1 00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:08,560 Speaker 1: The volume Hoops Tonight is presented by FanDuel. The NBA 2 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,039 Speaker 1: is back, and there's no better place to get in 3 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: on the action than with fandel This is my favorite 4 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 1: sports betting app that is out there. It is safe 5 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:18,920 Speaker 1: and easy to use, easy to get your money in 6 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: and out. I love that cash out feature, So if 7 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:23,479 Speaker 1: you're in good shape with one of your bets and 8 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: you don't want to risk garbage time, you can get 9 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 1: your money out quickly. Use promo code Jason T and 10 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: download the FanDuel app today to make every moment more 11 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: This NBA Season twenty one plus in president Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana. 12 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:44,559 Speaker 1: Permitted parishes only, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Virginia 13 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 1: or West Virginia. First online real money wager only. Refund 14 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:52,200 Speaker 1: issued as non withdrawable site credit that expires in fourteen days. 15 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: Restrictions apply. See terms at sports book dot FanDuel dot com. 16 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: Gambling problem called one eight hundred, next step or tech 17 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: next step to five three three four two in Arizona 18 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: one eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven 19 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: seven or visit CCPG dot org slash chat in Connecticut 20 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: one eight hundred Gambler or visit FanDuel dot com slash 21 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:21,960 Speaker 1: RG in Colorado, Indiana, New Jersey, In Virginia one eight 22 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:26,679 Speaker 1: seven seven seven seven zero stop in Louisiana one eight 23 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 1: hundred to seven zero seven one one seven for confidential 24 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 1: help in Michigan one eight seven seven eight Hope and why, 25 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:39,559 Speaker 1: or text hope and Why to four six seven three 26 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: six nine in New York. In Tennessee redline dial one 27 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: eight hundred eight eight nine nine seven eight nine in Tennessee, 28 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: visit www one eight dot one eight hundred gambler dot 29 00:01:51,560 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: net in West Virginia. All right, welcome to Hoops Tonight, 30 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 1: presented by Ban Duel here at the volume. Happy Tuesday, everybody. 31 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 1: I hope all of you guys are having a great 32 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 1: week so far. Gonna keep it nice and simple tonight. 33 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 1: I want to talk about that incredible basketball game between 34 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:28,399 Speaker 1: the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Borders and then 35 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,799 Speaker 1: the Los Angeles Lakers, that another wild collapse last night. 36 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 1: I have a lot to talk about there, particularly as 37 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 1: it pertains to Lebron James, who had a pretty a 38 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: pretty embarrassingly bad fourth orders in that game. We're gonna 39 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:44,519 Speaker 1: talk a little Indiana Pacers after that too, and then 40 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: the last chunk of the show, Carl Anthony town took 41 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 1: for a caf injury that's gonna keep him out for 42 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: at least a month, probably closer to two. Um, So 43 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 1: we're gonna do a little bit of a deep dive 44 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: into some of Minnesota's struggles and what they've looked like 45 00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: without Carl Towns on the floor this year, and just 46 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: kind of talk about how they can best float over 47 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,639 Speaker 1: the course of the next couple of months without one 48 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: of their starts. You guys know the drill before we 49 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: get started. Subscribed to the Volumes YouTube channels, you don't 50 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 1: miss any more of our videos. Follow me on Twitter 51 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 1: at underscore Jason lt so you guys don't miss any 52 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: show announcements. I'm also gonna be referencing, particularly on the 53 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: Lebron front A demonstrates some of the the issues that 54 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 1: I had with his play last night, So you're gonna 55 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: want to follow me there. And then last but not least, 56 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 1: for whatever reason, you guys miss one of these videos 57 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: and you can't get back over to YouTube to finish, 58 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: you can find them wherever you get your podcasts. Under 59 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: hoops tonight. All right, let's talk some basketball, and I'm 60 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: gonna break. I shouldn't say break, but I'm going. I 61 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: usually have a rule that we don't talk about refs, 62 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: and um, I'm not breaking the rules, so to speak, 63 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 1: because I'm not gonna talk about it as it pertains 64 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: to any team or or outcome. Tonight, However, it really 65 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: annoyed me the incessant need for the rest tonight to 66 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: step in and stop the flow of this game with 67 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: really nitpicky calls. Now, I understand that generally speaking, uh, 68 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: the refs have a process. Early in the season, they 69 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 1: have what's called points of emphasis. Every year it's something different, 70 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: and usually during the early chunks of the season they 71 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 1: are really on top of those specific calls, and then 72 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: always over the course of every year, they fade away 73 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 1: back into the background and things kind of fall back 74 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: to normal NBA officiating, peaking with the postseason, where for 75 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 1: the most part they swallow their whistles and let both 76 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: teams pay a play, which, for the record, I'm pretty 77 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 1: sure is the way all of us want the game 78 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: to be. We want the basketball to be decided by 79 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: the players and not by the officials, and this stuff 80 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 1: with the traveling, Like you know, here, here's the thing 81 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 1: with traveling. There is a travel or a carry on 82 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: just about every single possession of NBA basketball. That's the 83 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 1: same for the college level, it's a same for the 84 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 1: high school level. It's the same when you guys go 85 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: up and you play pickup games. Right, But what's the 86 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: general rule that you guys play by when you're playing 87 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 1: pickup games, Like, if it's not egregious, you're not calling it. 88 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:17,479 Speaker 1: If it's not a blatant attention advantage by cheating, you're 89 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 1: not gonna call it. Right because you went up to 90 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: the gym to play basketball and you're trying to work 91 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 1: on your game, and it was so annoying tonight to see, 92 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: like Luca don chit's doing a normal driving gather dribble 93 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 1: kick out to the corner, and you're calling a travel. 94 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 1: That was if he at best and even when you 95 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 1: slow it down at you know, at at you know, 96 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: at an extremely slow speed, you don't see anything definitive 97 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: and the ref blows the whistle. Or on that last 98 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: play with Steph when it's one, he does a step back, 99 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: he does a jump stop where he lands both beat 100 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 1: at the same time, which technically means you can establish 101 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 1: either foot as your pivot foot. He picks up his 102 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: left foot twice. I get it looks a little awkward, 103 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: but it certainly was im blatant. And what it did 104 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:07,839 Speaker 1: was it ruined a cool possession at the end of 105 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,919 Speaker 1: a very entertaining basketball game, and it robbed Steph of 106 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:14,160 Speaker 1: this chance to take a shot that could have given 107 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 1: the Warriors the lead, and just in general throughout this 108 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:21,480 Speaker 1: entire game, to the the the the carries, the travels, 109 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: the the nitpicky officiating kind of ruined the flow. And 110 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:28,280 Speaker 1: I'm glad the uh the the crew for T n 111 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 1: T was calling it out because it was really taking 112 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:33,919 Speaker 1: away from what was a really entertaining basketball game. The 113 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: shot making from both teams was insane. That was one 114 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 1: of Luca's best games of the season. Steph continues to 115 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 1: play like he might be the best player in the world. 116 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: You had big, big player, big big games from bench 117 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 1: players for the Warriors, big games for specific players on 118 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: the Mavericks. It was a highly entertaining basketball game that 119 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 1: kind of had a little bit of a funky feel 120 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: thanks to the officiating. So obviously we probably don't have 121 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 1: many refs that listened to the show, we're to the wise, 122 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 1: we're there to play basketball. We're there to watch basketball. 123 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: We're there to enjoy the basketball. We're not there to 124 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 1: you and to enjoy you. So maybe step back a 125 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:12,559 Speaker 1: little bit and if it's not egregious, maybe hang onto 126 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: that whistle. Um So, Dallas, you know, it's funny because 127 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: the there this season has been disappointing for them. Obviously, 128 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: they're below five hundred and after making it within three winnals, 129 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: you're hoping for, you know, better than what they've done 130 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 1: so far this year. But as is kind of a 131 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: common theme from NBA Twitter and and NBA circles, NBA 132 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: fan bases, NBA talk in the media as well, every 133 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: time there's a player that we don't like for whatever reason, 134 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 1: we kind of hone in on on team issues and 135 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: target the player as the object of our criticism. Right, 136 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 1: And it's happened to Luca this year, something that I 137 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 1: kind of saw coming. But this is a team that 138 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 1: was constructed in a way that required three primary shot 139 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 1: creators and a bunch of three in D role players. 140 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 1: They lost one of their primary shot creators and they 141 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 1: didn't replace him, and so one of the things that's 142 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: happened to this season is they've been really good with 143 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 1: Luca don on the floor. They were amazing again tonight. 144 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 1: Last night, or coming into tonight, they were about plus 145 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:27,559 Speaker 1: four points per one possessions with Luca on the floor, 146 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: which is very good, and they were minus three per 147 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: one hundred possessions with Luca off the floor, which is 148 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 1: pretty bad and enough to cause you some problems, especially 149 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,959 Speaker 1: in a completely jam packed league where every night you're 150 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:43,199 Speaker 1: facing a pretty damn good opponent. And and it's funny 151 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: because everybody's jumped on Luca, comparing him to James Harden 152 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: and doing all of these things to try to detigrate him, 153 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 1: when the reality is is that the Luca lineups are 154 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 1: playing and that are causing problems, and it's a shortcoming 155 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 1: of the roster Construction Warrior starting lineup. We talked about 156 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: this yesterday. That's the best line up in the league 157 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: by a mile. They're significantly better than the Bucks starting lineup, 158 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 1: and the Buck starting lineup is significantly better than everyone else. 159 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 1: They are damn good. I think coming into tonight they 160 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 1: were plus twenty eight points per one possessions when they 161 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: have Steph Draymond, Clay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and kevn Looney 162 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 1: on the floor at the same time. That's how good 163 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: that unit is into the starting line which, by the way, 164 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 1: is really good if you're ranking the best lineups in 165 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: the league that have played at least a hundred minutes. 166 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: Golden States in first place, Milwaukee's in second place. Washington Wizards, 167 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 1: believe it or not, when they're actually healthy and have 168 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 1: all their guys, They're starting lineup is the third best 169 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: lineup in the league to play at least a hundred minutes. 170 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:53,440 Speaker 1: Denver's fourth, Boston's fifth, the Dallas Mavericks are six. So 171 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: even though the team in general has struggled, their lineup 172 00:09:56,320 --> 00:10:00,200 Speaker 1: is the sixth best lineup in basketball right now. And 173 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 1: so I hope, you know, I hope people stopped with 174 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 1: the heart. In comparisons, there's some similarities in the way 175 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: they control possessions, but James Harden historically has flamed out 176 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: every single postseason that he's been in. Okay, Luca don 177 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 1: Chech is progressing at an outrageous get in the postseason. 178 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: The big difference between him and James Harden is shot variety. 179 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: Luca done is scoring in so many different ways that 180 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 1: you can't sit on moves and if you do, he'll 181 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 1: beat you with a counter. And he's got so many 182 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 1: different moves and counter moves that so many different spots 183 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: on the floor that you don't progress in turn him 184 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 1: the way that you do with James Hartett. Now he's 185 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:45,440 Speaker 1: a young kid. He's relief into a a veteran experienced 186 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: Golden State Warriors team with the guy that I think 187 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:51,200 Speaker 1: might be the best perimeter defender in basketball, and Andrew Wiggins. 188 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:53,840 Speaker 1: And he had a rough series in the conference finals, 189 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: and and and then he lost his second best player, 190 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 1: and now they're strug going, and a lot of people 191 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 1: have jumped on it. I just don't think that's fair. 192 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: The reality is, you know, with Jalen Brunson, Jalen Brunson 193 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: is a good player. He's having a good season in 194 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 1: in New York. He's not the kind of guy you 195 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: usually see as Seclayer on a championship team. He's not 196 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving on the two thousand sixteen Calves. He's not 197 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: Kevin Durander Steph Curry on the Warriors, or or even 198 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:26,839 Speaker 1: a Draymond Green or at Clay Thompson, He's not that 199 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:31,679 Speaker 1: level of player, and so so I think the expectations 200 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:34,079 Speaker 1: a little bit and I hope in general would think 201 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 1: a little bit fair when we're evaluating these stars, especially 202 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: when they are as young as they are, and hopefully, 203 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 1: for Dallas's sake, hopefully Kemba Walker ends up becoming that guy. 204 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: I thought it was an interesting gamble. It's a non 205 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: guaranteed contract. When he was at his peak, he was 206 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 1: one of the best dribble penetrators and pull up jump 207 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: shooters in the league. So he did that in a 208 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 1: primary role when he was the focus of the scouting 209 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 1: report and the focus of all the defensive attention. Now 210 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:00,319 Speaker 1: he's going to be doing it in what Spencer didn't 211 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: what his role was last year, which is primarily with 212 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 1: bench units, primarily is the second creator on the floor. 213 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: He's gonna be facing better defensive matchups and less defensive attention. 214 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: He has, you know, is if there's anything left in 215 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: Kemba Walker's gas tank, We're going to find out in 216 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: this Dallas situation. Ironically, you know, tonight it was the 217 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 1: Warriors bench groups that really handled Dallas, and that that 218 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 1: kind of highlights that specific problem that I was talking 219 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:31,439 Speaker 1: about some of that is is was Golden States staggering 220 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 1: their starters, which we're gonna talk about here in a minute. 221 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 1: But and just I hope in general, instead of focusing 222 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: on Luca in this era of Mavericks basketball, we focus 223 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 1: on the obvious roster limitations. Is he perfect? No, he 224 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 1: had a really bad defensive start to the season, although 225 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 1: he's been playing much better defense as of late. Does 226 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 1: he take some bad shots at the end of games. Yes. 227 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 1: Does his strangle the pay style sometimes lead to runs 228 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 1: for the other team when when things get too stagnant. Yes, 229 00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:59,080 Speaker 1: He's not a perfect player. I had him fourth fest 230 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: in the league. I think of Atfest in the league 231 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 1: coming into this season, like, I don't think he's the 232 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 1: same guy as Steph Curry or Janice or any of 233 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:09,440 Speaker 1: those guys. But he's a damn good player, and he's 234 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,679 Speaker 1: certainly well ahead a schedule for his age. And I 235 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 1: think that a lot of the criticism directed his way 236 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 1: this year has been unfair. I wanted to shout out 237 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 1: the defensive effort for Dallas because I was really impressed 238 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 1: with them early in this game. Uh and early in 239 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 1: the game it was closeouts the um the ferocity in 240 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 1: which they would sprint and contest Warriors threes were causing 241 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 1: them to rush shots and to feel uncomfortable on those shots, 242 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 1: which was causing them to miss. And then in the 243 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: late part of the game is a lot of deflections 244 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 1: kind of like getting good anticipation to get ahead of 245 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 1: where those classic Warriors reads are. Right, Like the classic 246 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: Warriors reids you're always seeing is like the guy does 247 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 1: a good job chasing over the top of the screen. 248 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 1: So Clay Thompson or Steph or Jordan Pool will curl around. 249 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 1: And as you're curling around the screen defenders there and 250 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 1: the defenders acting behind, so there's two of you, and 251 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: now you're passing it back to the screener and now 252 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: the screeners going into a dribble handoff and then the 253 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 1: next guy, and like you can kind of see the 254 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: Warriors basketball progressing. And Dallas did a nice job, especially 255 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 1: in that fourth quarter, of getting ahead of those raids 256 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: and getting deflections. And there were several sequences we were like, 257 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 1: oh man, the balls popping around Golden States and got 258 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: them in the blender and then nothing would come of it. 259 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 1: And so ironically, as as Dallas's offense has really struggled 260 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 1: here over the course of the last month. Their defense 261 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 1: has carried them throughout this stretch and allowed them to 262 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: stay competitive in these games. And I wanted to shout 263 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: out two guys in particular. First, Dwight Powell, who, uh, 264 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 1: you know, Mavericks fans will tell you was one of 265 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 1: their worst defending bigs in the past, but I actually 266 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: think he's become a really solid back line defender for them, 267 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: and he did a really nice job defending around the 268 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 1: room tonight. And the other guy wanted shout out was 269 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 1: Josh Green. And if you guys remember, Josh Green came 270 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 1: through the University of Arizona, so he came through tucsons. 271 00:14:58,240 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 1: I had a little bit of experience watching him and 272 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 1: college and and uh, he was really it was missing 273 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 1: a lot of polish at that specific phase in his career, 274 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 1: but you knew he was a great athlete. And he's 275 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 1: the type of wing that's not the tallest wing in 276 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 1: the world, but he's very strong and he's outstanding with 277 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: his quickness and his athleticism. Um, but if you guys 278 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 1: remember last year in the playoffs, there was kind of like, 279 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 1: you know that they were expecting this particular role to 280 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 1: be filled by Tim Hardaway Junior last year, but he 281 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 1: ended up having foot issues, and so there was this 282 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 1: one rotation spot which was like bench three and D 283 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 1: wing where they didn't know which direction to go, and 284 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 1: they tried some Frank niel Keena and they tried some 285 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 1: Josh Green and it didn't really work either way because 286 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: Josh wasn't shooting well, Frank wasn't shooting well. Both of 287 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 1: them were defending fine, but they weren't doing enough on 288 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: the offensive end for those minutes to be really impactful. 289 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 1: And so it's kind of really impressive over one off 290 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 1: season for Josh Green to have made the improvements that 291 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 1: he's made as a shooter. And I thought he made 292 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 1: the biggest three of this game, which was on a 293 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 1: ridiculous side arm hook pass from Luca don Ships to 294 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: him in the left corner. He made a very slight 295 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 1: relocation just slightly up from the corner. I think it 296 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 1: was Clay Thompson that was closing out, and Clay closed 297 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 1: as if he was going to be in the deep corner, 298 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: and Josh made a slight relocation up the floor a 299 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 1: little bit and he had a little window where he 300 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 1: was open and knocked down a shot. It's just a 301 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 1: testament to his work ethic, you know, jump shooting and handling. 302 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 1: The improvements are so little by a little, like you've 303 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 1: got to do you have to It's thousands and thousands 304 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 1: of reps to go from being a thirty seven percent 305 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: shooter to a thirty eight percent shooter, and then another 306 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 1: thousand thousands of reps to get to a thirty nine 307 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 1: percent shooter. And so you just can tell that he 308 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 1: put in a ton of work this offseason. So a 309 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 1: lot of credit to him. Uh, moving on to the Warriors, 310 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: the starters again. You know, it's funny this has been 311 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 1: I don't want to I don't want to go to 312 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: negative on the Warriors tonight, because the truth of the 313 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 1: matter is they've been one of the best teams in 314 00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: basketball over the course the last you know, three weeks 315 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 1: or so, um and the specific part of the game 316 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: where they failed tonight is a part of the game 317 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: that they've succeeded all season, which is their starting lineup 318 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,359 Speaker 1: and also was a line up that gave the Mavericks 319 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 1: a ton of problems last year in the postseason. So 320 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 1: I think when push comes to shove. You kind of 321 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 1: throw that out as an anomaly. So there's a lot 322 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 1: more encouraging stuff when you get deeper into the rotation. 323 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 1: But on the with the starters, the guy that seemed 324 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:30,920 Speaker 1: to be out of it for me on both ends 325 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:34,680 Speaker 1: was Clay Thompson. He had some good on ball defensive possessions, 326 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: particularly on Luca, but he's getting lost in rotation a lot, 327 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:40,400 Speaker 1: and and just and just generally looked like the guy 328 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:42,640 Speaker 1: that was kind of floating through the game versus being 329 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 1: really engaged. But you know, early in the season, uh, 330 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 1: Steve Kerr was going with these like line shifts, so 331 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 1: he would have the starters in and then it'd be 332 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 1: like all five would come out, and in would come 333 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: you know, Jordan Pool, Jonathan Comia, most with me, whoever 334 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 1: it was, And those bench lineups are getting destroyed. And 335 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 1: if you were remember one of the things that I 336 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:03,480 Speaker 1: kept advocating for was just staggering the lineups a little 337 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:07,879 Speaker 1: bit better. And they actually did that starting you know, 338 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks ago, and it was part of 339 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 1: part of the line of thinking that turned this season around, 340 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 1: and particularly you know, there was a nice stretch there 341 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 1: to end the first quarter f and Dante DiVincenzo and 342 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 1: Andrew Wiggins where they made some plays to keep the 343 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 1: game regularly. Uh was in the second quarter. UM, I 344 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,879 Speaker 1: was really impressed with Draymond Green and Jonathan Cominga. Draymond 345 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 1: Green obviously is having an all NBA level season, although 346 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 1: he had a pretty rough offensive fourth quarter a couple 347 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: of plays where there was one where he had a 348 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 1: three in the right corner where I thought he should 349 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:42,119 Speaker 1: have taken it and Insteady tried to drive and kick 350 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 1: the steff and ended up turning it over which led 351 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 1: to Luca I think shooting that pull up three in transition. UM. 352 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:49,679 Speaker 1: But so, he had a little bit of a rough 353 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 1: fourth quarter, but for the most most part of the season, 354 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 1: he's been excellent, and putting him with that second unit 355 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:56,439 Speaker 1: that's starting the second quarters is leading to a lot 356 00:18:56,480 --> 00:19:00,199 Speaker 1: of success. But shout out to Jonathan Cominga because is 357 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 1: Moses Movie for the most part has fallen out of 358 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:05,960 Speaker 1: the rotation and James Wiseman is literally in the G 359 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 1: League and coming into this season. Jonathan Comingo is the 360 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: player that I was actually least high on, not in 361 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:14,240 Speaker 1: terms of long term potential, but in terms of ability 362 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: to impact this particular season, and the main reason why 363 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:22,760 Speaker 1: I thought that um was his offensive decision making was 364 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 1: so erratic that I didn't think you could trust him 365 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 1: in the Warriors system to make the right decisions. But 366 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: I always said he was the best defensive wing that 367 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:33,640 Speaker 1: they had. And you know what's funny is he still 368 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 1: had some sloppy possessions tonight when he tried to do 369 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 1: something with the basketball, like in terms of isolation, post 370 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: ups are over dribbling and things along those lines. But 371 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:45,479 Speaker 1: when he was in the dunker spot and when he 372 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:48,880 Speaker 1: was just trying to make plays crashing the offensive glass, 373 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:51,119 Speaker 1: he was fine on the offensive end, and it was 374 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:53,920 Speaker 1: enough to be functional in that role. And there's a 375 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 1: way that they can do it to run their sets 376 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:58,880 Speaker 1: on the opposite side of the floor, which naturally slots 377 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 1: Jonathan Comingo in a week side corner, so that he 378 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 1: can be the guy that kind of cuts to the 379 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: rim as they're running that action. I thought that was smart. 380 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: And then he was excellent defensively tonight, both grabbing contested 381 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 1: defensive rebounds, on ball defense on Luca. He did a 382 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: really nice job. And so that's gotta be encouraging to see, 383 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 1: and that Draymond coming to line up had a lot 384 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:20,800 Speaker 1: of success tonight. That's got to be encouraging for Warriors 385 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:23,159 Speaker 1: fans because you were begging for somebody to kind of 386 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 1: rise from that pack, and Jonathan Coming is playing some 387 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 1: pretty solid basketball right now. About Dante DiVincenzo had some 388 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: stretches of really good ball pressure that that threw Dallas 389 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: out of whack, and then Anthony Lamb not knocked down 390 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 1: some big shots. He's starting to look like one of 391 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:40,439 Speaker 1: the more like like higher floor, low ceiling players that 392 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: they can go to off the bench. And then Steph 393 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 1: you know, he had a roughst already miss some open looks. 394 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 1: He had a sloppy turnover on like a swing pass, 395 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: but then he settled down and played like an m 396 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 1: v P again. He's playing a level of basketball that 397 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 1: very few players that I've ever seen have ever reached. 398 00:20:56,960 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 1: And uh, when we do our player rankings on Thursday, 399 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: I haven't decided yet, and obviously there's still some basketball left, 400 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 1: but I'm strongly considering and putting him at the top 401 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 1: of that list because Janice has had a couple of 402 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: bad games recently and Steff is just playing some of 403 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:14,159 Speaker 1: the best basketball that I've ever seen, And you know, 404 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:18,480 Speaker 1: it's the combination now of the strength and rim finishing 405 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 1: that has added an element to his game that in 406 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 1: combination with just his overall like command of the game 407 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:30,840 Speaker 1: as he's grown older and more experienced and confident, that 408 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 1: that has turned him into UH, I think, a much 409 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,960 Speaker 1: better player than even he was in two thousand sixteen. UM. 410 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: But it really bothered me because, like I thought, in 411 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:43,160 Speaker 1: a in a back and forth, highly entertaining shot making contest, 412 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:45,439 Speaker 1: it really bothered me that the ref stepped in and 413 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:48,680 Speaker 1: took away his opportunity to make a play to take 414 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 1: that game away. And what I thought was a questionable 415 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: call at best on that on that travel call. Alright, 416 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:58,719 Speaker 1: let's move on to the Lakers in Lebron. So they 417 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:02,399 Speaker 1: were up seventeen last night with nine minutes left in 418 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:05,159 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter and UH ended up blowing it on 419 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 1: a wild sequence where UH the Pacers were down by 420 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:14,360 Speaker 1: two with one possession left and Dennis Shooter committed a 421 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:17,639 Speaker 1: a pointless foul along the right wing that led to 422 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 1: a sideline at a balance that allowed Rick Carlisle to 423 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:21,920 Speaker 1: drop a play, and when he drew up the play, 424 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 1: Miles Turner got a wide open three at the top 425 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:26,920 Speaker 1: of the key that he missed because the Lakers missed 426 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:29,280 Speaker 1: a bunch of defensive rebounds in that fourth quarter, and 427 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: next to you know, Tyrrias Albert starts kind of dribbling 428 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 1: along the right wing, and you can literally hear on 429 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: the Pacers broadcast the Pacers announcers like going, oh, no, 430 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:42,199 Speaker 1: he took too long, and you're thinking that too. You're like, 431 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 1: there's like a second, you know, one and a half 432 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 1: seconds on the shot clock. Lebron abandons, I'm forgetting. Of course, 433 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:50,880 Speaker 1: I'm blanking on the young player's name for the Pacers. 434 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:54,360 Speaker 1: But Lebron abandon his his matchup to kind of help 435 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:56,280 Speaker 1: in the paint because he didn't think Tyrese Aliberton had 436 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:58,680 Speaker 1: enough time to make the pass. And Tyres got the 437 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 1: ball back into his left hand he's a right handed player, 438 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 1: and just rifle the left handed passed the shooter on 439 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:05,439 Speaker 1: the left wing and knocked it down at the buzzer. 440 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:09,399 Speaker 1: But it was a classic, like uh like basketball gods 441 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 1: type of moment, because I'm a big believer that those 442 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 1: kinds of things tend to go the way of the 443 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 1: team that's playing more respectable basketball. Now, there's absolutely no 444 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 1: proof to that. As a matter of fact. As the 445 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 1: usually I'm a skeptic and I would think that's ridiculous. 446 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:24,920 Speaker 1: But hey, for the sake of my love of the 447 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: game of basketball, I'm gonna pretend like that kind of 448 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 1: stuff matters. But when they were up seventeen, the Lakers 449 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:32,679 Speaker 1: played really good basketball last night all the way up 450 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:35,359 Speaker 1: through that nine minute mark of the fourth quarter, like 451 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: damn good basketball. They had won five out of six games. 452 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 1: They're coming up on um a really tough December, They've 453 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:46,040 Speaker 1: got some real momentum, and they just quit. They quit 454 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 1: playing on both ends of the floor, specifically on on 455 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:53,879 Speaker 1: the boards, defensive boards, grabbing contested defensive rebounds, and then 456 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:57,199 Speaker 1: also in transition defense, which are two things that Anthony 457 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:00,320 Speaker 1: Davis came out and was pretty um passion it about 458 00:24:00,359 --> 00:24:02,639 Speaker 1: in his postgame pressure. And then on the offensive end 459 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 1: of the floor is about pace. You know, this Lakers 460 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:06,119 Speaker 1: team is at their best offensively when they bring the 461 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:08,920 Speaker 1: ball up quickly and try to get quick rim pressure 462 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:11,120 Speaker 1: that gets the defense into rotation so they can play 463 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:14,280 Speaker 1: off of that advantage. They're just so bad shooting the 464 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:17,360 Speaker 1: basketball that if they play a half court game when 465 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:20,400 Speaker 1: they get stuck in those half court environments, everyone sagging 466 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:22,440 Speaker 1: into the paint, and you've got guys like Russ and Lebron, 467 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:24,800 Speaker 1: a Dennis Short or Anthony Davis who rely on rim 468 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:28,040 Speaker 1: pressure and in set half court set environments, it's just 469 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:30,679 Speaker 1: really tough for them to get that dribble penetration that 470 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:32,680 Speaker 1: they need. And you know, I thought it really started 471 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 1: with Lebron and uh I I you know, I did 472 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:39,000 Speaker 1: a video on this and you can find out my 473 00:24:39,040 --> 00:24:41,360 Speaker 1: Twitter feed at underscore json LT where I broke down 474 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 1: specifically what I was talking about, but basically, from the 475 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:47,239 Speaker 1: moment that the Lakers were up seven team and nine 476 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: minutes left over the next two minutes, the Lakers gave 477 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: up a ten oh run that turned it from a 478 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:56,560 Speaker 1: seventeen point game to a seven point game. But not 479 00:24:56,640 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 1: only that, at that point, the Pacers had all the momentum. 480 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:04,720 Speaker 1: We're playing with ridiculous energy, and the Lakers engine was 481 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 1: off and it's really hard to restart that engine after 482 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:09,439 Speaker 1: you've shut it off the way that you did. And 483 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:13,160 Speaker 1: the guy who was almost singlehandedly responsible for that ten 484 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:16,159 Speaker 1: oh run for the Pacers was Lebron James. So on 485 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 1: the first possession, he's guarding aaron Nie Smith on the 486 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:23,560 Speaker 1: left wing, and um the uh. The Pacers run like 487 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:25,719 Speaker 1: a double screen with a dribble handoff at the end, 488 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 1: and Lebron just literally concedes the three to aaron Nie Smith. 489 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:33,720 Speaker 1: Not only dies on the screen, makes absolutely no attempt 490 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:36,360 Speaker 1: to fight over it, doesn't signal or talk to any 491 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 1: Laker to switch. He just walks into the screen and 492 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:42,280 Speaker 1: concedes the three to Aaronnie Smith. Aaronnie Smith is a 493 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:45,439 Speaker 1: professional basketball player. If you give him a wide open shot, 494 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 1: he's probably gonna make it. And he did. And then 495 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 1: next possession, Lebron's got the ball. On offense, he's posting 496 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 1: up against t J McConnell on the on the right block. Okay, 497 00:25:56,359 --> 00:25:59,439 Speaker 1: there's sixteen seconds on the shot clock. Now Pacers are 498 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:01,719 Speaker 1: packing the ain't but Lebron could have gotten to one 499 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:03,920 Speaker 1: of his more traditional two foot fade aways, or maybe 500 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:05,719 Speaker 1: tried to back him down towards the baseline where there 501 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 1: was left help to try to take a hook shot. Instead, 502 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:11,359 Speaker 1: he takes a ridiculous So he's posting up on t 503 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 1: J McConnell on the right block and their sixteen seconds 504 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:16,720 Speaker 1: on the shot clock, and instead of trying to work 505 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 1: for something a little bit better. Lebron just kind of 506 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:20,680 Speaker 1: throws up a throwaway shot, like a one leg fade away, 507 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:25,120 Speaker 1: which the one like fade away is probably the toughest 508 00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:28,119 Speaker 1: pull up jump shot that any player can take, mainly 509 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:30,679 Speaker 1: because you know, for the guys who made it really successful, 510 00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:34,600 Speaker 1: guys like Uh, Dirk Novitski and Kevin Durant, they're so 511 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 1: damn tall that they don't really need to fade all 512 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:39,200 Speaker 1: that much, so they're one leg. It fade away is 513 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:40,960 Speaker 1: more of a footwork thing that gets them a little 514 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:43,359 Speaker 1: tiny bit of separation, but they're mostly going straight up 515 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:46,040 Speaker 1: and down. But for almost every other player, especially guys 516 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 1: like Russ and Lebron, who both took one like fade 517 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:50,480 Speaker 1: aways at the end of that game. For those for 518 00:26:50,560 --> 00:26:53,240 Speaker 1: those guys, those one like fade aways are you have 519 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 1: to really fall backwards and you're giving up your entire 520 00:26:57,040 --> 00:27:00,719 Speaker 1: base and you're losing all of that momentum and uh 521 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 1: and he ended up missing that shot, but so so 522 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:04,879 Speaker 1: he misses the one leg fade away against t J 523 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 1: McConnell and then I I shoot you not the entire 524 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:11,920 Speaker 1: play is progressing down the other way. There's a little 525 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 1: bit of a scrum, but the Pacers have control over 526 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:17,920 Speaker 1: the basketball in Lebron and doesn't just not run back 527 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: on defense, he runs the other way. He was literally 528 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 1: backing away towards the right corner on the opposite end 529 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 1: of the floor, and uh, Bennedict mather ended up getting 530 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:29,440 Speaker 1: a layup. I'm literally watching. I couldn't believe what I 531 00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 1: was seen. And then two possessions later, he's doing a 532 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: similar thing. He's posting up Aaronnie Smith on the left block. 533 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:37,359 Speaker 1: Bennedict mather In comes over and double teams him, and 534 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:39,560 Speaker 1: instead of making the kickout past to Troy Brown Jr. 535 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,960 Speaker 1: Who was wide open on the left wing, he takes 536 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 1: a one leg fade away misses it. Aaron Knie Smith 537 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:50,040 Speaker 1: is right next to him. Aaronnie Smith was guarding him. 538 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:54,200 Speaker 1: Everyone goes down in transition, Everyone's matched up. Austin Reeves 539 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:57,160 Speaker 1: is guarding Tyler Tyrese Haliburton on the ball, Dennis shooters 540 00:27:57,160 --> 00:27:58,920 Speaker 1: matched up on one wing, Troy Brown Jr. Is matched 541 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:01,360 Speaker 1: up on the other wing. When you Gabriel's matched up 542 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:04,000 Speaker 1: on on the center. I think it was Jalen Smith 543 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:06,960 Speaker 1: at that point, and Lebron's matched up on Aaronnie Smith 544 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:10,920 Speaker 1: and he's just aimlessly jogging back. Aaronnie Smith is relocating 545 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:13,560 Speaker 1: over to the left side of the floor. Lebron is 546 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:15,000 Speaker 1: on the right side of the loor, just not even 547 00:28:15,040 --> 00:28:17,800 Speaker 1: paying attention. Next thing you know, there's a quick screen. 548 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:21,160 Speaker 1: Lebron doesn't see it. Nearly in time, Aaronnie Smith gets 549 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 1: another wide open three, and guess what happens. It goes 550 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:27,520 Speaker 1: in partially because he got his rhythm on a wide 551 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:30,399 Speaker 1: open three that Lebron conceded to him a couple of 552 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:33,400 Speaker 1: possessions prior. Now, all of a sudden, that seventeen point 553 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:36,960 Speaker 1: lead is a seven point lead. Not only that, Indiana 554 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 1: has all the momentum, everything's going their way, and now 555 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:43,400 Speaker 1: you're trying to regain momentum in a game where the 556 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:45,880 Speaker 1: Pacers are playing with a lot of fire, and then 557 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:47,800 Speaker 1: down the stretch, you could have gone either way. Like 558 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:50,200 Speaker 1: the Pacers came out with this like kind of half 559 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 1: court pressure that forced a couple of turnovers and rushed 560 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:55,600 Speaker 1: the Lakers out of their offense and you know, some 561 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:58,200 Speaker 1: of its shot making. Lebron had a wide open catching 562 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:00,280 Speaker 1: shoot three at one point that he missed. He had 563 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,160 Speaker 1: a wide open pull up jumper along the right baseline 564 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:05,160 Speaker 1: at one point that he missed. There was a lot 565 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:08,760 Speaker 1: of stuff that just didn't go the Lakers way. But again, 566 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:13,280 Speaker 1: it's it called basketball, God's called karma college, just you know, momentum, 567 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:15,560 Speaker 1: call it whatever you want to call it. At that point, 568 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:18,760 Speaker 1: the Pacers were going to get those breaks, and they did, 569 00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:22,120 Speaker 1: and they made the key plays to win that game. Now, 570 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:26,120 Speaker 1: as we're talking about Lebron, his struggles are expected. You know, 571 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:28,120 Speaker 1: I said this when he when he came back against 572 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:32,440 Speaker 1: the Spurs. I thought that he would. I thought he would, uh, 573 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:34,480 Speaker 1: you know, knock down some three point shots because he 574 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 1: had an opportunity to work on his three point shot 575 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 1: during the injury. Um. But I knew, I knew his 576 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:44,840 Speaker 1: legs weren't underneath them. His handle isn't as sharp as 577 00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:47,520 Speaker 1: it could be. His pull up jumpers not as sharp 578 00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:50,560 Speaker 1: as it could be. Because he's played three basketball games 579 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: in the last twenty days. He's played three NBA basketball 580 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:56,800 Speaker 1: games in twenty days. So at the end of the day, 581 00:29:56,840 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 1: like like, you're not expecting him to come out and 582 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:03,800 Speaker 1: play great right away. But he needs to identify that 583 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:08,720 Speaker 1: and understand that at this particular point in time, he 584 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:11,920 Speaker 1: doesn't have it, and he might need to lean on 585 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:15,600 Speaker 1: his other skills that are not dependent on his rhythm, 586 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:18,520 Speaker 1: in his conditioning and his life strength. So, for instance, 587 00:30:18,920 --> 00:30:21,200 Speaker 1: Lebron is one of the best decision makers in the 588 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 1: history of basketball that doesn't depend on his rhythm or 589 00:30:25,080 --> 00:30:28,040 Speaker 1: his conditioning or anything like that. That's just paying attention 590 00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:30,760 Speaker 1: to what's happening. And then little things like not jogging 591 00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:33,480 Speaker 1: back in transition defense or not even making an attempt 592 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 1: to chase a shooter over the top of his screen. 593 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 1: That stuff that's completely under your control. Not only that 594 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:42,120 Speaker 1: you are the leader, the best player in the leader 595 00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 1: on a team that is seven and eleven, has a 596 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:50,959 Speaker 1: ravenous fan base and title expectations. You're supposed to be 597 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:54,920 Speaker 1: the one guy they can count on, and you let 598 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 1: go of the rope in some of the details of 599 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:00,280 Speaker 1: the game in a pivotal game of winnable game against 600 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:03,560 Speaker 1: the Pacers, and you blew a seventeen point lead down 601 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:05,360 Speaker 1: to seven, and you ended up ended up caution you 602 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:07,520 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, and so and it's 603 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 1: one of those things where you know, you know, when 604 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:12,880 Speaker 1: I talked a lot about this with Russ undercutting your 605 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:17,840 Speaker 1: success with sloppy mistakes or laziness. The thing is is 606 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:22,280 Speaker 1: Russ has always done that stuff, and in the past 607 00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:26,000 Speaker 1: he was so damn good as a nuclear athlete that 608 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:28,400 Speaker 1: the scale was so heavily in his favor. And it's 609 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:31,480 Speaker 1: the same kind of thing with Lebron. Lebron's had bad 610 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:34,480 Speaker 1: stretches of transition defense ever since he went to Cleveland. 611 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:38,440 Speaker 1: Lebron said, stretches of poor decision making as he takes 612 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:41,600 Speaker 1: bad shots and plays with poor pace ever since he 613 00:31:41,640 --> 00:31:45,480 Speaker 1: went to Cleveland. The differences is from two thousand fifteen 614 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:49,360 Speaker 1: to two thousand twenty one and even a little bit. 615 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:51,760 Speaker 1: Last year he was one of the five best players 616 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:55,080 Speaker 1: in the world, and so he did so much good 617 00:31:55,760 --> 00:31:59,280 Speaker 1: that you didn't hyper focus on that stuff. This season, 618 00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:03,280 Speaker 1: Lebron has not played like a top ten player, and 619 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:07,000 Speaker 1: so all of a sudden, those mistakes they're not undercutting 620 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:12,880 Speaker 1: dominant nights, they're undercutting only okay nights. And now all 621 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:15,520 Speaker 1: of a sudden, that scale starting to tip into the 622 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:19,760 Speaker 1: negative for him. You know, you know, it's just in 623 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:23,000 Speaker 1: this I think that as he gets more games under 624 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:25,600 Speaker 1: his belt, he will play better. My big thing is 625 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:29,320 Speaker 1: I don't think Lebron has declined. I think he's been 626 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:32,080 Speaker 1: injured so much that he can't find his rhythm. I 627 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 1: think if he can stay on the court for a month, 628 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:38,480 Speaker 1: he'll get it back. I was I was talking um 629 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:41,400 Speaker 1: just some Laker fans this morning about this specifically, and 630 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:44,120 Speaker 1: my target numbers fifteen games. I want to see Lebron 631 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:47,200 Speaker 1: get fifteen games in a row. Last time he played 632 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:48,880 Speaker 1: fifteen games in a row is last year. He played 633 00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:51,920 Speaker 1: twenty five in a row. Over the last seventeen games. 634 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:55,440 Speaker 1: In that stretch, he averaged thirty three points, nine rebounds, 635 00:32:55,440 --> 00:32:58,280 Speaker 1: and six assists on fifty pcent shooting. I think it's 636 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:01,360 Speaker 1: still in there, But the question is can he stay 637 00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 1: healthy long enough for him to get to that point? 638 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:07,200 Speaker 1: And I don't know, we're gonna find out. But in 639 00:33:07,240 --> 00:33:11,440 Speaker 1: the meantime, if he if he knows deep down that 640 00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:14,200 Speaker 1: he doesn't have that top tier shot making, that he 641 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:16,520 Speaker 1: doesn't have his pull up jump shot where it needs 642 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:19,320 Speaker 1: to be, he needs to lean on his decision making 643 00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:22,400 Speaker 1: and his basketball i Q and his ability to make 644 00:33:22,440 --> 00:33:24,200 Speaker 1: plays as an athlete on the defensive end and on 645 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:26,040 Speaker 1: the offensive end of the floor. Maybe work a little 646 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:27,480 Speaker 1: bit more out of face up, Maybe work a little 647 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:30,960 Speaker 1: bit more out of the post and force feed Anthony 648 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:34,240 Speaker 1: Davis as much as possible and lean on him to 649 00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:38,360 Speaker 1: carry you during those stretches of the game. Um, everything 650 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:42,120 Speaker 1: depends on him being great. He needs time to get there, 651 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:43,920 Speaker 1: so in the meantime he just needs to play smarter 652 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:47,400 Speaker 1: and more discipline basketball. Alright, guys, I I really appreciate 653 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:49,200 Speaker 1: all of you for sticking around. I apologize for the 654 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:51,600 Speaker 1: technical difficulties. I'm not sure what's going on. We will 655 00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:53,520 Speaker 1: try to figure that out. We were going to get 656 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:55,920 Speaker 1: to the Pacers, and we were gonna get to the Timberwolves, 657 00:33:56,440 --> 00:33:58,000 Speaker 1: but we'll figure out a different way to get that 658 00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 1: to you. Guys. We're gonna wrap it right now. As always, 659 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:02,960 Speaker 1: I sincerely appreciate your support and I'll see you guys 660 00:34:03,040 --> 00:35:09,120 Speaker 1: next time. The volume