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All right, 27 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: welcome to hoops tonight here at the Volume. Happy Wednesday, everybody. 28 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: Hope all of you guys are having a great week 29 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 1: so far. We are live on AMPS, so if you're 30 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: watching on YouTube, we're listening on our podcast feeds. Don't 31 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: forget the AMP is the very first place that you 32 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: guys can get these shows. We are covering the Los 33 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: Angeles Clippers today with the full seas in preview. They 34 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: come in at number nine in our Power rankings. I 35 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: also have three mail bag questions for the end of 36 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: the show as well. You guys know the joke before 37 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 1: we get started. Subscribe to our YouTube channel, Follow me 38 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 1: on Twitter at Underscore Jason lt. Don't forget about our 39 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 1: podcast feed wherever you get your podcast under Hoops Tonight, 40 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: and I need mail bag questions, remember to drop those 41 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: in the YouTube comments and we'll continue to hit those 42 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 1: at the end of these shows last min not least 43 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:24,639 Speaker 1: before we get started. The start of pro basketball is 44 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:26,519 Speaker 1: still a few weeks away, but there's no shortage of 45 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: events to attend in the meantime. Obviously, baseball is in 46 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,519 Speaker 1: the home stretch of their season. There are still concerts 47 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 1: and comedy shows touring around the country, and now we 48 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: have the return of pro in college football, and the 49 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 1: best way to get tickets to any of these events 50 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: is on game Time, the fastest scrowing ticketing app in 51 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 1: the United States. So for amazing last minute deals on 52 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: tickets to see your favorite baseball team or football team, 53 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: download game Time. And again, it's not just sports. All 54 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: of these concerts and comedians touring around the country, you 55 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:58,239 Speaker 1: can also find tickets to those on game Time. Download 56 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: the game Time app and redeem code Hoops for twenty 57 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 1: dollars off your first purchase. Terms apply again, Download the 58 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: game Time app and enter code Hoops. That's Hops for 59 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 1: twenty dollars off. No matter where you live, get out 60 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 1: and have some fun this week. Download game time today, 61 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:19,359 Speaker 1: last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. All right, let's talk 62 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 1: some basketball so quick. Little offseason recap for the Clippers. 63 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 1: They lost Eric Gordon. They added Kenyon Martin Jr. In 64 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 1: a trade from the Rockets. A super athletic forward. He 65 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: averaged thirteen points and six rebounds per game last year. 66 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: He was an ok shooter when he was wide open, 67 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: fifty two point four percent effective field goal percentage on 68 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 1: unguarded catch and shoots. Not great in other situations. He 69 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: was forty three percent in effective field goal percentage on 70 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 1: guarded catching shoots, and he was zero for five on 71 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: off the dribble jump shots. But he was one of 72 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: the best rim finishers in the league. Last year. He 73 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 1: shot seventy percent at the rim. He made three hundred 74 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: and twenty seven shots at the rim last year. That 75 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: was the fifteenth most in the entire NBA. As a 76 00:03:57,600 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: matter of fact, there were only nine players in the 77 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: last year who made at least two hundred and fifty 78 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: shots in the restricted area on at least seventy five 79 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 1: percent shooting, and it was eight centers all dudes who 80 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: are six to eleven in taller, and Keny Martin junior 81 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 1: at six foot seven. So, especially on this particular team 82 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 1: that struggles with getting to the rim consistently and finishing 83 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: there consistently, I think Kenyon Martin can help there a lot, 84 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 1: especially as a cutter working off the ball. With all 85 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 1: of the ball handling and shooting that the Clippers have, 86 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 1: they also drafted Kobe Brown. He's a big, rim pressuring forward. 87 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 1: He's a little on the short side. He's only six 88 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 1: six and a half without shoes, so he's about you 89 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 1: call that six to seven and a half six to 90 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:41,920 Speaker 1: eight ish with shoes. But he's got super long arms. 91 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: He's got a seven foot one wing span, and he 92 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 1: weighs two hundred and fifty two pounds. He's a big dude, 93 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 1: and he was one of the most efficient post players 94 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: in the country last year at Missouri. As a matter 95 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 1: of fact, only two hundred and forty eight players in 96 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: the entire country and all of Division one basketball ran 97 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 1: at least one hundred post ups, and Kobe Brown ranked 98 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: third on that list out of two hundred and forty 99 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: eight players, scoring one point two points per possession. He's 100 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: got this really quick baseline spin where he'll kind of 101 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: catch and look towards the middle, spin back towards the baseline, 102 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: hit you with that baseline elbow, kind of gets away 103 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 1: with a little bit of a chicken wing, which he'll 104 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:16,039 Speaker 1: continue to get away with at the next level, and 105 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:18,239 Speaker 1: then basically if you cut him off, he'll spin back middle. 106 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: But he's not looking to take tough shots. He's not 107 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: taking a ton of hooks, he's not taking a ton 108 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 1: of fadeaways. It is a power post game. It's all 109 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 1: about positioning and ceiling himself inside of an area where 110 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 1: he could rise up and quickly finish. I think it'll 111 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 1: serve him well attacking switches at the NBA level. I 112 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 1: don't think he'll have the same strength advantage obviously when 113 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: he gets to the NBA level going against grown men, 114 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 1: but in switching situations or when he does have a mismatch, 115 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: maybe a cross match and transition, he's going to have 116 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: opportunities to beat players in the post and those quick 117 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: duckins and passes over the top, he's going to be 118 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: able to quickly finish. And he actually shot the ball 119 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:57,239 Speaker 1: really well last year as well, not so much early 120 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 1: in his college career, but really well last year six 121 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: in effective field goal percentage on catch and shoot jump shots, 122 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: seventy nine percent when he was unguarded, and even fifty 123 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 1: percent in effective field goal percentage on pull up jump shots. 124 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: He had lots of rescue possessions last year where he'd 125 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: end up with the ball with four or five seconds 126 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:15,479 Speaker 1: left on the shot clock and he would just go 127 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 1: to a quick, wonderable pull up. And because he's got 128 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:19,280 Speaker 1: good long arms and he gets good lift on his 129 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 1: jump shot, he could just rise over the top of 130 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,919 Speaker 1: guys in fire and and that was kind of like 131 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 1: a nice little release valve last year for Missouri. And 132 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: then obviously with his physical tools, with the super long 133 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 1: arms and his athleticism and strength, he's capable of being 134 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 1: an impact defender, especially with the Clippers who do a 135 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: lot of switching one through four. So I think I 136 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: think Kobe Brown's gonna be an interesting player for the 137 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: Clippers in the long run. The interesting thing there is 138 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 1: going to be there just super deep at forward and 139 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 1: whether or not he's gonna be able to get minutes. 140 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 1: So let's take a look at the depth chart really quick. 141 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 1: So I guard Russell Westbrook Norman Powell, Terrence Mann, Bones Island, 142 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 1: and Jason Preston. And at the forward position, again, this 143 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 1: is probably the deepest core of forwards in the league. Kawhi, Leonard, 144 00:06:57,320 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 1: Paul George, Marcus Morris, Nicholas Patoom, Robert Coveyon A Mere Coffee, 145 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: Kobe Brown, Kenyon, Martin Junr and Brandon Boston. And then 146 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: they're bigs right now with Vika Zubac, Mason plum Lee 147 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 1: and Musa Diabate. So I'm relatively certain their starting lineup 148 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: will look like what it did in Game one versus 149 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 1: the Suns last year. So it's probably gonna be Kawhi, Leonard, Paul, George, 150 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: Nick Batoum, Russell Westbrook and if you Ka Zubak. Now 151 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: what I would like to see them do in the 152 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: long run is especially since Batoum kind of started to 153 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 1: show some signs of decline in that series. Didn't attack 154 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: closeouts very well. He was like just barely over half 155 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: of a point spot up situations, not the same defender 156 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 1: that he used to be as he's starting to get older. 157 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: I'd actually like to see them go with Terrence Mann 158 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: in the starting lineup. I think there's this thing with 159 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: Tyleru in general, where he seems to think of those 160 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 1: two as kind of like one or the other. Like, 161 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: if he's feeling Russ, he'll stay with Russ. Man'll come 162 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: off for the bench for him, and then he might 163 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: close with Man over Russ if it gets to that 164 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: point at the end of the game and Russ isn't 165 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 1: really all that engaged. That seems to be kind of 166 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: the way Tylu sees it. I actually think I go 167 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 1: with both of them. I think, first of all, that's 168 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: your five best players. If you're ranking the players on 169 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 1: this team, Terrence Man and Russell Westbrook are are in 170 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: that list, right, Like it's Terrence Man, Russell Westbrook, and 171 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: i Vica Zubac are your third, fourth and fifth best 172 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 1: players probably right. Norman Powell could be in that discussion, 173 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 1: but I'd say Terrence Man and Russell Westbrook, right. So 174 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: if that's the case, you're allowing yourself to play your 175 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: best five guys. You're adding two rim pressure guys in 176 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook and Terrence Man to kind of compliment Kawhi 177 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 1: Leonard and Paul George as you know, guys who are 178 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: more driving to look for pull up jump shots, right, 179 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: they're driving to get positioned for pull up jump shots, 180 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:38,599 Speaker 1: and so getting a couple of guys who pressure the 181 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,679 Speaker 1: rim well. Also they both both of those guys can 182 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:44,560 Speaker 1: switch on to forge defensively and quiet and Paul George 183 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: can switch onto guards defensively. I also like the idea 184 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 1: of being more aggressive. This is a defense that did 185 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 1: not force as many turnovers as they probably could last 186 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 1: year and didn't get out in transition as much as 187 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 1: they probably could last year, and so I would in 188 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: the long run if I was running this team, I 189 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 1: would start Terrence Man and Russell Westbrook together with Paul George, 190 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubak. So, just so you know, 191 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 1: that lineup played zero minutes last year, so it'll be 192 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:10,439 Speaker 1: interesting to see if we get a chance to see 193 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:14,319 Speaker 1: it this year. Before we go into the offensive ended four, 194 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 1: I wanted to talk really quickly about load management, so 195 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:21,199 Speaker 1: Tyleru referenced this in I believe in the postseason presser 196 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: if I remember correctly, But basically he wants them to 197 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,079 Speaker 1: take the regular season more seriously this year, and I 198 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 1: think that's a good idea on a bunch of different levels. 199 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: I think, especially when you're integrating a newer piece like 200 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:34,839 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook, continuity is going to be an important advantage. 201 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:38,559 Speaker 1: Most importantly, like the load management thing, you got to 202 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:41,679 Speaker 1: look at it in the bigger picture. There is no 203 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 1: evidence that load management actually prevents injuries from taking place, right, 204 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: And I mean one of the best case studies of 205 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 1: that is the Clippers. They're incredibly careful about making sure 206 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: that their stars don't play too much, and those two 207 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: guys missed a third of the season. Basically, they combined 208 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: to miss fifty six games last year. And as we 209 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 1: look back at the last three playoff runs that they've 210 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 1: been in, actually four playoff runs, so we have this year, 211 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,560 Speaker 1: neither Kawhi Leonard or Paul George were able to finish 212 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 1: a playoff run. Right. Last year, Paul George is healthy, 213 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 1: but then is a late COVID scratch, but I won't 214 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:19,319 Speaker 1: blame him for that. But only one of them is 215 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 1: healthy for a potential playoff run, right, twenty twenty one, 216 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,199 Speaker 1: only one of them is healthy, right, because Kahi Leonard 217 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,679 Speaker 1: gets hurt in the towards the end of the Jazz series, Right, 218 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 1: So Paul George ends up finishing that playoff run by himself. 219 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 1: And in twenty twenty, both Paul George and Kwhi Leonard 220 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 1: were available, they just didn't play well, right, So I've 221 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:39,079 Speaker 1: got one time in four postseasons that both of them 222 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: were actually able to finish the playoff run. So load 223 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,199 Speaker 1: management's not working for them. And you know, I can't 224 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: say for certain if you know, playing more frequently in 225 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,440 Speaker 1: the regular season and conditioning yourself for the playoff run 226 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: is actually a good thing or whether it would work, 227 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 1: but it's worth a try at this point because the 228 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:59,839 Speaker 1: status quo is not working, and so I would like 229 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 1: to see the Clippers attack the season with more urgency 230 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: throughout hunt for a higher seed. Then you might be 231 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 1: able to limit minutes in the first round and not 232 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 1: have to push your guys to a crazy intense level 233 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: in the first round series against Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, Right, Like, 234 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: there's advantages to taking the regular season more seriously, not 235 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:21,080 Speaker 1: to mention continuity, helping Rustlern to fit in with this group. 236 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: That's the way that I would approach the season. I 237 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 1: believe that's the approach that Tyler's going for, and if so, 238 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: it could be potentially a sign of things changing with 239 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:31,840 Speaker 1: the Clippers. All right, let's talk about the offensive end 240 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 1: of the floor for a minute now. Again, it's hard 241 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:37,199 Speaker 1: to read too much into these numbers because Kawhi and 242 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: PG missed fifty six games combined and Russell Westber came 243 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: into the offense at the end of the season. But 244 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: they were seventeenth in offensive rating last year, seventeenth and 245 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:47,559 Speaker 1: half court offense according to Cleaning the Glass Heavy into 246 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:50,079 Speaker 1: matchup attacking, they were top ten ISO and top ten 247 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: post up team. This is not a team that runs 248 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 1: as much pick and roll as the other teams in 249 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: the league. This is not a team that methodically looks 250 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 1: to pick you apart with ball movement and high level playmaking. 251 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: This is a team that runs some sort of action, 252 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: typically a pick and roll or a dribble handoff or 253 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 1: an off screen action off the ball to try to 254 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:09,680 Speaker 1: get one of their ball handlers Kawhi Leonard or Paul 255 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:12,440 Speaker 1: George in advantage situation, so they can look for pull 256 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: up jump shots, and if there's a switch, then they 257 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 1: will go to facing up, ice, isolating or posting up 258 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,079 Speaker 1: in those specific situations. It's kind of a brute force 259 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 1: offense in that sense, and they were good at it. 260 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 1: They were the sixth best post up efficiency team in 261 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 1: the league. Both Kawhi and Paul George were incredibly efficient 262 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: all play types. Both of them were well over a 263 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:35,319 Speaker 1: point per possession in pick and rolls, post ups, and ISOs. 264 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: But again, that's their bread and butter. This is not 265 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: a team that moves the ball a lot. They were 266 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: twenty fourth and assists last year. They do not you know, 267 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 1: like I said, they don't have like a really high 268 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: level playmaker that's looking to pick you apart and make 269 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: super high level reads. It's very heavy a matchup attacking offense, right. 270 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: As a result of that, they do suffer a little 271 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: bit from the brute force offense is as you expect 272 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:03,079 Speaker 1: to see in the regular season. Right Like in the 273 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: dregs of the regular season, they're not gonna get as 274 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:08,559 Speaker 1: many high quality easy shots as the other teams in 275 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: the league, so their offensive ratings are going to struggle. 276 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,079 Speaker 1: But what do I always say about brute force offense 277 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:14,839 Speaker 1: is they typically go up a level when they get 278 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 1: to the postseason. And that's what happened. Like you gotta remember, 279 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 1: no Paul George in the Sun Series and you're still 280 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 1: integrating Russ. But Kawhi is still just a machine that 281 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 1: can get to his spots right, and in the same 282 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: way that like you know, a set offense and like 283 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: ball player movement offense can get to the postseason and 284 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: start to struggle a little bit as teams scout and 285 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:40,839 Speaker 1: play harder. Right, you get the exact opposite effect with 286 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:43,200 Speaker 1: brute force. A player that is really good at getting 287 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 1: to his spots and taking and making tough shots, his 288 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 1: impact stays at the same or improves when he gets 289 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: to the postseason. And so like that's what you saw. 290 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:54,319 Speaker 1: Kawhi is just bigger, stronger and a better athlete than 291 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:56,199 Speaker 1: most of the forwards in the league, so he can 292 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 1: get to his spots and take and make the shots 293 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 1: that he's accustomed to making. Russell west Brook, you know, 294 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 1: Game one of that Sun series, grabs five offensive rebounds 295 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 1: because he's just bigger and stronger and a better athlete 296 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 1: than most of the guards on the floor. He ended 297 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: up getting a massive offensive rebound that he kicked out 298 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: to Kawhi on the right wing for basically what was 299 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,680 Speaker 1: the dagger in Game one when the Clippers got that win, 300 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 1: and then on the defensive end, they upped their physicality 301 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 1: and turned finesse pull up shooters and kd Into and 302 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: Devin Booker into players that weren't as efficient as you're 303 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 1: accustomed to seeing them, and they ended up getting a 304 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 1: big win, and they were actually up by thirteen in 305 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: Game two, but obviously the Suns end up playing the 306 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: game out, Kawhi Leonard gets hurt, Russ has to revert 307 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 1: back to basically on ball Russ, and then things kind 308 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 1: of fall apart from there. But like again, like that's 309 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 1: whenever I gauge offenses that take a more brute force 310 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: approach to thing things, you got to kind of differentiate 311 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 1: between regular season success and postseason success. This is a 312 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: Clippers team that, when push comes to shove, is really 313 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 1: difficult to guard, regardless of what the offensive ratings says. 314 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: And we didn't even get Paul George in that, we 315 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: didn't even get to see as much Terrence Man and 316 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook alongside of those guys, obviously we got to 317 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: see zero of that. But like, I think they're capable 318 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 1: of being a much better regular season offense as well. 319 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: But don't be dissuaded by low regular season offensive ratings 320 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: from into thinking that this team is easy to guard, 321 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 1: because they definitely are not the biggest area of opportunity 322 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: for this offense is rim pressure. They ranked twenty fifth 323 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 1: in the NBA in restricted area makes and that's a 324 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 1: big part of what limits their ball movement and efficiency 325 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:32,359 Speaker 1: in general and offense. Right, Like, they don't get the offense, 326 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: you know, they don't get the defense into rotation as 327 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 1: often as they probably should, and they really should. Like this, 328 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 1: this Clippers team has a shit ton of shooting, like 329 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: down the roster, and it's not just the role players, 330 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: it's the stars too, Like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George 331 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 1: are both deadly spot up guys, and so when you 332 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 1: have Russell Westbrook running pick and roller trying to post 333 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 1: up or beat someone off the dribble, you've got a 334 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 1: lot more space to operate than you see elsewhere in 335 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: the league. They were the second best spot out team 336 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 1: in the entire NBA, second only to the Philadelphia seventy 337 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 1: six ers. And so that's where I think playing more 338 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 1: Terrence Man and Russell Westbrook with the Stars could help 339 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 1: a lot, because this is a team that doesn't generate 340 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: a lot in rim pressure and doesn't get the defense 341 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 1: into rotation and play drive and kick as much as 342 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: they should given the amount of shooting they have. So 343 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 1: how about you get Terrence Man and Russell Westbrook with 344 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 1: room to operate beating guys off the dribble, get more 345 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 1: catch and shoot opportunities for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. 346 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: Paul George in particular can struggle with efficiency because he 347 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: almost solely takes extremely difficult shots, so getting him more 348 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 1: off ball opportunities could be really good. Playing more driving 349 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 1: kick basketball, I think that is when the Clippers are 350 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: at their best. And so when they use the tougher 351 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,320 Speaker 1: shot making as a counter and as like a late 352 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 1: clock rescue situation type of thing, and rely more on 353 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 1: their aggregate ball handling and shooting to carry them in 354 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:55,480 Speaker 1: the rest of these possessions, I think that's a better 355 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 1: way for them to play offensively. And that's another reason 356 00:16:57,760 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 1: why I'd like to see them start Terrence Man and 357 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 1: Russell west Brooke together on the defensive end of the four. 358 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 1: And again, these are you know, these numbers are a 359 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: little bit limited because we had Kawhi and Paul George 360 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: missed so many games, and Russell Westbrook came in late. 361 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: But they were seventeenth in defensive rating last year fourteenth, 362 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 1: and half court defense according to cleaning the glass eighteenth, 363 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:18,040 Speaker 1: and protecting the paint opponent's points in the paint per 364 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:21,120 Speaker 1: one hundred possessions, seventeenth, in protecting the three point line 365 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:24,160 Speaker 1: three pointers made opponent three pointers made per one hundred 366 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 1: possessions twenty fourth, and first forcing turnovers, and they were 367 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 1: sixteenth in keeping teams from scoring in transition. So they 368 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: were basically below average in every major defensive category except 369 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:38,239 Speaker 1: for two. They were really good at rebounding. There were 370 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: seventh in defensive rebounding, and again a lot of that 371 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:44,639 Speaker 1: is wing athleticism and being able to get contested rebounds 372 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:46,719 Speaker 1: that come long out to the perimeter right. And then 373 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:49,879 Speaker 1: they didn't foul. They committed the seventh fewest. Excuse me, 374 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 1: they put opponents on the free throw line the seventh 375 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:55,399 Speaker 1: fewest times per one hundred possessions in the NBA. But 376 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: this is another reason why I liked the idea of 377 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: Terrence Man and Russell West were playing together. We mentioned 378 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:02,439 Speaker 1: this earlier, but improving your point of attack aggressiveness. You know, 379 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 1: Zubo's actually a pretty decent rim protector. He's not great like, 380 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:07,880 Speaker 1: I don't think you're ever going to be a dominant 381 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 1: rim defense, but he's actually a pretty solid rim protector. 382 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:12,880 Speaker 1: And I love the idea of switching one through four 383 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: with man Russ, you know, Kawhi and PG even with 384 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:20,639 Speaker 1: some of the other guys coming in, guys like Norman Powell, right, 385 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 1: he's a guy that can switch on to bigger players. 386 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 1: We talked a little bit about kJ Martin earlier as 387 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: a guy who's got a lot of athleticism at the 388 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:28,679 Speaker 1: forward position. This is a team that can do a 389 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:30,879 Speaker 1: lot of switching, be very aggressive at the point of 390 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:33,639 Speaker 1: attack with their strength and athleticism, be very physical at 391 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 1: the point of attack, knowing that you've got Zu back 392 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 1: on the back line, and I think they can force 393 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:39,960 Speaker 1: a lot more turnovers and get out and transition more. 394 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 1: This is a team that only they were eighteenth and 395 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 1: transition points scored offensively last year, so they did not 396 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 1: get out in transition a lot last year. With guys 397 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 1: like Russell Westbrook and Terence Man on the roster and 398 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 1: kJ Martin, they should be looking to get out and 399 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 1: transition more, and so I'd like for them to be 400 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: more more physically aggressive. You know, a point of attack defense, 401 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: trying to force turnovers and get out in transition to 402 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 1: supplement their half court offense. So the big silver lining 403 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:08,880 Speaker 1: for Clippers fans when Paul George and Kawhi Leonards shared 404 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 1: the floor last year, the Clippers outscored opponents by eight 405 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 1: point three points per one hundred possessions and they were 406 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:17,159 Speaker 1: a lead offensively. They had an offensive rating of one 407 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: twenty point three when the two of those guys were together. 408 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:22,359 Speaker 1: So this team is still super dangerous when they're healthy. 409 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:26,920 Speaker 1: It's just, you know, we shouldn't bet on them being healthy. Like, 410 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:28,800 Speaker 1: like we said, there's been one time in the last 411 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 1: four seasons that the two of them have been healthy 412 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 1: for a playoff run right and throughout the playoff rount. 413 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:36,119 Speaker 1: So it's not something we should bet on, but we 414 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 1: have to be prepared for that as a possibility because 415 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:40,920 Speaker 1: if we get to a second round series and Kauhi 416 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:43,880 Speaker 1: and Paul George are healthy and they're going against anybody 417 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:47,199 Speaker 1: in the league, they are capable of winning. Now, if 418 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: I had to make a prediction, obviously, I think it's 419 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 1: more likely that they end up having injury issues, like 420 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 1: chances are they'll probably end up as a bottom half seed, 421 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:58,160 Speaker 1: like in the five to eight range, and they'll probably 422 00:19:58,200 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: end up losing in the first round with one of 423 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:02,159 Speaker 1: their stars. That's what's probably going to happen. But we 424 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:04,679 Speaker 1: always have to be prepared for the reality of what 425 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:08,159 Speaker 1: can happen when Kawhila Leonard and Paul George are healthy. 426 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 1: One last note on Russell Westbrook because obviously I talked 427 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 1: a lot of positive with Russell Westbrook today and he 428 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 1: deserves He played really good basketball with the Clippers, and 429 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:22,359 Speaker 1: I want to make sure that I emphasize that up front, 430 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 1: but I want to push back on one specific idea, 431 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 1: and it was kind of a narrative that came out 432 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: of the whole Russell Westbrook trade, and most of it 433 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:34,920 Speaker 1: was coming from you know, you know, like obviously, the 434 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 1: Lakers have a very loud and obnoxious fan base and 435 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 1: a lot of like Laker non Laker fans like to 436 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:42,880 Speaker 1: have fun at their expense, so that's part of this, right, 437 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: But there was this narrative that like, Russell Westbrook succeeded 438 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:53,879 Speaker 1: with the Clippers because they let Russ be Russ and 439 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 1: they didn't downtrod him with external pressure, and like it 440 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:03,160 Speaker 1: was all the Lakers' fault that Russ struggled, and as 441 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:06,200 Speaker 1: someone who literally covered every single game during the Russell 442 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: Westbrook era in a Lakers jersey, I want to emphasize 443 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 1: that that's very much not what happened. Okay, yes, it 444 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: was a It was an awful basketball fit. There's no 445 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:17,919 Speaker 1: doubt that Russ on the Lakers was a bad fit, right, 446 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:20,879 Speaker 1: Like him and Lebron were kind of redundant, right as 447 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:24,920 Speaker 1: like big, rim pressuring playmakers. Right the Lakers before the 448 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 1: trade deadline had no shooting, so Russ didn't have much 449 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:31,119 Speaker 1: space to operate. Like playing Russell Westbrook in lineups with 450 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 1: Lebron James and Anthony Davis, you know, especially as declined 451 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:38,360 Speaker 1: jump shooters, not a great idea. That first year. There's 452 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 1: a lot of ad at the four with like DeAndre 453 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:42,480 Speaker 1: Jordan on the floor with Russell Westbrook. So like, don't 454 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 1: get me wrong, there were a lot of like fit 455 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: things that were not great. And then you go to 456 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: the Clippers and it was an obvious fit, right, Like 457 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,439 Speaker 1: they needed a rim pressuring playmaker because they didn't have one. 458 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 1: They're the second best spot up team in the league, right, 459 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 1: so they've got a lot more space for Russ to 460 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:01,160 Speaker 1: operate right, like they obviously were a much better fit. 461 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 1: And then just in general in terms of call it, 462 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 1: you know, societal pressure pressure from the fan base. The 463 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 1: Clippers were a lower pressure situation, so there's no doubt 464 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 1: that it was a better fit with the Clippers. But 465 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 1: like to be clear, Russ also started doing things with 466 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:19,040 Speaker 1: the Clippers that he didn't do with the Lakers. Like 467 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:23,199 Speaker 1: Russ was awesome defensively, especially in the first half of 468 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:25,359 Speaker 1: that Sun series before he had to start doing everything 469 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 1: on the offensive end, like he was incredible, you didn't 470 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 1: get that with the Lakers, I promise you. He had 471 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 1: thirteen steals and blocks in the five game series against 472 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:39,200 Speaker 1: the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix ball handlers attempted thirteen shots in 473 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 1: pick and roll with Russ as the primary defender, and 474 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:44,639 Speaker 1: they went just three for thirteen on those shots. His 475 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:47,679 Speaker 1: back pressure was insane. He would basically get in a 476 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:51,119 Speaker 1: trailing position behind the screen and explode, jump off of 477 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 1: his left leg and just swat or contest everything from behind. 478 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:58,199 Speaker 1: He like legit God in Devin Booker's head in the 479 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 1: early part of that series forced him into missus inside 480 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:05,479 Speaker 1: the three point line. Like Russ was downright disruptive on 481 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: the defensive end in a Clippers jersey in a way 482 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 1: that he was not with the Lakers. Okay, like, he 483 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:14,159 Speaker 1: crashed the offensive glass much more with the Clippers. He 484 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 1: had eleven offensive rebound putbacks in twenty six games in 485 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:21,679 Speaker 1: a Clippers jersey. He had thirteen in fifty two games 486 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: in a Lakers jersey. So like, he was roughly twice 487 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 1: as active on the offensive glass when he went to 488 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:30,439 Speaker 1: the Clippers than he was with the Lakers. He logged 489 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 1: eight rollman possessions in twenty six games in a Clippers jersey. 490 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 1: He logged just four in fifty two games in a 491 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: Lakers jersey. So like, even shot way better. He shot 492 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:44,399 Speaker 1: forty nine percent in effective field goal percentage in a 493 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:48,679 Speaker 1: Clippers jersey, forty two percent in a Lakers jersey. So like, again, 494 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:52,919 Speaker 1: I'm a big fan of Russell Westbrook when he's playing 495 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:56,119 Speaker 1: winning basketball. Obviously, it was a frustrating experience with him 496 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:58,200 Speaker 1: in a Lakers jersey. But like, I've always been a 497 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 1: fan of Russell Westbrook coming up in the league. It 498 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:03,919 Speaker 1: just was frustrating watching him in this transition, especially for 499 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 1: a team that I was specifically rooting for. But when 500 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: Russ is playing winning basketball, he's actually a ton of 501 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:11,720 Speaker 1: fun to watch and someone that I'm rooting for. But 502 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:15,440 Speaker 1: let's get one thing clear. Yes, the Lakers and Russell 503 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:19,200 Speaker 1: Westbrook were not a great basketball fit, but Russ also 504 00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 1: shares a lot of the blame for not being willing 505 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:25,640 Speaker 1: to do the things that the Lakers needed him to do, 506 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,239 Speaker 1: and then he suddenly ended up doing those things with 507 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:32,160 Speaker 1: the Clippers. And so again, I'm happy for Russ. I'm 508 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:34,880 Speaker 1: happy that he's happier with the Clippers. I think it's 509 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 1: a much better basketball fit, and I think he can 510 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 1: help them as a basketball team and potentially potentially help 511 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:44,639 Speaker 1: them win a championship. But let's be clear, he wasn't 512 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 1: doing that stuff for the Lakers. Okay, so let's not 513 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:49,240 Speaker 1: rewrite history and act like it was the Lakers' fault 514 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:53,040 Speaker 1: that Russell Westbrook wasn't playing as good as high level 515 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:55,679 Speaker 1: of basketball as he did with the Clippers. And honestly, 516 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:58,960 Speaker 1: like it's very possible that the embarrassment from that situation 517 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 1: for things going the way they did with the Lakers 518 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:03,679 Speaker 1: that might very well have been the reason why he 519 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 1: finally accepted that he needed to embrace those things to 520 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,639 Speaker 1: a greater extent. All right, let's move on to the 521 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 1: mailback questions. First one from Logan, what are your thoughts 522 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:14,959 Speaker 1: on Shaden Sharp? Do you think he could be a 523 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 1: future first option for the Blazers with Scoot as the 524 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 1: Westbrook type of guy. So I am not as high 525 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:25,479 Speaker 1: on Shad and Sharp as everyone else. I watched him 526 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: in Summer League Live again this year, and I watched 527 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:30,679 Speaker 1: him last year as well, but this year, I like 528 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:32,359 Speaker 1: there was a little bit of a moment in that 529 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:34,640 Speaker 1: first Rockets game, the game where Jabaris Smith Junior, where 530 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,119 Speaker 1: he hit the game winner, There was a little bit 531 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 1: of a moment at the end of that game where 532 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:40,919 Speaker 1: Shaden Sharp started to kind of like he hit a 533 00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 1: really nice turnaround fade away. He started like beating people 534 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 1: off the dribble. He got ignited by a transition dunk 535 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 1: he dunked on. I think it was the that big 536 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:55,800 Speaker 1: dude who was playing for the Lakers G League team 537 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: last year, if I remember correctly. I can't remember his name, 538 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 1: but he dunked on somebody and got super invinted it 539 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:03,439 Speaker 1: and like suddenly like unlocked his downhill aggressiveness and he 540 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:05,240 Speaker 1: started beating people off the dribble and get into the 541 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: rim and he made like a nice little turnaround fadaway. 542 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:11,240 Speaker 1: He's got that potential. And obviously, like when you combine 543 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 1: his athleticism with his touch and some of the ability 544 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:16,200 Speaker 1: that he has, there's there's going to be games where 545 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:18,040 Speaker 1: you watch Shaden sharp and he looks like you know, 546 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:21,120 Speaker 1: Vince Carter in his prime. Right. But the reality is 547 00:26:21,119 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 1: is like I don't see enough of that like overwhelming 548 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:28,719 Speaker 1: confidence and audacity and competitiveness to be like a future 549 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 1: first option personally. That's not to say it can't happen, 550 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 1: but like, like I said, we had a mailback question 551 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:36,280 Speaker 1: a few weeks back, it might have been last week, 552 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 1: talking about like what it takes for a player to 553 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 1: become a star, right, And in that I remember I 554 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:47,639 Speaker 1: talked about like like loving basketball, hating losing, overwhelming competitiveness 555 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:51,399 Speaker 1: and audacity, meaning like just like an overwhelming sense of 556 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:54,159 Speaker 1: self confidence, right, And like that's the thing is, like 557 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:56,119 Speaker 1: I think Shaden can be lacking in some of those 558 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:59,480 Speaker 1: specific areas. And maybe that's just young kid, and maybe 559 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 1: that bloss later on and we'll see that from him. 560 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:04,000 Speaker 1: But like if I had to guess between Shad and 561 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:07,880 Speaker 1: sharp being like a really good number three or four 562 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:10,120 Speaker 1: in the long run, or being like a number one 563 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 1: for a team that's contending for championships. I lean more 564 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:15,200 Speaker 1: towards the former. I think I think he's a guy 565 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:17,320 Speaker 1: that's going to be a role player in the big picture. 566 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 1: And for the record, I think there's almost a zero 567 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 1: percent chance that'll that he'll be better than Scoot Henderson 568 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:25,480 Speaker 1: in the long run. Next mail back question, do you 569 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:27,359 Speaker 1: think the Pistons have a chance of making the play 570 00:27:27,359 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 1: in or even the playoffs with Kate Cunningham coming back? 571 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:32,879 Speaker 1: So I picked this question for a very specific reason. 572 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 1: Those of you guys have been following the show for 573 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:39,360 Speaker 1: a while know this. But like typically speaking, it's difficult 574 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:43,119 Speaker 1: to cover the entire NBA, and the way that I 575 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:46,760 Speaker 1: choose to cover it is to primarily focus on the 576 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:50,160 Speaker 1: relevant teams, the playoff team. So kind of like this list, 577 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:52,840 Speaker 1: like we're doing season previews for the top twenty teams right, 578 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:55,720 Speaker 1: Like I don't have the time, with having to cover 579 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:59,080 Speaker 1: everything else, to devote you know, eight hours in a 580 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:02,040 Speaker 1: day to studying film and getting ready to cover the 581 00:28:02,080 --> 00:28:04,719 Speaker 1: Detroit Pistons this year, And like, if you are a 582 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 1: Pistons fan and you're looking for coverage, like you're gonna 583 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:11,040 Speaker 1: get occasional coverage here. Like I'm obviously if they turn 584 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:13,359 Speaker 1: out to be relevant, I'll be covering them closely. But 585 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:16,920 Speaker 1: like I'm gonna watch them, and I'm going to, uh, 586 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:20,720 Speaker 1: you know, I'll probably watch like ten to fifteen Pistons 587 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:24,480 Speaker 1: games this year, and I'm gonna dive into Kid Cunningham 588 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:27,720 Speaker 1: pick and roll numbers and watch his shot creation development. 589 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 1: And we're gonna talk about caid and his development. But 590 00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 1: like we're just not gonna cover them particularly closely because 591 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:35,840 Speaker 1: they're in the lower tier of you know, teams in 592 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 1: terms of overall interest, right, And it's just bad business, 593 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: for lack of a better term, for us to do that. 594 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,400 Speaker 1: But like we are gonna cover him to a certain extent, 595 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:44,920 Speaker 1: just like we will with any of the other young 596 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 1: players in the league. Right, Like we've done a lot 597 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:49,280 Speaker 1: of talking about Jabari Smith Junior lately as a young 598 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:51,400 Speaker 1: player that I really like. I really like Kid Cunningham 599 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 1: is the big playmaking guard. Right. But the truth is 600 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 1: I didn't watch the Pistons enough last year to have 601 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 1: a really strong opinion about them, and so I can't 602 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:03,320 Speaker 1: tell you how I feel about their chances to make 603 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:05,400 Speaker 1: the play in I mean, obviously, I think they're probably 604 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 1: not going to because of the twenty teams that are 605 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:10,480 Speaker 1: in front of them, but like, obviously it's on the table, 606 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 1: it's a possibility. And with Kay, it's not just Ky Cunningham, 607 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 1: Like I'm also blanking on his name now, but the 608 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:20,880 Speaker 1: guard they drafted last year, the one that I talked 609 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:24,960 Speaker 1: about all the time, that's my favorite. But I really like, uh, 610 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 1: it's killing me, Like I I have the weirdest memory 611 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 1: with this kind of stuff, Like sometimes I'm like laser 612 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:32,959 Speaker 1: focused and can remember everything, but like occasional player name, 613 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:35,480 Speaker 1: Jade and Ivy, thank you occasional player and player names 614 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:38,240 Speaker 1: I just completely blank on. But Jade and Ivy is 615 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 1: another super super exciting young player on that on that roster. 616 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:44,160 Speaker 1: So I'll watch him a few times. We are gonna 617 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:46,760 Speaker 1: cover him, but don't expect too much Pissons coverage this year, 618 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:48,840 Speaker 1: to be honest, unless they start, you know, being a 619 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: five hundred team. Last male back question rank shake Gilesxander, Alexander, 620 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:57,240 Speaker 1: Devin Booker, and Jason Tatum purely as play purely as 621 00:29:57,240 --> 00:30:00,320 Speaker 1: players right now, not counting their previous team in playoffs. 622 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:04,920 Speaker 1: So in my player rankings, which were obviously factoring in 623 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:07,840 Speaker 1: previous team in playoff success, I had Tatum above Booker 624 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:10,920 Speaker 1: and Booker above Shay Right, so I'm going to keep 625 00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:12,720 Speaker 1: Tatum at the top. I just think he's so much 626 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:16,520 Speaker 1: more impactful defensively than Devin Booker and Shake Gilds Alexander, 627 00:30:17,080 --> 00:30:20,400 Speaker 1: and he honestly, I think, you know, he gets a 628 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:22,719 Speaker 1: lot of criticism, as he should, because he's made some 629 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:26,640 Speaker 1: especially last year in terms of a little bit of 630 00:30:26,640 --> 00:30:29,720 Speaker 1: a decline and defensive commitment and a big decline in 631 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 1: his overall shot variety, which I think hurt his efficiency 632 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 1: in the playoffs a little bit. He deserves some criticism, 633 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:37,960 Speaker 1: but I think he gets too much criticism, and he 634 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:39,600 Speaker 1: still is a guy that's had a lot more big 635 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:42,360 Speaker 1: playoff moments than people realize, and is still very very, 636 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:44,520 Speaker 1: very very impactful on both ends of the floor and 637 00:30:44,680 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 1: at the end of my Heat series, like he just 638 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:48,720 Speaker 1: was better than Jimmy Butler at the end of the series, 639 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:51,640 Speaker 1: right until he got hurt. So I'm I'm pretty high 640 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:53,960 Speaker 1: on Jason Tatum. The real question would be would I 641 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:56,320 Speaker 1: be willing to put Shay over Devin Booker, and Shay's 642 00:30:56,360 --> 00:31:01,440 Speaker 1: a really gifted three level shot creator. I think he's 643 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:04,360 Speaker 1: a higher level, like overall half court surgeon than Devin Booker. 644 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:06,520 Speaker 1: That's like what I want to think. Like, if I 645 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:09,440 Speaker 1: wanted to try to make a case for Shae, that's 646 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:11,080 Speaker 1: where it would start. I also think Shay is a 647 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:14,000 Speaker 1: better defensive player than Devin Booker. But here's the reality. 648 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:17,120 Speaker 1: In the first nine playoff games this year. Now, Devin 649 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:19,240 Speaker 1: Booker did struggle in the final two games of the 650 00:31:19,280 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 1: Nugget series, but this is crazy. In the first nine 651 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:24,320 Speaker 1: games of the playoff run this year, Devin Booker thirty 652 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:27,680 Speaker 1: seven points per game, five rebounds, seven point four assists, 653 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 1: sixty two percent from the field, fifty one percent from three, 654 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:34,960 Speaker 1: and eighty seven percent from the line. So, like, feels 655 00:31:35,040 --> 00:31:38,920 Speaker 1: kind of stupid for me to put Shae over Devin Booker. 656 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:40,840 Speaker 1: So I'm gonna keep him in the same order that 657 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:42,960 Speaker 1: I did in my player rankings. I think Tatum is 658 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:44,959 Speaker 1: better than Booker, and I think Booker's better than Shae 659 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:47,400 Speaker 1: for right now, All right, guys, that's all I have 660 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:50,200 Speaker 1: for today is always I sincerely appreciate you supporting the show. 661 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:53,120 Speaker 1: We will be back tomorrow with number eight. Don't forget 662 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:55,040 Speaker 1: to drop mail back questions in the YouTube comments and 663 00:31:55,040 --> 00:32:20,240 Speaker 1: I'll see you guys tomorrow. The volume