Hello, everyone, Welcome to the latest episode of Hardwood Knocks. This is
out. I'm from We'll here with my fantastic co host Dan Valley, and
we're coming at you with the assist of a lot of questions for our latest
mailbag episode. We're going to be diving into all of those. Dan apparently
just didn't feel like working out today, a rarity for him, and has
actually done a lot of research on some of these questions. So I feel
like I'm going to be a little bit outclassed if we end up in any
debates here, but we'll see how it goes before we dive into any of
the questions. Though, how's it going, Dan? It is going a
okay over here. I wouldn't say it was a ton of research, but
I have a spreadsheet so that gives you like a clue into how and I
went deep into them, always respect that there were no there were no questions
that went on turned some of them we left out. And as we mentioned,
we'll probably do a second mail bag because we have so many questions,
So we normally do one a week anyway, and we're doing one later this
week because I am disordered and this shit and we did a different type of
episode at the beginning of the week, so we will probably get to your
question if you asked one. Thank you for everyone who did ask one.
We had a lot of good ones, though, and I think two of
them are going to hurt your soul a little bit. Oh, I already
know. I think we should start there too. Well, I mean more
importantly, how are you doing? Forget how am I doing? How are
you doing better than I'm going to be doing in about two minutes? Would
you like me to start somewhere else? No, let's start at the low
point and just move our way up throughout the episode. So we have two
questions on the Hawks. The first one comes from the NBA Chicken, who
is a loyal question asker. I would love to know at NBA Chicken,
why is your Twitter handled? The NBA Chicken, I'm just very curious.
They ask what's going on with the Hawks? Is it a bad road trip
against stiff competition? Or are they not as good as expected? And then
Reginald to ask Hawks why? So he boiled it down to just a great
question. Yeah, just two fantastic questions, very different approaches. So I
actually just wrote a little bit about this but I am curious as the and
if this makes you feel any better, I did say I thought the Hawks,
given the Kyrie Irving bs in Brooklyn, I thought they were going to
finish second in the Eastern Conference. So it's not like I wasn't high on
them and wrong about them. But what are your impressions of this Atlanta team
that has now lost seven of their last eight. Yeah, it's obviously not
ideal, and I do think that the schedule at least plays some part of
that. If you look at who the losses have come to and where they've
taken place. At Washington somewhat excusable, at Philadelphia excusable, at Brooklyn excusable,
at home against Utah excusable, on the road against Phoenix excusable, on
the road against the Warriors excusable, and on the road against the Jazz excusable.
The issue is that that seven losses in eight games, as you said,
which means that it goes beyond the schedule because there is something just a
little off with this team. It feels like we're seeing a regression to the
typical Nate McMillan offense that he's run in previous locations, where the play calling
just lacks a little bit of creativity. It relies a little bit too heavily
on long two pointers, on a lot of sets that are designed to produce
mid range looks, and that just isn't a fit for the personnel of this
Atlanta team, which has a ridiculously good three point creator and assist generator and
Trey Young surrounded by a ton of shooting options who excel from beyond the arc
and can also serve as secondary playmakers. So it feels a lot like this
Hawks offense is kind of stuck in the mud in the half court setting,
trying to kind of halfheartedly go through these motions in a way that isn't designed
to optimize their talent. We're not seeing the ball move a lot. If
you look at the amount of passes teams make per game, only the Dallas
Mavericks have had fewer than the Atlanta Hawks. Up Granted, that's not a
perfect Jason Kidd scout at Jason Kidd, as always, you know it's it's
not a perfect measure. The Detroit Pistons are actually leading the league in passes
made per game, But when it comes to this offense, what should be
more of a free flowing, freewheeling unit with creativity, with a lot of
three pointers generated off the catch. That's just not happening. I do think
it is at least in some part due to, you know, just some
subpar shooting performance, as no one is shooting particularly well against tight contested coverage
to this point of the season. Clint Capella is clearly still hindered by the
achilles injury that he suffered last season. He hasn't had that same explosiveness around
the basket, only shooting fifty nine percent at the rim, and without that
threat, it makes it easier for defenses to key in on Trey when he's
driving into the lane, which makes it harder to find a kickout opportunities.
So it's a convergence of a lot of different factors that all feel fixable.
It's probably a little bit too late, given the Heat's hot start, given
this terrible run to expect the Hawks to move into that conversation for a number
one or number two seed in the East. But it still feels like this
team is going to figure it out sooner rather than later. Yeah, those
are one thing I'll correct myself because people will come to Jason Kid's defense.
I know that Dallas with Luca has never been like this team prided on a
ton of bomb movement, but any chance to troll Jason Kidd, I'm totally
Therefore, someone did stick up for the amount of times that he was having
Luca post up though with the Mavericks this season, which was I was an
interesting taketout, But I think they blamed it on Luca. Someone in my
Twitter mentions I thought that was an interesting way to go about it, because
it would be the coach's job. Even if it was Luca's choice to post
up against non mismatches, it would be the coach's job to ensure that that
stops. So there are a lot of weird decisions going on in Dallas.
Also, can you tell that I lied and actually did have a little time
the prep. I could tell as soon as at the beginning. I was
like, all right, well, obviously he knows up. And then I'm
like, okay, no, he knew. He knew too much of this.
It's interesting because their offense is definitely underachieved. I'm curious is how much
has to do with this stretch where you mentioned you played the Jazz twice.
The Warriors are the best defensive team in the league, so there were just
a bunch of tough matchups there. I'm more keyed in on their defense,
which you could probably explain in part because of this tough schedule. Only the
Grizzlies, by the way, I've played out a harder strength of schedule.
To date, Atlanta's defense is thirtieth in points allowed per possession during this I
called it a stretched do poop, and is now twenty seventh in points allowed
per possession for the year. Opponents, for context, they're only thirty teams
in the NBA. Yeah, thirty of thirty. Honestly, let's just call
him thirty one of thirty. At that point. Over the stretch, they
ranked thirty first out of thirty teams in defense. They opponents are shooting,
and this is overall better than seventy percent around the rim. I feel like
Clink Appella hasn't looked the same year. I do like they're getting by when
he and John Collins play together, but the offenses are shooting eighty one point
eight percent at the rim when Copela is playing without John Collins. That is
wild. I think it speaks to who's playing the four a lot during those
stretches, and there have been when you watch this team, it does feel
like Nate McMillan called it being drunk on emotions. I don't know if that's
necessarily what it is, but there's like there are stretches where it feels like
they're they't they don't want to go back on defense. They are if they
commit a turnover, it feels like they're not even trying to get back on
defense. They're allowing one point five points per possession after a turnover. That
is bad for anyone who I think I'm wondering. I think a lot of
that is stemming from the offensive woes too, just because this is an offense
that last season, on the run to the Eastern Conference Finals with largely the
same personnel, if anything, with lesser personnel, it looked easy, you
know, everything flowed, everything seems seamless. It seemed effortless, and it
just feels laborious this year. Anytime the Hawks enter the half court, they're
working hard to generate even contested looks, and I think that that has an
impact on the other end of the floor. A because they're taxed, be
because they're mentally drained, and it's harder to commit on that defensive end if
you're not in it. Well, there's also the fact that if you're missing
shots, it's going to be statistically easier for opponents to get out and attacking
when your defense isn't set. Their defense has still been bad by those standards.
To me, I think two of the things, well not two of
the things. Another smaller thing that stands out is like the all bench unit
that they've tried out that needs to go. They can stop playing that always
and forever. I wonder if they do need to play delon Wright a little
bit more to get up their defense. I think more than anything though,
with this team, I'm wondering if they need to figure out a way to
actually consolidate the rotation, maybe decide more consistently which guys aren't playing, because
it Almo feels like the disease of depth to some extent, and I think
you could argue that might be a larger symptom for them on the offensive end.
Is there a trade out there where they can consolidate talent. I think
that's too easy to say because it's hard to really take stock of the trade
market right now. But I'm wondering if it would just behoove them to move
forward with more of a finite or set rotation, or do they have to
take the trade market at some point, because there's that does feel like it
could be an isstry for this team. I do think they have the potential
to be a lot better, And I don't want to read too much into
this eight game stretch just because it's so it's been a hellscape when you look
at their opponents for the most part and very road heavy, as you already
mentioned, I still think even by those standards they've underachieved. The real key
here is just going to be giving more run to Jail and Johnson and Shureef
Cooper. Yeah, play jail and Johnson at the five, and yeah,
just get get freaking weird. But yeah, I'm this team has been disappointing.
Do you still how worried are you? On a scale of one to
ten about them long term? This season? Like a two. I may
be a little higher than that because I am wondering if, like the defense
needs to be a lot better. They've You're right, the offense needs to
be a lot better, but they've been like okay on offense while kind of
sucking because at times, because with this roster composition, you can't just be
okay on offense. I still like, even if they're a fringe top ten
offense, that's a problem. Well when that's big to being more worried about
them than anything then, because I just I think that these are fixable issues.
Not everyone is going to keep slumping. At the same time, You're
eventually going to see some progression from Cam Reddish, from DeAndre Hunter, from
Kevin Herder. Just the regression from everyone at the same time, Wall coupled
with a bad schedule is see seven losses in eight games. I'm gonna go
with like a five point five here, just because I know the stretch has
been tough, but it's just something I'm gonna watch because there's just a lot
annoyed. There's a lot of weird stuff going on. I feel like in
the East right now, where the Nets offense isn't as good as you expect,
Chicago is fantastic, the Wizards are fantastic, the Calves are really good.
Some of these things are going to have to stick over the longer hauls
my point, and so I'm just if I'm the Hawks, I'm mildly to
supermodestly concerned about what I've seen. This next question comes from Jake G who
would be a realistic center the Hornets can go after, either through free agency
or trade to fix their defensive woes. If a trade, I'm imagining a
move centered around PJ. Washington. And please don't bring up Rashaun Holmes,
it hurts too much. This is someone who clearly listens to the podcast because
I have said I believe the Hornets should be find a draft pick for allowing
Rashaun Holmes to resign in Sacramento on the deal that he did. The thing
that I'll mention if before I throw it to you if you have targets,
is Charlotte's defense is so bad and I don't think it comes back to the
center position alone. I do think that's a huge deal as to why you're
looking at them, and there you know, as we record this, they
are twenty seventh in points allowed per possession, twenty seventh in defensive rebounding rate.
They are getting killed too by the opponent's offense when they are getting their
own missus. Opponents are scoring on a very high percentage of those opportunities,
and better center play is a way to address that. As of right now,
Mason Plumberly is your lone true playable center because it's not a Kai Jones,
it's not a Nick Richards, it's not a verning Carry perhaps you believe
and those guys with the longer haul, they're not the answer now. When
PJ. Washington is healthy, he is basically a four masquerading as a five.
They've even tried some very little, but they've tried some Miles Bridges minutes
at the five Miles Bridges is not a five, and so I think it
was. And we talked about this during our Hornet's Outlook with Kanada Edwards,
who's now podcast producer for CBS Sports. Shout out to him for the new
gig. It did feel like they missed an opportunity, as a team that
was more flexible than most this summer to do a better job of addressing the
middle and instead just settle for Mason Plumley. So I guess my point before
thirty was their defense is terrible. I think the interior set up is a
primary example of that. But I also don't know that you look at this
team on the perimeter and say, okay, hey, like if you get
a league average or better sting, like even if you've got a Miles Turner,
because he's the name everyone's gonna say you should trade for. I don't
know that your defense is all of a sudden great when you're looking at the
guys that he's still going to have in front of him for longer stretches of
the game. Miles Turner is probably the obvious answer if you're looking for the
big name, the star player, because he would be a good fit.
We've said that really since midway through last season, when it was obvious that
the Pacers might still move on from him and the Demonto Sabonis Turner pairing.
On the lower end, I might like to see them make a play for
like Daniel Tice, who's on a four year, thirty six million dollar contract
with the Rockets, which is reasonable money for a non star who is going
to be a solid defensive presence in the paint, which is ultimately what the
Hornets need. He's not going to provide much on offense. I'm not sure
how much you need on offense. With LaMelo Ball running the show, with
this new and improved version of Miles Bridges, you're probably giving up PJ.
Washington in any trade in the situation, So I don't know if we can
talk about him there. But there are still other pieces, so it's not
like a swing for the fences move or anything. But I think you'd be
hard pressed to argue that Charlotte should be making a swing for the fences move.
I'd love to see them target someone in that vein if the Spurs are
willing to part with, like Yaka Peartle, another good, typical archetypal defensive
center who's not going to spend much time on the perimeter. Earl's a name
that I would like. He is in the health and safety protocause right now.
I think the problem with Tye is and you might even run into this
problem with Peartle is like and he's been better. Peartles been better on the
defensive glass in the past. And I also don't know with Tys how much
is defensive rebounding percentages deflated by playing a lot of minutes with Christian Wood.
But he's never just been like this super great guy at ending those possessions,
and they do need someone who does that. I just you look at the
market and it's like to find a really solid room protector who might be able
to be pulled out of the paint a little bit. But also it's a
great defensive rebounder. You're probably not going to check all those boxes again,
Miles Turner is one. I'm with you. I don't think they should swing
for the defenses. Miles Turner to me is okay, just because I don't
know that the opportunity costs is monstrous there. But to your what you were
saying, looking at the lower end, does a Nerlands Noel or Mitchell Robinson
become available in New York depending on how the nixt season goes. Robinson's about
to become a free agent this summer. I also don't know. Defensively,
for the most part, I think they would those guys would help, but
Mitchell Robinson isn't the most disciplined defensive rebounder himself either, and so like they're
going to be flaws. And wherever you say, mo Baba has been great
this year, and Orlando did extend Wendell Carter Jr. Again that someone else
who's also slighter. Are you looking for more of like a stronger big and
he will space the floor. That'd be an interesting element around LaMelo ball.
You are getting that. Of course, when you play with PJ. Washington
at the five, you're just getting someone who's longer and taller. And the
other name if you, oh, well, this name would be more offseason,
because look, you go through the free agents and I just named two
of them, and Mitchell Robinson next summer in mo Bamba. It's just like
the market is so Robert Williams, the third would probably be a name that
was bringing to mind for me, and he just signed an extension, so
that gets wonky. You're probably not going to happen this season, would be
my point. If you wanted to swing for the fences, and I just
don't know what the package looks like because of where this team is at in
what they're trying to do and how important he is to them. But DeAndre
Ayton is the name. He will be a free agent this summer. The
Hornets are not gonna have the cap space to go after him. But if
you wanted to create the cap space or try and broke or some sort of
assign and trade, what is the status of Robert Sarver's future with the team
as its chairman, How does that impact what they're doing? With DeAndre Ayton.
I don't think they would move DeAndre Ayton short of them acquiring who they
believe is just like a third star for CP three and Devin Booker, and
Charlotte doesn't have that to offer them right now, so it'd probably have to
be a three or fourteen deal where the Suns are getting someone else back,
Charlotte's sending stuff to that team who has sent enough to Phoenix that it can
be in Charlotte. But I'm also thinking about restricted free agency if you want
to try and come in with an over the top offer or willing to pay
him more and can broker assign in trades, and you're not going to have
a boatload of cap space in the upcoming summer. But there's just there's no
Carol here, and I think you're looking at more so if they're going to
make a win now move this season. What you said stands out the most
to me is that you're probably looking at just like lower end names, and
even those are sort of tough time. I don't know if it's because it's
so early in the season or just those names aren't out there right right now,
but they seem like they're kind of tough to find, and I don't
think that perfect solution exists right there with you. It's tough to come up
with like reasonable names at this stage of the season. It's Turner though,
right, But that's the that's the one who comes close to check. That's
the that's the upper tier answer. I just can't see them making that big
of a play. I think they could just it'd be easier to justify that,
justify that one, because I don't know it costs you as much future
equity in addition to PJ. Washington as another name, and I can't even
think of it, Like if Pascal Siakam became available, would be super interesting
for this team. But it's like, what are you giving up for Pascal
Siakam in that's an area. So but yeah, the Hornets, the Hornets
need an upgrade at center this question. You could eventually look sorry, before
we move on, eventually look at Washington when Thomas Bryant is back, Like
you're going to have Thomas Bryant, Montrez Harold, and Daniel Gafford all in
need of minutes, likely at the five. I don't think any of those
three are ideal fits in Charlotte because they're really all more offensive oriented at this
point. Bryant's probably the best fit as that solid rebounder in addition to what
he brings in the pick and roll game. But just because there's too many
big man and in Washington, I wonder if the price could be diminished enough
that they could get an ill fitting upgrade. Yeah, you're right, Gaffer
would be the best defensively of those three, but none of those three are
moving the defensive needle. Briant would be offensively an interesting fit, like you
said he can be, He's a really feisy rebounder. His question comes from
Tony Spookum's Anthony Morlachi. What are your impressions of the mixtape Jersey's Favorite,
These Favorite, etc. I don't know if you've had time to look extensively
at the NBA City addition jerseys, but I have when they first came out
and I went through them. I have way stronger thoughts than I should on
these things. Yeah, I mean I haven't like studied them or anything.
I think I like most of them. Oh okay, I think I know
you've publicly said that most of them suck, but like I like the Lakers
throwback the Phoenix Valley Jersey is always phenomenal. I like that the Hawks are
bringing back the cartoon hawk. Charlotte's has a nice like color fade. Miami's
is just atrocious. New York's looks good. You know, we can go
on and on here, we could. You'd be wrong about a lot of
them. I think Charlotte's is god awful. And I'm by the way,
I'm not trying to disrespect the actual intent or thematic inspiration behind any of these.
This is pure aesthetics. Yeah, these are pure aesthetics. Charlotte's used
to bring back the pinstripes. I don't know, you don't see those,
like, but do you see many color fade jerseys in the NBA. I
think that's what's cool about the Charlotte's is the transition from the deeper blue to
the lighter teal. Like, that's just it's unique to me because we don't
see it. I think sort of the bee hornet hive element at the top
ruins that for me, I'd rather see that papered all the way down extended
that I disagree because it would just get lost in the court because they use
that honeycomb court. Yeah, I don't know. I hate it. I
think Charlotte's is bad. Uh. Like I said, if the honeycomb I
called the bee high stuff, like if that stuff, if that went further
down, I probably like it more. I'm not a big fan of when
you're not using a lot of the space that's available to you. So like
even could the Charlotte be written it? Like does it have to be in
that script that's going diagonal? It is a little bit busy up top,
but it's not liking Charlotte. I'm gonna pull it down here. That might
be your worst take ever. Fair Enough, I liked those, uh,
I think it was. Mike V. Hill at the time of my podcast
called it one of the most gentrified NBA jerseys he's ever seen, where it's
like the MAVs cartoony text, and I enjoyed it. I agree with you.
So if I had to pick, like my my clear double us,
and I think that's what was my issue here is that there are jerseys that
I'm ultimately fine with where the rockets one is cool, but like I kind
of missed like that huge old school rocket ship on it. So there are
jerseys that I'm fine with, but the actual the actual winds. Atlanta's is
great. This is great. I really really like the Raptors one. You
could quibble over, maybe you don't like that gold black color scheme, but
I love having that actual rapid. It's the ovo elements, so I at
least get it. The Spurs one is fantastic. It's minimalistic, but the
color pattern is just to throwback to the Alamo jerseys from the early two thousands.
Yet, and I wouldn't call these clear double us because they're all there.
They're repetitive basically, but they're solid. I like both the Suns and
Utahs. Those are those Those are fantastic in there. No Golden States is
Golden States is great because it's playing off of their typical city jersey, which
just has one of the better alternate logos in the NBA. And the addition
of the lightning on the sides, I think it's pretty eye catching. I
like those. The lightning is creative. You could have been more creative with
the rest of the jersey. I'm also just them the Knicks, the Celtics,
like, let's see them take more chance. And I'm really saying this
to the Celtics than Nicks, like take more chances here, like these jerseys
are always just so, don't take as many chances as the heat because those
are garbage. I respect the attempt, though, and no, I don't
think it was just bad. I don't think this one came out well.
But I like it better than I like New York's or Boston's. I like
it better than Charlotte's, the other one that I loved. I love Orlandos
is great. I love the just the orange in there, the way that
they have the star representing as the magic and even as the dot like annotation
on the eye. And I like the orange and the black and plus those
orange pin stripes coming down on the black. I think they hit a home
run here too. I think we can all agree that Dallas might have perhaps
the worst one of the three worst jerseys here. Okay, okays is bad.
It's one of them. It's clearly the one. I think it's the
worst. I don't even know how you mentioned Alexey pokahevskis don't look like he's
naked whenever he's wearing it. We haven't mentioned the Lakers, but I would
put them near the top two. I really like how they're keeping the purple
from the Purple and Gold, but also paying homage to the blue from the
Minneapolis era. I think it looks really clean with that old school but also
new school font on the number with the drop shadow, it just looks really
good. I agree with the drop shadow on the number. I probably again,
I'm just not a fan of like we're pulling the name logo all the
way up to the top and it's just not taking up like enough space for
me. But I do they're one of the better ones. I just they
weren't among my favorites. And I don't have an issue with Philadelphia's is fine,
Minnesota's is fine. I'm not the biggest fan of like the Clippers is,
even though I kind of like the color scheme. I don't like the
pure white with only the slight you know, orange like cream cycle outline text
for the numbers. I don't mind the bucks either, the sides. Really
like the sides and the bucks a lot. Yeah, I also cannot stand
the Pacers, and I've been criticized for this take in the past because I
don't like the jerseys that it's based off of that Reggie Miller made famous.
But I'm just sucking I'm such a sucker for symmetry that, like the diagonal
stripe just ruins it for me. The white diagnose stripes that you're talking about,
just the fact that it's asymmetrical like that, jarringly. It's one thing
for text, but a different thing for the background. New Orleans is is
apropolo of its season, which is to say, nondescript Memphiss is boring.
De Troits is fine, Rip Cities is fine. I'm not. I don't
like Chicago's like that. I feel like I can see my reflection in it
even by looking at the image just on the computer, and there's just not
enough space taken up, Like the number needs to be bigger, Chicago needs
to be bigger. Whatever. So there are teams I don't want to say
I'm indifferent to it, but like I'll give them a thumbs up. But
I don't think it's out of creativity. I think it's they played it safe
and there's there's value in that, I suppose, Like Sacramentos is fine to
me too, Like right in that Lakers tire, I normally see more that
stand out and I'm like, oh, I love this, And that really
only happened with like half a dozen or so. I think it's tough.
In some cases like Washington. I don't think it's the most aesthetic pleasing with
the two red stripes near the top. But I also get exactly what they're
doing, which is having West Unselled Junior's team give a throwback tribute to the
jersey's warn by West Unselled and Elvin Hayes, and those Washington bullets might be
Eve entered the Coach of the Year chat, speaking of the awards letter that
we did. I'm not crazy. The sides of Denver's are fine, but
like when you look at the text where it's so clunky, it looks like
it says like Dever is basically what I'm reading. I hate all of it,
but you have I get. I get. It's another one of those
where I understand what you're doing because this is the tribute to the Rainbow Skyline
jerseys, but it looks terrible with those jutting outside panels. I just I
can't stand those. The nets is fine to me, but like again,
that's a it's not as uncreative, like there's more of a like the throwback
harkening to the new jerseys. You can't look at it and not think it
draws and Petrovitch right, which is that's a good emotion to invoke. So
let's try this. What are your five favorite ones? Phoenix, the Lakers,
Atlanta, Houston, and I'm gonna go with Charlotte, much to your
chagrin. Wow, so my five favorite we share our interests in Atlanta.
The Spurs are there for me, The Raptors are in there, the magic
the Raptors are my sixth for what it's worth, And I have to go
between either Utah or Phoenix. Here is like that last inclusion, I think
I'll go with I'm gonna go with Utahs. I really just love the collar
of blend on that but they could be tied for fifth. You'll allow me
to cop out, like I have six of my top five? What are
your five least favorite? The five absolute worst? And I'm gonna tell you
right now, Charlotte's is in my bottom five. I'm gonna go with Okay,
see Oklahoma City, that's also okay, Okay, I do do it.
I think those are by far the worst. New Orleans just doesn't even
count, so we'll put them there. I think Chicago's is terrible for the
reasons you gave. The Sixers are really bad and Dallas is going to be
my fifth, so there are a lot of options. Still, No,
I forgot about Miami. I will I'll drop Chicago for Miami. I at
least like that Miami's is different and stand out, like I understand it does
it looks like a ransom note. I'm not the first one to say it
looks like a ransom note, but like, I wonder if I would like
it even more, if like somehow and I know it's different because these are
getting tucked in when players are wearing them or Chris Paul is gonna tell on
you if it's not. But like, even still, like, can we
bring that down? Can there be more space between? I also just think
like there's probably too much, you know, discrepancies in the texts and the
colors in there. But I at least appreciate the swing. And so I
look at these and if I can see in iota emoticon of creative effort,
I can I can applaud it. And so with that said, I don't
like New orleanss, I don't like okaycs, I do not like Chicago's Charlotte's.
Is there my fifth one. I want to say it's the News because
they're perpetually boring. But can we talk a little bit about like how not
cool Cleveland's is, Yeah, because I can't even tell it's Cleveland's, right,
So it's just like, I don't know, I'm gonna throw them in
my bottom five instead of the Knicks. But I'm just gonna says tribute Jersey
should just be like a picture of lebron as the logo Dallas needs to be
in there too. Wow, I got. There's just there's too many bad
ones. That's my point. So to Boston, New York specifically be more
like these Jersey's got to be more creative moving forward. Like those are the
two teams that I feel like I'm constantly just disappointed in what their alternates look
like. I think part of that is at least by design, with Boston
in particular, because the Jersey just has never changed and never will change.
But with an opportunity like this, you got you gotta take it a little
bit. Yeah, I mean New York and Boston's were boring as hell.
That's that's my official stance on this. We have two spurs questions, So
let's start with this one is this one's fun ty yeger Set asked, who
is an underrated player you guys like from San Antonio. I want to see
if you can guess the owner of this stat who ranks second on the Spurs
and made off the dribble jump shots this season? Like, who are the
top two names? I'm sorry I phrase that. I phrase that very poorly.
Dejante Murray is going to be number one. I don't know that Kelton
Johnson has ever taken a pull up jumper because he just attacks the runt every
time. So I'll go with the cell as number two. I hate that
you've got that right, But Devin Missell is number two. He's shooting fifty
two percent from mid range. His like ability to do more on offense is
an actual thing, and he's my pick. I'm sorry to cut in front
of you for that, but I found that. Oh please do as well,
so just talk for both of us. Look, he's I think he's
shooting like off the catch shooting, which by the way, he's shooting a
higher clip a higher effective field goal percentage on off the dribble jumpers than catching
shoot jumpers. I actually view that for the type of player that he is
as like a positive. I think he's going to end up being this more
well rounded, comprehensive player on offense than really expected, someone who can only
cut and catch and shoot or maybe move around to me like he can.
I don't know if he's ever been running a crap ton of pick and rolls,
but I really like what I'm seeing from his in between game, and
you combine that with his outside shooting, and then the hustle is gonna give
you on defense. They I'm going to say this now, and I know
people are still going to say, maybe Murray. There might be some Barrick
White holdouts, maybe there's a Josh Primo fan here, And I really do
like Josh Primo. Devin Vassel is their best and most important player of the
bigger picture, and I think he's usurped. It was really dejan Day.
Murray was kind of unchallenged there. And it's not just that he's aged out
of it, but I think that Devin Vassell is the single most important player
to the San Antonio Spurs moving forward. Maybe that's not a spicy take.
I don't think it's that spicy. You'll probably get some Dejende Murray fans pushing
back on it. Just given the strides he's already taken this season and the
fact that guards, like true lead guards are, they tend to be a
little bit more valuable in the team building process. But just in terms of
all around ability, I get exactly where you're coming from. Did you see
that Dejan Day Murray's dad called out Derek White on Twitter for sucking and did
not? I think I've just like, I found a Twitter setting where I
just mute every family member of any athlete ever, and it's wonderful. I
couldn't. Derek White had like an O of ten performance. I think it
was I can't remember who they played, but it was No November seven,
and Dejan Day Murray's dad was subtweeting him, but it wasn't really a subtweet.
It was he might as well have just added Derek White on it.
So Derek White has struggled, and I think coach I have even mentioned something
about it. He's traditionally one of the more that's a guy who, by
the way, I wonder if he could I don't. Maybe you wouldn't want
a trade for him because he's in the first year of that extension. But
I'm just wondering if he's a guy who could be had via trade that you
wouldn't have expected because the Spurs are kind of sort of rebuilding. He is
twenty seven. The upside there is going to be limited. It's just who
wants to pay. You know, an average of sixteen million dollars a year
for this guy over the next four which includes this season, So that's something
monitored. This next question from about this, I'm going to give an answer.
The cell was my answer, but I think another one is worth highlighting
since you already took that one. Thaddius Young needs some love here. I
know that he's a bigger name because he's older, but he's forgotten about at
this point. And while he's only playing seventeen point six minutes per game over
eight appearances for the Spurs this season, per one hundred possessions, twenty point
four points, eleven point seven rebounds, nine point four assists, three point
nose steals, two point three blocks, shooting sixty four point four percent from
the field, playing maybe the best defense of his career. In a wide
variety of roles, he has just been one of those do whatever it takes
fill a bunch of roles in a low minute role who can boost the Spurs
in such a wide variety of ways that I think he's playing himself into a
bigger role on a more competitive team on his next contract. It's funny that
you mentioned him too, because he's really only playing even as much as he
is out of necessity. Like if Yaka Perotle isn't enter the least health and
Safty protocols. I'm curious he what happens when he comes back, so he's
forever good. I thought about him as a trade target for Charlotte as a
small ball five. I just don't know if he's going to give you enough
of the rebounding element. But if you're looking for just the smarter defender to
plug in the middle, he's way more suited to play well. I don't
want to say way more student, but I think he is, you know,
more capable of anchoring smallball five lineups than a PGA Washington. Next question
comes from jobs. If you were going to make the Spurs better by changing
the current starting lineup with only current available players, what change would you make
if any and I have to imagine that the best starting lineup for this team
is going to involve the de Gante Murray, Derek White backcourt, Purtle at
center when he's available, and then I think at the forward positions, you
need the spacing Doug McDermott provides, and I would rather have the versatility Devon
Vassell provides and bring Keldon Johnson as that aggressive go to score against bench units.
I am, I totally get that from you. I've thought that maybe
they were onto something when they were so committed to separating Derek White and dejan
Day Murray at this point, that they should do it again, that those
have not been the minutes that have hurt them this season. But I would
like to see, especially based off how poorly or I don't want to say
poorly but inconsistently Derek White has been this season, give me Murray with Lonnie
Walker, Devin Vassell, Kelvin Johnson and Daddy is Young. I get that
you would probably want to play if you want to throw Yaka Purdle in there
other than Daddy is Young. But if you're actually asking me, am I
trying to field the best lineup that I think is going to be do the
most damage at both ends from the jump. Those are the five that I'm
probably rolling out. I do think what they probably should look at overall,
even if you're keeping the White Murray pairing, does Lonnie Walker need to be
in there just to have like another layer of shot creation. And I think
I do think, excuse me, I do think Doug McDermott's floors basing is
important. But in that scenario, I do wonder do you replace Doug McDermott
with Lonnie Walker just so that you have that floors basing coming off the bench
which were all of a sudden to be down another ball handler. So,
but that's the My lineup would be the Vassell, Lonnie Walker, Murray,
Kelvin Johnson and Daddy is Young Crew. I think that's the I think that
would be a fire unit for for San Antonio. Nothing to add there.
We'll move on then, But we were I mean, it's another fun and
it's kind of a testament to how much we might have underrated them at the
start of the year in terms of where this franchise was out in a at
in a pseudo rebuilding process that they do have so many options. Dan Starmer
ask should the Wolves still trust Karl Anthony Towns to be a number one option
to take the team forward. I have a follow up question, is Karl
Anthony Towns even the Minnesota was the number one option. It definitely doesn't seem
that way, especially coming off of a game against the Golden State Warriors in
which Anthony Edwards exploded for forty eight points. But I think the answer is
still yes, because it's really hard to pin the blame for the timberwolves perpetual
struggles on Karl Anthony Towns's shoulders. Yes, at the time of recording,
they're only three and seven. They've been one of the worst teams in the
league when you factor in strength of schedule. But what Towns provides is still
absolutely magnificent on the offensive end, Like he's still going to push towards twenty
five point on a nightly basis. He's a willing and able passer. He's
currently shooting forty seven point one percent from beyond the arc on seven attempts per
game. As a true big man, he gets the line, he can
make his free throws, he can challenge any defender with a face up jumper
by taking him off the bounce. He can fill any role on offense because
he is a generationally talented offensive big man. So it's really hard for me
to want to give him any of the blame, specifically with regards to his
offense, just because the Wolves continue to struggle. It's not like this is
an ideal lineup meant to optimize him. He's still putting him alongside Anthony Edwards,
who is best with the ball in his hands at this point. You're
still putting him alongside Gangelo Russell, who is still best with the ball in
his hands. At this point. You're not surrounding him with a ton of
good shooters. You're not putting a ton of high quality defenders. You're counting
on Jaden McDaniels to fill in all of the cracks on defense for josh Akogi
to continue to make an impact on the wings as a defender. It's just
it's not optimized for him to succeed. And I think I said Jaden McDaniels
when it should be Jealen McDaniels. And my apologies there. Wait, you
think you said I don't know, I'm Dade McDaniels is the player that we're
talking about. So whatever happens to give me a funky look, and I
doubted myself and I shouldn't have. I don't remember giving you a funky look
about anything. So Jaalen McDaniels is on the Charlotte Hornet, So I was
not looking at you funny about that. I apologize if I was. I
am just Day more of the Dade More NBA podcast. It's a great podcast,
and day Moore does a great job covering this team. Has talked about
this a lot. The Wolves are trying to implement this more free flowing offensive
system, and he thinks that they were more focused on the defensive end and
training camp and just haven't had enough time or didn't put enough focus into learning
the tenants of what they're trying to do. I also think if you're looking
for more of a a read and react team, I don't know if they
have the personnel for it, just like I've never viewed D'Angelo Russell as that
type of a player. For one. You are dealing with a lot of
one way players too, where Josh and Cook is going to really help you
on defense. But that's not I don't he's that guy on offense. The
answer to that is absolutely not. Jake Klayman is still on this team's pay
roll. FY I for anyone who cares. I think I might have called
that contract to steal when he signed it, though, so I shouldn't be
doing any I shouldn't be doing any trolling here. I would almost wonder.
I feel like Karlnton Towns needs to be doing more, so when you look
at the percentage of his possessions that he's finishing as either the rollman or the
pick and pop guy, they're at a career low right now. He's averaging
fewer drives per game in slightly more minutes, I believe this season than last
season, and I'm just like, can they try? I guess if you
want to get him moving, I get that, But I feel like the
spacing needs to be better, because even when they're playing lineups where it looks
like they're five out the bodies in the world's games and moments that I've watched,
they feel very clustered together where it's like you're loading up in not even
one side of the floor, but one area or spot on the floor,
And I'm curious as to how much that impacts him and can you put the
ball? And it's like, why not run inverted pick and rolls? Maybe
you don't have the smaller player to run it with. But Karl Anthony Towns
has the vision, he has the handle and just be like, hey,
we're just gonna Karl Anthony Towns is gonna run a pick and roll and I
understand that's like, I'm not saying that is the answer, but I would
argue that you can do more things with Towns, or that he is capable
of shouldering. I don't even want to say just a heavier role, but
a more complicated role than he has right now. And so I don't think
he is. He and Anthony Edwards remain their timeline, and I'm still I
will say this more often than not. I don't think it's icy. He's
closer to a top fifteen player than he is to a top thirty or top
twenty five player like there's he would be in my top fifteen to twenty maybe
even higher than that, And so you know, you don't like it's he
is not like the issue. There are things that you would like him to
do better, especially on defense, but they've also cobbled together like a pretty
effective defense this year. And so that's why I play so much stock and
not only is dating more super smart and covers this team so well, Like
that just makes a lot of sense when you start to think about with what
he's saying. I don't know with what I'm saying about Karl Anthy Town's tracks,
but I think overall he has the ability to show their more complicated role.
And I don't want to say that they're marginalizing him because it's not this
season specifically. I think you could look at almost any Karl Anthony Town season
and say the exact same thing that I'm saying now, which is he could
do more if you need him too, And I get they don't need to
because you mentioned it with Anthony Edwards. That's part of the problem here.
So I don't know if it's just a matter of the talent around him needs
to be better, or is there actually room for him to do more but
he's so complimentary, or he's every act on offense is so scalable that I
think we almost take it for granted. In a lot of ways. It
feels a little similar to Steph Curry, where I'm not sure you could give
him too much responsibility within an offense, and Chris Finch hasn't done that to
this point. Much like Steve Kerr hasn't with the Golden State Warriors two different
levels, but it feels like you could reasonably run every single play through Karl
Anthony Townty. Yeah, he'd wear down, but good things would happen.
In the interest of keeping this podcast undern nowur, let's make these the last
two or three questions right here. I sent you this one. Did you
want to wait for the second part of this mailbag or do the one about
Helio Centrist Let's do Let's do that in the second one. Okay, that
question is fascinating. So there's there's your teaser. That could just prompt way
too long of a discussion here. So all right, This one comes from
WIKA one. Do you think the Clippers offense will pick up? And if
so why? The caveat I will say is they're shooting has picked up from
where it was to start the season because they were they were laying some ricks
from the outside and they've definitely regressed from last seas where they're hitting everything from
beyond the arc. But it was bad to start the year, not really.
Kawhi Leonard was so central to what they did on both ends of the
floor. There's just an awful lot of responsibility on Paul George's shoulders. So
I like to look at the four factors that Dean Oliver came up with way
back when whenever this kind of question comes up, and the Clippers, according
to Basketball Reference, currently rank eleventh and effective fuel field goal percentage, which
feels pretty reasonable, I would say, given the talent on this roster on
the offensive end, their tenth and turnover percentage nothing to really complain about.
There, their twentieth and free throws per field goal attempt, which has been
a persistent issue for this team because it does settle for a lot of jumpers,
it doesn't have the personnel that really consistently attack the basket in a way
that draws contact. And their twenty ninth in offensive rebounding percentage, and that's
the one to me that feels like it could have some sort of trend in
the positive direction. After all, they did finish twelfth in the category last
year. But until that happens, it's hard to know why exactly we should
expect that much more from this team, especially as the year goes on and
Paul George isn't at full strength and he's had to shoulder an inordinate responsibility for
much of the season. Like, I don't see any reason to believe that
we're gonna look at this team, no matter what personnel combinations they use,
and view it as a top six, top seven, top eight offense in
the NBA this season. If they can stave off being a bottom ten offense,
I'd probably call it an accomplishment. If we assume Kawhi Leonard doesn't play.
And I think some of these issues persisted last year, they're just all
exacerbated by the fact that Kawhi Leonard isn't here, and so, like the
point guard rotation has always been lackluster, with how in can aistant Reggie Jackson
has been, how poorly Eric Bletso has shot, Like that's a real problem
for them now because you only have sort of Paul George to be that primary
creator type. And I know, look, I know that pig and rolls
aren't the biggest part of their offense. But you have Reggie Jackson averaging point
six three points per pick and roll possession as the ball handler. That's the
eighteen percent tile of efficiency. Eric Bletso Adam is averaging point two nine points
per possession as the pick and roll ball handler. You look at you,
you laugh, But that's point two nine points per possession, more than you
would have fair Enough, they are among the most ISO heavy teams in the
league, and they're only averaging point eight six points per possession in those situations.
That's the thirty eight percentile. This team has never been one that puts
a ton of pressure on the rim. They're also not finishing that well there.
That's a problem. If you're not going to put a ton of pressure
on the rim, you want to make the most of those opportunities. Also,
because you don't have Kawhi Leonard, who's just an expert in drawing fous
from any where, there's going to be a cap on how many times you
can get to the free throw line, which is another it can be in
them. I think people were critical that they didn't get to the room enough
last year, but I actually believe they were in the top ten of foul
rate last year. I'll free throw atemp three. Excuse me, I'll double
check that while I'm talking here. So I think the elements, some of
the elements that are plaguing them now were an issue last year. It's just
you had Kawhi Leonard, so a lot of them were masks, and they
were fourteenth and free throw attempt rate last year, so still higher than they
were, and you just don't have the personnel to address it right now.
And the other thing that's hurting them is they're middle of the pack in three
point percentage, but it's lower than the league's best mark, which is where
they were last year. And so I think I would say, where are
they at an offense right now? They're nineteenth in points scored per possession.
I don't want to say that's their ceiling. But if you're asking me whether
I would expect them to finish their eighteenth if you're asking me whether I would
take the you know, them finishing better than eighteenth or lower than eighteenth,
I'd probably take lower. I think there's a realistic path to like a very
middle of the pack finish, but I just don't see it beyond that,
and even that would require a lot to go right. And look, even
getting to this point, you've needed Paul George to just be an absolute monster
over the past like week and a half, however long. It's been so
food for thought there. This question comes from fifty shades of brow. If
the Nuggets decided to go all in this season. Is there any player that
would really make a championship level difference or are as they as good as they
can be? M I just I don't see like a consolidation trade for this
team because the depth has already been an issue without Jamal Murray in the lineup,
with Michael Porter Junior struggling, even with Will Barton playing lights out basketball
on both ends of the floor, even good so ridiculously good, and Yokich
has been a bona fide MVP candidate, a legitimate threat to go back to
back in that department, also a legitimate threat to Marquis Morris, but carry
one. So I just don't see it because unless you're selling low on Porter,
what are you going to give up without destroying what little depth you're already
working with, Because this team has struggled immensely in the non Yokich minutes,
Monte Morris has regressed significantly. Again, Porter has really struggled, and it's
caused this team a lot of issues. JA Michael Green, Jeff Green like
nothing, nothing is working. So I just I don't see it here because
you don't have the trade juice to go out and acquire a star without significantly
altering the chemistry this team or potentially giving up Jamal Murray, which just isn't
going to happen. So I think this is the roster that you're looking at,
and it is still a roster capable of making a title run if it
is at full strength, and if Porter can be the player the Nuggets thought
he was going to be when he signed a massive extension and then forgot how
to play basketball. Yeah, there are I don't think you can call him
as good as they can be. By the way that went over Indiana,
though without Yo kis without Michael Porter jumps Murray incredibly impressive. What you run
into an issue with them is who are you actually moving to make the impact
trade? Because you just signed Gordon to that extension and I don't think his
raise was low enough. Yeah, he's not going to be trade eligible this
year, so you can't move him. You're not going to move Michael Porter
Junior when he's part of the poison pill provision for signing his extension. You
could move Will Barton, but he's been so good. What's the trade that's
getting you an upgrade over Will Barton? Who's a memory you're starting up.
You're not training Jamal Murray when he's injured. That just doesn't make sense for
you. So and you're not moving yr kis so like you're just limited in
the type of trade filler you have now, I don't think. And this
also isn't the season to go all in because what's going on with Michael Porter
Jr's back. Let's see what Jamal Murray looks like when he returns. You've
bought yourself a little bit of time by blocking everyone down long term, so
there's no real rush here. A name I would keep an eye on based
on how many how much is how many issues they've had on the bench and
how much their offensive struggled this year Eric Gordon in Houston because you do have
the Monte Morris Jeff Green contracts. Is salary matching? What else are you
including or what's the sweetener there? And you're probably looking at a three team
situation because I don't know why Houston necessarily would be interested in either of those
players unless they're attached to Bones Highland, who I would not give up for
Eric Gordon. But like that's the type of move is okay? You can
cobble together two contracts and take back maybe a veteran that doesn't fit with another
team's timeline, and maybe maybe Houston just wants to break up Eric Gordon into
two smaller salaries. Though though Jeff Green would probably be pretty pissed if if
he ended up in Houston after intersigning in Denver. But like, it doesn't
have to be him. You can use the step ladder trades to get there.
I just don't. I don't think a huge move is realistic for them.
I'm with you there. We have another question on the Nuggets, and
you actually touched upon this one. It also comes from fifty Shades of brow
Does what Barton have any case for most improved player? Absolutely? The issue
is that so do like fifty other players right now because it's the start of
the season and we have yet to see what kind of growth is actually scalable
for a full season. So I'm kind of viewing Barton much in the same
way that I view like the Seth Curry candidate Harrison Barnes as a candidate where
these are veteran players where they're thriving both because of the opportunity and because of
improved play, and that level of opportunity might not be sustainable as quarter as
healthy and more effective as Murray is back on the court, and as some
of the hot shooting regresses. I don't think there's any doubt that Barton has
been a frustrating and sometimes polarizing player in Denver, especially among Nuggets fans,
because he does play a high variance style of basketball. He makes a lot
of mistakes because he's so aggressive, because he has so much energy that he
deploys in often useful, often detrimental ways. So he is just more naturally
an up and down player, and we're just seeing a really high up right
now. Maybe his baseline level of play has changed and will be better throughout
the remainder of the season. If he's able to maintain how he's played to
this point, he'll absolutely be a candidate for Most Improved Player. I just
don't know that I expect him to sustain this well enough or long enough to
be a legitimate candidate at the end of the season. Yeah. Right now,
he's averaging seventeen point five points, four point four assists per game,
shooting fifty three point four percent on twos and forty three point three percent on
threes, all of those marks would be career highs. By the way I
look, you could certainly move him in there. And he's also just been
outrageous. He's shooting sixty nine percent at the rim, which would be by
far and away the highest mark of his career. Hitting a ton of his
threes. I haven't noticed like a huge difference. He's in the eighty third
percentile and efficiency is the scorer out of the pick and roll. But I
just haven't noticed this huge difference in his game, Like he's not hitting a
ton of these tough off the dribble jumpers. He still does put pressure on
the defense the ball in his hands. So it feels like, is this
just a matter of a sudden uptick in importance because you don't have Jamal Murray
and Will Barton has been healthy. I'm not trying to detract from him.
I just think he's gonna have a tough time competing with the likes of an
Ogna Nobi or a Tyler Hero. I would still prow seth Curry into that,
but I don't think he's ultimately gonna end up being a finalist or Miles
Bridges where there's like more material changes and growth in their actual portfolio rather than
just a production. But I think is of right now early in the season,
you could certainly mention him, and I like the way that you put
it in the Harrison Barnes sort of seth Curry territory. I think he absolutely
deserves a case there. This final wrap up from fifty Shades of Brow was
how high would the Nuggets need to finish in the West for Yokis to repeat
as MVP. If they're in the top four, he's gonna have a chance.
Historically it's it's like third or second. But I just think the West
is so weird this year, and he has the anecdotal boom of probably no
Murray this year. What if Porter Junior's struggling like this long list season,
what if he just misses a ton of time with this back stuff. I
haven't seen any updates on that, but you can correct me if I'm wrong
there. So I think he's listened as questionable for the right it's next game
for Friday's game, but I think he's already been downgraded to out. But
the fact that he wasn't straight up listed is out might be at least encouraging.
So I think the anecdotal boost is there to where if the Nuggets finished
fourth and Nakoleokisch continues to be this good, he'll he'll have a strong case
there quick last two quick hitters or actually this will be the last question.
Uh, and it's it's along the let's go with this one. So I'm
asking it because I know you're everyone's tired of it. But we did have
the report from Shams where he talked to people within the Sixers and Clutch Sports
agent Rich Paul, who represents Ben Simmons. Clutch Sports also represents Shams by
the way, as as far as I know that, there's just I'm very
uncomfortable with the way that debates over Ben Simmons' mental health status are just playing
out with warring leaks in the media or reports in the media. It's very
uncomfortable for everyone's sake at this point. I understand the business part of it
to where no, you don't just move Ben Simmons for the sake of moving
Ben Simmons. I want this situation to get resolved one way or the other,
because I take the mental health aspect of this very seriously. In this
industry, like if you're not having support from your bosses or upper management,
and they're not checking in on you, and you think they have ulterior motives
and they really just don't give a fuck about you, which you know.
Rich Paul said that he is still liked working with the six or Shront office,
So I'm not trying to ascribe that type of a boss mentality to Philadelphia.
It's just it's very awkward, it's uncomfortable, and it sucks. And
Blake Murphy tweeted about this that he's worried mental health is going to be now
used to weaponize, you know, treatments and how it's viewed moving forward based
off health this is playing out. So I'm asking this question just because it's
semi topical. If you have any thoughts on that, please share them to
close out here. But the actual question is would you rather see Ben Simmons
to the Pacers, the Raptors or the King? And that comes from r
K And I know I know some people are for tee from Ben Simmons talk.
I really want what's best for him, and I think what's best room
is probably not be in Philly anymore. But it is just it's I still
love the exercises of he wants out. What would be the team that you
would love to see him on if if nothing was a restriction. I really
like of the teams you mentioned, Sacramento, that's the one, right,
he addresses so much of what they need too. Yeah. Absolutely, just
the idea of him running out there with Deer and Fox, with Tyrese Haliburton
and with Rishawn Holmes. Yeah, and look he gives them more side.
Granted, some of those could be moved in a trade, but like I
would, I would imagine you're not at this point because I think the value
has dropped enough and that that quartet would be super fun to watch. I
would say the trio is at least intact after the trade where you're not moving
Fox, and why would the Sixers want homes? I mean, I get
he's good, but to back up, Joella, I don't think I could
move Haliburton. I don't think you. I think you could do it,
and I wouldn't. I want to make that clear, and I would assume
that they're not willing to otherwise maybe a deal would have been done. But
yeah, if that's your quartet, like, that's just absolutely fantastic. Did
you have any thoughts on the bet the latest in Ben Zimmons, I'll put
if anyone saw us, it would be in air quotes because it just feels
like we're on a treadmill of negativity and and malpractice with this is being handled.
It's uncomfortable, it feels wrong. It is a situation that just needs
to end quickly because I'm worried about where it's going to go next. If
I would encourage everyone to just rewind and listen to what Dan had to say
again because it is just spot on, don't ever do that. My voice
is too nasily. This was fun. If we didn't, we have a
ton of questions in the bank and I might throw out another solicitation. But
we have enough questions that I did not get through that we could probably just
do a separate mailbag. So we will do a separate mailbag. Anyone.
We did record this before the brawl or you know, four players were rejected
in Pacers Jazz when Turner and Barry got into it, so we did not
talk about that. Maybe we'll talk about on the next podcast if it's warranted.
But the NBA this week has been emotions. Tensions have been running high
in some of these games. If this is your first time listening to us,
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leave you at the shout out to the one, the Only, Frank nil keener h