1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:02,080 Speaker 1: The volume. 2 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 2: The NBA Finals are here. This is your last chance 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 2: to bet on the NBA until next season, and DraftKings 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 2: Sportsbook and official sports betting partner of the NBA is 5 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 2: pulling out all the stops to make this a finals. 6 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 2: To remember, one team will be crown champ and the 7 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:22,240 Speaker 2: other will be lost to history. Who you got winning 8 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 2: at all? Put your hoops expertise to the test. All 9 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 2: season long, DraftKings has been the go to spot for 10 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 2: NBA player props and that doesn't stop now. Who's going 11 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 2: to carry their team to the chip? 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Age and eligibility varies by 31 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 2: jurisdiction void in Ontario. Bet must win to receive reward 32 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 2: minimum minus five hundred odds required. Bonus bets expire one 33 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,199 Speaker 2: hundred and sixty eight hours after issuance. For additional terms 34 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 2: and responsible gaming resources, see dkang dot co slash audio. 35 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 2: All right, wellcoon to hoopsin. I here at the volume 36 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 2: heavy Friday. Everybody, Oh Balt, you guys are having a 37 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 2: great end to your week. Well, this morning I woke 38 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 2: up and I rewatched Game six of the finals, and 39 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 2: I looked at it through the lens of what from 40 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 2: this game is translatable forward to game seven? Is there 41 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 2: anything from this that we can take in terms of 42 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 2: giving Indiana a better chance to win on the road. 43 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 2: I talked about after the Pacers lost Game two in 44 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 2: Oklahoma City. I talked about how Oklahoma City can hit 45 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 2: a point in terms of leveraging their athleticism that makes 46 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 2: me feel like Indiana might not be able to win 47 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 2: in Oklahoma City if they needed to get a game there. 48 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 2: And so at that point in the series, after Game two, 49 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 2: I had talked about how I thought Indiana needed to 50 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 2: win all three of their home games if they were 51 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 2: going to win the finals. But a last that's not 52 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 2: what happened. They lost Game four, obviously with what happened 53 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 2: down the stretch in that game, and so now Indiana 54 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 2: needs to win another game in Oklahoma City. And so 55 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,079 Speaker 2: now they're staring down the barrel of a Game seven 56 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 2: on the road, and so I want to look into 57 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:02,239 Speaker 2: some of the stuff that I noticed on film from 58 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 2: last night's game and to see if any of that 59 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 2: translates forward to a Game seven. We're going to talk 60 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 2: about one specific adjustment that Indi animated in the game. 61 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 2: They didn't really change really their coverages, but they changed 62 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 2: their pickup points. So we're going to dive into that 63 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 2: concept a little bit, just like what it does to 64 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 2: these coverages, what it took away, what it did change, 65 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 2: what it didn't change. What has Oklahoma City seen this before? 66 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 2: As Oklahoma City had success against this before. I really 67 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 2: want to dive into that topic and then just some 68 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 2: of the key swing factors as we head into a 69 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:34,839 Speaker 2: Game seven on Sunday. You guys, owe the Joe before 70 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 2: we get started. Subscribe to the Hoops and I YouTube channels. 71 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 2: You don't miss any more of our videos. Follow me 72 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 2: on Twitter at underscore, JCNLTS. You guys, don't miss you announcements. 73 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 2: Don't forget about our podcast for few wherever you get 74 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 2: your podcast on our Hoops Tonight. It's also super helpful 75 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 2: if you leave a rating and a review on that front. 76 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 2: Jackson's doing great work on our social media feeds on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, 77 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 2: and TikTok. 78 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 3: Make sure you guys follow us there. 79 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 2: In the last but not least, keep dropping mail back 80 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 2: questions in those YouTube comments so we can get to 81 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 2: them in our mail bags. Next one will be on Sunday, 82 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 2: after the final buzzer of Game seven. All right, let's 83 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 2: talk some basketball. So there's a hot button NBA buzzword 84 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 2: every playoff run, and it's usually attached to a specific 85 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 2: basketball dynamic that is prevalent in that playoff run. So, 86 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 2: for instance, last year, we had lots of talk about 87 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 2: point of attack defense, right, because there's so much of 88 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 2: a narrative surrounding Luca and the Dallas Mavericks, and like 89 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 2: his point of attack defense was a story from the 90 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 2: Clippers series all the way through to the finals, right, 91 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 2: we also had a similar dynamic with the Wolves and 92 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 2: what they were able to do to the Suns and 93 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:39,159 Speaker 2: Nuggets on both ends of the floor, really strangling and 94 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 2: containing the ball on one end and then having the 95 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 2: ability to penetrate the defense easily on the other end 96 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 2: of the floor. In twenty twenty one and twenty twenty two, 97 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 2: we talked a ton about drop coverage, right, because that 98 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 2: was one of the most common coverages we saw in 99 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 2: the league at that point in time, and there were 100 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:56,840 Speaker 2: teams that were starting to have success against it. 101 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:57,120 Speaker 3: Right. 102 00:04:57,160 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 2: And in twenty twenty one, we talked about Trey Young 103 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 2: in the day he did to the Sixers in the 104 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,239 Speaker 2: Eastern Conference semi finals. 105 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:03,480 Speaker 3: Right. 106 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:08,799 Speaker 2: In twenty twenty two, Steph Curry against Boston's drop coverage 107 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:11,479 Speaker 2: and the dynamic at play. I mean Udoka talking about 108 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 2: how he wanted to run drop coverage to try to 109 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 2: prevent the Warriors from getting into their easy four on 110 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 2: threes where the ball's popping around. They wanted to force 111 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 2: Steph to take contested pull up threes, and guess what, 112 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 2: he took them, and he made them, right. But that 113 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 2: was kind of the hot button issue in that couple 114 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 2: of seasons, and this year it's the pickup point, and 115 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 2: once again it's tied to the teams that are playing. 116 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,280 Speaker 2: And again, all a pickup point means and all these 117 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 2: are just fancy words that mean basic things. Point of 118 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 2: attack defense is literally just one on one defense, right, 119 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 2: It's just containing the ball at the beginning of possessions. 120 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 3: Right. 121 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 2: The idea of a pickup point is just where are 122 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 2: you guarding the ball? Are you guarding the ball like 123 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,160 Speaker 2: right when it's inbounded, Are you guarding the ball at 124 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 2: half court? Are you guarding the ball at the three 125 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 2: point line? Where are you deciding to offer resistance to 126 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 2: the guy holding the basketball? And the reason why it's 127 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 2: been such a hot button issue in this postseason run 128 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 2: is the thunder and Pacers are two really good ball 129 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 2: pressure teams, right and the Thunder in particular, have faced 130 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 2: two very different pickup points throughout this postseason run, like 131 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 2: stuff like the Nugget series where teams are sagging back 132 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 2: and trying to or where the Nuggets are sagging back 133 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 2: and trying to contain the ball in front. Then to 134 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 2: the Wolves series and for much of this Pacers series, 135 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 2: where there's a lot of full court pressure and. 136 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 3: It's a very very different dynamic for the ball handler. Right. 137 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 2: Well, we did get a slight adjustment from the Indiana 138 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 2: Pacers last night right out the gates. They changed their 139 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 2: pickup point for both Shay and Jadab to basically right 140 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 2: at half court, like you could see Nem Hard for 141 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 2: Shay or Nie Smith for Jadab, literally waiting like toes 142 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 2: just beyond the half court, just behind the half court line, 143 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 2: just waiting for the guy to come at them, And 144 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 2: that kind of moved back and forth. There were portions 145 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 2: of the game where they were still up at half court. 146 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 2: There are portions of the game where they were a 147 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 2: little further back like in that like just outside the 148 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 2: above the break line, like twenty five thirty feet from 149 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,719 Speaker 2: the basket, But it was a change from the earlier 150 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 2: portions of the series where they were picking up full 151 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 2: court and trying to deny the basketball more on inbounds 152 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 2: and things along those lines. Now, it's important to mention 153 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 2: this did not change the coverages that Indiana was using 154 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 2: against action. So in ball screens, they were still chasing 155 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:23,679 Speaker 2: over the top with ball pressure, they were still meeting 156 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 2: the ball handler up at the level with their bigs. 157 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 2: They were still hedging and recovering hard with Tyreese Haliburton, 158 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 2: and they were using Tyrese Haliburton to rotate and chet 159 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 2: when he would pop out of ball screens. Many of 160 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 2: the same dynamics that we've seen throughout this series, right, 161 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 2: and all of that is still the same for Oklahoma 162 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 2: City's ball handlers in terms of making reads. 163 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 3: Out of that action. 164 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 2: We're going to talk about that a little bit later 165 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 2: in the show today, but in terms of process for 166 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 2: Oklahoma City, it's still more or less the same. The 167 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 2: main thing that that did accomplish for Indiana is it 168 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 2: neutralized one of the specific actions that Oklahoma City has 169 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 2: torched Indiana with all series, and that's the extended ball 170 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 2: screens when they were attacking Indiana's ball pressure. They were 171 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 2: bringing heart and sign and shut out to screen, sometimes 172 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 2: past half court, sometimes just inside a half court. But 173 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 2: all of these ball screens were really far extended, and 174 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 2: so Carlisle had Turner and Thomas Bryan and going all 175 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 2: the way up to the level, Tony Bradley coming all 176 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 2: the way out to the level fifty sixty feet from 177 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 2: the basket sometimes and Shay or Jada was able to 178 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 2: pretty easily get around that guy, and they give up 179 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 2: a lot of layups and fouls and things along those 180 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:40,199 Speaker 2: lines because of that extended ball screen coverage. Now, in 181 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 2: this coverage where you're sitting further back on the ball, 182 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 2: there were no examples of Turner or Bradley needing to 183 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 2: come out that far. Now they're never having to come 184 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 2: out further than twenty five thirty feet from the basket. 185 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 2: That's just a little bit more achievable for them. Now, again, 186 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 2: it's still the same dynamic. There were still plays in 187 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 2: this game where Shaye was able to beat Turner at 188 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 2: the level and get into the teeth of the defense 189 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 2: and generate advantages. But Turner did log some of his 190 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:10,440 Speaker 2: best at the level reps of this series because there 191 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 2: were some relatively normal looking ball screens. I talked about 192 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 2: this after Game five, But if you guys remember I 193 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 2: don't have a problem with the at the level coverage. 194 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 2: I have a problem with running the bigs up to 195 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:26,199 Speaker 2: the level when it's at half court. At the level 196 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 2: at the three point line is a lot more achievable 197 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 2: in terms of preventing Shae from getting ahead of steam 198 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 2: when he's coming over the top of the ball screen 199 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 2: out at half court, because he's beating ball pressure. There's 200 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 2: just such a runway for him to get going and 201 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 2: it's just really difficult. But if you're not picking up 202 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 2: Shaye until you know, thirty to twenty five feet from 203 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 2: the basket and here comes the ball screen and he's 204 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:53,560 Speaker 2: chasing over the top, Shaye doesn't have a running start, 205 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:55,719 Speaker 2: and so it just gives Turner a little bit better 206 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 2: chance of staying in front. And he did have some 207 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 2: of his best at the level reps of this series. 208 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 2: But to me, the biggest impact by far was just 209 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 2: the change. This is not some foreign coverage that Oklahoma 210 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 2: City's ball handlers haven't seen before. This is more or 211 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 2: less what Denver did, and it's something we've seen a 212 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 2: little bit in the Minnesota series towards the end, and 213 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 2: now a little bit at the end of the Finals. 214 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 2: But for the most part, in this series and in 215 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 2: the Minnesota series, they haven't seen this coverage, so it's 216 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 2: just a little bit different, and it served as a 217 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 2: catalyst for triggering some of the variants that they needed 218 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:29,320 Speaker 2: to pull off this Game six win. But as we've 219 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 2: talked about extensively on the show, the Thunder have solved 220 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 2: these puzzles in this postseason every time they've absolutely needed to. So, 221 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 2: for instance, I talked about how in the aggregate before 222 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 2: last night that Denver actually logged the best defensive rating 223 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 2: of any team versus Oklahoma City. It has a lot 224 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 2: to do with the coverage. We'll talk about that in 225 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 2: a minute, But in Game five and in Game seven, 226 00:10:57,080 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 2: the two final games that Oklahoma City absolutely needed to 227 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:04,960 Speaker 2: win with the Nuggets running a similar lower pickup point, 228 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 2: the Thunder logged two games in Game five and in 229 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 2: Game seven of half court offensive ratings over one oh. 230 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 3: Five, which is really good. 231 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 2: They've gone over one oh five and a half court 232 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:20,559 Speaker 2: just once in this series, even with the extended ball pressure. 233 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 2: So even though in the aggregate, Denver did a good 234 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 2: job guarding Oklahoma City in the two biggest games of 235 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 2: the series Pivotal game series tied to two game five, 236 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 2: series tied at three game seven. They were able to 237 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:35,679 Speaker 2: score against Denver scheme at a very efficient level in 238 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 2: the half court that as I mentioned before, the actual 239 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 2: coverages in action are still more or less the same. 240 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 2: It's still similar reads as a similar decision making process. 241 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: Blending Vice's signature dynamic storytelling with the high octane world 242 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: of sports, Vice Sports brings an exciting and diverse range 243 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 1: of programming that goes beyond the game. From action pack 244 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:03,199 Speaker 1: live to gripping behind the scenes documentaries to hard hitting 245 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 1: investigative pieces and in depth profiles of athletes, coaches, teams. 246 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: Vice Sports captures the raw energy, drama, and passion that 247 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:15,440 Speaker 1: makes sports truly unforgettable. Catch live events and other exclusive 248 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 1: sports programs only on Vice TV. Go to vicetv dot 249 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: com to find your cable channel. 250 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:25,719 Speaker 2: If anything, if there was a key mistake that Shay 251 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:29,200 Speaker 2: made last night, he got baited by the lack of 252 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:34,719 Speaker 2: ball pressure into some mediocre ISOs. He logged ten ISOs 253 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 2: in last night's game. That was his second highest total 254 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:41,079 Speaker 2: of the series. Behind you guessed it Game four when 255 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 2: I thought he was pretty bad by his standards. And 256 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:46,840 Speaker 2: so when Shay gets baited into those ISOs and takes 257 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 2: a bunch of those mediocre shots, it does disrupt Oklahoma 258 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:50,720 Speaker 2: City's flow. 259 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 3: So I'm sure that'll be. 260 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 2: A particular sticking point from our dagnal in the film room. 261 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 2: We got to run action against this defensive look. You 262 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:01,440 Speaker 2: could literally see it, like the Pacers guys would be 263 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 2: sitting back and kind of like a passive look. But 264 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 2: then here would come the ball screen. And when the 265 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 2: ball screen would come, Ben Shephard or Andrew Nemhart, whoever 266 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 2: it was, would all of a sudden jump up pressure 267 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 2: the ball and fight over the top of the screen, 268 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 2: which is more or less the same dynamic that they've 269 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 2: been seeing throughout the series. And so all of a sudden, 270 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:21,439 Speaker 2: the same openings are there, right Like, if Turner is 271 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 2: at the level, Shay can still try to beat him 272 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,320 Speaker 2: with his speed and get into the teeth of the defense. 273 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 2: Chet is still wide open when he's popping out of 274 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 2: those ball screens they're defending at three on two. By 275 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 2: having Tyrese Haliburton rotate off of Dort to Chet popping 276 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 2: above the break. That's a three on two, meaning you 277 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 2: can get the defense in rotation if you make simple 278 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 2: reads and make good decisions out of it. The openings 279 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 2: are still there. Even on the ISOs when Shay's driving, 280 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 2: they're still helping hard, and that kick to the opposite 281 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 2: wing is still open. Every single time when Shay is 282 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,320 Speaker 2: posting up on the block, he's still drawing a double 283 00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 2: team from the guy who's making the post entry the 284 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 2: doubling from the top side. Shay had examples last night 285 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 2: where he passed out of it well and they. 286 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:06,680 Speaker 3: Got decent looks. 287 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:09,959 Speaker 2: He had other possessions last night where he turned the 288 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 2: ball over against that double team. So like the openings 289 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 2: are still there, it's still a similar decision making process 290 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 2: to what Oklahoma City has seen throughout this postseason. But 291 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 2: that shift, that abrupt change after doing something different for 292 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 2: most of the series served to shake Oklahoma City's foundation 293 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 2: enough for Indiana to get a big win. Now for 294 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 2: the record, from the Pacers perspective, I do think this 295 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 2: is the appropriate game plan. As I said before last night, 296 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 2: Denver did actually have the best defensive rating against Oklahoma 297 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 2: City of any playoff team. This is despite Denver being 298 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 2: a piss poor defense for most of the year. Contain 299 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 2: the ball, force Oklahoma City to process with their brains 300 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 2: and to make the kickouts and for guys to knock 301 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 2: down semi contested catch and shoot threes. But again, as 302 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 2: I said last night, there is no magic adjustment at 303 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 2: this point in the playoff series. 304 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 3: It's all about execution. 305 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 2: I have seen Indiana beat Oklahoma City twice in this 306 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 2: series with full court ball pressure, and I've seen Oklahoma 307 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 2: City beat Denver and Minnesota in multiple important late series 308 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 2: games against a passive contain the ball approach. None of 309 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 2: the game plan stuff matters if it's not executed properly, 310 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 2: so that containment of the ball issue will be the 311 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 2: primary swing factor in Game seven for both teams. Focusing 312 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 2: on Indiana, they need to keep Shae and JDub in 313 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 2: front now again in their more aggressive looks, they did 314 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 2: it with hard help on the back line, forcing Shay 315 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 2: to make kickouts. In this more contained the ball approach, 316 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 2: it's more about like kind of digging down and like 317 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 2: stunting and recovering in the off ball guys and for 318 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 2: the on ball guy, anticipating movement and beating the player 319 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 2: to the spot and absorbing contact with his chest right. 320 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 2: It looks a little different in this coverage, but it's 321 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 2: still the same kind of idea. If they can keep 322 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 2: the ball in front, they can make Shane and JDub 323 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 2: make kickouts, and they can force role players to make shots. 324 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 2: I do think that approach gives Indiana their best chance, 325 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:16,440 Speaker 2: But on the other side of the floor, they there's 326 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 2: a similar containment issue in the sense that if Oklahoma 327 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 2: City prevents Indiana from getting out in transition, keeps the 328 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 2: ball in front, forces them to do all that weird 329 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 2: dribble handoff interchange stuff at the top of the key 330 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 2: where no one's actually turning the corner, they will force turnovers, 331 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 2: they will get out in transition, and then Oklahoma City 332 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 2: doesn't have to solve your coverage because they're living in 333 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 2: transition where they can do a ton of damage. I 334 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 2: think this coverage gives Indy their best chance, but it's 335 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 2: still about execution, and ultimately they'll need to pass that test, 336 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 2: the final test that no team has been able to 337 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 2: pass in this postseason run, which is when Oklahoma City's 338 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 2: back is against the. 339 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 3: Wall and all of it's on the line and. 340 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 2: All the pressure is there, Oklahoma City tightens the screws 341 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:04,479 Speaker 2: with their defense, and Indiana is gonna have to not 342 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:06,879 Speaker 2: turn the ball over. And Indiana is gonna have to 343 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,159 Speaker 2: get the ball into their flow and try to generate 344 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 2: quality shots. 345 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 3: That's gonna be the big swing in Game seven. 346 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 2: Now, a couple of other takeaways from the film session 347 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 2: this morning before we get out of here. I thought 348 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 2: ty Reeves was incredible all night in his help and 349 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 2: recover situations. You know, we're gonna talk a little bit 350 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 2: about release of speed when we get to Chet Holmgren, 351 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 2: But Lou Dort has a similar issue where like his 352 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 2: release is a little bit loaded up and it takes 353 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:36,200 Speaker 2: a second for him to get it off. And now 354 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 2: he makes up for that by kind of leaning back 355 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 2: and shooting a moon ball, so it kind of makes 356 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 2: up for some of that lack of release speed. But 357 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:47,160 Speaker 2: Tyree's Halliburton is so fast that he in his ability 358 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 2: to kind of shade off of Dort and towards the ball, 359 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 2: whether it's like double teaming in action, like he would 360 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 2: throw double teams at shape post ups, or he'd come 361 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 2: in the lane and put his body in front in 362 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 2: a drive, or he'd rotate to the popping big or 363 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 2: whatever it is. He's able to get out to Dort 364 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:08,360 Speaker 2: relatively quickly and get a good contest. And so Tyresee 365 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:10,479 Speaker 2: has found a defensive role in this series that has 366 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 2: been very impactful, which is his ability to get off 367 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 2: of dirt and to get back to Dort and basically 368 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 2: function as a disruptor off the ball. Chet Holmger needs 369 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:23,160 Speaker 2: to quicken his release. He got nearly blocked by Tony 370 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 2: Bradley on one three and then did get blocked by 371 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:28,919 Speaker 2: Miles Turner on another three, and on both plays he 372 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:31,959 Speaker 2: looked open. And what's happening is he's really got this 373 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 2: slow load up and he already shoots the ball pretty 374 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:36,639 Speaker 2: much right in front of his face, and he shoots 375 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 2: it without a ton of arc, and so it's an 376 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:42,200 Speaker 2: easy shot to contest under any circumstances. That's not a problem. 377 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 2: Steph shoots the ball from down in front of his face. 378 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 2: But Steph has the quickest release in the sport. And 379 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 2: so the idea there is Chet when we get into 380 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:53,840 Speaker 2: the summertime, needs to have a little bit more of 381 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:57,120 Speaker 2: a focus in terms of streamlining his release. He's got 382 00:18:57,119 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 2: to get that thing off quickly because even if he 383 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:01,919 Speaker 2: is knocking down threes, it's not going to be effective 384 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 2: if teams are able to get good closeouts on him 385 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 2: because his release is too slow. Pascal Siakam's individual defense 386 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:12,399 Speaker 2: on Shay. He got Shay a bunch in transition cross 387 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 2: matches and then in switches where he was applying like 388 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 2: kind of a soft switch approach, meaning he'd meet Shay 389 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 2: on the other side of the screen and kind of 390 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:20,840 Speaker 2: sit further back, which I think is smart because again, 391 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 2: like as we talked about earlier in the series, Topping 392 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:25,959 Speaker 2: and Siakam have both given up splits when they've been 393 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 2: really aggressive in their switches when they come out too 394 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:32,120 Speaker 2: far to the perimeter. But I thought last night Siakam 395 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 2: was excellent on Shae, sliding his feet, keeping his hands 396 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 2: out and not fouling, and getting great contests on SHA's 397 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:42,400 Speaker 2: over the top shot making. And then lastly, I thought 398 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,360 Speaker 2: the double teams of Shay's back shoulder, especially when he's 399 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:48,200 Speaker 2: driving against an engaged defender. So again we talked about 400 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 2: this last night, But like if a guy cleanly beats 401 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 2: his man off the dribble and he's just screaming downhill, 402 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:58,359 Speaker 2: he's unguarded and he's surveying the floor and he's gonna 403 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:00,879 Speaker 2: be able to make decisions relatively But if you stay 404 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 2: relatively attached, mean, Shae's driving, but you're on his hip 405 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:07,440 Speaker 2: and get your arms out. He's engaged with the defender, 406 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 2: it's a little bit harder for him to see what's 407 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 2: happening around him. And Indiana had a lot of success 408 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 2: last night doubling the ball behind him when he would 409 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:18,280 Speaker 2: get on those drives and so on the one hand, 410 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 2: for Shay, he's got to anticipate that sort of thing 411 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 2: and take advantage of those kickouts. Again, the kickouts to 412 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 2: the opposite wing on his drive is open every single time. 413 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:29,920 Speaker 2: And then on the pacers front, it's something to explore 414 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,200 Speaker 2: in game seven is another opportunity to try to force 415 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 2: turnovers and get out in transition. So yeah, that's my 416 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 2: takeaway after rewatching the game. I think the pickup point 417 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 2: change is certainly Indiana's best chance, but it doesn't really 418 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 2: change too much about the dynamic in game seven. It's 419 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 2: still going to be the same concepts on both ends 420 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:48,439 Speaker 2: of the floor that are going to dictate win or 421 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 2: loss for these two teams. The final test, the final 422 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:56,880 Speaker 2: boss in the video game for Indiana's Oklahoma City's defense 423 00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:59,920 Speaker 2: under desperation, and we're gonna find out really quickly on 424 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:03,200 Speaker 2: Sunday whether or not they're up to that challenge. All right, guys, 425 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 2: That's all I have for today is always as sincerely 426 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:07,280 Speaker 2: appreciate you guys for supporting me and supporting the show. 427 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,159 Speaker 2: We'll be back on Sunday after the final buzzer of 428 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:11,919 Speaker 2: Game seven. Not sure if we're gonna have Colin yet, 429 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:14,200 Speaker 2: I'll let you guys know. I would imagine we probably will, 430 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 2: but we'll be live with Colin after the game, and 431 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 2: then we'll be on playback after the YouTube show finishes, 432 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:23,439 Speaker 2: taking callers and just talking hoops with our fans for 433 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 2: a little bit. 434 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 3: After that. We will see you guys on Sunday. What's 435 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 3: up guys? 436 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:29,879 Speaker 2: As always, I appreciate you for listening to and supporting 437 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 2: Hoops tonight. They would actually be really helpful for us 438 00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 2: if you guys would take a second. 439 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:36,000 Speaker 3: And leave a rating and a review. 440 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 2: As always, I appreciate you guys supporting us, but if 441 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 2: you could take a minute to do that, I'd really 442 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 2: appreciate it. 443 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 1: The volume