oka See Minnesota and Denver okay See Denver Minnesota 137 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: for that first round matchup, you'd much rather play Oka 138 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 1: See because that plays more into your strength. Smaller perimeter initiators, 139 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: not much interior size to kind of punish that. So 140 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: if that's kind of like a little bit of a 141 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 1: silver lining for the Pelicans on the other end of 142 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 1: the floor. I thought, I wanted to just really quickly 143 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: shout this out. I thought Lebron James obviously dominated this game, 144 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: but the job he did on Zion Williamson completely shut 145 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,119 Speaker 1: him down, just completely shut him down, and that shut 146 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: down the Pelicans offense and that was it. Like there 147 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: were some tough shot making in there. Cj made some shots, 148 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: Brandon Ingram made some shots, her Herb Jones add his 149 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 1: catch and shoot three going, but they really didn't have 150 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: anything going because Lebron shut down their offensive engine. Suns Wolves, 151 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: I watched the first quarter of this one before we 152 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: came on here. The Wolves had a red hot shooting 153 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: first quarter, went up or excuse me, the Sons had 154 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: a red hot shooting first quarter, particularly Bradley Beal, but 155 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: everyone was hitting and they went up by twenty and 156 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: then they were basically able to stiff arm the Timberwolves 157 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: the rest of the rest of the way. Bradley Beal 158 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 1: was red hot in that first quarter, hitting his pull 159 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: up three, hit some huge pull up jump shots. In 160 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 1: the game against the Kings the other night, He's playing 161 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 1: at an absurdly high level, and so when the dust settles, 162 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: here's our situation. In the four to five we have 163 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 1: Dallas versus Los Angeles Clippers, and we did a series 164 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: preview on that already, that's on our YouTube feed. Earlier 165 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: we talked with the Nerd Sash guys. Again. My big 166 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: thing there is, like, I think that series eventually skews 167 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: towards Maxi, Kliba and PJ. Washington in the front court 168 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 1: together with Luca and Kyrie and either Derek Jones Junior 169 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: or someone like Dante exam in at that three spot 170 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: kind of acting as their main on ball defender for 171 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: the guard, and I think that series kind of slightly 172 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: favors Dallas, especially considering some of the health configurations that 173 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: the Clippers are dealing with. So you can find that 174 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: full series preview up on YouTube. Suns Timberwolves again, they 175 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 1: shot really well. This is a crazy stat The Sun's 176 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,599 Speaker 1: got one point seven to six points per catch and 177 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: shoot jump shot in that game against the Timberwolves. Really 178 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 1: really good shooting performance. So I'm excited to dig into 179 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: the film tomorrow morning and give you guys a more 180 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,959 Speaker 1: cause I love that we have this game to prep 181 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: for that series because it's the same team's, same lineups, 182 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 1: but they're actually both trying really hard in that game. 183 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 1: So after we sift through some of the shot results stuff, 184 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: we're gonna be able to find out the shot quality 185 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: information and find some interesting stuff about about that. So 186 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 1: we'll have a I don't know if we'll do it 187 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 1: Monday or Tuesday, but in the next two days we'll 188 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 1: have a full series preview on Sun's Timberwolves to go over. 189 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: So our play in situation as of right now is 190 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: Lakers Pelicans again for starters, I think this one's gonna 191 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 1: be closer the one on Tuesday Night. This is just 192 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 1: it's an inherent natural human behavior thing where it's like 193 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 1: the Lakers kicked the shit out of them, so they're 194 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 1: gonna come in a little more relaxed. The Pelicans are 195 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 1: gonna come in not wanting to get humiliated, so they're 196 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 1: gonna come in a little bit tougher. Right. It's just 197 00:09:28,559 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 1: it's just gonna be a different type of environment. So 198 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 1: I do think it's gonna be closer. I actually have 199 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 1: a personal example of this. I'll never forget. I've played 200 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: in a money tournament. This was actually not that long ago. 201 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 1: This was last fall when I was dealing with my 202 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: achilles issue and I came back for this, uh this 203 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: money term. I had not played basketball and like in 204 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: like four weeks and I stepped on the floor for 205 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: this money tournament. And we won every game up until 206 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 1: the championship round. But it was double elimination, so we 207 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 1: had to beat them twice and they had to But 208 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 1: it was weird, like we we kicked the shit out 209 00:09:57,840 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 1: of them in the first game, as this team from Phoenix, 210 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:01,319 Speaker 1: a bunch of these former college players from Phoenix. We 211 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 1: kicked the shit out of them in the first game, 212 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 1: like literally blitzed them. There was a point, but there 213 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 1: was a rule where if you went up thirty in 214 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 1: the second half, there was a forfeit, and so we 215 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 1: literally went up thirty in the second half and kicked 216 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,560 Speaker 1: them off the court. We just played an incredibly high level, 217 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: destroyed them, won the game. They had to turn around 218 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 1: and play another game in the loser's bracket to come 219 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: back and play us, And then they played us and 220 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 1: it was single elimination, so they didn't even give us 221 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: a second loss, and we just didn't shoot as well. 222 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: We came out lazy. We weren't defending as well. They 223 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 1: came out desperate. They actually were leading in the second half, 224 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:36,719 Speaker 1: I think by eleven on us in that game with 225 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 1: the money on the line. Now, we we went on 226 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:40,840 Speaker 1: a crazy run at the end of the game on 227 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 1: the strength of our defense, and we ended up stealing 228 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 1: the money back and we got out of there with 229 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: the win. But I vividly remember that being like, Wow, 230 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 1: we could not have dominated them more than we did 231 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 1: in that first game, and then suddenly we were on 232 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 1: the ropes in the second game. So I don't want 233 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 1: to write the Pelicans off in this game. Any sort 234 00:10:56,600 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: of single elimination game can go any direction. Anthony Davis, 235 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,319 Speaker 1: this is dealing with some backspasms. I'm not particularly worried 236 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 1: about that. Judging by eighty's body language when he was 237 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: talking to Lebron, I think he was just kind of, 238 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:09,200 Speaker 1: you know, being a d But like, that game can 239 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 1: go either way. But the bottom line is the Lakers' 240 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: advantages are just significant. So like, even if that game 241 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:18,559 Speaker 1: does turn out close in the mid third quarter, the 242 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: Lakers are just gonna get better shots down the stretch 243 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 1: of that game, and I expect them to win. So 244 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: I'm picking the Lakers to beat the Pels, but don't 245 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: write off the Pells. They obviously have a chance to 246 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: win that game. Warriors Kings. The Kings are three to 247 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: one in that matchup this year. Kings are at home. 248 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: They're twenty four and seventeen at home this season, But 249 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: the Warriors are actually better on the road this year. 250 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 1: They're twenty five and sixteen on the road this year, 251 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 1: and they've been pretty mediocre at home and so so like. Honestly, 252 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 1: I think that kind of plays into the Golden State strengths, 253 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 1: especially considering some of the limitations for Sacramento without Malik Monk, 254 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: Deer and Fox, is really their only perimeter initiate or 255 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 1: that can like consistently generate great shots, and the Warriors 256 00:11:57,640 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 1: are just gonna be able to keep a like Tier 257 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:03,200 Speaker 1: one perimeter on him all game long, cycling in fresh legs, 258 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: not having to worry about second side creation as much. 259 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: I think that favors Golden State. Also, one last note 260 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 1: for Golden State. They are plus fourteen this season with 261 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 1: Draymond Green on the floor against the King, so I 262 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: think that works to their favor. But regardless of who 263 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:22,079 Speaker 1: wins that game, if the Pelicans lose to the Lakers, 264 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:24,839 Speaker 1: Kings Warriors. Whoever wins is going to have to go 265 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 1: play the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans. And like 266 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 1: I said earlier, they're five and zero against the Kings. 267 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 1: The Warriors beat them early in the season, but the 268 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 1: Pelicans have kind of handled them in back to back 269 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:42,319 Speaker 1: games both in Golden State. And again, same kind of 270 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: thing we were talking about earlier. Two teams that rely 271 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 1: on a guard to initiate everything. That just plays directly 272 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:50,200 Speaker 1: into the strengths of the Pelicans, and the Warriors don't 273 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,960 Speaker 1: really have the frontline scoring to kind of punish it. 274 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 1: So hard to pick against Steph. And again, like the 275 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 1: Warriors will be on the road, which I think is 276 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 1: to their favor. I'm like a veteran team like that, 277 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 1: you're gonna wanna give them a certain amount of belief 278 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 1: in a big time game like that, but it's gonna 279 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 1: be they're gonna throw the kitchen sink at Steph and 280 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 1: you're gonna need young players or old veterans to try 281 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,080 Speaker 1: to come through on the other side of that. So 282 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 1: hard to kind of like see a path to victory there. 283 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: But we'll play it by ear when we get to 284 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 1: Friday before we make any sort of pick there. But 285 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 1: if I'm a Pelicans fan, you like that matchup. You 286 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:29,640 Speaker 1: like that matchup if you lose to the Lakers to 287 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:32,200 Speaker 1: deal with either Sacramento or Golden State and then obviously 288 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 1: Oklahoma City in the first round for Lakers Nuggets. If 289 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: the Lakers beat the Pelicans on Tuesday, obviously the Nuggets 290 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 1: are waiting for them. That's less than ideal, but that's 291 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: way better than having to deal with the nine to 292 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 1: ten game and have to play a single elimination game 293 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: on the road. So even though this is an unfortunate 294 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 1: set of matchups for the Lakers, it is the best 295 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 1: possible scenario out of all of these other play in 296 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: scenarios that they could have had to face if they 297 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 1: fell down into the nine to ten game. Now here's 298 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:00,960 Speaker 1: the thing. Nuggets are the better team. They they should 299 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 1: be favored. Uh. The one thing that's different is this 300 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 1: is a very different team than last year's Laker team. 301 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: Some same personnel, right Delo Austin lebron ad but this 302 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: is a five out offense that is an offensively focused team, 303 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: whereas last year's team was a four out offense. More 304 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 1: like space and spread, pick and roll, a lot of 305 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: post up attack, and then they were a defensive focus team. 306 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: And so that team was really good defensively and could 307 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 1: really struggle offensively. This Lakers team is a really good 308 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: offensive team that can go through significant defensive struggles. And 309 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 1: more or less now, their last two matchups that took 310 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: place in this calendar year, d Loo is out for 311 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 1: the first one, but it was a close game, and 312 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 1: then they got out executed late. And then Delo played 313 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 1: in the second one and they looked better, right, They 314 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: had some leads in the first half, but then the 315 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: Nuggets walked them down and out executed them in the 316 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: fourth quarter. So really, with the Nuggets, the Lakers are 317 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 1: always right there, and then they lose the last five 318 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: minutes every single time, and so really the only chance 319 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: for victory for the Lakers there is to somehow flip 320 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: that execution script. I will be picking the Nuggets in 321 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: that series, but whatever percentage chance the Lakers have to 322 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: win will come down to their late game execution. Out East, 323 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 1: the Bucks hang around for a little bit with Orlando 324 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 1: in the first half despite a nightmare shooting performance from Dame, 325 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: but then they get blown out in the second half. Really, 326 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: the only reason they hung around in that game is 327 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: they were able to get to the foul line a 328 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:18,400 Speaker 1: lot with some grifty stuff. Then the Knicks almost blew 329 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 1: it with turnovers against Chicago, but they did get out 330 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: of there with they win. Think they're lucky stars that 331 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 1: DeMar DeRozan missed that little one legged runner, because that 332 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: was a pretty damn good look for him. So our 333 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 1: situation is Indiana Milwaukee in the three to six. Milwaukee's 334 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: won in three in this matchup this year, and by 335 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 1: the way, they were trying to win those games. One 336 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 1: of them was an N Season Tournament game. The two 337 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: that were after the N Season Tournament, those were games 338 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 1: where like Dame and Tyree Saliburton have a little personal 339 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 1: beef going on, and the Bucks were really trying to 340 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 1: win that game those games and they just couldn't. They 341 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: got one of them, but they have a lot of 342 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: trouble with this particular matchup. Why is really simple. This 343 00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: is one of the fastest teams in the league in Indiana, 344 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: which is a team that was already one of the 345 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: slowest teams in the league with Giannis and without Yannis. 346 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: They're just really, really really slow, So it's like a 347 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 1: horrible mismatch for them guarding in space, whether that's when 348 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: they're in rotation, which Tyres Haliburton is an expert at 349 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 1: getting a defense into rotation or pushing the ball in transition. Honestly, 350 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 1: the main point of optimism there if you're a Bucks 351 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 1: fan is Tyre's Halliburton hasn't really been the same guy 352 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 1: that he was since he hurt his hamstring, and so 353 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: that to me is something that we'll have to see 354 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: the bear out there. Also, get ready for Tyres and 355 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: Dame just to get attacked on the a defensive end 356 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: every single time, because both of them are trocious. Tyree's 357 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 1: had a nightmare game defensively against Cleveland. I was actually 358 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: watching that game this morning, so that we're gonna again 359 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 1: we're gonna do a deep dive into that series. But 360 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: the main goal there for Milwaukee is like, you just 361 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: got to somehow find a way to get that to 362 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 1: two to two or two to one and hope to 363 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: God that Jannis can come back at some point and 364 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 1: then that he can just put on his cape and 365 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 1: carry you to victory there. But that's just a tough 366 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 1: matchup for them Orlando Cleveland. It's two two season series. 367 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:04,680 Speaker 1: Orlando won the last one in February in Cleveland. A 368 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:06,919 Speaker 1: lot going for Orlando in that series. They have excellent 369 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: guard defenders, and Cleveland is a heavy pick and roll attack, 370 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 1: so if you get good guard defenders there, you can 371 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 1: slow down their pick and roll offense. Orlando is also 372 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 1: an excellent offensive rebounding team, and the Cleveland Cavaliers really 373 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 1: struggled with the Knicks in the first round series, specifically 374 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: on the offensive glass, if you remember correctly, that's not 375 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:26,439 Speaker 1: a strong point for them. They've done better in the 376 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 1: second half of the season, but that's not a strong 377 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 1: point for them. So some matchup stuff that favors Orlando. 378 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 1: But Cleveland is actually the more experienced team here and 379 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:36,400 Speaker 1: they just got embarrassed last year and learned an important 380 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 1: lesson about losing those physical battles. So like that experience 381 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 1: advantage I think favors Cleveland. Again. I'm not going to 382 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 1: give a pick on any of these series until I 383 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 1: dig into the film more Over. The next couple of 384 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 1: days playing games, Philly hosting Miami. Winner gets to avoid 385 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:51,199 Speaker 1: Boston in the first round, so get ready for that 386 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 1: to be a like a knockdown, drag out fight as 387 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:56,520 Speaker 1: both teams are fighting to get away from Boston. That's 388 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 1: gonna be a hell of a game. Philly is one 389 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: to zero this season in games that embat actually played. 390 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:02,360 Speaker 1: It is just a week and a half ago in Miami. 391 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:05,879 Speaker 1: Our other playing game is Chicago versus Atlanta. Atlanta just 392 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 1: beat Chicago in Chicago in early April. But I'll be 393 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: picking the loser of Miami and Philly versus either of 394 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:15,439 Speaker 1: those teams. Regardless. I do like Chicago better though, so 395 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 1: I'm gonna pick Chicago in that matchup, which means we're 396 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,120 Speaker 1: gonna get Boston versus either Philly or Miami in all likelihood. 397 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: Obviously you can't write off Chicago or Atlanta completely, but 398 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,440 Speaker 1: we're gonna get a pretty fun first round series there 399 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 1: against Boston, which will just kind of keep things more 400 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: interesting out east, considering the fact that there's a high 401 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 1: probability in my opinion, that Boston just basically destroys everyone. 402 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:40,879 Speaker 1: So hopefully it'll just those teams will be able to 403 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:43,200 Speaker 1: at least keep it interesting. All right, guys. As I said, 404 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:45,680 Speaker 1: if you're looking for a series preview on Clippers maps, 405 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 1: already on the feed the other three six four to 406 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:50,040 Speaker 1: five matchups we're gonna hit on Monday and Tuesday during 407 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 1: the day we've got We've also got Colin Coward later tonight, 408 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:58,200 Speaker 1: so make sure you keep an eye on the Herd 409 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:01,760 Speaker 1: podcast feed the Colin Cower heard podcast speed for that 410 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 1: show later on tonight. As always, I appreciate you guys, 411 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 1: and I'll see you in a couple of hours. The 412 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 1: volume