1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, well, good to hoops tonight here 2 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 1: at the volume. Happy Monday, everybody, hopefull of you guys 3 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 1: had a great weekend, got a jam packed show for you. Today. 4 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: We are moving on in our player rankings to number 5 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: eight Lebron James, a guy that I'm sure is going 6 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: to lead to a lot of frustration. He's the most 7 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 1: polarizing player in the NBA. But I really want to 8 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,919 Speaker 1: dive into the reason why he's polarizing, as well as 9 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 1: why I have him ranked up at number eight this year. 10 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: You'd think it'd be easier to make that case, given 11 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: the fact that he finished sixth an MVP voting and 12 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: made second Team All NBA, but there's a hefty group 13 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: of NBA fans who think Lebron is pretty overrated at 14 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 1: this point. I'm excited to get into that topic and 15 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: debate it a little bit with you guys today, and 16 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: then hopefully you guys will have your counterpoints, which we 17 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: can get into in our mail bags later on. But 18 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:04,960 Speaker 1: the second segments, we got six games worth of exhibition 19 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: basketball from Nicole Jokic, Luka, Doncic, and Giannis and Tennekumpo 20 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: in their friendlies as of the time of this recording 21 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: in their friendlies prepping for EuroBasket, I am going to 22 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 1: give brief thoughts on all three of them, more extensive 23 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: thoughts on Jokich and Luca because both of them have 24 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 1: kind of interesting stuff going on with their body that 25 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 1: I have takes about. So we'll have some EuroBasket thoughts 26 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 1: at the tail end of the show and then we'll 27 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: get out of here for the day. You guys know 28 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: the joke before we get started. Subscribe to the Hoops 29 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: Tonight YouTube channel so you don't miss any more of 30 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 1: our videos. Follow me on Twitter at underscore JSNLT so 31 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: you guys don't miss show announcements. Don't forget about o 32 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 1: podcast few wherever you catch podcast under Hoops Tonight. It's 33 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:42,319 Speaker 1: also super helpful if you leave a rating and a 34 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: review on that front. Jackson's doing incredible work on our 35 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: social media feeds on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Make 36 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: sure you guys follow us there and the last but 37 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 1: not least, if you disagree with any of these rankings, 38 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 1: make a case in the comments put mailbag Colin. Make 39 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: your case for why you disagree, up or down, whatever 40 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: it may be, and we will get to it in 41 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: our mail bags moving forward. Mail bags are a fair game. 42 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: You can talk or ask about anything you guys want, 43 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: but I'm also going to be emphasizing some of your 44 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: player ranking centric questions when we get to that point. 45 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 1: All right, let's talk some basketball. So Lebron is easily 46 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: one of the most polarizing players in the league, and 47 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 1: he's become even more polarizing in this phase of his 48 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 1: career because it used to be that there was this 49 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 1: like obvious chunk of fans who had a beef with 50 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: him for whatever reason. It was like MJ fans, you know, 51 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: a lot of the older generation of basketball fans. And 52 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: then because of the Steph Curry Lebron rivalry, when the 53 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: Cavs and Warriors faced off in the finals every single 54 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 1: year for four straight years. It kind of feels like 55 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:45,079 Speaker 1: a different era now when you look at how much 56 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: parody there is and how we have a different finals 57 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,679 Speaker 1: matchup every year. But because of that era, there's a 58 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: big chunk of one of the largest fan bases in 59 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:56,919 Speaker 1: the NBA that dislikes Lebron to a great extent. I've 60 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 1: struggled to understand that because you know, I've hated Steph 61 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 1: during that time, but I have such a great appreciation 62 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: and respect for him as as a basketball fan, and 63 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 1: I wish more people felt that way about Lebron, but 64 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: it is what it is. I'm excited to dive into it, though, 65 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 1: because I think one of the big reasons why there's 66 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: this kind of polarizing debate surrounding Lebron in his place 67 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 1: in the league centers around the fact that he used 68 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: to be a lot better. He has certainly declined to 69 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 1: a certain extent, and for whatever reason, Lebron gets graded 70 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 1: on like a curve in the negative sense by most 71 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: basketball fans, like we're going to talk about his durability. 72 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 1: His durability the way that it's discussed doesn't make any sense, 73 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: especially relative to other stars in the league who for 74 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 1: some reason that gets glossed over because they happen to 75 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: be twenty eight or thirty two, even though they're missing 76 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 1: more games. It's crazy the way that Lebron gets looked 77 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 1: at as the old broken down dude when he's sneaky 78 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 1: been one of the most reliable players in the league 79 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: over the last couple of years, especially really you know, 80 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: in you know, when you compare to the other stars 81 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 1: at the top of the league. Same thing goes with 82 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: like his overall level of play. Yeah, he's not as 83 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 1: good as he used to be, but he's still really 84 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: damn good. And there's this idea that like, oh, he 85 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: can't reach the same level, he can't reach the top 86 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 1: tier guys, there's a certain level of inconsistency. Well guess what, 87 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: once you get to number five on this list, there's 88 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 1: inconsistency for all the guys. It's so one of the 89 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 1: big things that I want to emphasize today is in 90 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 1: with respect to this discussion, Yeah, Lebron's old, there's certainly 91 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 1: risk that comes associated with that, but when you actually 92 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: look at him in a vacuum compared to the other 93 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 1: players in this league, he still ranks very highly in 94 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,599 Speaker 1: my book. So let's dive into this a little bit deeper. So, 95 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: first of all, I think that there's this idea that 96 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: Lebron is un liable with his health, and I just 97 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: don't think that's the case just in the Superstar tier, 98 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:08,359 Speaker 1: so just among the guys that I have in the 99 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:12,600 Speaker 1: top fourteen, Lebron has played in more regular season games 100 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 1: over the last two seasons than obviously Kawhi and Embiid, 101 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: Victor wemin Yama, Luka, Doncic, Jiannison, Tennakoumpo, Jalen Brunson, Kevin Durant, 102 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis, and Donovan Mitchell. He literally has played in 103 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 1: more games over the last two years than nine of 104 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: the top fourteen players on this list. The only guys 105 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: in this tier who are clearly in another tier, like 106 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:41,919 Speaker 1: clearly more reliable night tonight in terms of being available 107 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 1: and producing at a superstar level are Nicole Jokic, Chake 108 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 1: Yilis Alexander and Anthony Edwards. Those are the only three 109 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 1: guys who are like you can book them for seventy 110 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: five plus games every single year. It's obviously another tier above, 111 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 1: and Lebron has literally never missed a playoff game for 112 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: his team. Think about how many stars of miss playoff 113 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 1: games over the last couple of years. So I think 114 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: that label for him is actually unfair. Maybe he'll get 115 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 1: hurt this year, maybe he'll miss a bunch of time, 116 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,720 Speaker 1: but if you think that's gonna happen, that's wishful thinking 117 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: on your part. And compared to most of the guys 118 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 1: on this list, he's actually one of the more reliable guys. 119 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: He had a growing injury last year, missed twelve games, 120 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: played seventy. Now what makes things complicated for Lebron and 121 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 1: the reason why even though he finished sixth an MVP voting, 122 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:36,160 Speaker 1: I have him down at eight this year is Lebron's 123 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 1: age does cause him to kind of oscillate between several 124 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 1: different levels of play throughout the season. We're gonna dive 125 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 1: more into this concept later on in the show, But 126 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: the way I look at it is like there are 127 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:52,239 Speaker 1: guys in this list of fourteen who could never reach 128 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:56,160 Speaker 1: the level that Lebron reached in the time. In that 129 00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: time spanning the end of the Anthony Davis era beginning 130 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 1: at the Luka Doncaje era, he reached the level there 131 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: that there are like legitimately guys on this list have 132 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: never reached. But then there are also guys like there's 133 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: a level that Lebron reached last year in the beginning 134 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: of the year where he was looking especially old or 135 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: that's a lower level than any of the guys on 136 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 1: this tier are going to reach, aside from obviously Kawhi 137 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: and Embiid who were dealing with injuries, Like there is 138 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 1: a weird wide range of outcomes with Lebron that stems 139 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 1: from his age. We're gonna dive a lot into that 140 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: concept in a little bit. I want to quickly just 141 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 1: run through his statistics and his metrics from this season. 142 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: Then we'll dig into some of the specifics about who 143 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: he is as a basketball player. At this point, seventy 144 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: games played, averaged twenty four points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. 145 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: Guess how many NBI players I guess how many NBA 146 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: players averaged at least twenty four points, seven rebounds, and 147 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: eight assists last year, two Nikola Jokic and Lebron James. 148 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: He also had one point six stocks per game. His 149 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:01,239 Speaker 1: percentages fifty one percent from the field, thirty eight percent 150 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: from three to seventy eight percent from the line, fifty 151 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 1: seven percent in effective field goal percentage, and sixty percent 152 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: in true shooting. Let's dig into the play type data. 153 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: Lebron's playtype data was funny to dig into because even 154 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: with his inconsistencies in the level of play that he 155 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: reached at various points in the season, he's still just 156 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: a very reliable shot creator in the half court. We're 157 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: gonna talk more about this concept later, but like Lebron's 158 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: not as good at generating advantages as he used to 159 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 1: because he's older and he can't move as well, but 160 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 1: his ability to turn those advantages into quality shots for 161 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: his team as a high level playmaker is still right 162 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: up there with the very best players in the league. 163 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 1: He finished this year sixth in assists per game. Even 164 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 1: with his limitations in mobility, especially in one on one situations, 165 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 1: which we're going to dive into, he ran one three 166 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 1: hundred and ninety nine pick and rolls, ISOs and post 167 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 1: ups including passes this year, and on those possessions he 168 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 1: got one point zero two points per possession, which is solid. 169 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 1: It's not great by any means, but it's solid. As 170 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 1: we've consistently talked about over the years, if you can 171 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:10,559 Speaker 1: run massive volume and get over a point per possession 172 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 1: in half court offense, that is a huge asset to 173 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: a team. And so yeah, he's not getting up in 174 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 1: that like one point oh seven, one point oh eight 175 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:21,199 Speaker 1: that you're seeing the better shot creators in the league 176 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:24,199 Speaker 1: get on massive volume, but he's still giving you reliable 177 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 1: half court shot creation. Some specifics, he was very good 178 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: in pick and roll one point zero five points per possession. 179 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: That makes sense, right, and pick and roll you're getting 180 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: a screen, so it's less one on one oriented on 181 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 1: Lebron's ability to gain an advantage on a guy just 182 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 1: manned a man versus in the ball screen, where he 183 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 1: has obviously that screen advantage that can get him downhill. 184 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 1: When he gets downhill, it unlocks some of his scoring 185 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: ability as well as his ability to pass out of it. 186 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: That one point zero five points per possession including passes 187 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 1: ranked was in the seventy eighth percentile and out of 188 00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: the fifty two players to run at least five hundred 189 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 1: pick and rolls this here, he ranked seventeenth on this list. 190 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 1: So he's very good in pick and roll. He was 191 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 1: good shooting out of pick and rolls. He had He 192 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: hit thirty six percent of his pull up threes out 193 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 1: of pick and roll. That's one point zero seven points 194 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: per shot. That's very good. So if he got into 195 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: a ball screen and the guy died on the screen 196 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 1: or went under, Lebron was hitting it thirty six percent 197 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 1: of the time. That solid fifty four percent on twos, 198 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: mainly fueled by his ability to get to the rim. 199 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 1: Lebron is a decent short range scorer, but it's not 200 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:29,960 Speaker 1: a strength of his At this point, he was forty 201 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 1: three percent on floaters, forty one percent on jumpers inside 202 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: of seventeen feet, So obviously not like Jalen Brunson surgical 203 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:41,959 Speaker 1: from the short range, definitely not going to dominate games 204 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: with middies and push shots, but with his ability to 205 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 1: get to the rim mixed with mediocre, kind of middle 206 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: of the pack short range shot making, he was fifty 207 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 1: four percent on twos and he's still just completely ridiculous 208 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: getting to and finishing at the rim. I'm going to 209 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 1: save the stats here for later because it kind of 210 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 1: comes into play in several different types of play types 211 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:06,320 Speaker 1: like transition, cutting, ISO post ups, all that kind of stuff. 212 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: But that's carrying his ability to get to and finish 213 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 1: at the rim is carrying a good chunk of his 214 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:14,320 Speaker 1: pick and roll scoring. And then Lebron, like we mentioned earlier, 215 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: still just a remarkably gifted passer out of pick and roll. 216 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 1: If he can get his man on that screen and 217 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 1: get downhill, he's still incredibly good at setting up his 218 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: guys for lobs and for wide open threes. And that's 219 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: the thing. Even that older Lebron James still with sixth 220 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 1: in the entire league and assists per game, Trey Young, 221 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: Nikole Jokich, Tyre saliburtn Kate Cunningham, James Harden, and Lebron James. 222 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: He's right up there with those guys. Is one on 223 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: one stuff again a little more mixed. He ran seven 224 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: hundred and forty seven ISOs and post ups including passes, 225 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 1: generated seven hundred and thirty four points. That zero point 226 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: nine to eight points per possession, which is only very 227 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: slightly above average. He was fifty sixth percentile in ISO, 228 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 1: fifty second percentile in the post. This is the real 229 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: place where his age is shown. On offense, he's just 230 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 1: not as capable of getting a step on defenders one 231 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:07,679 Speaker 1: on one as he used to be. Right again, it's 232 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: worth mentioning he's still above average on massive volume there, 233 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 1: but it's just not the same dominant force that he 234 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: was in his prime. And again, that's really the important 235 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 1: thing that I want to keep driving home today, Like, yeah, 236 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: when you're comparing it to old Lebron, who literally is 237 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: in the conversation for the greatest basketball player ever, you're 238 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 1: going to be underwhelmed by some of this stuff. But 239 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:32,199 Speaker 1: once you actually start to like put it down next 240 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: to the other stars in the league. It still holds 241 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 1: up pretty favorably. The main area I'm hoping he can 242 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 1: have a resurgence in is the post. Last year, the 243 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 1: year before last, I should say he was really good 244 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 1: in the post. He's one point one to two points 245 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 1: per possession. In theory, the post relies more on size 246 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:55,319 Speaker 1: strength iq less on foot speed. Right, So, as a 247 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: Lakers fan, I'm hoping that he can have a bounce 248 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 1: back year in the post to improve some his one 249 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 1: on one numbers. But for the sake of this list, 250 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 1: I think we should look at him as a guy 251 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaker 1: who's lost a significant step in one on ones but 252 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:09,839 Speaker 1: is still a very good pick and role player in 253 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: the league. So, how is Lebron, as you know, more 254 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 1: of a middle of the pack shot creator still as 255 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 1: a scorer able to get to twenty four point four 256 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: points per game on sixty percent trough shooting. First, his 257 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:32,559 Speaker 1: remarkable ability to get to the rim. Forty year old 258 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 1: old ass Lebron James attempted the eleventh most total shots 259 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:42,320 Speaker 1: at the rim in the entire NBA last year. Per game, 260 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 1: he ranked eighth. Old man Lebron James attempted the same 261 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 1: amount of shots at the rim as Shay Gilders Alexander 262 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:54,199 Speaker 1: this year, And that's kind of what I'm talking about 263 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 1: in terms of, like this negative grading on a curve 264 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:01,960 Speaker 1: that Lebron faces. Has Lebron lost this? Yeah, But how 265 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: do you guys discuss Shake guil Just Alexander and his 266 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 1: ability to get to the rim. Like, if you ever 267 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 1: have a conversation with a basketball fan today about Shake 268 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 1: kil Just Alexander, it's, oh my god, one of the 269 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,439 Speaker 1: most gifted drivers of the basketball we've ever seen. That's 270 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: old man Lebron. That's what he did last year in 271 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: his efficiency there one point four points per attempt, ranked 272 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: fourth out of the eleven players in the league to 273 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: attempt at least five hundred shots there. That's been Lebron's 274 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: bread and butter his entire career, and he's still one 275 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: of the highest volume and efficiency rim finishers in the 276 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: entire league at his age, and that's a big part 277 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 1: of what allows him to be such an efficient scorer 278 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 1: despite being middle of the pack as a perimeter score. 279 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: Nothing to write home about, Like he's gonna hit a 280 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: decent amount of his pull up threes he's gonna hit, 281 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 1: you know, forty percent of his mid rangers and his 282 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 1: floaters not gonna you know, take that to the bank 283 00:14:56,440 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 1: as one of the elite perimeter scorers in the league. 284 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 1: But when you combine that with him still just being 285 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 1: such a remarkable to the rim force, it makes him 286 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: still such an efficient, high volume score. And then secondly, 287 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 1: I think Lebron has always been underrated as an all 288 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: around offensive player. There's this idea that Lebron has to 289 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 1: have the offense built around him, and I don't view 290 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 1: that as the case. It really hasn't been built around 291 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 1: him in years. It's become you know, they're variations Darvin 292 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: Ham's more five out approach, JJ Reddicks more like kind 293 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 1: of spread pick and roll four out approach, although he 294 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 1: also includes five out concepts. But in the last few 295 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:40,600 Speaker 1: years it's become a lot of Dlo and Austin, now 296 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: Luca and Austin. It's a lot of Luke Lebron having 297 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: to function as a screener and having to function off 298 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 1: the ball. He's become a very good catch and shoot player. 299 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 1: Now two years in a row he's been great at it, 300 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: one point to two points per attempt. This last season. 301 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: He made forty five percent of his unguarded catch and 302 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: shoot jumpers. Last year, he got one point three to 303 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 1: five points per attempt in the playoffs against Minnesota. He 304 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: has functioned as an off ball scorer off of Luca. 305 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 1: He's good at finishing on cuts. He got one point 306 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: five to eight points per cut last year out of 307 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 1: one hundred and eighteen guys who logged at least fifty cuts. 308 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: That was the fifth most efficient finisher on cuts in 309 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: the league. He's excellent in transition. Lebron scored the ninth 310 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 1: most transition points per game in the entire NBA last year. 311 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 1: A lot of that benefiting off of those hit aheads 312 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: from other ball handlers on his team. All of that 313 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: has allowed him to function offensively off of Luca. As 314 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 1: you guys may remember, I was critical of Austin Reeves 315 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: last year for really struggling to play offense off of 316 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 1: Luca and off of Lebron. That's something he has to 317 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 1: improve on. Lebron has always been very good at finding 318 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: ways to be impactful offensively, even as his role changes 319 00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 1: around him. Now, let's dig into the reality that Lebron 320 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 1: reaches different levels throughout the season Lebron basically hovers between 321 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 1: three different levels at this phase of his career. There's 322 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:14,159 Speaker 1: the top tier superstar, the guy that we saw for 323 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 1: a little while right before his growing injury last year. 324 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,680 Speaker 1: Then there's the second tier superstar, this is the guy 325 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 1: we saw for the majority of last year. We'll get 326 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 1: into those two versions of Lebron here in a minute. 327 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 1: But then there's the third tier star. This is that 328 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 1: floor that Lebron will reach that most of the guys 329 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 1: in this tier don't reach. This guy just shows up 330 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:37,400 Speaker 1: every once in a while, usually early in the season, 331 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:42,439 Speaker 1: and it's during these stretches that the noise surrounding Lebron 332 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 1: and his age starts to get really loud. Now, it's 333 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 1: worth mentioning that version of Lebron still has a pretty 334 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 1: high floor. So, for instance, in this last season, Lebron 335 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 1: had his longest version of this type of stretch for 336 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:58,680 Speaker 1: the first twenty one games of the season. Lebron was 337 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 1: mediocre by his stand He averaged just twenty two points 338 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: per game on fifty seven percent true shooting, but he 339 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 1: also averaged eight rebounds and nine assists per game. Do 340 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 1: you know how many players in the NBA averaged at 341 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: least twenty two points and at least five rebounds and 342 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 1: five assists per game last year, let alone eight to nine, 343 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 1: but five and five. There are only eleven dudes who 344 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 1: reached that mark last year. So Lebron's basement as a 345 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:32,160 Speaker 1: player is twenty two, eight and nine on fifty seven 346 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: percent trugh shooting, a level of production only about a 347 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 1: dozen players in the NBA can achieve. But and this 348 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 1: is where it gets complicated, because what I just described 349 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 1: is still very much a second tier star. The reason 350 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 1: why I drop him to that third tier when he's 351 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: playing at this level is he really can get pretty 352 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:56,159 Speaker 1: lazy on defense during these stretches. Again, it's usually early 353 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 1: in the season, and it's getting a little bit longer 354 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 1: with each passing season, but he can really start to 355 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:05,919 Speaker 1: cut corners in terms of just his effort and energy 356 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: on that end of the four. I still think when 357 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 1: Lebron is engaged, he's not an all like, He's not 358 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:12,639 Speaker 1: like a you know, when he's super healthy, he can 359 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:15,119 Speaker 1: still reach that all defense level like he did in February, 360 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 1: which we'll talk about. But like Lebron in the playoffs 361 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:20,840 Speaker 1: last year, he's a very good defender. But He's not 362 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:24,480 Speaker 1: like a world beating defender anymore. He can't reach that ceiling. 363 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:27,639 Speaker 1: But Lebron is still a very very good defensive player 364 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: when he gives a shit. But Lebron is an issue, 365 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,480 Speaker 1: which is that for stretches of seasons, especially at the 366 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 1: beginning when the when the goal just feels so far away, 367 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 1: he can be an inconsistent effort and energy I on 368 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 1: the defensive end of the four and that can certainly 369 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:45,360 Speaker 1: hurt your team there, and so that to me drops 370 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:49,119 Speaker 1: his overall impact in those phases to that of a 371 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 1: third tier star. But that's the basement. Lebron spent the 372 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 1: vast majority of last season playing well above that level, 373 00:19:58,000 --> 00:19:59,959 Speaker 1: but it's important for us to acknowledge that he has 374 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 1: as that basement, and that's a big part of why 375 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:04,680 Speaker 1: I put him down at eight, despite him reaching heights 376 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 1: higher than that during the season, most of the guys 377 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: in the Superstar tier never dipped that low, and that's 378 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: why I kind of gave that as a hit to 379 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:16,920 Speaker 1: him on this list. But then Lebron also reached a 380 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: level in the middle of the season when both Anthony 381 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:24,399 Speaker 1: Davis and Luca were out and he was literally playing 382 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 1: like the MVP of the league and carrying the team 383 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:31,120 Speaker 1: to win after win after win against really good teams. 384 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:34,639 Speaker 1: And we're going to go into those specifics here in 385 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 1: just a second. But that's what makes Lebron such a 386 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:39,679 Speaker 1: complicated player to bring. So let's take a look at 387 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: Lebron's ceiling. This stretch that I keep referring to where 388 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:46,680 Speaker 1: Lebron reached that top tier superstar level. It was sixteen 389 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 1: games long, so a little under a fourth of the season. 390 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:51,440 Speaker 1: Call it like a fifth of the season. From January 391 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: twenty eighth to March sixth, which was his final great 392 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 1: game before he heard his growing again in the Celtics game. 393 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:03,399 Speaker 1: During that stretch, he averaged twenty nine points, eight rebounds, 394 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:10,399 Speaker 1: nine assists on sixty five percent true shooting, so the 395 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 1: same Swiss army knife that we've always known Lebron to be. 396 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 1: But also twenty nine points per game on sixty five 397 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:20,320 Speaker 1: percent true shooting. He was fifty four percent from the 398 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:24,120 Speaker 1: field forty one percent from three on seven attempts per game. 399 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:28,600 Speaker 1: He was literally the best defender on the number one 400 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:34,320 Speaker 1: defense in the NBA in that span. That's right, Anthony Davis. 401 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:38,159 Speaker 1: In that entire span from January twenty eighth to March sixth, 402 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:40,439 Speaker 1: when the Lakers were the number one defense in the league. 403 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:44,360 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis literally played just nine minutes and fifty seconds 404 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:47,639 Speaker 1: of total minute of total game time in that entire span. 405 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 1: Played a little bit in the first game, got hurt, 406 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 1: we didn't see him again in a Laker jersey, and 407 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:54,639 Speaker 1: then Luca returned at the end of that stretch. Towards 408 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:57,119 Speaker 1: the end of that stretch, but he was a fat, 409 00:21:57,280 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 1: out of shape version of himself, wasn't nearly as good 410 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:02,920 Speaker 1: on offense as Lebron at that specific point in time, 411 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:06,920 Speaker 1: and Lebron was literally carrying the defense still. And during 412 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:10,280 Speaker 1: that stretch, the Lakers went thirteen and three with Lebron 413 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:13,560 Speaker 1: basically leading the way as the superstar. They beat the 414 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 1: Knicks twice, they beat the Clippers three times, they beat 415 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 1: the Warriors. When Luca returned, they beat the Nuggets in Denver, 416 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 1: they beat the Timberwolves. I literally cannot overstate how well 417 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:28,159 Speaker 1: Lebron played in that stretch. As a fan, it was 418 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:31,200 Speaker 1: like going back in time and watching twenty eighteen. Lebron 419 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 1: again twenty nine to eight nine on sixty five percent 420 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:37,879 Speaker 1: truugh shooting while anchoring the best defense in the league 421 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 1: and just beating great team after great team. It was 422 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 1: amazing to watch. And again, that was a level that 423 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 1: many of the guys in this top fourteen have quite 424 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:53,439 Speaker 1: literally never reached in their entire basketball lives. And that 425 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 1: is what makes this so complicated. So let's zoom out 426 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 1: and let's talk about why put on at eight. Lebron 427 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 1: has actually sneakily been one of the most consistently reliable 428 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 1: and productive players in the NBA over the last two seasons. 429 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:13,400 Speaker 1: I posted this stat on Twitter a few weeks back, 430 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:17,880 Speaker 1: but it's crazy. Guess how many players in the NBA 431 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:21,119 Speaker 1: have played in at least seventy games each of the 432 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:25,280 Speaker 1: last two seasons, so consistently available and to over the 433 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: course of those two seasons average at least twenty five 434 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:30,959 Speaker 1: to five and five on at least sixty percent trough shooting. 435 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:35,240 Speaker 1: So again, just think of that as just consistent superstar 436 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:39,400 Speaker 1: production at least seventy games per season and at least 437 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 1: superstar production of twenty five to five and five on 438 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:44,720 Speaker 1: at least sixty percent through shooting. Three players hit that, 439 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: Mark Nikole Jokic and shay Giljes Alexander the last two 440 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:55,240 Speaker 1: MVPs of the league in Lebron James Again, as I said, 441 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 1: it's important and it's fair for us to discuss Lebron's 442 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:03,240 Speaker 1: health and his age as it pertains to which ceiling 443 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:06,159 Speaker 1: he can reach. And like what you get in the 444 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 1: postseason matters like twenty twenty three, you get a broken 445 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 1: foot version of Lebron that you know was a lesser 446 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 1: version of the playoff Lebron we've seen over the years. 447 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,439 Speaker 1: Twenty twenty four, they didn't lose to Denver because of Lebron. 448 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 1: Lebron was incredible in that series. I would argue he 449 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:23,200 Speaker 1: played at a top tier superstar level in that series, 450 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:25,680 Speaker 1: a just clutch shot after clutch shot after clutch shot, 451 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:28,479 Speaker 1: and and just the Nuggets were better, and the Nuggets 452 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:30,080 Speaker 1: are one of the great teams of this era. And 453 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 1: then last year against Minnesota kind of in between those 454 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:37,400 Speaker 1: two levels, and that that's the fair discussion we can 455 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:39,920 Speaker 1: have as it pertains to which ceiling Lebron can reach. 456 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:45,199 Speaker 1: And that's why he's eighth and not fifth, right, But 457 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:48,720 Speaker 1: in terms of actually being available to his team and 458 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:52,280 Speaker 1: reaching superstar production, Lebron has actually been one of the 459 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 1: most reliable guys in the league over the last couple 460 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:57,240 Speaker 1: of years. He's never even missed a playoff game in 461 00:24:57,280 --> 00:25:01,600 Speaker 1: his twenty two season career. So yeah, he's old, and 462 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 1: maybe maybe this is the year he finally suffers a 463 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 1: severe injury. Maybe this year he gets hurt and misses 464 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:08,159 Speaker 1: a bunch of time. But if you're banking on that, 465 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:13,199 Speaker 1: it's wishful thinking compared to reality, and especially compared to 466 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:16,119 Speaker 1: the other superstars in this league, who for whatever reason, 467 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:18,720 Speaker 1: get held to a different standard just because they're young. 468 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 1: They miss games, nobody cares because they're between twenty eight 469 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:25,399 Speaker 1: and thirty two. They are inconsistent when it comes to 470 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: meeting the top tier superstar standard. Who cares? But because 471 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 1: it's Lebron and he's old, it's something everybody hyper focuses on. 472 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:35,360 Speaker 1: So that's why I have Lebron at number eight this year. 473 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:38,480 Speaker 1: Now we have one last bonus Lebron topic before we 474 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:45,159 Speaker 1: get to the EuroBasket stuff, because I know Lebron haters 475 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: very well. We are almost certainly going to get a 476 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:50,359 Speaker 1: bunch of comments under this video of people glombing onto 477 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:53,320 Speaker 1: Lebron's on and off numbers this year, and the stat 478 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:56,440 Speaker 1: is real, So let's start there. The Lakers were six 479 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 1: point nine points per one hundred possessions worse this year 480 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 1: with Lebron on the floor versus off. Now for starters, 481 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:09,480 Speaker 1: it's it's a statistical outlier in every single season of 482 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 1: Lebron James's career. I literally went back on cleaning the 483 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:14,879 Speaker 1: glass and looked at every single season, including the early 484 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 1: Calves years, the Miami Heat years, the second Calves years, 485 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:21,480 Speaker 1: the Lakers years, every single season of Lebron's career. The 486 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:23,560 Speaker 1: team has been substantially better with him on the floor 487 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:28,960 Speaker 1: versus off every single one twenty one consecutive years, even recently, 488 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 1: old Man Lebron. Twenty twenty four Lebron was not as 489 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:35,679 Speaker 1: good as twenty twenty five Lebron. Twenty twenty five Lebron 490 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:38,480 Speaker 1: received more MVP consideration, was second team all the NBA, 491 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:42,480 Speaker 1: was better defensively, reached a higher ceiling. He was a 492 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:46,359 Speaker 1: better player twenty twenty four Lebron. The Lakers were eight 493 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 1: points better per one hundre possessions with Lebron on verse 494 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 1: off in twenty twenty three, ten points better twenty twenty two, 495 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:55,119 Speaker 1: three points better, twenty twenty one, thirteen points better twenty 496 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:58,720 Speaker 1: twenty eleven points better, twenty nineteen nine points better. Again, 497 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:01,920 Speaker 1: you go back further in his career, it gets even crazier. 498 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:04,520 Speaker 1: There's like a half dozen years where he's thirteen plus 499 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:07,360 Speaker 1: points better. Two thousand and nine, Lebron, the first year 500 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:10,680 Speaker 1: he won his MVP, the Cavs were eighteen points better 501 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:13,440 Speaker 1: per one hundred possessions when Lebron was on the floor 502 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:16,920 Speaker 1: versus off. So it is quite literally the most obvious 503 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:20,639 Speaker 1: statistical outlier that I can remember seeing in Lebron's career. 504 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:26,160 Speaker 1: So I've almost inclined to discount it entirely, but let's 505 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:29,480 Speaker 1: dive into it any What caused this outlier piece of data. 506 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:31,640 Speaker 1: It comes down to a couple things. First of all, 507 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 1: Lebron was second on the Lakers roster in minutes, so 508 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 1: the sample size of them having a higher net rating 509 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 1: was actually substantially smaller. He was on the floor for 510 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:44,199 Speaker 1: most of the time, including all the minutes that the 511 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:47,720 Speaker 1: starters were out there, and closing every single game for 512 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:50,560 Speaker 1: a team that won fifty games and was the third 513 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:52,960 Speaker 1: seed in the Western Conference. So if you're under the 514 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:57,600 Speaker 1: impression that he was hurting the team, frankly, you're an idiot. Secondly, 515 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 1: there were a couple of lineup in regularities to Lebron 516 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:04,000 Speaker 1: having to anchor many of Los Angeles's worst lineups, and 517 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 1: those lineups didn't perform very well. And if there's a 518 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:09,480 Speaker 1: lesson to be learned, because like basically go it was, 519 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:12,280 Speaker 1: JJ kind of made a strategic effort to anchor Anthony 520 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:15,359 Speaker 1: Davis with more ball handling, right, and so Lebron often 521 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 1: had to anchor these bench units where he was like 522 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:19,679 Speaker 1: the only ball handler and they'd have like a G 523 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,359 Speaker 1: League center because of the week center rotation, and those 524 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:25,720 Speaker 1: lineups got rolled. And there's no doubt that Lebron isn't 525 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 1: as capable of floor raising bad NBA players anymore, and 526 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:33,360 Speaker 1: that maybe something that JJ Reddick has to address moving forward. 527 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 1: But even within that context, when I see twenty one 528 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 1: consecutive seasons of excellent on off numbers, including recent seasons 529 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:46,000 Speaker 1: of old man Lebron, who wasn't even as good as 530 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 1: the player we saw this last year, I'm inclined, excuse me, 531 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 1: I'm inclined to basically just consider it a statistical outlier. 532 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 1: And again, like Lebron more or less was the same 533 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 1: player at this year than he was last year, and 534 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:03,960 Speaker 1: the data looks so different. It looks like an outlier 535 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:07,640 Speaker 1: to me. But again, this kind of floor raising piece, 536 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:13,000 Speaker 1: this inability to carry inferior lineups the way he used to, 537 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 1: that inconsistency of the level of player that he can reach, 538 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:20,120 Speaker 1: is all part of the reason why a guy that 539 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 1: can reach the ceiling lebron reached in February ranks down 540 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:26,920 Speaker 1: at number eight for me this year. Now, let's do 541 00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:31,240 Speaker 1: you're a basket up? Date the rivalries, the marching bands, 542 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:34,960 Speaker 1: the upsets. Saturday's just got way more fun. College football 543 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:38,120 Speaker 1: is back. Think you know the game. 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For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, 569 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:06,120 Speaker 1: see dknng co slash audio. I watched a bunch of 570 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:09,440 Speaker 1: tape of Jannis Luca and Nicole Jokic and their early 571 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:11,720 Speaker 1: friendlies as they prepare for EuroBasket, So I wanted to 572 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:13,280 Speaker 1: quick touch on all three of these guys here for 573 00:31:13,320 --> 00:31:18,239 Speaker 1: about ten minutes. First of all, Luka Doncic, I just 574 00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:23,240 Speaker 1: think he looks amazing physically. He's very clearly much leaner. 575 00:31:24,040 --> 00:31:26,600 Speaker 1: He also looks to have maintained much of his strength, 576 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:29,240 Speaker 1: which means that they're clearly staying dedicated to the weight 577 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:32,360 Speaker 1: room through this process. Again, like the idea is you 578 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:34,680 Speaker 1: don't want to get skinny, you know, Like I remember 579 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:37,200 Speaker 1: when Lebron went on his like weird fish diet in 580 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:39,840 Speaker 1: twenty fourteen. He came into the twenty fifteen season like 581 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:44,080 Speaker 1: considerably carrying less muscle mass, and it was something that 582 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:46,240 Speaker 1: was a bad idea, and you could tell like Lebron 583 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:48,200 Speaker 1: knew it, like he was like, oh shit, Like this 584 00:31:48,360 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 1: diet that I went on was not a good idea. 585 00:31:50,840 --> 00:31:52,760 Speaker 1: And I remember even talked before the season, He's like, oh, 586 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:54,600 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be quicker this year. And he may have 587 00:31:54,640 --> 00:31:57,320 Speaker 1: been a tiny bit quicker, but that lack of strength 588 00:31:57,400 --> 00:31:59,880 Speaker 1: ended up really hurting him. And then almost immediately Lebron 589 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,920 Speaker 1: went back to a different diet and loaded up in 590 00:32:02,960 --> 00:32:05,440 Speaker 1: the weight room and got his muscle mass back. Right, 591 00:32:06,160 --> 00:32:09,800 Speaker 1: I can see several examples of Luca looking like he 592 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:13,440 Speaker 1: has that extra burst while still having the strength to 593 00:32:13,480 --> 00:32:16,120 Speaker 1: power through people. His Euro steps have more of like 594 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:19,240 Speaker 1: a side to side pop to them. There were several 595 00:32:19,360 --> 00:32:22,920 Speaker 1: like examples of him changing direction at full full speed 596 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:26,280 Speaker 1: that looked really good, like chaining together lots of moves 597 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:28,400 Speaker 1: and being able to really pop side to side and 598 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:31,760 Speaker 1: shed defenders, especially driving close out, so you can see 599 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:34,720 Speaker 1: like a real quickness to his first step that really 600 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:37,080 Speaker 1: didn't seem to be the case last year. So I 601 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:40,040 Speaker 1: think overall the physical transformation is going to be huge 602 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:42,720 Speaker 1: for him. I'm very, very excited to see the level 603 00:32:42,760 --> 00:32:46,400 Speaker 1: that Luca can reach this year. Now some specifics. His 604 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:50,040 Speaker 1: play type efficiency in the two friendlies have been off 605 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:54,280 Speaker 1: the charts for sylvania one point one sission of points 606 00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:57,760 Speaker 1: per possession, including passes on fifty eight, pick and rolls, ISOs, 607 00:32:57,800 --> 00:33:00,680 Speaker 1: and post ups. He's been excellent in all three categories. 608 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:03,560 Speaker 1: His jumper's been a bit off four for eight off 609 00:33:03,560 --> 00:33:05,960 Speaker 1: the catch, which is fine. Obviously, He's just six for 610 00:33:06,120 --> 00:33:08,480 Speaker 1: twenty one off of off the dribble jump shots so far. 611 00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:11,160 Speaker 1: That's always a rhythm thing. I actually expect Luca to 612 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:14,120 Speaker 1: have a good perimeter jump shooting season, driven by his 613 00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:17,720 Speaker 1: improved conditioning. Step back threes are all about getting separation 614 00:33:17,840 --> 00:33:20,640 Speaker 1: in the lyft, and that can often become a problem 615 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:23,360 Speaker 1: when you tire out, and I think Luca is going 616 00:33:23,400 --> 00:33:25,400 Speaker 1: to be in good shape this year. He's five for 617 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:27,720 Speaker 1: seven on floaters. That's a really good sign. If you 618 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:30,480 Speaker 1: guys remember his short range touch was a major issue 619 00:33:30,520 --> 00:33:32,440 Speaker 1: last year, so that was something I thought was a 620 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:34,840 Speaker 1: really good sign. I think in general that's super important. 621 00:33:34,840 --> 00:33:38,320 Speaker 1: And this is the one weird thing. He's not taking 622 00:33:38,360 --> 00:33:41,040 Speaker 1: mid range jumpers at all. Out of the twenty nine 623 00:33:41,080 --> 00:33:43,160 Speaker 1: jump shots he took in the two games, just one 624 00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:46,640 Speaker 1: of them was a mid range two, And I really 625 00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:48,560 Speaker 1: think that's an important part of his game. When he's 626 00:33:48,560 --> 00:33:51,360 Speaker 1: clicking on all cylinders. Again, it's like the Anthony Edwards 627 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:53,880 Speaker 1: debate we were having surrounding shake kiods. As Alexander, there's a 628 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:58,720 Speaker 1: delicate balance between large sample efficiency that can come from 629 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:02,760 Speaker 1: heavily indexing tour ards threes and the possession to possession 630 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:08,560 Speaker 1: consistency and the kind of like durability against rough shooting 631 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:10,920 Speaker 1: nights that you can have if you mix in more 632 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:13,120 Speaker 1: short range scoring. So on the one hand five or 633 00:34:13,120 --> 00:34:15,080 Speaker 1: seven on floaters in two games. Like, I think that's 634 00:34:15,080 --> 00:34:17,040 Speaker 1: a good sign that Lucas getting some of his floater 635 00:34:17,160 --> 00:34:20,640 Speaker 1: touched back. But the jump shot piece him relying almost 636 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:23,640 Speaker 1: entirely on threes is not something that I love. But again, 637 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:26,000 Speaker 1: and this is something I want to be clear about. 638 00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:28,880 Speaker 1: Even with the five for seven, even with the poor shooting, 639 00:34:28,920 --> 00:34:30,640 Speaker 1: the six for twenty one on the off the dribble 640 00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:34,640 Speaker 1: jump shots, I'm not really concerned with shot making at 641 00:34:34,640 --> 00:34:36,560 Speaker 1: this point in the summer. It's just such a small 642 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:39,399 Speaker 1: sample size, especially when we're just looking at a couple 643 00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:42,360 Speaker 1: of friendlies. I'm mainly concerned by just how these guys 644 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:45,840 Speaker 1: look physically, and I'm just thrilled with how Luca looks physically, 645 00:34:45,880 --> 00:34:49,200 Speaker 1: and I'm super excited to watch him this year. Nikoley Okic. 646 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:52,440 Speaker 1: So I was having dinner with oamar Is on about 647 00:34:52,440 --> 00:34:55,120 Speaker 1: a week ago and he was like telling me, he's 648 00:34:55,160 --> 00:34:57,560 Speaker 1: like he's like, dude, Jokic looks like he's put on 649 00:34:57,600 --> 00:35:00,840 Speaker 1: some weight. And I was like, wow, really okay. So, 650 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:02,520 Speaker 1: like I go home and I dig into the film 651 00:35:03,239 --> 00:35:08,320 Speaker 1: and he's still moving really well, like moving just fine. 652 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:11,880 Speaker 1: And what's really fascinating to me about that is, Like 653 00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:16,919 Speaker 1: I think like Jokic generally is kind of dowe, right, 654 00:35:17,719 --> 00:35:21,600 Speaker 1: and so there's no way to tell how much of 655 00:35:21,640 --> 00:35:23,839 Speaker 1: that is, Like maybe he's worked out a little bit 656 00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:26,520 Speaker 1: this summer and put on some muscle, or maybe he's 657 00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:28,719 Speaker 1: put on a little bit of fat, or maybe some 658 00:35:28,840 --> 00:35:32,000 Speaker 1: combination of the two. But this is what Adam and 659 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:34,480 Speaker 1: I got into that night. Like Adam was arguing to 660 00:35:34,560 --> 00:35:37,960 Speaker 1: me that it actually might be good for him to 661 00:35:38,120 --> 00:35:41,839 Speaker 1: be bigger under the circumstances that they're playing in this 662 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:46,080 Speaker 1: particular year. And I think I agree with him. Jokic 663 00:35:46,200 --> 00:35:48,920 Speaker 1: being bigger is the right approach when you factor in 664 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:53,640 Speaker 1: one this Nuggets team is much deeper than last year, 665 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:56,759 Speaker 1: so they should be able to keep his minutes down. Again, 666 00:35:56,800 --> 00:35:59,040 Speaker 1: what I'm always scared of when a guy's carrying extra 667 00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:01,440 Speaker 1: weight is the wear and tear on the lower body. 668 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:04,919 Speaker 1: And so even if like even for a player puts 669 00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:08,759 Speaker 1: on muscle, like if you're just weighing fifteen pounds more, 670 00:36:09,760 --> 00:36:13,600 Speaker 1: your every cut, every change of direction, every jump, every landing, 671 00:36:13,680 --> 00:36:17,759 Speaker 1: all of that just wears your lower body down more. Right, So, 672 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:22,040 Speaker 1: like the ability to keep his minutes in check by 673 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:25,439 Speaker 1: having a legitimate backup center. By having just a much 674 00:36:25,560 --> 00:36:28,200 Speaker 1: deeper rotation with which you can carry yourself through the 675 00:36:28,239 --> 00:36:31,760 Speaker 1: regular season, that should allow them to carry a bigger 676 00:36:31,880 --> 00:36:34,680 Speaker 1: Yokic throughout the season. The second piece of it is 677 00:36:35,760 --> 00:36:39,520 Speaker 1: acknowledge reality, and that is that Oklahoma City defended Jokic 678 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:42,279 Speaker 1: into the worst three game stretch of playoff basketball that 679 00:36:42,280 --> 00:36:44,319 Speaker 1: we've ever seen from him, and they did it by 680 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:48,040 Speaker 1: having Isaiah Hartenstein overplay his right shoulder with chet holmgrin 681 00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:50,960 Speaker 1: behind and then just swarming him with their perimeter guys. 682 00:36:51,520 --> 00:36:54,840 Speaker 1: I think Jokic carrying some more strength and weight to 683 00:36:54,960 --> 00:36:59,520 Speaker 1: handle that swarming attack would actually be really helpful. His 684 00:36:59,640 --> 00:37:01,680 Speaker 1: jumpers off, He's just one for eight so far, and 685 00:37:01,680 --> 00:37:03,400 Speaker 1: the one he made was kind of like a grifty 686 00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:06,360 Speaker 1: like pump, fake lean in and one that he got. 687 00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:08,359 Speaker 1: But as I was saying with Luca, I'm not really 688 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:12,680 Speaker 1: concerned with small sample shooting numbers like that. Excuse me. 689 00:37:12,719 --> 00:37:14,960 Speaker 1: I'm more concerned with just how guys look physically in 690 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:18,919 Speaker 1: these tournaments, and I think Jokic like he's mauling everybody 691 00:37:19,480 --> 00:37:23,160 Speaker 1: in these friendli It's like he's on seventeen post ups 692 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:25,759 Speaker 1: so far in these games. He's generated one point four 693 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:30,360 Speaker 1: to seven points per possession, including passes. It's just completely ridiculous. 694 00:37:30,360 --> 00:37:33,800 Speaker 1: And he's literally just tossing people around like rag dolls. Yeah, honest, 695 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:36,799 Speaker 1: Just very briefly on him. He's only played one game. 696 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:38,480 Speaker 1: He's only at the time of this recording, he's just 697 00:37:38,480 --> 00:37:41,280 Speaker 1: played in one friendly against Latvia. But he looks fantastic. 698 00:37:41,440 --> 00:37:45,040 Speaker 1: He had twenty five points on twelve shots, bullying everybody 699 00:37:45,080 --> 00:37:47,920 Speaker 1: on Latvia through the rim, several possessions where like dudes 700 00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:50,600 Speaker 1: were kind of draped on him and he just powered 701 00:37:50,640 --> 00:37:53,040 Speaker 1: through him with that shoulder and just goes right to 702 00:37:53,080 --> 00:37:54,840 Speaker 1: the front of the rim. You know, just classic y honest. 703 00:37:55,160 --> 00:37:57,120 Speaker 1: And then the jumper looked great. At the risk of 704 00:37:57,200 --> 00:37:59,960 Speaker 1: being hypocritical after I just said that, I'm not too 705 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:04,359 Speaker 1: concerned about jump shooting here. It's more just that, specifically 706 00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:07,480 Speaker 1: with Yiannis, I'm excited about jump shooting right because he's 707 00:38:07,520 --> 00:38:09,920 Speaker 1: just kind of become a pretty reliable mid range guy. 708 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:13,400 Speaker 1: We talked about that last year often, and once again, 709 00:38:13,480 --> 00:38:16,359 Speaker 1: his first game playing you know, real five on five, 710 00:38:16,600 --> 00:38:19,920 Speaker 1: serious basketball in a long time, hits a turnaround jumper 711 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:22,399 Speaker 1: over his right shoulder. HiT's like a one leg fade 712 00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:25,640 Speaker 1: away off the right block. He gets three more pull 713 00:38:25,719 --> 00:38:28,960 Speaker 1: up mid rangers out of hesitation dribbles, just like that 714 00:38:29,080 --> 00:38:32,040 Speaker 1: little touch that he's demonstrating. Again, that's a real small 715 00:38:32,080 --> 00:38:34,200 Speaker 1: sample and I'm not overreacting to it. But just over 716 00:38:34,200 --> 00:38:38,000 Speaker 1: the last year, Giannis has shown a proficiency in the 717 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:40,440 Speaker 1: mid range as a jump shooter that I think bodes 718 00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:43,680 Speaker 1: really well for him as he develops into an older 719 00:38:43,719 --> 00:38:46,560 Speaker 1: half court score. But overall, I'm just super excited for 720 00:38:46,600 --> 00:38:48,759 Speaker 1: your basket this year. We're gonna have some kind of 721 00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:50,440 Speaker 1: coverage of it when we get to that point. I 722 00:38:50,440 --> 00:38:53,040 Speaker 1: can't promise that we're certainly not gonna cover every game, 723 00:38:53,080 --> 00:38:55,440 Speaker 1: but we got three of the top four players in 724 00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:57,239 Speaker 1: the world playing in this tournament. We should get some 725 00:38:57,239 --> 00:38:59,360 Speaker 1: really high level basketball, and we will definitely cover it 726 00:38:59,360 --> 00:39:01,759 Speaker 1: to search to a certain extent this year. All right, guys, 727 00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:03,760 Speaker 1: That's all I have for today is always sincerely appreciate 728 00:39:03,760 --> 00:39:05,759 Speaker 1: you guys for supporting me and supporting the show. We 729 00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:09,560 Speaker 1: will be back on Wednesday with number seven. I will 730 00:39:09,560 --> 00:39:10,399 Speaker 1: see you guys then.