1 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:20,079 What is up, fellow thermonuclear A Effers, I am a dam valley coming 2 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:26,440 at you with my fans. Have you listic equally Thermonuclear AF co host Grant 3 00:00:26,519 --> 00:00:30,800 Hughes Before we hop into hot or not two point zero, Please remember to 4 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:33,719 subscribe to us wherever you're consuming us. If you're checking us out on YouTube, 5 00:00:33,759 --> 00:00:37,320 hit that like button, subscribe. More importantly, comment, help the 6 00:00:37,359 --> 00:00:41,719 algorithm, love us back a little bit. Also subscribe to us wherever you 7 00:00:41,759 --> 00:00:47,000 get your audio podcasts Spotify, Stitcher, Apple, Google and cross up both 8 00:00:47,039 --> 00:00:51,320 platforms so YouTube plus a podcast player downlovere episode that helps out a ton. 9 00:00:51,679 --> 00:00:54,759 If you've done both those things, please consider recommending us to people. You 10 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:57,359 can shout us out on Twitter. We got one today. I retweeted it 11 00:00:57,479 --> 00:01:00,200 very kind tell people about us word of mouth that they should check us out 12 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:06,920 and this seriously unserious NBA community that we are trying to build and speaking of 13 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,239 which, join our discord because Grant is in there and he has said stuff. 14 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:12,439 He's not just in there lurking. He has said stuff. The link 15 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:17,079 to that is in the podcast and YouTube description. And finally, follow all 16 00:01:17,079 --> 00:01:19,079 of our socials. Those are on screen on YouTube where They're in the podcast 17 00:01:19,159 --> 00:01:23,760 and YouTube descriptions as well. Very quickly though at Hardwood Knox on Twitter and 18 00:01:23,799 --> 00:01:30,799 TikTok at Hardwood Underscore Knox on Instagram. I'm glad I get to ask you 19 00:01:30,879 --> 00:01:34,760 this one. This is from Rome eighty one eighty, who also gave us 20 00:01:34,799 --> 00:01:42,840 the Horns depressing franchise question. Tim Connolly is a bad GM. He made 21 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:46,599 the terrible go Bear trade right when he got to the Wolves, made a 22 00:01:46,599 --> 00:01:49,640 mess of the Nuggets payroll before he left there. I'd say all three of 23 00:01:49,719 --> 00:01:53,400 Murray, Gordon and Porter's contracts are really bad. So is Tim hot or 24 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:57,760 not. Tim Connolly's a bad general manager slash executive or whatever his actual title 25 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,799 is. Now there's a discussion to be had about I want to make that 26 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:06,959 clear. The way that the Nuggets operated under him, where it was very 27 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,520 much take care of their own guys, even when their own guys aren't these 28 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:14,560 mega stars like Nicole Yokich. But I think there's value in that operating in 29 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,560 a market like Denver. I also do not view the Jamal Murray contract as 30 00:02:17,599 --> 00:02:22,199 a bad one, and like you can't predict a c elenres now if you 31 00:02:22,199 --> 00:02:24,080 want to get into the Michael Porter Junior stuff. I think that had he 32 00:02:24,159 --> 00:02:28,039 hit the open market that year, there would have been similar not the fifth 33 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:30,240 year, of course, but there would have been similar offers available. I 34 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:35,400 don't think that Eric Gordon contract is bad at all. I'm fine with it, 35 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:38,960 and he's been good for not even good like bordering on great for much 36 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:44,599 of this season. Now do you fault him for going the I don't want 37 00:02:44,599 --> 00:02:46,120 to compare him to Neil Shaw, who seems like a pretty bad human being, 38 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,000 but like, do you fault him for not really ever going the home 39 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:53,159 run route where it's like, well, we acquired Aaron Gordon and we took 40 00:02:53,159 --> 00:02:54,560 a swing on Michael Porter, but he took swings on Michael Porter Jr. 41 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:59,080 And like, what were you gonna what star? Were you going to consolidate 42 00:02:59,199 --> 00:03:02,520 into? And bones Highland? Great? Fine Zeke Naji. That was still 43 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:07,879 a pretty good find overall. So I don't think he's been a bad executive. 44 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:12,000 But there's a discussion we had about the way the Nuggets operated under him 45 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:16,080 and how eminently dispensable he seemed. But is that ownership we talked about this 46 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,639 is that the cronky is cheaping out because they don't want to pay execs. 47 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:22,120 We saw it with Masahi Jerry before him. Now, if you want to 48 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:24,560 have a conversation about what he's done in Minnesota where it's hey, if you 49 00:03:24,599 --> 00:03:30,400 wanted to test out this model, could you have not traded for Miles turn 50 00:03:30,439 --> 00:03:34,840 instead of giving up your entire future for Rudy Gobert. That's that's a fair 51 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:38,560 discussion. But to say he's bad, I think that's a little too hot 52 00:03:38,599 --> 00:03:43,439 for me right now. And I don't know if you saw the discord like 53 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:49,800 conspiracy theory discussion on it. I did. I did see some of that. 54 00:03:51,479 --> 00:03:53,719 I'm not sure. I'm not sure I could support or endorse or buy 55 00:03:53,800 --> 00:04:01,439 into some of that. Check out the conspiracy discussion on why Tim Connley traded 56 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:05,439 for Rudy Gobert. It ranged from for the cliff notes of it was just 57 00:04:05,479 --> 00:04:09,479 a way to prove that he could get rid of Karl Anthony Towns, which 58 00:04:09,479 --> 00:04:13,840 would be that would be wild to me because you extended Karl Anthony Towns. 59 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:15,879 That would just be a wild way to operate. But that is that's the 60 00:04:15,879 --> 00:04:19,319 teaser. There's another layer to it, So go to our discordant check it 61 00:04:19,319 --> 00:04:23,800 out. It's a little too hot for me, and it's a lot too 62 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:28,439 hot for me. Yeah, so I defended, or at least was like 63 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,240 neutral to this is a not the worst idea I've ever seen on the Gobert 64 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,160 trade. I'm probably gonna need to walk that back. Although it is still 65 00:04:35,199 --> 00:04:39,519 early. You know, this could work out, it seems less likely than 66 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:42,879 it used to. I wonder too, if, like if that was a 67 00:04:42,959 --> 00:04:46,319 deal that you know, the Wolves are going to be under new you know, 68 00:04:46,639 --> 00:04:49,120 A Rod and whoever else are the new owners of that team, and 69 00:04:49,199 --> 00:04:56,800 you could imagine some push from new owners to be like let's like cannonball into 70 00:04:56,839 --> 00:05:00,839 the pool real quick and see and let's like really do something that's I don't 71 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:03,040 know that that's the case. That's kind of like making an excuse. But 72 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,600 like, how do you judge the quality of an executive? We don't think 73 00:05:05,639 --> 00:05:10,759 there's When we judge coaches, we always concede like we don't know ninety percent 74 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,360 of what they do. Executives might be even harder to judge. So it's 75 00:05:14,399 --> 00:05:16,600 like, did the team win a lot? And did guys seem to like 76 00:05:16,759 --> 00:05:20,879 being there? Are kind of your metrics because a lot of what you judge 77 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:26,000 an executive on like talent evaluation, How robust is your player development staff? 78 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:29,240 Do you make good trades? Do you like all that kind of wraps into 79 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,959 it? And the Nuggets, so Conley was there for nine years, they 80 00:05:31,959 --> 00:05:34,759 made the playoffs in the last five, they made a conference finals. They 81 00:05:34,759 --> 00:05:39,839 want a playoff series each of those last five years except last year when everybody 82 00:05:39,879 --> 00:05:42,920 was hurt and they ran into the Warriors in the first round, who won 83 00:05:42,959 --> 00:05:48,160 the title. So like, and you know, I guess you give them 84 00:05:48,199 --> 00:05:53,800 credit for Yokich, although it's hard because it's almost thrown a dart at that 85 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,680 point because everybody had a shot at him. And you know, I'm sure 86 00:05:56,759 --> 00:05:59,040 I don't know this for a fact, but I imagine the Nuggets had a 87 00:05:59,079 --> 00:06:01,199 pick before they got him in the second round that they did not use on 88 00:06:01,319 --> 00:06:04,839 him. So you know, I don't know, but to me, like 89 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:11,000 just the basics of what you want from an executive or a bunch of wins, 90 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,879 like you know some you don't mortgage the future, which looks bad for 91 00:06:14,959 --> 00:06:17,439 Minnesota. But the Nuggets have been a good team. They got a guy 92 00:06:17,439 --> 00:06:21,959 who wants two MVPs. Not all those contracts are that bad. Maybe only 93 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,519 importer is. So I can't. It's too hot. I can't get there. 94 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:29,519 If all you knew of him was he traded a zillion picks for Rudy 95 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,480 Gobert. Then like not hot at all, which we both fully supported by 96 00:06:32,519 --> 00:06:34,879 the way I know I was. I thought, I was like, yeah, 97 00:06:34,879 --> 00:06:39,079 I get it, you can justify this. I don't know, all 98 00:06:39,199 --> 00:06:42,920 right, I'll do since we both have quick hitters. Let me let's do 99 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,879 this one the hot or not the Raptors. And this was inspired actually by 100 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:51,959 a listener on YouTube Super Sauce Super Sauce. However, it's pronounced the Raptors 101 00:06:53,000 --> 00:07:00,720 are stealth candidates to tear it down this season. That is too hot for 102 00:07:00,759 --> 00:07:04,920 me because I don't even know what that would look like. It would be 103 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:11,199 real stealth like, it would be silent. Does that mean? So that 104 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:16,120 means tearing it down to means and Anobi. Basically everybody but Barnes. Everyone 105 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:19,120 brought Barnes and an Anobi at this point. I would probably throw an Anobi 106 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:25,360 into the not going anywhere, but I will say too hot for me because 107 00:07:25,399 --> 00:07:30,639 I still believe in the Raptors. YEA, with Gary Trench Junior going to 108 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,240 free agency, Fred Vanfleet going to free agency, Pascal Siakam next contract coming 109 00:07:34,319 --> 00:07:39,040 up, o Jiannaoby gonna be extension Ledgible this summer as well. You're getting 110 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:41,759 to the point where you really have to double down on this roster. Would 111 00:07:41,759 --> 00:07:47,199 it be completely shocking to see Massa yu Jerry pivot the other way? Because 112 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,959 do you want to lock yourself into this expensive core that maybe isn't good enough 113 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:55,720 to reach the next level of title contention. Here's the thing that they need 114 00:07:55,759 --> 00:07:58,399 and there I know there are some Raptors fans who still deny it. They 115 00:07:58,439 --> 00:08:03,800 need another just spacey or half court initiator and like their offense without Siakam or 116 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:07,680 when fred Van fleets in the slump that he is currently in. It is 117 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,800 a capslock slog. It can be tough to watch and even if it gets 118 00:08:11,839 --> 00:08:13,800 you through the regular season, which at the moment you know right now, 119 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:18,160 it's not like since the middle of November, they've been among the least efficient 120 00:08:18,519 --> 00:08:22,959 offensive teams in the league. So you know, twenty second in point score 121 00:08:22,959 --> 00:08:28,000 per possession over their past twelve games. If you're not going to go out 122 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:31,720 and then it's so there are three two things. It's either you believe Scotty 123 00:08:31,759 --> 00:08:35,840 Barnes is going to be that guy. And I thought at the beginning of 124 00:08:35,879 --> 00:08:39,960 this year that everything was happening so much faster for him. The perimeter shooting 125 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:41,399 got a little bit better from three, but like nothing else about him is 126 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:45,799 really improved. But unless you believe Scotty Barnes is gonna be that guy, 127 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:48,519 you're maybe you're not at the point, but then you need to give real 128 00:08:48,519 --> 00:08:50,480 consideration. Well, but then we need to go out and get that guy, 129 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:52,600 because we're gonna be too good to draft him at this point. Someone 130 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:56,480 who can really level up our half court offense. Who's going to take you 131 00:08:56,519 --> 00:09:00,440 know, even if Pascal Siaka makes pull up threes more of his arsenal, 132 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:03,600 like those aren't necessarily shots he's looking to get to. They're not hot happening 133 00:09:03,639 --> 00:09:07,840 at this super high processing speed. And I think that the Raptors. I 134 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:09,159 wouldn't blow it up on the Raptors. I go out and try and find 135 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:15,759 that guy who can level up evolve the half court offense. But when you 136 00:09:15,799 --> 00:09:18,639 start to look at the contract situations and how many of these guys they have 137 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:24,159 to pay over the next two years, it's not It's not as hot as 138 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:26,600 I thought it was when I gave it some real thought. Yeah, I 139 00:09:26,639 --> 00:09:31,519 guess it's still too hot for me, just because I would be fine paying 140 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:37,159 Siakam and Antanobe whatever the market says they're worth and having those two in Barns 141 00:09:37,279 --> 00:09:41,320 And like, so are you blowing it up if that means Gary Trent Junior 142 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:43,240 and like you said, it was a free agent, and and Van Vleet 143 00:09:43,279 --> 00:09:48,360 aren't back. That's not that's not quite blowing it up to me. We 144 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:50,360 agree on the Raptors. They just need someone that can, you know, 145 00:09:50,399 --> 00:09:54,440 bend the defense by getting into the middle of it. So all these other 146 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:58,480 like guys that are sort of okay at you know, generating advantages and being 147 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:03,200 Shockrea don't have to be like doing it all the time, you know, 148 00:10:03,279 --> 00:10:07,759 Barnes. Barnes shouldn't be saddled with that burden for this franchise. He should 149 00:10:07,799 --> 00:10:09,840 be It should be a luxury that he can sort of do that or will 150 00:10:09,879 --> 00:10:15,080 be able to sort of do that. I'll give you one of my quick 151 00:10:15,399 --> 00:10:20,120 hot or nuts. James Harden and Joel Embiide will never make a conference finals 152 00:10:20,159 --> 00:10:22,519 together. That's not too hot, because you might as well play the field 153 00:10:22,519 --> 00:10:26,039 at this point, I was pretty hot on Philly during the season. I 154 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:28,720 think I might have had them. I'll have to go back and look. 155 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,399 I definitely had them in the top four of the East, but I might 156 00:10:31,399 --> 00:10:35,120 have had them even higher than that. That's not too hot, though, 157 00:10:35,159 --> 00:10:41,159 I mean, how do you improve this roster? And it's also if this 158 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:43,440 is James Harden's won game back from his injuries, I want to I want 159 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:50,440 to pump the brakes there. But like if James Harden is materially worse than 160 00:10:50,519 --> 00:10:54,480 he was when the Nets first acquired him, let's say, how do you 161 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:58,440 like? What do you have to do then to improve the roster enough so 162 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:03,679 that you all are a title contender. I just I'm interested to see more 163 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:07,080 of it at full strength, and maybe with this version of Tobias Harris sprinkled 164 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:09,080 in. But I don't think that's too hot. I mean you're looking yet 165 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:13,639 consider who else is in the East not get out of the first round. 166 00:11:15,279 --> 00:11:16,840 Oh that's what they're saying. They hit seven. What if I said, 167 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:20,519 what if I down? What if I'm trying to get it to be to 168 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:24,200 the requisite level of hotness? They don't win a second like, they do 169 00:11:24,279 --> 00:11:28,960 not appear in the second round. Together. I think that's too hot. 170 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:31,919 But like it wouldn't shock me if I predicted this and it was off the 171 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:35,080 cuff. It was a last minute question that came in on the last week's 172 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:37,559 mailbag, was of the third mail bag, because we did so many of 173 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:41,320 them, so we had so many questions, who's the next superstar that's going 174 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:45,039 to demand a trade? And I just said Joel Embiid. So I'm trying 175 00:11:45,039 --> 00:11:48,519 to think the top ten players that and that's that would be the pathway to 176 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,320 your take not being too hot. If they're together for the next two seasons, 177 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:56,080 I'm gonna say that's too hot. Like if they I could see them 178 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,799 getting bounced in the first round this year, and if Joel embiad is just 179 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:01,720 like I'm done or just the Sixers decide to blow it up from there. 180 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:05,600 So I'm gonna say that's not too hot. I think it. I think 181 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:09,559 the first round one shues a little bit towards too hot. But it's it's 182 00:12:09,639 --> 00:12:11,879 got a it's got a pleasant heat. It's not overlea spicy, You've got 183 00:12:11,919 --> 00:12:16,360 extra out. So the problem is this is Darryl Moorey is running this team, 184 00:12:16,399 --> 00:12:20,120 and he just like superstars are all he cares about, so it's gonna 185 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:22,519 be hard for it, and they you know, there's clearly some kind of 186 00:12:22,519 --> 00:12:26,879 agreement with him and James Harden that they're just gonna go down together. But 187 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:31,519 yeah, I think THEI the EMBID trade request is is like, it's a 188 00:12:31,519 --> 00:12:35,399 little hot, but we're not that far from it being you know, he's 189 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:37,039 on the short list of guys that are gonna be like, I'm done with 190 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:39,720 this, I can't. I gotta do something different. Let me throw you 191 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:45,720 one of my quick hitters. Zion Williamson has entered the MVP discussion, and 192 00:12:45,799 --> 00:12:48,639 by that, I'll say, if you did a ladder right now, he 193 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:50,879 would be in your top ten. I know it's only a five player ballot, 194 00:12:50,879 --> 00:12:52,240 but first of all, this year's MVP race so far, my god, 195 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:56,399 we might be shaping up for And maybe this is all futile talking about 196 00:12:56,399 --> 00:13:00,559 Devin Booker and Zion Williamson and Kevin Durant and y'all kitchen you maybe it's just 197 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:05,960 Steph or Luca Artatum. But is Zion Williamson on that top ten MVP ladder 198 00:13:05,039 --> 00:13:11,279 right now? So I would I would like to take this opportunity to admit 199 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:15,799 that last week when we talked, I was a little skeptical of the Pelicans, 200 00:13:15,879 --> 00:13:20,320 and you have been staunched in your lack of Pelicans skepticism, and having 201 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:26,200 watched two and a half of their games since we talked, I'm kind of 202 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:31,279 I'm kind of in now. I need to walk back the questions I had, 203 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:35,919 which were essentially, are they good enough defensively? And how do they 204 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:41,159 really know what role Zion needs to play? And what the sort of trickle 205 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:46,399 down effects are Opponent shooting has been kind of unsustainably unlucky. I think they're 206 00:13:46,399 --> 00:13:50,559 at thirty thirty eight and a half. I can't remember what the stat is, 207 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:54,840 but like the Pelicans are what third defensively, that's a little that's not 208 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:58,919 gonna last. But they're not gonna be twentieth. I don't know their first 209 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,639 over their last twelve game. By the way, they have the best defense 210 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:05,919 in the league. That I don't buy totally or at all for being third 211 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:11,000 and first over that stretch. But I think they're gonna be fine. And 212 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,240 then Zion, it's like there's no question you you were on it. I 213 00:14:13,279 --> 00:14:16,559 had I wasn't sure he needs to be on the ball, and you figure 214 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:22,919 everything else out around that, because like he's developing like week to week as 215 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:28,919 like a decision maker and his defense. I think the best part about this 216 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:35,159 defensive run is that he is working hard and like is not falling asleep off 217 00:14:35,159 --> 00:14:39,039 the ball as much, and so the film just looks way better. So 218 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:41,559 I'm walking that back, and so that's all to say that, Like, 219 00:14:41,639 --> 00:14:43,960 yeah, I think at this point, I mean, the Pelicans have the 220 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:48,320 second best net rating in the league right now according to Cleaning the Glass. 221 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:52,039 They're fifteen and eight, top six in you know, offense and defense, 222 00:14:52,039 --> 00:14:56,759 because they're sixth on offense, and like if anything, when they get Ingram 223 00:14:56,759 --> 00:15:00,559 back full time, like that can move up. So if the team is 224 00:15:00,559 --> 00:15:05,200 that good, and I think most would agree that Zion is the guy driving 225 00:15:05,559 --> 00:15:09,080 at least the offense. Like, yeah, that's the top ten m VP 226 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:13,200 candidate at minimum, right, I Mean, that's just that's just where we 227 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,799 are. Now. The names get crowded because there's Lucas, there's Steph. 228 00:15:16,919 --> 00:15:22,480 There's Shay who belongs in this discussion as well. There's Jokich, there's Janis, 229 00:15:22,559 --> 00:15:26,000 there's Devin Booker, there's Kevin Durant. Like those are eight names. 230 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,360 I think you have to mention I left Kevin Durant off my last top ten. 231 00:15:28,399 --> 00:15:30,799 I just I feel like the Nets probably just killed my soul a little 232 00:15:30,799 --> 00:15:33,360 bit. And they're just so inconsistent defensively, including Kevin Durant there, but 233 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:37,159 like so that feels like eight givens. And I might have even left off 234 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:41,159 an obvious candidate there, but I would say I would echo what you said 235 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,519 that I think Zion Williamson has entered that top ten radius. I don't know 236 00:15:43,559 --> 00:15:48,120 where he is in relate like I'm not putting him and had his Steph Luca 237 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:50,639 or Tatum at this point. I don't like because he got to the point 238 00:15:50,639 --> 00:15:54,159 when he started thinking about bowls he liked better than the Shay case. Is 239 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:58,399 he better than the you know, the the Kevin Durant like case of oh, 240 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:03,200 he's like, we're could throw them seventh here. The defensive improvement matters 241 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:07,200 a bunch. And I think, and this might have been like the better 242 00:16:07,399 --> 00:16:11,080 hot or not? Is are the New Orleans Pelicans like this year's Boston Celtics 243 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:15,879 to where such different teams. But the Celtics no one even when they were 244 00:16:15,879 --> 00:16:18,159 playing well, no one bought into them. But they looked inward and they 245 00:16:18,159 --> 00:16:22,720 said, we're gonna make a trade for Derek White, and that helped push 246 00:16:22,759 --> 00:16:26,080 them over the top to get to the NBA Finals. The Pelicans feel like 247 00:16:26,159 --> 00:16:29,720 that team this year where everyone thinks they're up and coming. They're pleasant, 248 00:16:29,759 --> 00:16:33,679 they're QC, they're quaint, but like they might be one Derek White level 249 00:16:33,759 --> 00:16:36,639 trade away from being a Finals team. By that, I mean Derek White 250 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:38,039 is not the player they need, although I guess he's gonna shoot forty five 251 00:16:38,039 --> 00:16:41,080 percent from three. They would take Derek White. They can make a non 252 00:16:41,159 --> 00:16:45,679 star trade. That's sort of one. Also, their depth is sometimes a 253 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:48,720 problem to me, by the way, but they could make a non star 254 00:16:48,799 --> 00:16:52,639 trade and be a Finals team. And like I would say, Miles Turner, 255 00:16:52,679 --> 00:16:55,399 I've been banging that drum for years now, and I'm not taking credit 256 00:16:55,399 --> 00:16:56,200 for it. I still think it would work. There are a lot of 257 00:16:56,200 --> 00:17:00,679 Pelicans fans who are mad at me for saying that I don't think Valan Chunis 258 00:17:00,759 --> 00:17:03,519 is mission critical. They said, well, that's CJ. McCollum, And 259 00:17:03,559 --> 00:17:04,799 I think you get rid of CJ. McCollum, like you might sort of 260 00:17:04,799 --> 00:17:08,039 simplify the offense a little bit more the two things I maintain is one, 261 00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:11,119 he's going to become more valuable for you in the playoffs. That is just 262 00:17:11,559 --> 00:17:15,160 I fully believe that. And two getting rid of CJ. Mccoum doesn't change 263 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:18,000 the best way to optimize your defense with Zion as good as he's gotten, 264 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,640 as good as the Pelicans defense has been, and you did point out they're 265 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:25,559 getting lucky on opponent three point shooting. Opponents are under thirty three percent during 266 00:17:25,559 --> 00:17:27,319 this stretch where they're the best defense in the league. They're also getting torched 267 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,839 at the rim though, so and that's a little bit of an indictment on 268 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:33,400 Zion, which is your primary room pretender, but it just reads his help 269 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:36,480 has gotten a lot better this season. Two, And opponents are only shooting 270 00:17:36,519 --> 00:17:41,240 only about sixty percent at the rim against him during this stretch. So I 271 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:44,359 think he's an MVP candidate. And I don't think it's too hot to say 272 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,799 that the New Orleans Pelicans are this year's Boston Celtics in that again, the 273 00:17:47,839 --> 00:17:52,160 teams are so different, but they are a minor to middling move away from 274 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:56,799 needing to be taken seriously as a finals threat. I think I think I 275 00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:00,920 take your point I think you're right about, well, a couple of things. 276 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:07,319 Consolidation trade seems pretty like logical, and that they may be one guy 277 00:18:07,319 --> 00:18:11,319 away because they've got like three or four that I'll deserve to play that you 278 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:15,079 know, maybe it's better if you turn that into one or two guys. 279 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:18,880 The other thing is like you know they can aim higher than that, not 280 00:18:19,039 --> 00:18:22,200 you know, we don't know who's out there, but like they've got the 281 00:18:22,279 --> 00:18:26,279 Lakers draft control. You know they've got they have just like real options and 282 00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:30,839 real salary and valentcionists Like sorry Pelicans fans, valentitionists. Is the guy that 283 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:36,480 you're gonna include in a move I think to get to get some salaries could 284 00:18:36,519 --> 00:18:38,359 be CJ. If he was trade eligible, maybe they'd be more open to 285 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:41,279 it. But like he's not trade eligible, and I I just I need 286 00:18:41,319 --> 00:18:45,720 to see it first of all. And you've dealt with enough injuries to both 287 00:18:45,799 --> 00:18:48,240 Zion and Ingram that I don't know that you could look at is what CJ 288 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:52,079 does and say, Okay, well that's just we have a surplus of this, 289 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:53,440 like we don't need more of the shot. Like and I get he 290 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:56,039 hasn't had the best season, but you've dealt with enough injury hist sheet, 291 00:18:56,079 --> 00:18:59,960 so forget about being full strength. Just to have him is just like, 292 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:02,720 Okay, well we know we're probably gonna have two guys who can generate offense 293 00:19:02,759 --> 00:19:06,839 for themselves and others. Yeah, no, I think I think that's right. 294 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:11,359 I mean, if honestly, if they could just get like if they 295 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:12,960 could get if you could clone Derek White, It's like, now you have 296 00:19:14,039 --> 00:19:17,279 Derek White, that that works great for me. Let's just do that again. 297 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:22,000 Daniels is like kind of that type of player, So I think, 298 00:19:22,039 --> 00:19:23,839 well, I said, I'm just rehashing last like I think he is. 299 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:29,240 So he is a guy that has a chance to really matter for them, 300 00:19:29,279 --> 00:19:33,359 maybe not this year, but just he fits he I mean maybe this year. 301 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:36,519 That's why you don't aim higher though, by the way, is because 302 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:38,400 like why would you if you aim higher, you're talking about getting rid of 303 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:42,240 I would say picks, yeah, and Salary Feller whatever. But like then 304 00:19:42,279 --> 00:19:45,240 you're starting to talk about, well Trey Murphy and or Dyson Daniels are in 305 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:49,799 the aim higher move. If it's Kevin Durant, I'm giving up one of 306 00:19:49,839 --> 00:19:53,359 them. I'm sure I'm giving up one of them. But like failing that, 307 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:56,880 if that's the bar we're gonna hold, I'm if it's a I'm trying 308 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:00,759 to think of another name here for them, Kelly olynk like I think, 309 00:20:00,839 --> 00:20:03,480 and that was someone one of our YouTubers actually brought up with, Kelly Olenick. 310 00:20:03,519 --> 00:20:07,920 I didn't consider him initially. You get a Kelly Olynick. What if 311 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:11,279 you traded? He's been and I don't know if a lot of people have 312 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,319 noticed how good he's been on defense. And also it's sort of just like 313 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:19,440 a help defender people Kyle Kuzma on this team, like like that's the level 314 00:20:19,519 --> 00:20:22,079 of move I'm talking about. And I'm just I don't think it's too hot 315 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:26,759 to say that. I'm happy that you're coming around on the My Pelicans incandescence 316 00:20:26,759 --> 00:20:30,279 because it was getting lonely out here with regard to this podcast. It was 317 00:20:30,319 --> 00:20:34,920 a straight up just I just needed to watch him more and then it was 318 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:38,480 clear like I caught him. I caught some good games, but the eye 319 00:20:38,519 --> 00:20:41,160 test did it? Can I? And this is easier for me to do 320 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:45,640 because it's not complementing myself. You are never gonna hear like another National NBA 321 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:48,359 podcast just like cop to what you just did. We have this conversation in 322 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:52,039 discord where there and I think it's born from insecurity and I get it too, 323 00:20:52,079 --> 00:20:53,640 where you want to know as much as possible. You're supposed to be 324 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:56,519 an expert, but sometimes you just you don't know shit. And it's just 325 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:00,880 I thought the Timberwolves are gonna be like a dominant regular season team. I 326 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:03,039 don't know what we're talking talking about. Well, we're wrong all the time, 327 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:07,880 Like, just change your check. I'll never do a real victory lap. 328 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:11,039 I will never like like i'll make a joke about it. I'll never 329 00:21:11,079 --> 00:21:14,640 I'm wrong so much that what's the point of a victory lap. I think 330 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:18,319 all of it, all of it succeeds to do is point out how rare 331 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:22,519 it is that you're correct. Well, I'm not. If Jonathan Kamina develops 332 00:21:22,559 --> 00:21:26,519 on my certainty that he'd become a more athletic Paul George, I will do 333 00:21:26,839 --> 00:21:30,839 the mother of all victory laps. It's gonna be a victory marathon. I 334 00:21:30,839 --> 00:21:33,240 will never shut up about it. But I'm wrong so far about that trajectory 335 00:21:33,279 --> 00:21:36,519 feels like it might be a little bit on life support, a little bit 336 00:21:36,559 --> 00:21:38,759 a little bit. He's been a lot better lately. Yeah, he's a 337 00:21:38,839 --> 00:21:42,400 role player right now, and like George, a little bit better than that, 338 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:45,039 right, a little bit, a little bit, a little bit, 339 00:21:45,079 --> 00:21:47,000 well, Paul, George is still a role player, Dan, it's just 340 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:52,359 he's theoretically that's a role But I'm glad you came around on the Pelican. 341 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:56,759 So that's not too hot then, no, not too hot. I want 342 00:21:56,759 --> 00:21:57,799 to throw this one to you because you gave it to me to throw to 343 00:21:57,839 --> 00:22:00,000 you. And we're just gonna be fully transparent because I want to know what 344 00:22:00,039 --> 00:22:03,559 you're gonna say, hot or not? Okay, see won the Uzman Jang 345 00:22:03,599 --> 00:22:08,519 trade? Yeah, they want it. How niche are we getting because three 346 00:22:08,519 --> 00:22:11,319 conditional first round picks they have We talked about this in the discord. It's 347 00:22:11,319 --> 00:22:14,880 actually a question for the next mail bag we do. Does okay, so 348 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:17,720 you have too many picks? The answers, fucking yeah, you can't get 349 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:19,119 to a point. We have too many picks. They give up three conditional 350 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:23,400 first rounders that oh hey, the Knicks didn't fucking use when they went to 351 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:26,039 trade for a star and now Ushman Jang, and you could make a case 352 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:30,039 like, well, Jaylen Williams was still on the board too, and so 353 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:33,119 the Knicks could have used someone like him, but Uschman Jang. And I'm 354 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:36,640 only highlighting him because he started he was inactive for I think it was like 355 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:38,240 it was a bunch of games started playing the last five or so, and 356 00:22:38,279 --> 00:22:41,440 I had noticed it. I can't remember. I was, oh, yeah, 357 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:45,319 So I saw him playing against the Hawks and I was just like, 358 00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:47,079 oh, like, this has become a thing. So I went back and 359 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:49,440 watched more of him. There's a feel more of a field there. He's 360 00:22:49,519 --> 00:22:52,799 quietly hitting. I don't know if this is Chep England at work here, 361 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:56,400 but he's at like, over this very small sample we're talking about like ten 362 00:22:56,400 --> 00:23:00,519 attempts. He's shooting over his past four games eight at times sixty two point 363 00:23:00,519 --> 00:23:03,960 five percent from three, and it looks it's slow, but it doesn't look 364 00:23:04,039 --> 00:23:07,240 jagged. And the way that he moves without the ball, whether he's in 365 00:23:07,279 --> 00:23:11,400 transition or the half court, there's also some directionality to him being on the 366 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:18,160 ball, and he's just going to be able to be plugged and played maybe 367 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:22,960 anywhere on defense. And this is someone who I said this to you before 368 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:26,279 we started. I might have said it in more of a crude way. 369 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:30,039 He runs counter, I feel like to the typical wing projects that they have, 370 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:34,519 because there's more feel there and it's less about the nuclear explosion or detonation 371 00:23:34,519 --> 00:23:38,279 of how he's going to play, and there's more nuance to it. And 372 00:23:38,319 --> 00:23:41,480 now looking at this and I'm like, it's so crowded and okay, see, 373 00:23:41,599 --> 00:23:45,440 but to have that prospect on the Knicks right now will just be fucking 374 00:23:45,519 --> 00:23:48,960 cool. And so maybe this is my home ordom coming out. They absolutely 375 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:52,759 want that they have three conditional first round picks. Look at those teams right 376 00:23:52,799 --> 00:23:55,799 now, do you know many of those first round picks are projected to convey 377 00:23:55,839 --> 00:23:59,440 this season zero zero? Okay? So I mean, I guess depending on 378 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:03,319 how you feel Washington will they be a lotto team, but they probably will 379 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:06,960 be. So they want to restron Jang Tray. There's a real basketball player 380 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:10,559 there. And if he's gonna shoot ultra wide open threes even in thirty eight 381 00:24:10,599 --> 00:24:15,000 percent clip with the processing speed he has right now, my god. So 382 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:18,759 I this might actually constitute a premature victory lap because Jang was the player I 383 00:24:18,759 --> 00:24:22,559 wanted the Knicks to take. They're never a player, I want to be 384 00:24:22,599 --> 00:24:25,400 clear. They never would have taken them if they kept that pig Jang would 385 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:27,000 not have been the pick. That's just not what they do. But they 386 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:30,480 want they want to reshroon JANKI trade. I'm calling it now. I think 387 00:24:30,599 --> 00:24:32,720 I think it's fair to say that's too hot, but I'm calling it. 388 00:24:32,839 --> 00:24:37,799 They want it. You gotta are there anything you really want to get to? 389 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:41,079 There's a couple that I want to make sure we hit. Do you 390 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:44,920 want to do? Do you want me to pose you the Kings want? 391 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:47,000 Or you want to throw the Kings one at me? I want to do 392 00:24:47,039 --> 00:24:49,519 a longer one. I'll throw it to you because I want to because a 393 00:24:49,559 --> 00:24:52,240 little a little hint like I'm throwing it to you just so I can answer 394 00:24:52,279 --> 00:24:57,640 after you. But so this is from Rome eighty one eighty again why to 395 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:02,480 advanced stats seem to suggest Evan Mobley is bad? I know there's something wonky 396 00:25:02,519 --> 00:25:06,119 going on with Cleveland's hunt offs, which we alluded to earlier, but some 397 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:10,599 of the advanced metrics like Raptor don't like him either. Also, he's made 398 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:12,880 has he made any substantive improvements since his first season? And the gist of 399 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:17,039 it is like, when confronted with, well, why do you think Evan 400 00:25:17,079 --> 00:25:19,160 Mobley is good. Sometimes all you have is the we'll just watch him, 401 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:23,200 uh you know counter, which there are worse counters, like saying well, 402 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:26,720 his fantasy stats are x, y and z in an argument about who's good 403 00:25:26,759 --> 00:25:30,720 or not, but just you know, saying watch the games is kind of 404 00:25:30,839 --> 00:25:33,480 is like the shit that we hate to hear sometimes from from critics. So 405 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:37,920 make the Evan Mobley case. Has he gotten better? Why do advanced numbers 406 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:42,359 not like him? And like is he actually as good as advertised? And 407 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:47,279 if so, like why and how is sort of what I feel like this 408 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:49,440 question boils down to you. So if the hot or not framing needs to 409 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:53,279 be in place, it's like, well, basically, Evan Mobile is not 410 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:59,160 good because advanced stats say that he's not good. I mean it's too hot. 411 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:00,599 I don't want to answer pell want you dances, but I will say 412 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:04,599 I do think part of it is when you're gonna spend so much time playing 413 00:26:06,039 --> 00:26:11,839 with another big and then two higher usage guards that might artificially repress a lot 414 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:15,079 of your advanced metrics to where just like, okay, if Evan Mobley when 415 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:18,839 he's the lone big, like you know, his defensive rebounding rate, I 416 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:22,119 would think it is gonna be higher than twenty one. I think you're going 417 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:23,799 to see someone who is like and even I was shocked at how high his 418 00:26:23,839 --> 00:26:26,000 block rate is. Given that he's not spending like a crap ton of time 419 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:30,000 around the basket. He's still a really good rim protector. Opponents are shooting 420 00:26:30,079 --> 00:26:32,519 under fifty two percent there. If I could answer, the one thing I 421 00:26:32,559 --> 00:26:36,640 would say is how has he gotten better? There is like a dynamic to 422 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:38,559 his offense where it's not yet efficient. And I'm not saying go watch the 423 00:26:38,599 --> 00:26:41,599 games, but you can even see the tick up when you're looking at just 424 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:45,799 like the fade away jumpers, the hook shots. He's shooting forty seven percent 425 00:26:45,839 --> 00:26:48,319 on hook shots like this is just year two trying to figure out a different 426 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:53,680 environment. So I do think he has broadened his offensive horizons. I don't 427 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:57,319 know that I have a good explanation for the advanced metrics, which I have 428 00:26:57,400 --> 00:27:00,279 not. I have not looked at the catchalls yet. I normally don't start 429 00:27:00,279 --> 00:27:03,480 because not all of them is released by the way, I don't really start 430 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:07,839 looking at catchalls to like the midway point. Yeah, I think, first 431 00:27:07,839 --> 00:27:10,839 of all, like I will concede that he very much. Is an eye 432 00:27:10,839 --> 00:27:12,839 test guy. Like if you watch enough basketball and you see enough guys his 433 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:18,279 size, it just leaps off the screen like there's guys don't move like him, 434 00:27:18,319 --> 00:27:22,880 Guys don't process at the same speed. Guys don't you know, they 435 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:26,279 don't. They don't make the split second reactions as quickly as he does. 436 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:30,000 Like that's for sure, that's all I test stuff. The advancement. You 437 00:27:30,039 --> 00:27:33,240 know, he's in a relatively small role, like he's not being asked to 438 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:37,720 do a ton yet, So yeah, that's gonna hurt the you know, 439 00:27:37,839 --> 00:27:41,960 your your whatever advanced metric you want to use, like some they have different 440 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:45,480 inputs all over the place. It has to be part of that too. 441 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:48,720 Just like his usual rais is lower than it was last season, right right, 442 00:27:48,799 --> 00:27:52,720 that's the thing, like now he's you got a high usage guard that 443 00:27:52,799 --> 00:27:56,039 just showed up on your doorstep and Donovan Mitchell, Like that's gonna take some 444 00:27:56,039 --> 00:27:59,240 food off of other guys plates. I think you can get there if you 445 00:27:59,279 --> 00:28:02,720 want to. And maybe this is just cherry picking, but find the advanced 446 00:28:02,759 --> 00:28:06,000 stat that there. It's not like they don't exist. Like when I looked, 447 00:28:06,039 --> 00:28:08,000 he leads the league in defensive wind shares. Now, wind shares are 448 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:11,400 kind of a problematic stat and there are a lot of things that have overtaken 449 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:15,880 them. But if you lead the league in something over a large sample and 450 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:18,400 it's like a big one like that, that's not nothing. The other thing 451 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:22,359 that really stood out to me is like, just don't worry about the counting 452 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:26,920 numbers and the fantasy stats and whatever else, Like, look at the rate 453 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:30,799 stats and look at how much he's playing. So here's let's fin slice it. 454 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:33,839 There are three guys right now that are in rotations, you know, 455 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:38,880 that are playing significant minutes, that have a fifty nine percent true shooting percentage, 456 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:42,799 which like sixty is holy shit, you're great. He's over fifty nine, 457 00:28:44,039 --> 00:28:47,680 a fifteen percent rebound ry, eleven percent assist right, four percent block 458 00:28:47,759 --> 00:28:52,640 rate. Two of those are Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis. The other one 459 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,839 is Evan Mobley. So like, take that to your friend that says Evan 460 00:28:55,920 --> 00:29:02,079 Mobley doesn't like rate, Well, statistically, that's ridiculous. Now he's not 461 00:29:02,119 --> 00:29:03,680 asked to do as much as those guys, So yeah, if he had 462 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:07,799 to shoot twenty times a game, the true shooting percentage might be lower. 463 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:11,759 Everything else is legit. So I think he's ultimately an I test guy. 464 00:29:11,759 --> 00:29:15,039 But you can find the numbers that if you, if you want to, 465 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:21,119 that will corroborate that he's good and the true shooting percentage specifically, I think 466 00:29:21,119 --> 00:29:23,680 he was at like under fifty five last year, and so to jump from 467 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:26,960 there, which is right around league average up to you know, when you 468 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:33,119 talk about great high usage scorers sixty is like the golden cutoff. He's right 469 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:38,240 there. So his sorry, and like his shooting percentage between three and ten 470 00:29:38,279 --> 00:29:42,119 feet which accounts for a lower share of his shots and last year, but 471 00:29:42,119 --> 00:29:45,920 there's still almost twenty nine percent of his shots. It's spiked by seven percentage 472 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:51,519 points compared to last season. Yeah, just there's I don't know about you, 473 00:29:51,599 --> 00:29:55,119 but I have, I mean I was. I said some crazy things 474 00:29:55,119 --> 00:29:59,400 about Evan Mobile last year, and like I have, if anything, I'm 475 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:03,440 more up the stick this year. So I don't understand the narrative that he's 476 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:10,680 disappointing or or you know, he's like ad The numbers don't support all the 477 00:30:10,759 --> 00:30:14,079 optimism around his I feel like people have like bam At a bio PTSD and 478 00:30:14,119 --> 00:30:17,400 maam At a Bio has been like thermonuclear af lately, So that's that, 479 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:19,759 But there's like not all the metrics love him. I look at Evan Mobley 480 00:30:19,759 --> 00:30:22,880 as a different type of player in the sense that one I trust him as 481 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:26,599 more of a rim protector than maybe I would BAM. And I think there's 482 00:30:26,640 --> 00:30:29,960 more of a I don't know what the word is. Is it directionality? 483 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:33,559 Again, there's there's like more of just a there's an more of an unpredictability 484 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:37,839 to Evan Mobley's offense. It feels like he could be more fluid on the 485 00:30:37,839 --> 00:30:41,359 ball and might actually be more aggressive in time at points than Bam is going 486 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:44,920 to be the better passer. I think that's going to be maybe not, 487 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:47,480 but I don't want to put a ceiling on MOBILEI but I do think there's 488 00:30:47,519 --> 00:30:51,960 a similar case here where they do so many things also defensively and even offensively 489 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:55,279 by the way, which is moving through tight spaces, and Jared Allen does 490 00:30:55,279 --> 00:30:56,640 a good job of this too. When you are playing with two bigs, 491 00:30:56,640 --> 00:31:00,559 like being able to operate in a bunch of different eCos, some that maybe 492 00:31:00,559 --> 00:31:03,599 aren't conducive to the traditional setup of what your game is, especially when you're 493 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:08,559 not taking threes, But that and then just the breadth of responsibility he covers 494 00:31:08,559 --> 00:31:11,119 on defense. There are just things that are going to be tough to quantify. 495 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:15,240 And so if let's just say his outcome is a bamat of biotype player, 496 00:31:15,319 --> 00:31:18,559 there's no way shape or form. Is that disappointing? Yeah, I 497 00:31:18,599 --> 00:31:23,480 think just the last thing on him. I think like sometimes, you know, 498 00:31:23,559 --> 00:31:27,759 you say a guy's just with respect to him offensively in particular, it's 499 00:31:27,839 --> 00:31:33,279 sometimes you say a guy's just always just scratching the surface of what he's going 500 00:31:33,319 --> 00:31:36,039 to be. And sometimes that's almost like a concession that like, and he 501 00:31:36,119 --> 00:31:38,720 kind of sucks at this right now, hopefully he'll get better. But sometimes, 502 00:31:38,799 --> 00:31:42,400 and this is the case with Mobili, you say that because you know, 503 00:31:42,440 --> 00:31:45,920 once or twice a game he'll do something at the elbow with the ball 504 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:51,160 that's like, there's no fucking way a guy that size should be able to 505 00:31:51,279 --> 00:31:53,920 like turn, pivot, assess, like make the right drive, pass, 506 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:59,160 shoot decision really quickly in the flow of the offense in ways that the defense 507 00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:02,440 is not prepared, Like it's processing speed, and it's it's also like the 508 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:07,599 physical ability to do any of those things, depending on what the situation calls 509 00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:10,759 for and he will do that. This is again sorry it's eye test, 510 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:15,759 but like he will do that occasionally, and it doesn't feel like, oh, 511 00:32:15,759 --> 00:32:19,640 well that was out of character. It's more like, man, when 512 00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:23,160 he does that all the time, like it's over so that the surface scratching 513 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:29,680 thing for him is is still admittedly probably the most tantalizing aspect, but it's 514 00:32:29,759 --> 00:32:34,480 not. It's not speculative. It's like that's it's coming, Like that's going 515 00:32:34,519 --> 00:32:37,079 to happen all the time, as opposed to, well, if he could 516 00:32:37,079 --> 00:32:39,839 only do that more often, it's like, no, he will that. 517 00:32:39,839 --> 00:32:43,680 That's that's kind of my that's the Evan Mobili take for me. In a 518 00:32:43,759 --> 00:32:46,039 nutshell, I have one more to you have one more? Right? Or 519 00:32:46,079 --> 00:32:49,599 did you burn through all yours? I can't even remember? Oh yeah, 520 00:32:49,599 --> 00:32:52,200 I got another one. Go ahead, so I'll give you this one really 521 00:32:52,279 --> 00:32:55,880 quickly. Hot or not, The Sacramento Kings have an above average defense, 522 00:32:57,039 --> 00:33:00,279 not statistically at the moment where they technically do, but the Sacramental Kings defense 523 00:33:00,359 --> 00:33:05,880 is above average, like will be above average. Yeah, so that's too 524 00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:10,200 hot right now? They're eighteenth. I'm looking on cleaning the glass, but 525 00:33:10,279 --> 00:33:13,720 I do I want to say, I should have looked this up. I 526 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:17,079 guess I can't look this up as I'm vamping a little bit. They have, 527 00:33:17,279 --> 00:33:22,720 I mean, they're up there over like recent stretches, they are well 528 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:25,559 fifth, they're six excuse me in points slot per possession over their last twelve 529 00:33:25,599 --> 00:33:32,359 games. So my hesitation with them is really just like who's the good defender 530 00:33:32,480 --> 00:33:37,960 on this team? Like, like I just it's it's tough, like who's 531 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:43,519 the guy that's gonna fuel And usually this is a big guy, and Sabonis 532 00:33:43,559 --> 00:33:46,119 is not that guy. Like we've we've the sample size is real big. 533 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:52,599 The Sabonis is just not you know, he's a really good offensive player. 534 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:54,880 I think. I think that's also like the sample size is big enough where 535 00:33:54,880 --> 00:34:00,000 that should not be remotely controversial and potentially is even a really good offensive player 536 00:34:00,119 --> 00:34:04,400 in a playoff scenario. But just defensively, he's not long enough, he 537 00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:07,039 doesn't get off the floor, he doesn't move well enough, like a switch 538 00:34:07,159 --> 00:34:12,920 involving him is like it's just a big blinking red light that every team is 539 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:15,599 going to attack in games that matter. So that's a problem. I think 540 00:34:15,599 --> 00:34:21,400 I've always wished that Darren Fox, you know, could put the tools to 541 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:23,840 use defensively because he's so fast and he's long and he anticipates well. But 542 00:34:24,119 --> 00:34:27,960 then he's been better. He has ball containment has been a lot better this 543 00:34:28,039 --> 00:34:30,239 year. What's that His ball containment has been a lot better this year. 544 00:34:30,920 --> 00:34:34,639 I thought, potentially, like in his first and second year, that this 545 00:34:34,719 --> 00:34:37,119 was gonna be a guy that would just like lead the league and steals, 546 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:40,320 you know, would be all over the would be like a Dejontay Murray type 547 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:44,639 defender. Like I thought that that was very much in the cards. I 548 00:34:44,639 --> 00:34:46,239 don't. I just I don't know if that's going to happen. So here's 549 00:34:46,239 --> 00:34:51,280 what I was trying to get to. So if you're gonna make the case 550 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:53,239 that this is not a hot take, you look at their location based effective 551 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:57,400 field goal percentage allowed, which is sixth in the league right now. So 552 00:34:57,440 --> 00:35:00,840 it's just like they're giving up the right shots. And that's kind of a 553 00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:05,159 hallmark of a Mike Brown defense is they're gonna they might get some things wrong, 554 00:35:05,199 --> 00:35:07,440 but they'll force you to take mid rangers. They're gonna keep you from 555 00:35:07,440 --> 00:35:10,239 shooting a lot of threes, and they're gonna keep you out of the paint 556 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:14,280 as much as they can with the personnel they have, So there's like there's 557 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:19,679 some there's some like undergirding to like an average defense potentially, but all that 558 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:22,679 is kind of undone by what I think is just the personnel just isn't. 559 00:35:22,840 --> 00:35:28,519 This isn't a team with the players to defend. So you know, if 560 00:35:28,559 --> 00:35:30,559 they if they stick where they are seventeen or eighteen, I forget what it 561 00:35:30,599 --> 00:35:34,920 is, what it was just a second ago, and they're gonna be this 562 00:35:35,039 --> 00:35:38,559 good offensively, then that's great. But again, I just think it's way 563 00:35:38,599 --> 00:35:43,519 more likely that they're you know, down in the twenties, maybe bottom five 564 00:35:43,599 --> 00:35:45,840 defensively by the end of the year. So I can't get there with average. 565 00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:50,119 That's too hot. I think it's probably a little too hot because I'm 566 00:35:50,119 --> 00:35:52,519 thinking more in playoff terms that this feels like a defense that could be picked 567 00:35:52,519 --> 00:35:57,320 apart during the playoffs. I do think that they take care of I don't 568 00:35:57,320 --> 00:35:59,480 want to call it just low hanging through, but they do enough of the 569 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:02,679 fundamentals that it wouldn't shock me if like, yeah, they're fourteen twelve, 570 00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:08,000 like sixteen whatever for the regular season. They end possessions with their defensive rebounding, 571 00:36:08,480 --> 00:36:13,400 they are fourth in points allowed per possession after a made shot, so 572 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:16,039 like he has them getting back. They're also second in points allowed per possession 573 00:36:16,039 --> 00:36:20,440 after committing a turnover, and so like getting back is a huge part of 574 00:36:20,440 --> 00:36:23,440 the battle. This is not a defense is mostly effort rant. I do 575 00:36:23,519 --> 00:36:27,480 think that they've gotten good minutes this year from Harrison. Barnes is getting better, 576 00:36:27,639 --> 00:36:30,519 Like I said, Daron Fox has improved. Kevin Herder has been better. 577 00:36:30,519 --> 00:36:32,760 I think just because he's bigger, like than people realize, I said 578 00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:37,280 Terrince Davis. Already day on Mitchell can be like I don't know what he's 579 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:39,559 supposed to be on offense, but he's he's a blanket. That's the answer 580 00:36:39,599 --> 00:36:44,000 to who's their good defender? That I just grossly overlooked is I mean, 581 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:47,239 he's at least like impactful. I think he's a little too small to really 582 00:36:47,239 --> 00:36:52,519 make a difference on most most opponents that you know you'd have to guard if 583 00:36:52,559 --> 00:36:55,000 he's like playing with Fox for example, or whatever, Malik Monk or you 584 00:36:55,039 --> 00:36:58,559 know, there's a lot of there's too many fires for like a six foot 585 00:36:59,039 --> 00:37:01,960 six foot one backup guard to put out for that to really matter. But 586 00:37:02,039 --> 00:37:06,280 that's just in deference to him, like he's a monster on the ball. 587 00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:09,440 It would suck to be guarded by that guy. And so like what you 588 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:13,239 said, when you're giving up the right shots, which is not it's not 589 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:16,199 personnel or luck driven. They're actually during their stretch, opponents are hitting a 590 00:37:16,239 --> 00:37:20,320 crap ton of their shots at the rim and from three point and from the 591 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:22,800 three point line. But when you're giving up the right looks, that helps. 592 00:37:22,920 --> 00:37:25,960 On top of okay, well we're gonna end possessions when players miss a 593 00:37:27,000 --> 00:37:29,440 shot, and then we're also scoring so much on offense that we're going to 594 00:37:29,519 --> 00:37:34,199 have time to set up our defense. You can overachieve relative to your personnel. 595 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:37,559 And so I do I buy into them being the sixth best defense like 596 00:37:37,559 --> 00:37:39,920 they've been over their past twelve games. No, but we can light the 597 00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:44,760 beam. I think on them being a regular season league average defense, like 598 00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:47,280 I would be shocked if they finished twenty eight or lower at this point, 599 00:37:47,320 --> 00:37:51,480 or twent bottom ten, twenty first or lower. But I do have questions 600 00:37:52,239 --> 00:37:54,880 with how it pertains to their playoff defense, because this feels like a team 601 00:37:54,880 --> 00:37:59,199 where you're going up against higher level opponents when they're going to have a series 602 00:37:59,239 --> 00:38:01,000 to pick you apart and find your weak points in the half court. That 603 00:38:01,119 --> 00:38:06,760 just ending possessions when they miss isn't going to be enough to really get you 604 00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:10,400 mine. If your offense ever goes through these tougher slogs, it's going to 605 00:38:10,480 --> 00:38:15,280 be harder for you to defend because you a lot of what they're doing is 606 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:17,320 predicated on Hey, they're getting their defense. Even as good as they've been 607 00:38:17,320 --> 00:38:21,480 in transition, it's just we're getting our defense set. And I will commend 608 00:38:21,480 --> 00:38:22,320 them when you go back and watch, by the way, like if they 609 00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:28,360 are when they are committing turnovers like they are, and like they're hustling back 610 00:38:28,440 --> 00:38:30,400 and they've like over this twelve games, man, like they've committed a bunch 611 00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:35,639 of turnovers. They're like bottom twelve in turnover rate. So they do deserve 612 00:38:35,719 --> 00:38:37,480 Like Mike Brown might be we haven't talked about this, and it's not just 613 00:38:37,480 --> 00:38:43,199 because he might be the favorite win coach of the year. Yeah, well, 614 00:38:43,239 --> 00:38:47,519 I mean that's so by the way, this talk about like, yeah, 615 00:38:47,559 --> 00:38:51,840 I think you know, there's a chance that's sustainable through the regular season. 616 00:38:51,920 --> 00:38:54,000 It might be okay, but the playoffs, I don't know. You 617 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:59,159 know, the Kings are ecstatic that that's the conversation, right, because it's 618 00:38:59,159 --> 00:39:02,679 presupposing there that they weren't in the conversation about the most depressing franchise. We 619 00:39:02,760 --> 00:39:06,440 just gave it to the Hornets and talked about the Nicks and moved right along. 620 00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:07,920 Well, this time a year ago, it probably would have been the 621 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:10,599 Kings, right or we would have mentioned them, no question, and that 622 00:39:10,599 --> 00:39:14,760 would have been true any the last fifteen twenty years. So yeah, I 623 00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:17,760 mean, look, the Kings are where they want to be, at least 624 00:39:17,760 --> 00:39:22,000 with their you know, that's that's there. There's no doubt about that. 625 00:39:22,079 --> 00:39:24,039 Them in two thousand and six taking Back Sunday where you want to be? 626 00:39:24,159 --> 00:39:30,679 Just who would get that reference? Do you think? I actually feel like 627 00:39:30,719 --> 00:39:35,159 I probably have the year wrong, But that wasn't taking Back Sunday album? 628 00:39:35,280 --> 00:39:38,199 What was the final one? You had to get real quick hot or the 629 00:39:38,239 --> 00:39:45,079 Spurs will bobcat this year? Yeah, they're they're bobcatting pretty hard right now. 630 00:39:45,119 --> 00:39:47,599 And that's for anyone who doesn't know the reference. Uh, it's finishing 631 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:52,079 in dead last in defensive and offensive efficiency, which the Spurs are doing. 632 00:39:52,719 --> 00:39:57,280 Actually, I don't even look at the NBA dot Com ratings. Are they 633 00:39:57,400 --> 00:40:01,000 Bobcatting relative to NBA dot com ers are just cleaning the as I only looked 634 00:40:01,039 --> 00:40:05,760 at cleaning the glass. I'm gonna look up. They have to be because 635 00:40:05,800 --> 00:40:09,159 they're signed to do it without like they don't need to trade anybody. I 636 00:40:09,199 --> 00:40:12,639 think they should, like let's see what you could get for Josh Person and 637 00:40:12,679 --> 00:40:15,559 Jacopoto, But like they have Devin Vassell, like running a million big and 638 00:40:15,679 --> 00:40:17,440 rolls and get a million. And look, he's been good by the way 639 00:40:19,119 --> 00:40:22,199 he's pulled off a little bit, but he's still been worth exploration. And 640 00:40:22,639 --> 00:40:25,719 Trey Jones is fine. But like in KELLG like though you don't have an 641 00:40:25,719 --> 00:40:30,159 offensive initiator on this, and who is their best offensive initiator? It is 642 00:40:30,199 --> 00:40:37,440 Trey Jones, Ty Jones? And so is it? Well he's this time 643 00:40:37,000 --> 00:40:40,079 they against the war I think it was against the Warriors, and they're one 644 00:40:40,239 --> 00:40:45,440 one or two games on either side of that. Jeremy Sohan up, what 645 00:40:45,519 --> 00:40:49,960 about as well as you could expect too? Sure, yeah, but my 646 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:53,679 expectations were not high like he delivered on those. It's just it's an unfair 647 00:40:53,719 --> 00:40:58,719 ask. It's crazy, Like there's a scenario two years from now where that's 648 00:40:58,760 --> 00:41:01,440 really interesting because he can and sort of do that stuff. But just like 649 00:41:01,920 --> 00:41:06,159 so the ability to self sabotage, you know, if they really want to 650 00:41:06,159 --> 00:41:08,199 go for the bobcat I guess that is what I'm saying, is that they 651 00:41:08,199 --> 00:41:15,760 have the ability to just without really benching guys, just sort of aligning the 652 00:41:15,920 --> 00:41:20,159 rotation in such a way that you're gonna play all the best guys you have 653 00:41:20,239 --> 00:41:22,800 and it's still just it's gonna be real bad. They are not Bobcatting on 654 00:41:22,880 --> 00:41:28,239 NBA dot Com. They're they're whopping super high twenty ninth and offense and thirtieth 655 00:41:28,280 --> 00:41:31,639 and defense. You know what's cleaning the glass updated too. The Hornets are 656 00:41:31,719 --> 00:41:36,079 thirtieth on offense. Why do I? Oh, I'm looking at Okay, 657 00:41:36,239 --> 00:41:39,000 So, but they're they're coming pretty close to Bobcatting. So do you think 658 00:41:39,039 --> 00:41:43,679 they will? I think they will. So I think the momentum right now 659 00:41:43,880 --> 00:41:50,199 is like is just the downward momentum is irreversible and is going to accelerate it 660 00:41:50,360 --> 00:41:57,880 because it's just like I think the Pistons would like to just be a little 661 00:41:57,960 --> 00:42:00,880 better and not be terrible, and the Rockets play, like I said, 662 00:42:00,920 --> 00:42:06,320 play really hard. Orlando is just better than five and twenty, just like 663 00:42:06,440 --> 00:42:09,000 they've been destroyed by injuries. Even if it's young guys and guys we don't 664 00:42:09,039 --> 00:42:15,920 really like that's still the case the Spurs just it's just the arrows down and 665 00:42:15,320 --> 00:42:19,880 they wanted to go that way and it's really easy for them to keep ahead 666 00:42:19,920 --> 00:42:22,119 at that direction. And look, if they get not that it would be 667 00:42:22,280 --> 00:42:28,280 assured anything but like Scoot Hender's Intervictor women Yama would be huge for for this 668 00:42:28,400 --> 00:42:31,440 team. They get one of those guys. Yeah, let's see, are 669 00:42:31,440 --> 00:42:34,599 we're good or want us want me to take us out? Or is there 670 00:42:34,599 --> 00:42:37,320 any other ones we didn't get to. No, we hit everything. We'll 671 00:42:37,320 --> 00:42:38,960 have the mail actual Well you did do one of the mail bad questions in 672 00:42:38,960 --> 00:42:40,840 the hot or not phrase from Rome, But that's good. But we'll have 673 00:42:40,920 --> 00:42:45,559 more. We'll have an actual mail bag again next week. But this was 674 00:42:45,679 --> 00:42:47,559 this was a fun instructive exercise has always and I enjoyed some of the ones 675 00:42:47,639 --> 00:42:52,840 that you came up with, and I enjoyed you becoming a New Orleans Pelicans 676 00:42:52,880 --> 00:42:55,440 Convert mid podcast. It's it's done. I can't go back now. If 677 00:42:55,480 --> 00:42:59,280 they go on, like if they have a bad week, I'm gonna be 678 00:42:59,360 --> 00:43:02,800 real upset. Yeah, so everybody, thank you for listening. These are 679 00:43:02,840 --> 00:43:07,639 always fun. Thank you so much for these hot or knots. They're like 680 00:43:07,719 --> 00:43:09,280 we said last time we did this and with the mailback stuff. This is 681 00:43:09,360 --> 00:43:15,039 always awesome because it keeps us on our toes and we like making content that 682 00:43:15,119 --> 00:43:17,920 you guys want to you know, listen to and have discussed. So everybody 683 00:43:17,960 --> 00:43:22,239 wins that way, So keep them coming. We'll do these again in the 684 00:43:22,280 --> 00:43:23,679 meantime. Tell all your friends and if you haven't done it yet, I 685 00:43:23,719 --> 00:43:29,039 don't know how you're listening to this, but like, subscribe, comment, 686 00:43:29,280 --> 00:43:32,199 do all the things you need to do, follow us on socials. They're 687 00:43:32,280 --> 00:43:35,400 on the If you're watching this on YouTube, you can see them on the 688 00:43:35,440 --> 00:43:39,039 bottom right. And thank you for listening. Listen. Next time we'll have 689 00:43:39,119 --> 00:43:43,639 some more of this stuff for you guys, and I'll take us out with 690 00:43:43,679 --> 00:43:46,920 an apology to Jared Allen maybe should have I already apologize to New Orleans Pelicans, 691 00:43:47,039 --> 00:43:52,000 and last, but absolutely not least on behalf of Dan. We give 692 00:43:52,039 --> 00:43:58,079 a parting shout out to the man, the Myth, the Legend, mister 693 00:43:58,480 --> 00:43:59,519 Frank Nilikina,