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We're going to do a 34 00:01:56,160 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 2: deep dive into the play in tournament in both conference. 35 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 2: I'm gonna give you guys some numbers just based on 36 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 2: the strength of schedule and where teams are in the standings, 37 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 2: and then we'll have a little bit of a discussion 38 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 2: on where we expect things to land and where we 39 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:10,239 Speaker 2: hope things to land. After that, we're gonna do a 40 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 2: little bit of a touch on the contenders at the 41 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 2: top of the league, and then after that, I have 42 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 2: a fun game for the nerds at the end of 43 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 2: the show where we're gonna go over some of my 44 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 2: favorite bad takes from this season. So this a little 45 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 2: bit of an early start for you guys this morning. 46 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 2: You gen z Ors, I could tell you're a little sleepy. 47 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 2: I can see it in your eyes. Carson, I could 48 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 2: see it in the energy. 49 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 3: Zoom call sickness. 50 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 2: Anyway, We're gonna start out in the Western Conference. So 51 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 2: as as a quick synopsis, we have kind of three 52 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 2: tiers in the West Plain Tournament. The Pelicans are currently 53 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 2: at the five seed. They are at twenty seven losses 54 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 2: after a loss last night to the Orlando Magic. Also, 55 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 2: Brandon ingram hypercented his knee is going to be out 56 00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 2: at least two weeks heading into a pretty tough stretch 57 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 2: of their Skins schedule as well. They are at twenty 58 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 2: seven losses, ninth toughest remaining schedule, fifty two percent opponent 59 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 2: winning percentage. Then we have the Mavericks, the Sons, and 60 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,520 Speaker 2: the Kings. They're all tied with twenty nine losses, so 61 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 2: two more than the Pels. The MAVs have a forty 62 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,919 Speaker 2: eight percent opponent winning percentage in their remaining schedule, which 63 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 2: is the ninth easiest, The Suns fifty seven point four 64 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 2: percent toughest remaining in the entire league, and then the 65 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 2: Kings at fifty six percent opponent win percentage is the 66 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,799 Speaker 2: third toughest remaining schedule in the league. So the Sons 67 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 2: and Kings both really tough schedules. Probably worth mentioning though 68 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 2: that this time of year, the toughness in the schedule, 69 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 2: a lot of it has to do with where it's loaded, 70 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 2: because once you get into that last week or so, 71 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 2: even some of the top teams in the league start 72 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 2: sitting guys. Then we go to the Warriors and the 73 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 2: Lakers at thirty two losses, so three behind the Mavericks, 74 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 2: Sons and Kings, both of them at thirty two, seventeenth 75 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 2: and eighteenth toughest remaining schedules, respectively, with the forty eight 76 00:03:55,960 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 2: percent opponent win percentage. So let's get started here are 77 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 2: with you, Carson, What is your best guess for how 78 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 2: the standings land from here in the play? 79 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 4: So I think that we're probably gonna end up with 80 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 4: the four teams who are currently in the play and 81 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 4: still in the play and a little bit boring. 82 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 3: Maybe. 83 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 4: I think that the Pelicans are in some risk of 84 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 4: falling now that they don't have BI, But they've honestly 85 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 4: played pretty well without him this year, and he's got 86 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 4: a really good season, so I don't want to diminish 87 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 4: what he brings scoring, playmaking, improved defense. But they're four 88 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 4: and two without him. I still think they maintain that 89 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:36,839 Speaker 4: really elite defensive identity no matter what, and they've gotten 90 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 4: a really good version of Zion lately. So I think 91 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 4: just for this very short stretch, with the advantage they 92 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 4: have in the standings, they can probably hold on. 93 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 3: But then with the Kings and the Suns. 94 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 4: I just think they do have really tough schedules, as 95 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 4: you laid out specifically Phoenix. I mean, it's ridiculous they 96 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 4: have games remaining versus the Nuggets. They have two left 97 00:04:57,320 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 4: versus New Orleans, which is maybe a little bit easier 98 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 4: without Bi, but that's still a tough, physical, defensive, minded, 99 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 4: talented basketball team. Cleveland, the Tea Wolves twice, the Clippers twice, 100 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 4: and then the Kings. I just don't think they've consistently 101 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 4: shown a high enough level defensively, a high enough level 102 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,160 Speaker 4: in terms of effort for where I'm like, yeah, they're 103 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 4: gonna overcome being a couple games back from New Orleans 104 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 4: and climb up with that sort of schedule in. 105 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 3: Front of them. And then I do still think the 106 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 3: Lakers Warriors end up. 107 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 4: In nine to ten. They may have a bit of 108 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 4: an advantage in terms of schedule, and I may think 109 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 4: that both these teams are better than their record, There's 110 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:36,279 Speaker 4: no question about that. And with the Lakers specifically, we've 111 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 4: seen the ceiling that they're capable of reaching when they 112 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,720 Speaker 4: just reach the requisite effort level. But I just think 113 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 4: they've kind of dug themselves too deep a hole at 114 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 4: this point. And I think that we've seen with the 115 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 4: Warriors again, they've obviously risen to a higher level, but 116 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 4: if they were able to just magically flip a switch 117 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:54,840 Speaker 4: and then start reeling off a whole bunch of regular 118 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 4: season wins, I think that they probably would have done 119 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 4: so before getting to this point where now they are 120 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 4: just a few games above five hundred, and they have 121 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 4: been in that nine to ten range for so much 122 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,239 Speaker 4: of this season. So I think that we're still headed 123 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 4: for Lakers Warriors in the nine ten. 124 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 3: I agree for the most part. 125 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 1: I think if we're gonna see a team fluctuate between 126 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 1: where they are right now, I think it would probably 127 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: be Dallas either climbing to five or four over the 128 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 1: Pelicans or Clippers. But yeah, I think the bottom four 129 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 1: teams are gonna stay the same. And the thing about 130 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: the schedule too, The Suns have one hell of a 131 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: road stretch here. Their next five games are all on 132 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: the road. That's really tough to endure in like two 133 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: games against San Antonio. Any game against Wenby, I feel like, 134 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: isn't just a wash, you know what I mean, It's 135 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: always a tough out. So I would probably take Sacramento 136 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 1: to lock up seven to eight. And then I agree 137 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 1: with you, man, I just think the Lakers and Warriors 138 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 1: are in too big of a hole. And if any 139 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: of those teams, I'm not predicting this by any means, 140 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 1: if either of those teams slip up. I mean, Houston 141 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: has been surging, dude, seven straight wins, Like, I wouldn't 142 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: pick them to leapfrog or get in there. But the 143 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: Warriors of Lakers fall asleep at the wheel for a 144 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:08,480 Speaker 1: couple of games and the last week of the season 145 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: could get really grimy for both of those teams. 146 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, again, like that last when you get into the 147 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 2: end stretch, it's when you run into the issue with 148 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 2: teams starting to rest guys. So, like I even looking 149 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 2: at the Warriors Lakers, Warriors are heading into a little 150 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 2: bit of a tough stretch of their schedule as well. 151 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 2: They play the Timberwolves and the in the Orlando Magic 152 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 2: in the next couple of games. Tonight, they play the Pacers. Specifically, 153 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 2: they have you know, Aaron E. Smith and Andrew Nemhart 154 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 2: in Indiana. Now Steph shot him out of the building 155 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 2: when they played in Indiana about a month ago, But 156 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 2: that's a tough perimeter matchup. Then you go to Orlando, 157 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 2: they have one of the best guard defenders in the league, 158 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 2: and Jalen Suggs. You go to obviously Minnesota professional, you know, 159 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 2: perimeter defense team. Those types of teams have typically given 160 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 2: the Warriors some issues, and the Lakers, while they're about 161 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 2: to head into a tougher schedule in a little bit, 162 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 2: they're in a little bit of an easier stretch right here. 163 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 2: So like, I actually think that it's more likely than 164 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 2: not that the Lakers end up at nine and the 165 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 2: Warriors end up at ten. I agree with you guys 166 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 2: as it pertains to the plan. I think we're gonna 167 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 2: get MAVs and Pelicans out of the plan. It's a 168 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 2: risk with the Pels because they're in a little bit 169 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 2: of a tougher stretch and obviously Bi being out and 170 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 2: he's been so so good for them on both ends 171 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 2: of the floor as of late, sliding really nicely into 172 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 2: that secondary role behind Zion as they've kind of shifted, 173 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 2: and then also just everything he's been doing defensively, which 174 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 2: has been one of the better defensive seasons of his career, 175 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 2: and so like, obviously there's some risk there. But the 176 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 2: same reason why I don't think the the Pelicans will 177 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:48,199 Speaker 2: drop is the same reason why I don't think the 178 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 2: Lakers and Warriors will pass the Suns or the Kings. 179 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 2: It's the same reason why I don't think the Houston 180 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 2: Rockets will pass the Warriors or the Lakers. It's just 181 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 2: that three losses is just way too much to make 182 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 2: up in this short piece period of time. Like again, 183 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 2: like to put it simply, imagine like a fifteen game 184 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 2: sample and you went and you happen to go, you know, 185 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 2: twelve in three, they would only have to go what's 186 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 2: that nine and six to hold their ground, right, So like, 187 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 2: it's just not that it's not that difficult to hold 188 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:17,319 Speaker 2: that ground over that period of time. And again you're 189 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:19,079 Speaker 2: gonna get into that final week and it's gonna be 190 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 2: a lot of automatic wins. Who do you, guys think 191 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 2: has the best chance to survive the play in tournament 192 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:28,439 Speaker 2: between the Lakers and the Warriors. We'll start with you, Logan. 193 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 1: Man, I've flip flopped between this all season long, and 194 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 1: I've wanted to sell my stock since the start of 195 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: this season, and I picked the Lakers to win the title. 196 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 1: I really want to take Golden State, guys, I really 197 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 1: want to take Golden State. And I think they have 198 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 1: improved immenseally over the back half of the season, with 199 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 1: Raymond Green returning, with Chris Paul being such a steadying 200 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 1: force off the bench, with the emergence of rookies like 201 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: Brandon Pitzimski and tray Jackson Davis. I can't sing tj 202 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 1: D's praise is enough, man, that kid is awesome. I 203 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 1: just can't bring myself to take Golden State. Jason. You 204 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:04,839 Speaker 1: did a breakdown a couple of days ago about Steph 205 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 1: and their reliance on him offensively, and that's really what 206 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 1: it comes down to me. I just think the Lakers 207 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: have more secondary shot creation, more guys they can pull 208 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:15,319 Speaker 1: their weight on any given night. You know, I think 209 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:17,960 Speaker 1: the Lakers are really well equipped to withstand an off 210 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: night from a Lebron James and off night from an 211 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis because they have Dangelo Russell, because they have 212 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: Austin Reeves, because they have these other guys that can 213 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,359 Speaker 1: pull their own weight and create their own shots offensively. 214 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:30,439 Speaker 1: And then you get into the fact that we always 215 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: harp on the Lakers physical one athletic advantages. It's just 216 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 1: something I can bank in on more. I really want 217 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: to say Golden State. I think Golden State is the 218 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 1: more esthetically pleasing team. They're more fun to watch in 219 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,320 Speaker 1: my opinion, But that's not what it comes down to. 220 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 1: I think the Lakers still have those physical one athletic advantages, 221 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:52,199 Speaker 1: and there's just more shot creation up and down the roster. Also, 222 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: you add in the fact that I don't know, man, 223 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 1: I think this team has a legit chip on his shoulder. 224 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 1: They still got Lebron James. I still think that when 225 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 1: this team it was ironic because last year, right guys, 226 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 1: it was like the Lakers at any given night in 227 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: the playoffs would just boot a game and they'd say, Ah, 228 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 1: you know what, we'll just win tomorrow night. We'll punt 229 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 1: on this game. We'll win tomorrow night. I still have 230 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: that feel with this Lakers team where I think that 231 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 1: if they really want to crank the dial up in 232 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:21,160 Speaker 1: intense environments, in big game scenarios, I think the Lakers 233 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:23,960 Speaker 1: will show up. So it pains me to say it 234 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 1: because I've been trying to offload my Lakers stock for 235 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 1: so long, but I will side with LA and I 236 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:32,679 Speaker 1: want to take Golden State. Man. I want to see 237 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 1: Golden State get it done. I'm rooting for that, But 238 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 1: my gut says LA is going to get through. 239 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 3: Well. 240 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 4: I think that when we're answering this question, we have 241 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 4: to start with the fact that this is likely going 242 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 4: to be the nine to ten matchup, So first somebody 243 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 4: has to survive this specific game, and that's where I 244 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 4: think the answer becomes relatively clear. I just think the 245 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,319 Speaker 4: Lakers are a brutal matchup for Golden State. I think 246 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,680 Speaker 4: that we saw that in the playoff series last year. 247 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 4: Of course, this is a different Warrior team. It's a 248 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 4: younger Warriors team, it's a more athletic Warriors team. But 249 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:08,680 Speaker 4: the ultimate insurmountable advantages that the Lakers had last year, 250 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 4: to me, were the fact that they had the two 251 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 4: superstar talents on the floor, the two guys who could 252 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 4: be top ten players throughout a series, and the Warriors 253 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 4: only had the one, that being Steph Curry, and they 254 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 4: are very overwhelmingly reliant on him as that lone star 255 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 4: shot creator. Shout out to Kaminga and what he has 256 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 4: done as a mismatch attacker, weaponizing his athleticism out of 257 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 4: the post in transition, he's been so good, but there's 258 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 4: still obviously a gap, and I think in that playoff 259 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 4: environment he needs to prove that he can sustain this level. 260 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:42,559 Speaker 4: And so that's a real advantage that the Lakers are 261 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 4: just gonna have two guys on the floor who are 262 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 4: head and shoulders above everybody else except for Steph Curry 263 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 4: at all times. I do prefer their secondary shot creation, 264 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 4: as Logan laid out. I mean, especially with the level 265 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 4: that we've been getting from D'Angelo Russell. I don't want 266 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 4: to be the guy who banks on d Low because 267 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 4: obviously he melted down against the Nuggets last year, and 268 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 4: he is just kind of inherently erratic because of his 269 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 4: shot selection, because he relies on those tough pull ups 270 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 4: and he can take the offense out of rhythm when 271 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 4: it's not falling. But he is playing at a level 272 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 4: that we haven't seen from him in quite some time. 273 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 4: I mean, has just been so impressive for this last 274 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 4: month plus now, and so I'm at least optimistic about 275 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 4: what he can bring in stretches, what Austin Reeves brings 276 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 4: in stretches, and so I think it comes down to 277 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 4: a combination of two of the three best players by 278 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 4: far on the floor in this series, overall athletic and 279 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 4: really massive size advantages. Like Anthony Davis is just a 280 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 4: brutal matchup for the Warriors. We saw that last year 281 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 4: in terms of how he was able to dictate the 282 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 4: series defensively. Kevon Looney did a really good job of 283 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 4: battling him on the glass, but he's still eight up 284 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 4: boards in that series was over fourteen a game, I believe, 285 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 4: And I love TJD. And he is bawling out, but 286 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 4: the Lakers just don't have a physical answer for Anthony Davis. 287 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 4: They didn't have a center who was athletic enough last year. 288 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 4: Now they do have an athletic center in TJD. But 289 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 4: he's still undersize for that matchup, and if you get 290 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 4: dialed in AD, he's just a problem, and he's really 291 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 4: a problem against a small team like Golden State. 292 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 3: So even though I love. 293 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 4: How the Warriors have turned the corner overall in the 294 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 4: second half of the season, and I think that they 295 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 4: have been rejuvenated by this young core and they're doing 296 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 4: a lot of good things, LA specifically, is just a 297 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 4: really tough matchup if Lebron and AD are going to 298 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 4: hit that top gear. 299 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, I look at it like this when Vanderbilt out, 300 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 2: I think they're pretty much on similar footing as teams, 301 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 2: and honestly, like I really do feel like even if 302 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 2: they're healthy, which by the way, Jovon Boujac came on 303 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 2: the show yesterday and reported that Jared Vanderbilt is going 304 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 2: to return the season, or not that he's going to, 305 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 2: but that it's far more likely that he's going to 306 00:14:55,640 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 2: return this season. So even with that allowed, I think 307 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 2: I'd picked the home team between those two regardless, like 308 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 2: I would have a hard time picking against Steph at 309 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 2: home in a single elimination game. That said, I think 310 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 2: when Jared Vanderbilt's healthy on the Lakers, I think the 311 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 2: Lakers are just better than the Warriors. I think he's 312 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 2: that when he's out of the lineup, that specific position 313 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 2: group is such a devastating weakness for the Lakers that 314 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 2: Steph can get comfortable all game long, and that's a 315 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 2: real problem. Like literally Austin Reeves draws the staph assignment 316 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 2: when when Jared Vanderbilt is out of the lineup, and 317 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 2: we've seen how that's been a problem. But with Vanderbilt healthy, 318 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 2: they're just more built for that sort of thing. That said, 319 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 2: I still think just with the way the schedules are 320 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 2: set up, even though they have similar remaining strength of schedule, 321 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 2: the Lakers tougher parts of their schedule are later on, 322 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 2: whereas the Warriors toughest parts of the schedule are earlier on, 323 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 2: and I think that that benefits LA. They also have 324 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 2: a head to head matchup on April ninth, where the 325 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 2: Lakers will be at home, which I think is an 326 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 2: advantage towards the Lakers. So, even though again I think 327 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 2: you'd be foolish to count steph Out, I think if 328 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 2: Golden State did get the nine seed, I would be 329 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 2: I would lean towards picking them to win that nine 330 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 2: to ten game. I just think it's more likely than 331 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 2: not that the Lakers win the nine seed, and if 332 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 2: Jared Vanderbilt is healthy, I think the Lakers have a 333 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 2: better chance of winning a road game in Oracle than 334 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 2: the Warriors have a chance of beating the Lakers in 335 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 2: Crypto dot Com Arena in the event that there are 336 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 2: the ten seeds, So I think I leaned towards the 337 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 2: Lakers there. As far as the seven to eight matchup goes, 338 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 2: I really like the Kings are definitely a tougher matchup 339 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 2: for the Lakers than either the Suns or the Kings. 340 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 3: Are for the Warriors. 341 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 2: So in a weird way, I actually give the Warriors 342 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 2: a slightly better chance should they beat the Lakers to 343 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 2: get out of that seven to eight matchup. But the 344 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 2: one excuse me, the one thing that I keep pointing 345 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 2: to with the Lakers as a you know, kind of 346 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 2: like an optimistic sign for them as a play in team, 347 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 2: is that they do not rely on variants nearly as 348 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:04,400 Speaker 2: much as the other teams around the league. The Warriors 349 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:08,639 Speaker 2: are a high volume jump shooting team, the Lakers are not. 350 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 2: The Lakers take are one of the lowest volume three 351 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 2: point shooting teams in the league. There one of the 352 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 2: most frequent paint scoring teams in the league. They have 353 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 2: an ability ability to scale up in terms of their 354 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:25,119 Speaker 2: physical in position when they get into those matchups. A 355 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 2: big example for me would be like Game six last year, 356 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:32,160 Speaker 2: Lakers Warriors, Lakers at home. They get their butt kicked 357 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:34,960 Speaker 2: in Game five. Now, as Logan pointed out earlier, that's 358 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 2: kind of was their theme last year's they would just 359 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 2: punt specific games. But in that Game six, what happened. 360 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 2: Lebron came out in the first quarter and was like, 361 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 2: I'm bigger and stronger than all these dudes, and for 362 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 2: one night, I can bury them all in the rim. 363 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 2: And he went out and he did that. And so again, 364 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 2: like I think, I think, when when we really zoom 365 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 2: in on it, the both teams have a decent chance. 366 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 2: But I'd say I give the Warriors a little bit 367 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:04,160 Speaker 2: less than a fifty percent chance of escaping the plane 368 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 2: and the Lakers a little bit more than a fifty 369 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 2: percent chance, and so I'd leaned towards the Lakers. So 370 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:10,200 Speaker 2: one last note on that before we head out to 371 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 2: the Eastern Conference playing. If you're the Lakers, and we're 372 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 2: gonna do both of these rapid fires, so we'll go 373 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 2: through both of you and then we'll go to the Warriors. 374 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 2: If you're the Lakers, who's the one team you want 375 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 2: to avoid in a road playing game. Let's start with you, Carson. 376 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 4: I think you would have to be Dallas if they're 377 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 4: in this conversation. I mean, they're on the fringes of 378 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 4: the play, and I just think the Lakers still have 379 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 4: a physical advantage in the front court there, but it 380 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:38,879 Speaker 4: has diminished from what would have been overwhelming earlier in 381 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:40,919 Speaker 4: the year. We've seen Dallas improve so much as a 382 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:44,679 Speaker 4: rebounding team, just improve their overall big situation, and then 383 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 4: I just think the offensive ceiling that they have with 384 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 4: Luca and Kyrie when they're going can be really overwhelming. 385 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,159 Speaker 4: And so I just think they're the scariest team. The 386 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:56,160 Speaker 4: Kings have been a tough matchup, specifically for the Lakers, 387 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:58,919 Speaker 4: with the quickness of their guards and the whole Sabonis 388 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 4: ad battle, but I still like the Lakers in that matchup. 389 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 3: So it's definitely Dallas to me. 390 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:10,359 Speaker 1: If Dallas is in the conversation, I'd say Dallas, Sacramento 391 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:13,119 Speaker 1: doesn't scare me. If I'm LA, Phoenix doesn't scare me. 392 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 1: If I'm LA, I don't really consider I have enough 393 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: confidence in Dallas getting out of the Final four. So 394 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 1: I would take Golden State honestly, Like, and that's what 395 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:26,920 Speaker 1: I want to emphasize. I don't want to count out 396 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 1: Golden State by any means. Like if Steph does go 397 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:33,880 Speaker 1: crazy in a one game scenario and Clay is still 398 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:36,199 Speaker 1: a swing factor in a one game scenario where if 399 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 1: he's hitting big shots and his shot is on, he 400 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:41,200 Speaker 1: is the kind of guy that can swing a single game, 401 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 1: right if Anthony Davis has an off night shooting, like, 402 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:47,440 Speaker 1: there's a recipe for Golden State to win a game. 403 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: Because I consider Dallas kind of out of this conversation, 404 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: I would definitely say that I lean LA, but Golden 405 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,239 Speaker 1: State still scares scares the hell out of me. If 406 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 1: I'm LA, Man, they can They've got all the recipe, 407 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, And we've seen it before, 408 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:06,119 Speaker 1: so Golden State still terrifies me if I'm Los Angeles. 409 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree with you in the sense that I 410 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 2: think a road game in Dallas or Golden State would 411 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:15,120 Speaker 2: both be issues for the Lakers. Really, a road game 412 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 2: against any of those teams, I think for the Lakers 413 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 2: would be tough. They've got a lot of young players 414 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 2: and they really depend on their role players playing well, 415 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 2: which is scary in those types of environments. I still 416 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 2: lean the Kings as the scariest Lakers matchup, and it 417 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 2: really is this simple to me, Like I think Lebron 418 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 2: and AD would be able to scale up physically against Dallas. 419 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 2: I think they'd be able to scale up physically against 420 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 2: Golden State. Mean what I mean by that is like, 421 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:43,159 Speaker 2: I don't think I don't think PJ. Washington and Daniel 422 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 2: Gafford or Prej Washington and Derek Lively are going to 423 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 2: be able to hold up well under a Lebron James 424 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:51,080 Speaker 2: Anthony Davis onslaught in a single elimination game that the 425 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 2: Kings really they're The Kings are a bad defense, but 426 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 2: they have defensive strengths, and they've had moments this year 427 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 2: where they've been a really good defense. And the King's 428 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:07,879 Speaker 2: two defensive strengths both play specifically into Laker offensive weaknesses, 429 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:11,880 Speaker 2: which is, the Lakers guards struggle against ball pressure, good 430 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 2: physical ball pressure, and the Kings have a ton of 431 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:17,360 Speaker 2: quickness at the guard position to cause those sorts of problems. 432 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 2: And secondly, Anthony Davis is an inconsistent over the top 433 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 2: shot maker, and so Bonus is quicker and stronger than him, 434 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:24,879 Speaker 2: so you can beat him to spots and force him 435 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:27,399 Speaker 2: to make shots over the top. Some Knights, Anthony Davis 436 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 2: makes all his hooks and jumpers, and some Knights he 437 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:30,960 Speaker 2: just can't make him to save his life, and that 438 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:33,760 Speaker 2: can be a problem. And then on the other end 439 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 2: of the floor, it's just a simple matter of like 440 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 2: I actually like the Lakers against over the top shot makers, 441 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:43,920 Speaker 2: which is your Luca, You're Kyrie obviously looking at even 442 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:47,640 Speaker 2: the Suns guys, even looking at the Clippers guys, even 443 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:49,880 Speaker 2: looking at the thunder guys. Like, the Lakers have done 444 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 2: really well this year defensively against teams that rely on 445 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:56,200 Speaker 2: over the top shot making, because they have good positional 446 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:59,440 Speaker 2: defenders that can get contests on shots, and because the 447 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 2: Lakers do so much damage in the paint on the 448 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:04,119 Speaker 2: other end of the floor, it brings a physical wear 449 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 2: and tear element that can sometimes lead to jump shots missing. 450 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:09,640 Speaker 2: I've seen a lot of complaints from people who don't 451 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:11,639 Speaker 2: like the Lakers this year, being like, oh, they got lucky, 452 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 2: this team misshots. Oh they got lucky, this team misshots, 453 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 2: and they don't realize it keeps happening because the Lakers 454 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 2: play bully ball and that can have a wear and 455 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 2: tear effect on the game, whereas like with the with 456 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:24,720 Speaker 2: the Kings in particular, obviously Darreon Fox is having a 457 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 2: great pull up shooting year. Obviously we know Milik Monk 458 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 2: can hit pull up jump shots. Obviously we know Harrison 459 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,120 Speaker 2: Barnes and Keigan Murray and Kevin Herder and these guys 460 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 2: can shoot. But they're the primary driving force behind their 461 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 2: offense is actually a downhill force element. It's it's Darren 462 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:40,840 Speaker 2: Fox and Malik Monk. It's it's Demonisa Bonus in his 463 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 2: power game. So like they're they're a team that I 464 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:46,560 Speaker 2: think plays more directly into the Lakers weaknesses on both 465 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 2: ends of the floor. All right, quickly, Warriors, starting with you, logan, 466 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 2: who's the one team you want to avoid? If you're 467 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 2: the Warriors. 468 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,440 Speaker 1: Ironically, it's la. I think that matchups's gonna be a battle. 469 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: I think that they just match up really well against 470 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 1: each other. Like said earlier, I don't think Golden State 471 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:06,200 Speaker 1: has an answer for ad. It's like, you know, I 472 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:08,120 Speaker 1: think at the top of the draft we were doing 473 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,159 Speaker 1: prospect breakdowns the other day. It's like they don't have 474 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: a big Zoo, they don't have a Hartenstein, they don't 475 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 1: have a Robinson, and like just having a big kind 476 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 1: of a big body like I think if Golden State 477 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:22,240 Speaker 1: could somehow swing it like a Donovan Klingen or somebody 478 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 1: like that, like an immediate impact, big body center would 479 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 1: be really effective. I think for a team like Golden State, 480 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:31,159 Speaker 1: where you could run different types of defensive coverages, you 481 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 1: just have a you know, you just have a physical answer. 482 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 1: A guy that just matches up well against any big 483 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:38,639 Speaker 1: body in Golden State has not had that. With Looney 484 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:42,600 Speaker 1: slightly tailing off this year, you know what I mean, 485 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:45,119 Speaker 1: he's not the same guy that he once was. I 486 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 1: think they could get physically overwhelmed. Again. I'm not counting 487 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 1: them out, and this isn't a shot it Sacramento is 488 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:53,159 Speaker 1: a Kings fan. I just kind of have a sinking 489 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 1: feeling that Sacramento is not going to get it done. 490 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:58,119 Speaker 1: And then Phoenix. I don't know about you, guys, Phoenix 491 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 1: doesn't really scare me at all. I just think they 492 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:04,440 Speaker 1: can't play defense. So ironically, I think the kryptonite for 493 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,440 Speaker 1: both of these teams is a matchup against each other, 494 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:08,960 Speaker 1: and it kind of seems like that's the collision course 495 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:10,960 Speaker 1: that we're headed on. So for both teams, i'd say 496 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 1: it's LA Golden State. 497 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:15,879 Speaker 4: I think it's LA for Golden State because of a 498 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 4: lot of the reasons that I laid out earlier, and 499 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:21,679 Speaker 4: just to mention Phoenix, because I do think they're obviously 500 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:25,159 Speaker 4: a very talented basketball team. I just don't necessarily identify 501 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:27,040 Speaker 4: them as a tough matchup. 502 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 3: For a lot of people because it feels to. 503 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 4: Me like they are just very dependent on what level 504 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 4: of shot making are we going to get from our stars? 505 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:36,439 Speaker 4: And generally, when I think about matchup, it's like, Okay, 506 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 4: what do you have that is going to make X 507 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 4: team uncomfortable? And because of their lack of defensive grip, 508 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 4: because of their lack of physicality, overall, I don't think 509 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:47,399 Speaker 4: Phoenix is really going to shine there, it's going to 510 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:49,479 Speaker 4: be like, what level are our stars playing at and 511 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 4: how is their difficult shot making? But I think it's 512 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 4: La Again. I think it's the star advantage. I think 513 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:57,920 Speaker 4: it's the physical advantage. I do think Vandal coming back 514 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:00,680 Speaker 4: is a real problem at the point of attack, just 515 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:04,480 Speaker 4: able to hassle Steph off ball. I think we saw 516 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 4: how effective they're pick and roll coverages were with both 517 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 4: him and a d against Steph last year in the playoffs, 518 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:12,120 Speaker 4: and so I think it's pretty clearly the Lakers who 519 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 4: the Warriors want to la Void. 520 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:16,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it's the Lakers too. I think if 521 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 2: in the event that they won a game against the Lakers, 522 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:20,639 Speaker 2: let's say that they get the nine seed and they 523 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 2: go to Oracle and they win, or they happen to 524 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:24,119 Speaker 2: upset them at a crypto, the team that I'd be 525 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:25,639 Speaker 2: most worried about if I was Golden State at that 526 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:31,080 Speaker 2: point is Dallas. They have the interior size and length 527 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 2: with Derek Lively. I actually I go back and forth 528 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 2: with Gafford and Lively, but I think in that specific matchup, 529 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:40,840 Speaker 2: I'd really like doing some of the stuff that a 530 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:42,920 Speaker 2: lot of teams have done against the Warriors where you 531 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:46,120 Speaker 2: top lock in funnel and basically just count on Derek 532 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:48,919 Speaker 2: g Lively to be kind of a deterrent at the rim, 533 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 2: you know, playing off of the non shooters. So yeah, 534 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:53,920 Speaker 2: I'd probably lean towards Dallas in the event that they 535 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:56,920 Speaker 2: escape the Lakers. But I agree with you that the Lakers. 536 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:01,040 Speaker 2: To me, the Lakers are when healthy win Jared Vanderbilt 537 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:04,639 Speaker 2: the best team out of that play in group overall, 538 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:09,479 Speaker 2: even including the Pelicans, just when they're actually healthy. But 539 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:12,080 Speaker 2: that again, like I think, I think Jared Vanderbilt being 540 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 2: out has made the Lakers look so physically overwhelmed at 541 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:19,439 Speaker 2: the on the perimeter, but like little things like when 542 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 2: Vando's in there, it just slots everything so much better. 543 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 2: Now Austin Reeves is guarding the second best perimeter player, 544 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:26,720 Speaker 2: which is something he actually can handle as opposed to 545 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:29,439 Speaker 2: being in a struggle position. Jared Vanderbilt is one of 546 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:32,159 Speaker 2: their best defensive rebounders at the forward position. He's so 547 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:34,320 Speaker 2: much better offensively this year than he was last year, 548 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 2: mainly because of the system that they're using. Like I think, 549 00:26:37,119 --> 00:26:39,119 Speaker 2: I think the Lakers are very much just in the 550 00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 2: pack right now, But when Vanderbilt is healthy like they're 551 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:44,919 Speaker 2: they're legitimately and I look at him more in that 552 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 2: tier with the teams below Denver at the top when 553 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:52,959 Speaker 2: they're actually healthy. Moving on to the East Plan, and 554 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 2: we won't say as long on this one just because 555 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:56,919 Speaker 2: it's not as interesting and some of the stuff is 556 00:26:56,960 --> 00:26:59,720 Speaker 2: more set. The nine and ten seeds are set, Chicago's 557 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 2: at the Atlanta's at the ten. That's most likely not 558 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:04,800 Speaker 2: going to change. We do have three teams tied at 559 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:08,679 Speaker 2: thirty one losses, though, the Pacers with a thirteenth toughest 560 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,440 Speaker 2: remaining schedule fifty one percent opponent win percentage, the seventy 561 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:14,399 Speaker 2: six ers twentieth toughest remaining schedule forty eight percent opponent 562 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:18,800 Speaker 2: winning percentage, the Heat fourth easiest remaining schedule forty seven 563 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:23,679 Speaker 2: percent in opponent winning percentage. So on this one, what 564 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:26,880 Speaker 2: I'd like to see is just for fun, and we'll 565 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 2: start with you, Carson. What with number one being Boston 566 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:34,239 Speaker 2: to Milwaukee, three being Cleveland, what's your ideal set of 567 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:36,680 Speaker 2: matchups for the first round? Just as a basketball fan, 568 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 2: what would you prefer to see in the Eastern Conference 569 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 2: first round as the survivors from the plane? 570 00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 4: So I think there's potential for some pretty fun matchups here, 571 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:49,959 Speaker 4: just because of the Heat doing their normal regular season 572 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:52,400 Speaker 4: routine where they have these brutal stretches, and obviously that's 573 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 4: some injuries early in the year, but just being way 574 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 4: down there in the standings, and then obviously Philly dropping 575 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:00,720 Speaker 4: far because of the emb'd in. So I think there's 576 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 4: a couple of dangerous first round draws for the top seeds. 577 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:06,920 Speaker 4: I would like to see Celtics heat in the first round, 578 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:09,520 Speaker 4: just because I think that would be a fantastic test 579 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 4: for this Boston team, see how different they really are 580 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 4: than previous iterations. And I think that they are for 581 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 4: what it's worth, I think they're significantly better than last year. 582 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:21,159 Speaker 4: But if anybody's gonna make them uncomfortable, it's Miami, and 583 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:23,119 Speaker 4: I would just love to see that rematch. There's just 584 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:25,680 Speaker 4: a pretty fun history in recent years between those teams 585 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:29,720 Speaker 4: and these high stakes playoff matchups. Then I would like 586 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:32,800 Speaker 4: to see buck sixers, and these are both very plausible. 587 00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:35,600 Speaker 4: I mean, Miami and Philly are both in that play 588 00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 4: and range right now. I just think that seeing mbiid 589 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:42,800 Speaker 4: Giannis would be a super fun first round matchup. I 590 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:46,520 Speaker 4: think seeing what Tyrese Maxi could do against a Bucks 591 00:28:46,560 --> 00:28:49,240 Speaker 4: point of attack defense that obviously still has its issues 592 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:52,560 Speaker 4: would be fun. I think seeing the Dame Maxi matchup 593 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 4: overall would be really exciting. And I think getting two 594 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:59,120 Speaker 4: of the top five players on the planet, two huge 595 00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:03,120 Speaker 4: physical guys like Embiidiannis matched up, that would just be 596 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:05,320 Speaker 4: really exciting. And those are two really good teams. I 597 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 4: think Philly's obviously much better than their seed this year. 598 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 3: Then I have calvs. 599 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:14,000 Speaker 4: Pacers just as a sort of leftovers matchup. I think 600 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:17,280 Speaker 4: that Cleveland is pretty clearly better there. The Pacers have 601 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:20,360 Speaker 4: just been bumming me out ever since Hallie came back 602 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 4: from the hamstring, just because he's not even close to 603 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:25,960 Speaker 4: the same player. So I loved watching him. I loved 604 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:27,960 Speaker 4: watching their offense early in this year. I think that 605 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 4: he is still very much the future, but right now 606 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 4: he's just limping through this season. And I'd like to 607 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:36,520 Speaker 4: see Akham fit. But when he is nothing close to himself, 608 00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:38,360 Speaker 4: when he can't get a step, when he's settling for 609 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:41,760 Speaker 4: all these brutally tough pull up threes, like, the Pacers 610 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:43,840 Speaker 4: aren't that fun and they just aren't that good because 611 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:46,040 Speaker 4: they need that offense to be great. And then I 612 00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:50,120 Speaker 4: have Orlando against New York because I think that would 613 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:53,240 Speaker 4: be a really fun, defensive minded matchup that would be 614 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 4: a kind of throwback series just in terms of the grittiness, 615 00:29:57,240 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 4: the physicality. 616 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 3: You have some big forwards. 617 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:03,640 Speaker 4: In this matchup, if it's Fronds, if it's Paalo, if 618 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:08,840 Speaker 4: it's Julius Randall. Obviously Ojananobi as a defensive counter, and 619 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 4: I would kind of enjoy the defensive chess match between 620 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 4: these two teams. And Orlando is a fun young team, 621 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:17,240 Speaker 4: I personally don't think they really have the offensive ceiling 622 00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:19,640 Speaker 4: to make noise in this playoff run. I would definitely 623 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:21,840 Speaker 4: take New York. I think healthy New York is a 624 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:24,520 Speaker 4: really scary playoff team, But I think that would be 625 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:26,920 Speaker 4: an interesting matchup for both these teams, and I think 626 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:30,960 Speaker 4: it would just present some discomfort inherently by their play styles. 627 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 1: I think as long as Atlanta and Chicago get bounced, 628 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:36,600 Speaker 1: I think the first round is gonna be awesome. As 629 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:39,240 Speaker 1: long as we can remove both of those teams, it's 630 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:43,560 Speaker 1: gonna be a good time. I flopped on some of these. 631 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:46,120 Speaker 1: I think a rematch of Cavs Knicks would honestly be 632 00:30:46,240 --> 00:30:50,240 Speaker 1: really fun saying if Cleveland can make adjustments, and just 633 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 1: the fact that New York that battle of the interior 634 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 1: guys man Allen and Mobley versus Robinson and Randall Hartenstein. 635 00:30:57,760 --> 00:31:00,240 Speaker 1: That was awesome last year watching those guys bat Like 636 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:02,280 Speaker 1: you talk about a throwback series, we kind of got 637 00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:05,120 Speaker 1: it last year, and I'm I'm honestly down to the 638 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:07,120 Speaker 1: double down and get that again this year and see 639 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:10,880 Speaker 1: if Cleveland can make adjustments, if the Knicks can just 640 00:31:10,920 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 1: go in there and handle business. I like, I really 641 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:19,000 Speaker 1: like Philly versus Milwaukee. I think that. I mean, what 642 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 1: Tyrese Maxie has done in the absence of Joel Embiid 643 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:25,000 Speaker 1: this season has been like astounding. You know, I knew 644 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:27,760 Speaker 1: Maxi was great, but seeing him this year without having 645 00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:32,080 Speaker 1: a guy to rely on like Embiid, Maxie's pull up shooting, 646 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:34,440 Speaker 1: his command of the offense, the way he's controlled the game, 647 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:37,200 Speaker 1: I've been super impressed with him. So I think I 648 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 1: think it would be an offensive showdown between them and Milwaukee. Obviously, 649 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:42,280 Speaker 1: I'm gonna take Milwaukee if Embid's not healthy. And then 650 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:44,880 Speaker 1: on the Miami point, I want to ask you, guys, 651 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:48,160 Speaker 1: I think Miami matches up because they just got the 652 00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:50,280 Speaker 1: heat culture. I think they're better than last year with 653 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:53,160 Speaker 1: the improvement of guys like Triple j Yovich they had 654 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:56,360 Speaker 1: in Terry Rozier. Is it wrong to me to question 655 00:31:56,520 --> 00:31:59,080 Speaker 1: if Jimmy Butler is gonna be good to go for 656 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:02,479 Speaker 1: this playoff rund? Like it's it's rubbed me the wrong way. 657 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:04,520 Speaker 1: We haven't and I know Jimmy and Miami doesn't do 658 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:07,840 Speaker 1: this every year, but Jimmy's just been so consistently out, 659 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 1: like you know, missing games. If it's I don't know, 660 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:13,480 Speaker 1: is it wrong of me to be concerned if Jimmy 661 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:15,760 Speaker 1: Butler is gonna be good to go come playoff time? 662 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:18,280 Speaker 4: Be my guest man? 663 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:23,000 Speaker 2: Are our our friend? Ryan Brumley has always said that 664 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:26,800 Speaker 2: he hates Miami and Jimmy because because because they always 665 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:29,080 Speaker 2: take the regular season off and it just makes them 666 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:32,160 Speaker 2: really difficult to evaluate in that regard, to which point 667 00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:34,040 Speaker 2: I agree, Yeah, I don't know. 668 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:37,800 Speaker 4: Jimmy's been banged up a year after year, he generally 669 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 4: shows up in the playoffs and balls. I wouldn't be 670 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:43,640 Speaker 4: the guy to be throwing around a bunch of anti 671 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:46,520 Speaker 4: Miami takes right now, and listen I've been that guy. 672 00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:49,480 Speaker 4: I've been that guy, and I still am sitting here 673 00:32:49,520 --> 00:32:51,600 Speaker 4: saying that they're probably gonna lose first round. I mean, 674 00:32:51,640 --> 00:32:54,440 Speaker 4: that'll depend on the matchup, but I think Jimmy's gonna 675 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:54,800 Speaker 4: be fine. 676 00:32:56,960 --> 00:33:00,400 Speaker 2: Uh So, I obviously Boston my m he is the 677 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:02,280 Speaker 2: easy one. You just want to see that. That's a 678 00:33:02,280 --> 00:33:07,400 Speaker 2: fun rematch Milwaukee Philly. I I understand the appeal there, 679 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:09,600 Speaker 2: and I'd be lying if I if I said I 680 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:13,720 Speaker 2: wouldn't enjoy that as a basketball fan. But part of me, really, 681 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:17,320 Speaker 2: like just for Embiid's sake, just hopes that Philly misses 682 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:20,440 Speaker 2: the playoffs this here, because, like I just I don't 683 00:33:20,480 --> 00:33:23,640 Speaker 2: want him to rush back and then look like a 684 00:33:23,640 --> 00:33:25,840 Speaker 2: shell of himself and lose in the first round again 685 00:33:25,920 --> 00:33:29,320 Speaker 2: and then just further exacerbate the narrative surrounding him. Like 686 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:32,200 Speaker 2: I think Embiid is eventually going to break through in 687 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:34,800 Speaker 2: a big way in the postseason, and I'd almost rather 688 00:33:34,840 --> 00:33:36,479 Speaker 2: have him just sit out the rest of the season 689 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:40,880 Speaker 2: than manage his knee more diligently next year, stop worrying 690 00:33:40,920 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 2: about regular season awards and just get to to April 691 00:33:43,840 --> 00:33:45,920 Speaker 2: healthy and then and then and then have him try 692 00:33:45,920 --> 00:33:47,680 Speaker 2: to make a run at that point. But that said, 693 00:33:47,680 --> 00:33:50,840 Speaker 2: obviously i'd have fun seeing Milwaukee Philly in the event 694 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:52,560 Speaker 2: that Philly misses the playoffs. The team that I think 695 00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:55,240 Speaker 2: would be really fun to see against Milwaukee is a 696 00:33:55,280 --> 00:34:00,360 Speaker 2: fun first round opponent is Chicago. They have a elethora 697 00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:04,040 Speaker 2: of perimeter defenders to throw Damian Lillard to make to 698 00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:06,760 Speaker 2: make work extremely hard. They have a lot of perimeter 699 00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:10,160 Speaker 2: speed in general, which is a weakness for Milwaukee. Their 700 00:34:10,480 --> 00:34:13,520 Speaker 2: set of perimeter shot creators, between guys like Kobe White 701 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:17,200 Speaker 2: and Demarta Rosen, they would be comfortable most of the 702 00:34:17,239 --> 00:34:22,719 Speaker 2: series going against Milwaukee's perimeter options. And then, like Chicago 703 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:25,480 Speaker 2: with Andre Drummond Nicola Vucevich, they actually have a decent 704 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:28,600 Speaker 2: amount of interior size, which I think would help in 705 00:34:28,680 --> 00:34:30,760 Speaker 2: terms of the building of the wall type of stuff 706 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:33,440 Speaker 2: going on when you're trying to defend Giannis in a 707 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:36,560 Speaker 2: playoff series. So obviously i'd pick Milwaukee to win that series. 708 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:39,919 Speaker 2: But talking about a fun first round matchup, obviously that'd 709 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:40,520 Speaker 2: be a good one. 710 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:41,320 Speaker 3: Calvs. 711 00:34:41,320 --> 00:34:43,719 Speaker 2: Pacers one hundred percent with you on that front, although calvs. 712 00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:45,880 Speaker 2: Nicks would also be a fun kind of like rematch 713 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:51,320 Speaker 2: type of situation, Haliburton, do you, like, I think, I 714 00:34:51,600 --> 00:34:53,000 Speaker 2: don't know about you guys. Have either of you ever 715 00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:57,399 Speaker 2: had a hamstring strain? I have not, so I had 716 00:34:57,480 --> 00:35:00,200 Speaker 2: one before I played in college. This was when I 717 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:02,560 Speaker 2: was very young. I was like eighteen nineteen years old, 718 00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:04,640 Speaker 2: and I ended up re injuring it a few times 719 00:35:04,680 --> 00:35:09,000 Speaker 2: before it finally got healthy. And I like, literally there 720 00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:12,279 Speaker 2: was a lengthy stage where I just didn't trust it 721 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:15,920 Speaker 2: at all to like really take aggressive steps. And with 722 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:20,759 Speaker 2: Tyrese Haliburton specifically when it comes to beating switches, he 723 00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:24,040 Speaker 2: needs to take those like really aggressive long steps to 724 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:27,440 Speaker 2: get to his spots. And I just don't think he's 725 00:35:27,560 --> 00:35:29,600 Speaker 2: in a good place physically right now. And I think 726 00:35:29,640 --> 00:35:31,400 Speaker 2: it's starting to hurt his confidence, which is starting to 727 00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:34,359 Speaker 2: hurt even his wide open jump shooting. And I like, 728 00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:36,600 Speaker 2: I'm with you, Carson. I'm a big believer in Haliburton 729 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:38,640 Speaker 2: in the big picture, but he's just not close to 730 00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:41,359 Speaker 2: form right now, which is which is which is unfortunate. 731 00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:44,600 Speaker 2: And then Orlando New York, like, you could not script 732 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:48,960 Speaker 2: a better just old fashioned nineteen nineties ass kicking of 733 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:51,040 Speaker 2: a series that would just be that would just be 734 00:35:51,080 --> 00:35:53,239 Speaker 2: a ton of fun. All right, Moving on to the 735 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:57,239 Speaker 2: top of the conference, though, I'm interested in kind of 736 00:35:57,280 --> 00:36:01,160 Speaker 2: talking about Boston and Milwaukee as it pertains to the future, 737 00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:04,600 Speaker 2: because both of these teams, with exception of a player 738 00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:07,319 Speaker 2: option for Drew Holliday which he may or may not 739 00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:09,879 Speaker 2: pick up, we'll see, but both of these teams, their 740 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:13,000 Speaker 2: starting fives are more or less locked up or for 741 00:36:13,080 --> 00:36:16,440 Speaker 2: the next season, and more for some of the other guys. So, 742 00:36:17,320 --> 00:36:21,920 Speaker 2: with that being the circumstance, who has more urgency to 743 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:24,960 Speaker 2: win a title this year? Boston or Milwaukee? We'll start 744 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:25,120 Speaker 2: with you. 745 00:36:25,160 --> 00:36:29,480 Speaker 1: Logan urgency is an interesting word because if you think 746 00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:31,920 Speaker 1: that Damian Lillard is going to fall off next season, 747 00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:35,879 Speaker 1: or if he's not going to turn this around, I'd 748 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:39,960 Speaker 1: probably say Milwaukee. That being said, I think it's interesting. 749 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:42,279 Speaker 1: I was talking with one of my friends about how 750 00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:45,239 Speaker 1: long it takes like stars to jail with teams, and 751 00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:48,040 Speaker 1: so I wonder if it's just a year of growing pains. Right, 752 00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:50,560 Speaker 1: even Lebron, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh didn't get it 753 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:52,840 Speaker 1: done in their first year in Miami, and so I 754 00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:55,680 Speaker 1: wonder if it's just a time thing. I think it's 755 00:36:55,680 --> 00:36:57,959 Speaker 1: a personnel thing with Milwaukee, the fact that they don't 756 00:36:57,960 --> 00:37:00,160 Speaker 1: have point of attack defense that they don't have have 757 00:37:00,560 --> 00:37:02,239 Speaker 1: you know, they got a lot of aging guys on 758 00:37:02,320 --> 00:37:05,839 Speaker 1: their roster that they're getting older. I also do think 759 00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:08,960 Speaker 1: it's a chemistry thing and something that may improve with time. 760 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:14,719 Speaker 1: I think Boston has more pressure, but I think the 761 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:17,000 Speaker 1: team that needs to get it done more is probably 762 00:37:17,040 --> 00:37:20,600 Speaker 1: Milwaukee with their aging superstars. That being said, I don't 763 00:37:20,600 --> 00:37:22,680 Speaker 1: really see a path from Milwaukee. I've kind of been 764 00:37:22,680 --> 00:37:24,759 Speaker 1: off Milwaukee for a while. I think it would take 765 00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:28,239 Speaker 1: a serious injury to another team. I honestly think the 766 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:31,360 Speaker 1: Knicks are probably my second favorite team in the Eastern Conference, 767 00:37:31,719 --> 00:37:36,759 Speaker 1: including Milwaukee. I would say urgency wise, I think there's 768 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:39,000 Speaker 1: probably more pressure on Milwaukee just because they have so 769 00:37:39,080 --> 00:37:41,400 Speaker 1: many older guys on their team that you know, I 770 00:37:41,400 --> 00:37:44,600 Speaker 1: could see Brook Lopez taking even a further step back. 771 00:37:44,719 --> 00:37:47,439 Speaker 1: I could see Damian Lillard maybe taking another step back 772 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:52,120 Speaker 1: next season. I'd say urgency wise, you know, Boston's younger. 773 00:37:52,560 --> 00:37:54,400 Speaker 1: There's a ton of pressure on Boston, man because they 774 00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:56,680 Speaker 1: keep hitting their freaking head on the ceiling, man, and 775 00:37:56,719 --> 00:37:59,399 Speaker 1: it's you just you keep wondering, like, when are they 776 00:37:59,480 --> 00:38:02,920 Speaker 1: finally gonna breakthrough. You know, twenty eighteen, you go seven 777 00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:05,880 Speaker 1: games in the Eastern Conference Finals against Lebron, twenty twenty, 778 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:08,440 Speaker 1: you losing six to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. 779 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:11,840 Speaker 1: You collapse in the NBA Finals against the Warriors in 780 00:38:11,840 --> 00:38:14,279 Speaker 1: twenty two and then Miami slams the door in your 781 00:38:14,280 --> 00:38:16,600 Speaker 1: face again, and so you know, it's frustrating, and I 782 00:38:16,640 --> 00:38:19,000 Speaker 1: think there's a lot of pressure mounting for Boston, but 783 00:38:19,560 --> 00:38:22,239 Speaker 1: they're not going anywhere. They've got a culture, they've got 784 00:38:22,239 --> 00:38:24,200 Speaker 1: the players locked up, They've got a ton of talent. 785 00:38:24,239 --> 00:38:27,160 Speaker 1: They're gonna be back here probably the next couple seasons. 786 00:38:27,239 --> 00:38:30,319 Speaker 1: So I think Boston has more pressure, but I think 787 00:38:30,360 --> 00:38:33,880 Speaker 1: there's gotta be a lot more urgency for Milwaukee. Man, 788 00:38:33,920 --> 00:38:37,400 Speaker 1: they're just older, and I mean, I can see this 789 00:38:37,719 --> 00:38:40,040 Speaker 1: and I didn't even mention Middleton. You know, Middleton's another 790 00:38:40,080 --> 00:38:43,440 Speaker 1: guy with health concerns with aging, with him potentially losing 791 00:38:43,440 --> 00:38:47,640 Speaker 1: a step. It's just I can see Milwaukee definitely knows diving. 792 00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:51,839 Speaker 1: After this season, Boston's probably a perennial contender. Despite how 793 00:38:51,840 --> 00:38:54,160 Speaker 1: frustrating they are there, They're gonna be back. 794 00:38:55,560 --> 00:38:59,400 Speaker 4: There's definitely more urgency for Milwaukee. They're just in a 795 00:38:59,480 --> 00:39:04,000 Speaker 4: much morecarious position. They've gone all in on this core 796 00:39:04,640 --> 00:39:08,640 Speaker 4: comprised mostly of dudes who are in their early in 797 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:12,680 Speaker 4: mid thirties, outside of Yannis, who himself is still twenty nine. 798 00:39:12,680 --> 00:39:15,040 Speaker 4: I mean, he's not as young obviously as Jason Tatum 799 00:39:15,080 --> 00:39:19,439 Speaker 4: as the cornerstone, and there are legitimate basketball flaws here 800 00:39:19,640 --> 00:39:21,640 Speaker 4: that they have not been able to reconcile up to 801 00:39:21,640 --> 00:39:24,439 Speaker 4: this point. With the point of attack defense, the Dame 802 00:39:24,560 --> 00:39:27,680 Speaker 4: thing logan you talk about if it's fit, I absolutely 803 00:39:27,719 --> 00:39:29,880 Speaker 4: think that that is a factor. I think that we 804 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:33,080 Speaker 4: still have not seen Dame and Yannis unlock the potential 805 00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:35,319 Speaker 4: that they have with their two man game. I think 806 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:37,959 Speaker 4: that there's still a really high ceiling there. But there's 807 00:39:38,080 --> 00:39:41,960 Speaker 4: just a bit of synergy and feel between the two 808 00:39:42,040 --> 00:39:44,400 Speaker 4: of them that they haven't totally tapped into. And just 809 00:39:44,440 --> 00:39:47,880 Speaker 4: the volume at which they run Jannis Dame pick and 810 00:39:47,960 --> 00:39:50,080 Speaker 4: roll has not been high enough, in my opinion, and 811 00:39:50,080 --> 00:39:51,879 Speaker 4: so then you have Dame running a bunch of pick 812 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:54,360 Speaker 4: and roll with Brook Lopez and it's very stagnant, and 813 00:39:54,400 --> 00:39:56,719 Speaker 4: you know that he's popping every single time, and so 814 00:39:57,200 --> 00:39:59,880 Speaker 4: Dame shot quality has gone down. I think if he 815 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:02,560 Speaker 4: we're running more pick and roll with a legitimate rim, 816 00:40:02,600 --> 00:40:06,160 Speaker 4: threatening athletic big that would just be better for everybody involved. 817 00:40:06,239 --> 00:40:07,840 Speaker 4: I also think Dame has lost a bit of a 818 00:40:07,880 --> 00:40:09,960 Speaker 4: step this year, though, I think in terms of quickness, 819 00:40:09,960 --> 00:40:11,799 Speaker 4: and he's getting to the rim at a career low rate, 820 00:40:11,920 --> 00:40:14,160 Speaker 4: like he's been on a really good stretch these last 821 00:40:14,200 --> 00:40:16,920 Speaker 4: three games, and I think he's capable of exploding. But 822 00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:19,640 Speaker 4: this is not the Damian Lillard that was advertised. This 823 00:40:19,719 --> 00:40:21,920 Speaker 4: is not the Damian Lillard that we saw last year, 824 00:40:21,920 --> 00:40:24,640 Speaker 4: who had maybe the offensive season of his career. And 825 00:40:24,680 --> 00:40:27,879 Speaker 4: so that's just frightening when you consider that's what you've 826 00:40:27,920 --> 00:40:29,840 Speaker 4: gone all in on, and that was supposed to be 827 00:40:30,040 --> 00:40:33,120 Speaker 4: like the miracle drug, that was supposed to be the 828 00:40:33,200 --> 00:40:35,760 Speaker 4: thing that would solve everything, fix your half court offense, 829 00:40:36,520 --> 00:40:38,560 Speaker 4: and from that point, your backline defense is good enough, 830 00:40:38,600 --> 00:40:40,320 Speaker 4: you're gonna contend. You have Damon Giannis, you have the 831 00:40:40,360 --> 00:40:43,279 Speaker 4: best duo on the planet. If that formula isn't great enough, 832 00:40:43,480 --> 00:40:45,919 Speaker 4: then Milwaukee's in a really tough spot because the rest 833 00:40:45,960 --> 00:40:48,960 Speaker 4: of this roster just isn't even close to up to 834 00:40:49,040 --> 00:40:52,319 Speaker 4: par with what Boston has. Boston has this team of 835 00:40:52,400 --> 00:40:54,520 Speaker 4: super soldiers man, this starting five. 836 00:40:54,600 --> 00:40:56,080 Speaker 3: That is just unfair. 837 00:40:56,600 --> 00:41:01,160 Speaker 4: And they are younger and they are healthy at this point, 838 00:41:01,200 --> 00:41:03,480 Speaker 4: Like I'm more worried about Chris Middleton being healthy for 839 00:41:03,520 --> 00:41:06,360 Speaker 4: a playoff run than Chris stops Porzingis and he's older 840 00:41:06,560 --> 00:41:10,520 Speaker 4: and Milwaukee's just slow because of their age. So yeah, 841 00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:15,960 Speaker 4: there is definitely more pressure on Boston in the sense that, hey, 842 00:41:16,080 --> 00:41:19,920 Speaker 4: you guys are overwhelmingly talented. You are the team that 843 00:41:20,080 --> 00:41:23,040 Speaker 4: hasn't done it yet. Milwaukee, albeit with Drew Holiday instead 844 00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:25,480 Speaker 4: of Damian Lillard, like most of these core guys have 845 00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:28,680 Speaker 4: gotten a ring. But if you are talking about actual, 846 00:41:28,840 --> 00:41:32,399 Speaker 4: circumstantial urgency, like if you guys don't do it this year, 847 00:41:32,680 --> 00:41:35,279 Speaker 4: you're gonna have to start asking some big questions like 848 00:41:35,320 --> 00:41:38,479 Speaker 4: maybe Boston would be so disappointed that the city eats 849 00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:41,280 Speaker 4: itself alive and they burn down Boston, then that's a problem. 850 00:41:41,360 --> 00:41:44,000 Speaker 4: But we know that they could come back next year 851 00:41:44,040 --> 00:41:45,880 Speaker 4: and still be the most talented team in the league 852 00:41:45,920 --> 00:41:47,680 Speaker 4: and Milwaukee doesn't have that luxury. 853 00:41:49,400 --> 00:41:51,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, the way you both put it is perfect. I 854 00:41:51,239 --> 00:41:54,840 Speaker 2: would say Boston is more pressure and Milwaukee has more urgency. 855 00:41:54,880 --> 00:41:58,120 Speaker 2: The pressure basically just meaning Boston is expected to win 856 00:41:58,440 --> 00:42:00,919 Speaker 2: and so if they don't. There's aviously a certain level 857 00:42:00,920 --> 00:42:04,200 Speaker 2: of like backlash that will come from every basket. Like 858 00:42:04,680 --> 00:42:06,640 Speaker 2: Boston's in a position where like, if they don't win 859 00:42:06,680 --> 00:42:09,239 Speaker 2: it this year, no one will ever leave in them 860 00:42:09,320 --> 00:42:11,160 Speaker 2: until they actually hoist it. They could be up three 861 00:42:11,200 --> 00:42:12,960 Speaker 2: to two in the NBA Finals and no one would 862 00:42:13,040 --> 00:42:15,960 Speaker 2: would believe it until they actually hoisted the trophy. The 863 00:42:16,160 --> 00:42:20,759 Speaker 2: breakdown of the age that you the ages of the 864 00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:23,279 Speaker 2: starters that Carson kind of went over, is something that 865 00:42:23,320 --> 00:42:25,520 Speaker 2: I think a lot of people don't realize. Like, as 866 00:42:25,560 --> 00:42:29,040 Speaker 2: of next year, all five of Milwaukee's starters will be 867 00:42:29,080 --> 00:42:31,600 Speaker 2: in their thirties, and this is a team that already 868 00:42:31,640 --> 00:42:34,640 Speaker 2: has a certain amount of a lack of foot speed, 869 00:42:34,719 --> 00:42:37,800 Speaker 2: and like even Giannis is starting to succumb to some injuries, 870 00:42:37,840 --> 00:42:39,840 Speaker 2: which has become a little bit more prevalent over the 871 00:42:39,920 --> 00:42:43,279 Speaker 2: last few years. This hamstring thing he's dealing with, there's 872 00:42:43,280 --> 00:42:46,239 Speaker 2: been a little tricky as he's been not as vertically 873 00:42:46,400 --> 00:42:49,680 Speaker 2: athletic as we're accustomed to seeing with Giannis. So yeah, 874 00:42:49,880 --> 00:42:52,920 Speaker 2: like in terms of the urgency, it really is that 875 00:42:52,960 --> 00:42:55,640 Speaker 2: simply you look at Boston, both of the Jays and 876 00:42:55,719 --> 00:42:58,440 Speaker 2: chrisops Porzingis are still firmly in the heart of their 877 00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:01,239 Speaker 2: prime in their late twenties. Of next year, both Derek 878 00:43:01,280 --> 00:43:03,440 Speaker 2: White and Drew Holliday will be in their thirties. But 879 00:43:03,480 --> 00:43:07,200 Speaker 2: they both look really good physically right now and are 880 00:43:07,280 --> 00:43:11,000 Speaker 2: more or less, you know, reliable in that regard. And 881 00:43:11,040 --> 00:43:13,560 Speaker 2: so just with Milwaukee, to put it simply, there's just 882 00:43:13,560 --> 00:43:16,279 Speaker 2: a shorter window. Even as you look at Boston, they're 883 00:43:16,280 --> 00:43:18,719 Speaker 2: still improving. Jalen Brown is playing the best basketball of 884 00:43:18,760 --> 00:43:23,120 Speaker 2: his career right now. Jason Tatum is since January first, 885 00:43:23,160 --> 00:43:26,440 Speaker 2: in a thirty five game sample size, is taking six 886 00:43:26,480 --> 00:43:28,760 Speaker 2: pull up threes per game and shooting over forty percent 887 00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:31,359 Speaker 2: on them. So all those conversations, just by the way, 888 00:43:31,400 --> 00:43:33,839 Speaker 2: we're legitimate. This is new information. We always have people 889 00:43:33,880 --> 00:43:36,360 Speaker 2: that are like, oh, take back everything you said about Tatum. 890 00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:38,920 Speaker 2: It's like, actually, he used to miss them. Now he 891 00:43:39,040 --> 00:43:43,560 Speaker 2: makes them. It's a difference. But like literally, for three years, 892 00:43:43,600 --> 00:43:46,000 Speaker 2: Tatum was a high volume pull up three point shooter 893 00:43:46,040 --> 00:43:48,520 Speaker 2: and couldn't make them at a high enough clip. He 894 00:43:48,560 --> 00:43:50,440 Speaker 2: was in the low thirties. And now he's hitting them 895 00:43:50,440 --> 00:43:53,680 Speaker 2: at forty percent. And so Tatum's getting better. Jalen Brown's 896 00:43:53,719 --> 00:43:56,400 Speaker 2: getting better. Christops Perzingis in the last two three years 897 00:43:56,400 --> 00:43:59,719 Speaker 2: has made significant leaps as a player. Derek White has 898 00:43:59,719 --> 00:44:03,200 Speaker 2: gone from being like an interesting young guard prospect to 899 00:44:03,320 --> 00:44:06,560 Speaker 2: like a useful role player to like a borderline fringe 900 00:44:06,640 --> 00:44:09,080 Speaker 2: star in terms of his overall impact on both ends 901 00:44:09,120 --> 00:44:11,439 Speaker 2: of the floor, and then Drew Holliday as a fifth starter. 902 00:44:11,560 --> 00:44:13,360 Speaker 2: You really can't do much better than that, and so 903 00:44:13,400 --> 00:44:16,239 Speaker 2: Boston just has more groom to grow. That's what's so 904 00:44:16,239 --> 00:44:18,880 Speaker 2: funny is even if Boston loses this year, everyone will 905 00:44:18,960 --> 00:44:21,640 Speaker 2: roast them, everyone will have fun at their expense, and 906 00:44:21,680 --> 00:44:23,319 Speaker 2: then they're going to be right back next year kicking 907 00:44:23,360 --> 00:44:26,400 Speaker 2: everybody's ass again. On the Milwaukee front, though, I want 908 00:44:26,440 --> 00:44:29,120 Speaker 2: to be clear, even though they're under more urgency and 909 00:44:29,160 --> 00:44:31,000 Speaker 2: even though they're not as good as Boston, there's a 910 00:44:31,000 --> 00:44:33,880 Speaker 2: lot of encouraging stuff there as well. Like some of 911 00:44:33,880 --> 00:44:35,920 Speaker 2: the issues with the two man game you had mentioned, 912 00:44:35,920 --> 00:44:37,480 Speaker 2: some of that has to do with the fact that 913 00:44:37,960 --> 00:44:39,879 Speaker 2: as Dame is starting to kind of figure it out, 914 00:44:39,920 --> 00:44:43,440 Speaker 2: Giannis has been dealing with some injury issues. Chris Middleton 915 00:44:43,480 --> 00:44:45,640 Speaker 2: has been out of the lineup for a good chunk 916 00:44:45,680 --> 00:44:48,760 Speaker 2: of this year, and now he's finally back. Damian Lillard 917 00:44:48,960 --> 00:44:51,640 Speaker 2: you mentioned it. Carson back to back to back thirty 918 00:44:51,680 --> 00:44:54,480 Speaker 2: point games for just the second time this season, but 919 00:44:54,600 --> 00:44:55,279 Speaker 2: zooming in on. 920 00:44:55,200 --> 00:44:56,000 Speaker 3: It a little bit further. 921 00:44:56,040 --> 00:44:59,239 Speaker 2: In his last thirteen games, on nine to three point 922 00:44:59,280 --> 00:45:01,879 Speaker 2: attempts per game, he's shooting forty four percent from three. 923 00:45:02,080 --> 00:45:07,280 Speaker 2: So Dame has been in a good offensive rhythm. I've 924 00:45:07,320 --> 00:45:10,280 Speaker 2: been seeing throughout the year enough to make me believe 925 00:45:10,360 --> 00:45:12,920 Speaker 2: that this was less about decline and more about learning 926 00:45:13,000 --> 00:45:15,040 Speaker 2: how to play with this particular group in terms of 927 00:45:15,040 --> 00:45:17,560 Speaker 2: the geometry of the floor and just where his touches 928 00:45:17,600 --> 00:45:19,560 Speaker 2: come from. And I think we're starting to see some 929 00:45:19,600 --> 00:45:22,799 Speaker 2: of that come together. And so I think Milwaukee is 930 00:45:22,880 --> 00:45:26,200 Speaker 2: still every bit as potent and capable as we thought 931 00:45:26,200 --> 00:45:28,360 Speaker 2: they were to begin the season. It's just been a 932 00:45:28,400 --> 00:45:31,960 Speaker 2: disappointing season because Dame was so bad for so much 933 00:45:31,960 --> 00:45:34,960 Speaker 2: of it, and because honestly, the Adrian Griffin issue as 934 00:45:35,000 --> 00:45:38,120 Speaker 2: well has to be factored in there. So I definitely 935 00:45:38,200 --> 00:45:41,000 Speaker 2: think Boston has more pressure, but Milwaukee definitely has more 936 00:45:41,120 --> 00:45:46,280 Speaker 2: urgency moving out west. So Nikole Jokic polishing up the jumper, 937 00:45:46,320 --> 00:45:50,520 Speaker 2: getting ready for the postseason. Jamal Murray obviously has been 938 00:45:50,520 --> 00:45:53,720 Speaker 2: playing in an all star level the Nuggets have lost 939 00:45:54,040 --> 00:45:57,759 Speaker 2: just twice since the All Star break, and both of 940 00:45:57,760 --> 00:46:02,480 Speaker 2: those losses involved a last second shot that either sent 941 00:46:02,560 --> 00:46:06,880 Speaker 2: it to ot or ended the game. They have had multiple, 942 00:46:06,920 --> 00:46:11,399 Speaker 2: probably about a half dozen, just ridiculous half court ass 943 00:46:11,480 --> 00:46:13,480 Speaker 2: kicking sessions that they've put on at the end of 944 00:46:13,520 --> 00:46:18,000 Speaker 2: games to put things away. I Denver just seems like 945 00:46:18,000 --> 00:46:20,359 Speaker 2: a freight train to me. And so I'm gonna present 946 00:46:20,400 --> 00:46:21,799 Speaker 2: this question to you guys like this, and I'll start 947 00:46:21,800 --> 00:46:24,280 Speaker 2: with you, Carson. Would you take Denver or the field 948 00:46:24,440 --> 00:46:26,120 Speaker 2: at this point to win the NBA title. 949 00:46:26,239 --> 00:46:27,480 Speaker 3: It's a really good question. 950 00:46:28,520 --> 00:46:32,680 Speaker 4: I would probably take Denver, but I don't think there's 951 00:46:32,719 --> 00:46:35,680 Speaker 4: a big gap between them and Boston. I'm very confident 952 00:46:35,680 --> 00:46:38,440 Speaker 4: that one of those two teams is gonna win the title. 953 00:46:38,480 --> 00:46:42,680 Speaker 4: I think that Boston is the most overwhelmingly talented, and 954 00:46:42,719 --> 00:46:44,960 Speaker 4: I think that as a basketball team, they have the 955 00:46:45,080 --> 00:46:47,480 Speaker 4: highest ceiling. With the level that Jalen Brown has been 956 00:46:47,480 --> 00:46:48,320 Speaker 4: playing at. 957 00:46:48,280 --> 00:46:48,879 Speaker 3: As of late. 958 00:46:49,239 --> 00:46:52,640 Speaker 4: Got if you get christophs ferzingis consistently knocking down his 959 00:46:52,719 --> 00:46:54,879 Speaker 4: shots from the perimeter, which he didn't really do when 960 00:46:54,880 --> 00:46:57,200 Speaker 4: they played Denver, and he was getting good looks there. 961 00:46:57,800 --> 00:47:01,440 Speaker 4: Just the overall athleticism that they have the combination of 962 00:47:01,480 --> 00:47:04,719 Speaker 4: perimeter defense and interior defense. In fact, they're a good 963 00:47:04,760 --> 00:47:08,640 Speaker 4: rebounding team. They have two star shot creators. Jalen's been balling, 964 00:47:08,760 --> 00:47:11,600 Speaker 4: Jason's having a career season. They can go on these 965 00:47:12,120 --> 00:47:14,640 Speaker 4: flame throwing runs from deep. They lead the league in 966 00:47:14,640 --> 00:47:16,799 Speaker 4: three point volume in their second in terms of their 967 00:47:16,800 --> 00:47:21,080 Speaker 4: percentage there. So the ceiling that they have is incredibly high. 968 00:47:21,760 --> 00:47:24,000 Speaker 4: I do still think that Denver is a bit more 969 00:47:24,040 --> 00:47:28,680 Speaker 4: reliable though, because their offensive brilliance is truly inevitable. They 970 00:47:28,719 --> 00:47:31,400 Speaker 4: are never going to break down in terms of process. 971 00:47:31,680 --> 00:47:34,680 Speaker 4: They are never going to experience the swings in terms 972 00:47:34,680 --> 00:47:38,240 Speaker 4: of perimeter shot making. That although Boston's ceiling is very high, 973 00:47:39,080 --> 00:47:43,160 Speaker 4: we saw the difference maker in their matchup, and Boston 974 00:47:43,200 --> 00:47:45,520 Speaker 4: fans may say, oh, well, we had a just miserable 975 00:47:45,560 --> 00:47:47,839 Speaker 4: shooting game from deep, but so did Denver. Denver made 976 00:47:47,840 --> 00:47:50,040 Speaker 4: four threes in that game. They could not knock down 977 00:47:50,040 --> 00:47:52,680 Speaker 4: a shot from the perimeter. And they have one advantage 978 00:47:53,120 --> 00:47:55,239 Speaker 4: that nobody else in the league does, which is that 979 00:47:55,239 --> 00:47:59,640 Speaker 4: that offensive machine just keeps churning because of Niko Ajokic's 980 00:47:59,680 --> 00:48:03,760 Speaker 4: in dominance offensively, because of his ability to create quality 981 00:48:03,760 --> 00:48:06,359 Speaker 4: shots in and around the paint for cutters, for Aaron 982 00:48:06,400 --> 00:48:09,200 Speaker 4: Gordon in the dunker spot. Jamal Murray's mid range shot making, 983 00:48:09,320 --> 00:48:13,320 Speaker 4: like Denver, is less susceptible to shot variants than anybody 984 00:48:13,320 --> 00:48:16,040 Speaker 4: else in the NBA. They won two games in the 985 00:48:16,080 --> 00:48:18,920 Speaker 4: finals last year where they made five to three pointers 986 00:48:19,000 --> 00:48:21,799 Speaker 4: or fewer. Nobody else did that in the entirety of 987 00:48:21,800 --> 00:48:25,279 Speaker 4: the postseason. Nobody else can survive off shooting nights like Denver. 988 00:48:25,360 --> 00:48:27,840 Speaker 4: And by the way, they're a really good shooting team, 989 00:48:28,120 --> 00:48:30,680 Speaker 4: but they don't need to be to win every single game, 990 00:48:30,760 --> 00:48:33,080 Speaker 4: and I think that that's a huge advantage. I think 991 00:48:33,080 --> 00:48:36,960 Speaker 4: there are top three offense of this century. I mean, 992 00:48:37,000 --> 00:48:39,800 Speaker 4: particularly in the clutch, the shot quality they can create 993 00:48:40,080 --> 00:48:43,879 Speaker 4: with either Aniko Jokic's post up. Obviously, I think he's 994 00:48:43,880 --> 00:48:45,520 Speaker 4: the best post score on the planet, in the best 995 00:48:45,520 --> 00:48:47,399 Speaker 4: scorer period, and he can get to any of those 996 00:48:47,400 --> 00:48:49,520 Speaker 4: touch shots and make sixty five percent of them no 997 00:48:49,560 --> 00:48:51,960 Speaker 4: matter who's on him. But if you dig, he's going 998 00:48:52,040 --> 00:48:54,040 Speaker 4: to create a good shot for a shooter, if you 999 00:48:54,080 --> 00:48:57,160 Speaker 4: double from the paint. He and Aaron Gordon have maybe 1000 00:48:57,200 --> 00:48:59,880 Speaker 4: the best two man chemistry that I've ever seen, and 1001 00:49:00,120 --> 00:49:03,000 Speaker 4: so there is an inevitability there, whereas Jason Tatum, yes, 1002 00:49:03,040 --> 00:49:04,799 Speaker 4: has been on a really good pull up shooting run. 1003 00:49:05,120 --> 00:49:07,960 Speaker 4: But you can see these stretches from Boston where the 1004 00:49:08,000 --> 00:49:11,560 Speaker 4: decision making from Tatum and Brown isn't great and they 1005 00:49:11,600 --> 00:49:14,879 Speaker 4: are susceptible to just downstretches in terms of perimeter shot making. 1006 00:49:14,920 --> 00:49:17,080 Speaker 4: And Denver's a really good defensive team too. I think 1007 00:49:17,080 --> 00:49:21,840 Speaker 4: that obviously, particularly on the perimeter. They have some good athletes, 1008 00:49:22,120 --> 00:49:25,080 Speaker 4: They're not a team that is at all easy to 1009 00:49:25,360 --> 00:49:28,160 Speaker 4: pinpoint mismatches with. I think about that a lot, where 1010 00:49:28,640 --> 00:49:31,240 Speaker 4: you see it in the MAVs game recently, for example, 1011 00:49:31,280 --> 00:49:34,880 Speaker 4: where Luca is like trying to hunt switches and go 1012 00:49:34,920 --> 00:49:37,359 Speaker 4: at Jamal Murray late in that game, and it's still 1013 00:49:37,400 --> 00:49:40,200 Speaker 4: not super easy, like Jamal's still a six to four compact, 1014 00:49:40,239 --> 00:49:43,080 Speaker 4: pretty athletic guard. So I think they're underrated defensively, and 1015 00:49:43,080 --> 00:49:44,960 Speaker 4: they're the best offense in the league, the offense that 1016 00:49:45,000 --> 00:49:47,359 Speaker 4: I trust the most by a good bit. But I 1017 00:49:47,440 --> 00:49:50,960 Speaker 4: just can't act like they are head and shoulders above 1018 00:49:51,000 --> 00:49:53,960 Speaker 4: Boston because I know what Boston is capable of. Boston 1019 00:49:54,080 --> 00:49:57,600 Speaker 4: has the most talented starting five that we've seen, certainly 1020 00:49:57,640 --> 00:50:00,920 Speaker 4: since the peak Golden State Warriors. I think this is 1021 00:50:00,960 --> 00:50:05,439 Speaker 4: a team that, in most post Warriors years, like would 1022 00:50:05,520 --> 00:50:07,719 Speaker 4: be better than the champion. I'm interested in your guys' 1023 00:50:07,760 --> 00:50:10,000 Speaker 4: thoughts on that because I think Denver is the strongest 1024 00:50:10,080 --> 00:50:13,120 Speaker 4: champion we've seen since those Warriors. I think if you 1025 00:50:13,239 --> 00:50:18,040 Speaker 4: dropped this Celtics team against the twenty nineteen field well Toronto, 1026 00:50:18,080 --> 00:50:20,399 Speaker 4: just because Golden State was hurt that year, the twenty 1027 00:50:20,440 --> 00:50:22,600 Speaker 4: twenty Lakers are tough, but the twenty twenty one Bucks 1028 00:50:22,600 --> 00:50:25,200 Speaker 4: twenty twenty two Warriors. I think this Boston team is 1029 00:50:25,239 --> 00:50:28,120 Speaker 4: so overwhelmingly talented that I would take them against most 1030 00:50:28,160 --> 00:50:30,240 Speaker 4: of those teams, and I think that that's a testament 1031 00:50:30,280 --> 00:50:31,960 Speaker 4: to how strong both these teams are. 1032 00:50:32,000 --> 00:50:32,640 Speaker 3: I think that we. 1033 00:50:32,640 --> 00:50:35,600 Speaker 4: Are headed on kind of a collision course for one 1034 00:50:35,640 --> 00:50:38,160 Speaker 4: of the best finals of this century. I view both 1035 00:50:38,200 --> 00:50:39,680 Speaker 4: these teams very, very highly. 1036 00:50:40,640 --> 00:50:43,080 Speaker 1: I'm taking Denver, and I agree with you. I think 1037 00:50:43,080 --> 00:50:44,680 Speaker 1: it's gonna be a battle of the Titans. If the 1038 00:50:44,680 --> 00:50:49,799 Speaker 1: Celtics are the Avengers, Jokic is Thanos and Nice. To me, 1039 00:50:49,880 --> 00:50:53,000 Speaker 1: it comes down to one thing. Jason made a I 1040 00:50:53,040 --> 00:50:55,400 Speaker 1: can't remember what take you made it about. Jason, you 1041 00:50:55,440 --> 00:50:59,840 Speaker 1: were talking about how star players. Their teams assume the 1042 00:50:59,880 --> 00:51:03,120 Speaker 1: identity of their star player, and I really think that 1043 00:51:03,120 --> 00:51:05,320 Speaker 1: that's what it comes down to with both of these teams. 1044 00:51:05,600 --> 00:51:08,759 Speaker 1: The Celtics leader is Jason Tatum, and Tatum is susceptible 1045 00:51:08,800 --> 00:51:12,319 Speaker 1: to bad pull up shooting runs, settling for a lot 1046 00:51:12,360 --> 00:51:15,040 Speaker 1: of threes, and so that's what his team does a lot. 1047 00:51:15,120 --> 00:51:17,080 Speaker 1: I'm not putting that on on Jason Tatums shoulders, but 1048 00:51:17,120 --> 00:51:20,200 Speaker 1: by and large, they have assumed the identity of Jason Tatum. 1049 00:51:20,600 --> 00:51:24,640 Speaker 1: And there's no team more in the NBA that I 1050 00:51:24,640 --> 00:51:26,680 Speaker 1: think has assumed the identity of their leaders than the 1051 00:51:26,719 --> 00:51:32,919 Speaker 1: Denver Nuggets. Jokic's impact, his unselfishness not only creates open 1052 00:51:32,920 --> 00:51:35,680 Speaker 1: looks and open opportunities for his teammates, but it makes 1053 00:51:35,680 --> 00:51:39,279 Speaker 1: his teammates more unselfish. Like watch a Nuggets game and 1054 00:51:39,280 --> 00:51:42,000 Speaker 1: it will blow you away when you're watching Aaron Gordon 1055 00:51:42,320 --> 00:51:44,400 Speaker 1: kick it to MPJ and MPJ will swing it, and 1056 00:51:44,440 --> 00:51:47,359 Speaker 1: it's just it's beautiful basketball. Carson, you talk about them 1057 00:51:47,360 --> 00:51:51,080 Speaker 1: being one of the greatest offenses of this century. It's 1058 00:51:51,080 --> 00:51:54,640 Speaker 1: the most beautiful basketball. It's like the twenty twentyds and 1059 00:51:54,680 --> 00:51:57,600 Speaker 1: twenty ten Spurs. It's like the twenty tens Warriors. The 1060 00:51:57,640 --> 00:52:00,799 Speaker 1: ball movement is unreal, and that's what it comes down 1061 00:52:00,800 --> 00:52:04,200 Speaker 1: to me, Like the entirety of the Nuggets team has 1062 00:52:05,040 --> 00:52:08,680 Speaker 1: assumed part of Jokic's identity is We're gonna play unselfish, 1063 00:52:08,719 --> 00:52:11,879 Speaker 1: beautiful basketball. We're gonna make that extra pass and it's 1064 00:52:11,920 --> 00:52:14,440 Speaker 1: gonna kill you. It's part and why the Nuggets are 1065 00:52:14,480 --> 00:52:17,520 Speaker 1: so infallible when it comes to clutch offense, because they 1066 00:52:17,520 --> 00:52:19,560 Speaker 1: are looking for that extra pass, because they are looking 1067 00:52:19,560 --> 00:52:21,600 Speaker 1: to play make for their Their team is just so 1068 00:52:21,760 --> 00:52:25,560 Speaker 1: unselfish because their leader is. And that's the beautiful thing 1069 00:52:25,560 --> 00:52:27,759 Speaker 1: about the Nuggets, and that's why I can't pick against them. 1070 00:52:28,080 --> 00:52:30,640 Speaker 1: I do think the Celtics are probably the most talented 1071 00:52:30,680 --> 00:52:35,360 Speaker 1: team we've seen since the Warriors, even with like and 1072 00:52:35,400 --> 00:52:37,719 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty Lakers are probably the closest. But there's 1073 00:52:37,800 --> 00:52:40,560 Speaker 1: a depth advantage that the Celtics have that the Lakers 1074 00:52:40,600 --> 00:52:43,880 Speaker 1: don't have when you're comparing those teams apples to apples. 1075 00:52:43,880 --> 00:52:46,319 Speaker 1: So I don't want to undersell Boston. But what it 1076 00:52:46,360 --> 00:52:49,279 Speaker 1: comes down to me is the fact that both of 1077 00:52:49,320 --> 00:52:53,880 Speaker 1: these teams, you know, buy into their identity, their culture, 1078 00:52:53,920 --> 00:52:57,000 Speaker 1: their leader. I trust Denvers culture and their leader more, 1079 00:52:57,080 --> 00:52:59,279 Speaker 1: and I think it is permeated to the rest of 1080 00:52:59,320 --> 00:53:02,240 Speaker 1: the roster in a way that you seldom see with teams. 1081 00:53:02,280 --> 00:53:06,200 Speaker 1: Man Like their unselfishness is unreal, and that's that's ultimately 1082 00:53:06,239 --> 00:53:08,359 Speaker 1: why I buy in and can't bet against Denver. Also 1083 00:53:08,400 --> 00:53:11,600 Speaker 1: the fact, like you mentioned, Carson, you got MPJ just 1084 00:53:11,640 --> 00:53:17,400 Speaker 1: banging nails on contested threes. Every one of their players 1085 00:53:17,440 --> 00:53:19,480 Speaker 1: has something that they can kill you with. Man if 1086 00:53:19,520 --> 00:53:23,520 Speaker 1: it's an Aaron Gordon dunkor spot lob, if it's it's coming. 1087 00:53:24,160 --> 00:53:26,000 Speaker 1: I do think the Nuggets are inevitable and I would 1088 00:53:26,080 --> 00:53:28,400 Speaker 1: really be surprised if they didn't win the title. 1089 00:53:30,560 --> 00:53:33,240 Speaker 2: To be clear, I have Denver as my championship favorite, 1090 00:53:33,280 --> 00:53:35,880 Speaker 2: and I'm more confident in them now than I was 1091 00:53:35,960 --> 00:53:38,839 Speaker 2: even to start the season they have. I think they're 1092 00:53:38,880 --> 00:53:41,359 Speaker 2: just better than they were last year. I think they 1093 00:53:41,400 --> 00:53:46,160 Speaker 2: have more well defined roles and more well defined processes 1094 00:53:46,280 --> 00:53:48,560 Speaker 2: on both ends of the floor even than Boston does, 1095 00:53:48,960 --> 00:53:51,239 Speaker 2: which I think allows them to kind of reach their 1096 00:53:51,280 --> 00:53:55,120 Speaker 2: ceiling more frequently than Boston does, even though I agree 1097 00:53:55,120 --> 00:53:58,239 Speaker 2: boston ceiling is higher. Carson, I thought the bit you 1098 00:53:58,280 --> 00:54:02,320 Speaker 2: did on their lack of a life on variants was 1099 00:54:02,400 --> 00:54:05,080 Speaker 2: super super interesting. That stat about the five May threes 1100 00:54:05,120 --> 00:54:07,960 Speaker 2: in the finals. That's absolutely crazy, and I mean that 1101 00:54:08,080 --> 00:54:09,920 Speaker 2: I think that reflected in the Celtics games. They got 1102 00:54:09,960 --> 00:54:12,360 Speaker 2: outshot by Boston in both games on jump shots in 1103 00:54:12,520 --> 00:54:14,839 Speaker 2: terms of jump shot efficiency, and both of those teams 1104 00:54:14,880 --> 00:54:16,719 Speaker 2: are good jump shooting teams. They're both top ten jump 1105 00:54:16,719 --> 00:54:19,759 Speaker 2: shooting teams in the league by a point per shot efficiency, 1106 00:54:20,200 --> 00:54:23,480 Speaker 2: and so like their ability to weather that kind of storm. 1107 00:54:23,520 --> 00:54:25,160 Speaker 2: And again then I think like one of the big 1108 00:54:25,239 --> 00:54:29,120 Speaker 2: ones too, is just Denver knows exactly like their hierarchy 1109 00:54:29,239 --> 00:54:32,760 Speaker 2: in big situations. Boston can get a little bit finicky 1110 00:54:32,840 --> 00:54:34,600 Speaker 2: on that end, and they they don't really know what 1111 00:54:34,640 --> 00:54:35,960 Speaker 2: they want to run, which I think is part of 1112 00:54:35,960 --> 00:54:39,879 Speaker 2: the reason why they get inconsistent. That said, winning four 1113 00:54:40,080 --> 00:54:43,120 Speaker 2: championship rounds is really really hard. And even though I 1114 00:54:43,160 --> 00:54:45,759 Speaker 2: would put I would pick Denver over the field in 1115 00:54:45,880 --> 00:54:48,600 Speaker 2: the Western Conference, I think once you throw in that 1116 00:54:48,680 --> 00:54:52,040 Speaker 2: Boston variable, I think, like I think that it's just 1117 00:54:52,120 --> 00:54:56,440 Speaker 2: a it's a lot to say Denver winning over anybody 1118 00:54:56,560 --> 00:54:59,880 Speaker 2: else as an option. And so even though more confident 1119 00:55:00,120 --> 00:55:02,879 Speaker 2: Denver or in Denver than I have been at all 1120 00:55:03,000 --> 00:55:06,000 Speaker 2: this season, I still think like there's a less than 1121 00:55:06,080 --> 00:55:08,799 Speaker 2: fifty percent chance that they win, just because of all 1122 00:55:08,880 --> 00:55:12,000 Speaker 2: of the variables that go into it. I would pick them. 1123 00:55:12,200 --> 00:55:14,839 Speaker 2: I will pick them in every series. I will pick 1124 00:55:14,920 --> 00:55:17,120 Speaker 2: them against Boston if they get to the finals. I 1125 00:55:17,239 --> 00:55:18,719 Speaker 2: agree with you, Carson, I think it's going to be 1126 00:55:18,760 --> 00:55:21,960 Speaker 2: an all time great series. That said, I think there's 1127 00:55:22,120 --> 00:55:25,320 Speaker 2: there's obviously, like just a ton of variants in the NBA. 1128 00:55:25,400 --> 00:55:27,239 Speaker 2: I mean, even just looking back to the simple fact 1129 00:55:27,280 --> 00:55:30,440 Speaker 2: that we haven't had a repeat conference finalist in the 1130 00:55:30,520 --> 00:55:32,920 Speaker 2: last five years just goes to show you the stuff 1131 00:55:32,920 --> 00:55:34,719 Speaker 2: that you can run into in a postseason series. Not 1132 00:55:34,800 --> 00:55:38,360 Speaker 2: to mention the injury risk along the way too, Like 1133 00:55:38,480 --> 00:55:41,399 Speaker 2: it's just there's just always a chance that maybe Jowell 1134 00:55:41,480 --> 00:55:43,360 Speaker 2: Murray will go down or Michael Porter Junior will go 1135 00:55:43,480 --> 00:55:45,560 Speaker 2: down before you get there. And obviously, as we know, 1136 00:55:45,719 --> 00:55:48,480 Speaker 2: Denver synergy depends so much on all five of those 1137 00:55:48,520 --> 00:55:52,640 Speaker 2: guys being healthy. And so yeah, I think I think 1138 00:55:52,719 --> 00:55:55,279 Speaker 2: Denver fans should feel very confident. But if I was 1139 00:55:56,360 --> 00:55:58,479 Speaker 2: forced to pick Denver the field, I'd pick the field 1140 00:55:58,520 --> 00:56:00,560 Speaker 2: just because I think the field is all unless you're 1141 00:56:00,600 --> 00:56:04,080 Speaker 2: picking like Tiger Woods in his prime, UH to win 1142 00:56:04,160 --> 00:56:07,080 Speaker 2: a major like it's hard to it's hard to go 1143 00:56:07,520 --> 00:56:10,600 Speaker 2: against the field in these sorts of situations. All right, 1144 00:56:10,600 --> 00:56:11,880 Speaker 2: before we get out of here today, we're gonna have 1145 00:56:11,880 --> 00:56:13,640 Speaker 2: a fun game. We're gonna go rapid fire style. We're 1146 00:56:13,640 --> 00:56:15,920 Speaker 2: gonna start with Logan. I'm gonna give you I have. 1147 00:56:16,160 --> 00:56:17,319 Speaker 3: Six of uh. 1148 00:56:17,719 --> 00:56:20,520 Speaker 2: I don't want to call it bad takes, because sometimes 1149 00:56:20,560 --> 00:56:23,520 Speaker 2: I think hot takes are good takes just for entertainment's sake. 1150 00:56:23,800 --> 00:56:26,000 Speaker 2: Let's just call these, let's call these takes that I 1151 00:56:26,160 --> 00:56:29,120 Speaker 2: vehemently disagree with. Okay, I've got I've got six of them. 1152 00:56:29,640 --> 00:56:31,319 Speaker 2: What I want to do is we're gonna go back 1153 00:56:31,360 --> 00:56:33,320 Speaker 2: and forth. We'll go rapid fire style. I just want you, 1154 00:56:33,360 --> 00:56:36,440 Speaker 2: guys to give your initial reaction, like what your what 1155 00:56:36,600 --> 00:56:39,920 Speaker 2: your basketball mind screams when you see something like this 1156 00:56:40,040 --> 00:56:41,960 Speaker 2: when you're scrolling through your phone in the morning over 1157 00:56:42,080 --> 00:56:44,640 Speaker 2: some coffee, like the spit take, and then and then 1158 00:56:44,719 --> 00:56:46,640 Speaker 2: what comes next? All right, So Logan, you're up first. 1159 00:56:46,760 --> 00:56:50,800 Speaker 2: This is from the famous Hooper Twitter account ball Don't stop. 1160 00:56:52,440 --> 00:56:57,160 Speaker 2: The three highest scoring players ever, meaning Kareem Abdul Jabbar 1161 00:56:57,640 --> 00:57:01,760 Speaker 2: and uh A, Karl Malone and Lebron James wouldn't really 1162 00:57:01,880 --> 00:57:06,719 Speaker 2: be considered pure scorers, but their durability was insane, and 1163 00:57:06,800 --> 00:57:10,480 Speaker 2: they're scoring arsenal just worked so well and efficiently. They 1164 00:57:10,600 --> 00:57:14,160 Speaker 2: really outlasted everyone from their era and the era after 1165 00:57:14,800 --> 00:57:17,480 Speaker 2: their era. Logan, how do you feel about Karl Malone, 1166 00:57:17,600 --> 00:57:22,000 Speaker 2: Lebron James, and Kareem Abduljabbar not being considered pure scorers 1167 00:57:22,040 --> 00:57:23,000 Speaker 2: by the Hooper community? 1168 00:57:23,240 --> 00:57:27,120 Speaker 1: Really know what that means? I mean, what, how do 1169 00:57:27,200 --> 00:57:30,880 Speaker 1: you score nearly forty thousand points or forty thousand plus points? 1170 00:57:30,880 --> 00:57:33,560 Speaker 1: The only guy I'd say is probably Karl Malone because 1171 00:57:33,600 --> 00:57:36,160 Speaker 1: he was a John Stockton merchant, but that's another conversation 1172 00:57:36,320 --> 00:57:40,760 Speaker 1: for another day. I mean, yeah, dude, like Kareem and 1173 00:57:40,840 --> 00:57:43,240 Speaker 1: Lebron just have two of the most unstoppable scoring skill 1174 00:57:43,320 --> 00:57:45,480 Speaker 1: sets of all time. Lebron with the fact that he's 1175 00:57:45,880 --> 00:57:49,080 Speaker 1: one of the greatest rim pressures and most unstoppable athletes ever, 1176 00:57:49,240 --> 00:57:53,640 Speaker 1: and then Kareem would just one of the most immaculate 1177 00:57:53,720 --> 00:57:56,400 Speaker 1: postgames and shots of all times. So I don't really understand. 1178 00:57:56,720 --> 00:57:59,160 Speaker 1: I wouldn't consider them like pure scorers because they do 1179 00:57:59,440 --> 00:58:03,560 Speaker 1: everything else else, but to not call them scorers is ridiculous. 1180 00:58:03,560 --> 00:58:07,040 Speaker 1: They're two of the greatest of all time. That's kind 1181 00:58:07,080 --> 00:58:07,920 Speaker 1: of ridiculous to me. 1182 00:58:09,120 --> 00:58:13,680 Speaker 4: Yeah, totally unsurprising though coming from ball Don't Stop especially, And. 1183 00:58:13,880 --> 00:58:18,200 Speaker 3: I think that there is a large group of. 1184 00:58:18,440 --> 00:58:24,200 Speaker 4: The basketball community who has a serious infatuation with basically 1185 00:58:24,960 --> 00:58:29,320 Speaker 4: the aesthetics of one on one boy nice in very 1186 00:58:29,400 --> 00:58:32,040 Speaker 4: little interest in the effectiveness. Logan said it well, like 1187 00:58:32,400 --> 00:58:35,960 Speaker 4: if you can't stop something, you can't stop it. What 1188 00:58:36,440 --> 00:58:39,920 Speaker 4: baldon't Stop said in that tweet about the effectiveness of it, 1189 00:58:40,280 --> 00:58:43,480 Speaker 4: that's what matters, what should define if somebody is a 1190 00:58:43,600 --> 00:58:48,400 Speaker 4: great scorer. I mean, pure scorer is such a nebulous term. 1191 00:58:48,680 --> 00:58:50,960 Speaker 4: Like what does pure mean that you also don't excel 1192 00:58:51,000 --> 00:58:53,080 Speaker 4: in the other aspects of the game, Like is that 1193 00:58:53,200 --> 00:58:55,520 Speaker 4: something that we want to be lauding? Do we love 1194 00:58:55,680 --> 00:58:58,200 Speaker 4: Cam Thomas because all he does is take tough shots? 1195 00:58:58,240 --> 00:59:02,120 Speaker 4: And like, yeah, I like Cam Thomas when he's on, Like, 1196 00:59:03,280 --> 00:59:06,640 Speaker 4: you know, he's got a really shifty movement style, and 1197 00:59:06,720 --> 00:59:09,200 Speaker 4: he's got a deep bag and he's a tough shot creator. 1198 00:59:09,480 --> 00:59:10,880 Speaker 4: But there's a reason that there's not a lot of 1199 00:59:10,920 --> 00:59:13,400 Speaker 4: teams banging on the door to get Pam Thomas. There's 1200 00:59:13,440 --> 00:59:16,280 Speaker 4: a reason that Jamal Crawford wasn't as good as he 1201 00:59:16,520 --> 00:59:18,800 Speaker 4: was fun to watch a highlight tape of, Like these 1202 00:59:18,920 --> 00:59:22,520 Speaker 4: dudes who may have these awesome dribble combinations and may 1203 00:59:22,560 --> 00:59:25,240 Speaker 4: be great, difficult shot makers. Like, if you aren't getting 1204 00:59:25,320 --> 00:59:28,480 Speaker 4: to your spots, if you aren't making life easy on 1205 00:59:28,560 --> 00:59:31,880 Speaker 4: yourself offensively, and especially if you aren't doing the other 1206 00:59:32,040 --> 00:59:35,480 Speaker 4: things that matter in a basketball game, playmaking, defending, rebounding, 1207 00:59:35,480 --> 00:59:39,400 Speaker 4: et cetera, then you're just not gonna be that effective 1208 00:59:39,440 --> 00:59:42,160 Speaker 4: in an NBA game. So I see this sort of 1209 00:59:42,240 --> 00:59:46,080 Speaker 4: thinking all the time. To me, it just doesn't make sense, 1210 00:59:46,200 --> 00:59:49,360 Speaker 4: Like there is value in having a tough shot making 1211 00:59:49,480 --> 00:59:52,000 Speaker 4: skill set, right, Like if you are going to try 1212 00:59:52,080 --> 00:59:54,760 Speaker 4: to run clutch offense through Giannison Tantakoupa, who may be 1213 00:59:54,880 --> 00:59:58,000 Speaker 4: a super effective scorer, you're gonna have issues because if 1214 00:59:58,000 --> 01:00:00,320 Speaker 4: teams just fully commit to hey, we're walling off the rim. 1215 01:00:00,400 --> 01:00:03,400 Speaker 4: In this specific situation, he doesn't have the requisite counters. 1216 01:00:03,880 --> 01:00:05,400 Speaker 4: But for most of the game, I mean, he's just 1217 01:00:05,480 --> 01:00:07,720 Speaker 4: going to be able to get thirty efficiently because he 1218 01:00:07,800 --> 01:00:11,440 Speaker 4: has these unstoppable traits. And I think many people overvalue 1219 01:00:12,200 --> 01:00:14,000 Speaker 4: just how does it look when you score? 1220 01:00:16,160 --> 01:00:18,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think I think it gets a little complicated 1221 01:00:18,280 --> 01:00:21,040 Speaker 2: when you're differentiating between the Yannis types and like the 1222 01:00:21,600 --> 01:00:24,240 Speaker 2: Lebron's and the Kraam Abdul jabars and the Yokices, Cause 1223 01:00:24,240 --> 01:00:26,040 Speaker 2: it's like there is some truth to the fact that, 1224 01:00:26,640 --> 01:00:29,240 Speaker 2: you know, Jannis's lack of skill polish can become an 1225 01:00:29,280 --> 01:00:31,040 Speaker 2: issue when he gets into the half court, which is 1226 01:00:31,200 --> 01:00:33,880 Speaker 2: more complicated than just reading his point progec he's a 1227 01:00:33,920 --> 01:00:35,840 Speaker 2: better score than ja Yeah, like it really, you know, 1228 01:00:36,920 --> 01:00:38,640 Speaker 2: but for sure, yeah, no, you're you're. 1229 01:00:40,680 --> 01:00:41,720 Speaker 3: I agree the. 1230 01:00:43,680 --> 01:00:46,480 Speaker 2: But yeah, Like the hilarious part to me about this 1231 01:00:46,560 --> 01:00:49,520 Speaker 2: tweet is the part that says they're scoring. Arsenal just 1232 01:00:49,600 --> 01:00:51,760 Speaker 2: works so well and efficiently, and it's like, oh, so 1233 01:00:52,520 --> 01:00:54,480 Speaker 2: that's what a pure scorer is, isn't it, Like like 1234 01:00:54,680 --> 01:00:57,840 Speaker 2: that's the literal definition the And then also like again, 1235 01:00:58,240 --> 01:01:01,160 Speaker 2: so much of the aesthetic appeal like some of these guys, 1236 01:01:01,440 --> 01:01:05,440 Speaker 2: like Lebron, for instance, I think honestly Lebron's bag, so 1237 01:01:05,520 --> 01:01:08,040 Speaker 2: to speak, has been highly underrated over the course of 1238 01:01:08,080 --> 01:01:11,520 Speaker 2: his career. But also like bully ball is the most 1239 01:01:11,640 --> 01:01:14,000 Speaker 2: effective and reliable form of scoring when you get to 1240 01:01:14,040 --> 01:01:16,280 Speaker 2: the later form of later rounds of the playoffs. That's 1241 01:01:16,320 --> 01:01:19,720 Speaker 2: just a fact and lastly, before we move on, Like, 1242 01:01:20,520 --> 01:01:23,400 Speaker 2: the funniest thing to me is like the sixteen dribble 1243 01:01:23,480 --> 01:01:27,320 Speaker 2: combination pull up jump shot is also like one of 1244 01:01:27,440 --> 01:01:32,800 Speaker 2: the hardest things to play alongside as a teammate. Like 1245 01:01:32,880 --> 01:01:35,880 Speaker 2: it's a rhythm disruptor. And what's so funny is like 1246 01:01:35,880 --> 01:01:39,040 Speaker 2: all these guys, the karl Malons, the krim Abduljabbars and Lebron's, 1247 01:01:39,440 --> 01:01:42,880 Speaker 2: their scoring came in a way that allowed other people 1248 01:01:42,960 --> 01:01:45,320 Speaker 2: to score well around them. And like, then you get 1249 01:01:45,360 --> 01:01:48,560 Speaker 2: these guys like Kyrie or not, Kyrie's more lumped in 1250 01:01:48,680 --> 01:01:50,720 Speaker 2: with just the way that Dallas plays. But let's talk 1251 01:01:50,720 --> 01:01:54,000 Speaker 2: about Luca for instance. Like Luca, like you have to 1252 01:01:54,040 --> 01:01:56,600 Speaker 2: put play finishers around him because if you put other 1253 01:01:57,080 --> 01:01:59,400 Speaker 2: guys who can dribble, shoot and pass around him, they 1254 01:01:59,440 --> 01:02:01,760 Speaker 2: would never be in rhythm because they'd be watching Luca 1255 01:02:01,840 --> 01:02:04,200 Speaker 2: take seventeen dribbles on every single possession. And so like, 1256 01:02:04,520 --> 01:02:06,880 Speaker 2: what's so funny is the specific type of style of 1257 01:02:06,960 --> 01:02:11,280 Speaker 2: scoring that he is referencing here is probably the kind 1258 01:02:11,520 --> 01:02:16,240 Speaker 2: that is like least it has a value, but it's 1259 01:02:16,440 --> 01:02:18,959 Speaker 2: less valuable than the other forms of scoring that exist 1260 01:02:19,000 --> 01:02:21,640 Speaker 2: out there. Okay, next one, this is not a quote, 1261 01:02:21,800 --> 01:02:24,600 Speaker 2: but it's come from several Miami Heat players, so I'm 1262 01:02:24,640 --> 01:02:26,600 Speaker 2: just gonna kind of reference it vaguely or start with 1263 01:02:26,680 --> 01:02:28,920 Speaker 2: du Carson. A few Miami Heat players have said that 1264 01:02:29,000 --> 01:02:31,280 Speaker 2: Chris bosh was the most important player on the heatles 1265 01:02:31,320 --> 01:02:34,200 Speaker 2: because he was a stretched big, even though he was 1266 01:02:34,240 --> 01:02:36,880 Speaker 2: on the same team with Lebron James, what's your reaction, Yeah. 1267 01:02:36,720 --> 01:02:37,800 Speaker 3: That's pretty hilarious. 1268 01:02:38,520 --> 01:02:42,160 Speaker 4: That's a classic case of people galaxy brain and things 1269 01:02:42,280 --> 01:02:47,880 Speaker 4: and making things more complicated than they are. I don't 1270 01:02:47,880 --> 01:02:49,760 Speaker 4: really have a bunch to say. I mean, Lebron was 1271 01:02:49,880 --> 01:02:53,560 Speaker 4: clearly the best player on the planet in both Miami 1272 01:02:53,720 --> 01:02:58,080 Speaker 4: title years and just an absolute full crumb both offensively 1273 01:02:58,240 --> 01:03:02,520 Speaker 4: and defensively. His versatility in Miami was the best of 1274 01:03:02,600 --> 01:03:05,800 Speaker 4: his career. His ability to play multiple styles like I 1275 01:03:05,880 --> 01:03:09,400 Speaker 4: think the super heliocentric ball dominant Lebron that we got 1276 01:03:09,600 --> 01:03:11,760 Speaker 4: in the second Cleveland stint, Like his mastery of the 1277 01:03:11,840 --> 01:03:16,240 Speaker 4: game intellectually was incredibly impressive, but his ability to play 1278 01:03:16,360 --> 01:03:20,120 Speaker 4: off ball as well in Miami with just that sort 1279 01:03:20,160 --> 01:03:23,200 Speaker 4: of freak athleticism. I mean, the best combination of his 1280 01:03:23,440 --> 01:03:27,720 Speaker 4: explosiveness from those first Cleveland years and his strength and 1281 01:03:27,800 --> 01:03:30,040 Speaker 4: then he was at his defensive peak. I mean, Lebron 1282 01:03:30,240 --> 01:03:33,040 Speaker 4: was at one of the highest peaks we've ever seen 1283 01:03:33,080 --> 01:03:35,840 Speaker 4: from a basketball player ever, And so I'm very happy 1284 01:03:35,920 --> 01:03:38,680 Speaker 4: that Chris Bosh was able to stretch the floor. And 1285 01:03:38,760 --> 01:03:41,320 Speaker 4: obviously he was a very good basketball player. But you 1286 01:03:41,440 --> 01:03:45,560 Speaker 4: take Lebron off those teams, you see what happens like 1287 01:03:45,640 --> 01:03:49,240 Speaker 4: in the subsequent years. And obviously d Wade had diminished 1288 01:03:49,280 --> 01:03:52,160 Speaker 4: at that point, and Chris Bosh obviously had all of 1289 01:03:52,200 --> 01:03:54,760 Speaker 4: his health issues. But like they were an okay playoff 1290 01:03:54,800 --> 01:03:58,960 Speaker 4: team after Lebron left, and I think it's very obvious 1291 01:03:59,000 --> 01:04:01,160 Speaker 4: that they would not have been tending. And it's like 1292 01:04:01,320 --> 01:04:05,120 Speaker 4: giving Iggy the Finals MVP in twenty fifteen. Sometimes we 1293 01:04:05,240 --> 01:04:08,640 Speaker 4: look at people maybe exceeding their value or doing one 1294 01:04:08,720 --> 01:04:11,160 Speaker 4: specific thing that is super valuable. Oh my god, he 1295 01:04:11,280 --> 01:04:13,600 Speaker 4: guarded Lebron and he shot the ball really well, and 1296 01:04:13,680 --> 01:04:14,160 Speaker 4: we want. 1297 01:04:14,080 --> 01:04:14,680 Speaker 3: To reward that. 1298 01:04:15,000 --> 01:04:17,080 Speaker 4: But it's like, who would you not be with in 1299 01:04:17,160 --> 01:04:19,600 Speaker 4: the who would you not be there in the first 1300 01:04:19,640 --> 01:04:21,840 Speaker 4: place if you didn't have Well, maybe it's Steph Curry, 1301 01:04:21,880 --> 01:04:25,200 Speaker 4: the guy who completely changed modern NBA offense and drove 1302 01:04:25,280 --> 01:04:27,160 Speaker 4: all the Warrior success on that side of the ball, 1303 01:04:27,320 --> 01:04:29,160 Speaker 4: So I think that's a very silly take. 1304 01:04:30,040 --> 01:04:31,800 Speaker 1: I mean, credit to Chris Bosh for grabbing one of 1305 01:04:31,840 --> 01:04:36,360 Speaker 1: the most important rebounds in NBA history, But yeah, I 1306 01:04:36,640 --> 01:04:39,600 Speaker 1: just completely disagree with this one. I'll give Chris Bosh 1307 01:04:39,680 --> 01:04:41,680 Speaker 1: a credit for doing another thing too. I think it's 1308 01:04:42,800 --> 01:04:45,480 Speaker 1: important too. When you have that accumulation of talent, when 1309 01:04:45,520 --> 01:04:47,440 Speaker 1: you have two bona fide guys who are maybe the 1310 01:04:47,520 --> 01:04:51,760 Speaker 1: best players on the planet, it takes sacrifice, you know 1311 01:04:51,800 --> 01:04:54,480 Speaker 1: what I mean. Chris Bosh had to sacrifice his role, 1312 01:04:54,680 --> 01:04:59,000 Speaker 1: his numbers, his view of you know, his stance as 1313 01:04:59,040 --> 01:05:02,400 Speaker 1: a player in the league, legacy wise, to go win championships. 1314 01:05:02,480 --> 01:05:06,040 Speaker 1: That's what championships take sacrifice from guys, you know, taking 1315 01:05:06,080 --> 01:05:09,600 Speaker 1: a lesser role and doing that role to perfection. And 1316 01:05:09,640 --> 01:05:11,760 Speaker 1: I'll give Chris Bosh a ton of credit for doing 1317 01:05:11,840 --> 01:05:15,600 Speaker 1: that and being a really underrated player. I think he's 1318 01:05:15,680 --> 01:05:18,560 Speaker 1: probably underrated now, especially you know, combined with the fact 1319 01:05:18,560 --> 01:05:20,160 Speaker 1: that he took a lesser role and the fact that 1320 01:05:20,680 --> 01:05:23,320 Speaker 1: you know his career was shortened because of blood clot issues. 1321 01:05:25,240 --> 01:05:28,320 Speaker 1: That's got to be one of the most hyperbolic takes 1322 01:05:28,400 --> 01:05:30,320 Speaker 1: or ridiculous, Like, what are we doing here? 1323 01:05:30,440 --> 01:05:30,640 Speaker 3: Man? 1324 01:05:30,840 --> 01:05:33,240 Speaker 1: I mean that version of Lebron's one of the greatest 1325 01:05:33,240 --> 01:06:06,880 Speaker 1: players ever. The volume