1 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:17,320 Hello everyone, and welcome to the latest episode of Hardwin Box. This is 2 00:00:17,359 --> 00:00:21,320 out of from with here with my always fantastic co host Dan Valley. Dan 3 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:27,120 and Brian Taporak have already recorded playoff previews for six of the eight series in 4 00:00:27,199 --> 00:00:30,760 the first round of the twenty twenty two postseason. Dan and I are here 5 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:34,920 to pick up with the last two. We're coming off the final day of 6 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:39,520 the play in Tournament, which featured two incredibly exciting basketball games. I think 7 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,000 my heart rate is still coming down a little bit from both games. How 8 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:47,079 about yours. Yeah. I didn't get into detail as much I wanted to 9 00:00:47,119 --> 00:00:51,079 on Hawks Cavs because I was working on a big project. But I could 10 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:55,200 between the text message box with you and it and then just like obviously having 11 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,399 it on in the background, just very Sea sawy and high adrenaline and the 12 00:00:58,479 --> 00:01:02,159 Clippers Pelicans on. I had to write something very quickly after that when it 13 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:03,359 was stressing me out because I thought I was going to be able to work 14 00:01:03,359 --> 00:01:07,840 ahead at one point. But my God validates to play in though, as 15 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:12,879 Draymond Green tweeted on Saturday Night Friday night as well, excuse me. Midway 16 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,159 through the second quarter, I was going to AXT you be like, so 17 00:01:15,359 --> 00:01:19,159 do you want to like record at halftime? And I'm glad we didn't do 18 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:23,400 that. Could you imagine it would have been such a time? Right? 19 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,280 At least? I do think it's not that I had interests. I rote 20 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:33,040 for Chaos, but I think it's good that we saw two nine seeds get 21 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:34,640 in. And I know it's a unique year, like would the but it's 22 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:40,239 been like you could argue the Hawks might have actually been a conventional nine seed. 23 00:01:40,239 --> 00:01:42,799 Maybe last year was the anomaly for them. So I think it's good 24 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:46,920 that it wasn't just seven and eight. Again, I totally agree. I 25 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:51,439 think this one validated the idea, especially with the competitiveness of the games. 26 00:01:52,159 --> 00:01:56,359 I mean, the nine tens weren't great, but the seven eights and the 27 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:02,000 final round, both of those were so compelling and so entertaining, and it 28 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:06,519 did what it's supposed to do, which is get the teams that should be 29 00:02:06,599 --> 00:02:13,039 competing in these postseason series in there. I will say it sucks that the 30 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,479 league health and safety protocols once again places like a role in Paul George being 31 00:02:16,479 --> 00:02:20,759 out, and I'm hoping I don't think that we don't think the Clippers would 32 00:02:20,759 --> 00:02:23,919 have gone far anyway, unless you really believe that Klai was going to come 33 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,199 back up, which I don't. I don't buy that he would have. 34 00:02:27,599 --> 00:02:29,680 Then again, in the last podcast, I said he was more likely to 35 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,280 come back than Ben's events, and look how that age pretty poorly. I 36 00:02:32,319 --> 00:02:37,039 just hope it doesn't happen like throughout the playoffs. Yeah, there's because that 37 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:38,840 would just suck. It would suck for so many reasons other than basketball, 38 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:44,039 obviously, if that's but I'm just hoping that we don't see that. Where 39 00:02:44,039 --> 00:02:47,039 did you want to start with these two series? Though? Let's start in 40 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:52,919 the East. We've got the one seed Miami Heat against the eight seed and 41 00:02:53,039 --> 00:02:59,000 Lettahawks, and my initial thoughts here are that this is a pretty lopside of 42 00:02:59,039 --> 00:03:02,919 the series. I think Trey Young is one of those players who can very 43 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:07,800 much completely carry a team to the point that he could feasibly win a series 44 00:03:08,319 --> 00:03:13,680 single handedly against just about anyone. I'm not sure that there's a better player 45 00:03:13,879 --> 00:03:19,000 in the NBA right now at figuring out what a defense is doing and I 46 00:03:19,159 --> 00:03:23,800 making those in game adjustments on his own and completely torching that same scheme in 47 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:28,240 the second half in a way that can't be adjusted to as a counter adjustment 48 00:03:28,479 --> 00:03:34,280 by that same defense. That said, if you're putting together a team that 49 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:39,360 can stop Trey Young, you want a great point of attack defender who can 50 00:03:39,479 --> 00:03:45,680 also switch and body up against bigger players on those switches. You want a 51 00:03:45,719 --> 00:03:49,319 great wing stopper who can switch on to Trey Young and stick with him. 52 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:53,439 And you want a great defensive big with mobility. Well, Kyle Lowry, 53 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:57,879 Jimmy Butler and Bam Onabaio. I don't think there's a single better team in 54 00:03:57,919 --> 00:04:02,080 the NBA that is designed to stop Trey Young more than the Miami Heat are. 55 00:04:03,159 --> 00:04:09,439 Yeah, maybe Toronto might come close. That would be the only other 56 00:04:09,439 --> 00:04:14,560 team that I don't think they have the like super switchable, defensively overpowering big 57 00:04:16,079 --> 00:04:21,160 I feel because Bam is mobile enough to play that drop coverage and guard both 58 00:04:21,199 --> 00:04:26,480 the lab and trace floaters, and that's what Toronto doesn't have. So I 59 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:32,839 this feels like the nightmare out of I won't tolerate it fair. This feels 60 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:39,879 like the nightmare matchup for a last I do agree, And it doesn't help 61 00:04:40,399 --> 00:04:43,639 that Atlanta has been trashed on defense for a lot of this year, especially 62 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:47,240 with the live ball issues that they've had. We also have to see John 63 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:49,920 Collins is dealing with a right foot injury. I actually don't know he would 64 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:54,160 certainly help as an offensive safety valve. I don't really know what he would 65 00:04:54,199 --> 00:04:57,600 add to this series for them that much. Now. Clint Cappella is dealing 66 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,839 with the left knee issue as we're recording this. We know nothing about that 67 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,720 other than the Hawks are optimistic that it's not serious. That could mean it 68 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:10,040 feels like he'll miss at least a few games though, And ultimately I do 69 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:14,120 think I mean, you named it with the defensive because like the way that 70 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:17,399 Miami's defense matches up with Trey Young, and it's just the only like Zemblin 71 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:20,160 some hope you would have is that because the heat switched so much, like 72 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:24,759 can he punish them in any way forwarder? So he can't because BAM exists. 73 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:28,079 And that's just BAM might be even more important than the other two because 74 00:05:28,079 --> 00:05:32,120 of what you can't do against him. And so I do think that increases 75 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:36,600 the important substantially of like a Kevin Hurder or Bogdan Bogdanovitch, guys who you 76 00:05:36,639 --> 00:05:41,399 now need to probably make more plays offensively but the Heat just have so so 77 00:05:41,439 --> 00:05:46,279 many other talented defenders on their team. You're just you're gonna get to a 78 00:05:46,319 --> 00:05:50,240 point where they take away like not just the Hawks like primary weapon, but 79 00:05:50,319 --> 00:05:55,680 like their first, second, and third options on any given play, and 80 00:05:55,720 --> 00:06:00,360 that's terrifying. I guess if there is like a reason for optimism, I 81 00:06:00,399 --> 00:06:03,959 don't know that Miami is their offensive numbers on the season, We're fine, 82 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:09,600 but we have so little data on the Bam, Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry 83 00:06:09,639 --> 00:06:14,480 pairing and with Butler and Bam but not really taking threes or long range jumpers 84 00:06:14,519 --> 00:06:16,920 at all, that he'd actually have a below average offense. When all three 85 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:20,240 of them are on the court together, their defense is so incredible that it 86 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:25,360 doesn't matter. They are very reliant though, or have been on some killer 87 00:06:25,399 --> 00:06:28,839 bench units. And then I think this is where the importance of Tyler hero 88 00:06:28,959 --> 00:06:32,240 comes into play for them. People can quibble, argue, hate his shot 89 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:35,319 selection, and he does take some pretty bad shots, but a lot of 90 00:06:35,319 --> 00:06:39,720 the times it just feels like those are the shots he almost has to take 91 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:43,680 because when he's on the floor sometimes it shrinks like he might he probably has 92 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:46,199 more room to operate when he doesn't have both Bam and Jimmy on the court. 93 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:50,839 And so if if there's a saving grace for Atlanta, if you can 94 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:56,000 get your defense set, maybe that gives you a fighting chance. But just 95 00:06:56,079 --> 00:07:00,839 like you've been so bad in that regard all year, and without Capella it 96 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:03,639 probably gets even harder. I really do like him Yeko kunglu though, and 97 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:08,639 he great instincts around the basket, and this is he's someone who could help 98 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:13,040 a lot in this series. It's just you start to run out of if 99 00:07:13,079 --> 00:07:15,600 Clint Capella is not available in Collins isn't available, Oh we're out of Bigshi 100 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:20,000 Gorgi Jang Like no, that that's not the answer. That is definitely not 101 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:25,079 the answer. I think the offensive concerns get mollified a little bit. If 102 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:31,040 Atlanta has a consistent secondary shot creator, it doesn't I think Bogdanovich is the 103 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:36,480 natural pick here as the X factor for the Hawks simply because he can fill 104 00:07:36,519 --> 00:07:41,959 that role. We saw him fill it in the second half against the Cavaliers, 105 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:45,959 and he has been pretty good well from what I've seen, and then 106 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:47,480 the numbers will back this up. He's been really good since the Collins, 107 00:07:47,959 --> 00:07:51,360 Yes, and he's got the pull up jumpers, and he can create for 108 00:07:51,439 --> 00:07:56,000 himself, but you don't want him doing that over the course of a full 109 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:59,720 game, much less a full series. And even when he does, it's 110 00:07:59,759 --> 00:08:03,079 not really done in a way that involves everyone else. And if you're not 111 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:07,680 having everyone clicking on all cylinders, you need Trey. And if you're taking 112 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,560 Trey out of the game, what's the answer here? So I struggled to 113 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:18,079 come up with an offensive strategy for Atlanta that's going to yield enough points even 114 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:24,120 against a diminished Miami offense. They've I don't I don't even know if this 115 00:08:24,199 --> 00:08:26,560 helps, because you're ultimately not going to win this series by winning the minutes 116 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:31,440 Trey Young doesn't play. But Bogey the offense has been great when he plays 117 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:35,440 without Trey, and the pairing between him and Delan Right just seems to work. 118 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:41,960 And so the Delan Right minutes against Cleveland twenty four, I think he 119 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,879 might as well have been a plus eighty because Nate McMillan should not have taken 120 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,679 him out of the game in the second half and allowed Cleveland to come back 121 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:54,960 in Yeah. So, and the pairing between him and Bogie has just worked 122 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:58,120 when those two are on the court without Trey Young. I actually think I 123 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,399 haven't checked the numbers a little bit. They've they've a nile aided opponents during 124 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:03,600 that playing time. So that helps in the sense that if you can tread 125 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:07,440 water without Trey Young, I still don't know how to figure out the tray 126 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:11,840 Young minutes, especially when the two most familiar threats for him at the five 127 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:16,200 position right now might not be playing. I know he him and on Yeko 128 00:09:16,279 --> 00:09:18,840 Come will be fine, but like there's a difference with the connection with Kinn 129 00:09:18,879 --> 00:09:20,879 Capella and then also John Collins. One of the things that only people have 130 00:09:20,919 --> 00:09:26,679 talked about enough is when you had Capella, he couldn't be the primary screener 131 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:28,799 all the time, and he was build as this like just screen and dive 132 00:09:28,879 --> 00:09:33,159 guy. He does so much more whether it's relocated, he's hitting threes, 133 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:35,039 like he has this little bit of a floor game there. So they will 134 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:37,720 miss that. That would have been another element at least that made their offense 135 00:09:37,799 --> 00:09:41,000 more dynamic. Even if you don't love the fit with him and Capella on 136 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:46,799 the court at the same time, I just I wish I had an argument 137 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:50,440 that would make me say this is more than a heat sweep where he gentle 138 00:09:50,559 --> 00:09:54,720 like a gentleman sweep. But let's I think like Tray is good enough that 139 00:09:56,120 --> 00:10:00,440 he might just be impervious to any defensive efforts at this point in a seven 140 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:03,039 game series, because he is so good at making those in game adjustments. 141 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:07,360 So I think the case you can make is that he has a couple of 142 00:10:07,399 --> 00:10:11,840 forty pieces in his back and steals a few games. And look, it 143 00:10:11,919 --> 00:10:16,600 helps that they do take care of some of the low hanging fruit on offense 144 00:10:16,639 --> 00:10:20,600 where it's you know, no one turns the ball over less frequently. They 145 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:22,279 do get to the foul line at a pretty good clip, although I don't 146 00:10:22,279 --> 00:10:26,360 know how much losing their two primary bigs is gonna hurt that for them. 147 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:31,399 You did you hit it right on the head with the secondary creator stuff though, 148 00:10:31,399 --> 00:10:33,919 And is this like a could this be like a Gallows series? Because 149 00:10:33,919 --> 00:10:37,200 he likes to operate at such a slow pace and Miami wants to slow things 150 00:10:37,279 --> 00:10:39,919 down for you when you're in the I mean, they want to be disruptive, 151 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:46,120 obviously, but there I feel like a Gallows series though, is like 152 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:52,399 a couple of twelve point halves, Like we're not going to see a thirty 153 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:56,799 five point Gallinari game. I feel like when I'm watching Gallinari, I'm seeing 154 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:01,039 like twenty five years into the future of Luca's career. They didn't have the 155 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:05,799 same trajectories, but like Gallo right now is with a forty year old Luke 156 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:09,840 over, I can kind of see that. But also like this, even 157 00:11:09,879 --> 00:11:15,559 if the tempo suits Danilo Gallinari in the series, I don't think the matchups 158 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:20,519 do because he's usually at his best. Yeah, yeah, he's he's usually 159 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:22,480 at his best in offense. But he's like on a switch posting up a 160 00:11:22,519 --> 00:11:26,399 smaller guy. Okay, Like, do you really want to run that against 161 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:33,480 Kyle Lowry or PJ Tucker? No? Probably not. I So is there 162 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:35,799 a chance? Well, let me ask you this question. Game, the 163 00:11:35,879 --> 00:11:46,080 game is close, what is a man's closing you? It's probably it's probably 164 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:52,600 Trey Murder. Oh okay, I think Trey Hurder, Bogdanovich, Gallo, 165 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:56,960 and Capella if he's available, because you just you need the offensive options against 166 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:03,399 this Miami team. I'm so I'm so low on DeAndre Hunter right now. 167 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:07,200 Look he blew by Mantras Harrold in that first playing game. Okay, amazing, 168 00:12:07,279 --> 00:12:11,720 truly astounding. Is there any scenario and if Capella is not available, 169 00:12:13,159 --> 00:12:15,960 what are the obviously you'll congle with that if you want to play with big, 170 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,840 What are the chances that everything we talked about where it's the Hawksters like 171 00:12:18,919 --> 00:12:22,120 we need to lean in the offense, so we're gonna go nuclear, and 172 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,840 like, this is Gallow at the five and it's not. This is not 173 00:12:24,919 --> 00:12:28,320 something I'm basing off of anything that I've seen, because I think I've seen 174 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:33,879 Gallo play the five like once, if at all, And I actually feel 175 00:12:33,879 --> 00:12:35,919 like I'm dreaming that up right now that that ever happened this season, we're 176 00:12:35,919 --> 00:12:39,720 gonna see some Gallo PJ. Tucker five minutes. That would be something I 177 00:12:39,799 --> 00:12:46,919 think that hinges on both Collins and Capella not being available well, And I 178 00:12:46,919 --> 00:12:50,240 guess in which case that's really not nuclear. It's hey, we prefer this 179 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:52,919 too. I mean, they could break it. They could bust out Jalen 180 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:56,320 Johnson too, if they wanted to. I hope they do. Look, 181 00:12:56,480 --> 00:13:00,919 I'm just saying this is clearly a large enough sample size. Four six possessions 182 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:03,759 with gallow at center this season, and the Hawks are a plus twelve point 183 00:13:03,759 --> 00:13:09,600 six points per one hundred possessions with a one thirty two points answer, don 184 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:13,960 who is your Oh the other thing I wanted to ask you is who's Well, 185 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:16,000 let's let's go to the X factors first. So who's your X factor 186 00:13:16,039 --> 00:13:18,320 for a Glanta? You have Bogy? Yeah, it's got to be Bog. 187 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:24,320 I think you can make a case for Delon right, but probably less 188 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:28,919 so in a series that you have to find offense. Mine's bogey too. 189 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:33,120 I did force some variability later on the podcast. I don't feel about doing 190 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:35,440 bad about doing that. However, I will say if you had to pick 191 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:39,840 someone else, DeAndre Hunter's kind of next factor here, because you need DeAndre 192 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:43,200 Hunter to be at the very least better defensively overall, even if you're not 193 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:48,320 worried about Miami's half court offense. Just like you just lost Clink Capella, 194 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:52,080 is on Yaka Conglu now your best defender on the team right now or in 195 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:54,600 your rotation or Delan right. Sorry, I feel like there's a lot of 196 00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:01,399 five or Jail and Johnson at the five, with Gallo at the four and 197 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:05,080 bench Hunter. Put the fact my point is the fact that you just didn't 198 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:09,480 have Hunter in your closing lineup. That's a pretty big issue. Yeah, 199 00:14:09,519 --> 00:14:13,600 it is. There are a lot of pretty big issues in this series. 200 00:14:13,039 --> 00:14:16,159 Here. Let me give you my X factor from I already gave you my 201 00:14:16,159 --> 00:14:18,360 EX factor from Miami, so let me give it to you. I think 202 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:22,960 it's Tyler Hero just because of the limitations I mentioned that we've seen on the 203 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:26,799 half court offense so far. What's really interesting and part of this has been 204 00:14:26,879 --> 00:14:30,799 where major part of this has been health. We just don't have a ton 205 00:14:30,879 --> 00:14:37,159 of data on what he looks like playing beside Miami's three stars. And is 206 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:43,000 that something when you get into close games in the playoffs? Are you going 207 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:46,159 to put Tyler Hero alongside three of them? Are you so worried about him 208 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:50,759 being exploited on defense that you don't play him? And are the Hawks a 209 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:54,799 team like can they even do that like having bogies? Is that on offense? 210 00:14:54,879 --> 00:15:00,559 If we know they're not worried about Trey Young and Miami's to do things 211 00:15:00,559 --> 00:15:01,759 like off ball switching, that's just going to make it so that you really 212 00:15:01,759 --> 00:15:07,240 can't maybe go after Tylor Hero, but perhaps they can be like that's something 213 00:15:07,279 --> 00:15:09,919 that they can go after if Miami goes to that unit where they've done for 214 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:13,720 sub two fifty possessions this season. I just looked it up, and it's 215 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:18,200 been a disaster. By the way, my pick is also a hero for 216 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:22,120 largely the same reasons. I'll add two big picture thoughts. One is that 217 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:26,519 the criticisms that he receives for taking so many difficult shots I think are just 218 00:15:26,559 --> 00:15:28,200 a little off base in general, as they are for a lot of players 219 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:33,440 who take tough shots. No NBA offense generates easy looks. Every time down 220 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:37,519 the floor. Someone has to take those shots. If he's good at them, 221 00:15:37,559 --> 00:15:39,840 he should be taking them. Ideally, he gets easier looks as his 222 00:15:39,879 --> 00:15:45,960 career continues to develop, but the fact that he's already comfortable taking and making 223 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:50,200 those is an unmitigated positive to me. And the second point is he's up 224 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:54,240 for a max contract extension soon. We've talked about that before on previous episodes, 225 00:15:54,679 --> 00:16:00,320 and so far we have a two year postseason sample. In twenty twenty 226 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:03,799 he went nuclear, that was in the bubble. In twenty twenty one, 227 00:16:03,879 --> 00:16:07,600 he couldn't hit anything in that first round loss, thirty one point six percent 228 00:16:07,639 --> 00:16:11,799 from the field, thirty one point six percent from three, and he did 229 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:14,679 make all his free throws, but that's not saying too much when he only 230 00:16:14,759 --> 00:16:18,600 took I believe seven of them. So where is he going to fall on 231 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:23,919 that postseason spectrum as he continues to develop. So even beyond this individual series, 232 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:27,320 I think it. I think it's really important for Miami in general that 233 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:30,879 he gets off to a good start. What's your predition for this series? 234 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:34,879 Eaton four? So I don't even think. I don't even think Tray can 235 00:16:34,919 --> 00:16:40,519 steal a game against this specific defense. The follow up questions to that is, 236 00:16:40,519 --> 00:16:45,080 one, do you see Victor Ladipo making an impact here at all? 237 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,519 Or do you think that this money he's been like, oh, like his 238 00:16:47,759 --> 00:16:51,320 some of the shooting splits have been really good over the past however long it's 239 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:53,639 been. I thought about him as an X factor. It just doesn't look 240 00:16:53,679 --> 00:16:59,279 good though right now, Like I just I don't see that explosion. I 241 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:03,960 don't see him creating open looks. So I struggled to see that happening in 242 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:07,839 the playoffs in particular. Yeah, it was just a thought. He's like 243 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:10,920 I think over I can't remember what the filters where he was shooting like an 244 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:14,960 astronomical percentage from the floor, But the team stats are not great. The 245 00:17:15,039 --> 00:17:18,920 Heat are their half caller. Offense is barely league average when he's on the 246 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:22,559 court this season, and he hasn't even played through and they're being outscored by 247 00:17:22,559 --> 00:17:26,559 three point nine points per one hundred possessions over on the offense than the thirteenth 248 00:17:26,599 --> 00:17:29,880 percent tile when he plays overall. The follow up the hero by the way, 249 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:33,680 really quickly. It's not like he's looking off of Jimmy Butler and Kyle 250 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:37,160 Lowry. For all these looks, either there are a lot of lineups where 251 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,640 neither of them are in there, or he's with one of them, and 252 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:45,680 that just changes the context of his offense. I was gonna ask you who 253 00:17:45,759 --> 00:17:48,519 you thought was more likely to get sweat since you didn't do this the podcast 254 00:17:48,559 --> 00:17:52,440 with me, the Bulls or the Hawks. But I'm guessing you think it's 255 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:56,759 the Hawks over the Bulls. I think it's the Hawks. I'm going to 256 00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:00,920 say Heat and five and maybe the concert. Maybe everything we just talked about 257 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,920 with their offense won't matter. Bam was on fire to finish the season. 258 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:08,480 Miami just feels like they weren't last year. But this just feels like we 259 00:18:08,559 --> 00:18:11,079 said this at the beginning of the season. Was almost one of our concerns 260 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:14,720 was I think he's just a postseason team. Are they going to be on 261 00:18:14,759 --> 00:18:18,680 cruise control throughout the regular season? And their defense is just it's hell fire, 262 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:21,880 And so I do think Trey's good enough to get you a game, 263 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:25,440 and I like what I've seen from Bogie enough to where I just feel like, 264 00:18:25,519 --> 00:18:29,319 okay, maybe, but even Miami's bench has been so good this year, 265 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,359 So perhaps that means I didn't predict a sweep for anyone. So I'll 266 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:36,559 change my bucks in four heat and five that those are my new adjusted pigs. 267 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:40,519 Am I allowed to wear a Hawks hat on another episode at this point 268 00:18:41,079 --> 00:18:42,839 or did I lose that privilege. I don't know why you're not wearing one 269 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:47,000 during this episode for anyone who's watching on YouTube. I thought it would be 270 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:51,319 weird to be wearing it when I made that prediction. That's fair enough. 271 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:55,200 Well, they've win a game, we'll have a record immediately after on whatever 272 00:18:55,240 --> 00:19:00,119 that game is. Secret wear your Hawks at fair enough. Pelicans and Sons, 273 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,400 I'm not sure anyone would have predicted the Pelicans would be here. No 274 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:07,880 Zion started the season three and sixteen. Kudos to them for they got a 275 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,680 little bit lucky in the sense that they did get to go up against his 276 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:14,920 Clippers team with al Paul George and then still almost blew their lead. What 277 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:19,079 do you make of this series? Though? It's almost I struggled to make 278 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:23,079 a case for Atlanta against Miami. I don't really have leads against me. 279 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:26,720 I have no case. I have no case at all. Like this New 280 00:19:26,799 --> 00:19:32,839 Orleans team super fun. Kudos to them for making it through the playing tournament. 281 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:37,240 I'm really glad that that six seasons in brandon Ingroom gets to experience true 282 00:19:37,279 --> 00:19:41,880 postseason basketball. Jose Alvarado is an absolute joy to watch, just the energy 283 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:45,920 with which he plays as an example to every young player out there who's trying 284 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:49,119 to make a roster trying to carve out a bigger role. Herb Jones like, 285 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:53,440 if you're not watching him when he plays defense, you're missing out on 286 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:59,160 opportunities to learn things. Trey Murphy the third, the gumption he's shown in 287 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:03,440 big moments. CJ McCollum so smooth when he's rolling on offense. This whole 288 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:10,000 team is really really fun to watch and is dangerous. But the Suns are 289 00:20:10,519 --> 00:20:15,119 a perfect basketball team, or as close as you can come to being a 290 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:18,680 perfect basketball team with a salary cap in place. I don't know what their 291 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:22,920 weakness is, and I'll spoil everything right now by saying that they're like my 292 00:20:23,079 --> 00:20:29,160 unquestioned title pick. It's gonna take big time injuries to shift them off. 293 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:33,920 That course, that's not spicy when I picked them in the preseason. I'm 294 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:40,880 not trying to be spicy. I'm gonna spoil my answer here. Oh they're 295 00:20:41,039 --> 00:20:45,400 they're they're looking pretty good right now with no Lucas. That's what's gonna happen. 296 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:49,480 This is this is gonna be the true asterisk title. Utah is gonna 297 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:53,440 win because every star is gonna get hurt. I was actually thinking, what 298 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:57,400 the hell everyone's wondering, what's gonna happen in Utah. Regardless what happens in 299 00:20:57,519 --> 00:21:04,359 Utah, Luca doesn't play, may still lose this. So the Pelicans with 300 00:21:04,519 --> 00:21:10,160 Zion are going to be terrifying if they can get the next season. I 301 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:14,519 don't I don't like the way that they match up against Phoenix. It's it's 302 00:21:14,559 --> 00:21:18,759 pretty clear too that he's not playing this postseason, right yeah. I mean 303 00:21:18,799 --> 00:21:21,240 we know that he wants to and that the Pelicans don't want him to, 304 00:21:21,319 --> 00:21:23,559 and I think it's a good thing that he wants to play. I also 305 00:21:23,599 --> 00:21:26,200 don't think it's a bad thing that the Pelicans aren't letting him play. I 306 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:30,599 do think that they've probably given him more cart blonds than they should. Within 307 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:33,680 the organization. It sounds like or at least his family or his representatives, 308 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:40,319 whoever they are, but they're prioritizing the long term future. And there's you 309 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:42,359 know, when you look at Zion, he's just I don't want to boil 310 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:47,119 him down to just saying he's a specimen, but he's a human anomaly and 311 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:49,920 there could be a concern that his prime is going to be shorter than normal 312 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:55,759 anyway, So we're not going to risk any injury when he's actually like injured 313 00:21:55,799 --> 00:21:56,799 if he's if we don't think he's a hundred percenter, we just don't want 314 00:21:56,839 --> 00:22:03,759 him ramping it up in fucking mid April. And so I totally understand both 315 00:22:03,799 --> 00:22:07,519 ways. He would obviously be a big help in any series. I just 316 00:22:07,599 --> 00:22:11,920 don't look. I do think New Orleans can do some interesting things against the 317 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:15,720 Suns when they're on offense. She's looking at with c McCollum and branding or 318 00:22:15,799 --> 00:22:19,960 can do. But Phoenix has like the defenders to really get after them and 319 00:22:21,039 --> 00:22:23,799 doesn't have to go to the extremes that the Clippers did at going after Ingram 320 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:27,720 McCollum. But they also could because as we just saw, like you either 321 00:22:27,759 --> 00:22:32,160 need Trey Murphy the third who came in and played some big minutes, or 322 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:33,880 you're gonna need Jose Alvarado to hit more of his threes, Like you need 323 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:40,039 more of your supporting cast to make these teams pay if they're gonna play brandon 324 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:44,279 Ingram and mccaum aggressively. But again, if you just look at the Suns 325 00:22:44,279 --> 00:22:47,960 personnel, they can play straight up if they want to, or with simple 326 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:51,880 switching. The other thing that I thought about was, Okay, what if 327 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:56,599 New Orleans just went to the downsized look where they've gone from place. I 328 00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:00,599 think that's a disaster. Okay, well, you're still worried out of my 329 00:23:00,599 --> 00:23:04,160 mouth now? Is Jackson as Jonas Valentcutis. I don't like to look at 330 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:07,200 them together, even though the Pelicans have gotten like some minutes out of them. 331 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:11,640 It made sense against the Clippers because the Clippers forced the hand and Larry 332 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:15,440 nance Juior is playing so well, but Phoenix like has just like destroyed the 333 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:19,519 Clippers themselves when they downsized, and so you're playing into that. I do 334 00:23:19,599 --> 00:23:25,720 think Larry NaNs junior at the five is different from having is it Robert Covington 335 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:29,160 or Marcus Morris Senior or Batune wherever you want to consider it. I do 336 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:33,559 think that's different. And if if things aren't going well, I could see 337 00:23:33,599 --> 00:23:37,559 them trying that, Like DeAndre Ayton just doesn't move like a conventional big, 338 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:41,079 so I don't know that that even works well. Again, I could see 339 00:23:41,079 --> 00:23:45,960 the Pelicans putting up actual points on the Suns, but I also don't know 340 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:51,240 how they're going to be built to defend Phoenix. Your best chance to defend 341 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:56,400 Phoenix might actually be going small because I don't know what the Jackson Hayes Valentutis 342 00:23:56,480 --> 00:24:00,599 front court gives you on defense there. Maybe his athleticism, just him straight 343 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:03,720 up by him going up against Eton, that's something you want to see. 344 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:10,519 So I just struggled to see I would like to see, is what I'm 345 00:24:10,559 --> 00:24:12,200 getting out. I want to see New Orleans get weird in this series. 346 00:24:12,799 --> 00:24:17,839 We've already seen that, Like they prefer Josie Alvarado over DeVante Graham, and 347 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:19,680 I don't think that they should be afraid to try some of the person of 348 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,559 your stuff, like Loo Glaronishre's under contract for next season. Why don't you 349 00:24:22,599 --> 00:24:26,440 see what happens if you're going to match him straight up against Eton so or 350 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:30,640 at least like, can we go to Jackson Hayes Larnt Jr. A little 351 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:33,079 something like that, just let's get a little bit weird. I agree about 352 00:24:33,079 --> 00:24:38,519 getting weird. I'm terrified of downsizing in this series though, because there is 353 00:24:38,559 --> 00:24:44,119 not a point guard in NBA history who has been better at getting the ball 354 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:49,440 to big men than Chris Paul and DeAndre Ayton. When he is the true 355 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:53,160 big man on the floor, he looks like David Robinson out there sometimes, 356 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:59,839 like he is so good at capitalizing on a size advantage, and that pair 357 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:07,279 together against a young Pelicans team foul trouble out the wazoo. I just I 358 00:25:07,599 --> 00:25:14,960 don't see any solution to guarding without one big on the floor. So if 359 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:17,599 you want it to be Jackson Hayes and then you pair him with Larry Nance, 360 00:25:17,839 --> 00:25:19,519 sure like go for that. Like as you said, let's get weird. 361 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:23,440 But I don't think going like truly small against this Phoenix team as a 362 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:29,079 recipe for anything other than obliteration. Yeah, I guess I just don't. 363 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:33,519 And look the numbers offensively with Jacksonays and your sound tunists have been great in 364 00:25:33,599 --> 00:25:37,519 New Orleans. Is like plus five per hundred possessions with those two, I 365 00:25:37,599 --> 00:25:41,799 just don't. I don't like you say, downsizing to Larry naz Gond be 366 00:25:41,839 --> 00:25:45,799 a disaster. I like their chances defensively. If it's like Larry nance Tramer 367 00:25:45,839 --> 00:25:48,200 for you, the third Herb Jones, McCallum and Ingram go without a point. 368 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:52,680 You still have a good bit of length there. But that's it. 369 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:57,839 That's a thirty fifteen game for eight Aiden waiting to happen. Okay, well, 370 00:25:57,839 --> 00:26:03,000 what what is so different? So you just trust Jackson Hayes to defend 371 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:07,440 DeAndre and not much more than that. A yes, Yeah, I mean 372 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:11,680 I don't think that you're guarding him well regardless in this series. But I 373 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:17,359 do think that like the chaos that Hayes can bring means that there might be 374 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:22,759 more disruptive plays. And just the size Aiden Aiden does not capitalize against bigger 375 00:26:22,759 --> 00:26:26,880 players like he does against smaller ones. I think that much is undeniable based 376 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:30,000 on what he's done throughout the season. I guess you might be just higher 377 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:33,240 on Jackson Hayes than I am, or else will hire. Oh, I'm 378 00:26:33,279 --> 00:26:37,759 definitely not on defense than I am. I am higher on Jackson Hayes's size. 379 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:42,759 There's do we just get into X factors here? Like I don't even 380 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:49,440 what this is one of those like where the talent disparity is so wide. 381 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:56,440 New Orleans is fun and scrappy and has interesting pieces, but like, whoo, 382 00:26:56,640 --> 00:27:03,359 who are the five best players in this series? Devin Booker, Chris 383 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:08,240 Paul. I think probably McCollum and Ingram are both in the top five. 384 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:17,519 You would have them both above Bridges and Aden. I would not both, 385 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:21,200 but Aden or Bridges would be the other one I'd probably lean towards. I 386 00:27:21,279 --> 00:27:25,759 still think McAll Bridges is more valuable to the Suns than DeAndre and there if 387 00:27:25,759 --> 00:27:27,720 you wanted to say that, I mean, Ingram has to be in there 388 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:32,519 when you're looking at what the choices are. And McCollum has been great for 389 00:27:32,559 --> 00:27:34,599 New Orleans on offense. He gives you someone to attack on defense, clearly 390 00:27:34,599 --> 00:27:38,160 the Clippers did a good job of that, So I mean, and then 391 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:42,519 we still haven't even mentioned Cameron Johnson and Jay Crowder, but like those are 392 00:27:42,599 --> 00:27:47,079 not you know, they to me, I think it's argument with the Clippers 393 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:49,359 of the Pelicans have two of the top five players in this series. I 394 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:52,240 just know that that that's the proper argument for disparity. Now if you go 395 00:27:52,279 --> 00:27:56,640 in, who's the pelicans third best player versus the Sun's third best, well, 396 00:27:56,839 --> 00:27:59,960 that's where I was going with it. Yeah, that's the talent gap 397 00:28:00,079 --> 00:28:06,039 there is is absurd And I'm just like, what happens to your Ingram and 398 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:07,640 McCollum or like all of a sudden, I mean, I guess the Clippers 399 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:11,319 they've run so much extreme stuff and they have a great like a bunch of 400 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:15,039 great defenders on there. But you now you're going up against the Sun's team 401 00:28:15,039 --> 00:28:18,200 that has Jay Crowder and Michael Bridges and like if you get by people like 402 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:22,039 Deandret and is still just going to be right there. And look, by 403 00:28:22,079 --> 00:28:26,440 the way, if you down size against the Suns and they decide maybe Etan's 404 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:27,519 taking a breather and the don't want to play Javan mcgeel, like, they 405 00:28:27,559 --> 00:28:32,200 just have Tory Craig sitting there. And that's Tory Craig who hits threes when 406 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:33,799 he played whenever he puts on the Sun's jersey, like he's just gonna shoot 407 00:28:33,839 --> 00:28:38,440 a trillion percent from three. So I think I stand by Phoenix basically being 408 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:44,440 a perfect team. Yeah, so my concerns with Phoenix would be we should 409 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:45,720 probably get into there. It might be more than able to get in their 410 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:51,000 overarching title stock. I do wonder if, like the absence of rim pressure 411 00:28:51,079 --> 00:28:52,720 could hurt them a little bit. I think they're better set up to do 412 00:28:52,759 --> 00:28:56,599 that based off what we've seen from Eton during that stretch without Chris Paul. 413 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:02,720 They do have Javal McGee is like sort of athletic rim runner. And you 414 00:29:02,759 --> 00:29:06,720 will never get me just looking at like how offenses relied on a Kawai and 415 00:29:06,759 --> 00:29:10,119 a Paul George when they were healthy and it was fine. I can't get 416 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:11,359 up in arms about, oh they don't get to the rim enough or I'd 417 00:29:11,359 --> 00:29:15,359 like to see him get to the foul line more. I think what might 418 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:18,359 be the bigger conser might And this is just like spinning hairs. They were 419 00:29:18,359 --> 00:29:23,799 fourteens in defensive rebounding rate this year. We did see last year against the 420 00:29:23,839 --> 00:29:30,440 Bucks they gave up it was thirty plus points in transition and second chance points 421 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:33,759 opportunities per game during the finals, that's a lot. But they have Javal 422 00:29:33,839 --> 00:29:37,599 McGhee. Now I'm gonna say he would have made the difference in that finals 423 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:41,480 thing, but it's like you, you know, Dario Sarich, even if 424 00:29:41,519 --> 00:29:45,480 he was healthy for the I think they played like three minutes mysteries was something 425 00:29:45,519 --> 00:29:49,119 ridiculous, like he wouldn't have done much there. So they are. They 426 00:29:49,119 --> 00:29:55,880 are as close to basketball infallibility as we have right now in the league. 427 00:29:55,960 --> 00:30:00,160 I don't. I do think a healthy Warriors team is built to disrupt their 428 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:04,759 offense a lot more than I think people have been talking about. But even 429 00:30:04,759 --> 00:30:08,759 then, it's like Golden States sort of shock creation deficit outside of Stephen Jordan 430 00:30:08,839 --> 00:30:11,839 Pool does make things a little touch and go there. So look, I 431 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:15,759 pick Phoenix when the title of the preseason, I would not walk that back. 432 00:30:15,559 --> 00:30:21,319 I'm gonna pose this to you right now though, over under of I'm 433 00:30:21,319 --> 00:30:25,400 gonna say three point five games that the Suns lose to get out of the 434 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:30,880 West. Are you taking me over the I think this is a sweep, 435 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:41,960 So wow, I'm gonna take the under. That's gutsy because if they but 436 00:30:42,039 --> 00:30:45,240 then again, if so, if they're gonna win this series. I'm gonna 437 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:52,200 I look up and down the standings and I just I fail to see who 438 00:30:52,240 --> 00:30:57,000 matches up well with this team, because with Steph hobbled, I don't think 439 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:00,480 Golden State gets past Denver. I wait to see Steph play before we just 440 00:31:00,519 --> 00:31:03,880 assume that he's out, like how many he's come back from injuries before. 441 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:07,079 If we're specifically saying that he's not even going to play thirty minutes in game 442 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:12,680 one, then he's hobbled. That could just be more of like a conditioning 443 00:31:12,680 --> 00:31:18,079 issue, or maybe it's gamesmanship. That could be it too. So I 444 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:21,000 look, I don't know if I would take the under that was my own 445 00:31:21,039 --> 00:31:22,039 one, I don't have to make a pick. I'd probably take the under 446 00:31:22,079 --> 00:31:26,119 still because you're gonna go up against either the Mavericks or the Jazz in round 447 00:31:26,119 --> 00:31:33,160 two and like neither of them, that could be a sweep. Also, 448 00:31:33,079 --> 00:31:38,160 so yeah, I'll take the under on that too. I'll take the under. 449 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:41,160 Let's just go with that. High on Phoenix, apparently, who's your 450 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:47,000 X factor for the Pelicans in this series, Adam Silver? Like maybe he 451 00:31:47,079 --> 00:31:52,079 rigs it in their favor. Is Zion just coming back right, something like 452 00:31:52,119 --> 00:31:56,319 that. No, I mean, it's it's hard to pick an X factor 453 00:31:56,359 --> 00:32:00,519 for either of these because it feels like the most lopsided of the first series. 454 00:32:00,799 --> 00:32:04,559 So like, who else the Pelicans could truly put them over the edge? 455 00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:08,759 Are we gonna say, like if I go with Jose Alvarado here, 456 00:32:08,799 --> 00:32:13,000 who probably has like the most variability, Like if he's knocking down threes, 457 00:32:13,039 --> 00:32:16,039 if he's still playing with that energy and impact, if he's disrupting Chris Paul 458 00:32:16,519 --> 00:32:21,359 for the full length of the cord and somehow throwing him off his rhythm, 459 00:32:21,559 --> 00:32:27,319 is that enough? It's not enough, But I think that that makes the 460 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:30,519 series like exponentially more interesting to where oh maybe this goes. That's fair, 461 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:35,240 That's fair. Okay, So if if we're approaching it from an interest perspective, 462 00:32:35,319 --> 00:32:37,440 not a Pelicans winning the series perspective, then I think Alvarado's the pic 463 00:32:38,559 --> 00:32:40,960 I have. I'll just go with Tray Murvy the third for the sake of 464 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:45,720 variety here. And I also do think they need We mentioned this at the 465 00:32:45,759 --> 00:32:49,839 top of the podcast, the Pelicans need like CJ. McCom was a perfect 466 00:32:49,839 --> 00:32:52,880 fit. But if you're gonna go up against teams that can either disrupt or 467 00:32:52,920 --> 00:32:58,720 commit so much attention to both he and brandon Ingram. You need players on 468 00:32:58,759 --> 00:33:02,279 your team to make those decisions pay when they're going to be open. I 469 00:33:02,319 --> 00:33:07,640 think by playing Traymer for the third, who at least should functionally help you 470 00:33:07,680 --> 00:33:10,000 on defense relative to your other options that aren't Herb Jones for the most part, 471 00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:14,079 if you have him out there, he was the best. He shot 472 00:33:14,119 --> 00:33:16,839 forty three point eight percent from deep when he entered the Pelicans rotation for good 473 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:21,839 and it was like almost twenty games hit big shots in that playing game. 474 00:33:22,319 --> 00:33:24,799 That's something that I think can keep the pressure on the defense, and it 475 00:33:25,759 --> 00:33:29,720 might if I'd probably feel differently if it wasn't Phoenix that they were playing, 476 00:33:29,759 --> 00:33:32,279 because I just feel like the Suns are built to navigate whatever at this point. 477 00:33:34,119 --> 00:33:37,279 That would be my pick thought. And maybe he also having him and 478 00:33:37,400 --> 00:33:42,119 Herb Jones, does that inspire you to try out different front court combinations or 479 00:33:42,839 --> 00:33:47,240 no point guard more no point guard combinations where Davante Graham isn't playing, Jose 480 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:51,279 Alvarado wasn't playing, and you have McCullum and Anger him and then it's Herb 481 00:33:51,359 --> 00:33:53,519 Jones and tray Murviy. The third then you felt you're five. I would 482 00:33:53,519 --> 00:33:57,359 just go with Larry Nance Jr. For the sake of backing up my own 483 00:33:57,440 --> 00:34:00,279 argument from before, but going with Jackson Hazer Bounty this day. So I 484 00:34:00,839 --> 00:34:04,960 don't mean to disrespect the Pelicans here and just assume that they can't get a 485 00:34:04,960 --> 00:34:07,280 game. This is more about how high I am on the Suns, and 486 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:12,199 I actually do think when you look at New Orleans personnel, if you can 487 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:15,400 look at a lot of their transition defense this season, they overachieved on that 488 00:34:15,519 --> 00:34:20,679 end of the floor after their three and sixteen start obviously, so I would 489 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:24,119 view this as a very encouraging season from New Orleans given everything that happened no 490 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:28,599 Zi on their start and the fact that they just got I mean, we 491 00:34:28,639 --> 00:34:32,199 don't know how the negotiations went down, but Larry Nance Junior in the CJ. 492 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:37,199 McCollum trade and then also by the way, Robert Covington in the Norman 493 00:34:37,239 --> 00:34:39,639 Powell trade, like these have shades of Oh Danny Green went to Toronto with 494 00:34:39,679 --> 00:34:45,559 the Kawhi Leonard trade. Just incredible that both those teams were able to get 495 00:34:46,039 --> 00:34:51,760 two, like two Blazers for the modest prices that they ended up paying for 496 00:34:51,800 --> 00:34:54,719 them. The other thing here that's great for New Orleans is just the experience, 497 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:59,880 because that should not be overlooked. Even if it's just a four games 498 00:35:00,039 --> 00:35:06,039 weep and none of the games are particularly competitive, that's super valuable experience for 499 00:35:06,199 --> 00:35:12,320 a young team that not all the primary pieces have been here before and is 500 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:17,440 expected to enjoy continuity. Plus the addition of someone like Zion Williamson next year. 501 00:35:17,719 --> 00:35:22,679 I mean that is it is a monumental help two guys like Herb Jones 502 00:35:22,719 --> 00:35:24,960 and Trey Murphy and Jose Alvarado and Brandon Ingram as well, because he hasn't 503 00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:30,000 been on this stage. It would and I don't want to make it about 504 00:35:30,039 --> 00:35:35,199 the discourse. That's where it comes in. And you miss Zion Williamson not 505 00:35:35,280 --> 00:35:37,800 just because of what he does for your product, but this would have been 506 00:35:37,840 --> 00:35:40,760 just to get the experience there. I will also say the New Orleans crowd 507 00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:45,320 during that playing game one of the best New Orleans crowds that I've fantastic quite 508 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:50,199 sometimes, So that'll be fun. And the other thing about New Orleans, 509 00:35:50,199 --> 00:35:52,119 I don't want to do the post mortum on their season right now, Like 510 00:35:52,159 --> 00:35:54,639 if you just put and I know they have your ownest sound tunis. I 511 00:35:54,679 --> 00:35:58,960 know they have Jackson Hayes and they have larn Nance Jr. If you just 512 00:35:59,039 --> 00:36:02,400 put like an elite rim protector on this team, the West is incredibly deep, 513 00:36:02,559 --> 00:36:07,280 but I would probably be ready to pick them as a top four team 514 00:36:07,280 --> 00:36:10,079 in the West next season. Wow, I'm not talking about it. I'm 515 00:36:10,079 --> 00:36:15,920 not saying it needs to be Miles, is it? Yeah? I think 516 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:22,880 so because Phoenix isn't going anywhere. The Grizzlies, the Mavericks are always going 517 00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:27,880 to be good with Luca, the Warriors are still gonna out of their cores. 518 00:36:27,880 --> 00:36:30,159 A lot of good teams in the West. Yeah, we've also seen 519 00:36:30,199 --> 00:36:32,119 though that there's don't be a lot of hit. The Cliffers should have Georgia 520 00:36:32,119 --> 00:36:36,639 and Kauai should have. We've been saying that since they signed George and Kwai 521 00:36:36,719 --> 00:36:39,679 though, and I'm still saying should so. Look, I would, It 522 00:36:39,679 --> 00:36:45,800 depends on the quality of ritten might be the Jazz this year. You sound 523 00:36:45,840 --> 00:36:50,559 like Danny Ainge at his next if he ever has a press to part time 524 00:36:50,760 --> 00:36:54,480 CEO wherever he is there. So yeah, it's suns and four for me. 525 00:36:54,840 --> 00:36:59,599 Who's your ex factor for the Sons campaign? Because I want to see 526 00:36:59,599 --> 00:37:02,920 if he and repeat the heroics that we saw during the run through the Western 527 00:37:02,960 --> 00:37:07,360 Conference last year when he just seemingly couldn't miss, got to the rim at 528 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:12,039 will and all that. And if he can provide valuable minutes or if he's 529 00:37:12,119 --> 00:37:15,320 on the floor often enough because these games aren't close, then you're buying rest 530 00:37:15,679 --> 00:37:20,719 for Chris Paul and Devin Booker for what is going to be a long playoff 531 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:24,440 run. Mine's going to be JaVale McGee just because, if anything, it's 532 00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:29,000 like looking back, they could have probably used him in last year's finals. 533 00:37:29,079 --> 00:37:31,519 And if the Pelicans are going to play at least one big all the time, 534 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:37,440 you need someone reliable behind DeAndre and to take those minutes, and he 535 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:40,679 should against this team, help you on the defensive glass a lot. So 536 00:37:40,760 --> 00:37:45,039 yeah, that's my that's my X factor there to eat a lot of Crow 537 00:37:45,119 --> 00:37:50,360 and New Orleans wins. If I mean if New Rows wins, that's one 538 00:37:50,400 --> 00:37:55,920 of the biggest upsets in playoff history, is it not. Yes, I'm 539 00:37:55,960 --> 00:38:00,679 trying to think back to where like the Weebili Warriors beating the Mavericks, but 540 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:05,719 the Mavericks were not the juggernaut that these Suns are right, I mean, 541 00:38:05,760 --> 00:38:09,119 the Sun's just had this good season. So who the Warriors faced in the 542 00:38:09,119 --> 00:38:15,519 first round in twenty and sixteen? Was it? Was it Anthony Davis is 543 00:38:15,559 --> 00:38:20,840 Pelicans? Was that the year that he made that like quarter three with his 544 00:38:20,880 --> 00:38:25,320 eyes closed to force overtime in Game one and they won that one? It 545 00:38:25,360 --> 00:38:29,880 was not because they beat the Rockets in the first round that year, but 546 00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:36,400 off and yeah, so I don't And Houston was I mean, Houston was 547 00:38:36,440 --> 00:38:38,199 the eight seed that year. I don't know if that would would that account 548 00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:42,039 is the biggest upset in playoff history. They had James hard and Dwight Howard 549 00:38:42,079 --> 00:38:47,599 and Bev's and a thirty three d probably probably not just because of the talent 550 00:38:47,679 --> 00:38:52,760 on that roster. Yeah, I guess the Pelicans Pelicans don't have it would 551 00:38:52,880 --> 00:38:55,880 whatever be one of the biggest upsets in playoff history. I don't think the 552 00:38:55,880 --> 00:38:59,320 Pelicans are going anywhere. They're gonna get Zion back, And like I said, 553 00:38:59,679 --> 00:39:01,840 I don't know if they would be as enthralled they just went out. 554 00:39:01,880 --> 00:39:05,400 They have you on his mound Tues, they have Jackson Hayes. Maybe they 555 00:39:05,400 --> 00:39:08,800 don't want to go like two, you know, full bore after another big 556 00:39:08,840 --> 00:39:13,199 but I would be all over any not I know, not Rudy Gobert. 557 00:39:13,280 --> 00:39:16,360 Let let me back clear, but like if Miles Turner is still available in 558 00:39:16,360 --> 00:39:20,760 Indiana, I don't I'm not opposed to like, yeah, okay, you 559 00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:23,119 have. That's no one on this roster is gonna preclude me. Is what 560 00:39:23,159 --> 00:39:27,320 I'm getting at from chasing any other body that I think is the quintessential fit 561 00:39:27,440 --> 00:39:31,559 for Zion c J Herb Jones and Brandon Ingram. You just you slot just 562 00:39:31,840 --> 00:39:37,559 a really good rim protector on that team. Not Mason Plumly, Charlote Orde 563 00:39:37,599 --> 00:39:40,400 Fins know what I'm talking about. So they're They're a top four team in 564 00:39:40,440 --> 00:39:45,559 the West. That would be my recklessly optimistic stance on the Pelicans. You're 565 00:39:45,599 --> 00:39:47,719 not going to back off. I respect it, so we have agree with 566 00:39:47,760 --> 00:39:51,639 it, but I respect it. You have heat and you have two sweeps 567 00:39:51,639 --> 00:39:53,719 here going to sleep. I'm giving the Hawks a game against the Heat. 568 00:39:53,719 --> 00:39:59,119 I'm going to say that the Sun's sweep. Thank you everyone for listening to 569 00:39:59,199 --> 00:40:01,840 this. We hope you enjoy these super deep playoff dives. We will be 570 00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:07,360 back talking to you in a few days after we've digested some playoff action. 571 00:40:07,440 --> 00:40:09,960 Until next time. Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe to us 572 00:40:09,960 --> 00:40:14,440 wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on the socials. Those are all 573 00:40:14,440 --> 00:40:19,639 on our podcast descriptions. TikTok and ig I'm putting out We're putting out exclusives 574 00:40:19,639 --> 00:40:22,079 on there. Follow us there YouTube. We are so close to one case 575 00:40:22,119 --> 00:40:25,679 subscribers. I think we're at like ninety something at this point, So go 576 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:30,199 subscribe to us on YouTube. Definitely subscribe to the podcast. First. Joint 577 00:40:30,280 --> 00:40:34,559 discord link is in the podcast description where you can DM one of us if 578 00:40:34,599 --> 00:40:37,519 you're having any trouble accessing it. And finally, if you've done all those 579 00:40:37,519 --> 00:40:45,960 things, consider spreading the word about Hardwood Knox being pleasantly modestly insufferable as far 580 00:40:45,960 --> 00:40:49,440 as national NBA coverage goes. And with that said, we leave the shout 581 00:40:49,480 --> 00:40:53,840 out to one the only is still playoff bound, the mother of all fucking 582 00:40:54,079 --> 00:41:02,400 X factors and during the twenty twenty two postseason Frank Thille team