1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, Well, goome to Hoops tonight. You're 2 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:18,119 Speaker 1: at the volume heavy ones day, everybody. Hope all of 3 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: you guys are having a great week so far. I 4 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: got a quick show for you guys today. We're gonna 5 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 1: be hitting the two NBC games from last night as 6 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: the Golden State Warriors dominated the Los Angeles Clippers pretty 7 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 1: much from start to finish, aside from a little second 8 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 1: quarter run from the Clippers, and then in the tail 9 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: end of the show, the Milwaukee Bucks begin or continue 10 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: I should say, their impressive start to the season with 11 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: they win versus the New York Knicks Giannis with an 12 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: incredible second half, an impressive showing from their guards again, 13 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: lots to get into. You guys know the job before 14 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: we get started. Subscribe to the Hoops and I YouTube channels. 15 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: You don't miss any more of our videos. Follow me 16 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: on Twitter at underscore JSNLT so you guys don't miss 17 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: show announcements. Don't forget about our podcast feeds wherever you 18 00:00:57,320 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: get your podcast. On our Hoops Tonight, it's always super 19 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: helpful if you guys leave a rating and a review 20 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: on that front as well. Jackson's doing incredible work on 21 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:06,559 Speaker 1: our social media feeds on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. 22 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: Make sure you guys follow us there for more content 23 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: throughout the season. And then, last but not least, we'll 24 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: be recording another mailbag on Friday. Make sure you guys 25 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: get your questions into the YouTube comments so that we 26 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: can get to them in our Friday mail bags throughout 27 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 1: the remainder of the season. All right, let's talk some basketball. 28 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: So the Warriors jumped right on the Clippers to start 29 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: this game. They went to twenty seven to twelve. Jonathan 30 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: Kamingo was special in this first run of the game. 31 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: He was punishing mismatches for layups on drives in in 32 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 1: the post. He hits a pull up three in an 33 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:36,040 Speaker 1: action with Quinton Post. He hit Steph on a back 34 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,480 Speaker 1: cut for a layup. Had multiple great defensive sequences. He 35 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: had a nice help and recover contest on bog done 36 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: Macdonovich on the left wing where he got into the 37 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 1: lane to force a pass, but then also got out 38 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: and got a great contest. He was battling zubots on 39 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: peel switches on the class just a monster during that run, 40 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: looking like a cog, a special cog in the Golden 41 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 1: State system, which is something that was rare in the 42 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 1: but appears to be the norm more often than not 43 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: to start this season, as Kaminga has really turned around 44 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: the narrative that has surrounded him since he first came 45 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 1: into this league. I also want to shout out Quintin 46 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 1: and Post to hit two big threes in that run. 47 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: He had a pick and pop three in an action 48 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 1: with Zubots with Steph, and then he had another transition trailer, 49 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 1: a transition trailing three off of Steph, and I want 50 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: to focus on that action for just to make it 51 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: just a minute, because that pick and pop Steph steady 52 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 1: throughout this game was attacking Zubots in pick and roll 53 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: and like these that was like the action that Golden 54 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 1: State was primarily using to break the Clippers defense. Just 55 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 1: anything with Steph running off of like a dribble handoff 56 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: or a ball screen with the bigger, slower footed center 57 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: in space was just breaking the Clipper defense. And then 58 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: the Warriors were quickly moving the ball through that to 59 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:56,079 Speaker 1: get great shots. And it's something that I've noticed in 60 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 1: the early going against several matchups, like we saw a 61 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: similar issue with Jokic guarding the Warriors even like a faster, 62 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 1: more athletic center like Aytan who was in a drop 63 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 1: coverage often was having some issues. And so it's one 64 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: of the things that I've noticed like these these bigger, 65 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: slow footed centers especially are utterly hopeless guarding Steph. But 66 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 1: most of the traditional drop coverage running teams in the 67 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,919 Speaker 1: NBA are gonna have issues with Steph now that they 68 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 1: have more aggregate offensive talent off of him, and like 69 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,839 Speaker 1: I'll be curious, so like teams like the Nuggets, the Clippers, again, 70 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 1: i'd include the Lakers in here, I'll be curious to 71 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 1: see how they look for Houston. But Houston plays a 72 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: lot of slow footed bigs and slow footed players in 73 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 1: general as well, so I'll be interested to see that matchup. 74 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: The only teams that really have the speed through all 75 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: their position groups to keep out of Golden State splendor 76 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: are Minnesota and Oklahoma City. And as we've seen with 77 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 1: Minnesota over the years, they have several guys who struggle 78 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 1: with off ball attentiveness. So even if they do better 79 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 1: against Steph on the ball, they end up the Golden 80 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: States offense in different ways, like losing Steph in off 81 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: ball situations. It's one of the big things that has 82 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 1: to me kind of eyeing Golden State is more of 83 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 1: a dangerous championship threat than I originally thought they were. 84 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 1: They match up really well with many of the teams 85 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: in the West, specifically because of Steph Curry's ability to 86 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: break those traditional drop coverages. And again, when I say 87 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:25,160 Speaker 1: drop coverage, it's not the old fashion. We're sitting back 88 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 1: and letting Steph pull. I mean like high drop coverage, 89 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:31,159 Speaker 1: like he's either beating the big because he happens to 90 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 1: be too far back by hitting shots, or the big 91 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:36,720 Speaker 1: is coming up and then he's easily getting the defense 92 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:40,039 Speaker 1: in rotation by starting four on threes by hitting the pocket. 93 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: The point is is teams that are not switching pick 94 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,839 Speaker 1: and roll with athletes, or teams that don't have really 95 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 1: athletic centers like a go bet or a chet that 96 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: are gonna consistently get up to the level and be 97 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: able to rotate out of it quickly, those are the 98 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 1: teams that are giving them problems, right And the main 99 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: thing that they needed is they just needed an infusion 100 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: of talent to actually cap lies on this problem that 101 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 1: Steph presents to most of the teams in the West. 102 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: And if Jimmy Butler is gonna continue to look this good, 103 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: Jonathan Kaminga is gonna continue to look this good, Moses 104 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 1: Moody and Brandon Pajemski are twenty for forty three from 105 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 1: three point range here in the early going. If all 106 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: of these things continue to break Golden State's way over 107 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 1: the course of the season, and if they stay healthy, 108 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: you can actually see a tactical pathway versus all of 109 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: these teams against basically everybody but Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma 110 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 1: City matchup is fundamentally different. I look at it more 111 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,280 Speaker 1: as like a challenge for Golden State's defense to break 112 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 1: Oklahoma City's offense. But we're not gonna talk about that today. 113 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: We're gonna get some film on that matchup in a 114 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: little less than two weeks. It was two weeks from 115 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 1: last night. They're gonna be playing in Oklahoma City in 116 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: early November, I think it's November eleventh, and we'll obviously 117 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: cover that game when it happens, and it'll give us 118 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: a better look at this Golden State offense versus a 119 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: faster defense, something that I'm looking at as like kind 120 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 1: of the next checkpoint. But it's impossible to not look 121 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 1: at what we've seen in the early going here and 122 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 1: see how some of these tougher Western Conference teams that 123 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: play a lot of bigger, slower players just get picked 124 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 1: apart by Steph Curry running action on them. And now 125 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:15,840 Speaker 1: they have the requisite talent off of Steph to be 126 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: able to quickly capitalize on those sequences and score the basketball. 127 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: Clipper's going to second quarter run. So, as we mentioned, 128 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 1: Warriors jump up twenty seven to twelve. Clippers kind of 129 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 1: take control in the second quarter combination factors, like the 130 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 1: Clipper Stars got going. Cow I finally hit a few shots. 131 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:32,719 Speaker 1: He got a little left shoulder hook over Jimmy Butler 132 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: on a deep post catch. They ran a little cross 133 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 1: screen with Brook Lopez. It's kind of a fun possession 134 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: to watch in terms of like the future of the 135 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 1: Warriors defense over time, because like Draymond's guarding the corner 136 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: and Al Horford's guarding Brook, and Brook sets across screen 137 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:52,599 Speaker 1: for Jimmy, and you can literally see like Jimmy and 138 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 1: Draymond and Al all just kind of communicating through the switches, 139 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 1: and Draymond's guarding the corner and basically bringing that third 140 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 1: defender over into the action. Now Kawhi ends up getting 141 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 1: a deep post catch and hitting a tough little shot 142 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:07,359 Speaker 1: over Jimmy. But it was just kind of fun to 143 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 1: watch Jimmy and Draymond and Al just kind of communicate 144 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 1: and switch with physicality along that back line. It's a 145 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: big part of why I'm really bullish on their defense 146 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 1: here early on in the season. But we're gonna talk 147 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 1: more about that in a minute. But Kawi gets going, 148 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: hits a little hook shot, gets a driving and one 149 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: eats a pull up three. The role players finally start 150 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: making shots like this has been an issue with the 151 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: Clippers in the early going that we'll talk about in 152 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 1: a little bit. But Zubats did some damage around the 153 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: rim on Horford Derk Jones Junior hits a corner three. 154 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: Those are some sequences that the Clippers weren't paying off 155 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: early in the game. And then James Harden kind of 156 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 1: just had a classic James Harden run to end the quarter, 157 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: getting to the rim for layups and free throwsy it's 158 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 1: a transition pull up three that was a big shot 159 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: met sequence. And then on the other end of the floor, 160 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: I thought the Warriors just got a little stagnant. They 161 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: took some early clock threes. Will Richard took one with 162 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: like twenty one on the shot clock, Buddy Heal took 163 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: an early one, even Steph took an early one. Before 164 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: they really got into their movement, Kaminga missed a couple 165 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: driving layups some of the shots that he was making 166 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 1: earlier in the game. It just was like a brief 167 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: stretch where the Warriors looked like they got out of 168 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: whack with their offensive process, and suddenly we were going 169 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: into halftime with the Clippers up forty nine to forty six. 170 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: It was kind of a wild turnaround to that point 171 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: in the game. But the third quarter just was classic 172 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: third quarter Warriors. They really got back into their defense 173 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: to transition sequences, a lot of big defensive plays during 174 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 1: that stretch. Steph got a couple of one on one 175 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 1: stops again against Harden, one where he smothered him on 176 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,679 Speaker 1: a drive and forced him to airball a layup, another 177 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:36,719 Speaker 1: one where he picked him clean off top with a 178 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 1: little bit of ball pressure. Draymond got a big stop 179 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: against Kawhi where he got a great contest. Quintin Post 180 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:45,439 Speaker 1: did a nice job blitzing James Harden and then rotating 181 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 1: to the pass on the wing where he ended up 182 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: getting a steal, and they were just running the other 183 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:53,439 Speaker 1: way dunk for Jimmy Butler. Nasty feed from Steph to 184 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: Jonathan kaminga for a left handed layup. In transition, Steph 185 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 1: gets a pick six on a Zubat's short roll pass. 186 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: He sinks down and gets the short roll. He tries 187 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: to drop it off to Chris Dunn. Steph gets it, 188 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 1: goes the other way for a driving layup. Moses Moody 189 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 1: digs down on Chris Dunn and gets a steal. Jimmy 190 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:11,680 Speaker 1: Butler hits a three on the other end of the floor. 191 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 1: Al Horford gets a Al Horford did a number on 192 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 1: Chris Paul just switching ball screens in this stretch, and 193 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 1: like Chris just had no interest in attacking Al, Al 194 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: was defending him well, and so Horford gets a great 195 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:27,439 Speaker 1: contest switching onto CB three and pick and roll pods 196 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 1: ends up getting a transition drive the other way for 197 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 1: a layup. He drives the other way, drives a bunch 198 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 1: of defenders. Then Moses Moody hits a trailing three on 199 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,599 Speaker 1: the left wing. The Warriors had five buckets in transition 200 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: just in the third quarter. They got into the fourth 201 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,200 Speaker 1: quarter up by fifteen, and then they closed it out 202 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 1: from there with a bunch of contributions from a bunch 203 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: of guys in the fourth. But I've been pleasantly surprised 204 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: by Golden State's Like, when I'm looking at the two 205 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 1: units for Golden State were like, we know what to 206 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 1: expect with their defense, the question was what we were going 207 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 1: to see from their offense. I've been pleasantly surprised with 208 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 1: their offense. They've been getting some contributions at higher levels 209 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 1: than I expected. But in terms of like their championship punch, 210 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 1: the thing that they just do better than most teams. 211 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 1: The thing that's got me really excited about them is 212 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: their defense. And I know it's not super impressive statistically, 213 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: like they're only eleventh in defensive rating here in the 214 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 1: early going, but that's a little misleading. Like they had 215 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: one single game against the Blazers on the tail end 216 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 1: of a back to back where they gave up one 217 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 1: hundred and thirty nine points and it wasn't nothing. Like 218 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 1: they showed some issues containing the ball in the perimeter 219 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:34,199 Speaker 1: against bigger athletes in that game. I'm not going to 220 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: like completely write that off, but in the context of 221 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: their other performances, it was a little bit of an outlier, 222 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 1: and they played three of the best offenses in the 223 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:44,839 Speaker 1: Western Conference. The defensive rating over a massive sample is 224 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 1: going to be a better read of what this defense 225 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: is capable of. But like in a five game or 226 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: four games sample size, whatever, I think it's five games. 227 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: In the five games sample size, when you have to 228 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 1: play Denver, who I think is the best offense in 229 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 1: the league, the Lakers, who have literally been frying everybody 230 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: until Luca and Austin leave the floor where they've fallen 231 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:05,560 Speaker 1: apart because they don't have ball handling, but Luca and 232 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: Austin led units have just been frying everybody. The Clippers 233 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: obviously have a ton of talent. These are like really 234 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:15,679 Speaker 1: difficult offenses that Golden State has run into, and in 235 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 1: each one of those games, their defense has kind of 236 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: been the thing that has broken the opponent. Like, aside 237 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 1: from guarding Luca personally in the Lakers game, they largely 238 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 1: held largely held the Lakers offense in check. They swarmed 239 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:30,719 Speaker 1: DeAndre eight and on his catches in the middle of 240 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: the floor and forced a bunch of turnovers. And missshots. 241 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: They chased the Lakers shooters off the three point line 242 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 1: and made them feel uncomfortable. There was not any offense 243 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:41,839 Speaker 1: coming from anybody but Luca in that game, if you 244 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 1: guys remember. And then aside from the beginning of the 245 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 1: Denver game, from the late second quarter through to the 246 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:50,200 Speaker 1: end of the game, they were awesome against Denver. As 247 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 1: a matter of fact, in the second half of that game, 248 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: including overtime, they had a one toh four defensive rating, 249 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 1: which is awesome versus that elite Denver offense. And then 250 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 1: they straight up broke the Clippers like they just destroyed 251 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: that offense. They annihilated their bench groups. Chris Paul looked 252 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: like he had no interest in looking to shoot or 253 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 1: score against Al Horford and Switches, so those teams just 254 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: didn't have the ball handling to score. After Chris kind 255 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 1: of was neutralized, and then James Harden and Kawhi they 256 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: held him to thirty eight points on thirty two shots 257 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 1: and just to assist with four turnovers. And it was 258 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 1: a team effort too, like so many different guys defended 259 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 1: well either on ball or in off ball situations, and 260 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 1: the like above and beyond the yond ball stuff. I've 261 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 1: always thought of the Warriors as one of the best 262 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,839 Speaker 1: close out teams in the league. And what I mean 263 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: by that is just like they're really good at shrinking 264 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: the floor and making things feel congested, but then still 265 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: getting out to shooters and rushing them. But it's on 266 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: overdrive this season, like they are so damn scrappy, digging 267 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 1: down into help and like constantly getting deflections and constantly 268 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:56,439 Speaker 1: getting strips. They're top ten and forcing turnovers here early 269 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:59,839 Speaker 1: on in the season, and they're holding opponents below a 270 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:02,440 Speaker 1: point per shot on catch and shoot jump shots at 271 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 1: just zero point nine to nine points per opponent catch 272 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: and shoot. That ranks eighth in the NBA so far, 273 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: by the way, And I know there are a lot 274 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 1: of analytic minded folks who cover the league that just 275 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 1: view that as shooting luck, but I've never seen the 276 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 1: game that way. I think there are several factors that 277 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 1: come into play before we get to pure variance, and 278 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: I think the Warriors are excellent in those controllables. Ball pressure, 279 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: intensity in their closeouts, overall physicality, breaking rhythm, gearing shots 280 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 1: towards the right types of shooters. I think the Warriors 281 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 1: are a very smart defense that's very good at that. 282 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: And again I mentioned a specific example on that little 283 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: Kawhi left shoulder hook earlier. But it's been incredibly fun 284 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:45,079 Speaker 1: for me to watch Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Al 285 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: Horford worked that back line in concert with each other, 286 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 1: with each other just communicating, switching with physicality, shrinking the 287 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 1: floor because Jimmy and Draymond are so good at throwing closeouts. 288 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: I thought Steph was really good defensively in this Clippers game. 289 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 1: Jonathan Kami is doing a good job guarding opposing stars 290 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 1: every night, just eating up a lot of innings that way. 291 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 1: And again, it's not just a four and one start 292 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 1: for the Warriors. It's a four to one start with 293 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 1: wins versus the Lakers, the Nuggets, and the Clippers, all 294 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 1: teams that are either first or second tier contenders in 295 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: the Western Conference. I'm just super impressed by them. And 296 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: this is the last thing I'll say. I've been really 297 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 1: fascinated for a long time about the idea of all 298 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: time greats and what happens when they see an opportunity 299 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 1: to win the title. I've been talking about this all 300 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 1: summer with Steph and why I expected him to get 301 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 1: up to such a hot start this year, Like, just 302 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 1: give me a group of guys that's won it before, 303 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: that knows what it takes, and then give them a 304 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 1: real opportunity and watch the level of professionalism that they 305 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 1: will go about that process with. And like, I've just 306 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 1: been so impressed by the Warriors from the top down 307 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 1: with how locked in they look to start the season, 308 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 1: and like it started, you know, it was. I was 309 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 1: intrigued when I heard Steve Kerr talk about how he 310 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 1: just like felt really good about this group, especially with 311 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: the way that he talked about previous iteration the team, 312 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: And I was like if Steve Kurr is looking at 313 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: the situation too and going like, we got the guys 314 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 1: like this year, we got the guys, Like it just 315 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 1: goes to show you again from the top down they 316 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: are locked in organizationally, and this is kind of there's 317 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 1: it's it's against the grain in a lot of ways 318 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: because there's this new age idea we've seen in the NBA, 319 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 1: this like it's a marathon not a sprint idea, and 320 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: I just think it's incredibly lame, like this idea that, oh, 321 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 1: we need to ease our way through this thing literally 322 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 1: nobody has won a championship doing that. The only exceptions 323 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 1: have been super talented repeat champions like the KD Steph 324 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: Warriors in twenty eighteen kind of chilled through the season, 325 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 1: or like the two thousand and two Lakers with Kobe 326 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 1: and Shack. Literally every single other champion other than those 327 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: like super talented repeat champions, every single other champion has 328 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 1: attacked the season from start to finish. They come into 329 00:15:57,000 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: camp super locked in, they approach their regular season the 330 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:03,520 Speaker 1: level of seriousness and intensity, and it's just been super 331 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 1: cool to see this from this group in Golden State 332 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: that has some older players, an older coach, four dudes 333 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: who are over thirty seven. It's just a testament to 334 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: the organizational greatness from the top down. Again, like you 335 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: don't have I was listening to the Bob Costas intro 336 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: for the NBC broadcast, which obviously is amazing, and he's 337 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: talking about how the Warriors have won the most titles 338 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 1: in the NBA after the Celtics and Lakers, and it's like, 339 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 1: you don't get there with just a top tier superstar 340 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 1: like Steph, or a top ten player in NBA history 341 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 1: like Steph. Like I was talking about over the summer. 342 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: You don't get there with just an elite coach. You 343 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: don't get there with just a smart front office. You 344 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 1: don't get there with just an all time great defensive 345 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: player like Draymond Green. You get there with all of 346 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 1: those things. You need it all, And there is a 347 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: top down organizational greatness that just has persisted for the 348 00:16:56,520 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: Warriors from the early twenty tens now here pushed into 349 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: the late twenty twenties, and it's just not an accident 350 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 1: that they've had the success that they've had. And it's 351 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 1: just been frustrating for me as someone who roots for 352 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:12,200 Speaker 1: the Lakers to see them juxtaposed with this. And like 353 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 1: the Lakers have had half the roster out already to 354 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 1: start the season, and like over bumps and bruises, not 355 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 1: like oh, Anthony Edwards strained his hamstring, he's got to 356 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 1: be out for a couple weeks, Like bumps and bruises, 357 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:26,760 Speaker 1: guys are missing time already here in the first week 358 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,240 Speaker 1: of the season. The Lakers want the regular season to 359 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:31,679 Speaker 1: be easy. They want to coast to April and go 360 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 1: win the title by just getting their group together right 361 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: for the before the home stretch. And like good luck 362 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: with that, no one's ever managed to pull it off. 363 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:43,160 Speaker 1: Winning a championship is an eight month grind. There's never 364 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:46,360 Speaker 1: been shortcuts there, and it's just been interesting to see 365 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 1: the juxtaposition of those two things. And it's a big 366 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 1: part of why I'm so concerned about the Lakers in 367 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,240 Speaker 1: the long term after Lebron has gone, because you know, 368 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: Lebron was always like, let's play through bumps and bruises, 369 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:59,119 Speaker 1: let's try to, you know, build this thing over the 370 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: course of the season, guy, And just like I think, 371 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:03,960 Speaker 1: I'm just really worried about their ability to sustain any 372 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,640 Speaker 1: success after he's gone. But that's a conversation for another day. 373 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:09,640 Speaker 1: Today's show is brought to you by our new presenting sponsor, 374 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: hard Rock Bet. 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Terms and 396 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 1: conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida, call one eight 397 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:22,400 Speaker 1: eight eight admit it. In Indiana, if you or someone 398 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:24,880 Speaker 1: you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 399 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 1: one eight hundred and nine with it. Gambling problem called 400 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 1: one eight hundred gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, 401 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 1: or Virginia. On the Clippers front, I've been super underwhelmed 402 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:43,880 Speaker 1: with them to start the season. Now they're gonna get better. 403 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 1: This is not a doom and gloom thing. It just 404 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 1: more kind of falls in line with what I was 405 00:19:47,359 --> 00:19:50,679 Speaker 1: just talking about in terms of just that level of 406 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: expectation I have for true champions that like start to 407 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: finish excellence, like they're gonna get better as a team. 408 00:19:57,320 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 1: They have not shot jump shots very well, and that 409 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 1: will normalize. They have a good jump shooting team. So 410 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:03,919 Speaker 1: I don't mean by variants by the way, I just 411 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 1: mean like they have several guys, including their stars, who 412 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: have come into camp that are not exactly in the 413 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 1: best shape of their lives, and those guys will steadily 414 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 1: get into shape, and as they get into the shape 415 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:16,119 Speaker 1: that they need to be in, their legs will be 416 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:18,080 Speaker 1: underneath them on their jump shots, and then they'll start 417 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:20,639 Speaker 1: shooting the ball better. A perfect stat to demonstrate this 418 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 1: is their pull up shooting. They're getting to zero points 419 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:25,439 Speaker 1: seven to seven points per pull up jumper to start 420 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: the season. That's about eighteen points fewer per one hundred 421 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 1: jump shots than they were last year in the regular season, 422 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:33,680 Speaker 1: and that's largely because of Kawhi and their bench guards. 423 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: Kawhi hasn't been good on his pull ups, Chris Paul 424 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 1: hasn't been good on his pull ups. Bogg Don mcdonovich 425 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 1: hasn't been good on his pull ups. Chris Paul in particular, 426 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:42,879 Speaker 1: has been awful to start the year. The units with 427 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 1: Chris Paul on the floor and with Kawhi and James 428 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:48,160 Speaker 1: Harden off have been outscored at a rate of twenty 429 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:51,040 Speaker 1: nine points per one hundred possessions. Small sample, I know, 430 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:53,480 Speaker 1: but just brutal so far. They just need Chris to 431 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 1: be better. Their defensive rebounding has been terrible. They're giving 432 00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:58,600 Speaker 1: up an offensive rebound on thirty four percent of their 433 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 1: opponent's misses. They give up ten and more offensive rebounds 434 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:03,960 Speaker 1: last night, and again that's against a team that's considerably 435 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 1: smaller than them. They've been turning the ball over a ton. 436 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:09,399 Speaker 1: They have nineteen turnovers per game. That's the third most 437 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 1: in the entire NBA. Big part of that is Zubots 438 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 1: and Harden. Those two just by themselves are averaging almost 439 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:18,199 Speaker 1: six and a half turnovers per game. They're giving up 440 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 1: twenty two points per game in transition directly off of 441 00:21:21,119 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 1: those turnovers, and for all to talk about transition defense 442 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 1: and training camp, they're a bottom ten transition defense by 443 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:30,439 Speaker 1: efficiency team according to Synergy, giving up one point one 444 00:21:30,520 --> 00:21:34,480 Speaker 1: to eight points per transition push. They're also allowing opponents 445 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 1: to get out in transition on eighteen point four percent 446 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 1: of their possessions, which ranks twentieth in the NBA. So 447 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: they've been a bad transition defense after preaching it all 448 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 1: through camp, which is obviously not a good sign. So 449 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 1: if you're wondering why the Clippers have gotten crushed twice, 450 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: it basically comes down to their stars have not been 451 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:53,640 Speaker 1: very good, their bench leader and Chris Paul has been 452 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 1: legit awful, and they're getting smashed on some key margins 453 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:00,080 Speaker 1: like the offensive glass, as well as turnovers to transition 454 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:03,119 Speaker 1: and just their overall transition defense. So something to keep 455 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:04,919 Speaker 1: an eye on. One other thought I had on the 456 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:08,720 Speaker 1: Clippers after watching that Warriors game. In that third quarter run, 457 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 1: Zubats had several turnovers versus blitzes of the hard and 458 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 1: short roll head that one way he threw to the 459 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:16,439 Speaker 1: left wing and Quentin Post jumped it, and then he 460 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 1: had one where he tried to drop it off to 461 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 1: Chris Dunn and step Curry stole it. And this was 462 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:23,200 Speaker 1: something that stood out to me in the Nugget series. 463 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 1: It's kind of a vulnerability that the Clippers have on offense. 464 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: Teams can get away with aggressive coverages versus the Clippers, 465 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 1: like they can double Kawhi and they can blitz James 466 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: Harden with a good amount of effect relative to some 467 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 1: other teams in the league, because as a team collectively, 468 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:42,120 Speaker 1: they're always just a step slow at processing those advantages, 469 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:45,120 Speaker 1: and so instead of getting wide open threes and wide 470 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:47,520 Speaker 1: open layups, things tend to be a little bit more contested, 471 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:49,840 Speaker 1: and then a lot of those sequences end up in turnovers. Again, 472 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 1: Zubats and Harden are combining for six point three turnovers 473 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,160 Speaker 1: per game here in the early going, and even better 474 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: versions of these Clippers teams have had that issue in 475 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 1: the past, and so I say better version not by talent, 476 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 1: but better in terms of the quality of play, because 477 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: this Clippers team right now is just not close to 478 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 1: firing on all cylinders yet, so they're gonna get better. 479 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 1: The aggressive coverages thing is more of a big picture issue. 480 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:14,439 Speaker 1: But I expect them to shoot the ball better. I 481 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:16,600 Speaker 1: expect them to defensive rebound better. I expect them to 482 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 1: take care of the ball better. The Clippers will play 483 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:22,119 Speaker 1: better basketball at some point this season. All right, Nick Bucks, 484 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: It looked like the Knicks were in complete control at 485 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 1: halftime of this one. They had this beautiful stretch of 486 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 1: basketball in the mid second quarter, a bench group led 487 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 1: by Tyler Kohlik, And I've really enjoyed these Tyler Kolik 488 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 1: led bench groups for the Knicks this year, like they 489 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 1: have been the groups that have most embodied the ball 490 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 1: movement that Mike Brown has been trying to instill in 491 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: this team. Just kolek early in the possession just makes 492 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:46,719 Speaker 1: a really quick decision out of an action, and then 493 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 1: they just play read and react basketball out of it, 494 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 1: and they tend to get really great shots out of it. 495 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:54,960 Speaker 1: And the Knicks ended up going up by fourteen in 496 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,879 Speaker 1: that second quarter stretch. But then the Bucks defense just 497 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:00,920 Speaker 1: completely dominated the second half. The Bucks logged in the 498 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 1: eighty five defensive rating in the second half as they 499 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 1: held the Knicks to two twenty point quarters, and they 500 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:07,479 Speaker 1: went on to win by double digits, and there are 501 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: several guys that I want to shout out here. First 502 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:12,359 Speaker 1: of all, in the second half bench unit stretch when 503 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:14,560 Speaker 1: Jalen Brunson was off the floor and the Knicks started 504 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: playing through Cat More. I thought Kyle Kuzumad defended Karl 505 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:21,440 Speaker 1: Anthony Towns incredibly well in that stretch, just met his physicality, 506 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:24,440 Speaker 1: kept him in front, didn't foul, kept his arms up, 507 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:26,439 Speaker 1: and forced him to shoot over the top. And I 508 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: want to shout out the whole team here too, because 509 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 1: I thought they did a good job shrinking the floor 510 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:32,439 Speaker 1: on Cat and kind of swiping at the basketball and 511 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:36,440 Speaker 1: disrupting his rhythm. I thought Ryan Rollins did an unbelievable 512 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 1: job on Jalen Brunson in the fourth quarter. He smothered 513 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 1: him on a pull up three where he forced an airball, 514 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:45,200 Speaker 1: he stripped him from behind while back pressuring on a drive. 515 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 1: Once again, I also want to shout out the whole 516 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:49,240 Speaker 1: team here with all the swarming and switching they did 517 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 1: on Brunson in that group, Like Yannis had a rep 518 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 1: where he got switched on Brunson that was reminiscent. Do 519 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 1: you guys remember the preseason rep where Giannis was guarding 520 00:24:56,560 --> 00:24:58,439 Speaker 1: Shay on the left block, and he just kind of 521 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:01,280 Speaker 1: like attacked him with ball sure and Shade just kind 522 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:03,920 Speaker 1: of fell over and lost the basketball. Very similar to 523 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:06,160 Speaker 1: play to that against Jalen Brunson off the left wing 524 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:08,800 Speaker 1: late in the game, where like he just got up 525 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 1: on Brunson and instead of like being passive and offering 526 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 1: a contest, he got up and pressured him. And He's 527 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:17,239 Speaker 1: just so damn big and so athletic that Brunson kind 528 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:19,920 Speaker 1: of like soiled himself and just fell over and lost 529 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:21,879 Speaker 1: the basketball. And then next thing you know, Giannis is 530 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:24,440 Speaker 1: going the other way and dunking it and then to 531 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 1: stay on Yiannis. I just thought he was unbelievable in 532 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:31,119 Speaker 1: the second half of that game. Twenty three points, six rebounds, 533 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:33,959 Speaker 1: and six assists with a steal in two blocks in 534 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 1: just seventeen minutes of action in the second quarter. He's 535 00:25:38,359 --> 00:25:42,800 Speaker 1: just become so incredibly versatile on offense, all the usual 536 00:25:43,119 --> 00:25:46,600 Speaker 1: wrecking ball stuff that we know of Giannis always being 537 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:51,119 Speaker 1: as a driver, like transition dunks, offensive rebound put backs. 538 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:53,720 Speaker 1: He had this play against Ariel Huckporti on the right 539 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:56,439 Speaker 1: wing that looked like MVP Jannis from the old days, 540 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: like Ariel's giving him a little bit of space. There's 541 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:02,480 Speaker 1: two Nicks digging down into the driving lanes on both sides. 542 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:04,679 Speaker 1: You look at it and you're just like, how in 543 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:06,440 Speaker 1: the world is he going to get a layup here? 544 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 1: But he just takes a really hard left handed dribble 545 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 1: at Aeri hook porty and then spins out of it. 546 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:14,919 Speaker 1: And when he spins out of it, he just rips 547 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:16,920 Speaker 1: through the dig down from Brunson and gets an and 548 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:19,119 Speaker 1: one layup. It looked like again like Jannis from the 549 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:22,320 Speaker 1: old MVP days, and the jumper was a bit off 550 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: last night, but he ended up hitting a big one 551 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:25,920 Speaker 1: late and crunch time. He hit like a one legged 552 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:27,960 Speaker 1: fadeaway around the foul line that was a big shot 553 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,239 Speaker 1: in the game. Shot a nice soft ball that hit 554 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:33,239 Speaker 1: the front rim and rolled in, and then he just 555 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:38,119 Speaker 1: He's shown some brilliant shot creation as a passer to 556 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 1: start this season out of every conceivable action. Like he 557 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:43,720 Speaker 1: created a wide open three in the right corner out 558 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:45,240 Speaker 1: of the short roll where he just caught the ball 559 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:47,920 Speaker 1: in the pocket, quick process boom out to the right corner. 560 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:50,439 Speaker 1: He created a three for aj Green out of a 561 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:52,760 Speaker 1: ghost screen which was their first time connecting on that 562 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 1: play this season. That was a big one for them 563 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 1: last year. If you guys remember, just Aj runs over 564 00:26:57,119 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 1: top of the key screens, Veriannas slips out, Jannis pitches 565 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:03,160 Speaker 1: it over the top, easy wide up in three for Aj. 566 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:05,600 Speaker 1: He did a ton of posting up on the left 567 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:07,360 Speaker 1: block in this game. That was a big play type 568 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:10,240 Speaker 1: for Milwaukee in this game, and he created a bunch 569 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:12,680 Speaker 1: of easy threes out of double teams out of the post. 570 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:15,200 Speaker 1: The Bucks have done a really nice job spacing the 571 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 1: floor for Giannis off of those post ups. Even had 572 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 1: a lob feed to Turner, just kind of a grown 573 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 1: up feed. He was on the left block, was in 574 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 1: crunch time late and the man who was guarding in 575 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 1: the corner, I can't remember who it was that was 576 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: in the corner. It might have been Aj Green, but 577 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 1: one of their shooters was in the opposite corner and 578 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,720 Speaker 1: Miles Turner was in the dunker spot, and when Yannis 579 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:35,520 Speaker 1: drew the double team, the guy who was guarding the 580 00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 1: guy in the corner came in and kind of sunk 581 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:40,159 Speaker 1: in and got up underneath Miles and Yannis could have 582 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 1: kicked it to the corner. And the corner was open, 583 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:44,320 Speaker 1: and that would have been a decent look for three, 584 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:47,399 Speaker 1: but Miles had such a big size advantage against the 585 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:50,080 Speaker 1: guard that he had pinned underneath the basket that what 586 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:51,879 Speaker 1: Yiannis was looking at there is like, no, no, no, 587 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 1: this is late game. I actually want single possession efficiency 588 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:59,280 Speaker 1: over large sample efficiency. And he ended up dumping it 589 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:02,960 Speaker 1: into Mile and Miles drew a foul, and it's like, yeah, 590 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 1: that if the three goes in, it's worth more points. 591 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:07,960 Speaker 1: But on that singular possession in a late game situation, 592 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:11,040 Speaker 1: any points are more valuable. I thought it was just 593 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 1: like an example of that, like higher level playmaking. You 594 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:16,760 Speaker 1: could see Yiannis see the corner read and go, no, 595 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:18,159 Speaker 1: you know what, I'm just gonna throw it up in 596 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:20,040 Speaker 1: the air and let Miles grab this. He's gonna get 597 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:22,680 Speaker 1: a layup or a foul, and that's exactly what he got. 598 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:26,240 Speaker 1: And Giannis has just become a super high level processor 599 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:28,719 Speaker 1: and a really gifted passer in this league, and when 600 00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 1: you combine that with his rim pressure, it's just a 601 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:34,440 Speaker 1: problem for defenses. He's averaging a career high seven assists 602 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 1: per game here in the early going, and overall, Giannis 603 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 1: has just clearly ramped up his intensity to start the season. 604 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:45,280 Speaker 1: He's averaging thirty six, fourteen and seven. That's fucking crazy. 605 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:47,720 Speaker 1: All four of those or all three of those, excuse me, 606 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:49,720 Speaker 1: would be career highs for him, albeit in a small 607 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:52,840 Speaker 1: sample size. His most blocks per game since twenty twenty two. 608 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:55,360 Speaker 1: He had two massive blocks in the second half, a 609 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 1: classic drop coverage reper He was kind of a little 610 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 1: too high, and then he recovered in and swatted Mchal 611 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:03,880 Speaker 1: Bridges off the glass. After he beat aj Green off 612 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:05,840 Speaker 1: the dribble, ran the floor the other way and got 613 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: a dunk, had a big one on an OGN and 614 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:10,520 Speaker 1: he on an OGN Andobi post up where he came 615 00:29:10,560 --> 00:29:13,720 Speaker 1: over and helps it and blocked it. He's shooting seventy 616 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 1: percent from the field to start the season, fifty seven 617 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:20,720 Speaker 1: percent from three. I was talking about this on Twitter 618 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 1: last night. It's kind of insane because all summer long 619 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:28,640 Speaker 1: I dealt with lots of debate surrounding player rankings. Right like, 620 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:30,600 Speaker 1: I put Luke at number two. A lot of people 621 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 1: disagreed with me. Lots of people felt like Shay had 622 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:35,560 Speaker 1: passed Jokic. I didn't agree, but that was a take 623 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:38,040 Speaker 1: I saw a lot lots of Bucks fans think Giannis 624 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:39,640 Speaker 1: is the best player in the league and no lower 625 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:42,360 Speaker 1: than number two, right, And then Jokic to most people, 626 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 1: is still the best player in the world. And so 627 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 1: there's a lot of debates surrounding those four guys, and 628 00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:50,600 Speaker 1: literally all four of those dudes have been insane to 629 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: start the year. We just talked about Yiannis, how about 630 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:55,840 Speaker 1: thirty six, fourteen and seven with defensive Player of the 631 00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:57,960 Speaker 1: Year level contributions. On the other end of the floor, 632 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:01,960 Speaker 1: Shay is averaging thirty five, six and five while straight 633 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 1: up carrying the offense for his team, while a bunch 634 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:06,720 Speaker 1: of their key guys, that keyp ball handlers have missed 635 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:09,760 Speaker 1: time at various points. Jay Dubb's been out, Casean Wallace 636 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:11,960 Speaker 1: has missed a game like they've been down some guys, 637 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:14,840 Speaker 1: and Shay has just leveraged his offense and they're undefeated. 638 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:17,680 Speaker 1: Luca only played two games, but in his two games, 639 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 1: averaged forty six, twelve and nine on seventy three percent 640 00:30:21,040 --> 00:30:24,880 Speaker 1: for shooting against the Warriors and the Wolves to elite defenses, 641 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 1: and he looked completely unguardable in both of the games. 642 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:30,400 Speaker 1: And I'd argue Jokic is off to the worst start 643 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:32,880 Speaker 1: in that group, and yet he just damn near had 644 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 1: a twenty twenty ten against Minnesota and is averaging twenty 645 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:39,280 Speaker 1: fifteen to twelve to start the year. And again, all 646 00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:43,000 Speaker 1: this that those numbers are are normalized because of Jokic, 647 00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:47,080 Speaker 1: but those are insane numbers. It's abundantly clear that all 648 00:30:47,080 --> 00:30:50,000 Speaker 1: four of these dudes want the crown. They all feel 649 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:51,560 Speaker 1: as though they're the best players in the world, and 650 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 1: they're all going for it. And as a result, we're 651 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 1: getting some truly special basketball as a result from that group. 652 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:00,840 Speaker 1: And I'm I'm like leaving when out here, which I 653 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 1: probably shouldn't like. Wenby's averaging thirty one and fourteen on 654 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 1: sixty eight percent true shooting was six point three stocks 655 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 1: per game. And by the way, Tyrese Maxey and Austin 656 00:31:10,960 --> 00:31:13,360 Speaker 1: Reeves and Lourie Marken in all three of those dudes 657 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 1: are averaging thirty five or more per game on insane efficiency. 658 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:20,160 Speaker 1: It's just it's an amazing era in NBA history that 659 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:23,360 Speaker 1: we're all witnessing. Some really special basketball is being played. 660 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:25,720 Speaker 1: And what's crazy is I actually give the early edge 661 00:31:25,760 --> 00:31:28,960 Speaker 1: to Giannis here in the early going like Lucas already 662 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:31,000 Speaker 1: out with an injury. Although there's some debate as to 663 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:33,800 Speaker 1: whether or not that's him or the team that's guiding that, 664 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:38,040 Speaker 1: i'd I still to me it's the player. Ultimately's got 665 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:39,520 Speaker 1: to look at the team and go like, hey, I'm 666 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 1: I want to play in these games, like put me 667 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:43,600 Speaker 1: out on the floor. So I I got to cut 668 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:45,720 Speaker 1: a lot of shit from Lakers fans and Luca fans 669 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:48,440 Speaker 1: for saying that the other day in the show, but 670 00:31:48,520 --> 00:31:52,719 Speaker 1: like I just it's it's how I feel like if 671 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:54,560 Speaker 1: if I'm Luca, I'm looking at the team and saying 672 00:31:54,560 --> 00:31:56,000 Speaker 1: the team needs me to play, so I'm gonna go 673 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:59,000 Speaker 1: out there and play. The other guys just haven't been 674 00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:01,200 Speaker 1: quite as good, like Yo, which hasn't been quite as good. 675 00:32:01,240 --> 00:32:04,200 Speaker 1: Shay hasn't been quite as good. Wenby is the one 676 00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:06,800 Speaker 1: guy that's like playing at a level near that Yannis 677 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:08,480 Speaker 1: is at right now. But even then, I give the 678 00:32:08,520 --> 00:32:11,200 Speaker 1: slight edge to Gianni's And the thing that has amazed 679 00:32:11,280 --> 00:32:14,280 Speaker 1: me the most with Giannis is his ability to establish 680 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:16,600 Speaker 1: such a high floor on both ends of the floor 681 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:19,120 Speaker 1: for this team. We talked about this a little bit 682 00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:23,560 Speaker 1: in the show on Monday. But like Yannis, he checks 683 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:26,960 Speaker 1: so many boxes, Like he's such a gifted rim pressurer, 684 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:29,960 Speaker 1: such a gifted offensive rebounder, he's averaging like four offensive 685 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:33,120 Speaker 1: rebounds a game to start the season, such a gifted passer. 686 00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:38,160 Speaker 1: The on offense, he's like single handedly anchoring a quality 687 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:40,800 Speaker 1: offense because all of the roles off of him, because 688 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:43,240 Speaker 1: he pressures the rim so well, because he creates so 689 00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:45,560 Speaker 1: many advantages, because he can also be a screen and 690 00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:48,520 Speaker 1: roll threat, because he's such a good offensive rebounder. He's 691 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:51,320 Speaker 1: making it so that all of the other offensive players 692 00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:55,160 Speaker 1: on his team have these small, achievable roles. And the 693 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:58,080 Speaker 1: same thing goes on defense, especially anchored by a guy 694 00:32:58,120 --> 00:33:00,880 Speaker 1: like Miles Turner. You get those two guys down there, 695 00:33:01,280 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, the defensive job is just a 696 00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:06,880 Speaker 1: lot more manageable for the athletes that they have out 697 00:33:07,080 --> 00:33:09,920 Speaker 1: out on the floor, And because they've replaced Dame with 698 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 1: more minutes for guys like Ryan Rollins and Kole Anthony 699 00:33:12,680 --> 00:33:16,520 Speaker 1: better athletes. Because of that, they're more athletic on the perimeter. 700 00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:20,200 Speaker 1: And Giannis is establishing such a high floor on defense 701 00:33:20,560 --> 00:33:24,080 Speaker 1: that even with a roster that on paper looks extremely limited, 702 00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:27,600 Speaker 1: all of those limited players are being asked to do 703 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:30,880 Speaker 1: this much as opposed to this much, right, they're being 704 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:33,360 Speaker 1: asked to do less, and because they're being asked to 705 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:36,680 Speaker 1: do less, they're excelling in those roles rather than failing. 706 00:33:36,680 --> 00:33:39,240 Speaker 1: If Yiannis wasn't performing the way that he's performing on 707 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:41,160 Speaker 1: each end of the floor, all of a sudden, each 708 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:43,480 Speaker 1: one of those dudes gets a little bit more responsibility 709 00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:45,400 Speaker 1: put on their plate, and all of a sudden their 710 00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:49,000 Speaker 1: limitations would come to the surface. It's just a casual 711 00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:53,000 Speaker 1: reminder that when you have one of these truly special stars, 712 00:33:53,040 --> 00:33:55,920 Speaker 1: one of those top four guys five guys, you just 713 00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:58,520 Speaker 1: always have a chance to win when they're playing at 714 00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:02,520 Speaker 1: this special life. And it takes an enormous amount of 715 00:34:02,560 --> 00:34:06,040 Speaker 1: exertion from him. He hasn't played this hard to start 716 00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:08,880 Speaker 1: the season in years, and I really do hope his 717 00:34:08,920 --> 00:34:11,200 Speaker 1: body can handle it. And that's the downside of being 718 00:34:11,239 --> 00:34:15,480 Speaker 1: so limited. On paper, you need Giannis to be absolutely insane, 719 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:18,520 Speaker 1: but he has been and it's led to them winning 720 00:34:18,560 --> 00:34:22,040 Speaker 1: and beating some quality opponents. I've just been really impressed 721 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:25,680 Speaker 1: some other Bucks notes. I continue to be super impressed 722 00:34:25,719 --> 00:34:28,800 Speaker 1: by Ryan Rollins and Cole Anthony. Cole didn't shoot the 723 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:31,480 Speaker 1: ball well last night, but he continues to just consistently 724 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:33,920 Speaker 1: get into the teeth of the defense and spray out 725 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:36,200 Speaker 1: to the open man. He had nine more assists last night. 726 00:34:36,239 --> 00:34:40,200 Speaker 1: This is crazy stat Remember I always evaluate bench players 727 00:34:40,200 --> 00:34:42,560 Speaker 1: on a per thirty six minute basis to capture what 728 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:46,600 Speaker 1: their output would be if their role increase. Obviously it's 729 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:48,560 Speaker 1: harder to do it in an increased role. More just 730 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:52,200 Speaker 1: what their production looks like on a per minute basis. Right, So, 731 00:34:52,480 --> 00:34:55,879 Speaker 1: Cole Anthony's averaging twelve assists per thirty six minutes at 732 00:34:55,920 --> 00:35:00,279 Speaker 1: just one point seven turnovers per thirty six minutes, about 733 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:02,520 Speaker 1: a six to one over a six to one assist 734 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:06,319 Speaker 1: to turnover ratio. Just ridiculous, driving and kicking over and 735 00:35:06,360 --> 00:35:08,719 Speaker 1: over and over again. And then Ryan Rollins I talked 736 00:35:08,719 --> 00:35:10,600 Speaker 1: about him a little bit earlier this week. He's been 737 00:35:10,640 --> 00:35:13,200 Speaker 1: the guy that I've been most impressed with, and that 738 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:15,719 Speaker 1: was his best game of the season last night. He's 739 00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:18,359 Speaker 1: been pressuring the rim like crazy all season, but then 740 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:20,640 Speaker 1: he finally started hitting his three last night. Just a 741 00:35:20,640 --> 00:35:23,360 Speaker 1: monster game from him, twenty five points on just eleven shots. 742 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:27,600 Speaker 1: He's averaging fifteen four and four on sixty three percent 743 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:29,640 Speaker 1: true shooting. Here in the early going, I think he's 744 00:35:29,640 --> 00:35:32,360 Speaker 1: got to be the starting point guard. He's just played 745 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:35,319 Speaker 1: to well to not be. For the time being. He's 746 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:38,040 Speaker 1: been their second most reliable shot creator off of Giannis. 747 00:35:38,040 --> 00:35:40,479 Speaker 1: He's run fifty three pick and rolls this year so far, 748 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:43,160 Speaker 1: and he's generated sixty points on those pick and rolls, 749 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:46,120 Speaker 1: including passes. That's one point one to three points per possession. 750 00:35:46,360 --> 00:35:48,239 Speaker 1: There are nineteen players in the NBA that have run 751 00:35:48,239 --> 00:35:50,960 Speaker 1: at least fifty pick and rolls. His one hundred and 752 00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:54,600 Speaker 1: thirteen offensive rating on those possessions ranks fifth on that 753 00:35:54,719 --> 00:35:57,719 Speaker 1: list out of nineteen players. And it's just because he 754 00:35:57,719 --> 00:35:59,879 Speaker 1: attacks the rim at such an insane level, and he's 755 00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:01,640 Speaker 1: been and hitting his pull up three, so like he's 756 00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:04,040 Speaker 1: three for six on pull up threes in pick and roll, 757 00:36:04,600 --> 00:36:06,920 Speaker 1: and then he's just consistently getting to the paint's shooting 758 00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:08,680 Speaker 1: seventy five percent at the rim to start the year. 759 00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:12,320 Speaker 1: He has six driving layups just in pick and roll 760 00:36:12,520 --> 00:36:13,840 Speaker 1: to start this year. And he can make all the 761 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:15,719 Speaker 1: kickout reads too, and that's what you need if you 762 00:36:15,719 --> 00:36:17,360 Speaker 1: can hit the pull up three against an under or 763 00:36:17,360 --> 00:36:19,160 Speaker 1: when the guy gets hit on the screen. If you 764 00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:20,719 Speaker 1: can get all the way to the basket and score 765 00:36:20,719 --> 00:36:22,800 Speaker 1: from two point range and you can make the kickout reads, 766 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:25,160 Speaker 1: you're gonna run a successful pick and roll. And that's 767 00:36:25,160 --> 00:36:26,880 Speaker 1: what Ryan Rollins has done to start the year. My 768 00:36:26,960 --> 00:36:30,000 Speaker 1: only gripe with him has been that he struggled missing 769 00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:32,839 Speaker 1: catch and shoot jump shots. But then last night, two 770 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:35,520 Speaker 1: big ones in the left corner off of Giannis doubles 771 00:36:35,520 --> 00:36:38,120 Speaker 1: in the second half. That's the one piece that he 772 00:36:38,160 --> 00:36:40,120 Speaker 1: needed to kind of be contributing both on and off 773 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:42,279 Speaker 1: the ball, and now he's doing that as well. And 774 00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:44,320 Speaker 1: again I mentioned this earlier, but I thought his defense 775 00:36:44,360 --> 00:36:47,640 Speaker 1: on Jalen Brunson to start to end that game in 776 00:36:47,680 --> 00:36:50,920 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter was super, super important. Last two guys 777 00:36:50,960 --> 00:36:52,400 Speaker 1: I want to shout out here before we end the 778 00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:55,439 Speaker 1: show today are Aj Green and Myles Turner. I thought 779 00:36:55,480 --> 00:36:58,359 Speaker 1: AJ was a little bit underutilized by Doc Rivers last year, 780 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:01,040 Speaker 1: but Doc has rectified that. He's now starting, and he's 781 00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:03,720 Speaker 1: getting twenty seven minutes per game, and he's just playing 782 00:37:03,760 --> 00:37:07,040 Speaker 1: some really solid three and D basketball. He's shooting fifty 783 00:37:07,160 --> 00:37:10,040 Speaker 1: nine percent from three on six attempts per game, and 784 00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:12,319 Speaker 1: it's not just spot ups. It's in action too, like 785 00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:14,520 Speaker 1: when he slips out of a Janis screen or when 786 00:37:14,560 --> 00:37:16,600 Speaker 1: he comes off of a dribble handoff on the move. 787 00:37:17,080 --> 00:37:19,839 Speaker 1: He's four for five from three so far this year 788 00:37:19,880 --> 00:37:22,800 Speaker 1: in those types of actions, So it's not just shooting, 789 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:27,440 Speaker 1: its dynamic movement shooting. And with Miles, I'd be thrilled 790 00:37:27,440 --> 00:37:29,160 Speaker 1: if I was a Bucks fan because he's not making 791 00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:31,319 Speaker 1: shit right now. He's five for twenty two from three, 792 00:37:31,360 --> 00:37:34,360 Speaker 1: he's two for seven on layups, and yet his ability 793 00:37:34,400 --> 00:37:37,480 Speaker 1: to anchor the defense as a much more mobile rim 794 00:37:37,520 --> 00:37:41,600 Speaker 1: protector than Brook Lopez was in concert with Giannis while 795 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:43,960 Speaker 1: also on the other end of the floor. Despite missing shots, 796 00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:46,520 Speaker 1: like consistently making high IQ plays in the middle of 797 00:37:46,520 --> 00:37:49,880 Speaker 1: the floor. It's made him indispensable to the team already. 798 00:37:49,880 --> 00:37:51,480 Speaker 1: As a matter of fact, according to Cleaning the Glass, 799 00:37:51,480 --> 00:37:55,799 Speaker 1: they're twenty one points better per one hundred possessions with 800 00:37:56,160 --> 00:37:59,320 Speaker 1: Miles on the floor versus off to start the season. 801 00:37:59,560 --> 00:38:03,000 Speaker 1: And he will eventually start making shots too. This Bucks 802 00:38:03,000 --> 00:38:05,480 Speaker 1: team is really fun to watch. I put them if 803 00:38:05,480 --> 00:38:07,640 Speaker 1: you guys remember in my contender rankings, I put them 804 00:38:07,680 --> 00:38:11,560 Speaker 1: as the best team in the third tier because of 805 00:38:11,600 --> 00:38:13,480 Speaker 1: my faith and Giannis and what he can do on 806 00:38:13,520 --> 00:38:16,320 Speaker 1: both ends of the floor when he's surrounded by shooting 807 00:38:16,400 --> 00:38:19,879 Speaker 1: and anchored by a mobile rim protector. And I thought 808 00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:21,880 Speaker 1: I was following my head over my heart or my 809 00:38:21,920 --> 00:38:24,120 Speaker 1: heart over my head with that when I made that list, 810 00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:25,400 Speaker 1: And I got a lot of flak for because a 811 00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:27,440 Speaker 1: lot of teams are like, oh no, it should be Orlando, 812 00:38:27,560 --> 00:38:31,799 Speaker 1: it should be this other team instead, And it's because 813 00:38:31,800 --> 00:38:33,840 Speaker 1: the Bucks didn't look very good on paper. But Giannis 814 00:38:33,840 --> 00:38:37,319 Speaker 1: has been so damn good and the roster looks so complimentary, 815 00:38:37,400 --> 00:38:39,680 Speaker 1: and Doc Rivers has played all the right notes so far, 816 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:42,600 Speaker 1: and they actually look more like a second tier contender 817 00:38:42,640 --> 00:38:44,920 Speaker 1: to me than a third tier contender. So as much 818 00:38:44,960 --> 00:38:46,640 Speaker 1: as I thought I might have overrated him to start 819 00:38:46,680 --> 00:38:49,720 Speaker 1: the season, it looks like I might have even underrated 820 00:38:49,800 --> 00:38:53,160 Speaker 1: him at this point. Very briefly, on the Knicks, this 821 00:38:53,239 --> 00:38:55,719 Speaker 1: new Knicks offense has been awful to start the year, 822 00:38:56,600 --> 00:38:59,440 Speaker 1: and I just want to take take a second to 823 00:38:59,480 --> 00:39:02,919 Speaker 1: tell every buddy, let's relax. Let's give them a lot 824 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:06,560 Speaker 1: of grace over these first twenty games. They're trying something 825 00:39:06,719 --> 00:39:09,400 Speaker 1: very new, and when you do that, it's gonna take 826 00:39:09,480 --> 00:39:11,440 Speaker 1: some time. To find some rhythm. There are some basic 827 00:39:11,719 --> 00:39:15,160 Speaker 1: stats to kind of demonstrate what I'm talking about. Last year, 828 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:18,640 Speaker 1: the Knicks ranked eighteenth in the NBA and total passes 829 00:39:18,680 --> 00:39:22,719 Speaker 1: made per game. They are fifth in the NBA this 830 00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:25,759 Speaker 1: year in total passes made per game. They're passing ball 831 00:39:25,760 --> 00:39:28,440 Speaker 1: three hundred and fourteen times per game, so it's a 832 00:39:28,480 --> 00:39:31,120 Speaker 1: lot more ball movement. And they're pushing the ball in transition. 833 00:39:31,120 --> 00:39:33,480 Speaker 1: Where they were twenty third in transition frequency last year, 834 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:36,839 Speaker 1: they're sixteenth this year. According to Cleaning the Glass. They're 835 00:39:36,840 --> 00:39:38,759 Speaker 1: also not shooting the three very well at all to 836 00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:40,680 Speaker 1: start the year, and they're turning the ball over a lot, 837 00:39:40,719 --> 00:39:43,480 Speaker 1: which is typical when you're moving the ball more, especially 838 00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:47,040 Speaker 1: in a new system. So in the big picture, these 839 00:39:47,080 --> 00:39:49,520 Speaker 1: are the kinds of things that have the potential to 840 00:39:49,560 --> 00:39:52,040 Speaker 1: make them a far more dynamic offense than they were 841 00:39:52,120 --> 00:39:55,400 Speaker 1: last year. It's just gonna be about patience in this 842 00:39:55,440 --> 00:39:57,560 Speaker 1: phase of the season. There's a lot of reps where 843 00:39:57,600 --> 00:39:58,920 Speaker 1: other guys are bringing the ball up the floor, a 844 00:39:58,960 --> 00:40:01,560 Speaker 1: lot of guys making mistake give them a chance to 845 00:40:01,640 --> 00:40:03,560 Speaker 1: kind of work through these kinks. It's a very different 846 00:40:03,600 --> 00:40:06,399 Speaker 1: looking offense than it was last year. All Right, guys, 847 00:40:06,440 --> 00:40:08,560 Speaker 1: it's all I have for today. As always, I sincerely 848 00:40:08,560 --> 00:40:11,120 Speaker 1: appreciate you guys for supporting us and supporting the show. 849 00:40:11,800 --> 00:40:14,520 Speaker 1: We will be back tomorrow with the breakdown of the 850 00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:16,839 Speaker 1: Wednesday Night slate. I will see you guys then