WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:08.199 This is the baseline discussing the hot button topics of the NBA. Welcome everybody, 2 00:00:08.279 --> 00:00:12.000 your tune to the baseline. Calie Warren Shaw discussing the hot button topics 3 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:17.719 of the NBA. And this is our twenty twenty three twenty four Western Conference 4 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:22.160 preview. As always, man, rolling with my big dog, been doing 5 00:00:22.199 --> 00:00:28.280 it for so long, and as we are captivated by, you know, 6 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:32.240 all of the movements that have taken place in the preseason, I'm sorry, 7 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:35.640 in the off season. And then you know, given that we just finished 8 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:40.600 rolling out our Eastern Conference preview, you know they say, you know, 9 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:44.000 it's about that time again. It seems like the best is coming out of 10 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:47.320 the West. That's what the murmurs are about Shaw. And when we talk 11 00:00:47.399 --> 00:00:51.039 about this Western Conference, it didn't take much. You know, it didn't 12 00:00:51.079 --> 00:00:55.479 take long for them to I guess you could say Resa plant themselves as being 13 00:00:55.520 --> 00:01:00.000 the dominant conference at least, you know, kind of putting that out there 14 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:06.079 in the ethos. Yeah, in terms of just overall good teams, this 15 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:11.040 conference is the hardest innocence for us to tier. Teams could jump two or 16 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:15.799 three tiers based on a variety of different things. Injury always plays a partner 17 00:01:15.799 --> 00:01:19.280 thinking anything that we're talking about, But we just don't have a lot of 18 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:22.719 good data on some of these teams, and uh teams, some of the 19 00:01:22.760 --> 00:01:26.239 teams are vastly different. The rosters changes have been so dramatic that we now 20 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:30.640 have to kind of consider so for argument purposes, like all right, we'll 21 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:34.159 slash y'all here for now, and then I think as the season progresses, 22 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:38.359 we kind of have to figure out, you know, how that ultimately matriculates 23 00:01:38.359 --> 00:01:41.599 for them, because there's a lot of movement within this conference. Absolutely, 24 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:45.159 and I know, you know, we're gonna again as always, you know, 25 00:01:45.159 --> 00:01:47.840 we're going to you know, make sure we break down people what our 26 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:52.560 mindset is and how we broke down this conference and how we formulated where we 27 00:01:52.599 --> 00:01:55.840 believe these teams are gonna fit get in where they fit in. I think 28 00:01:55.840 --> 00:01:59.120 the one caveat that we do want to make sure we throw out their shaw 29 00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:02.879 because it's relevant as it pertains to the Western Conference. This is a very 30 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:12.159 fickle conference. Like we're talking about, the sensitivity of player health really really 31 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:16.120 rests on the teams that have their rosters built in the Western Conference, where 32 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:22.400 depth becomes important and the superstar players who over the last few years we've been 33 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:29.560 clamoring for them to have really an overall well rounded, productive, full regular 34 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:34.080 season to really determine or to have a determinist outcome of whether or not these 35 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:37.439 teams are going to be competitive in the final stretch, which would be the 36 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:42.039 playoff stretch. Right, this is so critical now in the stage and we 37 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:45.919 talk about teams like the Clippers, and we're talking about teams like the Warriors 38 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:49.560 and the Lakers. I mean, we're not talking about player management, Shaw, 39 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:53.280 that is a foregone conclusion. What we're talking about is for us to 40 00:02:53.400 --> 00:03:00.199 get the deliverable of awesome you know basketball play that is necessary. It's gonna 41 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:05.560 take all of these guys to relatively stay healthy throughout the course of the season. 42 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:07.560 Yeah yeah, I think again, you know, going back on the 43 00:03:08.439 --> 00:03:12.639 point, without getting too much into it per se, but as you mentioned, 44 00:03:12.680 --> 00:03:15.400 the Clippers, the Lakers, New Orleans even three teams that have just 45 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:21.759 really struggled with health and can oscillate their tiers by virtue of that aspect of 46 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:24.400 it alone, let alone the roster construction, which is the whole reason, 47 00:03:24.520 --> 00:03:27.680 you know, the whole offseason is more or less kind of take place, 48 00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:31.360 But injury concerns within this conference are about Minnesota as well to another one. 49 00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:35.199 They only had color talents for what twenty five games or whatever it was last 50 00:03:35.280 --> 00:03:39.560 year, So how do those players and they're hopeful healthy returns impact the rest 51 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:43.560 of this Western Conference. And I think, honestly speaking, you know, 52 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:46.599 without giving too much into it, this is a conference that I think is 53 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:51.919 going to literally be decided by like four or five games between like seeds like 54 00:03:51.960 --> 00:03:54.680 three through like eleven. Like that's not a lot of variance, you know. 55 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:57.960 And I know we've been saying that for a little while here now, 56 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:00.479 but the NBA continues to skew in that way, especially when you have the 57 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:04.280 playing situation, so it's giving teams more to play for kind of throughout the 58 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:08.840 course of the season. And as a result, I think records, records 59 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:11.960 are going to be ultimately condensed in a way that we haven't seen in seasons 60 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:15.919 previous. Absolutely. So, As always, man, sit back, relax, 61 00:04:15.079 --> 00:04:19.480 allow us to navigate through the wild Wow West as we would like to 62 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:26.519 call it. Cali Warrenshaw Baseline NBA Podcast our twenty twenty three twenty four Western 63 00:04:26.519 --> 00:04:29.800 Conference preview. As always, be sure to get up my manshawe Ashaw Sports, 64 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:31.040 NBA Get at Me a game face, lead the shows, Twitter handled 65 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:34.920 at NBA Baseline. If you want to catch this episode and our previous episodes, 66 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:40.519 especially our Eastern Conference preview, be sure to go to www dot THEBASELINNBA 67 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:46.079 dot com. If you see us on video, Hello to our fam and 68 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:50.040 friends that are listening in and all of our peoples who are tuning in via 69 00:04:50.079 --> 00:04:54.879 through YouTube. If you see the nice blue and white logo sitting at the 70 00:04:54.920 --> 00:04:58.680 bottom center of our screens, you know that we rocks with the nineteen media 71 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:02.160 groups, So be sure to go to www dot nineteen MediaGroup dot com to 72 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:08.920 catch us and all of the great, awesome personalities and content creators that are 73 00:05:08.959 --> 00:05:11.759 part of the nineteen Media group family. We cover the game in the sports, 74 00:05:11.879 --> 00:05:14.839 entertainment, music, and culture, so be sure to go to www 75 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:19.560 dot nineteen MediaGroup dot com. So first, let's do a little housekeeping for 76 00:05:19.639 --> 00:05:23.959 our listeners here. So how do we break down the Western Conference? I 77 00:05:23.959 --> 00:05:28.000 mean, all of these teams are gonna basically be vying for an opportunity to 78 00:05:28.399 --> 00:05:31.519 to to you know, participate compete in the playoffs. Well, we're looking 79 00:05:31.560 --> 00:05:35.079 at this in a tier like type of way. Right, not everybody is 80 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:39.279 gonna be able to make it to the playoffs. So we basically have it 81 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:44.279 broken down in five tiers. Right. Obviously the lowest tier, the teams 82 00:05:44.279 --> 00:05:47.000 that we believe are. You know, they're gonna may maybe improve, maybe 83 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:51.079 not improved, maybe struggle, but under no circumstances do we have any any 84 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:54.800 confidence that they're gonna be able to make the playoffs. Then we got a 85 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:57.759 team that we call the played out teams, right, like they're playing, 86 00:05:57.800 --> 00:06:01.319 they're competing, and they have actually a possible shot maybe to get into the 87 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:05.759 play in tournament, but they may fall a little bit short. Then we 88 00:06:05.879 --> 00:06:09.600 got our play in tiers, right, these are the dudes that are gonna 89 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:13.560 be jockeying for the opportunity to give themselves a chance to get into the players 90 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:16.639 to the playoffs. Then we've got our true players. We know they're a 91 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:20.879 lot given the roster, given what we'll discuss with these teams respectively. And 92 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:25.040 then we got what we call the conference bosses, the money boss teams. 93 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:28.639 We know that they're in there, they're gonna be contenders, and they're eventually 94 00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:31.160 gonna be of the teams that we're gonna be having this conversation of getting to 95 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:35.160 the Western Conference finals and ultimately, at some point we will, you know, 96 00:06:35.399 --> 00:06:40.199 down the road, choose who we believe in confidence would be the team 97 00:06:40.199 --> 00:06:43.360 to represent out of the West. But for the most part, that's how 98 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:46.040 our preview will go. We'll break down the tiers, talk about these teams, 99 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:49.720 go through their ups and downs, their pros and cons, and hopefully 100 00:06:49.720 --> 00:06:53.519 you'll be on board with it. But if you're not, that's why we 101 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:56.120 want you to weigh in and let us know what you think. All right, 102 00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:59.319 So Sean, let's get right into it. Let's start off with our 103 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:01.920 Tier five, right bottom tier teams, teams that we know are gonna have 104 00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:05.879 are gonna be struggling to get out, you know of this seller sort of 105 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:10.079 speak, you know what I'm saying, Crabs in the barrel mentality. We're 106 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:14.000 gonna probably see some upside, we may see more downsides to them. In 107 00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:16.480 our tier fives, we got the San Antonio Spurs, the Houston Rockets, 108 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:20.519 and the Utah Jazz. And it's amazing, Sean, because we're talking about 109 00:07:20.519 --> 00:07:24.519 the Utah Jazz. I don't know if whether or not we thought last year 110 00:07:24.759 --> 00:07:29.399 was an admiration. Did they just really overachieve with the way that they competed. 111 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:32.279 Do you see them as a team that's taking a step back and maybe 112 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:38.519 a team like San Antonio to who has when Bayanna and company, a team 113 00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:43.920 like Houston who is completely you know, you know, refurbished their backcourt and 114 00:07:43.959 --> 00:07:47.560 their roster. All of that being said, we don't have them as confidently 115 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:50.639 as teams that are gonna be as competitive as we would like to see them 116 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:53.800 be. But maybe they are a year or two out from being in that 117 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:57.600 in that position. I mean, they made a nice move. They got 118 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:00.920 John Collins for the super cheap and now they they're going to play market in 119 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:03.079 basically at the full time three for the most part, obviously ostlc to the 120 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:07.639 four sometimes as well too Walker Kessler. In the second year, there's optimism 121 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:09.879 here, but I think, as we said in the in the in the 122 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:15.160 outset, somebody has to be down here. It just has to be somebody, 123 00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:20.120 and I don't know that Aange and Will Harding and company are ultimately trying 124 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:22.600 to win a bunch of games this year. They won thirty seven games last 125 00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:26.720 year, and I think they could win something along those lines. But they 126 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:31.439 ultimately missed the playoffs again, putting them in this kind of Tier five conversation. 127 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:35.720 So I would expect similar, you know record for them to some degree, 128 00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:39.879 maybe maybe one or two less wins per se as the west of the 129 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:43.080 rest of the conference has gotten a little bit tougher. But this isn't a 130 00:08:43.159 --> 00:08:46.480 knock on this team in any capacity. They're still very talented and on an 131 00:08:46.519 --> 00:08:48.000 upper trajectory. They have some issues at the point guard that you got to 132 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:50.360 figure out Chris Don, Colin Sexton, you know who's going to be that. 133 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:54.000 You know, they drafted a nice young rookie as well too. J 134 00:08:54.200 --> 00:08:56.799 Clarkson also ran some one for them last year. But this is not a 135 00:08:56.879 --> 00:09:01.840 knock on Utah other than the fact that some body has to be below the 136 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:05.559 play in line in the Western Conference and right now that's just kind of like 137 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:09.879 who we're tapping. Well. I think what this comes down to is will 138 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:15.600 the Utah Jazz have a more talented team than the teams that they're going to 139 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:18.039 be fighting against. I think that they will be a better team, yes 140 00:09:18.159 --> 00:09:22.159 than say the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets, who will talk about 141 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:26.000 in a few minutes. But I think when you talk about the Utah Jazz, 142 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:31.360 do they have a talented enough roster? Can they usurp the teams that 143 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:33.240 we're going to be talking about ahead of them right that are going to be 144 00:09:33.320 --> 00:09:39.799 probably you know, jockeying for playing worthiness sort of speak, and against the 145 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:43.320 rosters that have bona fide superstars. We have guys that are on the precipice, 146 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:48.879 like you've mentioned Kessler and marketing in where they can essentially be quality star 147 00:09:50.039 --> 00:09:52.960 players. I don't know if they'll necessarily be superstar players. And when we 148 00:09:54.039 --> 00:09:56.120 use the word superstars, I think we get it conflated with this idea about 149 00:09:56.399 --> 00:10:00.240 you know, they're going out there and you know they're making a name for 150 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:03.879 themselves. They're TikTok friends, you know, TikTok Mania friends and things that 151 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:09.159 nature we're talking about. Are the numbers in the production equate to I can 152 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:13.200 put this team on my back and I can lead them to wins that collectively 153 00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:16.919 as a team we're not talented enough to beat whoever we're playing against that given 154 00:10:18.039 --> 00:10:20.360 night. I still think that there may be a year or two away from 155 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:24.759 that happening, and collectively as a as a team, you know, and 156 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:28.559 this is part of what Danny Age did when he was over in Boston. 157 00:10:28.039 --> 00:10:31.559 Collectively, as a team, you start with some some core star players that 158 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:35.320 you have that belief in that they can actually shoulder a team, and then 159 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:39.240 you work with the you know, the supplemental parts around. I think they're 160 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:43.000 still trying to figure out who those star dudes are. Not saying that that 161 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:46.480 you know who we mentioned are not of that ilk to be in that conversation, 162 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:50.559 but they haven't proven it as of yet, and they haven't proven it 163 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:54.279 with consistency. But maybe this is the year where part of that happens. 164 00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:58.399 And those key matchups against the you know, the likes of the Portland Trailblazers 165 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:01.279 and the Minnesota Timberwolves, and you're playing against the Big Cats, and you're 166 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:07.960 playing against the you know, the Jeremy Grants and DeAndre Ayton's and those guys, 167 00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:11.639 and you have better numbers than their counterpart superstar players that they're searching through 168 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:15.639 and trying to figure out who's going to be the pillars of their roster. 169 00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:18.840 I think that will bold well for the Utah Jazz, and I think, 170 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:22.320 you know, to your point, that's going to keep them around that thirty 171 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:26.919 thirty five plus win range, maybe somewhere closer to the forties, especially when 172 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:30.679 you go down to the final stretch of games, you know what I'm saying, 173 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:33.240 to to really determine where their outcome is going to be. Yeah, 174 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:37.320 I think in short, this is a team that I want to be surprised, 175 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:41.360 compete for a play in if things win a certain type of way for 176 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:45.120 them ultimately. I think Hardy has obviously proven to be a competent coach even 177 00:11:45.159 --> 00:11:46.919 in just year one, and they have some good bones here. I think 178 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:50.159 if they do figure out what's happening at the point guard situation, you know 179 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:54.879 between Sexton, Chris Donciante, George as I alluded to earlier as well too, 180 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:58.480 and if Clarkson is going to also do some playmaking for them, you 181 00:11:58.519 --> 00:12:01.960 know, once it's all situated, then hey, you know, maybe they 182 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:05.919 do figure it out in a way that they are ultimately more competitive and get 183 00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:07.240 out of this tier. As I said, I think this is not a 184 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:11.440 knock on them. I respect this, respect this franchise. I respect what 185 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:13.720 they did, and I think they even branded together or banded together last year 186 00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:16.039 to prove a lot of people wrong because they thought this team could have been 187 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:20.720 in the twenty win situation, not thirty seven. So I'm not doubting them 188 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:24.120 in any capacity to be competitive. Again, just saying, I think somebody 189 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:26.600 has to be here for now, and I don't know if they're trying to 190 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:30.799 win this year just yet. All right, let's focus our attention on the 191 00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:35.399 youth. I'm sorry their Houston Rockets real quick Shaw, look, Van Fleet, 192 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:41.320 Dylan Brooks, that's the back court of the future, right, you 193 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:43.679 know, the young I don't know if it's so much them trying to figure 194 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:48.840 out a way to merge the youth movement with the wily veterans and stuff like 195 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:56.720 that, minus the Dylan Brooks antics. The Houston Rockets really have their plate 196 00:12:56.759 --> 00:13:01.720 full because they're not competing in a division that's gonna give them oxygen for them 197 00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:07.159 to have those lapses and those those moments where you know they can afford to 198 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:09.840 lose six, seven, eight games in a row. It's just way too 199 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:13.480 competitive a division for them to deal with, and so it's a murderous Rows 200 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:16.480 store to speak. So how quickly do you think the Houston Rockets can get 201 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:20.080 themselves up to speed despite the fact that we have them as part of our 202 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:24.120 bottom tiers of teams in the Western Conference. Yeah, this is just about 203 00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:28.360 how they install a system that allows them to grow and mature. The knock 204 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:31.759 on this roster has been that, especially with Kevin Porter Junior, who's no 205 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:33.600 longer with the roster or is away from the team while they try to move 206 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:39.519 him. He and Jaellen Green are just not constant and professionals. The locker 207 00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:41.919 room and the way they take the game is just about getting their stats. 208 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:45.639 You bring in Fred van Vliet, you bring in Jeff Green, Do you 209 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:48.440 sign Reggie Bullock? Even more recently, Now you've got three veterans in the 210 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:52.840 locker room to kind of help this team figure some stuff out, in addition 211 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:54.320 to Dylan Brooks. But again, you know, he's got his own set 212 00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:58.879 of issues. The major coup of them is really is the addition of Udoka 213 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:01.679 on the sidelines, and he brings all of his staff that he had with 214 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:05.440 him in Boston. So Houston now is in that space where it's like, 215 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:07.480 all right, how do they mature? How do they mature and become professional 216 00:14:07.559 --> 00:14:11.559 basketball players? They won't be next to last and defenses here. Udoka just 217 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:15.159 won't stand for it. He just won't, right, So I don't know 218 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:18.399 whether I don't I don't know. I don't know whether or not he's gonna 219 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:20.200 be able to stand for Dylan Brooks and his antics. I mean, because 220 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:24.840 there's an interesting problem. There's an interesting dichotomy there, right Like you, 221 00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:28.960 you see that Dylan Brooks is who he is, and he's gonna do what 222 00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:33.000 he does because he truly believes and has confidence within himself. But Udoka believes 223 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:37.799 in a system, he believes in a culture, and he will outright just 224 00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:41.480 you know, he'll, he'll, he'll, he'll, you know, excommunicate, 225 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:45.039 you know what I'm saying, a dude, if he's upsetting the culture 226 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:48.039 that he is trying to build within that locker room. And I just mean 227 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:52.720 that by saying, if what Dylan Brooks does becomes more of a cancer, 228 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:56.799 you know what I'm saying, rather than it being and and and and an 229 00:14:56.840 --> 00:15:00.879 advocacy to what needs to happen, that can be a problem, especially when 230 00:15:00.919 --> 00:15:03.480 you give a guy to kind of bag that Dylan Brooks is receiving. You 231 00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:07.840 know, I'd be very interested to see if Udoka and Brooks can be on 232 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:11.080 the same page, because to your point, I think Brooks can be the 233 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:16.159 catalyst to Houston taking a humongous leap as far as their defensive metrics go. 234 00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:22.200 I mean, they've been virtually the worst team defensively last what four or five 235 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:24.960 years. Like this is not just something out of the blue, It's just 236 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:28.399 how it is. Like they they had given into the idea that they're gonna 237 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:31.480 score as much as they possibly can and to hell with the defense, you 238 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:33.600 know what I'm saying, to see if they can get a couple more baskets 239 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:37.639 than the opposing team. But I to your point, Udoka doesn't buy that. 240 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:39.879 I think it comes down to something's got to come up, something, 241 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:43.759 something's got to go up, and something's gotta come down. The defense is 242 00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:46.559 definitely gonna come up, but it has to be with a discipline mentality so 243 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:52.240 that the young guys understand what their roles are on how to play team defense 244 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:58.240 to make them significantly better. And Ydoka wasn't Brooks didn't come there by accidental, 245 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:00.279 like Udoka had to be on board decision. So I think they've had 246 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:04.600 to have some sumblance of a conversation of what his play and influence will ultimately 247 00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:08.600 be, and his influence cannot become a distraction I think it's alluding to but 248 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:11.240 they have a couple of good rookies as well to a men Thompson, can 249 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:15.279 wit More went More slipped in the draft and you know, look like a 250 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:18.039 world beater out at Summer League and has a lot to prove. But you 251 00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:21.000 gotta you gotta harness that young guy. You know, you can't come out 252 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:23.919 here just jacking up shots just because you're mad everybody that passed on you. 253 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:27.519 So how do they figure out what their rotations are going to be. I'm 254 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:32.159 interested to see what Ben Vliet's ultimate numbers look like and does he improve some 255 00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:34.440 for some of his efficiency. He struggled in Toronto last year, especially with 256 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:38.200 his with his shot, So is there enough spacing? Is there enough you 257 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:41.720 know, continuity within that offense? And that's not Let's not forget Shangun as 258 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:45.120 well too, who's also looking to make another step too. As you know, 259 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:49.720 jokis junior. So I like Houston, they have probably for me as 260 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:52.879 well too with Utah, some boom or bus potential to get out of this 261 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:56.320 tier. But it's a lot of things have to go right, including the 262 00:16:56.399 --> 00:17:00.120 you know, the maturation of Jail and Green coming in morec and not just 263 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:03.559 the guy who's getting buckets, all right, And finally, Sean, let's 264 00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:07.160 talk about the San Antonio Spurs. Look, I think everybody is going to 265 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:11.240 be fixated on what, you know, when Minyama is going to look like 266 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:17.279 to the NBA, But I'm more curious about what the San Antonio Spurs are 267 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:21.240 gonna look like. Will they be an exciting brand of basketball? I think 268 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:26.000 given that Popovich has invested himself in the idea of coaching up women Yanna, 269 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:27.960 I think it also comes down to how is he coaching up the rest of 270 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:32.279 that roster. They've got some you know, some quality role players, some 271 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:34.799 quality guys that I think are gonna get opportunity to shine. It's not going 272 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:38.920 to equate to them, you know, you know, surpassing maybe the Rockets 273 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:41.960 or maybe even the Utah Jazz if we have them as our lower tier team. 274 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:45.279 So we're assuming that they'll probably wind up among one of the worst records 275 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:48.799 in basketball. But will they be an exciting brand? Like, can you 276 00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:53.279 get up for the idea that this roster can be competitive and and maybe even 277 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:56.880 still a few games here or there through the course of the regular season. 278 00:17:56.680 --> 00:18:00.480 Yeah, I think they're going to show some glimpses. I think the biggest 279 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:02.680 question that a lot of people have is, you know, how much when 280 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:06.440 Woy'm gonna play? You know, will he beat sixty five seventy games in 281 00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:08.160 that sense even to qualify for a Rookie of the Year, you know, 282 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:12.000 the slider frame. But he's looked great in preseason, especially with his touch 283 00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:17.200 offensively and his passing as well. You know, the rebounding can probably still 284 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:21.200 start to climb up here too, but he's been showing an elite rim protection. 285 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:23.160 I think even in the couple preseason games that Sandy Hill has played, 286 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:26.039 you know, up to our recording here today. Then I think it's the 287 00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:29.599 question of Kelton Johnson. You know, what role does he plays? He 288 00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:32.759 coming off the bench now or is he still going to be in that starting 289 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:34.759 lineup? All those things were a little bit unsure about as we head into 290 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:38.200 the season. They have a lot of money invested in Devin Bascill now and 291 00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:41.400 they want him to be kind of like the next guy there, I think, 292 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:45.839 you know, especially when it comes offensively. Then Trey Jones at the 293 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:48.759 point guard position, Jeremy Sokan, who they also are very high on. 294 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:52.799 I think this is a team that can surprise some people. Here and there, 295 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:56.039 we'll see some glimpsing of like, wow, this is some competency, 296 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:57.599 but then you're going to see the kind of the youth kind of takeover. 297 00:18:57.720 --> 00:19:00.440 I thinks at times as well too. And that's where they're the only team 298 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:04.319 that I'm pretty confident it's going to be in this bottom tier. Like you 299 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:07.839 know, they jumped up a tier. I'd be a little bit surprised, 300 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:10.480 not as much as I would for the other two, but here I'm like, 301 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:12.240 all right, San Antonio should be a Tier five team based on their 302 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:15.680 overall roster and projections this year. All right, you're tuned to the baseline. 303 00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:19.839 Cali Warrenshaw discussing the hot button topics of the NBA are twenty twenty three 304 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:25.440 to twenty four Western Conference preview. Just finishing up Tier five, Shaw, 305 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:27.640 let's go ahead and switch to gears. Now to Tier four. These are 306 00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:33.559 the teams that we feel like they're going to be competitive. They may actually 307 00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:37.240 have a pathway to possibly you know, participating in the play in, but 308 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:41.160 when it's all said and done, the likelihood is they're going to probably be 309 00:19:41.880 --> 00:19:48.920 you know, looking out basically out looking in Portland Trailblazers in the Dallas Mavericks. 310 00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:52.680 I don't think I'm completely you know, surprised that we selected these two 311 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:59.200 team shaw when you look at one basically overhauled their roster, giving up Damian 312 00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:03.480 Lillard into Portland Trailblazers and the Dallas Mavericks. I felt like were I guess 313 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:07.359 you could say, held hostage to the circumstance of saying they have to make 314 00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:12.200 this work with Doncic and Irving, but in doing so, the rest of 315 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:18.279 the roster itself doesn't look like it's going to be able to match up with 316 00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:21.319 some of the other teams that we'll be talking about in those other tiers. 317 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:26.359 So what can we make of the Portland Trailblazers and the Dallas Mavericks respectively. 318 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:29.720 That will say they'll be competitive, you know what I'm saying. They'll make 319 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:33.920 it an interesting run, but when it's all said and done, they're probably 320 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:37.960 not going to be the ones participating in that plan. Yeah, So if 321 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:42.319 we swap Portland with Utah or Houston, I don't think it would be crazy. 322 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:45.440 You know, when I was even looking at, you know, trying 323 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:48.480 to find odds for Portland, you know, in terms of their win total. 324 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:51.880 Some people are like, well, we don't know yet. It's incomplete, 325 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:55.000 we can't figure it out just yet. And then some people think they 326 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:57.240 are going to be as bad as San Antonio. I think they have some 327 00:20:57.240 --> 00:21:02.759 semblance of competency to this roster, especially with you know, similar to Utah 328 00:21:02.839 --> 00:21:04.640 to maybe to some agreement, like people are just gonna assume that they're tanking, 329 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:10.279 and I don't know that these are professionals that that feel exactly the same 330 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:14.359 way now they say when they say styles make make make matches, right, 331 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:17.279 you know what I'm saying. And if you look at the Portland Trailblazers, 332 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:22.200 they have a pretty formidable front court where most teams are very backcourt heavy. 333 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:26.960 If Portland figures out a way to make this work with Scoot Henderson right billups 334 00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:30.279 fans, a way to get Scoot Henderson to buy in and and and and 335 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:34.359 to really help feed the big boys, they could actually on a nightly basis, 336 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:38.799 be a problem for most matchups in the Western Conference. Well, I 337 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:41.119 like where you said right there too. I think it's you know, what 338 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:44.880 is Scoot trying to do? Is he out here campaigning and trying to win 339 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:48.039 Rookie of the Year or is he out here just trying to make his make 340 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:51.599 his team better and whatever that looks like. So does he have the ability 341 00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:55.279 to score here and there? And then you know feed you know, denominating 342 00:21:55.400 --> 00:21:57.319 or whatever he's calling himself here now right And Jeremy Grant, you know, 343 00:21:57.480 --> 00:22:03.079 Grant likes to have the ball in his hand. He likes when he is 344 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:04.920 a one or number two option, so he has that there, But then 345 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:07.960 you still have Anthony Simunds is like, well, don't forget about me, 346 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:11.640 right. So I think the offensive delineation is going to be something that's going 347 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:17.759 to be really important for Portland going into this season, and if they're able 348 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:21.680 to get some sort of tier system, I think within that and Scoot and 349 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:25.559 Simon's and Grant are not all just fighting over the ball. Not to mention 350 00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:27.400 Shaden Sharp as well too, who also thinks like he has some bounce to 351 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:32.079 his game. That's going to be the biggest thing for Portland and that will 352 00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:36.119 send them whether into this tier as we're alluding to, or sending them backwards, 353 00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:37.480 you know, into the Tier five where they're competing for a number one 354 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:40.799 or number two draft pick. Again. Yeah, I think it's interesting that 355 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:42.839 you say that, Shaw, because when you look at what the team did, 356 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:45.759 you know, last year, they only amassed thirty three wins, but 357 00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:48.480 a lot of it was summersed in turmoil, right, and a lot of 358 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:52.960 it isn't from uncertainty. I think by taking care of what needed to be 359 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:56.599 taken care of and addressing the elephant in a room, I think now Chauncey 360 00:22:56.640 --> 00:23:00.000 Billup has full focus on how he needs to kind of, you know, 361 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:04.160 curtail this team to be competitive and and how he's going to have to utilize 362 00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:11.079 his his his his team in the proper way where they become assets and not 363 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:17.240 just become you know, pawns in a you know, business oriented game of 364 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:21.960 you know, trying to appease an audience in a fan base and recognizing, 365 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:25.240 you know, the landscape of where the Western Conference truly is and what they're 366 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:26.319 going to have to measure up to and how long it's going to take for 367 00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:30.240 them to be able to measure up to those expectations. So very interesting dynamic. 368 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:33.480 Now we talk about the Dallas Mavericks, saw it's a complete opposite with 369 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:41.319 them because you already have a quote unquote MVP like caliber player in Luka Donkic. 370 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:45.759 You had, you know, a person who has been in MVP conversations 371 00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:49.039 due to course of his career in Kyrie Irving, And yet when we talk 372 00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:53.240 about this dynamic, it just has not come to fruition. And I don't 373 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:57.000 know if part of it is the struggle in recognizing that it really should just 374 00:23:57.000 --> 00:24:00.359 fall on these two guys that go out there and just score the bass ball 375 00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:04.519 and to help with everybody else, or there's this constant belief that Jason Kidd 376 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:11.319 can position the rest of their role players to allow Donkish to do what he 377 00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:15.559 does and it to flourish. It's amazing because for a team that you would 378 00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:19.559 think should be able to score to basketball like like it's nothing, even handing 379 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:22.759 guys the ball like it should be easy buckets for them, this team struggles 380 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:26.440 to score to basketball more than anything, and struggle to score with consistency. 381 00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:30.880 Well yeah, there, what two years, three years removed from a historic 382 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:34.720 offense. They excuse me, they were still sixth last year I think an 383 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:38.720 offensive rating. But you know, once they lost solid to Houston, you 384 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:41.359 know, it just thinks it's been a little bit different. And then how 385 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:45.440 much how much of the Luca magic, if you will, to is able 386 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:48.319 to spread to the rest of the roster where you can share the basketball. 387 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:52.880 Enter Kyrie Irving now inter Grant Williams, you know, and a host of 388 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:57.319 other I think rotation guys here are hoping to be able to feed. I 389 00:24:57.359 --> 00:25:00.599 think to some degree, it's also the Luca mindset. He's brilliant, There's 390 00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:06.000 no two ways about it. He's a brilliant offensive basketball player. But now 391 00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:10.400 is he willing to not just I don't think Luka stat pas in any capacity, 392 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:14.839 but really make the whole of the parts better? Right? And now 393 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:17.599 you have Steth Curry back in Dallas. You know what does that look like? 394 00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:19.880 Can Derek Jones be an acceptable lob threat for them? Can they get 395 00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:22.880 out on the run, get on the break a little bit and utilizing me 396 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:27.839 with that verticality. Can Kyrie maybe even take on some of the playmaking responsibilities, 397 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:32.680 you know that maybe Luca to kind of just even take some pressure off 398 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:34.279 of Luca, because you know, Kyrie also likes to score the basketball. 399 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:37.440 You still have Tim Hardaway on this basketball team because obviously, you know, 400 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:41.839 a brilliant three point shooter as well too. Rashaun Holmes now comes in too, 401 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:44.880 to try to shure up the front court. There's a lot of things 402 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:48.880 that are happening, I think with this team, especially offensively. But I'm 403 00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:53.599 interested to see how does Derek Jones, Grant Williams Holmes and even Kleeber a 404 00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:57.119 mixture of new guys and old guys, how do they help the defensive side 405 00:25:57.119 --> 00:26:00.839 of the basketball where they really really struggle I think in years past, in 406 00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:04.160 addition to how they need to just make sure everybody stays involved and engage. 407 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:07.960 And I think he'll get that defensive effort if you keep everybody happy offensively as 408 00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:11.400 well too. Yeah, there's a four and a half game difference between the 409 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:17.440 Portland Trailblazers and the Dallas Mavericks from last season, right, and so to 410 00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:21.480 your point, it can go any way. You know, the Dallas Mavericks 411 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:25.200 to easily find themselves is considered our Tier fives is just as easily as we 412 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:29.039 would elevate, say the Portland Trailblazers or the Utah Jazz into that Tier four 413 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:33.319 situation. And so it'll be interesting to see what takes playshaw. I think 414 00:26:33.319 --> 00:26:34.680 the other thing as well too is ball movement, you know, because this 415 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:38.759 has never been Kyrie Irving's strong suit, his ability to move the basketball the 416 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:41.680 way like Luca would typically move the ball. He kind of, you know, 417 00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:48.359 it's very different in their their ISO play and play creating abilities for them. 418 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:52.480 So to see Jason Kidd kind of, you know, kind of weave 419 00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:59.839 a masterpiece together of two dynamically different ISO styles of basketball so that it be 420 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:03.200 comes poetry in motion for the Dallas Mavericks, I think will be the greatest 421 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:07.400 challenge more than anything. Maybe me gonna leap frog themselves. It's a certified 422 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:10.640 playing I ain't completely buying on that, and I believe you feel the same 423 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:12.279 way as well as too. But I do think that it will make for 424 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:18.799 an interesting assessment, you know what I'm saying as they try and spot and 425 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:21.720 look at, you know, whether or not the system and the style of 426 00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:26.039 play is really suited for the personnel that the Dallas Mavericks will have on the 427 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:30.920 basketball court. Your tuned to the baseline. Calie Warrenshaw discussing the hot button 428 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:34.240 topics of the NBA and our twenty twenty three twenty four Western Conference preview coming 429 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:38.839 up. We're gonna talk about our Tier three and Tier two teams. These 430 00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:42.640 are the teams that we believe are playing worthy and also are a locks to 431 00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:45.319 be in the play in and so you don't want to miss out as we 432 00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:51.279 cover those teams in discussion. But before we do that, if you like 433 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:56.400 using debit over credit, I just learned about something that's definitely a game changer. 434 00:27:56.640 --> 00:28:00.400 It's called Discover cash Back Debit. It's a check account that rewards everyone 435 00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:04.160 with the cash back on everyday purchases, which means you can get cash back 436 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:08.200 on tickets for the game, snacks, team merch all with no fees, 437 00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:14.000 making this season a total win. Check out eligibility in terms at Discover dot 438 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:19.359 com Slash cash Back Debit Discover Bank member FDI. See more baseline here. 439 00:28:19.880 --> 00:28:29.279 Cali Warrenshaw, We are back, Cali Warrenshaw. Baseline. NBA podcasts are 440 00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:34.319 twenty twenty three, twenty four Western Conference Preview. As we are going through 441 00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:37.960 our tiers right now, Shaw, So let's talk about our tier threes. 442 00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:40.960 These are the teams that we know, or at least we feel confident, 443 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:45.599 are going to be playing themselves in for an opportunity to get into the playoff 444 00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:48.680 picture. So we're looking at the Minnesota Timberwolves, the New Orleans Pelican, 445 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:55.519 New Orleans Pelicans, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the OKC Thunder. Now, 446 00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:57.400 Shaw, there would be a time where we'll be hedging our bets when 447 00:28:57.400 --> 00:29:00.440 we talk about the OKAC Thunders. I want to talk about them first. 448 00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:04.839 I'm with you on this, man. I think the Thunder are going to 449 00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:07.880 be a team that people need to pay attention to. Matter of fact, 450 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:12.160 I really think people should. I guess you could say, wake up and 451 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:18.240 smell you know what I'm saying, the Thunder or and here the thunder that's 452 00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:22.200 about to crackle under the feet of the Western Conference because this is one of 453 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:25.680 those teams. Shaw, a few wins here or there, we could be 454 00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:30.839 talking about them legit playing and forcing maybe one of our tier Tier three teams, 455 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:34.160 I'm sorry, tier two teams back. You know what I'm saying, 456 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:38.759 one back as far as you know, trying to come out of that situation 457 00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:41.759 and not be a playing type team. It's I mean, that's how good 458 00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:47.680 we think the Oklahoma City Thunder team will be for this upcoming season. Yeah, 459 00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:49.519 there's a lot of confidence here. So I think you know what we're 460 00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:55.880 trying to do is give respect what some cautious level of optimism. There's talent 461 00:29:55.960 --> 00:30:00.559 here that could like really boom depending on how things go. Is legitimate MVP 462 00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:06.759 type level candidate. Right. The addition or getting chet Holmgren back here now 463 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:11.839 to complete around his true first first year in the NBA gives them a nice 464 00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:15.720 defensive presidence but also a spacerfront at the five position that can clear things up 465 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:19.279 for SGA's drives and his mid range game as well. Too. You have 466 00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:22.839 the wing Jalen Williams, not the big man, Jeleen Williams, who is 467 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:26.680 also ready to take another step. And I know you and I had some 468 00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:30.759 some conversation about, you know what his level of you know, offensive capability 469 00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:33.519 and professionalism will be going into the season, but I'm pretty high on him 470 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:37.680 in general. Then you still have Josh Giddy and Lou Dort. Right, 471 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:42.400 this is a really good basketball team with a lot of great parts. I 472 00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:45.920 think they're going to be able to figure out what they do on the on 473 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:48.440 the on the offensive and defensive side, you know, with rotations of like 474 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:52.599 bringing in Berton's you know, Polkashewski still on this team. You know, 475 00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:56.880 the younger Wiggins is on this team. All again, good basketball players who 476 00:30:56.920 --> 00:31:00.279 can come in and do spot in minutes, and if they're able to get 477 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:06.759 anything anything out of the corpse that was as Victor Oladipo, that just allows 478 00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:10.880 them to have another dimension. I think coming off that bench really excited about 479 00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:15.279 the prospects of okay, see here this year, and I'm hopeful that they're 480 00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:18.000 able to live up to some of these expectations, especially with Chet being healthy 481 00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:21.880 and obviously another year of you know, kind of excellence romesh. Yet well, 482 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:26.400 this is a This is a perfect example of believing in the roster that 483 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:30.960 you've built right, believing in what Joe Presty has basically over the course of 484 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:36.799 the last five years has kind of put together weave together for this roster. 485 00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:41.440 And I know at times people get really enamored when they see a team you 486 00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:44.599 know, kind of in contention on the precipice, and then you got to 487 00:31:44.599 --> 00:31:45.720 say, oh, bye bye bye, and then you start, you know, 488 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:49.599 giving up certain players and certain assets. And then when that team falls 489 00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:53.160 short of it, now you have to work with what you have ultimately had 490 00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:56.519 put together that might not you know, you know, conform to what the 491 00:31:56.599 --> 00:32:00.599 idea was or any intentions are. This is a perfect example of Hey, 492 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:05.920 Holmgren was injured last year. Who knows what he could have evolved into, 493 00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:09.440 but you can clearly see his presence on the basketball court for a team that 494 00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:16.039 finished mid tier defensively in defensive rating. Right, So now with him just 495 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:21.480 in and of itself being healthy, he can help that basketball team defensively. 496 00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:27.599 Then add these accompanying parts of players who can only get better offensively, and 497 00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:32.200 this team was basically a top fifteen team offensively and offensive ratings. So when 498 00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:36.720 I think about what the Oklahoma City Thunder have going for them, as long 499 00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:42.400 as Joe as Presty does not pull the trigger too early, let these guys 500 00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:46.000 grow and flow. If you have a bona fide MVP type player like SGA, 501 00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:49.680 he needs to work with the guys around him. He needs to work 502 00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:52.599 with the giddies, with the dorts, with the home grins. He needs 503 00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:55.960 to be able to build his MVP like resume around the guys that he feels 504 00:32:55.960 --> 00:33:00.000 confident with doing. I think given what they did last year year carrying that 505 00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:04.799 over into this year, this is what makes the Oklahoma City Thunder one of 506 00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:07.799 the more dangerous teams because they didn't have to get caught up in all of 507 00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:12.319 the volatility of offseason moves. They added maybe a couple of players, whether 508 00:33:12.359 --> 00:33:15.799 they work or they don't work, does it diminish what they already currently have? 509 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:19.160 Yeah, no, I agree, And I think the front court is 510 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:22.240 maybe you have some questions are are they biggie big enough and can to sustain 511 00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:24.960 you know, any type of injuries so to speak. You know, again, 512 00:33:25.079 --> 00:33:30.039 does the big Jalen with the y Williams, does he take another step? 513 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:32.599 You know at that at that power forward center position. Poku was obviously 514 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:37.119 slim, the slight in the frame, as as his chad as well too, 515 00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:38.960 So do they have enough girth of that position? They even played Gidea 516 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:42.480 at some four last year, which you know, I found to be really 517 00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:45.279 interesting just by virtue of his overall size, you know, at six state 518 00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:49.880 sixty nine. But again not a super girthy guy when it comes to defending 519 00:33:49.960 --> 00:33:52.039 you know, that four and five position. So those are That's maybe the 520 00:33:52.039 --> 00:33:54.480 only question I really have. I think you can always say, hey, 521 00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:59.200 is there enough shooting? But I think of Jalen uh with a l if 522 00:33:59.240 --> 00:34:01.160 he can get history shooting up to even thirty seven to thirty eight percent, 523 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:05.279 that will be very helpful of Shad's willing to take a couple more threes, 524 00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:07.720 you know, that will be helpful, and Getty just even be able to 525 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:09.760 shoot the corner three that would give them enough I think spacing on the floor. 526 00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:13.519 But again, we don't know what Chet's going to be as an NBA 527 00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:15.079 three point shooter as well right now too, But he's shown the chops to 528 00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:17.519 be able to do that in college and obviously high school you know, some 529 00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:21.599 years ago too, So I'm excited about Okay, See, I think Mark 530 00:34:21.639 --> 00:34:24.199 Daganhell is also another you know, great young coach. So to me, 531 00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:29.199 this is a team that can potentially get out of this tier and sneak into 532 00:34:29.239 --> 00:34:34.239 the edges of a Tier two potentially. So now that we feel all warm 533 00:34:34.239 --> 00:34:37.360 and fuzzy about the Oklahoma City Thundershaw, why can't we feel the same way 534 00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:43.440 about the likes of the LA Clippers, or maybe the Minnesota Timberwls, or 535 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:47.960 even the New Orleans Pelicans. It's interesting because all three teams have different stories 536 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:52.880 that lead to the same ending with how we perceive them right like they're one 537 00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:59.679 player away, or you know, they're you know, the roster is one 538 00:34:59.719 --> 00:35:01.760 piece away, or if this person was healthy. Like, all of them 539 00:35:01.800 --> 00:35:06.800 have three different pathways to the struggles that they've had over the last few years. 540 00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:09.840 And if some have shown, you know, situations to have times where 541 00:35:09.840 --> 00:35:13.320 they've been able to break through. Like you look a few years removed, 542 00:35:13.320 --> 00:35:15.760 the Los Angeles Clippers were in the Eastern Conference I'm sorry, the Western Conference 543 00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:20.400 finals and they didn't even have Kawhi Leonard on the floor. Right, you 544 00:35:20.440 --> 00:35:23.360 look at the New Orleans Pelicans, a team that you know basically was hanging 545 00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:29.199 around as one of the top tier top teams last season in the Western Conference, 546 00:35:29.440 --> 00:35:32.639 didn't have Zion Williamson for most of it. Right. The Minnesota Timberwolves 547 00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:37.119 went through its struggles because they didn't have Cat in and out. It was 548 00:35:37.159 --> 00:35:40.480 held up by Anthony Edwards in that team. And I think everybody you know 549 00:35:40.519 --> 00:35:45.800 has has rested on the idea that this team is Anthony Edwards to run. 550 00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:49.199 Right. So all that being said, all of these three teams are taking 551 00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:52.320 different pathways. Why is it that we can't feel confident of leapfrogging them as 552 00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:57.079 surified, bona fide teams that can be better than the Golden State Warriors are 553 00:35:57.079 --> 00:36:01.760 probably better than the Sacramento Kings is always still one thing hanging over them that 554 00:36:01.840 --> 00:36:07.800 really determines their viability of being playoff contenders. I mean you answered, it's 555 00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:10.920 it's simply the health. We just there's no trust in that, you know. 556 00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:15.880 I like to where I can try to make the parallels to fantasy basketball 557 00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:20.519 to real life basketball. So and in fantasy, guys like Paul George Kawhi, 558 00:36:20.760 --> 00:36:24.400 Zion Williams, even Carl Anthony Twons have number one draft pick in fantasy 559 00:36:24.400 --> 00:36:29.360 potential, but now there's injury concerns and you're seeing those guys go fourth and 560 00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:31.559 fifth round, you know, from the fantasy standpoint. So I think there's 561 00:36:31.599 --> 00:36:37.280 just this sentiment around the league and whatever way you engage with the NBA that 562 00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:42.239 we don't know, we don't trust you to be there. You need more 563 00:36:42.320 --> 00:36:45.320 people, as our man Jabari would say, if they're not there, then 564 00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:50.639 you can't impact winning and your team can't win at the highest levels as a 565 00:36:50.639 --> 00:36:53.360 result of that. That's it. That is all there is when it comes 566 00:36:53.400 --> 00:36:58.360 to both right now, Minnesota or sorry Minnesota, the Clippers and New Orleans 567 00:36:58.360 --> 00:37:01.840 specifically, if they're a guys are healthy, these all these three teams have 568 00:37:01.880 --> 00:37:06.719 an opportunity to move up and really challenge I think in the Western Conference in 569 00:37:06.719 --> 00:37:09.840 a way that many people are not even ready for. Especially I think when 570 00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:15.320 New Orleans and the Clippers, I think Minnesota is is maybe one step below 571 00:37:15.360 --> 00:37:17.639 that, even with you know, Anthony Edwards taking the proverbial leap everybody's expecting 572 00:37:17.679 --> 00:37:22.400 him to do. But the boom or bust between Kawhi and PG when they're 573 00:37:22.480 --> 00:37:28.039 right is again they're they're both elite two way players, elite two way players, 574 00:37:28.280 --> 00:37:30.239 and we saw what happened with when Zion is healthy. New Orleans was 575 00:37:30.280 --> 00:37:34.159 the number one seed for you know, a good majority of the season last 576 00:37:34.239 --> 00:37:36.639 year. So that's all it is when it comes to these three teams. 577 00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:39.800 Can I say something though, Shaw? And I'm not saying this because I'm 578 00:37:39.840 --> 00:37:44.960 trying to, you know, cause controversy here. That's not my intent. 579 00:37:45.159 --> 00:37:47.639 But I want to make sure that I'm being realistic with what you just assessed. 580 00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:53.079 As far as both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George as being two elite two 581 00:37:53.119 --> 00:38:01.199 way players, I think the concept of the elite two way player is is 582 00:38:01.239 --> 00:38:07.039 almost is almost dying out in a way because of because of what's happened to 583 00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:10.039 Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and you can even think the same argument when we 584 00:38:10.039 --> 00:38:15.840 talk about Klay Thompson. I think that as they are getting older and their 585 00:38:15.920 --> 00:38:21.480 game evolves, I think they're picking and choosing between what side of that two 586 00:38:21.480 --> 00:38:25.679 wayness sort of speak. They need to prioritize to keep themselves either relevant based 587 00:38:25.719 --> 00:38:30.199 on the bag they got, or keep themselves relevant on as far as what 588 00:38:30.239 --> 00:38:34.079 they can contribute to the team that they're currently playing on, like the makeup 589 00:38:34.079 --> 00:38:37.840 of the roster and what the expectations are to make them, you know, 590 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:42.760 viable for them right. And it's interesting to me because we still want to 591 00:38:42.800 --> 00:38:45.360 believe that when the both of them are on the basketball court, the Los 592 00:38:45.400 --> 00:38:49.920 Angeles Clippers can basically be one of the best defensive teams, you know, 593 00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:52.840 And I'm done with that that thought process. I think that if you are 594 00:38:52.920 --> 00:38:59.559 Tyron lou your focus has to be if you do not have formidable other pieces 595 00:38:59.599 --> 00:39:01.960 that can go go out and score the ball. When Kawhi and Paul George 596 00:39:01.960 --> 00:39:07.440 don't have it that night, they become compromised players because now the owners has 597 00:39:07.519 --> 00:39:10.559 to be them scoring the ball. And we've seen this right one of the 598 00:39:10.559 --> 00:39:15.000 good things about Kawhi Leonard in the past was he was one of the more 599 00:39:15.119 --> 00:39:21.800 efficient scoring players in the NBA. He got more from basically doing the James 600 00:39:21.840 --> 00:39:23.480 Harden get to the free throw line, get up there like seven, eight, 601 00:39:23.639 --> 00:39:27.559 nine, ten, twelve times, and he winds up with thirty five 602 00:39:27.800 --> 00:39:30.159 plus points because a lot of it is he's getting fouled, you know what 603 00:39:30.159 --> 00:39:34.079 I'm saying, he's down in the trenches. He doesn't do that a lot. 604 00:39:34.119 --> 00:39:36.400 Now he's got a mid range game, but it's more face up. 605 00:39:36.440 --> 00:39:39.480 It's not you know, back down presidence type basketball. And the same thing 606 00:39:39.519 --> 00:39:43.320 with Paul George because he shoots the three, he has to shoot it at 607 00:39:43.320 --> 00:39:45.440 a high clip if he's not going to be driving the ball aggressively. So 608 00:39:45.519 --> 00:39:51.400 it'll be interesting to see if whether or not Taiwan Lou is going to continue 609 00:39:51.480 --> 00:39:54.400 to lean on the idea that this team has to be better quote unquote defensively 610 00:39:54.639 --> 00:39:59.440 as much as I want to see this team look better offensively with those two 611 00:39:59.480 --> 00:40:01.800 guys on the basketball court, well, I mean again, they have to 612 00:40:01.840 --> 00:40:06.440 be on the basketball court, right right. I understand I don't disagree with 613 00:40:06.480 --> 00:40:09.119 your overall sentiment that, you know, maybe the two way aspect of them 614 00:40:09.159 --> 00:40:13.679 is being a little bit overblown because one they haven't been there to impact on 615 00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:15.920 that side. But as a as a age, some of that the defense 616 00:40:15.960 --> 00:40:20.000 is going to be the first thing to go. I don't disagree in that 617 00:40:20.039 --> 00:40:22.679 capacity, but I think again, when they're able to turn it up even 618 00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:27.480 situationally and then obviously assuming they're healthy enough to be in the playoffs, that's 619 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:30.199 where you can kind of see that effort on both sides of the basketball for 620 00:40:30.320 --> 00:40:32.840 both of those guys. I think with Russ, say whatever you want about 621 00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:37.320 him, you know, previous to this, he allows him to He takes 622 00:40:37.320 --> 00:40:39.920 some playmaking pressure off of the both of them as they were both being utilized 623 00:40:39.960 --> 00:40:44.719 as pseudo playmakers and point guards or point forwards, you know, in lose 624 00:40:44.719 --> 00:40:47.000 system, you know, previously his arrival. The biggest caveat with the Clippers 625 00:40:47.039 --> 00:40:52.920 still is do they get involved or finalize as Shames Harden trade and if he 626 00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:55.800 comes over there and relegates Russ to the bench and Harden is now the playmaker, 627 00:40:57.199 --> 00:41:00.119 hard as your third option is still pretty damn good. Again, assuming 628 00:41:00.199 --> 00:41:05.039 the health all across the board. So the Clippers to me are a little 629 00:41:05.039 --> 00:41:07.119 bit incomplete I'm surprised, you know, because of the rumors there that you 630 00:41:07.119 --> 00:41:10.280 know, some people were as So we're confident enough to put over unders on 631 00:41:10.320 --> 00:41:14.480 their win Twitter right now. But I think if they end up getting hardened 632 00:41:14.519 --> 00:41:17.079 too, that just changes the trajectory of this team. Whether hardened and are 633 00:41:17.119 --> 00:41:22.079 sorry, whether PG and Kawhi are both there at all times, Harden can 634 00:41:22.079 --> 00:41:23.440 make up for a lot of that, especially during the coach of the regular 635 00:41:23.480 --> 00:41:28.039 season. All right, your tunes to the baseline Cali Warrenshaw discussing the hot 636 00:41:28.039 --> 00:41:32.599 button topics of the NBA are twenty twenty three twenty four Western Conference preview. 637 00:41:32.679 --> 00:41:37.840 Let's shift our attention Shaw to the Tier three teams, right, like, 638 00:41:37.920 --> 00:41:40.039 so, I'm sorry, Tier two teams. So these are the team Shaw, 639 00:41:40.199 --> 00:41:45.119 that we think are are definitely locks for the play for the playoffs. 640 00:41:45.199 --> 00:41:50.960 Right, Maybe one or two of these teams we might think might struggle so 641 00:41:51.079 --> 00:41:55.199 far, may even fall back to playing worthiness, so to speak. But 642 00:41:55.360 --> 00:41:58.119 at the end of the day, when you look at the makeup of the 643 00:41:58.199 --> 00:42:01.559 rosters and the level of competitiveness, competitiveness on both sides of the basketball, 644 00:42:01.599 --> 00:42:06.760 it's kind of hard not to imagine seeing them a shoe in so we have 645 00:42:06.760 --> 00:42:10.320 the Golden State Warriors, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Sacramento Kings. Let 646 00:42:10.360 --> 00:42:15.000 me ask you this, of these three teams, who do you think is 647 00:42:15.039 --> 00:42:20.400 the weakest link Memphis? You know, the aspect of not having job for 648 00:42:20.440 --> 00:42:22.840 twenty five games is the big, big caveat here too. But do they 649 00:42:22.880 --> 00:42:29.000 have enough competency with Marcus Smart and even Derrick Rose to carry them and then 650 00:42:29.039 --> 00:42:32.119 the continued dissension of Desmond Bane and hopefully Jared Jackson as well too. So 651 00:42:32.440 --> 00:42:37.559 do you think they're fifty again? Do you think that they're a fifty plus 652 00:42:37.559 --> 00:42:39.440 win team or do you think that they take a step back because of the 653 00:42:39.480 --> 00:42:45.760 impact of John Morant and his ability and in him being suspended, Like there'll 654 00:42:45.760 --> 00:42:47.960 still be a you know, a great team, and last year they were 655 00:42:49.000 --> 00:42:51.559 second in the conference, but a lot of that was, you know, 656 00:42:51.599 --> 00:42:58.920 they went on like massive runs prior to the the situation regarding Morant and the 657 00:42:59.000 --> 00:43:01.400 suspensions. I'm just curious if you know, you think that the win total 658 00:43:01.599 --> 00:43:07.880 for the Memphis Grizzlies will be so severely impacted that you know that step back 659 00:43:07.960 --> 00:43:12.000 might actually compromise play into actually just being part of the playoff. I mean 660 00:43:12.039 --> 00:43:15.320 again, and then even just the premise of your question, who has you 661 00:43:15.360 --> 00:43:16.719 know, who's the least likely, who's the weakest link in this group? 662 00:43:16.760 --> 00:43:20.840 And it's then because of the job factors, So they're even their win totally 663 00:43:20.920 --> 00:43:23.000 over. Unders are already now at forty five forty six. Well that's less 664 00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:29.000 than than last year, and I think that's expected given the John Moran situation. 665 00:43:29.119 --> 00:43:32.159 And there's no I guess guarantee he's back right at twenty five games, 666 00:43:32.199 --> 00:43:36.119 Like I guess you know, if he doesn't do everything that's necessary, then 667 00:43:36.119 --> 00:43:39.760 that there's this possibility he misses more time. So it's probably a little generous 668 00:43:39.800 --> 00:43:44.159 to kind of still put them here in terms of their talent, you know, 669 00:43:44.199 --> 00:43:47.360 without with them missing such a key piece and crucial piece. But I 670 00:43:47.880 --> 00:43:52.000 do believe in what Desmond ban is able to do. I think offensively. 671 00:43:52.079 --> 00:43:53.880 I believe in Taylor Jenkins, I think as a coach as well, and 672 00:43:53.920 --> 00:43:59.320 the overall depth that they had and getting Marcus Martin Rose as cultural centers to 673 00:43:59.360 --> 00:44:01.159 this you know, my that's Dylan Brooks here. I think they'll be able 674 00:44:01.159 --> 00:44:05.960 to still synk up and surprise some teams here, and ultimately you know, 675 00:44:06.000 --> 00:44:07.760 compete for you know, a top six seed, you know, relatively, 676 00:44:07.800 --> 00:44:14.000 He's I think one thing that will really help this team is having a guy 677 00:44:14.079 --> 00:44:17.320 like Marcus Smart who doesn't take anything for granted. When we've seen the Memphis 678 00:44:17.360 --> 00:44:22.440 Grizzlies look like a competitive basketball team, shaw they literally could compete with anyone, 679 00:44:22.760 --> 00:44:25.400 you know, whether it be the Western Conference, Eastern Conference, who 680 00:44:25.400 --> 00:44:29.840 have you right? They could they even if they can be undersized, they 681 00:44:29.880 --> 00:44:32.320 can still match up with you. And I'm not even talking about that with 682 00:44:32.320 --> 00:44:37.559 with John Moran because we've seen when the Memphis Grizzlies have been competitive and have 683 00:44:37.639 --> 00:44:42.039 won games without John Morant on the basketball court. But what happens at times 684 00:44:42.039 --> 00:44:45.360 with the Memphis Grizzlies, and I think at times is what compromises their ability 685 00:44:45.400 --> 00:44:49.639 to make these critical runs, is they lose games that they really have no 686 00:44:49.719 --> 00:44:54.800 business losing. They they somehow, you know, become distracted or their mind 687 00:44:54.840 --> 00:45:00.679 is in a fog, and we see certain patterns and tendencies that are indicative 688 00:45:00.719 --> 00:45:05.280 of a team that tends to be undisciplined. Now we can put that on 689 00:45:05.320 --> 00:45:07.480 the coach, we can put that whoever will we put it on the players, 690 00:45:07.599 --> 00:45:12.079 doesn't matter what happens is there usually has to be a player, it 691 00:45:12.199 --> 00:45:14.960 has to be a voice, it has to be someone unified and the idea 692 00:45:14.960 --> 00:45:17.320 that we can no longer allow this to happen if the goal is to win 693 00:45:17.360 --> 00:45:22.559 a championship. And I think Marcus Smart is that kind of guy. I 694 00:45:22.599 --> 00:45:25.800 think that's what can help augment some of or offset, excuse me, some 695 00:45:25.880 --> 00:45:31.639 of the What I'll say is the fall off that we're anticipating will happen to 696 00:45:31.679 --> 00:45:36.559 the Memphis Grizzlies, because it's not like Marcus Smart is a scrub. But 697 00:45:36.639 --> 00:45:39.599 I do think as far as the discipline that is required on the court and 698 00:45:39.719 --> 00:45:43.960 off the court for the rest of that roster, because you know, some 699 00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:45.599 of these guys are going to be like, oh, I can't wait for 700 00:45:45.679 --> 00:45:46.880 John Morant to get out on that court. That's our dog, that's our 701 00:45:46.880 --> 00:45:52.000 boy, and they get too Morant dependent on the idea that for them to 702 00:45:52.039 --> 00:45:54.920 make this work, he's got to be out there if they leaned on the 703 00:45:54.920 --> 00:46:00.119 fact that they could be successful without him on that basketball court. Taylor think 704 00:46:00.119 --> 00:46:02.639 he's could probably work with a lot more on the roster than typical, but 705 00:46:02.679 --> 00:46:07.360 I think at times he feels strapped because most of these guys are so dependent 706 00:46:07.559 --> 00:46:10.840 on John morank John Moran's playmaking ability, and I think you have to you 707 00:46:10.920 --> 00:46:15.119 have to have a guy that doesn't believe in that nonsense, so to speak. 708 00:46:15.239 --> 00:46:16.639 He believes that, like, if I'm out there, we can win 709 00:46:16.719 --> 00:46:20.039 just as easily as job is out there. And I don't think you have 710 00:46:20.079 --> 00:46:22.320 a better person like that than Marcus Martin. That's and that's me giving kudos 711 00:46:22.360 --> 00:46:27.679 to a dude who I often spoke about the struggles that the Celtics had having 712 00:46:27.760 --> 00:46:30.599 him on the basketball court because he was so one sided as far as what 713 00:46:30.639 --> 00:46:34.199 he could give you. But he is such a well rounded player and a 714 00:46:34.239 --> 00:46:37.800 great leader, and I think that's what's been holding to Memphis Grizzlies back these 715 00:46:37.880 --> 00:46:42.400 last few years. Yeah, I think he's developed into a more than competent, 716 00:46:42.559 --> 00:46:47.159 you know, offensive orchestrator if you will. He's not gonna wow you 717 00:46:47.360 --> 00:46:52.039 with you know, miraculous passes and even gets you twelve fifteen assists a night, 718 00:46:52.199 --> 00:46:54.079 like That's not who he is. But I think just kind of controlling 719 00:46:54.119 --> 00:46:58.880 the tempo, getting guys into the proverbial spots and making the right plays for 720 00:46:58.920 --> 00:47:01.639 the most part, make some risk but for the most part, I think 721 00:47:01.679 --> 00:47:06.199 now, especially in this system, and he knows what he was brought there 722 00:47:06.239 --> 00:47:08.440 to do specifically, so I think he's going to take that role on, 723 00:47:08.599 --> 00:47:13.360 you know, tremendously, with a lot of responsibility, and again having a 724 00:47:13.679 --> 00:47:16.239 like Derek Rose there as well too, I think that's going to be enough 725 00:47:16.280 --> 00:47:19.880 to kind of steady them for the first couple of games, sorry, for 726 00:47:19.880 --> 00:47:22.960 the first couple of months of the season, and to multiply hopefully keep them 727 00:47:22.000 --> 00:47:24.960 in this tier. They'll get Brendon Clark back at some point as well too, 728 00:47:25.079 --> 00:47:30.079 maybe the beginning of the actual calendar year, maybe a little bit later 729 00:47:30.119 --> 00:47:32.119 than that. So if they can get that and Job back at that point 730 00:47:32.159 --> 00:47:35.960 too, and keep their head above water, then I think they have a 731 00:47:35.960 --> 00:47:37.239 good chance to kind of stay within this tier. All right, So let's 732 00:47:37.280 --> 00:47:39.639 quickly talk about the other two teams that we have in this tier, the 733 00:47:39.639 --> 00:47:44.320 Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings. The Sacramento Kings really didn't do a 734 00:47:44.320 --> 00:47:46.559 lot in this offseason, and I don't think it was completely necessary for them 735 00:47:46.599 --> 00:47:50.360 to do it. I think that this team is again kind of like how 736 00:47:50.400 --> 00:47:54.519 we talk about the Oklahoma City Thunder it's about understanding the well roundedness of this 737 00:47:54.599 --> 00:47:59.519 team, the weapons that they have at their disposal, and I think another 738 00:47:59.559 --> 00:48:02.119 year under their belt, whether good, bad or indifferent, they're gonna be 739 00:48:02.159 --> 00:48:06.280 a competitive basketball team and they're gonna make some noise, right and so, 740 00:48:06.719 --> 00:48:09.159 especially with Mike Brown at the helm, I think you should feel very confident 741 00:48:09.159 --> 00:48:12.880 about it. And with the Golden State Warriorshaw, it's really all about the 742 00:48:12.920 --> 00:48:15.760 get It's all about the bounce back. It's about having all of your your 743 00:48:15.800 --> 00:48:21.760 your your your weapons healthy, ready to go, and just buying into that 744 00:48:21.880 --> 00:48:25.639 this is the roster that is good enough to compete with the likes of the 745 00:48:25.679 --> 00:48:29.480 best of the best that's in the West. And so if that's what it 746 00:48:29.519 --> 00:48:32.760 comes down to, we're gonna probably see another collision course between the Sacramento Kings 747 00:48:32.760 --> 00:48:36.760 and the Golden State Warriors, which may be fun and exciting. Where we're 748 00:48:36.800 --> 00:48:38.800 talking about, you know, the new heads ready to take out the old 749 00:48:38.840 --> 00:48:42.480 heads, and the old heads is like slowly rolls soney, were ready to 750 00:48:42.519 --> 00:48:45.199 you know, we're ready to do this. You you ain't you ain't leapfrogging 751 00:48:45.400 --> 00:48:47.400 us, you know, to to the likes of us trying to catch up 752 00:48:47.440 --> 00:48:51.480 with the likes of the Lakers and the Nuggets and you know, maybe even 753 00:48:51.480 --> 00:48:53.599 the Suns or so to speak. It's just kind of interesting how these two 754 00:48:53.639 --> 00:48:59.199 teams can play themselves into that level of defiance of where they want to fit 755 00:48:59.280 --> 00:49:01.880 in to the to the likes of the Western Conference. Well, I mean, 756 00:49:01.880 --> 00:49:05.159 I'll start with sacrament I think if you were talking about the next team 757 00:49:05.199 --> 00:49:07.599 that could be out of this tier, I think it is them, you 758 00:49:07.599 --> 00:49:09.519 know, because they there was a little bit of a surprise factor on how 759 00:49:09.559 --> 00:49:13.840 they caught teams last year, and they were remarkably healthy throughout the year, 760 00:49:13.880 --> 00:49:16.760 Sabonis and and Fox, you know, playing over seventy games, so that 761 00:49:17.480 --> 00:49:21.800 if that can can can hold true again, then they have a really good 762 00:49:21.880 --> 00:49:25.079 chance. They obviously got to improve on their defensive capabilities, and I think 763 00:49:25.079 --> 00:49:29.159 they tried to address some of that, you know, was getting some bigs. 764 00:49:29.480 --> 00:49:31.119 But how much of those guys like Jebelle McGee going to play, you 765 00:49:31.119 --> 00:49:36.079 know, at the at the five positions bonis excuse me, Sabonis is a 766 00:49:36.079 --> 00:49:38.119 full time five and McGee is just going to have kind of like spot up 767 00:49:38.159 --> 00:49:40.280 minutes, and I don't know how impactful he's going to be, you know, 768 00:49:40.320 --> 00:49:45.079 defensively going into this year, they've kind of even doubled down or tripled 769 00:49:45.079 --> 00:49:46.760 down. I think in some ways in some of the offense, they expected 770 00:49:46.760 --> 00:49:51.079 another leap, expect the leap rather from Keegan Murray. Uh, they acquired 771 00:49:51.719 --> 00:49:54.280 Cris Duarte, So between Duarte and Hurder, they should have elite level shooting 772 00:49:54.280 --> 00:49:58.360 on the on the floor at all times. Not to forget Malik Monk who's 773 00:49:58.360 --> 00:50:00.000 still on this team. So it leads me to kind of wonder where does 774 00:50:00.079 --> 00:50:04.800 Davion Mitchell fit into this equation because there's a lot of minutes at that guard 775 00:50:04.840 --> 00:50:07.639 position and most of those guys skew towards the offensive side of the basketball. 776 00:50:07.800 --> 00:50:12.039 They also added the euro League MVP to this team to kind of play at 777 00:50:12.039 --> 00:50:15.000 that at that three to four position as well too, So to me, 778 00:50:15.960 --> 00:50:19.199 I still like Sacramento. I think they can still be one of the better 779 00:50:19.239 --> 00:50:22.280 offenses in the league this year. They keep it. But what you said 780 00:50:22.280 --> 00:50:24.280 in the beginning is really true that they're not the Denver Nuggets. But this 781 00:50:24.320 --> 00:50:28.239 is what we said about the Nuggets for so long. They just the core 782 00:50:28.280 --> 00:50:30.639 guys kept returning over and over and over again, and that allowed the general 783 00:50:30.639 --> 00:50:34.320 of the continuity to be a good basketball team, and I think that's what 784 00:50:34.320 --> 00:50:37.519 Sacramento was trying to do here, like let's not go crazy in terms of 785 00:50:37.599 --> 00:50:40.159 changes, and hopefully that will equate to some wins where they can be in 786 00:50:40.159 --> 00:50:45.320 this tier. So I'm kind of grandfathering them into this one, but I'm 787 00:50:45.360 --> 00:50:49.320 a little skeptical only because I think they did the surprise factors not going to 788 00:50:49.360 --> 00:50:52.119 be going to be there for them this year. Look for me, the 789 00:50:52.159 --> 00:50:54.880 Golden State Warriors, if they can just figure out a way to stop turning 790 00:50:54.920 --> 00:50:59.599 basketball over and maybe this is a good reason why you have Chris Paul on 791 00:50:59.639 --> 00:51:05.159 this right, the accountability factor to not turn the ball over as much as 792 00:51:05.480 --> 00:51:07.920 the Warriors tend to do and have always done because they're risk takers. This 793 00:51:07.960 --> 00:51:12.039 is what they do. Maybe they hedge their bets sometimes, maybe they don't 794 00:51:12.039 --> 00:51:15.519 have to push their chips all in every single time that they play against really 795 00:51:15.519 --> 00:51:19.079 one of the better teams who give them a very small margin of error to 796 00:51:19.159 --> 00:51:22.800 work with. So I like the idea that they're going to hold pat and 797 00:51:22.280 --> 00:51:27.719 try to make this work, and if they show again, you know, 798 00:51:27.840 --> 00:51:32.840 the Warriors organization will have found a way to defy the laws of basketball. 799 00:51:34.199 --> 00:51:37.559 You know what I'm saying, the rules of basketball sort of speak in their 800 00:51:37.599 --> 00:51:40.280 own way, shape or form. They will again make us you know what 801 00:51:40.280 --> 00:51:45.800 I'm saying, e crow on the perception of how to build a championship winning 802 00:51:45.880 --> 00:51:49.360 roster and not saying that they're you know that they're shoeings for that. What 803 00:51:49.400 --> 00:51:51.880 I'm saying is is that if they prove through the course of the year that 804 00:51:51.920 --> 00:51:55.159 what they're doing can work and can be effective, it can boast pose another 805 00:51:55.239 --> 00:51:59.079 problem to those top tier teams that we're gonna be talking about in a few 806 00:51:59.079 --> 00:52:01.280 moments. That made I have the account that we can account for the style 807 00:52:01.320 --> 00:52:06.000 of play that the Warriors are going to try to inflict or impose their will 808 00:52:06.039 --> 00:52:08.599 on against the rest of the competition. Yeah, they're They're not. They 809 00:52:08.599 --> 00:52:14.079 can't have another you know, Curry fifteen to twenty game injury. You know, 810 00:52:14.159 --> 00:52:15.960 I think this year and I think still be at this level despite Clay 811 00:52:16.400 --> 00:52:21.199 you know, saying he's you know, more or less fully back and ready 812 00:52:21.239 --> 00:52:24.000 to kind of resume some responsibilities. They made some move some moves on the 813 00:52:24.119 --> 00:52:28.079 edges. You know, Dario Sarwa plays as like a guy like to Michael 814 00:52:28.119 --> 00:52:30.800 Green, not sure if Rudy Gay is going to make this roster as well 815 00:52:30.840 --> 00:52:32.679 too. They're starting, they're starting the season behind the eight ball, presumably 816 00:52:32.679 --> 00:52:37.920 with Draymond also you know, injured with with with an ankle injury. So 817 00:52:37.000 --> 00:52:42.360 there's some questions here that I think we have to kind of suss it out 818 00:52:42.400 --> 00:52:45.559 as a season you know, starts. But I think again you kind of 819 00:52:45.559 --> 00:52:49.360 grandfather them into this situation as well too, because there the core of this 820 00:52:49.400 --> 00:52:53.159 is really really still the championship level. They'll get Wiggins back and he won't 821 00:52:53.159 --> 00:52:55.679 play three seven games, you know, like he did last year with whatever 822 00:52:55.880 --> 00:53:00.800 mysterious personal thing he had going on last year. So there's some stuff to 823 00:53:00.840 --> 00:53:02.079 that. And you get Chris Paul, whether he's coming off the bench or 824 00:53:02.119 --> 00:53:06.360 starting in the lineup, in the starting lineup, you know, another level 825 00:53:06.360 --> 00:53:09.119 of veteran leadership and a guy who doesn't is again as you live to a 826 00:53:09.119 --> 00:53:13.559 great assistant turnover ratio, a lot of great things. That think for Golden 827 00:53:13.599 --> 00:53:16.320 State, injuries the biggest concerns, but do they have enough to kind of 828 00:53:16.360 --> 00:53:19.760 withstand some event? And I think they do and I think they can be 829 00:53:20.039 --> 00:53:22.199 you know, in this in the second tier pretty firmly, all right, 830 00:53:22.800 --> 00:53:29.960 Cali warren Shaw based one NBA podcast or twenty twenty three twenty four Western Conference 831 00:53:30.119 --> 00:53:35.039 preview coming up, talk about the conference bosses, which teams will be talking 832 00:53:35.039 --> 00:53:37.119 about all you know which ones they are only ones that are remaining. We'll 833 00:53:37.119 --> 00:53:39.679 talk about why we think they're going to be the top dogs in the West. 834 00:53:39.719 --> 00:53:42.800 So you don't want to miss out on this. But before you do, 835 00:53:43.360 --> 00:53:45.519 if you're looking for the ultimate destination for NBA gear, look no further 836 00:53:45.840 --> 00:53:51.199 than the NBA Store. With the u selection of authentic and high quality products 837 00:53:51.239 --> 00:53:54.440 including jerseys, hats, and accessories, the NBA Store is everything you need 838 00:53:54.599 --> 00:53:59.800 to show off your team pride. Plus, they have an exclusive and limited 839 00:54:00.239 --> 00:54:02.519 items so you can make your collection truly one of a kind, and with 840 00:54:02.559 --> 00:54:07.559 an online presence, you can shop from anywhere in the world. Don't miss 841 00:54:07.559 --> 00:54:10.320 out on the latest trends and experiences. Visit the NBA Store today by using 842 00:54:10.360 --> 00:54:15.400 our affiliate link. If you're listening to us on your favorite audio platform, 843 00:54:15.440 --> 00:54:17.079 be sure to check out the link in the description of the show. The 844 00:54:17.119 --> 00:54:22.360 Baseline is working in affiliation with the NBA Store, slash Fanatics and will be 845 00:54:22.400 --> 00:54:25.559 compensated for your patronage by utilizing the link. So as always, we thank 846 00:54:25.559 --> 00:54:29.719 you for your support. So make sure you go to NBA store slash Fanatics 847 00:54:29.880 --> 00:54:32.199 and lock in. NBA season is right around the corner, and you want 848 00:54:32.199 --> 00:54:37.440 to get ready to be looking your freshest and your best for the start of 849 00:54:37.440 --> 00:54:40.760 the NBA season. More twenty twenty three twenty four Western Conference Preview. Here 850 00:54:40.800 --> 00:54:47.400 on the baseline, we're back Cali Warrnshaw Baseline NBA podcast or twenty twenty three 851 00:54:47.480 --> 00:54:52.800 twenty four Western Conference Preview. Time for us to talk about that tier one. 852 00:54:52.880 --> 00:54:55.719 These are our conference bosses, right, They're running things as far as 853 00:54:55.719 --> 00:55:00.679 the Western Conference go. We think that these guys are the content is essentially 854 00:55:00.159 --> 00:55:04.800 uh to make it out of to be competing for the Western Conference title. 855 00:55:05.039 --> 00:55:07.760 That's gonna be the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Phoenix 856 00:55:07.840 --> 00:55:13.880 Suns. The only caveat that I had to this Shaw is do we really 857 00:55:13.920 --> 00:55:20.360 buy into the Phoenix Suns because of what happened in the off season more so 858 00:55:20.920 --> 00:55:24.280 getting Beal or get ridding or getting rid of DeAndre Ayton. I think to 859 00:55:24.400 --> 00:55:30.840 me, that's the more the more interesting questions that we say because of this, 860 00:55:30.840 --> 00:55:32.559 this is why we would elevate them to be among one of the best 861 00:55:32.559 --> 00:55:38.559 teams out of the West. I think they're just scary offensively when it comes 862 00:55:38.599 --> 00:55:42.480 to what they're going to be able to do in the regular season. Health 863 00:55:42.679 --> 00:55:46.320 aside, you know, Booker, Beale and Katie all have missed time or 864 00:55:46.320 --> 00:55:52.519 miss significant time in recent years. But hopefully the sum of the parts there, 865 00:55:52.519 --> 00:55:55.000 if one goes down, they still have two elite level all NBA type 866 00:55:55.000 --> 00:55:58.519 players that can still be available, you know, to them. We know, 867 00:55:58.559 --> 00:56:01.039 with Bill being the lesser of the quote unquote three. I think they 868 00:56:01.039 --> 00:56:06.119 did a decent enough job. Nurkic replaces eight in a way that I know 869 00:56:06.159 --> 00:56:08.480 a lot of people were upset about in terms of the talent disparity, But 870 00:56:08.519 --> 00:56:13.000 I think the fit is ultimately going to be better there and not just somebody 871 00:56:13.000 --> 00:56:15.440 who's crying for the basketball and wanting to create in a way that eight and 872 00:56:15.480 --> 00:56:19.400 thinks he's going to be able to do in Portland. Nurkish will set screen, 873 00:56:19.519 --> 00:56:22.639 he'll make he'll make passes and then take whatever scraps you know, the 874 00:56:22.679 --> 00:56:24.440 rest of the guys kind of give him. Then, I think what they've 875 00:56:24.440 --> 00:56:28.519 done to get Bull Bull and even you two want to want to not be 876 00:56:28.559 --> 00:56:30.840 on this team. Eric Gordon, I think these are good rotation players and 877 00:56:30.840 --> 00:56:34.199 they're not elite, you know, I don't want to go crazy here, 878 00:56:34.400 --> 00:56:37.239 but they can suck up some minutes when you know some of that big three 879 00:56:37.280 --> 00:56:40.119 is taking a rest. So the biggest question for me here is going to 880 00:56:40.159 --> 00:56:44.840 go back to the defense. Will go long known to being a defensive minded 881 00:56:44.880 --> 00:56:47.159 coach. So are they able to buy in and lock in on that side 882 00:56:47.199 --> 00:56:51.239 of the basketball. That remains to be seen, but I think we're in 883 00:56:51.280 --> 00:56:55.679 for Sacramento's offense was historic last year. I think offense is going to even 884 00:56:55.679 --> 00:57:00.400 surpass that. I'd be surprised if they're not the number one offensive the team 885 00:57:00.440 --> 00:57:02.960 here and potentially maybe even in the NBA history, with the level of efficiency 886 00:57:02.960 --> 00:57:06.039 of those three guys can create. Do you think there has to be an 887 00:57:06.119 --> 00:57:12.480 MVP level to either Devin Booker or to Kevin Durant for us to have this 888 00:57:12.559 --> 00:57:16.079 kind of conversation when it comes to the Phoenix Suns. I'm interested in figuring 889 00:57:16.079 --> 00:57:19.920 that part of it out, Shaw, because you know, we want to 890 00:57:19.960 --> 00:57:22.360 believe that the MV having an m VP like kind of player means that you 891 00:57:22.400 --> 00:57:27.599 know they they are the type of They're the type of player that's you know, 892 00:57:28.000 --> 00:57:31.280 everyone's going to be gunning for and nothing's going to stop that guy from, 893 00:57:31.360 --> 00:57:35.559 you know, figuring out a way to get their team to where they 894 00:57:35.599 --> 00:57:38.239 need to be. You know, you already have a former MVP player in 895 00:57:38.360 --> 00:57:44.280 Kevin Durant, you have a want to be in in Devin Booker. I'm 896 00:57:44.280 --> 00:57:46.960 just curious of whether or not you think that that's what should happen. I 897 00:57:46.960 --> 00:57:52.280 think Booker is the guy who excused probably more more towards that just by virtue 898 00:57:52.280 --> 00:57:54.400 of being younger and what we're being here, what we've seen even in the 899 00:57:54.400 --> 00:57:59.480 most recent playoffs, like he was electric playing a loutside Duran. Durant was 900 00:57:59.480 --> 00:58:01.639 like, listen, I'll be I'll be robbing here. And I think Booker 901 00:58:01.679 --> 00:58:05.199 is a guy who kind of has to be that. And Beal is going 902 00:58:05.280 --> 00:58:07.960 to be the person who is presumably going to table set. But I think 903 00:58:08.000 --> 00:58:10.599 Booker, we've talked about this many times on our show, his ability to 904 00:58:10.639 --> 00:58:15.000 create for others as well too. I think that aspect of him also being 905 00:58:15.000 --> 00:58:20.400 able to become more efficient as well as electric offensively allows him to sneak into 906 00:58:20.400 --> 00:58:22.800 that m VP conversation. And yes, I think if Phoenix is going to 907 00:58:22.800 --> 00:58:27.159 go, Booker has to be the lead, lead horse here with the random 908 00:58:27.199 --> 00:58:30.679 Bale you know, doing obviously more than enough to kind of be his running 909 00:58:30.719 --> 00:58:32.920 mates, but Booker has to be the lead guy, all right, So 910 00:58:34.599 --> 00:58:39.840 we're confident about how dangerous and scary the Phoenix Suns can be. It sounds 911 00:58:39.880 --> 00:58:44.480 like we think that they're going to be the top team out of the division. 912 00:58:44.800 --> 00:58:46.280 Right. The only reason why I'm saying that is because the team that 913 00:58:46.360 --> 00:58:51.679 we think might be following right behind him, the Phoenix Suns, which I'm 914 00:58:51.679 --> 00:58:55.800 sure are people's from the Late Night Lake Show and our boy Jabbari are you 915 00:58:55.800 --> 00:59:00.039 know, don't like us jinxing anything when it comes to the Lakers, But 916 00:59:00.119 --> 00:59:02.920 the idea of us saying that the Lakers are just that formidable of a basketball 917 00:59:02.960 --> 00:59:07.760 team that they should be in this conversation to be among the elites in a 918 00:59:07.760 --> 00:59:13.599 Western conference. Is it more about the fact that it still has Lebron James 919 00:59:13.840 --> 00:59:17.599 or is it more about what Polenka has done to this roster to supplement having 920 00:59:17.800 --> 00:59:25.119 Lebron James and Anthony Davis it's all things can be true. It's Polenka's ability 921 00:59:25.159 --> 00:59:30.159 to fill out the roster with you know, good rotation guys who seem like 922 00:59:30.159 --> 00:59:34.679 they're going to play a role in Lebron's twilight. Here with ad trying to 923 00:59:34.760 --> 00:59:37.199 finally step into that you know, number one spot. Whether that happens or 924 00:59:37.239 --> 00:59:39.760 not, that remains to be seen. I think we're both skeptical there, 925 00:59:40.039 --> 00:59:44.719 but also the second year of Darvin Ham as a coach and what he's able 926 00:59:44.719 --> 00:59:46.280 to do. They love him over there, like there's no two ways about 927 00:59:46.320 --> 00:59:50.760 it. Him has got in control of that locker room. He buys into 928 00:59:50.760 --> 00:59:52.920 the guys. You see them, You see him hugging and interacting on a 929 00:59:52.960 --> 00:59:58.440 regular basis, and I think all those things give a lot of people a 930 00:59:58.440 --> 01:00:00.920 lot of confidence. Our guys, you know at Late Night Lake Show, 931 01:00:00.920 --> 01:00:02.360 you know Ricky and his team, you know Omar, Jody et cetera, 932 01:00:02.400 --> 01:00:07.519 et cetera, Quame and then obviously our gay Jabari. They're not bashful. 933 01:00:07.000 --> 01:00:10.280 They're really excited about the prospect. They don't they're I think we're jinks in 934 01:00:10.360 --> 01:00:14.039 them here. They expect this Lakers seem to be competing for, you know, 935 01:00:14.119 --> 01:00:16.639 for a Western Conference title and ultimately an NBA title as well too. 936 01:00:16.960 --> 01:00:21.400 So everything they've done makes has made some semblance of sense. I think at 937 01:00:21.480 --> 01:00:24.719 least on paper, Cam Reddish Game, Vincent Torrian, Prince, Christian Wood, 938 01:00:24.840 --> 01:00:28.239 all of the prizes that they got them at, why would you not? 939 01:00:28.719 --> 01:00:30.320 And I think if all those guys can play in and against kind of 940 01:00:30.320 --> 01:00:35.559 just slid in behind, you know, Lebron and ab and you know the 941 01:00:35.599 --> 01:00:38.920 growing celebrity you know of Austin Reeves, this team is poised to make a 942 01:00:38.920 --> 01:00:43.800 decent run. You know, It's interesting how Austin Reeves is just like in 943 01:00:43.840 --> 01:00:47.079 the limelight so much. I'm trying to think of another Laker who had that 944 01:00:47.159 --> 01:00:51.840 same kind of cachet, so to speak, where if everyone has this level 945 01:00:51.840 --> 01:00:58.400 of confidence, it wasn't even I get Kurt rambis Well not not, I 946 01:00:58.400 --> 01:01:00.679 mean in a quirky kind of way, you know what I mean, Like 947 01:01:00.840 --> 01:01:07.239 I feel like Kurt Rambishu rambesque, you know what I mean. Or maybe 948 01:01:07.280 --> 01:01:13.960 Robert or maybe Robert Robert Orriy will be a little Brian shosh, you know 949 01:01:13.960 --> 01:01:15.519 what I'm saying, Like the like, oh no, maybe Derek Fisher. 950 01:01:15.519 --> 01:01:20.599 I want to go Derek Fisher but but yeah, I'm running through all of 951 01:01:20.639 --> 01:01:25.280 them, but maybe more so that Reeves is a more potent offensive player at 952 01:01:25.280 --> 01:01:29.159 the early stages of his career and when we got the chance to see with 953 01:01:29.159 --> 01:01:30.280 with Derek Fisher. He's all around though, he really is. He's an 954 01:01:30.280 --> 01:01:34.159 all around, He's a connector, he's he's the you know, I think 955 01:01:34.159 --> 01:01:37.719 if we were going to do our baseline Awards, you know, Reeves would 956 01:01:37.760 --> 01:01:39.440 probably be the ultimate Google guy this year. Yeah, you know, if 957 01:01:39.480 --> 01:01:42.960 we were going to do a preseason pick for that, because I think he's 958 01:01:43.000 --> 01:01:45.159 going to be a connector offensively, defensively play making for them, doing a 959 01:01:45.159 --> 01:01:47.920 lot of a lot of things to kind of make the Lakers go yeah, 960 01:01:49.000 --> 01:01:52.320 no, totally all right Shaw. So that obviously leads to Denver Nuggets, 961 01:01:52.400 --> 01:01:58.599 right as as our team essentially part of that tier. And without that being 962 01:01:58.599 --> 01:02:01.159 said, they didn't. They lost a few players, no question, but 963 01:02:01.519 --> 01:02:05.440 when you just look at the team and their makeup and the and and the 964 01:02:05.480 --> 01:02:10.400 cohesiveness, and you know how they got to this point, it's really hard 965 01:02:10.440 --> 01:02:14.360 to just say, oh, you know, they're going to take such an 966 01:02:14.360 --> 01:02:17.559 extraordinary step back. No way, this team, you know, it's just 967 01:02:17.559 --> 01:02:21.920 still it is still just built for like this next for the three a run 968 01:02:21.960 --> 01:02:25.119 of three four years, easy to be competitive coming out of the West, 969 01:02:25.159 --> 01:02:29.679 and I think that's how these rosters, like the Lakers and the likes of 970 01:02:29.880 --> 01:02:34.760 the Suns, they built their rosters knowing that they're going to have to go 971 01:02:34.800 --> 01:02:37.519 through the Denver Nuggets. Yeah, very very much true. You know, 972 01:02:37.920 --> 01:02:43.519 there's some concern about the loss of Bruce Brown and what that will mean for 973 01:02:43.599 --> 01:02:47.039 them long term, but I think Christian Brawn is ready. Christian Brown is 974 01:02:47.079 --> 01:02:51.800 ready to take that next step, and they have a lot of confidence in 975 01:02:51.880 --> 01:02:53.440 what he's going to be able to do as somebody coming off the bench and 976 01:02:53.440 --> 01:02:57.280 being a little bit of a spark plug. He's a hustler. He proved 977 01:02:57.280 --> 01:03:00.480 that in the finals. He really is, and a guy you also like, 978 01:03:00.559 --> 01:03:02.880 you know from Fromiere's past to Justin Holliday comes into this, you know, 979 01:03:02.960 --> 01:03:06.119 to be a nice rotation piece for them as well. Again, not 980 01:03:06.159 --> 01:03:08.039 going to get a ton of minutes, but can definitely soak up some things 981 01:03:08.079 --> 01:03:12.360 and you know, we'll be He's got range at six to six, hasn't 982 01:03:12.360 --> 01:03:15.159 always proven himself to be like a great defender, but if you know, 983 01:03:15.159 --> 01:03:16.480 if he can at least try a little bit on that side. Then obviously 984 01:03:16.519 --> 01:03:20.639 gives them some spacing for Yokic and others to kind of operate. The biggest 985 01:03:20.679 --> 01:03:23.480 thing for me with Denver is the fact that you have guys slided in the 986 01:03:23.519 --> 01:03:28.719 most perfect roles now, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Junior. Both of those 987 01:03:28.760 --> 01:03:31.719 guys have wanted to be Aaron Gordon was at one point a number one option 988 01:03:31.880 --> 01:03:36.679 in Orlando. But when you have those guys as third and fourth options, 989 01:03:37.400 --> 01:03:39.320 you are golden. And you've asked plenty of times, you know, are 990 01:03:39.360 --> 01:03:43.000 they willing to accept that role? And I think after winning an NBA championship, 991 01:03:43.239 --> 01:03:45.559 I don't think we're going to have any issues with either one of them, 992 01:03:45.599 --> 01:03:47.119 you know, in that capacity. So that everybody knows what they need 993 01:03:47.199 --> 01:03:52.679 to do. Rallied around Jokic, rally around Jamal Jamal Murray, and this 994 01:03:52.760 --> 01:03:57.039 Denver Nuggets team has continued it should should be right there rolling in the Western 995 01:03:57.079 --> 01:04:00.639 Conference, and everybody's gearing up to beat them. I think the one thing 996 01:04:00.719 --> 01:04:08.159 that you can look at between indifferences to all three of these teams right is 997 01:04:10.599 --> 01:04:15.800 who has the best clutch makers? Right? The clutch shot takers that can 998 01:04:15.880 --> 01:04:19.480 hit those quality shots in crunch time or make the quality plays. And I 999 01:04:19.519 --> 01:04:24.119 think it's easy to say that when you got Jamal Murray and Jokic, they 1000 01:04:24.119 --> 01:04:28.599 have the best tandem of the three teams that we're talking about when it comes 1001 01:04:28.599 --> 01:04:32.000 to clutch situation in moments, if you have over the spread of dominance, 1002 01:04:32.559 --> 01:04:38.000 like in a game situation, you have Lebron James and Anthony Davis and just 1003 01:04:38.159 --> 01:04:42.559 overall explosiveness that can bury you in less like within the first five minutes of 1004 01:04:42.559 --> 01:04:45.280 a game, you know what I'm saying. Or maybe if it comes down 1005 01:04:45.360 --> 01:04:47.800 to the stretch of clutch shots that have to be taken, you have the 1006 01:04:47.800 --> 01:04:50.920 Phoenix Suns. So think about that. Over the last few years, we 1007 01:04:51.000 --> 01:04:56.880 have seen the scenarios of either in the finals or in you know, the 1008 01:04:56.920 --> 01:05:00.159 conference finals or the finals where it's come down to those type of scenarios or 1009 01:05:00.199 --> 01:05:04.719 situations that have had to play themselves out. And you arguably have the three 1010 01:05:04.800 --> 01:05:10.719 best, most fit you know, dynamics on these teams, respectively. And 1011 01:05:10.760 --> 01:05:14.320 it'll be interesting to see when it comes to the conference finals of those three 1012 01:05:14.320 --> 01:05:17.800 teams, those two teams that are there, who of the dynamics of their 1013 01:05:17.840 --> 01:05:23.519 players has those opportunities to expose that and let that shine and come through to 1014 01:05:23.559 --> 01:05:27.880 eventually get them to the to the NBA Finals. I love it. It's 1015 01:05:28.039 --> 01:05:31.639 absolutely perfect. Yeah. Now, I would say, you know, the 1016 01:05:31.760 --> 01:05:36.559 Sons probably have the best clutch duo in Durant and Booker, Yo Kitchen Murray 1017 01:05:36.559 --> 01:05:40.400 are are right there. I think Yok is more willing to make the right 1018 01:05:40.440 --> 01:05:43.360 play than that's what always takes right. There's a difference in play than shot 1019 01:05:43.480 --> 01:05:45.639 exactly right. So but I think, you know, when it comes down 1020 01:05:45.719 --> 01:05:48.920 to it, you know, these are three elite teams here in the Western 1021 01:05:49.000 --> 01:05:53.320 Conference, and you know, be they should be fighting it out record wise 1022 01:05:53.480 --> 01:05:56.039 and the whole nine. What I am interested to see though, I'll say 1023 01:05:56.079 --> 01:05:59.239 the last thing from the Phoenix standpoint is how many blowouts are they in? 1024 01:05:59.719 --> 01:06:02.039 And I think if they're able to kind of do the work early in games, 1025 01:06:02.280 --> 01:06:05.039 then allows you know, Durant, Booker and Bill specifically the rest at 1026 01:06:05.039 --> 01:06:08.400 the end. You know, those years like when Golden State was just like 1027 01:06:08.599 --> 01:06:13.360 Molly wopping people with KD ironically right, that allowed them to just save Korean 1028 01:06:13.519 --> 01:06:15.360 and KD towards the end of the season in the playoff run because they didn't 1029 01:06:15.400 --> 01:06:19.119 have that many minutes on them trying to eke out regular season wins. I 1030 01:06:19.159 --> 01:06:23.519 would expect Phoenix is going to be in that situation a lot. I'd be 1031 01:06:23.559 --> 01:06:26.760 really surprised if they didn't have the largest point differential this year as well too, 1032 01:06:26.960 --> 01:06:30.800 just by virtue of having such an explosive and dynamic offense. Very well, 1033 01:06:30.840 --> 01:06:33.360 said my friend. Very good and something we have to look for as 1034 01:06:33.400 --> 01:06:39.119 the season commences. So yeah, very interesting to see how the teams will 1035 01:06:39.119 --> 01:06:43.800 handle each other, handle themselves when they're playing against whoever they're playing against, 1036 01:06:43.880 --> 01:06:47.639 and how the star players and the team collectively, you know, get in 1037 01:06:47.719 --> 01:06:50.920 it, get on them early, and you know, shut these guys down 1038 01:06:50.920 --> 01:06:56.719 through and there you go. There's your load management there it is right there. 1039 01:06:57.360 --> 01:07:00.920 Awesome show this week, Man, Really excited we had the opportunity to 1040 01:07:00.920 --> 01:07:03.679 break down the Western Conference. And obviously, you know what we said, 1041 01:07:03.920 --> 01:07:08.840 we're looking at the Lakers, the Suns, and the Nuggets is really being 1042 01:07:08.840 --> 01:07:11.960 the top dogs. But that doesn't mean that the course of an NBA regular 1043 01:07:12.000 --> 01:07:15.719 season can shake things up a little bit. So you know, I like 1044 01:07:15.760 --> 01:07:19.039 the prospects of us holding those guys in a very very high regard, but 1045 01:07:19.119 --> 01:07:24.639 I'm really looking forward to those other tiers shaking things up and making things very 1046 01:07:24.639 --> 01:07:27.920 interesting in the West. Yeah, let us know if you're listening here on 1047 01:07:27.960 --> 01:07:30.800 the baseline, who you think is the most likely to move up or down? 1048 01:07:30.320 --> 01:07:34.920 Sacramento, Memphis, New Orleans, the Clippers, Minnesota even in the 1049 01:07:34.920 --> 01:07:38.559 bottom and you tall in Portland, Like, what are the prospects? The 1050 01:07:38.599 --> 01:07:42.519 Western Conference is going to be extremely, extremely competitive, and it's very hard 1051 01:07:42.559 --> 01:07:45.840 to partake here on the tiers. So again, no disrespect, no disrespect 1052 01:07:45.880 --> 01:07:47.880 to any of the team. We had to put somebody somewhere for the purpose 1053 01:07:47.880 --> 01:07:50.400 of the conversation, so we'd love to hear what your thoughts out here on 1054 01:07:50.400 --> 01:07:55.480 the baseline. Absolutely for the baseline, Kylie warren Shaw, we appreciate you 1055 01:07:55.559 --> 01:07:57.920 guys. Thanks for hopping on boat with us for our twenty twenty three twenty 1056 01:07:57.920 --> 01:08:00.320 four Western Conference preview. Jip with you next time.