1 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:15,599 What's going on? Clippers fans? Welcome to Out of a Happy Hour pre 2 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:21,160 Happy Hour Saturday live pay here on Clips and DIP. I am Chuck Buckler, 3 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:27,399 joined by Adam Austin. Will Aupdak is unavoidably detained unfortunately, But yeah, 4 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:31,120 things happened today. So we're gonna talk about the Kai Jones signing. 5 00:00:31,199 --> 00:00:37,600 I know a very vocal a small minority of people have been clamoring for this. 6 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:43,600 We're gonna talk to Lawrence Frank fake update on Kawhi. I don't know, 7 00:00:43,679 --> 00:00:46,960 Adam, how are you doing on the day that the Clippers signed Kai 8 00:00:47,039 --> 00:00:52,560 Jones and waived Josh Briba. A lot of stuff going on today. Interested 9 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:57,759 to get into this Clipper's final regular season game in downtown Los Angeles coming up 10 00:00:57,799 --> 00:01:03,240 tomorrow against the Houston rock Buckets. But obviously we know at this point everything's 11 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:06,560 about the Dallas Mavericks and that four or five matchup with the Clippers having a 12 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:11,359 home court advantage over the Dallas Mavericks. But this was an interesting piece of 13 00:01:11,439 --> 00:01:15,159 news coming out with Kai Jones. And yes, there were many people all 14 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:19,439 season long asking for this, and I you know, I think it's fair 15 00:01:19,519 --> 00:01:23,599 to uh give him a little bit of love because it was mocked and dismissed 16 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:27,840 by many that kai Jones, come on, what are you guys talking about? 17 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:34,079 And to bring him in right before the playoffs and he is playoff eligible, 18 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:38,480 which was news to me and a little bit surprising. Pretty sure he's 19 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:42,280 playoff eligible, yeah, because he has it. He never with a team, 20 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:46,920 even though he was picked up on a ten day by the Philadelphia seventy 21 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,439 six ers, he never played for them, right, So I guess that's 22 00:01:49,519 --> 00:01:55,239 the deciding factor here. But if we're wrong, please correct us those of 23 00:01:55,239 --> 00:02:00,040 you in the chat. But that's the information we've been presented. And so 24 00:02:00,319 --> 00:02:05,359 the timing of it leads to people wondering if he could actually get playoff minutes 25 00:02:05,359 --> 00:02:14,319 for this Clippers team out of nowhere, which seems wild and a little bit 26 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:20,000 of a in case of emergency break glass type player just to have in case. 27 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,360 And you're good with that obviously. Josh Primro was the one waived, 28 00:02:24,199 --> 00:02:30,800 and apparently it was a contract worked out with Kai Jones, a multiple year 29 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:38,120 deal. It'll probably be weird laden and yeah, god guaranteed. Like also, 30 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:40,159 I will say I was someone who kind of was like, I don't 31 00:02:40,159 --> 00:02:44,800 think we need to sign Kai Jones. But I like this signing a lot 32 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:46,479 more than the premo signing. It makes a hell of a lot more sense 33 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:53,120 than that did Jared position to need, right, Yeah, he's a big, 34 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:57,879 versatile athletic god Like, that's what the Clippers need. So it's like 35 00:02:58,439 --> 00:03:01,120 it's more of a long term play obviously, but yeah, it's like they 36 00:03:01,159 --> 00:03:07,039 needed those three things. Yeah, if you're going to take the risk or 37 00:03:07,199 --> 00:03:12,400 bet on a player with a very high ceiling, it makes sense to do 38 00:03:12,479 --> 00:03:15,240 it in a position of need where this Clippers team needs to get younger, 39 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:20,039 more athletic, and they need more help in the front court, something we've 40 00:03:20,039 --> 00:03:23,879 talked about all season long, and they just happen to be going up against 41 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:25,680 a team that really loaded up in that area in the first round of the 42 00:03:25,719 --> 00:03:30,919 playoffs, which I think also plays into people thinking maybe he'll get a look. 43 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:36,439 But is he gonna play tomorrow against the Houston Rockets? Is that possible? 44 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,240 Could the deal be? Like? Yeah, a, can the deal 45 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,120 be done quick enough? We haven't seen any of the I don't think there's 46 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:50,479 any contract stuff released yet. All I saw was that was made official was 47 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:54,000 the Josh Primo news. Yeah, not the Kai Jones news. Correct, 48 00:03:54,719 --> 00:03:59,000 Yes, the Clippers did. Yeah, they tweeted out a thank you Josh 49 00:04:00,039 --> 00:04:03,360 post, so he's officially gone. But yeah, there hasn't been any contract 50 00:04:03,479 --> 00:04:09,919 stuff released, so a lot of unknowns here. We're jumping on this a 51 00:04:09,919 --> 00:04:12,639 little bit early, but it's a Saturday and when we do a lot of 52 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:16,600 Saturday lives here, it's kind of fun. What everyone if you're watching by 53 00:04:16,639 --> 00:04:21,319 a Jake burn shirt. He makes great Clippers merch. Someone was asking, 54 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,519 can you explain kai Jones and what his archetype? Never heard of him? 55 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,120 If you've never heard of him, that's that makes total sense. It's totally 56 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,800 fine to have not heard of kai Jones. But he's an incredibly athletic big 57 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:39,360 he's six' eleven, but he was what was He wasn't a lot of 58 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:44,399 opening. He's the nineteenth pick in the twenty twenty one draft. He's a 59 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:50,040 giant, fast rip runner. Yeah, right, like with range at Texas 60 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:56,879 his sophomore year he shot thirty eight percent from the outside. That hasn't necessarily 61 00:04:56,879 --> 00:05:00,319 translated to the NBA at this point, and I don't know tell how many 62 00:05:00,399 --> 00:05:04,560 opportunities he has gotten. And by the way, we should probably give the 63 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:08,959 backstory of why he was released. It wasn't to do with his lack of 64 00:05:09,079 --> 00:05:13,920 talent. It was issues with people worried about his mental health on social media 65 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:18,279 with something he posted and then calling out teammates on the Charlotte Hornets who have 66 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:24,319 had some issues themselves with just you know, structure and a real founigation there 67 00:05:24,399 --> 00:05:29,800 in Charlotte. So I wouldn't hold that against him too much. And I 68 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:34,439 always am sympathetic for young people making mistakes when they're younger. Obviously there's some 69 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:39,720 things you can't come back from. This is not that case whatsoever. And 70 00:05:39,759 --> 00:05:43,519 if you watch the interview he did with sham Sharania when he was picked up 71 00:05:43,519 --> 00:05:46,319 by the Philadelphia seventy six ers, and that link has been going around. 72 00:05:46,319 --> 00:05:49,480 I retweeted at follow out of May on the X formerly known as Twitter. 73 00:05:54,079 --> 00:06:02,040 It was a pretty interesting delve into his mindset. I think it was well 74 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:06,639 articulated his headspace and what he was going through at the time with some desks 75 00:06:06,639 --> 00:06:14,000 in the family and his situation and just some of the issues he's had. 76 00:06:15,319 --> 00:06:19,720 And I don't know, I root for young guys like this. I always 77 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:24,959 do. Yeah, because he's still what twenty two years of age at this 78 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:30,480 point, very incredibly young. Yeah, he's twenty two, and this is 79 00:06:30,519 --> 00:06:33,680 somebody that just has such high upside, obviously the nineteenth pick in the draft 80 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:41,480 a couple of years ago. But it's someone that I don't know if things 81 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:45,920 aren't going well. We were talking earlier in the chat about how this could 82 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:50,120 actually affect the Clippers' playoff run in Subway, I would assume things would be 83 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:56,279 going pretty bad if a player very well up before the first round started, 84 00:06:56,360 --> 00:07:01,399 Yeah, or he's the human victory cigar to practice with the team like he's, 85 00:07:03,519 --> 00:07:09,839 Yeah, it would be pretty unexpected to see him play any significant minutes 86 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:14,519 against the Dallas Mavericks or any minutes from even whatsoever. Or it could tell 87 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,519 you that Iviza Zubats is in foul trouble or can't stay on the floor. 88 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:21,519 Danielle Tyson, Mason Plumbler, ineffective, PJ. Tucker's ineffective out there, 89 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:25,560 rest of the five is ineffective, and hey, let's give it a shot 90 00:07:25,639 --> 00:07:30,920 now with Kai Jones because it's a desperation move and desperate times call for desperate 91 00:07:30,959 --> 00:07:36,319 measures. Basically, Yeah, but yeah, I think it was Dive who 92 00:07:36,319 --> 00:07:42,360 had a funny tweet about how the Clippers are kind of like reclamation projects Central, 93 00:07:42,959 --> 00:07:45,519 Like if you look at the guys they've brought in, so they are 94 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:47,600 trying this again, right, bringing in a guy who a lot of other 95 00:07:47,639 --> 00:07:50,920 teams gave up on. Starby at Homes asked he is he a defender? 96 00:07:51,199 --> 00:07:55,519 He showed flashes of good defense. Again, the athletic ability really helps on 97 00:07:55,560 --> 00:08:01,480 that end. Yeah, a lot of the advanced numbers were saying that near 98 00:08:01,519 --> 00:08:05,439 the end of his time was Charlotte, he was trending upward in that area, 99 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:09,480 which is not easy to do when you have a bunch of bad defenders 100 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:13,720 around the worst team. By the way, he did potentials all there. 101 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:18,000 Yes, the potentials there. So during his ten day contract with the seventy 102 00:08:18,079 --> 00:08:24,360 six ers, which was his most recent stretch, he spent all of his 103 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:31,000 time with the excuse me, what team is this? I don't know su 104 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:35,039 a G League team. I can't see the name right now. It's the 105 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:39,480 G League website is so bad. Sorry, the Delaware blue Coats. He 106 00:08:39,519 --> 00:08:43,480 played two games for the Delaware Blue Coats. I'm very sorry to any Blue 107 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:48,399 Coats fans in the chat for forgetting the name, but he had two games. 108 00:08:48,799 --> 00:08:52,279 He played, he played twenty four minutes. He didn't take a three. 109 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,000 He put up eleven points, So like, yeah, I don't know, 110 00:08:56,080 --> 00:09:03,159 there's there's nothing to really take. Yeah, but he got some run 111 00:09:03,399 --> 00:09:07,879 like I'm sorry he took he took one three point a type he missed it. 112 00:09:07,039 --> 00:09:13,240 He averaged seven boards. He was whitest one the comp. I would 113 00:09:13,279 --> 00:09:18,279 say, I don't know one guy that he reminded me of a little bit, 114 00:09:18,399 --> 00:09:20,679 and just watching some of the highlights and him getting out in transition a 115 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:26,799 little bit, but also being a rim runner than you would be someone like 116 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:31,759 Willie Cauley Stein who never reached his potential in the league, but he was 117 00:09:31,759 --> 00:09:37,440 a high draft pick by what the Sacramento Kings a few years back. Somebody 118 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:41,279 like that body type two. Yeah, very raw talent, athletic guy. 119 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:52,480 Commissioner Harris is asking does he have a jumper? He did in college ish, 120 00:09:52,759 --> 00:09:54,879 Yeah, I'm not sure that part of his game has really been fleshed 121 00:09:54,879 --> 00:09:58,879 out at the NBA level at this point. Obviously, how many people that 122 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,559 and aren't Charlotte Hornets fans have washed a ton of games by the Hornets the 123 00:10:03,639 --> 00:10:07,360 last couple of seasons. Yeah, I bet there's gonna be some people on 124 00:10:07,399 --> 00:10:11,000 our YouTube comments who are gonna send the sub mute to some Kaija highlights. 125 00:10:11,039 --> 00:10:13,320 He's been an obsession for some fans, which is also very funny. So 126 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:18,440 I guess I'm happy for those people. They're being rewarded right now. I 127 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:24,679 mean, I don't mind when you are missing in the draft and everybody misses 128 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:28,879 and I think it's over I think it's overblown a little bit when you look 129 00:10:28,919 --> 00:10:33,399 at two guys in the rotation right now they're gonna get missed in the playoffs, 130 00:10:33,399 --> 00:10:37,720 and Terrence Mann and an undrafted player and Mirror Coffee that are on a 131 00:10:37,759 --> 00:10:41,159 team trying to get a championship. I'm not going to say, you know, 132 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:48,000 it hasn't been perfect. It hasn't been a disaster though, either when 133 00:10:48,039 --> 00:10:52,279 you take into account guys like that, but every team when you get into 134 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:56,679 the nitty gritty, if you go back, and I've done this many times 135 00:10:56,759 --> 00:11:01,639 to point out how flawed the star coming into the draft, Jay Billis and 136 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:05,120 these guys and everybody talking about when you're watching the first round of a draft, 137 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:09,639 everybody basically being drafted is Is has the potential of being an All Star 138 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:16,720 and it's ridiculous. And I went back over a ten year period to see 139 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:22,559 how many guys actually were and I think in the first ten picks you had 140 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:26,799 about a twenty five percent chance of getting an All Star over a ten year 141 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:31,360 period. So it's very difficult, imperfect science, trying to grade guys, 142 00:11:31,399 --> 00:11:37,519 trying to scout them because there's also attitude issues also and just work ethic and 143 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:41,159 all these things come into play, and you're dealing with young men, so 144 00:11:41,519 --> 00:11:46,879 it's just never easy. So I don't think I think it's a little bit 145 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:52,159 overblown when it comes to people going after the Clippers front office in poor drafts. 146 00:11:52,159 --> 00:11:56,320 But we way to mitigate that would be to bring in some of these 147 00:11:56,320 --> 00:12:01,320 guys like Bones Highland, who allegedly had an attitude issue going on with the 148 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:05,120 Denver Nuggets. High potential. You're seeing it the last couple of games. 149 00:12:05,159 --> 00:12:07,600 We saw it at the end of last season, two we saw at the 150 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:11,679 start of this season, and bring in some of those guys and see if 151 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:16,200 a change of scenery and a better culture can make a big difference for them. 152 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:20,200 And I'm guessing just like when they did that, they did their due 153 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:24,240 diligence with Josh Primo and talked about, you know, they were monitoring the 154 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:31,000 situation, but they said they were monitoring the situation for some time. And 155 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:37,879 I'm guessing it's the same thing with Kai Jones should he officially become a member 156 00:12:37,879 --> 00:12:41,559 of the Los Angeles Clippers. In that interview with Shan Serania, he was 157 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:45,720 talking about going through therapy and working through some of the issues going on. 158 00:12:45,919 --> 00:12:50,440 So I'm guessing they're they're checking a lot of boxes with him. Shout out 159 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:54,480 Roger for having watched lots of Hornets games in the last two years. Don't 160 00:12:54,519 --> 00:12:58,960 know why, Uh, but you're totally right. This is a team that 161 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:01,320 needs to find eyes the way they have been finding them, which is through 162 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:07,120 trades and stuff like that. But yeah, it's gonna be interesting. I'm 163 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:11,200 not sure. I don't know. I hope he plays well. I hope 164 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:16,159 he is with the team. Yeah, but it's a long term play, 165 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:20,279 right, He's gonna his last stit was in the G League, so I 166 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:22,960 have to imagine that he might. You know, he's gonna be on the 167 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:24,720 Summer League team and all that stuff, like, he's probably gonna show out 168 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:30,240 in the Summer League because really athletic guys tend to do that. I remember 169 00:13:30,399 --> 00:13:37,600 they didn't go after Robert Williams. They brought him in for a workout when 170 00:13:37,639 --> 00:13:41,600 he was coming out of college, and I really liked him. I was 171 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:46,600 high on him. Obviously, his career has been derailed because of knee injuries, 172 00:13:46,639 --> 00:13:48,879 not because he didn't have the talent, not because he wasn't very useful 173 00:13:48,919 --> 00:13:54,000 in Boston when he was healthy. And the Clippers missed on that guy. 174 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:58,960 And I think they're still trying to find him. We saw Fiando Cavin Gelli 175 00:13:58,039 --> 00:14:03,879 get brought in moose yabat other big men. They're trying to find athletic big 176 00:14:03,919 --> 00:14:09,080 man. Yeah, they're trying to find somebody that can help out in that 177 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:13,440 area. And this is the next I guess project in this way with a 178 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:18,279 super high ceiling obviously, and I don't know, I'm excited about it. 179 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:22,200 Yeah, this is an x wago's asking because again another guy they just drafted, 180 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,919 Musa. He said, who are we like to keep me moving forward? 181 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:31,080 Kai Jones or Musa? Probably both, It's not like they're you know, 182 00:14:31,159 --> 00:14:35,240 probably both. Musa's had some injury, bad luck, which sucks. 183 00:14:35,279 --> 00:14:37,440 He had the head, he broke his hand, which is brutal. Mussa's 184 00:14:37,639 --> 00:14:46,799 more motor than just having insane cleticism like kai Jones. That would be the 185 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:50,519 difference I would say between those two. Uh. And kai Jones is bigger, 186 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:56,840 taller, longer, stronger. Uh. He is the prototypical type of 187 00:14:56,919 --> 00:15:01,200 rim runner you're looking for in this league. Yeah. William Blast was a 188 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,559 fair point. That green hair he has as hideous. Not my favorite either, 189 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:11,039 William Blast. I think he shaved it. Oh that's good. Yeah. 190 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:15,840 And again you know all the kai Jones fans he's here. Uh, 191 00:15:16,159 --> 00:15:18,080 don't get your hopes up too high for playoff minutes. Again, as Adam 192 00:15:18,159 --> 00:15:22,120 is so eloquently put, things are probably going very poorly or very well. 193 00:15:22,679 --> 00:15:28,200 Uh like he's not gonna have we'll see anything else. I mean, we're 194 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,879 excited. It's good he gets another chance. He gets to be the way 195 00:15:30,879 --> 00:15:37,000 better organization. Uh. I just yeah, I like the opportunity for this 196 00:15:37,039 --> 00:15:41,039 Clippers organization to have someone with that much raw talent and to see what they 197 00:15:41,039 --> 00:15:45,639 can do with it. Yeah, that's what excites me about this because it's 198 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:50,200 been uh some people I still feel like and I posted every once in a 199 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:52,639 while when ever they're playing in the Miami heat. I say, what about 200 00:15:52,679 --> 00:15:56,480 Clippers culture, What about the guys that they have brought in that were said 201 00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:02,159 to be done or somebody like Bones Highland who wasn't fitting in with the Denver 202 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:04,399 Nuggets and apparently getting into with Jamal Murray. And now you can make the 203 00:16:04,519 --> 00:16:07,519 argument that he was still sent home right before the All Star break. But 204 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:14,799 you see him on the bench and he seems to be one of the guys. 205 00:16:14,879 --> 00:16:18,559 He's cheering everybody on and they're doing the same for him the last couple 206 00:16:18,639 --> 00:16:21,639 of games since he's gotten this opportunity once again at the end of the year. 207 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:26,639 So I think it comes with the territory of just you have to take 208 00:16:26,679 --> 00:16:30,240 some big swings here and there you do in this league. Obviously they have 209 00:16:30,679 --> 00:16:33,440 that big of a swing. I feel like, right like we kind of 210 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:40,840 got right. It's low risk. Yeah, it's incredibly risk. So it'll 211 00:16:40,879 --> 00:16:45,159 be interesting to see how it developed here. But for those thinking that because 212 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,480 they're taking on the Dallas Mavericks, that means he's going to be getting run 213 00:16:48,519 --> 00:16:52,919 in a first round series, that seems like a long shot at this point. 214 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:56,720 I think the timing of it makes you think that could be a very 215 00:16:56,759 --> 00:17:00,559 faunny. Yeah, but it could just be if they don't pick him up, 216 00:17:00,639 --> 00:17:04,720 somebody else will. And they've been scouting him and monitoring the situation and 217 00:17:04,759 --> 00:17:07,799 they want to make sure they snag him, and it just happened to be 218 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:11,799 right before they take on a team with a bunch of brim runners themselves in 219 00:17:11,839 --> 00:17:15,319 the first round. Yeah. Race Marlin again, one of the better names 220 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,359 we get in the chat said how many years was the deal? Unclear yet. 221 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:25,039 No, it's not official yet, so we don't really have uh yeah, 222 00:17:25,079 --> 00:17:30,480 any we're going off reporting from Wooje law Murray. I had it first. 223 00:17:30,559 --> 00:17:34,839 Yeah, law had it first of the athletic h and the only thing 224 00:17:34,839 --> 00:17:40,359 that's been made official is Josh Primo was waived. Yes again deciding that never 225 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:44,480 made sense. So yeah, that's kind of I feel like all we could 226 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:48,799 really say about Kai. Hope it goes well. We'll see what happens. 227 00:17:48,039 --> 00:17:52,119 For those of you who saw, we got to talk the uh the Lawrence 228 00:17:52,200 --> 00:18:00,480 Frank update on Kawhi. He was on the broadcast, which hasn't been on 229 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:03,920 the broadcast in a while. I like with Lawrence is on the broadcast. 230 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:08,640 Not a lot of gms do that, which I do I do appreciate from 231 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:14,920 mister Frank, he said. In relation to Kawhi, he said, with 232 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:18,160 Kawhi, he's dealing with inflammation. It's no secret he's out a couple surgeries 233 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:22,160 to that knee. It's not uncommon over the course of it where you deal 234 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:26,480 with inflammation. With inflammation, it limits your ability to make some natural basketball 235 00:18:26,519 --> 00:18:29,599 moves. So he's working his tailoff. The staff is working their tailoff to 236 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:34,400 try to help with the inflammation. He said, inflammation a lot. And 237 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:38,920 that's what it was listed as after it started as right knee soreness, and 238 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:42,319 then you have to be more specific with it after a couple of games. 239 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:47,319 So we've discussed it. We talked about it last night. We did a 240 00:18:47,319 --> 00:18:52,319 little clips and double dip on Clippers talk. That quote coming out from Lawrence 241 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:56,839 Frank. Look, unfortunately for those that were just hoping this was rest and 242 00:18:56,920 --> 00:19:00,839 load management, that doesn't seem to be it at this point, guys, 243 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:06,440 it seems like something is going on. To what extent, I don't know. 244 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:15,240 Yeah, I think it comes down to you know when And there was 245 00:19:15,279 --> 00:19:18,920 a report out there from tomar Razzari that he did get the MRI and there 246 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:25,319 was nothing significant found, which good news. Tomarazzari of Clutch points, by 247 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:30,799 the way, I would say, there's a lot of unknowns and even maybe 248 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:36,200 Kawhi Leonard at this point. You know, it's a wait and see type 249 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:40,920 of approach with how he responds to treatment, and they're working around the clock. 250 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:48,000 He was at at least two of their shooter rounds now suited up, 251 00:19:48,559 --> 00:19:51,640 but somebody was taking a lot out of that and extrap laying well, then 252 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:53,640 he's okay, it's just a little management. Well, no shoot around and 253 00:19:53,680 --> 00:20:02,599 shoot around. It's not five on five. It's definitely not intense playoff basketball, 254 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:07,319 which is what will really ultimately hopefully he'll have a chance to test it 255 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:11,200 out. And that's the one thing I keep thinking about with this injury. 256 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:17,400 Like I, I still believe. And we heard from coach Lou last night 257 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:19,160 too, who was pressed on this by Brad Turner of the LA Times, 258 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:25,319 and they're basically saying, yeah, hopefully he's available to go for Game one, 259 00:20:25,559 --> 00:20:29,039 but they were non committed on saying he's for sure playing in game one, 260 00:20:30,079 --> 00:20:32,960 so it could come down to gain that information down. Was still a 261 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:37,720 week or so left before Game one against the Dallas Mavericks, at Crypto and 262 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:42,759 everybody has to just wait and see how is Rightney responds because the part that 263 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:47,640 stuck out to me with Lawrence Frank and what I brought up immediately was it's 264 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:51,640 his right knee. That's where the acl was, That's where the meniscus injury 265 00:20:51,799 --> 00:20:55,920 was. His right leg was where the tendonopathy was with the San Antonio Spurs. 266 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:59,599 So yes, and I wasn't trying to panic game when we first talked 267 00:20:59,599 --> 00:21:02,880 about this, but I was like, yeah, I'm concerned. It's Kawhi, 268 00:21:03,039 --> 00:21:07,480 It's that knee. How can I not be concerned about it? Of 269 00:21:07,559 --> 00:21:11,359 course, hopefully it doesn't amount to much, and maybe the timing actually works 270 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:15,559 out to have it now instead of in the middle of a playoff series to 271 00:21:15,559 --> 00:21:21,680 where he would have gotten three weeks off between his last game played in Charlotte. 272 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:27,039 Coincidentally, since we've been talking about Kai jonesy, yeah, I'm Charlie 273 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:37,000 Day now, I got that FBI strip. But yeah, hopefully it all 274 00:21:37,039 --> 00:21:40,960 turns out that Kawhi Leonard just needed some rest there. And it was the 275 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:44,559 most games he had played since the twenty sixteen twenty seventeen season. He got 276 00:21:44,599 --> 00:21:47,720 to sixty eight games in the regular season, and that's all it was. 277 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:51,599 But we don't know. And I feel like with everyone saying, oh, 278 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:56,039 they're not being transparent enough, well, maybe it's because they don't know how 279 00:21:56,039 --> 00:22:00,480 he's going to respond either. He doesn't know. It all comes down to 280 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:04,400 just how things go in the rehab or whatever's happening right now. It's Yeah, 281 00:22:04,519 --> 00:22:11,000 I did like he was happy in being fun on the bench yesterday. 282 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:12,440 That feels good. I've tweeted that out. I was like, I'm taking 283 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:17,119 that as a good sign. I'm just floating in the sea of we don't 284 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:19,559 really know. But he looked happy on the bench. So it's better than 285 00:22:19,599 --> 00:22:23,240 what we saw with him with the torn acl on twenty twenty one, way 286 00:22:23,319 --> 00:22:29,559 up in the stands, you know, obviously laboring, he was standing up. 287 00:22:30,599 --> 00:22:33,759 I don't know. I don't want to take too much away from things 288 00:22:33,799 --> 00:22:37,279 like that, but I guess we get a hope for the best. And 289 00:22:37,319 --> 00:22:41,359 the one thing I kept thinking about last night after we talked Chuck was as 290 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:44,960 much as I have said, I think I'd rather see the Pelicans in the 291 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:48,079 first round over the Dallas Mavericks, and I've been in the minority there. 292 00:22:49,279 --> 00:22:52,960 Yeah, they had that I watched the game on tn T Thursday against the 293 00:22:52,960 --> 00:23:00,680 Sacramento Kings. But I think if, and it's a big if, they 294 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:04,839 don't have Kawhi for some games or the series against the Dallas Mavericks, Dallas 295 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:08,680 would be a better matchup for the Clippers to get by against them, just 296 00:23:08,759 --> 00:23:15,799 because as good as their defense has been as of late, we talk about 297 00:23:15,839 --> 00:23:19,000 pace, and you brought up they've been eighth and pace since the All Star 298 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:23,480 Game, and the Clippers or bottom ten and pace and consistently have been really 299 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:26,440 in the two to three era, but all season long for the most part, 300 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:33,359 as you would expect in the playoffs, a slower pace favors a slower, 301 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:41,359 more methodical team. Possessions are of course even more important, and playing 302 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:47,200 a little bit slower and taking care of the basketball. Yeah, the intentionality 303 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:53,359 out there is different. So I'm thinking about a team that is going to 304 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:57,400 be in their half court defense much more you would expect the Clippers to be 305 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:03,640 where they're better, where they're getting back. And then on the offensive end, 306 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:07,799 you know, even if Kawhi is not there, they have James Harden, 307 00:24:07,839 --> 00:24:11,799 they have Russell Westbrook, and we're still hoping everything's Finn and Kawhi is 308 00:24:11,839 --> 00:24:15,079 there, and if I had to guess, and it would just be a 309 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:19,000 guess, he will be there for Game one. Yeah, but I still 310 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:26,039 think they might have enough firepower to at least compete against Dallas. It's gonna 311 00:24:26,039 --> 00:24:29,039 be tough to say, yeah, they can win the series against Dallas without 312 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:32,519 Kawhi Leonard because of how good he had to be in twenty twenty one just 313 00:24:32,559 --> 00:24:36,119 for them to win in seven. But I think they can be competitive. 314 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:40,440 And if you're competitive enough, you got a shot, and you got the 315 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:42,759 home crowd. That's the first time we're gonna have an actual home crowd for 316 00:24:42,759 --> 00:24:48,079 Clippers baths, which I know I've harped about it, I've talked about that, 317 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:51,559 but I'm very excited to see what Clippers fans do for Game one on 318 00:24:51,599 --> 00:24:55,640 Saturday. Yeah. I think that. I mean, no Kawhi if for 319 00:24:55,680 --> 00:25:00,960 whatever reason, first case situation, case scenario, Yeah, yes, which 320 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:03,519 we still expect him to Yeah, I think, yeah, they could be 321 00:25:03,599 --> 00:25:07,240 competitive. It's obviously a lot harder you have a guy who can put up 322 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:12,839 forty five on wanted to play effective defense later the other so because Dallas has 323 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:18,000 likely been getting by collectively by playing together five guys on a string on defense 324 00:25:18,039 --> 00:25:26,440 because you look at the individual personnel and they're starting five with Derek or excuse 325 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:32,039 me, Derek Jones Junior out there with PJ. Washington, with Kyrie Irving, 326 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:40,240 Daniel Gafford and Luka Doncic. The Clippers have guys to go at them 327 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:42,440 with. They have guys you can match up hunt. There are mismatches that 328 00:25:42,519 --> 00:25:47,559 coach lou who's already been preparing for this, going back a couple of days 329 00:25:47,599 --> 00:25:49,000 now, when he had that quote at the very end of his press conference, 330 00:25:49,039 --> 00:25:53,319 which was pretty gangster, He's like, I already have he was asked 331 00:25:53,359 --> 00:26:00,319 by Lombary. They got up and left, like there are holes defense on 332 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:03,880 this team individually with the Dallas Mavericks, and what you can get away with 333 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:11,440 during the regular season, when a team may have a day or two at 334 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:15,680 most to prepare for you is very different than when you have two weeks almost 335 00:26:15,759 --> 00:26:18,480 to prepare for this Dallas Mavericks team, since it's pretty much been in the 336 00:26:18,519 --> 00:26:22,799 works now or they've been in that five spot for some time. So I 337 00:26:22,839 --> 00:26:27,759 do think the Clippers firepower, especially because of what we saw last night from 338 00:26:27,839 --> 00:26:30,680 James Harden. I thought there were some really encouraging signs. We talked about 339 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:37,400 this also postgame, but the movement from James Harden. I'm very much less 340 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:44,359 concerned about James Harden now after what we've seen last night and going back over 341 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:47,200 the last week, even going back to that game against Denver where I think 342 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:49,400 he was six for twenty three. I was encouraged by the fact that he 343 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:53,039 got up twenty three shots, that he was that aggressive out there, and 344 00:26:53,599 --> 00:26:59,839 so many of those threes were just like spitting out, rimming out, and 345 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:03,599 it was just kind of, I don't know, sighting the scope a little 346 00:27:03,599 --> 00:27:07,640 bit, zeroing in a little bit, because the three started to drop after 347 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:11,319 that for him in the next couple of ball games. I just like the 348 00:27:11,319 --> 00:27:15,039 fact that he was turning the corner last night. Yeah, the way he 349 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:18,440 was in that first quarter. It was him with a blow by going to 350 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:22,200 his left with a kickout to Terrence Man, and then another blowby where he 351 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:27,359 got the lefty layup to go. James hard looks good like that burst seeing 352 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:33,680 that in person last night, he was moving very quickly, and yeah, 353 00:27:33,759 --> 00:27:37,759 he's another guy who's had I totally agree he's been moving quickly. It's something 354 00:27:37,799 --> 00:27:45,319 the Clippers need he's had the foot inflammation thing which Tylo mentioned shouldn't be an 355 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:49,559 issue, or I believe that was the quote going into the playoffs. I 356 00:27:49,599 --> 00:27:52,000 think that was Tye kind of big coy, kind of a dick, if 357 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:55,680 that makes sense, like a coach, Like how a coach is a dick, 358 00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:59,480 you know what I mean? He played it. He from dealing with 359 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:02,359 so many quick over and over again. Honestly, I think that's what that 360 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:04,920 response specifically was. For sure, he's exhausted by this stuff. He doesn't 361 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:10,599 no coach wants to talk about this stuff. But I'm not super worried about 362 00:28:10,599 --> 00:28:12,119 the foot inflamation, like you said, mostly from what we saw last night. 363 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:17,440 But no one's gonna play tomorrow. So it was great. I hope 364 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:21,000 no one plays tomorrow. Uh, So it was great to see the burst. 365 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:25,400 Him and Zoo looked great. They look like their chemistry is is right 366 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:27,680 there, which Zoo is gonna be such a huge We're gonna talk about this 367 00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:33,039 war in depth next week, but Zoo being able to stay on the court 368 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:37,440 is gonna be very important for the Clippers. That's probably my biggest X factor, 369 00:28:37,759 --> 00:28:41,799 Like if Zoo can stay on the court, Oh, we just got 370 00:28:41,799 --> 00:28:47,480 the injury report. What do we got? Yeah, that's fun. Here's 371 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:52,359 out Kawhi Leonard right knee inflammation, questionable, James Hard right foot inflammation. 372 00:28:52,559 --> 00:28:56,599 That's the end of the report. Yeah, we're not likely to see anybody 373 00:28:57,160 --> 00:29:00,720 when it comes to the starters tomorrow against the Houston Rockets, because we'll see 374 00:29:00,759 --> 00:29:03,799 him for like eight Like we're gonna see him for like the first whistle or 375 00:29:03,839 --> 00:29:07,119 something like. It's gonna be weird. Oh, in those eight minutes from 376 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:11,400 Paul George though he was like a plus eleven, he had ten points quickly 377 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:15,759 against Utah. They looked the part against a lesser team last night against Utah 378 00:29:15,799 --> 00:29:19,680 when they actually were playing their guys to start off the ball game, they 379 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:23,880 didn't play down to their competition. They looked dominant, uh and they were 380 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:29,480 playing fast out there. So it looked like a team that's focused and ready 381 00:29:29,519 --> 00:29:33,200 and knows what's ahead. And they have really overall since coach Luke called him 382 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:38,759 out for being soft. Sometimes you gotta press that button. Xbago project asking 383 00:29:38,799 --> 00:29:48,039 Paul George playing maybe for ten seconds or something. Nothing. Yeah, I 384 00:29:48,039 --> 00:29:51,680 mean I don't want to do nothing. This is doing Nothing's been very funny 385 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:59,480 at the chat he said needs some metal chemistry with Kyle. Everyone's asking about 386 00:29:59,519 --> 00:30:02,799 Ky. There's been no contract details we have, I don't We don't know. 387 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:10,240 Track could get signed in eight hours or something like that. No idea 388 00:30:10,279 --> 00:30:14,480 if Kai Jones going like probably not would be our guest. Yeah at this 389 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:18,920 point, sorry, he's not officially signed. I'm not gonna bet on him 390 00:30:18,920 --> 00:30:22,000 being able to play tomorrow. My logic with PG and why I think he 391 00:30:22,039 --> 00:30:27,319 shouldn't play any of the Stars is if you're playing him, is to keep 392 00:30:27,319 --> 00:30:30,359 a rhythm right, to keep a good lather out there, to keep them 393 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:34,359 warm, to keep the timing there. Is that really gonna hold up? 394 00:30:34,599 --> 00:30:38,920 I don't know. It was a It was a term used by my friend 395 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:45,240 Kevin Kennedy, former MLB manager who called games for the Dodgers for years, 396 00:30:45,559 --> 00:30:49,359 and he would talk about that that with pictures like working up a good lather, 397 00:30:49,519 --> 00:30:55,119 you know, getting a rhythm, getting warmed up. And the thing 398 00:30:55,279 --> 00:31:00,119 is, can he really hold that over five or six days off anyway? 399 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:04,200 So what's the point, Like that's not gonna have carry over from Sunday to 400 00:31:04,279 --> 00:31:10,559 next Saturday or Sunday, even if he does play five to ten minutes tomorrow 401 00:31:10,599 --> 00:31:15,160 against the Houston Rockets. I don't see a need for that. Uh, 402 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:18,599 I'm biased Cliff fans asking Chuck is Kai going to be the starting center for 403 00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:22,920 the playoffs? Yes, only for the Western Conference finals though, that's what's 404 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:29,079 gonna happen. Oh yeah, Tomorrow's gonna be weird. I don't really know 405 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:33,119 what. It's Steve Barber bobblehead day for those of you who would like a 406 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:40,319 bobblehead of a billionaire in your office or hope. I don't know what to 407 00:31:40,359 --> 00:31:42,039 expect. Are the Rockets going to be playing anybody? Do they have anything 408 00:31:42,079 --> 00:31:48,119 to play for? No, they don't unless E's got a wild hair like 409 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:55,319 I don't. Just just to everyone's playing. It's their new culture and identity. 410 00:31:55,359 --> 00:31:57,640 We're going hard all the time, like he's the new Thompson. Yeah, 411 00:31:57,640 --> 00:32:02,160 they're five game Yeah they don't. Yeah. I'd love to see Jalen 412 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:06,680 Green, just because his progress over the last couple of months has been interesting. 413 00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:10,799 Yeah, and selfishly I did say the Detroit Pistons should take him over 414 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:22,599 Caid, but uh, yeah what, Uh, I don't know what we 415 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:24,960 Yeah, I don't know. There's not much to talk about tomorrow star War 416 00:32:25,519 --> 00:32:30,000 with a great prediction Clips. I agree starving Clips and three. It's gonna 417 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:37,200 take three. That's gonna upset some Mavericks fans that end up watching this doubt 418 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:39,759 welcome. Also, we should say there was a MAVs fan of the chat 419 00:32:39,799 --> 00:32:45,079 who gave us a super chat thank you. Uh to all the MAVs fans. 420 00:32:45,119 --> 00:32:47,440 Hello, welcome to Clips and dip usually will Updike is with us. 421 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:52,480 We cover the Clippers. Uh, we don't mind your city. We like 422 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:55,559 it more than Phoenix. The city the team is gonna be a blood bath, 423 00:32:55,640 --> 00:33:00,759 but hey, yeah, this will be fun. I guess should we 424 00:33:00,799 --> 00:33:07,039 give people already yelling at you in the chatift? Have you watched both guys 425 00:33:07,079 --> 00:33:09,839 so far? Who has the highest ceiling? I think it's Jalen Green but 426 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:15,480 sort losers gaming on the Zuba trade, which is good to see. Should 427 00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:20,319 we give him a little preview nugget just talking about zoobots in this matchup and 428 00:33:20,319 --> 00:33:22,039 how yeah, let's do it. I mean yeah, if people don't, 429 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:28,200 some people don't. I mean Carl Tart front of the show famously even on 430 00:33:28,279 --> 00:33:32,119 the broad Carl Tart not the biggest beats Zoobos fan, but he's gonna have 431 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:35,519 to get behind him for this one. Yeah, we need the support. 432 00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:39,960 But even during the radio broadcast last night, between plays, at times, 433 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:45,640 Carlo and I are already previewing the series against the Dallas Mavericks because what happens 434 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:50,000 tomorrow is inconsequential against the Houston Rockets, and that's a good thing. Clippers 435 00:33:50,039 --> 00:33:52,319 have the four spot wrapped up so we can start to get into it more. 436 00:33:52,359 --> 00:33:59,039 But we talked about this in our preview to the preview, UH beats 437 00:33:59,039 --> 00:34:02,079 the Zubos, to me, is so important this time around because they don't 438 00:34:02,119 --> 00:34:07,640 have the pieces they did in past years against the Dallas Mavericks to play small 439 00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:13,039 and to thrive playing small big that wing stop, with that wing stop mentality. 440 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:15,920 Now they still have Kawhi and Paul George, so you can do some 441 00:34:16,119 --> 00:34:21,320 of it. But to act like a guy like Nicholas Batoum is on this 442 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:25,079 team with the versatility that he has defensively and the switch ability that he has, 443 00:34:25,559 --> 00:34:29,639 you know, you had to get to get when it came to give 444 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:31,320 to get. When it came to bringing in James Harden, I'm sure that 445 00:34:31,400 --> 00:34:36,719 was the guy they were most reluctant on giving up in that trade and he's 446 00:34:36,760 --> 00:34:38,920 gotten you know, minutes here and there and could be very valuable for them 447 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:44,480 in the playoffs. But they just don't have the small ball lineup that they 448 00:34:44,599 --> 00:34:47,280 used to now. If they go PJ. Tucker at the five, Kawhi 449 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:52,360 Leonard at the four, Paul George at the three, with some combination of 450 00:34:52,480 --> 00:34:59,519 James Harden next to Terrence Mann or a mere coffee, there's still something there. 451 00:35:00,079 --> 00:35:02,440 But I worry about PJ. Tucker isn't a high flyer. How are 452 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:07,119 you going to contest those lobs that are going up to Gafford? PJ. 453 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:15,320 Washington is a very respectable way. The tuck Wagon brigade will be respectful. 454 00:35:15,400 --> 00:35:19,440 The tuck Wagon stays on the ground. That thing is not That thing is 455 00:35:19,480 --> 00:35:25,920 not built for air travel or anything like that. So to me, it 456 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:30,639 beats the Zubats is integral to what is going to play out in this series. 457 00:35:31,119 --> 00:35:36,440 If he is able to stay on the court. And if you're raising 458 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:39,320 an eyebrow to that statement, well, what the Dallas Mavericks would do against 459 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:44,480 him in twenty twenty and twenty twenty one was put him in actions with Luka 460 00:35:44,519 --> 00:35:46,559 Doncic and get the switch. He would pull him out to the perimeter, 461 00:35:46,719 --> 00:35:51,880 and therefore you're negating what a beats Zubas can do with your rim protection, 462 00:35:52,079 --> 00:35:55,119 as he is an elite rim protector. If he's out there guarding Luka Doncic, 463 00:35:55,239 --> 00:35:59,039 he's not helping you in that area, which is really going to hurt 464 00:35:59,119 --> 00:36:01,199 you this time around, because of the front court of the Dallas Mavericks and 465 00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:06,280 the makeover they've had. I'm hoping they just say, you know what, 466 00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:10,920 they're going for that switch, We're gonna stay with Luca. We're not We're 467 00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:15,159 not going to We're not gonna fall for the bait and not switch when Luca 468 00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:20,360 tries that against the Beatsa Zoobots and just keep him in drop. I don't 469 00:36:20,440 --> 00:36:22,920 know that will be difficult because they've been switching all year. They switch everything, 470 00:36:23,679 --> 00:36:27,400 but that's where we've seen kind of a slippage and some of the defenses. 471 00:36:27,480 --> 00:36:32,159 Guys switching that you know exactly maybe engaging as they should. So I 472 00:36:32,239 --> 00:36:37,519 agree, but it might take some adjustment. We've seen this team go down 473 00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:43,719 before. I'd rather live with a guy having to fight through Luca's man having 474 00:36:43,719 --> 00:36:47,119 to fight through that screen and Luca getting an open look for three for a 475 00:36:47,159 --> 00:36:52,480 half a second. Because of that, then you putting a Beatza Zobots on 476 00:36:52,599 --> 00:36:55,519 him, which makes him somehow even more confident, even when it's good defense 477 00:36:55,559 --> 00:37:00,679 by a beatsa Zoobots. It's like, I don't know if I said this 478 00:37:00,719 --> 00:37:06,239 on the last show, but it's almost like it's the ladder drill or something 479 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:10,480 or Lukitsch and he knows how to get the perfect arc over a seven to 480 00:37:10,480 --> 00:37:15,719 one guy in Avizza Zubats. It just works out. It's right in his 481 00:37:15,760 --> 00:37:19,480 wheelhouse when he's going up against someone like that. Maybe it's just because of 482 00:37:19,519 --> 00:37:22,760 early success early in his career against the Vizza Zubats, and he's never forgotten 483 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:28,639 about that, so he's just comfortable against him. It is I say it's 484 00:37:28,679 --> 00:37:32,360 Fluky, it's Luca, but it is a really weird phenomenon where you could 485 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:37,639 play great defense with a seven footer on him with his hand up and Luca 486 00:37:37,719 --> 00:37:39,639 knocks him down at like a seventy five percent. Yeah, you're just like 487 00:37:39,679 --> 00:37:43,280 whatever you have it is good, deep, like what shot and you want 488 00:37:43,360 --> 00:37:46,920 him to take? Yeah, And that's why they lived with it for so 489 00:37:47,079 --> 00:37:51,280 long. They kept trying it, like this makes sense on our side, 490 00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:54,360 but he's killing him for whatever reason, and it's the other guys that we 491 00:37:54,440 --> 00:37:59,000 have to worry about too. Right, Luca can score his it's gonna be 492 00:37:59,079 --> 00:38:01,719 kind of the That's what you know a lot of people want the Clippers do 493 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:07,960 is let Luca score. Don't let him get into that fifteen assist rage, 494 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:13,800 because then you're getting into a world where other guys are getting open shots, 495 00:38:14,519 --> 00:38:17,440 and that is where you get in trouble when he gets like the meady triple 496 00:38:17,480 --> 00:38:24,639 double ex Bogo saying Luca versus or Luca versus Harden, it's I mean, 497 00:38:24,679 --> 00:38:30,239 I don't think Harden's gonna be put on Luca. I don't think. But 498 00:38:30,360 --> 00:38:35,599 that will be the other new wrinkle to this series where he hunts that miss. 499 00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:38,199 Great question, because what was the starting five and twenty twenty one? 500 00:38:38,880 --> 00:38:45,559 It was Kawhi, it was PG, it was Patrick Beverley eventually got benched. 501 00:38:47,599 --> 00:38:52,000 It was Marcus Morris, so Kawhi, PG, Marcus Morris, if 502 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:55,920 eats zubots were definitely out there. There was four and then the fifth eventually 503 00:38:55,960 --> 00:39:00,480 I think turned into Reggie Jackson. Yeah, and Ron they tried. Rondo 504 00:39:00,519 --> 00:39:05,519 had a couple of solid games against the Dallas Mavericks before things fell apart. 505 00:39:05,639 --> 00:39:10,679 We sucked I think maybe the Game four. But there's one more guy to 506 00:39:10,800 --> 00:39:15,320 hunt for Luca outside of just debats the Zubats and pulling him out to the 507 00:39:15,360 --> 00:39:20,480 perimeter. It's James Harden on the perimeter. Now, James Harden the post. 508 00:39:20,679 --> 00:39:24,679 We don't mind that matchup. Maybe ill love, but yeah, that's 509 00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:28,559 that's where his strength is. It's been an underrated part of his game. 510 00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:34,960 But that is a flaw on this Clippers roster that everybody knew was going to 511 00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:38,360 be there. But you're hoping their offense is so juiced up on the other 512 00:39:38,480 --> 00:39:42,840 end it makes up for the fact that their teams are going to hunt James 513 00:39:42,880 --> 00:39:45,639 Harden defensively, and maybe he rises to the challenge and plays some of that 514 00:39:45,679 --> 00:39:50,719 defense we saw early on this season as a member of the Clippers where I 515 00:39:50,760 --> 00:39:53,239 thought, for sure, that's solid enough right there where you can easily get 516 00:39:53,280 --> 00:39:57,199 by having James Harden on the court for forty minutes of the playoff game. 517 00:39:57,440 --> 00:40:00,719 Yeah, yeah, excuse me, Yeah, we saw flashes of it. 518 00:40:01,119 --> 00:40:05,400 And it's not like he's not used to being hunted in the playoffs either. 519 00:40:05,679 --> 00:40:08,599 It's been happening his entire career and yet somehow, you know, he's been 520 00:40:08,639 --> 00:40:13,400 in some pretty big playoff games and deep into the playoffs anyways, and it's 521 00:40:13,440 --> 00:40:16,280 going to be interesting what the late game defense looks like too, Right, 522 00:40:16,480 --> 00:40:20,440 Like, what we start with is maybe not what we're going to finish with 523 00:40:20,480 --> 00:40:23,320 when it comes to late game defense against Luca. That's when you want to 524 00:40:23,320 --> 00:40:30,280 see you know, Kawhi something like that taking on Luca late in those situations, 525 00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:37,480 so to figure out, oh yeah, but there's no one more equipped 526 00:40:37,519 --> 00:40:40,639 to do so. And that is one of the that gives me more confidence 527 00:40:40,679 --> 00:40:45,079 than many things in this series, regardless of who is available for the Clippers, 528 00:40:45,519 --> 00:40:49,559 Tyleru. You guys talked about Tyleru versus Jason Kidd being a mismatch. 529 00:40:50,039 --> 00:40:52,599 Let's hope it plays out that way. But what I hope is in order 530 00:40:52,639 --> 00:40:57,280 to keep Avitza Zubats on the floor, because ty does have a tendency to 531 00:40:57,320 --> 00:41:00,000 want to go small when things are failing. He reversed back that does. 532 00:41:00,519 --> 00:41:07,239 My hope is that they are getting a Vitza Zobots involved because Gafford, PJ. 533 00:41:07,400 --> 00:41:12,880 Washington, and Lively, they're not big bigs, they're athletic bigs, 534 00:41:13,639 --> 00:41:17,840 let zubots go to work against them, say leaving in a viza zubots, 535 00:41:17,880 --> 00:41:22,199 because those are taxing physical plays as well, not just with trying to get 536 00:41:22,239 --> 00:41:27,119 those guys maybe in foul trouble, but just he's leaning on guys. Then 537 00:41:27,199 --> 00:41:30,960 when he gets touches in the post, you know, it can compromise your 538 00:41:30,960 --> 00:41:34,519 defense because of how big he is if he's gotten a couple to go already. 539 00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:37,559 But also they're just physical plays out there. But I think if he's 540 00:41:38,280 --> 00:41:44,199 if he's bringing offense on one end and showing his effectiveness there, there's a 541 00:41:44,239 --> 00:41:47,199 better chance that coach lou will not try to go away from him. Yeah, 542 00:41:47,239 --> 00:41:50,719 he needs to earn that trust, which is one of the more frustrating 543 00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:54,360 things I think with how I love what Tyler does for the most part, 544 00:41:54,639 --> 00:41:59,199 but one of the things I don't like is how Zoo has such a short 545 00:41:59,239 --> 00:42:04,760 leash with some of that stuff. Yeah, especially at this point, it 546 00:42:04,840 --> 00:42:07,920 kind of feels like he has to earn trust almost every game or something like 547 00:42:07,960 --> 00:42:12,440 that, which is kind of frustrating. Jimmy G asking what do you think 548 00:42:12,440 --> 00:42:17,639 about the MAVs bench. This has been a large talking point for Clips fans 549 00:42:17,639 --> 00:42:24,039 about how our bench is better. I think maybe the top half is, 550 00:42:24,159 --> 00:42:29,519 but it gets a little murky, right, like half is being generous if 551 00:42:29,519 --> 00:42:31,679 we're talking like four bench guys. Well, a lot of that's going to 552 00:42:31,760 --> 00:42:36,800 depend on Russ and his abilities in this series, and I do think it's 553 00:42:36,840 --> 00:42:39,559 a good matchup for him. Yeah, Russ is hot and cold. Often. 554 00:42:40,000 --> 00:42:45,599 He can be inconsistent, high variance player, volatile out there. He 555 00:42:45,679 --> 00:42:50,159 can you know, win you a game in the span of a couple of 556 00:42:50,159 --> 00:42:52,119 minutes. He can just be a force in nature and take over, or 557 00:42:52,159 --> 00:42:55,840 he can be a little bit radic and out of control. We've seen that 558 00:42:55,880 --> 00:43:00,119 throughout his entire career, but it seems like it's even more rising as he's 559 00:43:00,119 --> 00:43:04,679 gotten older. Which Russ, you're going to get it could swing with the 560 00:43:05,360 --> 00:43:08,960 other Yeah, in game that can happen, because yeah, it's a little 561 00:43:08,960 --> 00:43:14,199 harder with the age. Someone came after me in the comments after our last 562 00:43:14,199 --> 00:43:16,519 show saying, oh, Russ on Luca, Russ's on Kyrie, Good luck 563 00:43:16,519 --> 00:43:21,079 with that, okay, bet. Also, we know Luca's gonna get his 564 00:43:21,320 --> 00:43:24,119 This isn't We're not trying to pretend the man is going to be shut down. 565 00:43:24,480 --> 00:43:29,800 What we're talking about making things as hard as possible. It's like when 566 00:43:29,800 --> 00:43:35,840 they went up against Jokic in the bubble and the difference of I heard people 567 00:43:35,880 --> 00:43:38,760 say, well, he's gonna kill everyone, so what does it matter, 568 00:43:38,880 --> 00:43:42,760 And it's like, well, there's a difference between him shooting seventy five percent 569 00:43:42,800 --> 00:43:46,440 from the floor against Montrez Harrell and fifty five percent from the floor against Avitza 570 00:43:46,519 --> 00:43:51,880 Zubas. All you're trying to do is get a few more misses and a 571 00:43:51,920 --> 00:43:55,960 few possessions that falter for the Dallas Mavericks. And I do think Russell Westbrook 572 00:43:57,079 --> 00:44:02,679 engaged defensively, can be a disruptor for Luca and Kyrie at times. I 573 00:44:02,760 --> 00:44:07,920 do like that switchability there and him of the passing lanes. We've seen him 574 00:44:07,920 --> 00:44:09,480 be a little more active of the passing lanes as the season's closed, which 575 00:44:09,519 --> 00:44:13,280 is nice. You don't want him to gamble too much, but he has. 576 00:44:13,360 --> 00:44:15,400 When he's making the good decisions, he can get out in transition and 577 00:44:15,480 --> 00:44:19,880 hopefully finish at the rim, which is another thing, but we'll talk about 578 00:44:19,880 --> 00:44:22,599 that later. This is an interesting comment from s the last one that was 579 00:44:22,719 --> 00:44:28,320 just put up there. Yeah, Charles, because one thing when they won 580 00:44:28,400 --> 00:44:31,800 in Dallas earlier this season. Remember, these teams haven't played in the New 581 00:44:31,880 --> 00:44:36,880 Year in twenty twenty four. I wish, I do really wish a from 582 00:44:36,880 --> 00:44:40,320 a basketball perspective, I wish we could see the Clippers play this team post 583 00:44:40,360 --> 00:44:44,639 deadline, and just it would be kind of nice to really actually see the 584 00:44:44,639 --> 00:44:47,480 matchups. Plus as I just wish that would have happened. It's funny because 585 00:44:47,519 --> 00:44:52,119 all the familiarity with Luca and even Kyrie Irving because coach lou coached him in 586 00:44:52,159 --> 00:44:55,599 Cleveland obviously, and how well you know those two players. But there's all 587 00:44:55,639 --> 00:45:00,360 these other unknowns and factors now with the Dallas Manver totally, and so there's 588 00:45:00,360 --> 00:45:05,239 some fear of the unknown. But I believe it was the game without Paul 589 00:45:05,320 --> 00:45:12,199 George where Kawhi Leonard had that spin move he blew by Derrick Jones for the 590 00:45:12,239 --> 00:45:15,519 baseline, but he had a spin move on Grant Williams, so again a 591 00:45:15,519 --> 00:45:19,360 guy who's not even there anymore. At the end of that game, Russ 592 00:45:19,440 --> 00:45:22,440 was on the floors here that or the other game in Dallas, and he 593 00:45:22,639 --> 00:45:27,480 was saying, go at him. He was screaming, go at Luca. 594 00:45:28,360 --> 00:45:30,960 That's the dog I want to see out of Russell Westbrook in this series. 595 00:45:31,000 --> 00:45:37,000 So yes, you do need to attack Luka Doncic. That's that is the 596 00:45:37,159 --> 00:45:40,239 biggest central point, or would be my number one key to winning this series, 597 00:45:40,280 --> 00:45:45,440 attacking Luca and Kyrie and taking something out of their legs. So you 598 00:45:45,480 --> 00:45:47,239 beat them up on the defensive end, it takes something out of them on 599 00:45:47,280 --> 00:45:51,079 the offensive side. Yeah, one hundred percent. You got to put him 600 00:45:51,119 --> 00:45:55,440 in actions at things like that, Jay reminding people that Terrence Man and be 601 00:45:55,519 --> 00:45:59,599 a coffee rosso on the team. They stack up that they're playing, they're 602 00:45:59,599 --> 00:46:01,719 doing. The Clippers are doing the thing. I tweeted this out where when 603 00:46:01,719 --> 00:46:07,440 they were twenty six and five and all that every bench guy was basically playing 604 00:46:07,519 --> 00:46:10,559 like plus fifteen percent in terms of their usual ability, right like they were 605 00:46:10,559 --> 00:46:15,599 playing that slight level over. We're kind of getting back to that. That's 606 00:46:15,639 --> 00:46:19,000 how some that's how the fridge not fridge. That feels disrespectful, but you 607 00:46:19,000 --> 00:46:22,320 know what I mean, Like that's guys who are the major stars are playing 608 00:46:22,400 --> 00:46:27,039 a little bit better right now. The MAVs bench is you know, it's 609 00:46:27,119 --> 00:46:30,679 it's even right, like they don't have a bunch of holes. It's not 610 00:46:30,760 --> 00:46:32,679 like Denver. They have a better bench than Denver. Their guys have been 611 00:46:32,679 --> 00:46:37,800 playing well though too. XM has been really good. He's having kind of 612 00:46:37,840 --> 00:46:39,239 you know, he was I think it was the sixth pick in the draft. 613 00:46:39,280 --> 00:46:43,239 I'm just glad to see him, you know, finally kind of find 614 00:46:43,280 --> 00:46:46,239 his footing at n ACL tear. Those are the guys I usually were on 615 00:46:46,360 --> 00:46:52,039 the Alters. Yeah, but he and Tim Hardaway Junior obviously coming off the 616 00:46:52,039 --> 00:46:55,760 bench, those are tough matchups. Those are good bench players for them, 617 00:46:55,800 --> 00:47:00,000 and they're also trending in the right direction like a lot of the Clipper's been 618 00:47:00,079 --> 00:47:02,320 players right now. Yeah, this is gonna be a day of war. 619 00:47:04,639 --> 00:47:07,719 It's the war of the combat sectual already, which I hope. I wish 620 00:47:07,800 --> 00:47:13,480 everyone good luck in that. I don't like the revisionist history from maz fans 621 00:47:13,559 --> 00:47:16,159 now, or at least the ones who are coming at me. I posted 622 00:47:16,199 --> 00:47:22,159 the uh uh I think his name was Gamble or something like that in the 623 00:47:22,239 --> 00:47:28,199 Dark Night, the uh, the guy saying enough from the clown Yeah, 624 00:47:28,159 --> 00:47:30,079 and I was like enough from the Lucas Stans. I did that meme the 625 00:47:30,119 --> 00:47:34,960 other day because Lucas Stans are like, you know, Luca didn't have any 626 00:47:34,960 --> 00:47:39,000 help in twenty twenty one. It's like ways christasporzingis played in all those games. 627 00:47:39,320 --> 00:47:44,280 He may have not liked his role, but he was out and you 628 00:47:44,440 --> 00:47:49,559 had role players that started off that series in the first three game shooting sixty 629 00:47:49,639 --> 00:47:54,199 percent from three. I literally think when you combine percentages, Tim Hardaway, 630 00:47:54,280 --> 00:48:00,559 Dorian Finney, Smith, Jalen Brunson, Maxi Kliba were out there shooting like 631 00:48:00,679 --> 00:48:04,559 sixty percent from three in the first three games of the series. Don't tell 632 00:48:04,599 --> 00:48:07,760 me, Luke it didn't have any help. And that's It's not because I 633 00:48:07,800 --> 00:48:12,880 was saying Kawhi Leonard was better in both of those first round series. He 634 00:48:13,079 --> 00:48:15,119 was. That's why the Clippers was, Yeah, the Clippers are gonna need 635 00:48:15,199 --> 00:48:21,199 Kawhi to be better than Luca to win this series. Kawhi shot sixty percent 636 00:48:21,280 --> 00:48:24,719 while getting thirty points per game in that seven game series in twenty twenty one, 637 00:48:24,840 --> 00:48:30,079 something that had not been done prior to Shaq doing it in the two 638 00:48:30,159 --> 00:48:36,559 thousand NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. Shack's average distance per shot attempt was 639 00:48:36,599 --> 00:48:39,639 four feet. Kawhis was about fourteen feet. Don't tell me he wasn't the 640 00:48:39,639 --> 00:48:44,480 better player, especially when you know you add in that other side of basketball 641 00:48:44,679 --> 00:48:50,800 defense, he had the better team and was also the better player at the 642 00:48:50,840 --> 00:48:54,760 same time. Two way players also are held up to an annoyingly higher standard, 643 00:48:54,840 --> 00:48:59,440 I think than players who are very good at offense that don't play a 644 00:48:59,480 --> 00:49:02,519 lot of defense, because they expect Kawi is expect he can be very much 645 00:49:02,599 --> 00:49:06,519 when he's locked in. I think someone said the chat, he's the best 646 00:49:06,519 --> 00:49:09,920 player on the court. But if he's just okay at defense but still better, 647 00:49:10,079 --> 00:49:13,280 you know, than the average guy, I feel like that's a knock. 648 00:49:13,360 --> 00:49:15,599 They expect elite on both ends at all times, which is so much 649 00:49:15,639 --> 00:49:21,679 harder than just doing one just doing one thing elite. And also, you 650 00:49:21,719 --> 00:49:27,280 can be doing your job to the best of your abilities in covering your bases 651 00:49:28,079 --> 00:49:30,840 as well as you can defensively, and somebody else has a blown assignment and 652 00:49:30,880 --> 00:49:36,039 you're on the floor and it hurts your defensive rating. Like right, defensive 653 00:49:36,079 --> 00:49:39,360 analytics stuff has been very tough to keep track of because it's hard to start. 654 00:49:39,719 --> 00:49:45,519 Even more specifically, it's it's a team game already defensively is such playing 655 00:49:45,559 --> 00:49:51,320 great defense, it takes an entire team to be together, right and talking 656 00:49:51,360 --> 00:49:54,599 and communicating, which we got to hope the Clippers are after the second half 657 00:49:54,639 --> 00:50:00,639 of basketball that we've seen. I think that about wraps it up good. 658 00:50:00,679 --> 00:50:05,000 We have a thanks everyone for hanging out. If you're new, we are 659 00:50:05,039 --> 00:50:07,960 Clips and Dip. Will Updike is usually with us. We talk about the 660 00:50:07,960 --> 00:50:09,960 Clippers three times a week or so, and we're also gonna be doing a 661 00:50:10,000 --> 00:50:13,960 double dip. Adam, you want to tell these five people what a double 662 00:50:14,000 --> 00:50:17,239 dip is? Yeah, that's on Clippers Talk Your Clippers official postgame show where 663 00:50:17,239 --> 00:50:22,400 I take calls like it will be tomorrow in their final regular season game at 664 00:50:22,400 --> 00:50:27,480 Crypto dot Com Marena formerly Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, basically where they're 665 00:50:27,480 --> 00:50:30,840 taking on the Houston Rockets and postgame we'll have it for you on the Patriot 666 00:50:30,880 --> 00:50:35,400 A M eleven fifty when the Dodgers are on A five to seventy Clippers are 667 00:50:35,440 --> 00:50:38,519 on the Patriot AM eleven fifty, but take callers and also have guests on 668 00:50:38,840 --> 00:50:44,239 like Chuck Buckler, like we'll update Will Updike, like Carl tart Oh, 669 00:50:44,320 --> 00:50:47,639 yeah, came on with me recently, So if you guys want to check 670 00:50:47,679 --> 00:50:52,119 it out. That's also a podcast Clippers Talk, and then we take that 671 00:50:52,960 --> 00:50:55,639 section of the show and put it up on clips and dip as well. 672 00:50:57,000 --> 00:50:59,559 We do. It's gonna be funny. We should maybe have Carl on the 673 00:50:59,599 --> 00:51:02,159 Tuesday episode. We're gonna do a couple episodes next week leading up to Game 674 00:51:02,199 --> 00:51:06,760 one. One's gonna be in depth. That one's gonna come out on Thursday. 675 00:51:07,559 --> 00:51:12,280 It's gonna be let's get let's get locked in this week everyone, everyone, 676 00:51:12,320 --> 00:51:14,480 just do everything you normally do just a little tighter, you know. 677 00:51:14,559 --> 00:51:16,920 Let's let's all stay locked in and get ready for this blood bath. You 678 00:51:16,920 --> 00:51:21,559 can find us if you're not subscribed. Check us out on YouTube at Clippers 679 00:51:21,599 --> 00:51:25,159 Podcast. Find us on Twitter at clippers Pod. Adam is follow autam a 680 00:51:25,239 --> 00:51:30,039 over on x formerly known as Twitter, I am at Chuck Buckler and Will 681 00:51:30,119 --> 00:51:32,199 is at will Updike. We hope everyone has a great rest of your weekend. 682 00:51:32,239 --> 00:51:35,360 And we're supposed to get some rain, so I don't know, bundle 683 00:51:35,440 --> 00:51:35,960 up, let's go