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Bonus bets expire one hundred 25 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 1: and sixty eight hours after issuance. See dkang dot com 26 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 1: slash b ball for eligibility and deposit restrictions, terms and 27 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: responsible gaming resources. All right, welcome to Hoop tonight. You're 28 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 1: at the volume. Have you Wednesday? Everybody? Hope all of 29 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: you guys are having an incredible week on a fun 30 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: show for you guys. This morning, we're going to number 31 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: five and number four of our contender rankings. Happens to 32 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: be two teams that had a showdown last night, an 33 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 1: absolute and complete ass kicking by the Los Angeles Clippers 34 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 1: of the Phoenix Suns. For those of you guys interested 35 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: in that specific game, we are going to be doing 36 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: a full film breakdown. I have seventeen clips from the 37 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: thirty five to four run from the Clippers to start 38 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:17,079 Speaker 1: that game. We're gonna break it all down. But because 39 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: of the podcast audience We're trying to order this in 40 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: a way to where audio stuff is at the front, 41 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: and don't worry, we'll end up running it as a 42 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: breakout clip anyway. But we're gonna lead with our contender 43 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 1: rankings five and then four, and then the tail end 44 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 1: of the show, we're going to be doing a deep 45 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: dive in the film of the Clippers ass kicking of 46 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:35,360 Speaker 1: the Suns from last night. You guys are the joke 47 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 1: before we get started. Subscribe to our brand of YouTube 48 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: channel so you don't miss any more of our videos. 49 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:42,079 Speaker 1: Don't forget about our podcast feed where each podcast under 50 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: hoops Tonight's also super helpful if we leave a rating 51 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: in a review on that front. Don't forget about my 52 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: Twitter feed. I underscore Jason lt so you guys don't 53 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: miss any show announcements or film threads that I do 54 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 1: from time to time. Last but not out leaves, keep 55 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 1: dropping mail bag questions in the YouTube comments. We are 56 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: going to be doing a mail bag during tomorrow's show. 57 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: And on that note, let's talk some basketball. So number five, 58 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 1: I have the Phoenix Suns. I have the Clippers, the MAVs, 59 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: and the Suns kind of all in the same kind 60 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,919 Speaker 1: of grouping, and it's funky because I think the Suns 61 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 1: are the worst team of that group, but I also 62 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: think they have the best matchup advantages to potentially beat Denver. 63 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: So once again, like I said at the beginning of 64 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 1: this contender list, I kind of view three through nine 65 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: as all kind of bunched up to begin with, and 66 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:28,639 Speaker 1: most of it's gonna come down to who plays who. 67 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: For instance, I think the Clippers are a better basketball 68 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: team than the Suns, but they have the most likely 69 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: the Dallas Mavericks in the first round, and then if 70 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: Denver beats Minnesota tonight, they're gonna have to turn around 71 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: and play Denver right after that. So it might be 72 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: one of those things where the Suns just get better 73 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 1: matchups if they get out of this mess, and maybe 74 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: they end up making it farther anyway, So when it 75 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: comes to this group of teams, this three through nine 76 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: on my list, it really just has to do with 77 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: who they end up playing to begin with, So keep 78 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: that in mind. But obviously got the Suns at number five. 79 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 1: They're forty six thirty three right now, currently the seventh 80 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: seed in the Western Conference. They are tenth in offensive 81 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: rating for the season, thirteenth in defensive rating for the season, 82 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: twentieth in defensive rebounding. Although they are a good offensive 83 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: rebounding team, they're tenth in offensive rebounding. A big part 84 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 1: of that is they're just so good at getting defenses 85 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: into rotation, and like I talk about a lot on 86 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: the show, get the defense into rotation, your rebounding matchups 87 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:25,919 Speaker 1: aren't as solid. You're kind of chasing people around, you 88 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:27,719 Speaker 1: have a clear box out in front of you, and 89 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: so you can give up a lot offensive rebounds in 90 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: those situations. They're strengths again, like we are gonna do 91 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: with this team exactly what we do with the other 92 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 1: teams in this list, strengths, weaknesses, and then what their 93 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: playoff path looks like. So they have the best drive 94 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 1: and kick game in the league in my opinion, when 95 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 1: they play advantage basketball, which is not every night, they're 96 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 1: a little bit We're gonna talk about this in a 97 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: little bit. The Suns are, in my opinion, like the 98 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:53,119 Speaker 1: most inconsistent team of all these good teams on this list. 99 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 1: They're ceiling in floora pretty far apart. It's a big 100 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 1: part of why they've been had so many questionable losses. 101 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 1: This year. For example, they have ten losses this year 102 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:04,840 Speaker 1: against teams that are below five hundred. That's more than 103 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:07,359 Speaker 1: anybody in the top ten in the Western Conference. As 104 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 1: a matter of fact, it's to give you some perspective. 105 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: Utah Jazz have eleven losses to teams that are below 106 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: five hundred. So we've seen a lot of good and 107 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,799 Speaker 1: bad basketball from the Suns, which kind of poisons the data. 108 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: And what makes it complicated because we're thinking about them 109 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 1: in terms of their ceiling, but we know that they're 110 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 1: capable of nights like last night as well. But when 111 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:28,359 Speaker 1: they play advantage basketball, and what I mean by that 112 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 1: is the Stars actually taking it seriously just to get 113 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: the defense in rotation rather than tough shot making and 114 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 1: play advantage basketball off of that, they can be very good. 115 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,280 Speaker 1: I look at offense as a three step process. One 116 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 1: advantage creation that means drawing multiple defenders to the ball 117 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 1: and creating a closeout opportunity somewhere on the floor. Step 118 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 1: two advantage extending. That's taking that close out opportunity and 119 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 1: driving it to generate an even better close out opportunity 120 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 1: or an opportunity to finish the play. That third step 121 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: play finishing. That's your vertical spacer under the rim, who's 122 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 1: either dunking a lob or dunking out of the dunker spot. 123 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: That's your guy catching and knocking down a three point 124 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 1: shot on the weak side. That's your guy, you know, 125 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: against an elite defense that's doing a good job of 126 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 1: chasing you off the line and defending the rim. That's 127 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 1: the guy that can you know, pump, fake and rip 128 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: through and hit a wonderable pull up in a soft 129 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 1: spot in the middle of the defense. Those are the 130 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 1: three steps, and the Suns have really good players in 131 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: all three groups. They have three guys that can consistently 132 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 1: get the defense in rotation in Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, 133 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 1: and Kevin Durant. A fourth and use of Nurkics, which 134 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: we've talked about in our video film sessions. Again, we 135 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: did a whole film session on the Sun's advantage creation 136 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 1: basketball in last week's episodes to make sure you go 137 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 1: back in the feed and look for that if you're 138 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: looking for more visible examples. But they have a lot 139 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:49,360 Speaker 1: of guys that can get the defense in rotation, and 140 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:51,839 Speaker 1: Nurkic is one of them. Switch a pick and roll 141 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 1: toss it down to the post against a guard, he's 142 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: gonna draw that second defender and they can play off 143 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: of that advantage. Extending to me, they've got a lot 144 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: of guys that can take a close out opportunity and 145 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: turn it into something better. All of the stars who 146 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:07,599 Speaker 1: get tons of opportunities off the ball, Grayson Allen's great 147 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: at it as well, and then play finishing. There's literally 148 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 1: a ton of that all over the four. All their 149 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 1: role players that are in the rotation when they're healthy 150 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: can shoot. They can really spread you out and pick 151 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: you to pieces like that. Again, it's just about whether 152 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 1: or not they're diligent enough to do it with consistency. 153 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 1: Another strength they have a lot of foot speed on 154 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: the perimeter. That's the strength of this group from an 155 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: athletic standpoint. They've got length and speed. They're not an 156 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: overly strong group. They're not an overly tall group, but 157 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: they have strength and speed, and so when they're engaged 158 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: defensively they can be very good, which we'll talk about 159 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 1: in a little bit. They also have a plethora of 160 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: star talent to squeeze something out of nothing. They've been 161 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: the most efficient pull up shooting team in the league. 162 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 1: This year, they get one point zero five points per 163 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 1: pull up jump shot. That is number one in the NBA. 164 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 1: That's a great ceiling razor rescue possessions. That means, you know, 165 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: six seconds on the shot clock, your primary actions got 166 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: shut down. There's not enough time to run something else. 167 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: Somebody's just got to go create a bucket off the bounce. 168 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: The Suns are great at that coverage beaters. That means 169 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: like if they are defending a pick and roll two 170 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: on two and they are running a deep drop coverage 171 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: and staying glued off the ball to stay out of rotation, 172 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 1: they have guys that can set their man up on 173 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: the ball screen, get them trapped on the other side, 174 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: get down to a spot, you know, whether it's at 175 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 1: the three point line or just inside the three point line, 176 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: and they can get a quality jump shot. There will 177 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: be It's very possible, at least for stretches. Denver, for instance, 178 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: is a team that could potentially do this to them 179 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: if they run into if they happen to get the 180 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:36,319 Speaker 1: seven seed out of the play in tournament, and let's 181 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: say Denver loses to Minnesota tonight and it ends up 182 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 1: being Denver Phoenix We've seen Denver show for stretches that 183 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 1: they're willing to kind of concede those types of those 184 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 1: types of mid rangs, pull up jump shots for KD 185 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 1: and Devin Booker, those are coverage beaters, and we know 186 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 1: the Suns are capable of hitting those. We literally saw 187 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: them do it against Denver at points in the past. 188 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 1: And then lastly, late game shot making again another great 189 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 1: example from the Nuggets game. Just you do everything right 190 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:04,679 Speaker 1: all game long, but you know Katie hits a big 191 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: pull up three over the top of Aaron Gordon, makes 192 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: a couple more in ot and you end up losing. Right. 193 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:11,199 Speaker 1: So that's a strength of this rosters. They've got a 194 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 1: lot of top end talent that can convert those. Again, 195 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 1: the rescue possessions, coverage beaters, and late game shot making. Also, 196 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 1: Frank Vogel is a very good defensive coach who excels 197 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 1: at scouting and adjusting to opposing offense. This is something 198 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: I noticed firsthand rooting for him when he was the 199 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 1: coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. The fallout with Frank 200 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 1: Vogel and the Lakers pretty much stemmed around by in 201 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 1: and just like them hearing the same voice for too 202 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:43,679 Speaker 1: long and the Lakers Stars particularly just tuning Frank Vogel out. 203 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 1: That was why he had to go. I always thought 204 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: that Frank Vogel was a good coach, even if he 205 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:50,959 Speaker 1: could be stubborn with some of his personnel decisions from 206 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: time to time. And then lastly, use of Nurkics. I 207 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: know it doesn't seem like much, and honestly, before the season, 208 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 1: I'll freely admit I was one of the guy that 209 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: was wrong about this deal just because I thought Deandratan 210 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: was a more talented basketball player, and there's a case 211 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: to be made that Deandraytan would be a better option. 212 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 1: And just about every situation except for this particular Denver matchup, 213 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 1: use of Nurkic just does a really nice job with 214 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: his size battling Jokic off of positions and making things 215 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: more difficult for them. There's also been a you know, 216 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 1: even beyond the Jokic matchup, he's been really good just 217 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: as a connective piece for them offensively. But in this 218 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 1: particular case, I'm leaving him in as a strength for 219 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 1: the Denver Nuggets matchup. I think his size is a 220 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: legit asset that a lot of teams in the Western 221 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 1: Conference do not have for that specific matchup. Now, they're weaknesses, 222 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 1: We're gonna talk about some specifics, but the major weakness 223 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:47,079 Speaker 1: this team has is exactly what you saw last night. 224 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 1: They are not a very physically imposing roster, like we 225 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: talked about. They have some speed, they have some length, 226 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 1: but they are not a strong team, especially without use 227 00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 1: of Nurkic like the last night. Obviously Nurkic did not play, 228 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:02,839 Speaker 1: but even with Nurkice, they're not a physically strong team. 229 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:05,559 Speaker 1: And when you punch them in the mouth with physicality, 230 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: they can stagger a bit and they can lose their mojo. 231 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:11,560 Speaker 1: We saw something very similar from the same kind of 232 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 1: Clippers set up last year in the first round before 233 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: Kawhi Leonard got hurt. They went into that playoff series 234 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: as the more talented team. The Clippers just mucked it 235 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: up right away when they got into that first round 236 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,320 Speaker 1: series and stole a game off of them, and then 237 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: obviously Kawhi gets hurt in Game two. But like to 238 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:30,840 Speaker 1: put it simply, basketball is pretty. It's a pretty game, 239 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: especially with the Sun, especially with all their offensive skill 240 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 1: that they have. But it's pretty until it's not and 241 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 1: then it evolves into something else. It becomes about toughness 242 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 1: and fight and motor and execution. It gets ugly, it 243 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 1: becomes a rock fight. And the Sons are capable of 244 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:46,839 Speaker 1: playing in that type of style, but it doesn't come 245 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 1: naturally to them, and so they can be very inconsistent 246 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 1: in those types of games. Like I talked about earlier, 247 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 1: one of the largest gaps in the league between their 248 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:56,200 Speaker 1: floor and their ceiling, and that concerns me if they 249 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 1: run into a tough, physical type of matchup, for instance, 250 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:02,719 Speaker 1: of a we talked about the Denver matchup. They have 251 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: succeeded in that group when they can spread them out 252 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 1: and obviously with the matchup of nurkichon Jokich, but they've 253 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:10,680 Speaker 1: also struggled when Denver's been able to strangle the game, 254 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 1: tie things down into the half court, and out execute them, 255 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 1: leading into that Kevin Durant pull up jump shot. I 256 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:19,679 Speaker 1: think it was a twelve ozho run from the Nuggets 257 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: in that first matchup where the Suns won in overtime 258 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 1: is a twelve oh run where Denver kind of played 259 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,680 Speaker 1: bullyball on them, and that can be a weakness for them. 260 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 1: A couple of specifics when it comes down to their 261 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: struggles in physicality. They don't defensive rebound well. They're twentieth 262 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 1: in defensive rebound percentage. They are twenty seventh in points 263 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 1: in the paint scored per one hundred possessions. They do 264 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 1: not score baskets easily inside the painted area. They take 265 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,839 Speaker 1: the third most jump shots per possession in the league, 266 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 1: so they are a jump shot variance type of team. 267 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 1: They do not have a defensive strong point. This is 268 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 1: something I was looking at today, which is concerning twentieth 269 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:57,079 Speaker 1: and three pointers made allowed per one hundred possessions, fifteenth 270 00:12:57,400 --> 00:12:59,679 Speaker 1: in points in the paint allowed per one hundred possessions, 271 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 1: So they don't guard the three or the paint particularly well. 272 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 1: They are not good at defensive rebounding like you mentioned earlier, 273 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: and they are not good in transition defense. So those 274 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: are their weaknesses. Their pathway got to be able to 275 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:13,679 Speaker 1: hold up in rock fight basketball and match physicality, so 276 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: they do. Their talent can shine through, but that's definitely 277 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: like we talked about earlier, weakness got to play advantage basketball. 278 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 1: I want to see their assist percentage in the postseason 279 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 1: in the mid sixties instead of in the high fifties. 280 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 1: That to me is a strong indicator of the style 281 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 1: of basketball that they're playing. If they lean on just 282 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 1: top tough shot making, they're gonna go cold and they're 283 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:32,679 Speaker 1: gonna lose. But if they play advantage basketball and they 284 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:34,439 Speaker 1: spread teams out and get great shots, they have a 285 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 1: really good chance to go on a run. And then lastly, 286 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: they need an all time defensive run from Kevin Durant. 287 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 1: He is the one guy on this team that has 288 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: the supreme athletic gifts to really impact the game defensively 289 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: regardless of matchup. It's a lot of pressure on him, 290 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: but it's what they need him to do. Number four 291 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: the Los Angeles Clippers the fifty one and twenty eight 292 00:13:57,120 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: fourth in the Western Conference and a third in offense, 293 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 1: fifteenth in defense, twenty third in defensive rebounding. Their strengths 294 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 1: positional strength, and by strength I mean literally physical strength. 295 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 1: Kawhi Leonard, big strong forward who can really be handsy 296 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: and physical and cause problems for players if he can. 297 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:18,199 Speaker 1: Zubach at the center position is very much that Russell Westbrook. 298 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 1: Once again, you saw last night the type of wrecking 299 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 1: ball he can be physically because of his size and 300 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: strength at the guard position. And then Terrence Man started 301 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 1: the game on Devin Booker last night and did an 302 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 1: incredible job with his physicality. Again, we're gonna dig into 303 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 1: the film here. I've got a film session on the 304 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: Clipper Sons game that we're gonna go over right after 305 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: this particular segment. And so if you haven't seen that yet, 306 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: you can either check out the breakout Clipper, you can 307 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: hang around. It'll be up here in a minute. They 308 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 1: put their hands on you and they make everything in 309 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 1: pain in the ass, and when they're locked in as 310 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 1: a switching defense, they can really stagnate you and bully 311 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 1: you like you get stuck on an island with the Kawhi, 312 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 1: with the Zubas, with the Russ with the Terrence Man. 313 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: And they're just physical. They're handsy, they keep you in 314 00:14:57,960 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: front and they make you uncomfortable, and they can be 315 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: really good defensively when that shines through. They're a very 316 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: good three point shooting team. They don't take a ton 317 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 1: of them because they take so many mid range jump shots, 318 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 1: but they're very accurate when they do. They're the fourth 319 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 1: highest three point percentage in the league. They're good at 320 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 1: forcing turnovers and running. This is like they're not a transition, 321 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 1: push paced team. They do when Russ plays and use 322 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: not a lot of that last night, where like Russ, 323 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 1: we'll just get a defensive rebound and just really bring 324 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: the ball up the floor with verve and kind of 325 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 1: get them set into the half court quickly. But they 326 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 1: don't really do that for the most part over the 327 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 1: course of the large sample, especially when James Harden is 328 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: on the floor. But they do get a lot of steals, 329 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: and they do get a lot of transition opportunities off 330 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: of those steals. So they are seventh in steals per 331 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 1: one hundred possessions and seventh in transition frequency per cleaning 332 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: the glass, and they're also eight in transition efficiency. So 333 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 1: they get steals, they run, they get baskets out of 334 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: that couple of examples from the Sun's game last night 335 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: that you guys will see here in just a couple 336 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 1: of minutes. Paul George is getting hot at the right time. 337 00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 1: Twenty five points, five rebounds, and four assists per game 338 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 1: in his last fifteen games. Check this out. Fifty two 339 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 1: percent from the field, forty eight percent from three to 340 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 1: ninety seven percent from the line, that's about as preposterous 341 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 1: efficiency as you could hope to see from a volume 342 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 1: score like that. And then Kawhi Leonard if he's healthy. 343 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 1: In my opinion, he's one of the top five playoff 344 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: players in the league. I think you're taking Jokic one, 345 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: and then it's probably Luca two, Luka Jyannis in that mix, 346 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 1: and then it's Kawhi and like you know, like you 347 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 1: can make a case Kawai's ahead of Luca and Janis 348 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 1: if you want to, but he's certainly in the top 349 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 1: four there of playoff players when you get into this 350 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 1: kind of physical environment. The reality is his combination of 351 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: size and strength and footwork. Like I talked about, footwork 352 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: is the skill element of getting to spots. It makes 353 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 1: it impossible to stop him from getting to his spots, 354 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: and that translates even as the physicality increases in these 355 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: playoff environments. It's a big part of what makes him 356 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 1: one of the best playoff players in the league. He 357 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 1: can just get to spots ten to fifteen feet away 358 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 1: from the basket and get really easy shots pretty consistently. 359 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 1: Clipper's weaknesses not a very fast team. They do have 360 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:06,880 Speaker 1: fast players, right like Terrence Man super fast, Russell Westbrook 361 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,640 Speaker 1: super fast, but their advantage is more from a personnel 362 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 1: standpoint in strength and length. They are not a great 363 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:15,439 Speaker 1: straight line speed type of team. If you look at 364 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 1: their starters, four of their starters are not overly fast. 365 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: James Harden pretty slow. If you get Zubats pretty slow, 366 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,440 Speaker 1: Kawhi Leonard, he's a power player, he's not a straight 367 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 1: line speed player. And then Paul George at thirty four 368 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 1: years old, is not the fastest guy in the world either, 369 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: and he's more of a finesse, over the top type 370 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:33,399 Speaker 1: of shot maker. Right. He's not a guy that's just 371 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: bringing overwhelming straight line speed to the table. And so 372 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 1: we see that weakness manifest in a bunch of specific areas. 373 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 1: First of all, they're a terrible transition defense. They have 374 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 1: the eighth worst transition frequency allowed per cleaning the glass 375 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 1: and the fifth worst transition efficiency allowed. They also don't 376 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 1: put a lot of pressure on the rim in the 377 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 1: half court. Most of their points in the paint come 378 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: in runouts in transition. This is not a team that 379 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: is just slashing to the basket and getting easy layups 380 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 1: like that. It'll be interesting to see how much Russell 381 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 1: Westbrook plays when they get in the postseason. That's something 382 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:09,879 Speaker 1: I have in my path segment is like if James Harden, 383 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: who by the way, is not playing well as of late, 384 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: if he falls apart in the postseason and they lean 385 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 1: into Russ, Russ could be a guy who brings some 386 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 1: of that rim pressure to address that specific issue. But 387 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 1: with their starting group, they don't put a lot of 388 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 1: pressure on the rim in the half court. They also 389 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,480 Speaker 1: can get beat to loose balls and long rebounds as 390 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:28,120 Speaker 1: a result of their lack of foot speed. So that's 391 00:18:28,119 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: why they're a bad defensive rebounding team. That's why they 392 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 1: don't force to turn the turnovers their twentieth and turnovers 393 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 1: forced per one hundred possessions. Again, they get steals on 394 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 1: the ball with their physicality, but they're not a passing 395 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,200 Speaker 1: lane type of team. They're not like the Oklahoma City 396 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,159 Speaker 1: Thunder jumping passing lanes and getting out. It's mostly just 397 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 1: physical on the ball. Russ and Kwhi snatching the ball 398 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: away from you, Terrence Man snatching the ball away from 399 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 1: you and running out the other way. They're high steels team, 400 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:55,159 Speaker 1: but not a high turnover team like that. Teams that 401 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 1: are typically really good at forcing turnovers, are super fast, 402 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 1: right like Oklahoma City is number one and turnovers force 403 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:04,719 Speaker 1: per one hundre possessions. Blazing fast team. The Orlando Magic 404 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 1: are second in forcing turnovers. They have really fast and 405 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 1: physical on the ball defenders, and then Memphis is third. 406 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 1: So young and fast is typically what forces a turn 407 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 1: of turnovers. The Clippers are not that type of team. 408 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 1: They're also a little bit jump shot reliant. They're eighth 409 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: in jump shot frequency, first in pull up jump shot frequency. 410 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 1: We've seen them go cold, namely in the twenty twenty 411 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:26,919 Speaker 1: season as pull up jump shooters. But they are a 412 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: little bit susceptible to variants when it comes to that 413 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:32,479 Speaker 1: jump shooting, especially against teams that have real length that 414 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:36,359 Speaker 1: can offer contests without fouling. And then lastly, is Kawhi 415 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:39,120 Speaker 1: going to be healthy and ready to go? Like obviously 416 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 1: he's sitting out right now. We don't have any word, 417 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:42,639 Speaker 1: you know, how it is with Kawhi's camp. Whenever he 418 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:45,159 Speaker 1: gets hurt, it's just it's just like batting up the 419 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:47,679 Speaker 1: hatches and no one tells anybody anything. And so we'll 420 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 1: see what ends up happening. But obviously Kawhi is a 421 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:53,400 Speaker 1: history of falling apart physically when he gets into the postseason. 422 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:55,840 Speaker 1: His last two playoff runs that he played, he broke 423 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: down before he could get to the finish line. Now 424 00:19:57,480 --> 00:19:59,439 Speaker 1: he's breaking down. He's not even there yet, So that 425 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 1: obviously is a potential weakness. To keep in mind. Their 426 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:05,160 Speaker 1: path very simple. Kawhi has to be healthy and play 427 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:09,399 Speaker 1: like Kawhi. Tylu has to really manage that James Harden 428 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:12,280 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook dynamic. It's interesting because, like guys, you guys know, 429 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 1: I'm not a huge Russell Westbrook fan, but like, weirdly enough, 430 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 1: in the postseason, his effectiveness goes up a level just 431 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:20,399 Speaker 1: because he's such a freak athlete and in that physical 432 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 1: environment he can really be impactful, especially if he's on 433 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 1: the ball, because it's gonna be a little bit tricky 434 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:26,399 Speaker 1: and uh, we're gonna show some examples, but he can 435 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: be a little bit of an aggressive off ball defender 436 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 1: that can make some mistakes off the ball. But James 437 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:34,919 Speaker 1: Harden can fall apart in in my opinion, worst ways 438 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 1: than what Russell Westbrook can fall apart doing. And so 439 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 1: even though there will be some spacing concerns, it's gonna 440 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 1: be an interesting dynamic for Tylou to kind of measure 441 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:44,919 Speaker 1: where it's like, oh, this is a Russ series, or 442 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:46,720 Speaker 1: this is a Ross game versus oh, this is a 443 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:48,880 Speaker 1: James Harden series, or this is a James Harden game. 444 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 1: That's gonna be the type of balance he's gonna have 445 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 1: to strike. The need to shoot the ball well obviously, 446 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:55,119 Speaker 1: and then the big thing is gonna be matchups for them. 447 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 1: They got to find a way to get through Luca 448 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:00,400 Speaker 1: and nikolea Jokic. Tonight, the Timberwolves go to Denver. If 449 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,679 Speaker 1: Denver wins that game, which they'll be favored, and obviously 450 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 1: depends on if all the stars play. But let's say 451 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:08,880 Speaker 1: Denver plays their guys and they win, then it's probably 452 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:11,439 Speaker 1: going to be Clippers MAVs in the first round. And 453 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 1: Luca has consistently given the Clippers issues in the postseason, 454 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 1: even though the Clippers have escaped those series, those were 455 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: limited in terms of talent. Clippers teams that push them 456 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:22,920 Speaker 1: to the brink consistently, and then if they happen to 457 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 1: beat Dallas, waiting for them on the other side will 458 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,680 Speaker 1: be the Denver Nuggets, And so matchups are going to 459 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:29,200 Speaker 1: be tough. For them. It's kind of a pain in 460 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:31,159 Speaker 1: the butt for the Clippers. It's like, you have this 461 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 1: great regular season, you finish fourth in the Western Conference, 462 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:37,880 Speaker 1: and your reward is just a preposterously difficult playoff path. 463 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: But hey, that's what the Western Conference is at this point. 464 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 1: So I have the Clippers at number four. We have 465 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:46,880 Speaker 1: three more that we're gonna be hitting, probably gonna hit 466 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:51,359 Speaker 1: all of them tomorrow in all likelihood. You guys can 467 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:52,879 Speaker 1: probably guess what the order is going to be if 468 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:54,960 Speaker 1: you've listened to me this season. But that's where we're 469 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: at at this point. All right, let's head over to 470 00:21:57,359 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 1: the film. I've titled this segment the Anatomy of an 471 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:04,440 Speaker 1: ass Kicking. So the Clippers got off to a thirty 472 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 1: five to four start against the Suns. We're gonna look 473 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:10,399 Speaker 1: at these specifics here on some film, all right. So 474 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:14,640 Speaker 1: first we're gonna go over the main coverage issue that 475 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:17,800 Speaker 1: Phoenix was having with the Clippers, And the main coverage 476 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:21,400 Speaker 1: issue was they were, on account of Paul George being 477 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:23,679 Speaker 1: such a good pull up jump shooter, they were hedging 478 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 1: and recovering on ball screens. So here we have Grayson 479 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 1: Allen guarding Paul George. We have Zubach getting ready to 480 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:32,920 Speaker 1: set the screen use of nurkic or excuse me, Drew 481 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:35,080 Speaker 1: you banks again. What his job here is with the 482 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: hedge and recover is to stop Paul George from making 483 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 1: a drive to his left hand side and then recover inside. 484 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,119 Speaker 1: But Paul George is beating it and Zubach is beating 485 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 1: it just with the basic slip. So what we're gonna 486 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 1: see here, We're gonna see. We're gonna see Zuboch step 487 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:56,840 Speaker 1: out and as he steps out the lunch step, Paul 488 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 1: George picks up his dribble immediately. There's not a lot 489 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:02,200 Speaker 1: of length on the ball to disrupt this pass, unfortunately, 490 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:04,879 Speaker 1: so it's a really easy over the top pass to 491 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: Zubach slipping down the lane. He's gonna slip and that's 492 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:10,560 Speaker 1: Bradley Beale waiting for him at the rim. It's just 493 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:14,080 Speaker 1: not enough size in that case. He misses this layup, 494 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 1: but again he's just too big for all these guys 495 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:17,439 Speaker 1: down low, and he's able to clean it up and 496 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:22,640 Speaker 1: get another offensive rebound. Same exact sort of thing here 497 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:24,920 Speaker 1: off of the KD miss free throw is doomed from 498 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: the start and miss first two free throws. Just a 499 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: weird game for the Suns. But here we go, same 500 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 1: exact sort of thing. We got KD on the ball 501 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:34,200 Speaker 1: this time, so more length on the ball. You Banks 502 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 1: is guarding Zubach, We're gonna get another slip, and again 503 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:42,399 Speaker 1: Kd's got to do a better job with active hands 504 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:46,040 Speaker 1: here Again when we talk about the defense getting into rotation, 505 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 1: if you make this pass difficult, this pass to the slipper, 506 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 1: if you make it difficult, he might fumble it. It 507 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:56,399 Speaker 1: might be harder for him to make a playout of it. 508 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 1: But if you just let him easily get a catch 509 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,440 Speaker 1: on the slip, same sort of hedge from U Banks. 510 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:03,879 Speaker 1: If you let him easily get a catch, then your compromise. 511 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 1: He comes downhill. Grayson Allen is tagging off of Norman 512 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 1: Powell here in the left corner, and Norman Powell just 513 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:13,399 Speaker 1: cuts along the baseline and gets an easy dunk. So 514 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:16,400 Speaker 1: as you can see, the main coverage issue that the 515 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:18,240 Speaker 1: Sons were dealing with at the beginning of the game 516 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,200 Speaker 1: was they were hedging and getting giving up easy slips 517 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 1: on the back end. This is a great example of 518 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:31,639 Speaker 1: individual defense from Terrence Mann leading to defensive playmaking from Russ, 519 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 1: So I cut this play with the transition sequence so 520 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,439 Speaker 1: that we can see Russ's dunk. But on this play, 521 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:41,440 Speaker 1: Terrence Man is doing what's called top locking. So u 522 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:44,720 Speaker 1: Banks has the ball. Then Grayson Allen is setting a 523 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:46,960 Speaker 1: pin down on Devin book on Terrence Man to get 524 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:49,639 Speaker 1: help Devin Booker get open, and then Devin Booker is 525 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:51,679 Speaker 1: gonna come all the way around this dribble handoff from 526 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 1: you Banks. See how Terrence Man has positioned himself between 527 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 1: Booker and the screen. It's called top locking. He's refusing 528 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 1: the use of the screen, and Zubach is there to 529 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 1: help on a back door cut because Drew you Banks 530 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:06,320 Speaker 1: is a non shooter. Now, Devin Booker does eventually get 531 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:09,400 Speaker 1: around him, but it's more difficult, right, He's been dealing 532 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 1: with a physical aggressive play from Terrence Man that is 533 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:16,000 Speaker 1: now going to cause Devin Booker to rush the sequence. 534 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:18,920 Speaker 1: Terrence Man recovers and now he's locking and trailing. He's 535 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:22,200 Speaker 1: right behind him, right, So this is a pretty easy 536 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:24,959 Speaker 1: read for Devin Booker as he comes down here. Russell 537 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 1: Westbrook is digging down with what's called nail help because 538 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:29,720 Speaker 1: he's coming down off the wing to the nail to 539 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:32,199 Speaker 1: help if he just takes his time and makes this 540 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 1: over the top kick to Bradley Beal. Now we're in rotation. 541 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:38,159 Speaker 1: We have a baked in driving lane ripped through to 542 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: the right that is almost certainly going to draw Paul 543 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:42,960 Speaker 1: George in help, which is going to generate a wide 544 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:46,320 Speaker 1: open three for Kevin Durant. But instead, and I attribute 545 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 1: this to Terrence Man, Devin Booker's rushing and he just 546 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:52,639 Speaker 1: throws a lazy swing pass that gets easily stolen and 547 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:55,080 Speaker 1: taken the other way for a dunk. That's an example 548 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:58,400 Speaker 1: of making an offensive player uncomfortable with physical ball pressure. 549 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 1: So moving onto our next clip, we're gonna get another 550 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:07,800 Speaker 1: example of extra efforts from the Clippers. First, as Grayson 551 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:10,359 Speaker 1: Allen is running out on this transition possession, Norman Palell 552 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 1: is gonna make an effort to make Grayson Allen change 553 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:16,960 Speaker 1: his shot. That effort forces him to shoot a tougher 554 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 1: up and under layup. But watch Terrence Man bringing the 555 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 1: physicality to the situation. Kevin Durant has inside position. All 556 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 1: he has to do is squat down loan in a 557 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:27,080 Speaker 1: box out and hold his ground. But he's too passive 558 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:29,480 Speaker 1: Terrence Man just goes right through room, shoves him, taps 559 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 1: out the rebound, and again you're gonna be like, oh, 560 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:33,239 Speaker 1: that's an over the back foul. Not the postseason. It's 561 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 1: not that shit's allowed all the time. Like I was 562 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:38,360 Speaker 1: talking about in our power ranking segment, these games they 563 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:41,360 Speaker 1: get physical, they turn into rock fights. The Clippers are punching. 564 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:43,879 Speaker 1: What you're seeing right now is you were watching the 565 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 1: Clippers punch the Suns in the mouth and them just 566 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 1: sit there and take it. And that's the reality of 567 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 1: this type of physical type of game. The tap out 568 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:55,440 Speaker 1: goes to Paul George. Paul George just confidently walks into 569 00:26:55,480 --> 00:27:03,120 Speaker 1: a pull up three point shot. Another hedge in recover sequence, 570 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:06,679 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook on the ball, Bradley Beal defending him. We're 571 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:10,200 Speaker 1: gonna get our ball screen. Excuse me, it's gonna be 572 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:11,880 Speaker 1: Paul George with Kevin Durant on him. We're gonna get 573 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:16,119 Speaker 1: the ball screen with U Banks. Another hedge. On the hedge, 574 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 1: Zuboch is slipping, but he's a little bit late to 575 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 1: get back, which brings Devin Booker into the lane here. 576 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 1: So we get another one. Another hedge, this time U 577 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:30,600 Speaker 1: Banks is a little further out, Zuboch is gonna slip 578 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:33,119 Speaker 1: into the middle of the lane because of this slip. 579 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 1: So remember when we typically are in a drop coverage're 580 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 1: running what's called no roller behind, which means his job 581 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:40,960 Speaker 1: is to stay further back and keep Zubach in front 582 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:43,439 Speaker 1: so that Devin Booker can stay in a position to 583 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 1: close out. But because he's hedging, the roller is getting behind. 584 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 1: When the roller does get behind, you have to tag. 585 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:52,119 Speaker 1: When there's a tag that's gonna leave an open shooter 586 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:55,360 Speaker 1: on the weak side. Paul George makes a really nice 587 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:57,720 Speaker 1: read here because Bradley Beal is helping down off the 588 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 1: nail and leaving Russell Westbrook open. Russell makes the extra 589 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 1: pass to Terrence Man in the corner and he knocks 590 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:04,760 Speaker 1: down the three. So once again, that's our third example 591 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:07,320 Speaker 1: here in the opening sequence in just two and a 592 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 1: half minutes of basketball of that hedge and recover scheme, 593 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:16,159 Speaker 1: Burning Phoenix, here's a great example of incredible individual defense 594 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:19,680 Speaker 1: by Terrence Man on Devin Booker once again physical from 595 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:26,800 Speaker 1: the start. Watch, Okay, Terrence Man identifies this action is 596 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:28,679 Speaker 1: for him. We're gonna get the exact same sequence we 597 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:31,680 Speaker 1: saw earlier. A pinned down from Grayson Allen on to 598 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:34,719 Speaker 1: Terrence Man in a dribble handoff from you Banks kind 599 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 1: of coming over to this side this time though, We're 600 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 1: not gonna get nail help from Paul George. He's gonna 601 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 1: stay home on Bradley Beal. So as Bradley Beal comes through, 602 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 1: or as Devin Booker fights over the top, look at 603 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:50,479 Speaker 1: Terrence Man stay attached over the top of the screen. 604 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 1: Look at this individual defense here, Chase Chase, Chase, slide 605 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:56,520 Speaker 1: back in front. He gets back in front and gets 606 00:28:56,520 --> 00:29:00,000 Speaker 1: a great contest on Devin Booker. That's outstanding individual defense. 607 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:05,520 Speaker 1: It's by Terrence Mann. And again to be clear, we 608 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 1: know Devin Booker can handle that type of defense. We 609 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 1: know Devin Booker can make that shot. But this is 610 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:15,840 Speaker 1: how you help lead a player into the lesser efficient outcomes. 611 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 1: This is how you control your destiny and make it 612 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:20,680 Speaker 1: more likely that he's having an off night. Here's a 613 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:23,080 Speaker 1: possession from earlier in the game with a similar back 614 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:27,720 Speaker 1: pressure applied by Russell Westbrook ball screen. Bradley Beal is 615 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 1: going downhill, He's got a head of steam. Russ just 616 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:32,920 Speaker 1: gets over the top. He has one job make Bradley Beal. 617 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:36,480 Speaker 1: Think about him coming there over the top gets a 618 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 1: good final contest. That's how you prevent an offensive player 619 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:50,720 Speaker 1: from getting comfortable. Here's an example of how switching can 620 00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:53,840 Speaker 1: stagnate a defense or stagnated offense. So again, we have 621 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:57,960 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook on Kevin Durant, we have Norman Powell on 622 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:03,960 Speaker 1: Great Allen. Now it's a switch. Now Norman Powell is 623 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 1: on KD and Russell Westbrook is on Grayson Allen. So 624 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:09,240 Speaker 1: whatever little action they were running, that action is now over. 625 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 1: Now U Banks is going to set a pin down 626 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 1: on Norman Powell. Problem is they don't want Zubotch to 627 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:19,560 Speaker 1: switch onto KD. So this is kind of like just 628 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:23,920 Speaker 1: an example of a smart pre switch. Instead, they just 629 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:27,000 Speaker 1: have Russell Westbrook switch back out onto KD so that 630 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:30,360 Speaker 1: Norman Powell can switch back out onto Grayson Allen and 631 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:33,200 Speaker 1: Zuboch can say stay on you Banks. So smart little 632 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 1: switching scheme to shut down that action. Now KD comes 633 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:38,120 Speaker 1: up to set the ball screen. Russ and Paul George 634 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:40,760 Speaker 1: just switch and so all of that action that they 635 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:44,400 Speaker 1: just ran accomplished absolutely nothing. Now Russell Westbrook a very 636 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:47,960 Speaker 1: good perimeter defender. Is on Bradley Beal. Bradley Beal doesn't 637 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 1: really know what to do. There's only ten seconds on 638 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:52,320 Speaker 1: the shot clock. He just throws this super lazy swing 639 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:54,440 Speaker 1: pass to Grayson Allen that gets a turnover. That's a 640 00:30:54,480 --> 00:31:00,560 Speaker 1: turnover caused by stagnation. Stagnation caused by switching. Just a 641 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:03,320 Speaker 1: ridiculous piece of shot making by Paul George over Kevin 642 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:06,160 Speaker 1: Durant in the corner, a little step back. Unbelievable piece 643 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 1: of shot making. This is a really high IQ example 644 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:15,719 Speaker 1: of defensive playmaking by Russell Westbrook. The Sons are going 645 00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:17,640 Speaker 1: to set up for what's called stack pick and roll. 646 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:22,040 Speaker 1: So Kevin, excuse me, Bradley Beal has the ball drew 647 00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:23,880 Speaker 1: You Banks is going to set the ball screen on 648 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:27,040 Speaker 1: Terrence Man. Zubach is in a drop coverage. Now we 649 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 1: know we've covered stack pick and roll on the show before. 650 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:32,160 Speaker 1: Bradley Beal has one job here. He needs to set 651 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:36,840 Speaker 1: a backscreen on Ivach a Zubach. Okay, And the reason 652 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:39,040 Speaker 1: why he's setting that backscreen on of each a Zooboch 653 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:42,320 Speaker 1: is to basically open up this role for you Banks 654 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:45,280 Speaker 1: coming over the top, because if Zubach gets backscreened, and 655 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:49,040 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook follows Bradley Beal. U Banks is gonna slip 656 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 1: wide open on that backside. Russell Westbrook, he knows it's coming. 657 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:55,400 Speaker 1: You can't hear it because I have the sound turned off, 658 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:58,880 Speaker 1: but you actually hear of Russell Westbrook screaming out the 659 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:03,240 Speaker 1: coverage as this happening, and you can actually see his 660 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:06,520 Speaker 1: mouth open as he's yelling. But as he's yelling, Bradley 661 00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:09,400 Speaker 1: Beal comes to set the backscreen on Zoobach. Russell Westbrook 662 00:32:09,520 --> 00:32:13,320 Speaker 1: knows the play. He knows this is the read. This 663 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:16,120 Speaker 1: is a backscreen. This guy's the read. Russell Westbrook is 664 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:18,960 Speaker 1: going to peel off of Bradley Beal and jump into 665 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:21,440 Speaker 1: that passing lane and get a steal. So again, that's 666 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:24,520 Speaker 1: one hundred percent scouting and understanding the set that the 667 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:27,360 Speaker 1: offense is running. That is a high IQ defensive play 668 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 1: made by Russell Westbrook to get a dunk out the 669 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:40,360 Speaker 1: other way. Alrighty, this is just a bad possession of 670 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:43,640 Speaker 1: off ball defense from Devin Booker. We're gonna get a 671 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:47,000 Speaker 1: run through from Paul George Here. Kevin Durant appears to 672 00:32:47,080 --> 00:32:49,560 Speaker 1: be trailing Devin Booker takes a step up like he's 673 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:51,720 Speaker 1: gonna switch, but I don't know why, like because Kevin 674 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:54,800 Speaker 1: Durant's going through. So this is poor communication here and again, 675 00:32:54,880 --> 00:32:57,400 Speaker 1: like the suns, I've shown examples. We went over it 676 00:32:57,440 --> 00:32:59,720 Speaker 1: on film last week. They can communicate. I've seen Devin 677 00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:01,960 Speaker 1: Booker be the leader of that communication. This is just 678 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:05,040 Speaker 1: poor effort. They're not talking as a result. Terrence Fan 679 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:07,360 Speaker 1: slips back door and Russell Westbrook hits him with the dunk. 680 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:14,280 Speaker 1: Here's an example of that physical punching in the mouth 681 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:16,200 Speaker 1: that I was talking about. How about just a transition 682 00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:18,640 Speaker 1: kick ahead to Terrence Man. Watch Terrence Man just bully 683 00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant into his chest and get all the way 684 00:33:21,160 --> 00:33:26,480 Speaker 1: to the rim. That's bring in the fight. Here's an 685 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:30,600 Speaker 1: example of the difference in physical advantages. Kevin Durant huge 686 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:33,360 Speaker 1: heid advantage over Terrence Man. He's gonna get a tough 687 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:35,800 Speaker 1: turnaround jump shot that was well contested. That turns into 688 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:40,080 Speaker 1: a miss. Now we're gonna look at another matchup this 689 00:33:40,120 --> 00:33:42,160 Speaker 1: guy right here. If each Zubach way bigger than this 690 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:45,120 Speaker 1: guy right here? Bull bull? Why make the game more 691 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:48,880 Speaker 1: difficult than it needs to be. Ball gets thrown to us. 692 00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:52,720 Speaker 1: Watch Russ immediately identify it. Russ catches, he looks, he 693 00:33:52,760 --> 00:33:55,600 Speaker 1: sees Zubach has a deep seal on Bull. Bull. He's 694 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:57,360 Speaker 1: just gonna back him down further into the lane and 695 00:33:57,400 --> 00:33:59,240 Speaker 1: we're gonna get a really nice post entry feed from 696 00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:03,000 Speaker 1: us for one dunk. So again, physical advantage on one end, 697 00:34:03,040 --> 00:34:05,360 Speaker 1: tough pull up jump shot, physical advantage on the other end, 698 00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:07,280 Speaker 1: bury him under the rim and dunk in his face. 699 00:34:07,520 --> 00:34:09,879 Speaker 1: That's a huge difference in the physical imposition of the game. 700 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:15,000 Speaker 1: Like I talked about in our in our Contender ranking segment, 701 00:34:15,360 --> 00:34:18,680 Speaker 1: basketball is beautiful until it's not. And that turnaround jumper 702 00:34:18,719 --> 00:34:21,200 Speaker 1: looks real damn pretty when it goes in. But you 703 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:23,520 Speaker 1: know what goes in every single time, the bigger dude 704 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:25,799 Speaker 1: just dunking on the smaller dude. There's no it's not 705 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:28,160 Speaker 1: as pretty in terms of shot making, but it's way 706 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:38,680 Speaker 1: more effective. Alrighty, This this next one is a defensive 707 00:34:38,680 --> 00:34:40,399 Speaker 1: play by a Terrence Man that's gonna lead to another 708 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:44,200 Speaker 1: transition runout. So first of all, right, here a mere 709 00:34:44,239 --> 00:34:47,560 Speaker 1: coffee's chasing Devin Booker, and because he's chasing him with 710 00:34:47,680 --> 00:34:50,239 Speaker 1: real length and athleticism, Devin Booker is going to be 711 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:51,800 Speaker 1: like I need to go to the opposite side of 712 00:34:51,840 --> 00:34:55,000 Speaker 1: the rim. This is a textbook example of an offensive 713 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:58,520 Speaker 1: player using the rim as an extra piece of almost 714 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:01,360 Speaker 1: like a screen. So he doesn't he knows that a 715 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:03,440 Speaker 1: Mere Coffee's best chance to block him is on this 716 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:05,720 Speaker 1: left side of the basket, So he's gonna come around 717 00:35:05,719 --> 00:35:07,839 Speaker 1: to the right side of the basket, and Terrence Man 718 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:09,520 Speaker 1: is gonna meet him there and force him to kind 719 00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:10,920 Speaker 1: of go up and under, and he's gonna smoke the 720 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:15,279 Speaker 1: layup then running out the other end. We're gonna get 721 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:17,800 Speaker 1: the exact same kind of sequence. This time Zoobach is 722 00:35:17,840 --> 00:35:20,799 Speaker 1: ahead of bull Bull, so in the transition defense, someone 723 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:22,840 Speaker 1: else is gonna pick him up. This time it's Grayson Allen, 724 00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:26,080 Speaker 1: hands up already, Paul George identifies it, throws it to Zoobatch, 725 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:34,680 Speaker 1: buries him, and dunks it. Here we're gonna get another 726 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:37,680 Speaker 1: really nice piece of shot making from Paul George hitting 727 00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:40,600 Speaker 1: a nice little dribble pull up over Bradley Beal on 728 00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:46,640 Speaker 1: the right elbow area. See, they can do the pretty 729 00:35:46,640 --> 00:35:48,560 Speaker 1: shit too, but they can do the pretty shit, but 730 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:55,080 Speaker 1: they can also kick your ass. This is something outstanding 731 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:57,839 Speaker 1: individual defense by a Mere Coffee on Kevin Durant, So look, 732 00:35:58,080 --> 00:36:00,000 Speaker 1: he's getting set up for this screening action. He knows 733 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:02,400 Speaker 1: Zubach is not switching, so he's got to stay attached. 734 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:04,920 Speaker 1: He does. The action gets him a little bit of 735 00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:07,040 Speaker 1: an advantage here. Nice little tag from Paul George, by 736 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:09,280 Speaker 1: the way, to stop Kevin Durant from just immediately turning 737 00:36:09,320 --> 00:36:12,360 Speaker 1: the corner turns into an iso. Look at this physical 738 00:36:12,440 --> 00:36:15,680 Speaker 1: in his face, both hands on his body, gets a 739 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:17,080 Speaker 1: hands off so he doesn't get the call. He knows 740 00:36:17,120 --> 00:36:18,520 Speaker 1: the rip through is coming, so he's got to take 741 00:36:18,520 --> 00:36:20,799 Speaker 1: his hands off. Hands off. Look at that. That's such 742 00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:23,080 Speaker 1: a smart defense there. Physical. But as soon as he 743 00:36:23,080 --> 00:36:25,640 Speaker 1: sees the rip through coming, hands off to prevent the foul. 744 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:27,600 Speaker 1: Look at that, gets his hands away just in time, 745 00:36:28,120 --> 00:36:31,440 Speaker 1: slides his feet to the right. Gets an outstanding contest 746 00:36:31,440 --> 00:36:33,439 Speaker 1: on the on Literally the guy at the highest release 747 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:38,040 Speaker 1: point in the league forces an airball. Think about how 748 00:36:38,040 --> 00:36:39,880 Speaker 1: often Kevin Rant works on that shot and how difficult 749 00:36:39,880 --> 00:36:42,040 Speaker 1: it is to force him into an airball. Excellent individual 750 00:36:42,080 --> 00:36:45,759 Speaker 1: defense by a mere coffee. And then here we go, 751 00:36:46,320 --> 00:36:48,680 Speaker 1: last possession of this sequence. We're thirty two to four 752 00:36:48,719 --> 00:36:50,880 Speaker 1: at this point, we're gonna get what's called a soft switch. 753 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:54,000 Speaker 1: So Paul George again outstanding pull up shooter. The Suns 754 00:36:54,040 --> 00:36:56,319 Speaker 1: want to switch this action because bad Young as a 755 00:36:56,400 --> 00:37:00,600 Speaker 1: forward is capable of switching. Roy O'Neil is going to 756 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 1: call for the switch on the screen, but this is 757 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:05,719 Speaker 1: a passive switch because he's back. An aggressive switch, that 758 00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:07,920 Speaker 1: Young would have met him right here, but he's in 759 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:10,040 Speaker 1: a passive switch. You can literally see his weight on 760 00:37:10,120 --> 00:37:13,120 Speaker 1: his heels and Paul George's rises right over the top 761 00:37:13,160 --> 00:37:19,920 Speaker 1: of him and knocks it down. So that's a great example, 762 00:37:19,520 --> 00:37:23,640 Speaker 1: a little example from film of how the Clippers are 763 00:37:23,680 --> 00:37:26,560 Speaker 1: capable of playing a very physically imposing brand of basketball 764 00:37:26,960 --> 00:37:28,759 Speaker 1: and how Phoenix if you punch him in the mouth, 765 00:37:28,840 --> 00:37:30,919 Speaker 1: they have a tendency to kind of stagger and lose 766 00:37:30,960 --> 00:37:33,840 Speaker 1: their confidence and fall apart in that sort of setting. 767 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:35,640 Speaker 1: We also know they can thrive in that setting, but 768 00:37:35,680 --> 00:37:37,759 Speaker 1: they're very inconsistent in that type of setting. Like I 769 00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:40,600 Speaker 1: talked about earlier, it doesn't come naturally to them the 770 00:37:40,640 --> 00:37:42,960 Speaker 1: way it does for the Clippers, And to me, it 771 00:37:42,960 --> 00:37:45,120 Speaker 1: gives the Clippers a little bit more resiliency in the 772 00:37:45,120 --> 00:37:48,000 Speaker 1: way that their game translates to the postseason, and that is, 773 00:37:48,120 --> 00:37:50,520 Speaker 1: in my opinion, a good breakdown or a good example 774 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:53,120 Speaker 1: of why I have the Clippers one step ahead of 775 00:37:53,120 --> 00:37:56,120 Speaker 1: the Suns in my contender rankings. All right, guys, that 776 00:37:56,200 --> 00:37:58,040 Speaker 1: is all I have for today. As always, I sincerely 777 00:37:58,120 --> 00:38:01,000 Speaker 1: appreciate you guys for supporting the show. We'll be back 778 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:05,320 Speaker 1: tomorrow with UH game breakdown of Denver Minnesota as well 779 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:07,600 Speaker 1: as the three two one in our contender rankings and 780 00:38:07,640 --> 00:38:09,439 Speaker 1: a mail bag. And then we have the Nerd Sash 781 00:38:09,480 --> 00:38:11,800 Speaker 1: guys coming on on Friday, which should be fun. I 782 00:38:11,840 --> 00:38:45,440 Speaker 1: will see you guys, come up the volume