1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, Well, good to Hoops to night. 2 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: You're at the volume heavy Friday, everybody. Oh ball, if 3 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: you guys are having a great end to your week, 4 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: got a jam pack show for you guys today. We 5 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: ended up getting a couple of incredible games last night 6 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: out of the Los Angeles Lakers versus Miami Heat and 7 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: the Phoenix Suns versus the San Antonio Spurs, a potential 8 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: first round playoff preview out in the Western Conference. We're 9 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:37,160 Speaker 1: just gonna be doing breakdowns of each of those two games. 10 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 1: You guys owe the drip before we get started. Subscribe 11 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 1: to the Hoops and I YouTube channels. You don't miss 12 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:42,279 Speaker 1: any more of our videos. Make sure you like this 13 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: video and sign up for post notifications. That helps us 14 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 1: a lot. And then last, not at least, if you 15 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:48,160 Speaker 1: want to get mail back questions into our future mail bags, 16 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: drop them into our YouTube comments and we'll get to 17 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 1: them throughout the rest of the season. All right, let's 18 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 1: talk some basketball. So as the Lakers go into Miami 19 00:00:56,440 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: last night, First and foremost, I respected that hell out 20 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 1: of those guys in that locker room just for going 21 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: for that game. It was their eleventh game in the 22 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:11,479 Speaker 1: month in the month of March, eleven games in nineteen days. 23 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: Not only that of those eleven games, seven of them 24 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: were against pretty high level playoff teams. And they didn't 25 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: land in Miami in that back to back yesterday until 26 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: five am on the day of the game. And we 27 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 1: all saw how physical and intense those games against Houston were. 28 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: We also all know the way Miami likes to play, 29 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 1: full court pressure, mixing in traps, the crazy pace on offense. 30 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: It's a game you have to run a ton. My 31 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: feet were literally hurting just watching the game. And they 32 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 1: absolutely could have punted that game and still kept the 33 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 1: inside track on the three seed in the Western Conference. 34 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: I said this the other day, but given those two games, 35 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: it was way more important for them to beat Houston 36 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: and potentially lose to Miami than to beat Miami and 37 00:01:57,520 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: lose to Houston because of the way of the tiebreakers. 38 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: They absolutely could have been like, look, guys, let's give 39 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: it a rest, We'll get the rest of the games 40 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: on this road trip with more intensity. Let's take care 41 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: of our bodies. But they went for it because they 42 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 1: wanted to. They wanted to win that game, they wanted 43 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 1: to keep their streak going. And I just thought it 44 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: was one of those moments, the latest in a long 45 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: line of moments that demonstrated the basketball character of this 46 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: group and really a remarkable turnaround that this group has 47 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: manifested here over the last three or four weeks. You 48 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: could tell they were exhausted right away. They went down 49 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: nine to zero immediately in the first two minutes. They 50 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 1: were leaving jump shots short. Austin especially looked like the 51 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: guy that stuck out like a sore thumb as exhausted 52 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: last night, especially down the stretch. Down the tail end 53 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 1: of that game. Miami went one on one at Austin 54 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: over and over and over again and scored, especially Tyler 55 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: Harrow and Davion Mitchell, but he gave him the brought 56 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: in eighteen points, just found little ways to help the 57 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:58,799 Speaker 1: team on offense throughout the game. He had a couple 58 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: of huge buckets in that second half. And we've talked 59 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: about this already this week, like the next step for 60 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: Austin and his development is conditioning. Not that he's in 61 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: bad shape or anything like that, but there's definitely another 62 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: level that Austin can get to with his body to 63 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 1: become more resilient in these stredges, but the Lakers did 64 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: eventually settle in. They managed to hold their ground and 65 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: kind of linger around the rest of the first half, 66 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 1: stayed within that like kind of ten points range. And 67 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 1: then Luka Doncic who poured in twenty one points in 68 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: the first half, Lebron James, who just continues to not 69 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: miss shots, goes five for five in the first half. 70 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 1: They just kind of linger. Miami runs a lot of 71 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: zone in the first half. They actually had quite a 72 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 1: bit of success against it, just by setting ball screens 73 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: against the top man, so like they would just screen 74 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: the top man and Luca would get down into the lane. 75 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: He generated a lot of good shots that way. They 76 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: just stayed close. Then in the second half, the Lakers 77 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: completely took control of the game. Over a twelve minute span, 78 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 1: from about five minutes remaining in the second quarter to 79 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: about five minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Lakers 80 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: outscored the Heat forty eight to twenty two. It wasn't 81 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: a pretty defensive night overall for them. They were really 82 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: bad early in the game and especially over the final 83 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 1: few minutes of the game, Like we talked about when 84 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 1: they were attacking Austin, but they had a stretch. And 85 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 1: this is like, when you're a good defense, especially an 86 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 1: older defense, you can't be expected to go out like 87 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 1: the Oklahoma City Thunder every single night, especially when you're 88 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,160 Speaker 1: playing eleven games in nineteen days and just tighten the 89 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 1: screws on everybody for forty eight minutes. But the good defenses, 90 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: and we talked about I've always used Denver as like 91 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 1: an example. The good defense is what they can do 92 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: in that sort of environment. Their offense can kind of 93 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 1: keep them close, and then they tend to have stretches, 94 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: a little five minute stretch here, ten minutes stretch there, 95 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: where they tighten the screws and they get the the 96 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 1: stops they need to take control of the game. And 97 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: that was that stretch for the Lakers last night, and 98 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 1: of the second quarter, first half of that third quarter 99 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 1: they locked in. They held them to twenty two points 100 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 1: over twelve minutes, and that was when they took control 101 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: of the game. Really impressive help and rotate sequences in 102 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 1: that stretch. Like one of the things that the Lakers 103 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: have gotten really good at is even though they compete 104 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: really well on the ball, they know they're not gonna 105 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 1: get a ton of stops on ball because they're gonna 106 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: give up some dribble penetration to speed. They're not the 107 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 1: fastest team in the world, but they've become really good 108 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: at anticipating dribble penetration. You'll see a lot of sequences 109 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 1: where like kind of like last night, where you'll see 110 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: Tyler Harrow drive past Jackson Hayes off the top of 111 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: the key, and Austin Reeves will help off of Davion 112 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 1: Mitchell in the corner and Tyler will kick it to 113 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: the corner and Austin will have to throw a close 114 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: out but he's way out of position, and Davion will 115 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: rack the clothes out and get middle and Jackson will 116 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: just switch and Austin will then just follow Tyler Harrow 117 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: out to the corner. It's almost like they anticipate dribble penetration, 118 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: they know it's coming, and they get in front of 119 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: it with communication switching and quality rotation. So again they 120 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: were able to put together one consistent stretch of stops 121 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: which ended up being enough for them, and then Luca 122 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 1: do just went absolutely nuclear on offense in the second 123 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 1: half thirty nine points. Miami ends up going back to 124 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: mostly manned a man in the second half, they were 125 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: basically running drop coverage with kill al Ware and then 126 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:19,920 Speaker 1: switching with Bam at a bio and Luca just fried everyone. 127 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: The degree to which he was frying Bam at a 128 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 1: Bio on switches was outrageous. Hit a bunch of step 129 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: back threes in his face, cleanly beat him off the 130 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: dribble for a lefty layup. At one point, Bam kind 131 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: of even lost his composure. There was a play in 132 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:36,479 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter where he just ran up and like 133 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 1: hit Luca in the face twenty five feet from the 134 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:42,359 Speaker 1: basket when they were in the penalty because he was 135 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 1: losing his composure with how bad Luca was cooking his ass. 136 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:49,160 Speaker 1: And then again down the stretch like Miami made their 137 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: run because that's what you'd expect, right, Tired Lakers team 138 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 1: take a double digit lead in the third quarter, but 139 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: Miami literally never stops running, they never stop attacking, and 140 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 1: they cut the lead to four a few times there 141 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:04,039 Speaker 1: in that fourth quarter. But when Luka Doncicz checked back 142 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: in the game for his last shift, the Lakers scored 143 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: on fifteen of their last seventeen possessions. Once again, a 144 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: variety of moves, super deep catch and shoot three off 145 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 1: of the left wing off of an inbounds on a 146 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: play where Drew Smith fell asleep. More step back threes, 147 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: another kind of like and one floater against back pressure 148 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: along the left lane line, just screaming and fucking one 149 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 1: into the stands. Just I'm loving this. Like new personality 150 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: of Luca as he's regained, like his trash talking personality 151 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: that was kind of missing early in the season. Another 152 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: like spinning left shoulder hook against the guard. He just 153 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 1: had everything going. And again like down the stretch with 154 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: that exhausted Austin Reeves getting scored on repeatedly, they needed 155 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: every single one of those sixty points from Luca to 156 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: win that game. Just an absolutely remarkable night from a 157 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 1: player that is experiencing a historically great peak. I have 158 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: five different angles that I want to hit from this 159 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: Luka Doncic sixty piece. First of all, Luca dropping sixty 160 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 1: points in what should have been a schedule loss on 161 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: the road against a top five defense, especially against those coverages, 162 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: like consistent full court pressure, repeatedly beating one of the 163 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 1: best switching gigs in the league on an island one 164 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: on one, including twenty fourth quarter points in a close 165 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: game that could have gone either way. That was unquestionably 166 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 1: more impressive than bam Adebayo's eighty three points against the Wizards. 167 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: BAM's eighty three was fun, You guys know, I had 168 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: no problem with the heat helping Bam try to pursue 169 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 1: that number, but it was far from the most impressive 170 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: scoring performance I had ever seen, And I thought it 171 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 1: was fitting that Luca went into Miami and put on 172 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 1: a demonstration in that building to remind that organization and 173 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 1: those fans that there's a difference between a fun gimmick 174 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: in an all time great player grabbing you by the 175 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 1: fucking throat and strangling you to death the way that 176 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: Luca did last night. Secondly, well Luca did last night 177 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: is exactly the kind of thing that sets apart a 178 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 1: true superstar in his prime from the guys below that tier. 179 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: I'm super excited to tell you guys about our partnership 180 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 1: with VIORI. Those of you guys who are familiar with 181 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:42,680 Speaker 1: Viori've noticed I've been wearing it on the show a 182 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 1: ton over the last few years. It's become a workhorse 183 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 1: for me. Today, I'm wearing the Seaside pullover a hoodie 184 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 1: one that I just got that I've really enjoyed. 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Visit the website for full 213 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: terms and conditions. The ability to put your team on 214 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 1: your back in those circumstances again eleventh game in nineteen 215 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 1: days and simply will them to victory. It's just a 216 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 1: reminder that when you have a true superstar at the 217 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 1: peak of his powers, especially one in their late twenties 218 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: Lucas just turned twenty seven years old, it can be 219 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: such a cheat code because of what they can summon 220 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: on a night like that. Thirdly, we are witnessing one 221 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 1: of the greatest multi week regular season peaks of basketball 222 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: in the history of the NBA. There will be conversation 223 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:53,839 Speaker 1: about the MVP in the coming days, and I think 224 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: lucas at least making it a conversation, which is remarkable 225 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: considering how good Shay's been this year. I personally think 226 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 1: Shay still has a pretty decent sized advantage, but I 227 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 1: think Luca has a shot now, especially if you can 228 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 1: sustain this through the end of the season. But let's 229 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 1: forget about the MVP for a second, because that's very 230 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:16,079 Speaker 1: much an eighty two game, six month conversation in any 231 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 1: sort of long term, consistency based conversation is where things 232 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 1: get more complicated for Luca. As we talked about yesterday, 233 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 1: consistency is the next step for Luca in his development. 234 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 1: But forget about the MVP. Let's just talk about this stretch. 235 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: This recent stretch from Luca is some of the highest 236 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 1: level basketball that has ever been played on this earth, 237 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 1: and I would argue it's a higher multi week peak 238 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: in the regular season than Shay or Nikola Jokic has 239 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: ever reached. In this eight game streak, Luca is averaging 240 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 1: forty one points, nine rebounds, seven assists on sixty six 241 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:01,959 Speaker 1: percent true shooting with three two point three stocks per game. 242 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:05,680 Speaker 1: He's averaging two and a half steals. He had five 243 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: more steals last night, and again, I can't emphasize this enough. 244 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: He's doing it in an eight game winning streak, all 245 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: against great teams in very important games in the standings 246 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 1: every single night. It is very simply one of the 247 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:28,200 Speaker 1: highest regular season multi week peaks in the history of 248 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 1: the sport. As I've said, many times, no one's gonna 249 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:35,320 Speaker 1: hand out the best Player in the World title in 250 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 1: the regular season. Luca's probably gonna need to have a 251 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 1: run like Jokic did in twenty twenty three to get 252 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: that credit. And I'm not sure if this Lakers team 253 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 1: is up to the challenge, so he may have to 254 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 1: wait for another opportunity. But I cannot overstate just how 255 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 1: insanely good Luca has been in this stretch. Fourthly, Luca 256 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 1: has been so incredibly good in this stretch that he 257 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 1: has lifted his metrics in this season to that of 258 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 1: the highest in his career. He is now scoring at 259 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,679 Speaker 1: a rate of thirty three point six points per thirty 260 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: six minutes. That's the highest of his career. He's scored 261 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: half point more per game in twenty twenty four, but 262 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: that was in two additional minutes per game. He's up 263 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: to sixty one point eight percent true shooting. That is 264 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: now the highest true shooting percentage of his entire career, 265 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 1: and in this twelve game stretch for the Lakers are 266 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: eleven to one. The Lakers are outscoring teams by fourteen 267 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: points per one hundred possessions when he's on the floor. 268 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 1: And again, this is literally during the hardest stretch of 269 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 1: schedule they've had all season in terms of quality of 270 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: opponents and density of games. To put it very simply, 271 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 1: this is the highest level that Luca has ever reached, 272 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 1: which takes me to my final takeaway. If Luca's gonna 273 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: be this good, and especially if he's gonna be this 274 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 1: scheme resistant, right again, last night, top five defense, zone looks, 275 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 1: drop looks, switching looks against one of the best switching 276 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 1: bigs in the history of the sport, just frying him 277 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:22,280 Speaker 1: on an island over and over again. If he's gonna 278 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: be at this level in the postseason, we are all 279 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: dramatically underrating the chances that the Lakers have to succeed 280 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: when they get there. Does that mean I think the 281 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 1: Lakers are gonna go win the title? No, I think 282 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: there are certainly safer bets out there in the West. 283 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 1: I still view Oklahoma City and San Antonio as on 284 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: a different tier. But we would all be very foolish 285 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 1: to think that the Lakers can't win with that guy 286 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 1: in their corner. I don't care who they're playing, They're 287 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 1: gonna have a shot if that dude is playing at 288 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 1: that level when they get to April and may last 289 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: Laker thing I wanted to hit before we move on 290 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 1: to the Spurs signs game. This has been one of 291 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 1: my favorite stretches of Lebron's career to watch. He has 292 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 1: basically evolved on the fly into that evolutionary version of 293 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 1: Draymond that we all thought he would be at this 294 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 1: phase in his career. He he just needed to be 295 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: surrounded by the right amount of ball handling and to 296 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 1: have enough belief in the team in order to put 297 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 1: in this much work and to devote his resources in 298 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: that direction. He was amazing last night, absolutely dominated on 299 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: the glass, not only fifteen rebounds, but several other kind 300 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 1: of contested tapouts that led to Laker rebounds. I thought 301 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: he was great on defense, competing on the ball, helping 302 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 1: and rotating with his teammates, and he had a triple 303 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: double because he locked ten assists almost entirely off the ball. 304 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: Almost every single one of his assists came driving a 305 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: clobe out, catching on the wing and either making the 306 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 1: next pass in the chain to a wide open shooter, 307 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 1: or ripping a close out getting into the lane drawing 308 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:12,719 Speaker 1: help and making amazing kickouts. He had a couple ridiculous 309 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:17,639 Speaker 1: kickouts to Marcus Smart in the corners driving closeouts. He 310 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:22,600 Speaker 1: quite literally last night filled all of the gaps for 311 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:26,679 Speaker 1: that Laker team to help them win that game, and 312 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: again on the eleventh night that they had a game 313 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: in the last nineteen nights on a back to back 314 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:37,440 Speaker 1: against a brutally tough schedule, arriving in Miami at five 315 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:42,439 Speaker 1: am the day of the game. Since returning from his 316 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: little brief absence, he's averaging twenty points, eight rebounds, and 317 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:50,640 Speaker 1: six assists on sixty nine percent true shooting with one 318 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: and a half steals, while also being one of the 319 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:57,680 Speaker 1: team's best defenders. I've been waiting on him to take 320 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:01,920 Speaker 1: a victory lap on the press after that absolutely absurd 321 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: media cycle from a few weeks ago. Both Lebron and 322 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: Luca went through some absurd media cycles and it was 323 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: crazy because it wasn't born out of nothing like there 324 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 1: was actually some valid criticism to throw at both guys, 325 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:16,399 Speaker 1: but it's just not what I was hearing from a 326 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: lot of the national media. Like Luca did deserve some 327 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:22,679 Speaker 1: criticism for some of his inefficiencies throughout the year, some 328 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:24,879 Speaker 1: of the way that he was interacting with refs and 329 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:27,119 Speaker 1: leaning too much on foulgrifting, how bad he was on 330 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 1: defense at some stretches. He was lagging behind Shay and 331 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 1: Jokic for some chunks of the season. But instead of 332 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: talking about that in those details and putting him at 333 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 1: number three instead of number one, we heard about he's 334 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: tenth in the MVP race, or he's not first team 335 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: All NBA, or he's hurting the Lakers, just completely absurd stuff, 336 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 1: when again, there was actually a nuanced conversation to be 337 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:59,760 Speaker 1: had about why Luca was lagging behind Shay and Jokic 338 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 1: for this stretch. Same with Lebron, there was a conversation 339 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:07,440 Speaker 1: to be had about how the team should lean into 340 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 1: Austin as their secondary ball handler once he got healthy 341 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,520 Speaker 1: and into rhythm, or how he needed to be much 342 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 1: more engaged possession of possession defensively and as a rebounder, 343 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:20,880 Speaker 1: or how he needed to shoot the ball from three 344 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:22,400 Speaker 1: better than he had been and by the way, he's 345 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:26,399 Speaker 1: forty percent from three since coming back. But instead it 346 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: was like straight up stupid shit, like the Lakers are 347 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:35,120 Speaker 1: better without Lebron, which was absolutely outrageous because anyone who 348 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 1: was actually watching the team knew they desperately needed Lebron. 349 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 1: They just needed the ball handling to come around to 350 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 1: slot him third, and they needed some more out of 351 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:50,520 Speaker 1: him in some key areas. Again, there was a nuanced, 352 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: valid conversation to have about Lebron, and that's not what 353 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 1: I was hearing. And then Lebron immediately rejoins the team 354 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:04,919 Speaker 1: and resoundingly reminded everyone why. It was downright insulting and 355 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 1: frankly an insane thing to say, especially against like probably 356 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 1: the most consistent proven winner in the history of the NBA, 357 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: if not Michael Jordan. And last night he finally took 358 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 1: his victory lab in his postgame presser he said, they 359 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 1: are absolutely wrong, and I'm glad he did. The Lakers 360 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:28,600 Speaker 1: are rolling. They get a much needed day off today, 361 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: another really tough game tomorrow in Orlando against the Magic. 362 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: I'm excited to see how they show up against a 363 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 1: very different type of matchup, bigger, stronger team, a lot 364 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: of switching in that matchup should be a fun one. 365 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:43,440 Speaker 1: Today's show is brought to you right presenting sponsor hard 366 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 1: Rock Bet, Florida's sportsbook. It's turney time and my favorite 367 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:48,280 Speaker 1: thing to do this time of year is fill out 368 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 1: my bracket, So join me in the Volume Bracket Contest 369 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:53,720 Speaker 1: presented by hard Rock Bet. 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All right, let's move on a Sun Spurs. 404 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:33,639 Speaker 1: This is going to be a potential first round preview 405 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 1: if the Suns can get out of the that seven 406 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:39,159 Speaker 1: to eight game in the play in tournament, and the 407 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 1: Sun showed why, it's going to be a more challenging 408 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:45,360 Speaker 1: first round series than you would think given the difference 409 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 1: in the team's records. Phoenix is super feisty for a 410 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:52,920 Speaker 1: variety of reasons. First of all, they're an elite half 411 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 1: court defense. They're seventh and half court defensive rating per 412 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:58,439 Speaker 1: cleaning the glass. Their bigs give them quite a bit 413 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 1: of scheme versatility. They have some good rim protecting drop 414 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:04,880 Speaker 1: coverage bigs. Also, Agadaro gives them the ability to run 415 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 1: switching looks, and those switching looks ended up giving the 416 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:10,440 Speaker 1: Spurs some issues at times last night. And even without 417 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 1: Dylan Brooks in the lineup, they've got some guys who 418 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:16,000 Speaker 1: can really guard the ball, and Ryan Dunn and Jordan 419 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:22,200 Speaker 1: Goodwin Devin Booker has always been an underrated defender. Gillespie 420 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:24,879 Speaker 1: and Grayson Allen both compete and do their jobs. Rashier 421 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 1: Fleming has blossomed into one of the more interesting three 422 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:29,400 Speaker 1: and D prospects in the league in this latter half 423 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 1: of the season. It's just so incredibly useful to have 424 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: like big, long, like athletes that have the tools that 425 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:39,679 Speaker 1: Rashir has, but that also play super hard all the 426 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:42,919 Speaker 1: time and that can hit open catch and shoot threes. 427 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 1: He's just brought a whole new dynamic and added to 428 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 1: this culture that they're building there in Phoenix, and they 429 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 1: just play super hard. I've talked about this a few 430 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:53,919 Speaker 1: times this year, but every season, they're a handful of 431 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:56,359 Speaker 1: teams that really stick out to me when I'm watching 432 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:59,440 Speaker 1: film as teams that are super sharp in their rotations, 433 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:02,880 Speaker 1: and Phoenix has been one of the best that I've 434 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 1: watched this year in that particular area. And it shows 435 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: in the numbers. They have the second lowest opponent three 436 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:11,439 Speaker 1: point percentage in the league this year. They have the 437 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 1: third fewest makes that they allow in the NBA this year. 438 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: Why because they fly around and they throw great closeouts 439 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: and Jordan not deserves a ton of credit for how 440 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:25,000 Speaker 1: he's flipped this culture over and how locked in this 441 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 1: team is on the margins. They win all the margins now. 442 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:32,160 Speaker 1: Not only do they play ridiculously hard on defense, they 443 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:34,639 Speaker 1: relentlessly pursue the offensive glass. You saw that in that 444 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:36,439 Speaker 1: fourth quarter. They beat the Spurs to a lot of 445 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:38,960 Speaker 1: loose balls in that fourth quarter that kept possessions alive. 446 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 1: They win the points off of turnovers battle, they win 447 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:43,880 Speaker 1: the second chance points battle, they win the fast break 448 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 1: points battle. They win on the margins on average every night. 449 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:51,399 Speaker 1: It's what makes them so much more endearing to Suns 450 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:53,159 Speaker 1: fans than some recent teams that they've had in the 451 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:55,439 Speaker 1: last couple of years, and it's why Jordan not deserves 452 00:24:55,440 --> 00:25:00,679 Speaker 1: so much credit for the culture turnaround. In Phoenix, it 453 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 1: presented the Spurs team with a very interesting challenge. First 454 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:05,359 Speaker 1: of all, Steph Castle was out with some tightness in 455 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:07,119 Speaker 1: his hip, and he hasn't missed a game in like 456 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:08,960 Speaker 1: seven weeks, so that definitely threw a little bit of 457 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 1: a wrench in they're ball handling. It just kind of 458 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:14,639 Speaker 1: slotted everybody into very different roles. Offensively, some of their 459 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 1: young players went very cold from three which is again 460 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:19,520 Speaker 1: something that Phoenix has done to everybody, and I think 461 00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 1: filed that away because I think that's going to be 462 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: an interesting kind of thing that we'll see at times 463 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 1: in the postseason. Devin Vessel and Keldon Johnson in particular, 464 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:29,800 Speaker 1: went cold from three. Victor similarly struggled to find rhythm 465 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:31,919 Speaker 1: with his jumper until that final play, which was insane. 466 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:34,159 Speaker 1: We'll get to in a minute. Dearreon Fox had a 467 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:36,119 Speaker 1: pretty rough first three quarters, although I thought he was 468 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 1: amazing in the fourth quarter. I also thought the Spurs 469 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:40,199 Speaker 1: again got a little flum mixed by that mix of 470 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:44,400 Speaker 1: switching and drop that Phoenix ran and again without Steph Castle, 471 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 1: I thought they looked a little bit lost with how 472 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,720 Speaker 1: to attack at times, and I thought, especially in transition, 473 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 1: I thought they rushed some transition opportunities that weren't really there. 474 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 1: The Spurs log just zero point eighty seven points per 475 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:58,880 Speaker 1: transition attack, which is a really low number for this team. 476 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 1: They typically average one point one four points per transition 477 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:06,720 Speaker 1: attack according to Synergy, and give Phoenix some credit, they 478 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 1: generated enough offense throughout the game in various ways to 479 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:12,399 Speaker 1: keep the game competitive and to give them leads at 480 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:16,120 Speaker 1: various points against a very good uh San Antonio defense too, 481 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:19,160 Speaker 1: Like Colin Gillespie torched them from three. He shoots such 482 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:21,879 Speaker 1: a soft shot, Like he got multiple like really soft 483 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:24,000 Speaker 1: rolls on the rim that were pretty crazy. Last night, 484 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 1: Devin Booker was giving Devin Vessel some fits with just 485 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:30,679 Speaker 1: like savvy veteran two guard stuff like just really solid 486 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:35,240 Speaker 1: footwork on his attacks, drawing fouls, getting open on back cuts, 487 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 1: things along those lines. He's just Devin Booker, you guys 488 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:39,760 Speaker 1: know the deal. Igadaro had an insane offensive night. He 489 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:42,159 Speaker 1: was hitting a lot of these like tough like floaters 490 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:44,960 Speaker 1: in Victor's face in the lane. It just it presented 491 00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:48,440 Speaker 1: the Spurs with a challenge. They were down ten points 492 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 1: with less than five minutes to go in this game, 493 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:54,479 Speaker 1: and just like the Spurs have been able to all season, 494 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:59,200 Speaker 1: they summoned their Spurs magic and came all the way 495 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:04,199 Speaker 1: back to win. They completely locked in on defense and 496 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:07,320 Speaker 1: allowed just five points in the final four to fifty 497 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:10,359 Speaker 1: of the game. Wenby got his first block of the 498 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:13,399 Speaker 1: game with a couple minutes left. They finally cleaned up 499 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 1: some of the stuff on Devin Booker. All of Devin 500 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:17,960 Speaker 1: Booker's shot attempts in the final minutes of the game 501 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:20,919 Speaker 1: were really really tough shots, which is a credit to 502 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:22,920 Speaker 1: all of the perimeter defenders that ended up on him 503 00:27:22,920 --> 00:27:26,560 Speaker 1: in that stretch. They cleaned up the defensive glass after 504 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:28,639 Speaker 1: having some issues in the early part of the fourth quarter, 505 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 1: and then they finally got the offense they needed in 506 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:34,119 Speaker 1: the form of Deer and Fox In Victor wemen Yama, 507 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 1: I'm bringing this back here because if you remember at 508 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:38,879 Speaker 1: various points in the last couple of weeks when I've 509 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 1: been talking about San Antonio, I do think that at 510 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:45,320 Speaker 1: times in this postseason, as it often does, and this 511 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 1: happens to everybody. How many times last year on the 512 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:52,359 Speaker 1: thunder did things degrade and it became coinche bring them home. 513 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:59,359 Speaker 1: And that happened yesterday. The shots weren't falling, and it 514 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:02,600 Speaker 1: turned into who's gonna create offense first down the stretch, 515 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:06,879 Speaker 1: and it was Darren Fox and Victor women Yum. I 516 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:11,920 Speaker 1: thought Darren Fox was fantastic in the fourth quarter. He 517 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:14,119 Speaker 1: struggled early in the game, had some turnover issues, was 518 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:17,240 Speaker 1: missing his three ball, but in that fourth quarter he 519 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:20,960 Speaker 1: just repeatedly came through, got a lot of consistent dribble 520 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:24,399 Speaker 1: penetration man that like nasty, like hesitation dribble with his 521 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:27,600 Speaker 1: left hand before he attacks forward. It's disgusting. He can 522 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 1: beat people off the dribble with that like crazy little 523 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:33,120 Speaker 1: spinning turnarounds in the lane. Finally got a big three 524 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:35,200 Speaker 1: point shot to go there off of the left wing. 525 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 1: I thought Darren Fox did exactly what the Spurs will 526 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:41,640 Speaker 1: need him to do in this postseason when things degraded 527 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:44,640 Speaker 1: into Darren Fox ball. He was able to get to 528 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 1: his spots and he was able to make shots. Now, 529 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:50,880 Speaker 1: is Darren Fox gonna be the best offensive player and 530 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 1: a lot of these matchups against teams in the Western Conference. No. 531 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:55,800 Speaker 1: But one of the things that did stand out to 532 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:58,240 Speaker 1: me in that Warriors series, and it wasn't all perfect, 533 00:28:58,280 --> 00:29:01,200 Speaker 1: Like he didn't shoot super well from three. His rim 534 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:03,640 Speaker 1: finishing went down. He was like around seventy percent with 535 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:05,280 Speaker 1: the Kings in the regular season and then he was 536 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:07,800 Speaker 1: in like the mid fifties in that Warrior series. So 537 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:10,920 Speaker 1: he missed some layups in traffic against a very good 538 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 1: Golden State Warriors defense. But one of the things that 539 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:16,960 Speaker 1: stood out to me in that series against against Golden 540 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:19,479 Speaker 1: State was the air Fox was able to consistently get 541 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 1: dribble penetration, and that is one of the more valuable 542 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:24,760 Speaker 1: things when we look at the Spurs as a playoff team. 543 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:27,000 Speaker 1: I do think Fox is gonna be able to get 544 00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 1: to his spots when he gets to the postseason. The 545 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:32,320 Speaker 1: big thing is going to be the finishing piece, the rim, finishing, 546 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: which we saw suffer a little bit in that Golden 547 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:37,520 Speaker 1: State series. Those little turnarounds, those threes, those are gonna 548 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:39,360 Speaker 1: be the big swing factors for the Spurs in this 549 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:43,280 Speaker 1: playoff run. And then Victor just kind of manufactured points 550 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:45,720 Speaker 1: all night once again, like when the jumper was off, 551 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 1: he just found ways to get to the foul line 552 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:52,440 Speaker 1: with physical drives, the vertical spacing element he had every night. 553 00:29:52,520 --> 00:29:54,400 Speaker 1: Victor has like two or three of these, just like 554 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:58,400 Speaker 1: completely outrageous plays that don't even make sense. He had 555 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:01,640 Speaker 1: won off of a Remember who was the drove baseline. 556 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:03,840 Speaker 1: I think it might have been Devin Vessel, but he 557 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 1: like flipped up a lob to be in front of 558 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 1: the rim, and he like caught it with his left 559 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:13,640 Speaker 1: hand and fluidly, like softly caught it and fluidly like 560 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:16,600 Speaker 1: fed it into the basket while fighting somebody off with 561 00:30:16,680 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 1: his right hand. It was just a ridiculous finish in traffic. 562 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:23,520 Speaker 1: And then on the final play they get a stop, 563 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:26,080 Speaker 1: they go down and they score. Darren Fox, I think 564 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 1: it's that driving left handed layup. They go down, they 565 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:32,600 Speaker 1: get another stop. Ten seconds left, OsO Gadaro fights through, 566 00:30:32,640 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 1: doesn't give up the switch. Victim wemin Yama's got him 567 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:37,680 Speaker 1: on the right elbow, and he just goes to that 568 00:30:37,800 --> 00:30:40,240 Speaker 1: rip through move to the right, just a solid rip 569 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 1: through left right footwork, rises up, fades a little bit, 570 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 1: and knocks down the game winner. The thing that I 571 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:52,840 Speaker 1: kept thinking about when I watched that shot was literally, 572 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:55,360 Speaker 1: no one will ever be able to stop that shot 573 00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:58,239 Speaker 1: as long as he can protect the basketball down low, 574 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:00,200 Speaker 1: which again, guys will try to attack him down so 575 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:03,280 Speaker 1: he's gonna have to really rip through arms and add 576 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:05,160 Speaker 1: like a little bit of a physicality to that move. 577 00:31:05,240 --> 00:31:08,400 Speaker 1: But no one will ever be able to stop Victor 578 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 1: wemin Yama from ripping right and going to a one 579 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 1: dribble pull up, and especially when he gets it closer 580 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:18,280 Speaker 1: to the rim like that. I've talked about this a lot. 581 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:20,120 Speaker 1: One of the big reasons why I like mid range 582 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:22,640 Speaker 1: shooting in the clutch is it just becomes a higher 583 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 1: percentage shot. The best guys on step back threes might 584 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:30,720 Speaker 1: shoot forty percent. You can get to a point as 585 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:34,200 Speaker 1: a shooter where you're hitting fifty five fifty eight percent 586 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:36,800 Speaker 1: on those pull up twos, just like Schegol's, as Alexander 587 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:38,840 Speaker 1: has for the most part this year. And if he 588 00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:42,360 Speaker 1: gets to the point where he's hitting fifty five fifty 589 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:45,320 Speaker 1: eight percent on those pull up twos off the dribble, 590 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:49,320 Speaker 1: that is going to be something that carries the spurs 591 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 1: home on a lot of given nights. I was talking 592 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:55,640 Speaker 1: yesterday and this was just a misspeaking on my part 593 00:31:55,640 --> 00:31:59,040 Speaker 1: about how the best player in the world title kind 594 00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:03,240 Speaker 1: of feels up in the air. Me the Kohlijokic obviously 595 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:05,560 Speaker 1: has had a really rough time since he came back 596 00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:07,400 Speaker 1: from his knee injury. He hasn't been very good on defense. 597 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:10,520 Speaker 1: He's had massive turnover issues. His efficiency has cratered on 598 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:12,640 Speaker 1: a lot of key shots, particularly his three point shot, 599 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:15,520 Speaker 1: in some of his like short range shot making. It 600 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:18,320 Speaker 1: feels up in the air and it's a four man race. 601 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:21,600 Speaker 1: Shay I think kind of has the inside track right now, 602 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,840 Speaker 1: but we've all seen Luca Luca's very short sample, but 603 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:27,040 Speaker 1: this two three week stretch from Luca is some of 604 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:30,040 Speaker 1: the best basketball that's ever been played on Earth. Victor 605 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:32,560 Speaker 1: women Yama, we know because of what he does defensively. 606 00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:35,200 Speaker 1: He's in that conversation. He's got to add a playoff 607 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:37,479 Speaker 1: resume to it, but he's in that conversation, and then 608 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:40,360 Speaker 1: don't we'd all be stupid. It just right off Nikolijokic, 609 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:45,440 Speaker 1: But Victor Women Yama is in that group. Victor Women 610 00:32:45,520 --> 00:32:49,240 Speaker 1: Yama has the potential this year to make that statement. 611 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:52,200 Speaker 1: I thought last night was a really interesting example of 612 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:55,320 Speaker 1: just how resilient he is in the sense that it's 613 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:59,440 Speaker 1: an ugly offensive game. Team's really struggling to score. He's 614 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:02,400 Speaker 1: having a hard time with this three point shot, but 615 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 1: just a dominant defensive run in the fourth quarter, able 616 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:10,000 Speaker 1: to manufacture points at the foul line and as a 617 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:13,840 Speaker 1: vertical spacer, and then it doesn't matter how poorly you 618 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:15,920 Speaker 1: shoot the ball if you make the big one, and 619 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:19,200 Speaker 1: he made the big one late in the game. I 620 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:22,760 Speaker 1: cannot wait for this playoff run because it very much 621 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:26,200 Speaker 1: feels like this is up in the air between those 622 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,360 Speaker 1: four guys, and I think all four of them are 623 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:30,960 Speaker 1: going to have something to say. Yeah, a couple of 624 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:34,040 Speaker 1: them have better teams than others, but like, I cannot 625 00:33:34,040 --> 00:33:36,760 Speaker 1: wait to see these dudes have this showdown in this 626 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:40,760 Speaker 1: Western Conference playoff run. Lastly, before we get out of 627 00:33:40,760 --> 00:33:45,400 Speaker 1: here today, looking forward to a potential Sun's Spurs matchup 628 00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:48,880 Speaker 1: in the postseason, I think it's gonna be a very 629 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:53,880 Speaker 1: good first taste of playoff action for the Spurs. I 630 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:59,080 Speaker 1: think it would be problematic for them to just beat 631 00:33:59,080 --> 00:34:02,160 Speaker 1: the crap out of some bad team and then walk 632 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:05,840 Speaker 1: into a super tough second round series. I mean, Oklahoma 633 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 1: City had that problem last year. Super easy first round 634 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:12,279 Speaker 1: series against Memphis, Denver catches them off guard and damn 635 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:15,800 Speaker 1: near goes up three to one, Right, I think Phoenix 636 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:17,640 Speaker 1: is gonna if they can win that seven to eight 637 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:20,319 Speaker 1: playing game. I think Phoenix is gonna bring the fight 638 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:24,960 Speaker 1: right to the Spurs. They're gonna be physical on the perimeter. 639 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:28,120 Speaker 1: They're gonna play some of their guards into poor shooting performances. 640 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:30,719 Speaker 1: It's gonna be a series that they're gonna have to win, 641 00:34:30,880 --> 00:34:34,440 Speaker 1: like you saw last night, winning with defense, winning with 642 00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:38,240 Speaker 1: clutch like late game sequences where they just completely strangle 643 00:34:38,280 --> 00:34:40,719 Speaker 1: the team on one end and they have to grind 644 00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:44,520 Speaker 1: out points Deer and Fox getting to his spots, Victor 645 00:34:44,520 --> 00:34:48,640 Speaker 1: wembin Yama manufacturing points at the foul line, and as 646 00:34:48,680 --> 00:34:52,720 Speaker 1: a vertical spacer, big buckets and big spots late in games. 647 00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:55,560 Speaker 1: I think san Antonio is gonna struggle a little bit 648 00:34:55,560 --> 00:34:58,440 Speaker 1: with Phoenix. I'm going to pick san Antonio, but I 649 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:01,239 Speaker 1: actually think it'll be really beneficial because they're going to 650 00:35:01,320 --> 00:35:03,880 Speaker 1: probably end up in a pretty tough second round series 651 00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:06,880 Speaker 1: against someone like a Minnesota or against the Lakers or 652 00:35:06,920 --> 00:35:09,959 Speaker 1: against a Denver, And I think it would be really 653 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:13,720 Speaker 1: good for them to have a very good battle against 654 00:35:13,719 --> 00:35:16,520 Speaker 1: a very good team in that first round series against Phoenix. 655 00:35:16,520 --> 00:35:18,000 Speaker 1: And I think there are some things from last night 656 00:35:18,040 --> 00:35:20,239 Speaker 1: that will translate to that series and turn it into 657 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:22,359 Speaker 1: a tougher one for them. It'll be a perfect like 658 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:25,600 Speaker 1: Baptism by Fire for a young group with some high 659 00:35:25,600 --> 00:35:29,040 Speaker 1: expectations this year. All right, guys, that's all I have 660 00:35:29,120 --> 00:35:31,160 Speaker 1: for today is always to sincerely appreciate you guys for 661 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:33,279 Speaker 1: supporting us and supporting the show. I hope you all 662 00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:34,440 Speaker 1: have a wonderful weekend.