1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:02,120 Speaker 1: The volume. 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 2: The NBA eighty two game grind is done, and now 3 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 2: the real fun begins. The NBA Playoffs aren't here, and 4 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 2: it's time for all the high stakes drama, clutch moments, 5 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 2: and jaw dropping plays. 6 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 3: I can't wait. 7 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:17,919 Speaker 2: If you're looking to make the playoffs even more exciting, 8 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 2: DraftKings Sportsbook has you covered as an official sports betting 9 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:23,439 Speaker 2: partner of the NBA from the playing games all the 10 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 2: way through to the finals. Now's the time to back 11 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 2: your favorite players and teams as they chase glory. All 12 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 2: season long. DraftKings has been the go to spot for 13 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 2: NBA player props and that does not stop. Now. Want 14 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 2: to make your playoff experience even more intense, Try placing 15 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 2: a bet on your favorite player's performance. Well they drop 16 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 2: thirty points, forty or more, it's your call. Ready to 17 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 2: place your first bet? Download the DraftKings Sportsbook gap Now 18 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,480 Speaker 2: lock in your bets. Let's make this playoff run unforgettable. 19 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 2: Here's something special for first timers. New DraftKings customers. Bet 20 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 2: five dollars to get two hundred dollars in bonus bets. 21 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 2: Instantly make it a playoff run to remember with DraftKings. 22 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 2: Download the Draft Kings sportsbook gap and use code hoops 23 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 2: that's h oops. That's code hoops for new customers to 24 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 2: get two hundred dollars in bonus bets when you bet 25 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 2: just five bucks only on DraftKings. 26 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:09,919 Speaker 3: The Crown is yours. 27 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 2: Gambling problem called Wayne hundred gambler In New York call 28 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 2: eight seven seven eight hope and y or text hope 29 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 2: and why to four six seven three six nine. In Connecticut, 30 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 2: help us available for problem gambling Call eight eight eight 31 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 2: seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or. 32 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 3: Visit CCPG dot org. 33 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 2: Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort 34 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 2: in Kansas twenty one plus. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. 35 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,959 Speaker 2: Void in Ontario, New customers only. Bonus bets expire one 36 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 2: hundred and sixty eight hours after issuance. For additional terms 37 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 2: and responsible gaming resources, see dkang dot co. 38 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 3: Slash audio. 39 00:01:57,720 --> 00:01:59,559 Speaker 2: All right, welcome on Hoops to night here at the volume. 40 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 2: Had you there that everybody, hope all of you guys 41 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 2: are having a great week. We are going to briefly 42 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 2: touch on all three games from tonight as the Clippers 43 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 2: blow out the Denver Nuggets riding an early run in 44 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 2: the game, a twenty nine to six run spanning the 45 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 2: first and second quarters that they never were able to 46 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 2: recover from. The New York Knicks finally got their offense 47 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:20,799 Speaker 2: going against the Detroit Pistons. I really want to dive 48 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 2: into that concept a little bit, as they looked much 49 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 2: more fluid offensively in a big road wind to steal 50 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 2: home court advantage back against the Pistons. Then at the 51 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:30,839 Speaker 2: tail end of the show, thanks to the blowout by 52 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 2: Clippers against the Nuggets, I was able to catch the 53 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 2: fourth quarter of Thunder Grizzlies, and so on the one hand, 54 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 2: I missed the early portion of the game when the 55 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,399 Speaker 2: Thunder struggled. I'll be watching that on I'm gonna watch 56 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 2: that in the morning just to try to see if 57 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 2: there's anything worth taking away from that or if it 58 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 2: was just a textbook Game three buzzsaw. I always call 59 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 2: Game three the buzzsaw game because that's the game. You 60 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 2: go on the road, you're a huge under you're a 61 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:55,959 Speaker 2: huge favorite, but the underdog obviously is more motivated. It's 62 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 2: just such a tough game in general. But I did 63 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 2: see in the fourth quarter, and I'm opportunity for us 64 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,239 Speaker 2: to look at the thunder clutch offense for the first 65 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 2: time in this postseason, so I want to dive into 66 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:08,239 Speaker 2: that concept a little bit. And then at the tail 67 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 2: end of the show, like we do every single night, 68 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 2: we're going to be bringing Jackson on to take a 69 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 2: good twenty twenty five minutes questions from the chat so 70 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 2: we can get into a bunch of other stuff around 71 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 2: the playoffs. All right, let's what I gotta get to 72 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 2: our announcement before we get started. Don't forget to subscribe 73 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 2: to our YouTube channel so you don't miss any more 74 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 2: of our videos. Follow me on Twitter at Underscore JCNLTC. 75 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 2: You guys, don't miss you announcements. Don't forget about our 76 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 2: podcasts feed wherever gage the podcast under Hoops Tonight. It's 77 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 2: also super healthy helpful if you leave a rating and 78 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 2: a review on that front. We also have social media 79 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 2: feeds on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. We're releasing content throughout 80 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 2: the rest of the season. And then don't forget to 81 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 2: keep dropping those mail bag questions in the YouTube comments. 82 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 2: All right, let's talk some basketball. So I actually thought 83 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 2: the Clippers came out a little sloppy, particularly on the 84 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 2: defensive end of the floor. The Nuggets made something crazy 85 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 2: like nine of their first ten shots or eight of 86 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 2: their first nine shots. They kept losing, specifically James Harden 87 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 2: and Norman Powell kept losing cutters along the baseline, Christian 88 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 2: Brown just sneaking around down there, Aaron Gordon sneaking around 89 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 2: down there. They were just letting Denver get too comfortable 90 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 2: on the offensive end of the floor, and it actually 91 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 2: looked like it was going to be a little bit 92 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 2: more of like a oh, Denver's going to take an 93 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 2: early commanding lead here kind of thing. They were up 94 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:18,480 Speaker 2: twenty six to nineteen, but in a seven minute stretch 95 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 2: spanning from about three minutes to go in the first 96 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 2: quarter to about eight minutes to go in the second quarter, 97 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: the Nuggets got outscored twenty nine to six, and that 98 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 2: really was the game. They lost control and they were 99 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 2: fighting uphill the rest of the way and they never recover. 100 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 2: We've seen these two teams when they're both really on 101 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 2: top of their game in this series, they kind of 102 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 2: go bucket for bucket with each other. They don't it's 103 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 2: going to be really difficult for any team to make 104 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 2: up a large deficit in this series, but kind of 105 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 2: came down to a couple of things. James Harden just 106 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 2: got crazy hot in that first quarter stretch, setting his 107 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 2: ball screens a little bit further out so we could 108 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,120 Speaker 2: get a little bit more of a a kind of 109 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 2: like a clean some clean footwork into his pull up 110 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 2: threes coming off of those ball screens. He did a 111 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 2: good job of dragging the at the level coverage far 112 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 2: away to create extra space for the Clippers to attack 113 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 2: on the back end. Jans Tartan was amazing all night. 114 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 2: He was the primary driver of the explosive scoring that 115 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 2: the Clippers showed in the first half. He had twenty 116 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 2: points and four assists with zero turnovers just in the 117 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 2: first half. He was the guy who kind of initially 118 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 2: broke things open. I think they ended up going into 119 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 2: the quarter end of the quarter, I think thirty five 120 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 2: to twenty eight, and then it was just a quick 121 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 2: run right at the start a Kawhi Zubats led group 122 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 2: in the early second quarter. Kaui had several really nice 123 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 2: feeds out of post up double teams in that second quarter, 124 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 2: and that was it. It was forty eight to thirty two, 125 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 2: and then they just kind of went back to their 126 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 2: nuggets Clippers, We're going to go back and forth the 127 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 2: rest of the game type of night, and they just 128 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 2: were never able to regain control of the situation. I 129 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 2: thought Nick batoom was awesome in that first half. His 130 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:58,359 Speaker 2: ability to knock down, catch and shoot threes without needing 131 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 2: to dip as his major ass that is. And if 132 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 2: you guys have ever played basketball at any level, you 133 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 2: understand that, like when you catch on the perimeter, there's 134 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 2: usually like a load up right like you're gonna squat 135 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 2: down so that you can get lift up into your 136 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 2: shot so that you have an easy, breezy release at 137 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:18,920 Speaker 2: the top. And in the process, a lot of people 138 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 2: need to gather the ball somewhere down around their waist 139 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 2: right as they bring the ball up and try to 140 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 2: transfer that energy from their legs up through the top 141 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:28,479 Speaker 2: of the shot. Some of the best shooters in the world, 142 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:30,480 Speaker 2: and Nick Batoomb is one of the very best at 143 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 2: this specific thing, can catch right from wherever the ball 144 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 2: comes and if the passes over here, over here, over here, 145 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 2: over here. 146 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 3: Doesn't matter. 147 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 2: They can flow right up into the top of the shot. 148 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 2: They don't need to gather the ball down into the 149 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 2: pocket in order to rise up and shoot. They can 150 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,599 Speaker 2: go from wherever they catch the ball straight into the 151 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 2: shooting pocket and rise up and release. The reason why 152 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 2: that's important is in the playoffs, like we talked about, 153 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 2: the closeouts are harder, the openings are fewer and further between. 154 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 2: It's a lot harder to get those, you know, clean 155 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 2: catch and shoot looks that you get in the regular season. 156 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 2: And Nick Patoom's ability to just easy, quickly, easy, breezy 157 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 2: release these catch and shoot threes against closeouts has been 158 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 2: super valuable over the course of the early portion of 159 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 2: this series. And then honestly, after the Clippers started to 160 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 2: build separation in that second quarter, you can kind of 161 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 2: feel the Nuggets like go of the defensive rope a 162 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 2: little bit. Norman Powell started to get some really clean 163 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 2: looks he got going in this game, some closeouts where 164 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 2: Norman Powell was able to drive, and the Nuggets weren't 165 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 2: really shrinking the floor the way they were at earlier 166 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 2: points in the series. It just kind of went off 167 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 2: the rails for there on the Nuggets front. They were 168 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 2: basically fine outside of that stretch, like they came out hot, 169 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 2: they were defending well early. It's just this is a 170 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 2: series for them, with how bad their defense can be 171 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 2: when things get out of control, they can't afford to 172 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 2: go of the rope if there is an upside. The 173 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 2: Nuggets did defend Kawhi Leonard a little better. I just 174 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 2: thought they were more physical with him. That was really 175 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 2: the main thing that I noticed is they just basically 176 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 2: were like, Hey, there's all these un called fouls that 177 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 2: are happening all over the playoff field. What if we 178 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 2: just bring that physicality to Kawhi and maybe disrupt his 179 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 2: rhythm a little bit. I thought that had some impact. 180 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 2: Westbrook had a rough night after he's been pretty good 181 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 2: at the start of this series. He was minus sixteen 182 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 2: and nine minutes. There was a report I saw that 183 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 2: he's dealing with some inflammation in his foot. So let's 184 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 2: hope that Russell Westbrook is doing okay. But one of 185 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 2: the big things that I noticed there is he was 186 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 2: just a little too aggressive, which is with his catch 187 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 2: and shoot threes. He made one along the left wing 188 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 2: that was like an above the break three, and it 189 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:31,239 Speaker 2: was a great look. It was like completely wide open. 190 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 2: It was out of a post double. I think of Jokic. 191 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 2: If I remember correctly, there was no close out it 192 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,679 Speaker 2: was clean and easy, but towards the end of that run, 193 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:40,719 Speaker 2: out of those five threes, there were two of them 194 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 2: that he took that were pretty heavily contested. And like, 195 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 2: that's the thing like Russ when he's playing within himself 196 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 2: in the sense that he's taking these wide open ketch 197 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:51,199 Speaker 2: and shoot threes preferably out of the corner. And that's 198 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 2: the other thing too, Like I would situate him in 199 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 2: the corner more because I think you get more off 200 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 2: ball utility anyway, in the sense that if you're at 201 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 2: the top of the key, there's there's only so much 202 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 2: cutting you can do without compromising your transition defense. And 203 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 2: when the shot goes up and you're at the top 204 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 2: of the key, your responsibility is get back in transition defense, 205 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 2: not to crash the offensive. Class I almost like Russell 206 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 2: Westbrook in a situation where he's crashing more cutting along 207 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 2: the baseline. I think he's better served in the middle 208 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:20,680 Speaker 2: of the floor and out of the corners when he's 209 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,719 Speaker 2: off the ball alongside Yokich. And so that was just 210 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 2: kind of a rough Westbrook shift again, like the one 211 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 2: upside them being able to defend Kwai a little bit better, 212 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:32,439 Speaker 2: but the Clippers just brought a great punch tonight, and 213 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 2: the Nuggets just that was their worst game of the 214 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 2: series in terms of their execution. They really let go 215 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 2: of the rope for a little bit. Now they're down 216 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 2: to one and they're gonna have to get one of 217 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 2: these games, and Game four is going to be an 218 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 2: opportunity for them to try to just hang onto the 219 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 2: rope throughout the rest of the game, because again for them, 220 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 2: as we know, if they can get to five minutes 221 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 2: left within around you know, five eight points. I like 222 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 2: the Nuggets chances in this series, but if they allow 223 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:59,079 Speaker 2: the Clippers to build margin, it's going to be really 224 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 2: difficult for them to hang around. All right, Let's go 225 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 2: to Nicks Pistons. How did the Knicks get their offense going? 226 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 2: That was the interesting story of tonight. I think they 227 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 2: finished with one hundred and eighteen points, won by a 228 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 2: little bit more of a healthy margin than what would 229 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 2: the scoreboard would lead you to believe, thanks to some 230 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 2: late game just foul shooting and the Pistons knocking down 231 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 2: a couple of threes late in the game. But the 232 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 2: Knicks in general looked way better on offense in this game. 233 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 2: Started with early transition pushes. This is an easy way 234 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 2: to trigger some of their more natural driving kick sequences. 235 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 2: So when you're in the half court, you can run ISO, 236 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:36,199 Speaker 2: you can run pick and roll, But when you're in transition, 237 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 2: transition is not ISO basketball. Transition is driving kick basketball. 238 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 2: When you're pushing the ball up the floor and a 239 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 2: guy catches wide open in the corner and a guy 240 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 2: sprints off of him and he attacks that close out 241 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:50,959 Speaker 2: and everyone's in this chaotic situation and there's all these 242 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 2: easy driving kick raids that are available. The ball doesn't stick, 243 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 2: the ball moves around, and so early in the game, 244 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 2: Michale Bridges gets a clean catch and shoot look up 245 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:03,079 Speaker 2: along the left wing in transition that he knocks down 246 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 2: ogn Andobi gets a clean look right out of the 247 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,959 Speaker 2: right corner. Carl Anthony Towns got like three or four 248 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 2: great advantage catches right at the top of the key, 249 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 2: drove one and got a foul hit a couple of threes. 250 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 2: That was in transition was where they were able to 251 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 2: get everybody in rhythm early, and then a little bit 252 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 2: of an effort from TIBs to just keep guys involved 253 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 2: with their half court sets. They ran an early screening 254 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 2: action for Ogn Andob coming out of the right corner 255 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 2: where he slipped a screen and got a dunk, So 256 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 2: like again, just making a more deliberate effort to get 257 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:37,680 Speaker 2: him involved early post ups for Carl Anthony Towns in 258 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 2: the game. There was way less Brunson pick and roll 259 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 2: In this game. Brunson attempted a shot and pick and 260 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 2: roll just seven times tonight. He did so twenty five 261 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 2: times in the first two games. So they basically like 262 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:51,679 Speaker 2: cut Brunson pick and roll reps in half in this game, 263 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 2: way more opportunities for everyone else. McKale Bridges only took 264 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 2: one shot out of a ball screen in game two. 265 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 2: They got five points out of mckayl bridge is shooting 266 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 2: out of ball screens tonight. Oj A Nanoby only got 267 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 2: one chance to create a shot on an island in 268 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 2: game two, a post up of Kate Cunningham where he 269 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 2: kind of spun baseline and end up turning the ball over. 270 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 2: He shot out of an iar post up four times tonight, 271 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:14,319 Speaker 2: So there's just a lot more of an effort to 272 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 2: keep everyone involved, to keep everyone in rhythm, and as 273 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:20,079 Speaker 2: a result, the offense looked way better. All four of 274 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 2: their stars scored over twenty points. The team scored one 275 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 2: hundred and eighteen points. Yet when they got into crunch time, 276 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 2: they were still able to be like, all right, we're 277 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 2: gonna go to a steady dose of brunts, and they 278 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 2: mixed in some other things. They ran to random cat 279 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 2: isolate in the game, which we'll talk about in a minute, 280 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:37,439 Speaker 2: But they were able to still go to Brunton down 281 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 2: the stretch. But he's fresher like he was able to 282 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,080 Speaker 2: straight up. He was frying Tobias Harris and Dennis Schroeder 283 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 2: down the stretch. But Dennis Schroeder in particular, he powered 284 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:49,719 Speaker 2: through him twice, like went through his chest and made 285 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 2: it look like he wasn't there and got right to 286 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 2: the front of the rim for easy layups. And a 287 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 2: big part of that stems from you don't need him 288 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 2: to run as much action during the game, so he 289 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 2: has more gas in the tank. Late in the game, JB. 290 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 2: Bickerstaff had to literally switch Kay Cunningham onto him because 291 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 2: of how much success he was having literally bullying Dennis Schroeder. 292 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 2: That was a matchup where Dennis had had some success 293 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:14,439 Speaker 2: against him early in the series. It looks like Brunson 294 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:18,079 Speaker 2: has that completely figured out. Now they were able to 295 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 2: go to Kat on a big possession late. I thought 296 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 2: this was important and this is part of that. This 297 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,439 Speaker 2: was a face up ISO against Tobias Harris. Now, remember, 298 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 2: like we talked about in the show the other day, 299 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,199 Speaker 2: in game one, Cat runs seven ISOs. He runs zero 300 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:32,320 Speaker 2: in game two, and so it's just something that they 301 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 2: went away from. They were able to get into that 302 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 2: action more frequently tonight. They go to it in crunch time. 303 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,839 Speaker 2: He rips to the right, Tobias beats him to the spot. 304 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 2: Really nice defense. Kat pivots into like he's gonna spin 305 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 2: turn his back to the basket to turn over his 306 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 2: right shoulder, and he throws a hard shoulder fake, just 307 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 2: a really hard shoulder fake on that fake spin to 308 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 2: Bias bites on it and just gets completely shed off 309 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 2: of him. That way, Kat's able to pivot back over 310 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 2: his left shoulder and great separation. Actually a really nice 311 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 2: look for Kat there along the right baseline, and he 312 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:07,720 Speaker 2: knocked that shot down. There was a massive shot in 313 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 2: that game. Michale Bridges hit a big catch and shoot 314 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:12,080 Speaker 2: three out of the left corner one that put them 315 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 2: up eleven. That was the same shot he was missing 316 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:18,199 Speaker 2: in Game two. Now, I am of the opinion that 317 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 2: that stuff really matters in terms of like connecting throughout 318 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 2: the game, the rhythm of the whole team, so that 319 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 2: when you're in late game situations, guys feel good about 320 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 2: the shots that they're taking. So the guys feel like 321 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 2: they're confident and in rhythm. 322 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 3: You know. 323 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 2: That's the thing is like Jalen Brunson can still. I 324 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 2: was actually talking about this with my buddy Combo, he's 325 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 2: a big Knicks fan, and I tweeted out the link 326 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 2: to the show today, so you guys can see it 327 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 2: there if you want to hear a little bit more 328 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 2: Nicks talk. But like, I uh, one of the things 329 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 2: I said to him was like, just because you need 330 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 2: to get everybody involved, And this was this morning before 331 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 2: the game. I was like, just because you need to 332 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 2: get everyone involved doesn't mean you don't go to Brunson 333 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 2: down the stretch. Brunson's the best clutch player in the 334 00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 2: league right now. Brunson at Brunton is fourteen points in 335 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 2: this postseason. That's the most in the entire NBA so far. 336 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 2: He's personally outscoring KD. Cunningham fourteen to four in the 337 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 2: clutch in the series, you want to ride Jalen Brunson 338 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 2: in those situations. You just want to put him in 339 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 2: a situation where he's not super exhausted when he gets there. 340 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 2: And then if for whatever reason he does want to 341 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 2: take a possession off, you have another action that's in 342 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 2: rhythm that you can go to and that all of 343 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 2: your catch and shoot guys, your close out drivers, things 344 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 2: along those lines are all feeling good and in rhythm. 345 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 2: All four of their stars scored over twenty points. You 346 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 2: got kat back up over thirty. That's the formula for 347 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 2: the Knicks. Use your defense to get out in transition 348 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 2: so that your whole team is moving the ball around 349 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 2: and attacking with an advantage, and then in the half court, 350 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 2: invest early in the game in action for your co 351 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:47,200 Speaker 2: stars so that they're in a better rhythm. Then ride 352 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:50,520 Speaker 2: Jalen Brunson late. That's your advantage. In this series. With 353 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 2: the Pistons, they have late game execution problems. They have lower, 354 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 2: lesser talented players that they're leaning on in big moments 355 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 2: late in the game. You have more aggregate skill if 356 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 2: you lean on it, that's your advantage. Once again for 357 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 2: the pistonsough late game execution, like Kate had a big 358 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 2: turnover late where he shed og and Anovi with frankly 359 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 2: just a disgusting spin movie like he drove at him 360 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 2: to the right and spun and Og like went into 361 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 2: camera row and he just didn't read the floor after that, 362 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 2: and then he just went right up against the rim protector. 363 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 2: It looked like he ran into a brick wall and 364 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 2: he just immediately lost control to basketball. Just wasn't seeing 365 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:28,800 Speaker 2: the floor on that possession. Tobias Harris lost the ball 366 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 2: on like a basic dribble move in the fourth quarter 367 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 2: where he just tried to make an aggressive dribble move 368 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 2: to his left and just lost control of it. Jalen 369 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 2: Duran had two really bizarre sequences the jump ball where 370 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 2: he has a clear size advantage and he just like 371 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 2: slaps the ball out of bounds instead of just like 372 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 2: lightly tapping it to his teammates that were there waiting. 373 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 2: I was really confused as to why JB. Bickerstaff had 374 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 2: Jalen Duran inbound on that final sequence. That sequence was ridiculous, 375 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 2: by the way, and honestly, like I was having a 376 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 2: hard time understanding, Like I get why they ended up 377 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 2: just inbounding with five tenths of a second left. But like, 378 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:09,159 Speaker 2: considering the clock operator was in Detroit and he's the 379 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 2: guy that like pressed play on the clock right after 380 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 2: the ball hit the rim, it felt kind of weird 381 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 2: that the Pistons were just rewarded with a sideline out 382 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 2: of bounds when in theory, the reason why Jalen Brunson 383 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 2: is missing that shot is so that the catch is 384 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:26,160 Speaker 2: coming off of a rebound instead of off of a 385 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:30,360 Speaker 2: deliberate inbounds pass. But regardless, they're gifted the sideline out 386 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 2: of bound sequence. I would have actually gone with Kate. 387 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:35,719 Speaker 2: I know it sounds crazy, but like, when you're in 388 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 2: those situations, the odds of you even getting a clean 389 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 2: look are incredibly low because it's five tenths of a 390 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:45,880 Speaker 2: second right, so you basically have to catch and shoot immediately. 391 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 2: So like that pass has to be perfect, so you're 392 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 2: almost better off just having Kde inbound, even though Kate 393 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,240 Speaker 2: is one of your shooters. You have Kde inbound, you 394 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 2: park Jalen Duran right underneath the basket because you're only 395 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:02,200 Speaker 2: down too, and so if they don't account for Jalen Duran, 396 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 2: he's standing right under the basket. You could just literally 397 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:07,959 Speaker 2: throw it up to him. You probably just run basically 398 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 2: like that that classic Finland action where you just have 399 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:14,440 Speaker 2: a shooter like Malik Beasley backscreen for Jalen Duran, so 400 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 2: that Jalen Duran goes to the rim if they don't 401 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 2: help at all, or if Jalen Duran's man is just 402 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 2: sitting back there, you have a you have an opportunity 403 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:26,400 Speaker 2: to just throw. If Jalen Duran's man is sitting up there, 404 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:29,439 Speaker 2: you have Jalen Duran as in a screen there with 405 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 2: Malik Beasley coming off of that action, and so then 406 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:35,119 Speaker 2: essentially as Duran cuts they're helping at the rim, you 407 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 2: get Beasley coming off in action. Just hope that Caid 408 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 2: can just laser a pass somewhere where Malik can quick 409 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 2: catch and turn around and shoot. But like in that situation, 410 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 2: putting a guy that like clearly doesn't have any touch, 411 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 2: Like I mean that that was the issue on the 412 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:52,959 Speaker 2: jump ball was the touch, right, and you put him 413 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 2: in a situation where you needed him to make like 414 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 2: probably the most difficult pass you'll ever make in his life, 415 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:00,680 Speaker 2: and predictably he just ended up launching it out of bounds. 416 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 2: But you know, that's really the story of the series 417 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,719 Speaker 2: for me, Like on the one end of the floor, 418 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,159 Speaker 2: the Knicks just know exactly what they want to do. 419 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 2: Jalen Brunson feels great going right at Schroeder, he feels 420 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:14,200 Speaker 2: great going at Tobias Harris. Whichever one of those two 421 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 2: you want to have in the game. If you have 422 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 2: both of them in the game, he's gonna just take 423 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 2: his pick and he's gonna hunt, and then they can 424 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 2: go to Kat against Tobias Harris and Iso. They have 425 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 2: like this clear kind of order of operations, and then 426 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:28,440 Speaker 2: like clutch points thing we talked about, like Kate only 427 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:31,199 Speaker 2: has four clutch points in this series, and this has 428 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 2: been a clutch series. This has been a series where 429 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 2: it's been about scoring in the final few minutes of 430 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 2: the game, and Kate has just struggled to keep up 431 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 2: with Jalen Brunson in that regard. And so it's just 432 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 2: no shout out to you know, no shot at Cade, 433 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 2: because the reality is is this is his first time. 434 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 2: Like we talked about last night, Jalen Brunson has been 435 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,200 Speaker 2: in what's this is ninth playoff series in the last 436 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:56,040 Speaker 2: four years, so like there's obviously an experience gap there, 437 00:19:58,240 --> 00:19:59,679 Speaker 2: but like Cay just has to be better, and it's 438 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 2: gonna be really hard for the Pistons to overcome that 439 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:06,159 Speaker 2: experience advantage that the Knicks have. So Thunder Grizzlies. For 440 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 2: obvious reasons, I was focused on the other games tonight, 441 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:10,680 Speaker 2: but when I saw the report that Job was out, 442 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 2: I actually thought to myself, I'm like, the Thunder probably 443 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 2: can get this game. I think what people don't realize 444 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 2: is like that jaw factor, the pace that he plays, 445 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 2: with his ability to just draw attention in the middle 446 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:27,360 Speaker 2: of the floor, that is what creates advantages for everyone 447 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 2: else to play easier brand, an easier brand of basketball. 448 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:32,920 Speaker 2: And as soon as Jaw's out there, it's like, okay, 449 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 2: you have Jaron Jackson, and like he he hit a 450 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:39,400 Speaker 2: tough hook in the fourth quarter over a triple team, 451 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:41,880 Speaker 2: and like, there are a couple sequences where he made 452 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 2: passes out of double teams that led to decent looks. 453 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 2: But like Jared Jackson's not exactly a half court surgeon, 454 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 2: doesn't been baying. This is just a nightmare matchup for 455 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 2: him because he's not particularly tall, and the Thunder just 456 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:57,119 Speaker 2: have all sorts of bodies to throw at him and 457 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 2: Scotty Pippen Jr. Like, it's really amazing what he's done 458 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 2: with his career, turning himself from a two way player 459 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 2: to like a legitimate backup point guard in the NBA. 460 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 2: And he had a brilliant night shot to basketball really well. 461 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,119 Speaker 2: But like, it's just a lot to ask him to 462 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 2: create offense against the Oklahoma City Thunder defense when they're 463 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:17,640 Speaker 2: really engaged. And so I thought they had a probability, 464 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:20,280 Speaker 2: a legitimate probability to win that game. And I was 465 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:23,120 Speaker 2: able to switch over in the fourth quarter right after 466 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 2: the Clippers put the Nuggets away and we got to 467 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 2: see some crunch time Thunder basketball. Now, Predictably, they strangled 468 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 2: Memphis offense, like I talked about earlier, not hard to 469 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:36,119 Speaker 2: do with John Morant out as a team. They just 470 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 2: uped their pressure and intensity and things just got super 471 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:40,359 Speaker 2: difficult for Memphis. But what I'm interested in is what 472 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:42,399 Speaker 2: they did on the other side of the floor. This 473 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 2: was our first opportunity to look at some crunch time 474 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 2: offense from the Oklahoma City Thunder this year. First of all, 475 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:51,600 Speaker 2: Alex Cruso ended up being the fifth closer, which I 476 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:55,160 Speaker 2: thought was interesting they'd rather close small so that they 477 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:57,679 Speaker 2: can switch. I personally think that's the right decision. I 478 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 2: think Cruso is just so good defense. He can scale 479 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 2: up defensively, like we saw in that possession where he 480 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:06,160 Speaker 2: defended Jaron Jackson one on one and like stripped him 481 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 2: clean as he went to go to his. 482 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:08,880 Speaker 3: Left shoulder hook or his right shoulder hook. 483 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:13,920 Speaker 2: Like, Crusoe plays big enough and does enough defensively at 484 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 2: every single position that I think it's worthwhile to have 485 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:20,200 Speaker 2: him out there as that fifth closer. In that situation, 486 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 2: we saw a steady diet of two man game in 487 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:25,159 Speaker 2: the middle of the floor, whether it was Shane Ja 488 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:27,879 Speaker 2: Dubb if he wanted to attack Scottie Pippen Junr or 489 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:31,119 Speaker 2: Shane Alex Crusoe if you want to attack Santiel Dama. 490 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 2: And what I was impressed by is in the early 491 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 2: fourth quarter stretch, when the bench group was still out 492 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:37,880 Speaker 2: there and they were starting their comeback, Shay was really 493 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:39,639 Speaker 2: looking to score, and he was taking a lot of 494 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 2: quick jump shots early in the shot clock, pushing the 495 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 2: ball in transition, that sort of thing down the stretch. 496 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 2: Though he did not force the issue, he made multiple 497 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 2: reads out of doubles, a really nice drop off to 498 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,720 Speaker 2: lou Dort outside the left block, and lou Dort made 499 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:55,200 Speaker 2: like an insane shot over Zach Edy in that situation 500 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:57,199 Speaker 2: where he just kind of like flailed up into his 501 00:22:57,240 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 2: body and banked it in. There was a pass to 502 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 2: Alix Cruso that led to a driving kick sequence drew 503 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:05,680 Speaker 2: the double team, kicked at to Cruso. Cruso drove Chet 504 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:07,920 Speaker 2: relocated up out of the right corner up to the 505 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 2: right wing, knocked down his fifth three of the game, 506 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 2: I believe, and all those threes were massive. It ended 507 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 2: up drawing the hard close out that led to that 508 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 2: big dunk that he had driving out of the right 509 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:22,199 Speaker 2: slot in the fourth quarter. It was just actually like 510 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 2: really nice playing together, sharing the ball, taking the easy 511 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 2: reads that were available. The big thing like not getting rushed, 512 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 2: like getting into the middle of the floor and instead 513 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:36,919 Speaker 2: of looking to shoot in traffic, looking for the reeds 514 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 2: that are there in traffic like they I've been really 515 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 2: impressed by the Thunders offense through the first three games, 516 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 2: just in the difference in their half court approach compared 517 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:48,640 Speaker 2: to last year. Eighty one points for the Thunder Big 518 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:53,439 Speaker 2: three tonight. They're trusting each other. There will obviously be 519 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 2: much tougher series for them on the horizon, but the 520 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:59,360 Speaker 2: Thunder have the right approach here early in this postseason. 521 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:01,880 Speaker 2: They're moving the ball better than they did last year. 522 00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 2: All right, let's get Jackson up here, and let's get 523 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:05,640 Speaker 2: some mailbag questions. 524 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:08,520 Speaker 4: Let's do it, all right, We got a lot of 525 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:10,159 Speaker 4: questions in the chats, and I thank you guys for 526 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:11,640 Speaker 4: asking your questions, and please. 527 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:16,080 Speaker 1: Subscribe to the show. Let's start. Let's start here. 528 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:19,679 Speaker 4: H If OKC makes the conference finals, what do you 529 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 4: think their chances would be in a series against the 530 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:23,400 Speaker 4: Lakers or the Warriors? 531 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:27,879 Speaker 2: So the specific thing that the Lakers can do to 532 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:32,359 Speaker 2: the Thunder that has me more intrigued by them as 533 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 2: a legitimate upset threat. And let's let's let's contextualize this 534 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:40,879 Speaker 2: entire conversation, guys. Okay, Like I would pick the Thunder 535 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 2: to win the West right now, Okay, they are my 536 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:48,200 Speaker 2: second championship favorite behind the Celtics. I don't even know 537 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 2: how I would feel if the Lakers and the Thunder 538 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 2: showed up in a Western Conference final series. So much 539 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:55,560 Speaker 2: of that depends on, like, how do the how does 540 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:58,760 Speaker 2: the Thunder offense look against a potential Clippers matchup in 541 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 2: the second round. Lebron and Austin haven't been jump shooting 542 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:05,440 Speaker 2: very well this postseason, like they do they get to 543 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:07,240 Speaker 2: the point where they shoot their jump shots better. Like, 544 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 2: there's so many different factors that could go one way 545 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:13,359 Speaker 2: or another before the series even starts. But in theory, 546 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 2: the dynamic that Houston has that causes the Lakers problems, 547 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 2: the dynamic that Minnesota has that causes the Lakers problems. 548 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:25,320 Speaker 2: It's a lot of like six six to six eight 549 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:28,919 Speaker 2: dudes that are pretty big and strong as opposed to 550 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 2: guys that are more like six three to six five, 551 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 2: And there's some strength advantages that they can go at there. 552 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:38,359 Speaker 2: And so as a result, like Lebron and Luca just 553 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:42,200 Speaker 2: look a lot more comfortable against Oklahoma City's defense than 554 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:45,480 Speaker 2: they did against other defenses that were maybe not as 555 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:50,400 Speaker 2: good reputationally as the Thunder, but that are tougher matchups 556 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 2: because they present some more physical size to be able 557 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:55,359 Speaker 2: to throw at Lebron and Luca. So it's that and 558 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 2: then it's you know the thunderd like you saw a 559 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:00,880 Speaker 2: big one late. How did Scotti p get that three 560 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:03,080 Speaker 2: in the in the right corner in crunch time, Like 561 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 2: it comes from the way the Thunder defend, but they're 562 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:07,679 Speaker 2: fod aggressive. It's a lot of low man help. It's 563 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:09,280 Speaker 2: a lot of packing the paint, it's a lot of 564 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:12,720 Speaker 2: relying on closeouts. And so when you play elite playmaking 565 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 2: talent against them, they move the ball well and they 566 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:18,680 Speaker 2: can get to those openings that the Thunder leave in 567 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:21,119 Speaker 2: their defense when they're trying to force turnovers by being 568 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 2: forward aggressive. And so in theory, it's the two giant 569 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:27,800 Speaker 2: shot creators that are also great passers that make it work. 570 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:29,400 Speaker 2: And then on the other end of the four, it's 571 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 2: that classic JJ Reddick. We can actually like help off 572 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 2: of some of these guys and force them to take 573 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:36,440 Speaker 2: and make jump shots against closeouts. 574 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, I agree. I mean I think that the the 575 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:43,560 Speaker 4: lou Dort thing. He's you know, he's he's been an 576 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:45,359 Speaker 4: annoyance to Luca in the past, but you only have 577 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:49,679 Speaker 4: one of him. It's so different having It's why the 578 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:52,119 Speaker 4: Clippers we talked along about them as championship content wal 579 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:53,960 Speaker 4: they had Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Not that that 580 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:57,440 Speaker 4: worked out, but in theory, having two and that's why 581 00:26:57,440 --> 00:26:59,880 Speaker 4: the Celtics are really tough to be having two six 582 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 4: six sixty seven or even bigger in the Lakers case, 583 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 4: creators is is just not many teams have that, and 584 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 4: not many teams have defenders that can throw two. 585 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:09,520 Speaker 1: Bodies at those those two types of guys. 586 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 2: So really quickly, I wanted to talk about this too, 587 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:14,399 Speaker 2: because we didn't have a chance the Uh, we had 588 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:16,640 Speaker 2: a lot of people who have opinions on the lou 589 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 2: Dort foul, So let's let's discuss this for a minute. So, uh, 590 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 2: Jackson and I talked a little bit before the stream. 591 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 2: I both fouls are obviously not on purpose. I don't 592 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:33,879 Speaker 2: think lou Dort turned around and was like I'm taking 593 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,400 Speaker 2: John around and ran out tonight. Like, I don't think 594 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:42,080 Speaker 2: that's what happened. The Dort foul to me was more 595 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:46,640 Speaker 2: of like a reckless play. The like you mentioned last 596 00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:47,920 Speaker 2: night when we were in our mail bag. You're like 597 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:51,320 Speaker 2: a men Thompson is crashing the offensive glass every single time. 598 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 2: That's not exactly a super rare basketball concept, like PJ. 599 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:57,119 Speaker 3: Tucker has made a career out of that. 600 00:27:57,320 --> 00:27:59,280 Speaker 2: You know, like there there are a lot of players 601 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:01,879 Speaker 2: in the league that their job is to crash the 602 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:04,359 Speaker 2: offensive glass every single time because that's one of their big, 603 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 2: biggest pieces of utility on offense. So Russell Westbrook does 604 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:09,520 Speaker 2: for the Nuggets for instance. Right, we were just talking 605 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:12,960 Speaker 2: about that earlier in the show. So like, to me, 606 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:16,560 Speaker 2: like that was quite literally just a complete fluke that 607 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:18,440 Speaker 2: a men Thompson was crashing the glass and he got 608 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 2: tripped up and it happened the Dort one. On the 609 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 2: one hand, it's like he's just trying to make a play, 610 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:29,160 Speaker 2: But on the other hand, it's like, like every basketball 611 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:32,399 Speaker 2: player knows what it means when you're trailing a player 612 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:34,960 Speaker 2: and you're trying to like meet him at the basket 613 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:37,400 Speaker 2: and he throws that drop off pass to the guy 614 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 2: right behind him, you know it's coming, Like it's almost 615 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:43,080 Speaker 2: ninety eight percent of the time going to be a 616 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:46,960 Speaker 2: high flying athlete coming right down the lane trying to dunk. 617 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 2: And so it's like, I I'm not it's dirty is 618 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:53,959 Speaker 2: the wrong word, But I did. I did think the 619 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:56,520 Speaker 2: dort play was just a little bit reckless, did you 620 00:28:56,520 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 2: think so, Jackson? 621 00:28:57,400 --> 00:28:57,640 Speaker 1: I did. 622 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:03,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, sorry, it's it's Algy season. 623 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:06,520 Speaker 1: I gotta I gotta cough, Yeah, I think that. 624 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:11,120 Speaker 4: It's I do think he his his front foot of 625 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 4: forget if his left is right, slipped a little bit 626 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 4: as he's turning around, and that's sort of what made 627 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:19,160 Speaker 4: it especially awkward, because if he doesn't slip, he's jumping 628 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 4: and there's it's probably a very physical collision with him 629 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 4: and jaw at the rim, but he's not undercutting his legs, right. 630 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:26,640 Speaker 4: So I do think that's sort of the the flukey 631 00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 4: element of it. But at the same time, to your point, 632 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 4: it's rare in that situation when was you see, it's 633 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 4: so rare that that results in an actually successful block, right, 634 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:41,200 Speaker 4: And most times you're better off getting out of the 635 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:42,160 Speaker 4: way and not giving. 636 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 1: A guy an and one. 637 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:46,920 Speaker 4: It's just it's a little dumb or reckless or just 638 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 4: unnecessary at minimum to try to make a play like 639 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:50,520 Speaker 4: that at that point in the game. 640 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:51,880 Speaker 1: It's not like it's the end of the in the 641 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 1: fourth quarter or anything. But what do you what do 642 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:55,600 Speaker 1: you what are you trying to accomplish there? 643 00:29:55,840 --> 00:29:58,000 Speaker 4: And then additionally, I do think he slipped a little 644 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 4: bit which made it, which made the I packed up 645 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 4: at all. 646 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 2: To your point, like that that sort of there are 647 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 2: unwritten rules in basketball that involve the exposed athlete where 648 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 2: it's like, even if it's game point, you don't tackle 649 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:15,320 Speaker 2: a guy out of the air on a fast break, 650 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:18,040 Speaker 2: like even if it's game point, Like if you wrap 651 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:19,680 Speaker 2: him up, you wrap him up while he's on the 652 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:24,640 Speaker 2: ground like that. That's the thing, Like if you it's 653 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:26,760 Speaker 2: a different type of play on a drop off on 654 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:31,120 Speaker 2: a two on one, but like just imagine like a 655 00:30:31,160 --> 00:30:34,040 Speaker 2: two on one fast break situation where it's more like 656 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:36,040 Speaker 2: both guys are in front and lose like a ware 657 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 2: that both of them are there. Like if you're guarding 658 00:30:39,120 --> 00:30:40,880 Speaker 2: the ball and the dude throws a bounce past it 659 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:44,360 Speaker 2: the last second, Like, yeah, in theory, the competitive nature 660 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:46,600 Speaker 2: would tell you make him earn it at the line. 661 00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 2: So yeah, you want to turn and you want to 662 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:51,440 Speaker 2: foul him. But like if the guy's in the air, 663 00:30:51,760 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 2: it's you just don't. You just don't because it's not 664 00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 2: it's just an unwritten rule in basketball you don't do 665 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:01,320 Speaker 2: that to people that are in the air. And so 666 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:03,760 Speaker 2: my thing was like, yeah, in theory, he doesn't see 667 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:07,360 Speaker 2: what's happening. But like when Scotty threw that drop off pass, 668 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:09,440 Speaker 2: like if You're running behind Scotty and you see that 669 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:11,800 Speaker 2: drop off pass. You know, nine times out of ten 670 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 2: it's probably because he has an athlete trailing, and so 671 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:17,320 Speaker 2: it was just a little bit reckless. But again, neither 672 00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:20,120 Speaker 2: of them would would be what I considered dirty. Neither 673 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:22,880 Speaker 2: of them were. I'm certain that neither of them were 674 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:24,960 Speaker 2: on purpose. But it just it just was a little 675 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:26,320 Speaker 2: reckless and it was just unfortunate. 676 00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:26,760 Speaker 1: Agreed. 677 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:30,840 Speaker 4: Another question from from that game, Hey, Jason, why don't 678 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:33,640 Speaker 4: NBA teams attack players more often when they're. 679 00:31:33,520 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 1: In foul trouble? 680 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:36,880 Speaker 4: At Both Sga and Isaiah Hartenstein had five fouls in 681 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:39,560 Speaker 4: the fourth quarter and Memphis didn't attack either of them. 682 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 1: Thinks loved the show. 683 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:42,920 Speaker 2: It's easier said than done in the sense that, like 684 00:31:43,120 --> 00:31:48,960 Speaker 2: you can scram people out of mismatches, you can double 685 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:53,360 Speaker 2: teams out of people out of mismatches. There were a 686 00:31:53,360 --> 00:31:55,880 Speaker 2: lot of Jared Jackson post ups that ended in double teams. 687 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:58,560 Speaker 2: But honestly, like you know, we talked about it earlier, 688 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:00,560 Speaker 2: Jared Jackson and Scotty, Pip and June, you're not half 689 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:02,400 Speaker 2: court surgeons. They're not going to go up the floor 690 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:05,040 Speaker 2: and be really deliberate with the way they attack, And honestly, 691 00:32:05,040 --> 00:32:07,240 Speaker 2: I thought Memphis is kind of decomposed entirely on. 692 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:09,280 Speaker 3: An offense. 693 00:32:09,320 --> 00:32:13,800 Speaker 2: But your only matchup attacker was Jackson, like because Desmond 694 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:16,080 Speaker 2: Bain is not a stare you down in ISO guy 695 00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:19,360 Speaker 2: like Scotty Pippen Junior is not that kind of guy either, 696 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:21,840 Speaker 2: Like Jared Jackson is the only guy that's like, Okay, 697 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:24,600 Speaker 2: we're on an island playing ones, like I can score here, 698 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:26,800 Speaker 2: but they weren't letting him go on one on one 699 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:29,480 Speaker 2: unless it was Caruso. So like it's one of those 700 00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:32,120 Speaker 2: things where it's easier send than done. I don't think 701 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:33,280 Speaker 2: Memphis was really set up. 702 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:36,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, it feels so easy to say, and I say 703 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:39,400 Speaker 4: the same thing, not even about specific players, but when 704 00:32:39,400 --> 00:32:41,840 Speaker 4: a team gets in the bonus with eight minutes to 705 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:43,920 Speaker 4: go in a quarter or something, it's like, just go downhill, 706 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:46,120 Speaker 4: just draw a foul, And it feels like it should 707 00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:47,960 Speaker 4: be easy because there is so much foul drifting in 708 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:51,560 Speaker 4: the NBA, But it's not quite as simple. I don't 709 00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:53,560 Speaker 4: think as it feels like it should be. 710 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:56,960 Speaker 2: There's a psychological element too, like when a team picks 711 00:32:57,040 --> 00:32:58,880 Speaker 2: up four fouls in the first three minutes, of a 712 00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:02,040 Speaker 2: quarter probably means they've been bitching and moaning at the 713 00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:05,840 Speaker 2: refs NonStop for that first three minutes, and so there's 714 00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:08,600 Speaker 2: a psychological element to where that that fifth foul, it's 715 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:10,600 Speaker 2: gonna have to be a pretty substantial foul for the 716 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:12,880 Speaker 2: ref to blow the whistle, especially in the postseason. It's 717 00:33:12,920 --> 00:33:14,960 Speaker 2: it's always it's always easier seive than done. 718 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:17,920 Speaker 4: Like I know, it's early been a hypothetic. In a 719 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:21,600 Speaker 4: hypothetical Clippers versus Okase's second round series, who do you 720 00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:24,120 Speaker 4: think would have the best player in the series between 721 00:33:24,120 --> 00:33:26,040 Speaker 4: a healthy Kawhi and Sga. 722 00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:28,160 Speaker 2: That would literally be one of the biggest swing factors 723 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:30,920 Speaker 2: in the series. Like if the Thunder were able to 724 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:34,160 Speaker 2: successfully load up on Shay keep Done and Derek Jones 725 00:33:34,160 --> 00:33:39,320 Speaker 2: on him all series and play him into an inefficient series, 726 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:43,680 Speaker 2: like if Shae averaged thirty three on twenty seven shots 727 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:45,320 Speaker 2: a game like the Shaye has a lot of game 728 00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:47,000 Speaker 2: I mean tonight, he took like twenty six shots. 729 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:47,880 Speaker 3: Shae has a lot of. 730 00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:52,000 Speaker 2: Games where like he accumulates volume score excuse me, but 731 00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:54,360 Speaker 2: he takes so many two's that it's not necessarily the 732 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:56,200 Speaker 2: most efficient thing in the world. Some of the times 733 00:33:56,240 --> 00:33:57,560 Speaker 2: when he gets into these games where he goes like 734 00:33:57,560 --> 00:34:00,760 Speaker 2: ten for twenty six. If there's a universe where Shay 735 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:02,680 Speaker 2: averages thirty three points a game in the series, but 736 00:34:02,680 --> 00:34:04,840 Speaker 2: he takes twenty six attempts to get there every night, 737 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:07,600 Speaker 2: and Kawhi averages, you know, thirty two points a game, 738 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:09,919 Speaker 2: but he gets there in seventeen shots every single night, 739 00:34:10,239 --> 00:34:12,879 Speaker 2: and he's just like surgical all series. By the way, 740 00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:15,000 Speaker 2: we talked about the seis miss matches, He's gonna have 741 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:17,480 Speaker 2: a boatload of seized miss matches in that series. The 742 00:34:17,480 --> 00:34:19,759 Speaker 2: biggest fear that I would have is as you start 743 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:22,080 Speaker 2: to kind of like dig down through the ways that 744 00:34:22,160 --> 00:34:28,840 Speaker 2: the Clippers attack, they are going to be able to 745 00:34:28,920 --> 00:34:31,399 Speaker 2: use Zoo on the offensive glass. They're gonna be able 746 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:32,200 Speaker 2: to use Zoo out. 747 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:32,600 Speaker 3: Of the post. 748 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:36,239 Speaker 2: But okay See is going to double the shit out 749 00:34:36,239 --> 00:34:38,200 Speaker 2: of Kawhi and Zoo on all of their post ups. 750 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:40,359 Speaker 2: They're not gonna let those guys sit one on one. 751 00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:43,600 Speaker 2: Kawhi did it. Had a much better passing game tonight 752 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:45,440 Speaker 2: than he did in the first two games of the series. 753 00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:48,520 Speaker 2: But like Kawhi, Leonard can struggle to handle double teams 754 00:34:48,520 --> 00:34:52,000 Speaker 2: from time to time. Zoo as well, so and then 755 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:56,280 Speaker 2: with James Harden, you're just going up an entire stratosphere 756 00:34:56,920 --> 00:35:00,719 Speaker 2: of quality of perimeter defense talent on James Harden. This 757 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:03,640 Speaker 2: is a series for James Harden that really lines up 758 00:35:03,680 --> 00:35:07,080 Speaker 2: well for him from a matchup perspective. Like a high 759 00:35:07,160 --> 00:35:10,000 Speaker 2: drop team with a big that sometimes gets lazy and 760 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:12,560 Speaker 2: doesn't get up to the level like that is suicide 761 00:35:12,560 --> 00:35:14,680 Speaker 2: against James Harden because it's got all the baked in 762 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:17,759 Speaker 2: reads that he's all naturally great at. Right and to 763 00:35:17,880 --> 00:35:20,000 Speaker 2: James's credit, he just has his three point shot going 764 00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:23,799 Speaker 2: in this postseason, which has been huge. But like, okay, 765 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:25,840 Speaker 2: see just has so many different options they can go to. 766 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:28,320 Speaker 2: They could switch all the James Harden pick and rolls, 767 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:31,239 Speaker 2: double Zoo out of the post, double Kawhi out all 768 00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:34,279 Speaker 2: his post ups, and basically, I don't know if you've 769 00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:37,919 Speaker 2: seen this, Jackson, but like there have been times when 770 00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:40,920 Speaker 2: the Thunder and the Nuggets are in excuse me, the 771 00:35:40,960 --> 00:35:42,680 Speaker 2: Clippers and the Nuggets are in more of like a 772 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:46,279 Speaker 2: dog fight where you can really see the Clippers lack 773 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:50,040 Speaker 2: of playmaking talent, where like you'll see you'll just see 774 00:35:50,040 --> 00:35:52,440 Speaker 2: a guy a split second laid on a read or 775 00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:55,279 Speaker 2: like Zoo will make the wrong read, They'll force a 776 00:35:55,320 --> 00:35:57,520 Speaker 2: pass to a cutter that's not there when someone's opening 777 00:35:57,520 --> 00:36:00,439 Speaker 2: the corner, something along those lines. There's definitely a little 778 00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:03,360 Speaker 2: bit of a playmaking deficit sometimes with the Clippers that 779 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:05,360 Speaker 2: I think the Thunder would take advantage of. So, like, 780 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:09,160 Speaker 2: the Clippers are really good, and they have advantages, but 781 00:36:09,280 --> 00:36:12,279 Speaker 2: I think the Thunder are kind of built defensively to 782 00:36:12,440 --> 00:36:14,000 Speaker 2: attack their lack of playmaking. 783 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:17,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, and we have talked on this show, especially this 784 00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:21,560 Speaker 4: past week and last night, about the concept of secondary 785 00:36:21,560 --> 00:36:24,480 Speaker 4: playmaking and the roles that Jimmy Butler and Brandon Pagenski 786 00:36:24,520 --> 00:36:27,160 Speaker 4: played for the Warriors, and the Clippers have none of 787 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:29,680 Speaker 4: those guys. All of all of their guys after James 788 00:36:29,719 --> 00:36:32,200 Speaker 4: Trden are good at a lot of things offensively, but 789 00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:34,879 Speaker 4: none of them are good at making that. 790 00:36:35,080 --> 00:36:37,040 Speaker 1: I mean, Zoo is okay at it in that short role. 791 00:36:37,239 --> 00:36:39,279 Speaker 4: He's gotten a lot better, but they don't have any 792 00:36:39,560 --> 00:36:45,279 Speaker 4: high level secondary playmakers. Norman Powell, Kawhi, Leonard Zoo, Derrick Jones, Kristaan, like, 793 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:48,400 Speaker 4: these guys are all probably better off trying to score 794 00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:50,160 Speaker 4: than trying to playmake for other people. 795 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:55,120 Speaker 2: Even in I this isn't let's let's take it in 796 00:36:55,160 --> 00:37:00,360 Speaker 2: this direction. My gut tells me that the nu Gets 797 00:37:00,680 --> 00:37:03,080 Speaker 2: have a better chance to beat the Thunder than the 798 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:03,719 Speaker 2: Clippers do. 799 00:37:03,719 --> 00:37:04,360 Speaker 3: Do you agree? 800 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:07,080 Speaker 1: I don't know. It's a tough one. I think so. 801 00:37:07,600 --> 00:37:09,520 Speaker 1: I think so just because. 802 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:14,520 Speaker 4: I feel like Zoo is such a superior Yokic defender 803 00:37:14,560 --> 00:37:16,080 Speaker 4: than either of the bigs of the Thunder have it. 804 00:37:16,120 --> 00:37:18,920 Speaker 4: Despite those guys being you know, very skilled defensively, he 805 00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:21,560 Speaker 4: is just such a matchup problem in a different type 806 00:37:21,560 --> 00:37:24,120 Speaker 4: of stratosphere as a defender for Yokurs than those guys are. 807 00:37:24,440 --> 00:37:26,920 Speaker 1: So because of that, I would I tend to agree. 808 00:37:27,760 --> 00:37:30,280 Speaker 2: And there's a swarming that they could do with Jokic 809 00:37:30,400 --> 00:37:33,280 Speaker 2: that you can't do a Zoo. Like, if you swarm Zoo, 810 00:37:33,880 --> 00:37:36,080 Speaker 2: he can Like, that's just not a good use of 811 00:37:36,120 --> 00:37:38,319 Speaker 2: defensive resources in that matchup, so he could do more 812 00:37:38,400 --> 00:37:41,680 Speaker 2: damage on the offensive glass. Uh, Like, there are definitely 813 00:37:41,760 --> 00:37:44,399 Speaker 2: advantages that the Clippers have in that series. My main 814 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:46,560 Speaker 2: thing is I just think that I I think that 815 00:37:46,600 --> 00:37:50,000 Speaker 2: the Nuggets can consistently score against the Thunder. 816 00:37:50,080 --> 00:37:50,719 Speaker 3: That's the main thing. 817 00:37:50,760 --> 00:37:52,520 Speaker 2: They had a game they won this year where they 818 00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:54,879 Speaker 2: scored one hundred and twenty four points again against them, 819 00:37:55,040 --> 00:37:56,399 Speaker 2: and they had a game this year where they scored 820 00:37:56,400 --> 00:37:58,480 Speaker 2: one hundred and forty points against them and they won. 821 00:37:59,320 --> 00:38:02,719 Speaker 2: And so yeah, so like like there is there is 822 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:06,360 Speaker 2: a that that's the team that has a great amount 823 00:38:06,360 --> 00:38:09,440 Speaker 2: of connective playmaking, and that is on a string with 824 00:38:09,480 --> 00:38:12,680 Speaker 2: all of their cuts and their relocations, and and they 825 00:38:12,680 --> 00:38:15,000 Speaker 2: get guys into positions where they can be a threat. 826 00:38:15,160 --> 00:38:17,360 Speaker 2: And like, obviously the Thunder would have a bunch of 827 00:38:17,400 --> 00:38:21,200 Speaker 2: advantages in that series two. But yeah, I'm I I 828 00:38:21,239 --> 00:38:24,120 Speaker 2: would be I would be hard pressed to take the 829 00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:26,480 Speaker 2: Clippers instead of the Nuggets in a series against the Thunder. 830 00:38:26,480 --> 00:38:28,520 Speaker 2: I think the Nuggets present more problems for them. 831 00:38:28,719 --> 00:38:29,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think that's fair. 832 00:38:30,320 --> 00:38:33,200 Speaker 4: Let's move slightly away from that the Okay, see Thunder 833 00:38:33,239 --> 00:38:36,480 Speaker 4: for a second. If Jimmy Butler misses significant time, there 834 00:38:36,560 --> 00:38:39,759 Speaker 4: was reporting today that he avoided any structural damage. He 835 00:38:39,800 --> 00:38:43,480 Speaker 4: has a deep bruise essentially, and he has been officially 836 00:38:43,520 --> 00:38:46,000 Speaker 4: listed as questionable for their their next game. 837 00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:47,200 Speaker 3: But if I. 838 00:38:47,160 --> 00:38:49,520 Speaker 4: Would imagine he plays, I think, consider it's Jimmy Butler. 839 00:38:49,640 --> 00:38:51,719 Speaker 4: But if he if he misses a game or two 840 00:38:52,280 --> 00:38:54,200 Speaker 4: or three, just you know, it's hard to set at 841 00:38:54,239 --> 00:38:55,840 Speaker 4: this point how many games he might miss. 842 00:38:56,160 --> 00:38:58,240 Speaker 1: How does that change your calculus of the series. 843 00:39:00,040 --> 00:39:02,040 Speaker 2: The fact that Golden State is going home, I think 844 00:39:02,160 --> 00:39:03,359 Speaker 2: is a huge advantage here. 845 00:39:03,920 --> 00:39:04,600 Speaker 3: I think that. 846 00:39:06,239 --> 00:39:08,600 Speaker 2: I think when Golden State really defends the Rockets can't 847 00:39:08,600 --> 00:39:10,560 Speaker 2: score on them, that's not exactly a big shock. All 848 00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:12,120 Speaker 2: you have to do is ask step Heer that that's 849 00:39:12,160 --> 00:39:16,400 Speaker 2: literally the ideology within the locker room. We have seen 850 00:39:16,520 --> 00:39:19,040 Speaker 2: what this Warriors team can do at home. They can 851 00:39:19,160 --> 00:39:22,200 Speaker 2: ride the wave of their crowd to an insane defensive effort, 852 00:39:22,920 --> 00:39:27,080 Speaker 2: and they don't need Jimmy to guard the Rockets, and 853 00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:30,760 Speaker 2: they can do enough stuff defense to transition role players 854 00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:34,400 Speaker 2: shoot better at home, the old cliche, all that stuff, 855 00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:36,560 Speaker 2: I think would put them in a situation where if 856 00:39:36,640 --> 00:39:39,799 Speaker 2: Jimmy had to miss both games, I feel like there's 857 00:39:39,840 --> 00:39:43,640 Speaker 2: a strong chance the Warriors still split at least and 858 00:39:43,800 --> 00:39:48,279 Speaker 2: maybe win them both anyway. So like not having any 859 00:39:48,320 --> 00:39:52,919 Speaker 2: sort of bone bone issue, bruise break and heading home, 860 00:39:53,080 --> 00:39:56,640 Speaker 2: I think, under the circumstances for what was an incredibly fluky, 861 00:39:56,719 --> 00:40:00,000 Speaker 2: incredibly scary play, this is like literally the best case 862 00:40:00,040 --> 00:40:01,239 Speaker 2: scenario for how it could have gone. 863 00:40:01,360 --> 00:40:03,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree, I think. 864 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:07,560 Speaker 4: I don't know about getting two games without Jimmy, but 865 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:09,319 Speaker 4: I think a split would definitely be on the table 866 00:40:09,320 --> 00:40:11,560 Speaker 4: if that happens, And frankly, I would bet he plays. 867 00:40:11,960 --> 00:40:14,600 Speaker 1: It's I would bet he plays. 868 00:40:14,840 --> 00:40:17,480 Speaker 4: Considering the mental of that guy, I would bet that 869 00:40:17,480 --> 00:40:18,239 Speaker 4: he plays. 870 00:40:19,680 --> 00:40:22,000 Speaker 2: I was thinking the same thing earlier today, because I 871 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:23,959 Speaker 2: do think the Warriors have an. 872 00:40:23,880 --> 00:40:25,520 Speaker 3: Appropriate fear of Houston. 873 00:40:26,040 --> 00:40:27,879 Speaker 2: What I mean by that is like I think they 874 00:40:27,920 --> 00:40:31,560 Speaker 2: know Houston like hands still win this series, and you 875 00:40:31,600 --> 00:40:36,440 Speaker 2: know it is with these physical teams, like the Nuggets 876 00:40:36,440 --> 00:40:43,440 Speaker 2: won three straight games against Minnesota last year. Jokic puts 877 00:40:43,480 --> 00:40:46,839 Speaker 2: on the performance of his life in Game five and 878 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:50,880 Speaker 2: just fries Gobert for the world to see, and then 879 00:40:51,160 --> 00:40:53,760 Speaker 2: they lose to in a row because Minnesota just physically 880 00:40:53,800 --> 00:40:58,680 Speaker 2: overwhelms them, even when it was like, like you they 881 00:40:58,719 --> 00:41:01,360 Speaker 2: were up twenty in games seven and let go of 882 00:41:01,400 --> 00:41:03,279 Speaker 2: the rope for a few minutes and all of a 883 00:41:03,280 --> 00:41:04,759 Speaker 2: sudden they were in a dog fight and they lost 884 00:41:04,760 --> 00:41:08,400 Speaker 2: the series. So like I think, I think the urgency 885 00:41:08,480 --> 00:41:11,200 Speaker 2: of Golden State, thinking that them going up three to 886 00:41:11,200 --> 00:41:14,640 Speaker 2: one is almost a must, like that's a must for them, 887 00:41:14,960 --> 00:41:16,600 Speaker 2: will probably push Jimmy towards play. 888 00:41:16,640 --> 00:41:19,120 Speaker 4: Another question from the series, Hey, Jason, can you explain 889 00:41:19,239 --> 00:41:22,239 Speaker 4: how Steph fights off defenders so well? The Rockets have 890 00:41:22,280 --> 00:41:24,719 Speaker 4: been obviously very physical with him and even though it 891 00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:27,839 Speaker 4: slightly bothered him and hasn't stopped him quote unquote. 892 00:41:27,640 --> 00:41:29,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, so this is this is interesting. 893 00:41:29,200 --> 00:41:31,200 Speaker 2: This has been one of the This was the difference 894 00:41:31,239 --> 00:41:32,799 Speaker 2: I was trying to draw last night when we were 895 00:41:32,800 --> 00:41:36,080 Speaker 2: talking about officiating, Like, I do believe that Steph gets 896 00:41:36,120 --> 00:41:40,640 Speaker 2: a shitty whistle when he's shooting, like the you can't 897 00:41:40,640 --> 00:41:44,760 Speaker 2: be like fouling jump shooters like that. That's the jump 898 00:41:44,760 --> 00:41:49,760 Speaker 2: shot is such a low margin for air thing, where 899 00:41:49,840 --> 00:41:53,120 Speaker 2: like if someone just barely tapped you on the forearm 900 00:41:53,120 --> 00:41:55,279 Speaker 2: with their index finger on your release, it could cause 901 00:41:55,320 --> 00:41:57,759 Speaker 2: you to miss by two feet. So like like you 902 00:41:57,960 --> 00:42:02,759 Speaker 2: like fouling jumps, fouling on jump shots, like Steph, there's 903 00:42:02,920 --> 00:42:04,840 Speaker 2: way too many of those where he's getting clipped and 904 00:42:04,880 --> 00:42:06,879 Speaker 2: he's getting pulled and he's getting grabbed and he's getting 905 00:42:06,920 --> 00:42:10,280 Speaker 2: ran over and they're not getting called. But watch any 906 00:42:10,520 --> 00:42:13,680 Speaker 2: player in the NBA who functions off ball fight for position. 907 00:42:14,600 --> 00:42:17,719 Speaker 2: Just because Steph is a guard doesn't mean that he 908 00:42:17,760 --> 00:42:19,719 Speaker 2: doesn't have to deal with physicality off the ball. Have 909 00:42:19,800 --> 00:42:23,560 Speaker 2: you seen like Palabonkaro fight for post position. Have you 910 00:42:23,680 --> 00:42:26,520 Speaker 2: seen Jason Tatum fight for post position? Have you seen 911 00:42:26,600 --> 00:42:28,520 Speaker 2: Yokic fight for post position? Have you seen Khi Leonard 912 00:42:28,520 --> 00:42:30,480 Speaker 2: fight for post position? Have you seen Lebron fight for 913 00:42:30,520 --> 00:42:33,760 Speaker 2: post position? It's a fucking battle down there. Everyone's grabbing 914 00:42:33,800 --> 00:42:37,120 Speaker 2: and holding, it's swim moves. It's like it's all physical leverage. 915 00:42:37,120 --> 00:42:40,440 Speaker 2: And so Steph, by playing off the ball, has put 916 00:42:40,520 --> 00:42:43,840 Speaker 2: himself into a situation where he is susceptible to a 917 00:42:43,840 --> 00:42:45,640 Speaker 2: lot of that off ball contact. But like we talked 918 00:42:45,640 --> 00:42:49,359 Speaker 2: about last night, it's that is actually an arrangement that 919 00:42:49,440 --> 00:42:51,279 Speaker 2: works in their favor. And what I mean by that 920 00:42:51,440 --> 00:42:55,440 Speaker 2: is like Steph has gotten really really good at using 921 00:42:56,520 --> 00:42:58,920 Speaker 2: simple fakes to shed guys in back door cuts. 922 00:42:59,640 --> 00:43:01,560 Speaker 3: He'll just shove a guy to get. 923 00:43:01,440 --> 00:43:03,759 Speaker 2: Separation to run off of a screen, which, by the way, 924 00:43:03,840 --> 00:43:06,080 Speaker 2: like to me, that's legal. You know, you want to 925 00:43:06,120 --> 00:43:08,000 Speaker 2: know why it's legal, Because it's legal for them to 926 00:43:08,040 --> 00:43:09,799 Speaker 2: put their hands on Steph when he's trying to move 927 00:43:09,840 --> 00:43:11,600 Speaker 2: without the ball. It's a given a take, right, Like 928 00:43:12,120 --> 00:43:14,200 Speaker 2: that's the same reason why I've never had a problem 929 00:43:14,239 --> 00:43:16,320 Speaker 2: with the whistle that Lebron got, Lebron's trying. 930 00:43:16,080 --> 00:43:17,040 Speaker 3: To drop that shoulder. 931 00:43:17,080 --> 00:43:19,799 Speaker 2: And if you watch every Lebron left handed drive ever, 932 00:43:19,880 --> 00:43:22,080 Speaker 2: he's using that right arm like a battering ram, just 933 00:43:22,120 --> 00:43:23,960 Speaker 2: like swinging guys out of the way. 934 00:43:24,040 --> 00:43:25,040 Speaker 3: Like, so, guess what if. 935 00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:27,239 Speaker 2: Lebron's gonna do that, There's got to be contact allowed 936 00:43:27,320 --> 00:43:29,000 Speaker 2: on the other side of it. But it's all about 937 00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:31,319 Speaker 2: weaponizing that to your effect. And the Warriors just do 938 00:43:31,400 --> 00:43:35,239 Speaker 2: it through an incredible amount of attention to detailing their 939 00:43:35,280 --> 00:43:38,239 Speaker 2: screen game, the screens that flow into the screens with 940 00:43:38,280 --> 00:43:41,440 Speaker 2: their bigs, the seals that they use on their screens, 941 00:43:41,960 --> 00:43:46,239 Speaker 2: the all the off ball deception that Steph can use. 942 00:43:46,640 --> 00:43:49,520 Speaker 2: The given goes like, Steph just uses all of that 943 00:43:49,600 --> 00:43:52,840 Speaker 2: to his advantage in a way that allows him to 944 00:43:52,880 --> 00:43:55,359 Speaker 2: generate offense without having to face ball pressure. And that's 945 00:43:55,360 --> 00:43:57,680 Speaker 2: the other thing too, Like a lot of people go like, hey, guys, 946 00:43:57,680 --> 00:44:00,279 Speaker 2: why isn't Steph just running high pick and roll? And 947 00:44:00,320 --> 00:44:02,920 Speaker 2: it's like, Steph will run high pick and roll from 948 00:44:02,960 --> 00:44:04,680 Speaker 2: time to time. It's not that he doesn't do it, 949 00:44:04,760 --> 00:44:08,560 Speaker 2: but high pick and roll puts you susceptible to ball pressure, 950 00:44:08,640 --> 00:44:11,399 Speaker 2: and ball pressure is exhausting in a different way. When 951 00:44:11,400 --> 00:44:13,839 Speaker 2: you're off ball dealing with pressure, you can use your 952 00:44:13,880 --> 00:44:16,200 Speaker 2: hands so you can swim, move off of guys, you 953 00:44:16,200 --> 00:44:17,719 Speaker 2: can use both hands to push, you can do all 954 00:44:17,719 --> 00:44:19,560 Speaker 2: this kind of stuff to fight for a position, jockey 955 00:44:19,560 --> 00:44:23,319 Speaker 2: for position. When you're dribbling, totally different ball game. You 956 00:44:23,360 --> 00:44:25,440 Speaker 2: need those hands available to dribble the basketball, and so 957 00:44:25,520 --> 00:44:27,360 Speaker 2: ball pressure can be difficult in a different way. And 958 00:44:27,400 --> 00:44:29,440 Speaker 2: I think I think Steve Kerr in the group just 959 00:44:29,480 --> 00:44:32,200 Speaker 2: wants to try to avoid you know, literally a men 960 00:44:32,320 --> 00:44:35,080 Speaker 2: Thompson turning steph seven times before he gets up to 961 00:44:35,160 --> 00:44:36,719 Speaker 2: the up to the spot where he can run a 962 00:44:36,760 --> 00:44:37,200 Speaker 2: ball screen. 963 00:44:37,200 --> 00:44:43,560 Speaker 4: And frankly, I think size and physicality is it even 964 00:44:43,640 --> 00:44:46,080 Speaker 4: amplifies that to a degree, Like it's a lot easier 965 00:44:46,120 --> 00:44:48,319 Speaker 4: to separate from a six to seven athletic wing when 966 00:44:48,360 --> 00:44:50,279 Speaker 4: you were able to run around and put two hands 967 00:44:50,320 --> 00:44:53,200 Speaker 4: on him. But when you're on the ball, it's not 968 00:44:53,239 --> 00:44:56,279 Speaker 4: the same. Like I think it's going up against a 969 00:44:56,320 --> 00:44:58,680 Speaker 4: defender like Gary Payton, for example, as opposed to a 970 00:44:58,680 --> 00:45:01,760 Speaker 4: defender like Amen Thompson, it's going to both amazing defenders 971 00:45:02,239 --> 00:45:03,759 Speaker 4: off the balls. On the ball is going to feel 972 00:45:03,760 --> 00:45:06,960 Speaker 4: completely differently because you are able to grapple with one 973 00:45:06,960 --> 00:45:09,120 Speaker 4: but but not in one situation but not the other. 974 00:45:09,960 --> 00:45:12,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's fundamentally different. Like just this is not even 975 00:45:12,920 --> 00:45:15,319 Speaker 2: a playoff thing. Just in the regular season next year, 976 00:45:15,800 --> 00:45:18,760 Speaker 2: what every team in the NBA runs horn sets, Watch 977 00:45:18,800 --> 00:45:21,880 Speaker 2: the dudes at the elbows fighting for position. That's the 978 00:45:21,920 --> 00:45:24,000 Speaker 2: same thing that's happening to Steph when he's off ball. 979 00:45:24,320 --> 00:45:27,160 Speaker 2: It's the same thing that is off ball jockeying for position. 980 00:45:27,200 --> 00:45:28,600 Speaker 2: That's literally what basketball is. 981 00:45:29,000 --> 00:45:30,200 Speaker 1: All right, we'll take a couple more. 982 00:45:31,000 --> 00:45:33,839 Speaker 4: Do you still believe Milwaukee has a chance and what 983 00:45:33,880 --> 00:45:35,720 Speaker 4: can they do differently to flip the series? 984 00:45:35,760 --> 00:45:38,680 Speaker 2: They absolutely, they absolutely have a chance because it's very 985 00:45:38,680 --> 00:45:41,160 Speaker 2: easy to gain momentum over the course of a series 986 00:45:41,160 --> 00:45:43,440 Speaker 2: as you figure out things that work and you identify 987 00:45:43,440 --> 00:45:45,400 Speaker 2: things that don't work and you cut them out. 988 00:45:46,000 --> 00:45:46,920 Speaker 3: They could get a big. 989 00:45:46,719 --> 00:45:49,600 Speaker 2: Win at home riding that energy, get a couple guys 990 00:45:49,600 --> 00:45:52,719 Speaker 2: in rhythm that weren't in rhythm earlier, build Dame's conditioning, 991 00:45:53,080 --> 00:45:57,359 Speaker 2: build Dame's rhythm, all of that. My main concern is 992 00:45:59,200 --> 00:46:02,040 Speaker 2: we said before this, would Doc Rivers be able to 993 00:46:02,320 --> 00:46:03,680 Speaker 2: manage this whole situation? 994 00:46:04,040 --> 00:46:06,480 Speaker 3: And I like if Brook. 995 00:46:06,280 --> 00:46:10,200 Speaker 2: Lopez plays thirty minutes in game three or twenty five 996 00:46:10,239 --> 00:46:13,040 Speaker 2: minutes in Game three. That's twenty five minutes where the 997 00:46:13,080 --> 00:46:15,720 Speaker 2: Pacers just get great shots every single time down the floor. 998 00:46:16,040 --> 00:46:19,520 Speaker 2: Is he can identify stuff like the dumb low man 999 00:46:19,520 --> 00:46:21,880 Speaker 2: sequences that were giving up wide open threes in crunch 1000 00:46:21,920 --> 00:46:23,680 Speaker 2: time in game two. Like there's just a lot of 1001 00:46:23,719 --> 00:46:26,400 Speaker 2: like basic game plan and rotation stuff. 1002 00:46:26,080 --> 00:46:28,279 Speaker 3: Like AJ Green all year long. 1003 00:46:28,640 --> 00:46:30,560 Speaker 2: It reminds me of like back in the past with 1004 00:46:30,640 --> 00:46:34,120 Speaker 2: like Darvin ham with like Ruy Hachimura versus Torrian Princes, 1005 00:46:34,200 --> 00:46:36,400 Speaker 2: or like even Frank Vogel with like an Austin Reeves 1006 00:46:36,440 --> 00:46:40,560 Speaker 2: instead of a Avery Bradley, where like there's just clear 1007 00:46:40,680 --> 00:46:42,879 Speaker 2: data that shows that the Bucks are better when AJ 1008 00:46:43,000 --> 00:46:46,319 Speaker 2: Green's on the floor, Like he's good, he can knock 1009 00:46:46,360 --> 00:46:48,319 Speaker 2: down threes. And the big thing is it's this off 1010 00:46:48,400 --> 00:46:51,239 Speaker 2: ball defense. He's like always in the right spots, like 1011 00:46:51,440 --> 00:46:53,239 Speaker 2: he'll get attacked, like it'll be like I could just 1012 00:46:53,280 --> 00:46:55,160 Speaker 2: see it in Doc River's face. It's like, oh, Pascal 1013 00:46:55,200 --> 00:46:57,439 Speaker 2: Siak and win at AJ Green and hit another bank shot. 1014 00:46:57,480 --> 00:46:58,600 Speaker 2: I got to get him out of the game. And 1015 00:46:58,640 --> 00:47:02,360 Speaker 2: it's like, is Gary try locking these dudes up? Like it, 1016 00:47:02,520 --> 00:47:07,600 Speaker 2: like is Bobby Ports, like Torrian Prince, like like they 1017 00:47:07,680 --> 00:47:10,200 Speaker 2: cut his minutes in game two, but like Torrian Prince 1018 00:47:10,239 --> 00:47:12,000 Speaker 2: is another one of those guys where it's like if 1019 00:47:12,360 --> 00:47:14,680 Speaker 2: he's not hitting his threes, like you got to lean 1020 00:47:14,719 --> 00:47:17,120 Speaker 2: into AJ Green, I would leave, I would be running out. 1021 00:47:17,160 --> 00:47:20,960 Speaker 2: There a lot of groups that are like Yannis with 1022 00:47:21,080 --> 00:47:26,200 Speaker 2: Kuzman portis where they're switching everything and it's like Gary, 1023 00:47:26,280 --> 00:47:29,439 Speaker 2: Trent Dame or AJ Green, just two of those three. 1024 00:47:30,120 --> 00:47:33,000 Speaker 2: And I've run a lot off of Giannis in the post. 1025 00:47:33,040 --> 00:47:35,240 Speaker 2: He's getting double teamed, he's passing out of it well, 1026 00:47:35,680 --> 00:47:38,680 Speaker 2: and just surround him with shooting and just try to 1027 00:47:38,760 --> 00:47:40,239 Speaker 2: lean on the fact that you're not going to give 1028 00:47:40,320 --> 00:47:43,759 Speaker 2: up as many of the easy openings from attacking Lopez, 1029 00:47:44,239 --> 00:47:47,279 Speaker 2: from transition pushes and stuff, because you have some more 1030 00:47:47,280 --> 00:47:50,120 Speaker 2: discipline defenders on the floor. Like I just I just 1031 00:47:50,120 --> 00:47:51,920 Speaker 2: am concerned about whether or not Doc's gonna do the 1032 00:47:52,040 --> 00:47:53,000 Speaker 2: right things when they. 1033 00:47:52,880 --> 00:47:53,440 Speaker 3: Get back home. 1034 00:47:53,800 --> 00:47:57,480 Speaker 4: Last one, where does Jokic rank among the best passers 1035 00:47:57,520 --> 00:47:58,000 Speaker 4: you've seen? 1036 00:47:58,719 --> 00:48:02,799 Speaker 3: That's a good question. I've always said that. 1037 00:48:04,400 --> 00:48:07,319 Speaker 2: There is a level of playmaking talent that is just 1038 00:48:07,400 --> 00:48:09,880 Speaker 2: you're born with. It's not something that you can develop 1039 00:48:10,000 --> 00:48:14,120 Speaker 2: through repetition, Like you see guys like Tatum or like 1040 00:48:14,400 --> 00:48:17,759 Speaker 2: Kdi or brandon Ingram guys over the years that like 1041 00:48:17,920 --> 00:48:22,319 Speaker 2: developed into decent passers, but they're not like surgical half 1042 00:48:22,320 --> 00:48:25,280 Speaker 2: court playmakers, and it's just a rare breed. 1043 00:48:25,560 --> 00:48:27,080 Speaker 3: And I. 1044 00:48:28,760 --> 00:48:32,000 Speaker 2: Think that Luka and Jokic both are two of the 1045 00:48:32,120 --> 00:48:34,759 Speaker 2: very best that I've ever seen. They remind me of 1046 00:48:34,840 --> 00:48:39,040 Speaker 2: Lebron Lebron though, Like as good as Lebron was as 1047 00:48:39,040 --> 00:48:42,080 Speaker 2: a passer and he was amazing, there was just that 1048 00:48:42,280 --> 00:48:45,440 Speaker 2: next There was a lot of Lebron's passing ability that 1049 00:48:45,520 --> 00:48:48,560 Speaker 2: was predicated on like his transition athleticism and just his 1050 00:48:48,640 --> 00:48:51,560 Speaker 2: rim pressure and he was particularly great at spraying out 1051 00:48:51,560 --> 00:48:54,480 Speaker 2: to shooters. And I feel like there's a little bit 1052 00:48:54,480 --> 00:48:59,480 Speaker 2: more dynamic, like like tight window playmaking that you see 1053 00:48:59,480 --> 00:49:03,640 Speaker 2: from guys like Jokic in Luca involving like lob passing. 1054 00:49:03,680 --> 00:49:07,000 Speaker 2: Like I never thought Lebron. I want to cut him 1055 00:49:07,000 --> 00:49:09,960 Speaker 2: some slack for the Anthony Davis relationship because he would 1056 00:49:10,000 --> 00:49:12,680 Speaker 2: just end up getting that screen switched a lot of 1057 00:49:12,719 --> 00:49:14,560 Speaker 2: the times, which would shut down a lot of the 1058 00:49:14,640 --> 00:49:17,040 Speaker 2: lobs that were available. But I never thought Lebron was 1059 00:49:17,080 --> 00:49:20,280 Speaker 2: as good as like a lob passer as Jokic or Luca. 1060 00:49:21,480 --> 00:49:26,759 Speaker 2: They're both very different, but I would say I don't 1061 00:49:26,760 --> 00:49:28,279 Speaker 2: know that I've seen a player that passed the ball 1062 00:49:28,280 --> 00:49:31,279 Speaker 2: better than Jokic personally. There's a bunch of guys on 1063 00:49:31,320 --> 00:49:34,319 Speaker 2: that tier. That's maybe a question for the summer in 1064 00:49:34,440 --> 00:49:37,879 Speaker 2: terms of like actually putting like kind of nailing down 1065 00:49:37,880 --> 00:49:38,320 Speaker 2: a ranking. 1066 00:49:38,560 --> 00:49:42,279 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think there's the Jokic playmaking thing, because there's 1067 00:49:42,280 --> 00:49:45,040 Speaker 4: a there's a couple elements to this question. I feel 1068 00:49:45,120 --> 00:49:48,840 Speaker 4: like the physical ability to make the widest variety of 1069 00:49:48,880 --> 00:49:51,560 Speaker 4: types of passes possible, and I think Lebron is at 1070 00:49:51,560 --> 00:49:53,879 Speaker 4: the top of that list. I mean, Jokic has more size, 1071 00:49:53,920 --> 00:49:55,800 Speaker 4: so maybe you give him an advantage there, but Lebron 1072 00:49:55,800 --> 00:49:57,839 Speaker 4: can make pretty much any pass he wants to make. 1073 00:49:58,080 --> 00:49:59,920 Speaker 1: And then you combine with the fl. 1074 00:50:00,160 --> 00:50:03,520 Speaker 4: Or understanding and envision and all those things, which is 1075 00:50:03,520 --> 00:50:06,680 Speaker 4: where I think Joki and Luca just have a slight 1076 00:50:06,920 --> 00:50:07,680 Speaker 4: edge over. 1077 00:50:07,560 --> 00:50:08,640 Speaker 1: Lebron in my opinion. 1078 00:50:09,320 --> 00:50:12,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're just I this is we are splitting hairs 1079 00:50:12,920 --> 00:50:15,160 Speaker 2: between the greatest passers in the history of the game, 1080 00:50:15,400 --> 00:50:18,200 Speaker 2: and like my favorite Lebron moment as a passer was 1081 00:50:18,239 --> 00:50:21,279 Speaker 2: the Indiana Pacers comeback in twenty seventeen in Game three 1082 00:50:21,320 --> 00:50:25,040 Speaker 2: after they were already up two to zero and tylu 1083 00:50:25,080 --> 00:50:28,319 Speaker 2: benched Kyrie and Kevin Love and Lebron let this come 1084 00:50:28,360 --> 00:50:33,399 Speaker 2: back with like Shanning Fry and Richard Jefferson. And there 1085 00:50:33,480 --> 00:50:39,440 Speaker 2: was a play where Emon Schumpert stripped Paul George on 1086 00:50:39,480 --> 00:50:42,799 Speaker 2: a right shoulder fade around the left elbow, and it 1087 00:50:42,880 --> 00:50:45,799 Speaker 2: led to a fast break, and Lebron was just going 1088 00:50:45,960 --> 00:50:48,800 Speaker 2: right down the middle of the floor. And I literally 1089 00:50:48,880 --> 00:50:51,600 Speaker 2: watched George Hill, who was in between Lebron and the rim. 1090 00:50:51,719 --> 00:50:54,600 Speaker 2: I watched George Hill vacate the lane to run to 1091 00:50:54,680 --> 00:50:57,319 Speaker 2: the corner to cover a three point shooter because he 1092 00:50:57,360 --> 00:50:59,440 Speaker 2: was terrified of Lebron making the pass, and Lebron just 1093 00:50:59,440 --> 00:51:04,279 Speaker 2: went down to like jackhammer smash, like Lebron his the 1094 00:51:04,520 --> 00:51:06,360 Speaker 2: I feel like people have almost forgotten how good of 1095 00:51:06,360 --> 00:51:08,439 Speaker 2: a passer he is, just simply because at this phase 1096 00:51:08,480 --> 00:51:10,520 Speaker 2: in his career he doesn't create as much advantage as 1097 00:51:10,520 --> 00:51:15,880 Speaker 2: he used to. Is that all we ought for tonight? 1098 00:51:17,120 --> 00:51:19,319 Speaker 2: All right, that's all we have for tonight, guys. We 1099 00:51:19,400 --> 00:51:22,200 Speaker 2: are not gonna do a film session tomorrow. I'm not 1100 00:51:22,239 --> 00:51:23,960 Speaker 2: sure if you can tell just by watching the show. 1101 00:51:23,960 --> 00:51:26,600 Speaker 2: But i am like completely exhausted and I'm in desperate 1102 00:51:26,680 --> 00:51:28,319 Speaker 2: need of some sleep, So I'm gonna be sleeping in 1103 00:51:28,360 --> 00:51:30,919 Speaker 2: tomorrow and getting a little bit caught up on that front. 1104 00:51:30,920 --> 00:51:33,600 Speaker 2: We have a jam packed weekend ahead of us with 1105 00:51:33,640 --> 00:51:36,319 Speaker 2: the Friday night slate. We have what Lakers Wolves last 1106 00:51:36,560 --> 00:51:39,280 Speaker 2: Tomorrow night game three, Then we have four games on Saturday, 1107 00:51:39,320 --> 00:51:42,680 Speaker 2: four games on Sunday, so no film session tomorrow. I'll 1108 00:51:42,680 --> 00:51:44,800 Speaker 2: see you guys live on YouTube after the final Brothers 1109 00:51:44,800 --> 00:51:46,600 Speaker 2: are of the Lakers game. And just last note, if 1110 00:51:46,640 --> 00:51:49,239 Speaker 2: you guys are into Star Wars or if you are 1111 00:51:49,280 --> 00:51:51,680 Speaker 2: watching and or head over to my other podcast, two 1112 00:51:51,719 --> 00:51:55,080 Speaker 2: Sun's podcast, we recorded a you know, thirty five minute 1113 00:51:55,120 --> 00:51:56,640 Speaker 2: or so episode where we just kind of broke down 1114 00:51:56,640 --> 00:51:58,560 Speaker 2: the first three episodes with my buddy Luke's make sure 1115 00:51:58,560 --> 00:52:00,279 Speaker 2: you guys head over there again. A pretty shit you 1116 00:52:00,280 --> 00:52:01,920 Speaker 2: guys for suporting us and supporting the show, and we 1117 00:52:01,960 --> 00:52:03,840 Speaker 2: will see you tomorrow night. What's up guys. As always, 1118 00:52:03,880 --> 00:52:06,880 Speaker 2: I appreciate you for listening to and supporting OOPS tonight. 1119 00:52:06,960 --> 00:52:08,960 Speaker 2: They would actually be really helpful for us if you 1120 00:52:08,960 --> 00:52:11,600 Speaker 2: guys would take a second and leave a rating and 1121 00:52:11,760 --> 00:52:13,920 Speaker 2: a review. As always, I appreciate you guys supporting us, 1122 00:52:13,920 --> 00:52:15,359 Speaker 2: but if you could take a minute to do that, 1123 00:52:15,640 --> 00:52:18,800 Speaker 2: I'd really appreciate it. 1124 00:52:18,920 --> 00:52:19,719 Speaker 1: The volume