1 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:13,679 What's going on? Clippers fans? Welcome to season two, episode sixty nine 2 00:00:14,359 --> 00:00:18,960 of Clips and Dip. I am Chuck Mockler joined by Adam Oslin usually Will 3 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:24,879 Updike is with us. He is unavoidably detained. We are your probably favorite 4 00:00:24,879 --> 00:00:27,679 Clippers podcast. I would have if I had to guess, I would hope. 5 00:00:27,719 --> 00:00:32,280 So we're getting ready for the playoffs. We had a really in depth 6 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:36,159 preview earlier in the week. Today we're gonna be talking to Kawhi non news 7 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,679 and how it's maybe making people go crazy. We're gonna talk some X Factor 8 00:00:39,719 --> 00:00:43,600 stuff. We're gonna talk some keys to victory. But thank you for joining 9 00:00:43,679 --> 00:00:48,479 us on audio. On video, Uh, we have a video specific segment, 10 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,079 so if you're not watching these pods, you do get some of the 11 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,320 full experience over there too, especially when we do the high five, which 12 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,240 you're going to do with Adam osen. But I've been talking too much to 13 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:00,640 start this, Adam. Before we get into the clip stuff, how are 14 00:01:00,679 --> 00:01:07,200 you doing on this Friday evening, thirty six ish hours before the Clippers kick 15 00:01:07,239 --> 00:01:11,840 off their series against the Dallas I feel good. Good week to recharge. 16 00:01:11,359 --> 00:01:17,120 UH, had a fun barbecue with you and Will yesterday, Little C and 17 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:19,840 D get together. It was a fun time, so tried to de stress, 18 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,799 but I don't know if it helped. I feel better about it by 19 00:01:23,799 --> 00:01:30,439 the time I left, for whatever reason. Good food, good friends, 20 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:34,879 It was a good times people my barbecue. Feeling pretty happy about everything. 21 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:42,680 Full, stomach flies, clear, eyes can't yeah, I'm ready. I'm 22 00:01:42,719 --> 00:01:49,000 feeling semi ready, I think, which is kind of a good way to 23 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:56,200 describe how Kawhi Leonard is maybe feeling. If you missed, if you're listening 24 00:01:56,239 --> 00:02:00,239 to this podcast and you missed what happened this week, you're a very interesting 25 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:05,920 fan. But so on Thursday, there was a whole whirlwind of information. 26 00:02:06,159 --> 00:02:12,080 Thursday, Shams reported that Kawhi got an injection and that there was cautious optimism 27 00:02:12,159 --> 00:02:15,719 he was ready for day one due to I believe the phrasing in the world 28 00:02:15,719 --> 00:02:22,599 of explosive box jumps. For the real clipper heads out there was intense workouts 29 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:28,680 right, correct. Correct. That was earlier in the morning on Thursday. 30 00:02:29,759 --> 00:02:35,919 Then Lawrence Frank did something that is never a good sign, which is do 31 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:40,960 a press conference for the media seemingly out of nowhere, which I think we 32 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,759 talked about on this podcast. I think I mentioned, like a couple of 33 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:47,400 weeks ago, I hope we don't get a Lawrence Frank presser. No, 34 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:52,719 we definitely said that after the first pod we did, after we heard about 35 00:02:52,719 --> 00:02:55,719 the right knee inflammation and we thought, okay, maybe there will be more 36 00:02:55,759 --> 00:03:00,080 clarity before the Clippers' next home game after they were turn from the road trip. 37 00:03:00,159 --> 00:03:04,759 The last game Kawhi played in was that game in Charlotte. Then they 38 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:07,479 were in Sacramento, they were back at Crypto, and yeah, we were 39 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,960 like, well, just hope it's not one of those Laurence Frank press conferences 40 00:03:12,039 --> 00:03:16,039 that we have gotten twice so far, at least twice pertaining to Kawhi Leonard 41 00:03:16,039 --> 00:03:21,560 and that right knee. So we've been on top of this for the most 42 00:03:21,599 --> 00:03:24,680 part. We've been telling people for weeks. I'm only gonna say this once, 43 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:30,479 but uh, you might want to pay attention to some of the stuff 44 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:35,120 we say on this show. You might want to pay attention to some of 45 00:03:35,159 --> 00:03:38,719 the stuff we say on this show. Well, I've been mentioning for two 46 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:43,919 weeks that there's no way to know Kawhi Leonard can't know at this point. 47 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:52,120 It's inflammation, it's unpredictable and it's his right knee. Well, what did 48 00:03:52,159 --> 00:03:57,919 Lawrence Frank tell you at that presser? The exact same thing that I've been 49 00:03:57,919 --> 00:04:02,479 saying for two weeks here trying to prep people. I'm not trying to sell 50 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:05,960 any false hope. I'm not trying to set anyone up for disappointment. I'm 51 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:11,280 trying to give you the reality of the situation. Yes, it's coming from 52 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:15,000 me, it's my reality and how I view things, But I'm trying to 53 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:19,920 be honest about it. In the state of Kawhi, Leonard and I think 54 00:04:19,959 --> 00:04:25,879 we've been right on with our discussion about this and where things could go. 55 00:04:26,199 --> 00:04:29,720 And if you want to proceed now with some of the stuff that Lawrence Frank 56 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:31,360 said, and we can place some of it too here, Chuck. We 57 00:04:31,439 --> 00:04:35,000 can do that. We have the technology to do that. Yeah, we 58 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:40,759 should play it because it's just I mean, again, you've probably heard this 59 00:04:40,879 --> 00:04:45,720 at this point, but it's just more uncertainty and uncertainty at Thursday afternoon, 60 00:04:45,759 --> 00:04:49,439 when Game one is Sunday at twelve thirty, with no practice on Friday or 61 00:04:49,439 --> 00:04:56,279 the day we're recording, this feels not ideal. I'm just it's uncertainty because 62 00:04:56,319 --> 00:05:00,279 it's the human body and nobody knows how it's going to respond. But I 63 00:05:00,319 --> 00:05:04,319 thought it wouldn't be any different for I. I just don't know what people 64 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:08,279 thought was going to come out of this, as if they could know for 65 00:05:08,319 --> 00:05:12,879 sure when Kawhi is going to be available. When you're talking about inflammation and 66 00:05:13,079 --> 00:05:15,920 stubborn inflammation that has yet to subside, I don't know what people were looking 67 00:05:15,959 --> 00:05:19,480 for. And just before we get into the quotes, I do not. 68 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:25,240 I'm not expecting Kawhi to play Game one. That's not that just doesn't. 69 00:05:25,439 --> 00:05:30,519 We'll get into the quotes, but I'm not expecting that based on scuttle, 70 00:05:30,519 --> 00:05:34,000 but based on everything Lawrence Frank told all of us directly. Out of which 71 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:39,519 quote do we have first? For these listeners? I think this would back 72 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:46,000 up your logic here because this is Lawrence Frank being asked what steps Kawhi Leonard 73 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:51,120 would have to take before he played in a game, and this is coming 74 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:59,920 from at foul outame on X formerly known as Twitter. Here getting the inflamation 75 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,600 down to the level that you guys would be comfortable with in plane, Like, 76 00:06:03,639 --> 00:06:05,879 what's the step by step that he has to go through to get it? 77 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,519 Down. Yeah, I mean, I think you get through the steps 78 00:06:09,519 --> 00:06:14,680 of you know where the the you know, the swellings at call an acceptable 79 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,839 level, and then you start the ramp up. You do some exercises in 80 00:06:17,879 --> 00:06:23,639 the performance room, you start doing court work, and you know then where 81 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:27,759 you get to a point where you're able to go full speed contact type work. 82 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:33,800 I don't know, Chuck, does that seem like something to where in 83 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:40,959 forty eight hours or less than that now could change for Kawhilon. Yeah? 84 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:45,639 That Wow, we're having so many technical difficulties without will here. No, 85 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:49,399 it sounds so here, I will say, I guess I appreciate the transparency 86 00:06:49,439 --> 00:06:53,879 on how what we think the steps are going to be the first time we 87 00:06:53,959 --> 00:06:59,240 get transparency. Sure, but that does not sound like something based on the 88 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:04,000 Clippers practice schedule, which they scrimmaged on Thursday, which Tyler mentioned he only 89 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:10,040 did because they had the extended time off. There was no player stuff today, 90 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:16,959 so he has Saturday to get those three multiple more than three things done 91 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:25,879 to play on twelve thirty on Sunday. So I do not say you'd have 92 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:30,639 to condense a lot of activity into a forty eight hour period based on the 93 00:07:30,639 --> 00:07:36,720 timing of when he first said that, and that alone might overload the right 94 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:41,040 knee, which because there was no activity, is the other part of it. 95 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:48,079 Yeah, here's the other clip on that, which is talking about conditioning, 96 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:54,480 because I think what the reporters were driving at here was that twenty five 97 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,839 percent of practice that he participated in last Tuesday. According to coach Loup. 98 00:08:00,079 --> 00:08:07,360 Pretty sure all that meant was mental preparation because Lawrence Frank spoke about that and 99 00:08:07,439 --> 00:08:13,399 said he's been participating in you know, the film review sessions and everything else. 100 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:20,079 So here was a more direct question regarding what he has done conditioning wise, 101 00:08:20,199 --> 00:08:24,639 able to do conditioning the Yeah, I mean there are different things. 102 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:28,319 I mean, right now, you know, it's just more you know, 103 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:33,879 just with the modalities, but in due time and you know, there's a 104 00:08:33,919 --> 00:08:35,960 lot of different things you know that he can do that he is, but 105 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:41,720 we're just avoiding any contact work at this point and to reduce any the pounding. 106 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:48,360 Does that seem like a guy who is very close to returning at the 107 00:08:48,399 --> 00:08:52,919 moment, or at least by Game one to you when he goes to saying 108 00:08:54,039 --> 00:08:58,240 in due time and he's talking about modalities, which I'm guessing is we're talking 109 00:08:58,399 --> 00:09:03,000 ice stem things like that. It doesn't seem like they're trying to put a 110 00:09:03,039 --> 00:09:09,440 lot context. That's how I interpret that. No, I just don't know. 111 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:18,000 It doesn't seem like they want to stress out the knee much at all, 112 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:24,480 like they're being extra cautionary about it and precautionary when it comes to the 113 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:30,879 load and stress they're putting on his right knee because they're concerned about it being 114 00:09:30,919 --> 00:09:35,360 more inflamed. The good news was he did say they had made some progress, 115 00:09:35,639 --> 00:09:39,600 but not enough to where it's at an acceptable point where they would put 116 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:43,000 him out there. The other part of the good news was he said it 117 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:48,039 structurally sound regarding I guess the ACL and the meniscus tear over the last couple 118 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:52,039 of years. That's good news. The bad news is it's been almost three 119 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:58,679 weeks and the inflammation in a surgically repaired knee is still significant enough to where 120 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:05,200 he's questionable heading into Game one and again for him to get to a point 121 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:09,360 of playing in game one, those steps that he talked about in the first 122 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:15,679 clip we played sounds like all that is part of the process before he would 123 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:22,159 be playing on the court. And I understand people wanting to cope and wishful 124 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:28,799 thinking, and this is devastating type of news completely, But for everyone to 125 00:10:28,919 --> 00:10:37,240 continue to accuse the Clippers in Lawrence Frank of gamesmanship when he was actually confronted 126 00:10:37,279 --> 00:10:41,240 with that by our friend Joey Lynn and he addressed it. Do you guys 127 00:10:41,399 --> 00:10:48,600 really think that this is mind games at this point with the Dallas Mavericks. 128 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:52,919 Do you think the Clippers need to be so desperate to play mind games in 129 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:56,200 the first round there are four seed with four Hall of Famers. Do you 130 00:10:56,240 --> 00:11:00,840 think that wouldn't come across Maybe it is a little bit week, or that 131 00:11:00,879 --> 00:11:05,279 they could be scared of the Dallas Mavericks if they did that that you're resorting 132 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:09,120 to those tactics. I don't see the Clippers doing that. I believe Lawrence 133 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:13,200 Frank when he says it's not gainsmanship. Do you not understand that he may 134 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:18,279 have to work with the Dallas Mavericks at some point for a trade or a 135 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:22,600 move or something, and this could burn a bridge if he came out and 136 00:11:22,639 --> 00:11:26,000 had a press conference and it was a complete fabrication. Do you really think 137 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:33,080 he would do something like that. I don't This is not a ruse This 138 00:11:33,159 --> 00:11:35,320 is the honest truth. It's funny to me. I mentioned this to you 139 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:41,399 yesterday at the barbecue, Chuck. But the same people who have been asking 140 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:46,440 for more transparency and clarity, now that Lawrence Frank gives it to him as 141 00:11:46,519 --> 00:11:50,879 much as he can, they say, oh, well, that's just gainsmanship. 142 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:56,600 Really, I guess he can't win, right, I guess he can't 143 00:11:56,639 --> 00:11:58,559 win with some people, because I do like that's what sucks, is like 144 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,600 this is it's obviously never good to see Lawrence Frank through the presser, but 145 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:05,720 he said what was happening. He told everyone that we don't know how the 146 00:12:05,799 --> 00:12:09,960 knee is going to react because we haven't been knowing for the last three weeks, 147 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:16,600 and that's what's happening. The news is what's definitive right now. From 148 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:22,759 that press conference, the update was really it's still too swollen to where they're 149 00:12:22,799 --> 00:12:31,120 comfortable letting him play at this point right on Thursday, and therefore swelling would 150 00:12:31,159 --> 00:12:33,440 have to go down and he'd have to go through all those steps that we 151 00:12:33,519 --> 00:12:37,080 played and he talked about in the first video. Ay Ready game is probably 152 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:39,399 part of those steps, which I don't think you mentioned, but that's definitely 153 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:45,600 part of on court work. Yeah, that would also mean that he completes 154 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:50,559 those without a setback right to where he does those to where he really ramps 155 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:56,120 up and it doesn't become more inflamed or swell up more So, that's a 156 00:12:56,120 --> 00:13:01,120 lot of hoof's there so your thing and not gonna be there for game one 157 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:07,679 seems unlikely. Seems unlikely. And then we not to get too far ahead 158 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:11,960 of ourselves, but game two is on Tuesday. Then you gotta hope that 159 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:18,919 everything goes great on Monday. The counter to this, and when more of 160 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:24,799 the gamesmanship mind games talk that has been circulating on x over the last forty 161 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:31,799 eight hours has been well, Las said this on the Athletic podcast hours before 162 00:13:31,919 --> 00:13:35,120 this Lawrence Frank press conference, that he believes La Murray of The Athletic that 163 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:39,960 Kawhi would be playing in game one. He wasn't sure the minutes he wasn't 164 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,840 sure, right, you know, the level of health, if he'd be 165 00:13:43,879 --> 00:13:50,000 at full strength, and all these things. And you combine that with the 166 00:13:50,039 --> 00:13:54,919 sham Seranio report of intense workouts, and that seems to fly in the face 167 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:56,759 of what Lawrence Frank said. So who do you believe, well I'm gonna 168 00:13:56,759 --> 00:14:01,879 believe Lawrence Frank and what he said about the situation because I don't think he 169 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:05,759 has much to gain. I don't think it's gamesmanship at all. I don't 170 00:14:05,759 --> 00:14:09,799 think they would be fooling the Dallas Mavericks into anything at this point. You 171 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:16,960 don't think when you actually go down that path of logic of how this could 172 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:22,519 be gamesmanship. So they're not telling them whether or not Kawhi learn is going 173 00:14:22,559 --> 00:14:26,200 to play, so then if he does, it's this big surprise to the 174 00:14:26,279 --> 00:14:31,519 Dallas Mavericks, like they're unaware of how they would scheme against Kawhi Leonard, 175 00:14:31,759 --> 00:14:37,039 this is something you are so unfamiliar of playing against. There's a great quote 176 00:14:37,039 --> 00:14:39,639 about scheming for Kawhi that we're going to talk about in the next segment. 177 00:14:39,679 --> 00:14:45,879 By the way, the other side is if he's not playing and he's listed 178 00:14:45,879 --> 00:14:52,600 as questionable and maybe they already know he's out, is well, then they're 179 00:14:52,679 --> 00:14:56,639 less ready for whoever the substitute is. Is it going to be Russ, 180 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,480 Is it going to be PJ, Is it going to be a mirror? 181 00:15:00,519 --> 00:15:03,879 Is it going to be norm? And they have to find different games plans 182 00:15:03,919 --> 00:15:11,480 for all these guys. Hello, They've already been running through player profiles and 183 00:15:11,519 --> 00:15:15,600 how to defend all these guys. It's not a big adjustment, people, 184 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:20,240 It's not keeping Dallas in the dark at all, and it makes their game 185 00:15:20,279 --> 00:15:24,919 plan easier, right of course. Do you think it's not going to throw 186 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:26,600 them off if all of a sudden Norm is in the starting lineup? Oh 187 00:15:26,639 --> 00:15:28,720 my god, Dallas is not going to know what to do with this. 188 00:15:30,279 --> 00:15:33,600 I'm telling you, guys, this is not gamesmanship. You gotta let it 189 00:15:33,639 --> 00:15:37,879 go. Do you think, uh? Because again I have no intel on 190 00:15:37,919 --> 00:15:41,039 the scheduling of the Lawrence Frank presser. Do you think the presser was in 191 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:45,679 response to the shams update? Again, this is purely conjecture. I don't 192 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:50,240 know. It seemed like I could see it. Toron Leu was flustered with 193 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:52,399 the amount of questions. That's the other side of this. Oh, but 194 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:58,120 we we should give a shout out to the reporters for getting this information of 195 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:03,559 wonderfully, we're doing their job. And Coach Lou acknowledged that and apologized for 196 00:16:03,639 --> 00:16:08,360 at first getting a little bit frustrated at the beginning of his press conference and 197 00:16:08,399 --> 00:16:11,960 saying, look, and then he kind of backed off and didn't want to 198 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:21,639 go down that Villa Johnson. Here's another reason to not believe the gamesmanship aspect 199 00:16:21,679 --> 00:16:26,080 to this. Do you really think they would continually put Coach Lou in this 200 00:16:26,159 --> 00:16:33,840 position where he has to continue to take questions. If Kawhi Leonard was fine 201 00:16:33,879 --> 00:16:37,639 all along and they knew he was going to play, when Coach Lou has 202 00:16:37,679 --> 00:16:41,559 been frustrated by this, guys, they wouldn't do it. There's no line 203 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:45,799 of logic where your gamesmanship theory makes sense. I'm sorry, outside of just 204 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:52,799 coping and being frustrated with it and it's upsetting. I understand this could end 205 00:16:52,879 --> 00:17:00,440 up being the four straight year where Kawhi Leonard either isn't available to start a 206 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:06,319 playoff run or finish a playoff run, And I understand that could leave to 207 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:12,160 wishful thinking and just hoping that all this is somehow a ploy to Dallas on 208 00:17:12,279 --> 00:17:17,039 their toes. We could all wake up and it actually will be Monday morning 209 00:17:17,319 --> 00:17:22,000 of earlier this week. No one's more frustrated than Kawhi Leonard. First of 210 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,359 all, with this, a guy wants to play. He's a dog. 211 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:30,480 He is one of the greatest playoff performers in the history of the game. 212 00:17:30,519 --> 00:17:33,000 He's not just a top seventy five player ever. I think he's a top 213 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:38,000 ten playoff performer ever in the history of the league in a seven game series. 214 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:42,000 I don't think there are ten guys I would take over Kawhi Leonard in 215 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:48,960 those situations. And then the organization's frustrated, of course, and the fans 216 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:52,039 are frustrated. So I totally get it. I understand it. But I 217 00:17:52,079 --> 00:17:57,279 would believe Laurence Frank and what he said yesterday. I believe Laurence Frank and 218 00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:02,839 what he said for all the reason stated to hear so we can put that 219 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:06,920 aside. Now. I think I'm finished with it. Yeah, what we 220 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:11,200 know for sure Kawi's listed is questionable, unclear. If that's gonna be updated 221 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:17,240 with an injury report tomorrow. If there is an update that perhaps is upsetting, 222 00:18:17,279 --> 00:18:19,480 we will be live to react to it. But that's where we're at 223 00:18:19,519 --> 00:18:22,680 with Kawhi, which is in the dark, probably not playing Game one. 224 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:27,599 We're gonna get I think he plays in this series. I think it's unlikely 225 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:32,240 he plays in Game one, but it is likely he plays at some point 226 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:36,119 in this series. That's what I'm going with. At what level we don't 227 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:38,319 know, but I agree he will be out there. Coming up, we're 228 00:18:38,319 --> 00:18:42,880 gonna be talking some things the MAVs do on offense during Adam's high five segment, 229 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,720 and then some keys to the game, and we'll be picking our X 230 00:18:45,759 --> 00:18:48,880 factors and whatnot. If you're listening to the pod, thank you so much. 231 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:52,640 Welcome. If you're a new listener, welcome, Hello to the Dallas 232 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:57,200 fans. You guys are active on YouTube. We got some ads coming up 233 00:18:57,559 --> 00:19:02,519 on the audio. It's been loud for some people that we're talking MAVs offense 234 00:19:02,559 --> 00:19:07,200 and maybe some defense coming up in three two one. Welcome back in It's 235 00:19:07,279 --> 00:19:11,519 Clips and Dip episode sixty nine, season two. Here, I'm ad A 236 00:19:11,599 --> 00:19:15,079 Maslin. We got Chuck Mockler. No will Updyke for this one, but 237 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,839 the Big three will be returning at some point. We're gonna do a lot 238 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:26,440 of shows, obviously during this first round series. I hope it's not that 239 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:32,279 it's not contagious or anything like that. But coming up, we'll talk about 240 00:19:32,279 --> 00:19:34,880 our X factors, which should be interesting because there are a lot of guys 241 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:41,400 to choose from. But I guess it's time for a high five. Here, 242 00:19:41,519 --> 00:19:44,319 Chuck, we gotta do the high five. We gotta talk about what 243 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:47,680 the Clippers can do to win and come bat because they still got to play 244 00:19:47,799 --> 00:19:52,519 on Sunday. So people have been asking for this in the comment section, 245 00:19:52,799 --> 00:19:57,400 and we'll have one post every game throughout this series that next episode. If 246 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:00,759 you guys want to high five, we'll definitely have it for you. But 247 00:20:00,839 --> 00:20:06,079 I thought we'd do something a little bit different here today, which is a 248 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:11,839 high five on the Dallas Mavericks game tape. On the Dallas Mavericks. We 249 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:18,160 got to see these new lok MAVs five highlights from a revamped roster post trade 250 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:22,319 deadline, because I could pull tape from Dallas taking on the Clippers, but 251 00:20:22,319 --> 00:20:26,480 the last time that happened was back in December, and no one is on 252 00:20:26,599 --> 00:20:30,680 the team anymore. Kind of irrelevant at this point, so this should be 253 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:34,279 fun. Here. As I pull up the YouTube, I was watching a 254 00:20:34,319 --> 00:20:38,480 lot of Dallas Mavericks highlights earlier today. But the game we're gonna go from 255 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:44,640 is their most well known victory of the season, which would be that game 256 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:48,960 against the Denver Nuggets with the Kyrie Irving game winning push shot from fifteen feet 257 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:55,720 out with his left hand over Nikola Jokic one of the most insane regular season 258 00:20:55,759 --> 00:21:02,079 game winners you'll ever see. So I'll maximize this for us, and here 259 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:07,240 we go. This is actually starting things off, and I believe this is 260 00:21:07,319 --> 00:21:11,880 Dallas's first possession here as it's the eleven h nine mark of the first quarter. 261 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:15,440 But we'll talk about a little bit of Luka Doncic brilliance here. As 262 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:19,359 he brings the ball up from right to left, has Michael Porter Junior on 263 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:25,880 him, Luca puts his right foot forward, gives Michael Porter Junior a little 264 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:30,160 bit of a pump fake, he falls for it over commits. This is 265 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:37,279 the brilliance of Luka Doncic. Not many guys at this point. Most players 266 00:21:37,519 --> 00:21:42,400 would just take that driving lane to the basket. Luca's gonna get an even 267 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:48,680 better look here by doing a little give and go with PJ. Washington on 268 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:52,160 the left wing, because he gets Aaron Gordon to have to come over and 269 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:57,319 close out after this pass from PJ. Washington, who then gives it right 270 00:21:57,359 --> 00:22:06,279 back to Luka Doni. Now it's Nikola Jokicic in a precarious position where it's 271 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:10,759 no longer a big man that he has to cover for that isn't a high 272 00:22:10,759 --> 00:22:14,160 flyer on this Dallas Mavericks team. Yes, they have had Derek Lively now 273 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:19,119 they have him and Daniel Gafford, So Jokic has to commit here. Luka 274 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:23,559 Dancis is a big body himself, just goes right by him. Jokich not 275 00:22:23,599 --> 00:22:29,039 a great room protector. But that's just a spot you really can't win in 276 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:33,400 you want to. You know what I see here that gives me some pause. 277 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:37,119 I guess is Terrence has been biting on pump fakes a lot to close 278 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:42,160 the season. That's immediately what I thought of in that, So that that 279 00:22:42,279 --> 00:22:45,799 is something to keep an eye on. And look, it's understandable with Lucy 280 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:49,799 of course, Oh yeah, we're not. This isn't Luke Canard territory anything 281 00:22:49,839 --> 00:22:53,960 like that. Like this is he just he's been a little he's been a 282 00:22:53,960 --> 00:23:00,319 little bite on him. Here's some of the defense that the Denver Nuggets tried 283 00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:04,559 in this game. Basically it wasn't just a hedge and recover. They were 284 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:11,279 trapping and blitzing on every screen that I saw with in this case, it's 285 00:23:11,319 --> 00:23:18,559 Derek Lively setting one for Luka Doncic. Watch what Dallas does here, boom. 286 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:22,559 Both guys, And this is an interesting chess match because you have Luca 287 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:30,039 and the joker, Nikola Jokic, I think is daring him at this point 288 00:23:30,079 --> 00:23:34,079 because he has his hands down to try a tough pass here. At the 289 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:38,200 last second, he puts his arms up, but Luca's too quick with it 290 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:44,440 as he gives it back Lively. Look at oh, it goes right through 291 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:48,440 his hands. This doesn't happen very often as a crafty as Jokic is. 292 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:53,400 Watch how Luca is able to get this pass off. It's really just there's 293 00:23:53,440 --> 00:24:02,680 a few guys that can make this right through the Joker's hands, and he 294 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:06,960 gets it to Derek Lively for an easy look there, and that's gonna be 295 00:24:07,519 --> 00:24:10,480 you know, I'm just that's gonna be Zoo, who is has more active 296 00:24:10,519 --> 00:24:14,160 hands. I believe that Zoo will have his hands up. We don't know 297 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:17,440 what because you know, Aaron Gordon's not doing the worst job right here, 298 00:24:17,559 --> 00:24:19,480 right like he's at least trying to stick to Luca and stuff like that, 299 00:24:19,519 --> 00:24:23,119 which goes back to Zoo's point about guys getting to the ball quick on pick 300 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:26,960 and roll and things like that. So this is about as good as you 301 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:33,759 could play it from the Nuggets right the game like the entire game they did 302 00:24:33,799 --> 00:24:37,240 this just get the ball out of Luca's hands, or in the same situation, 303 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:42,160 they do it to Kyrie Irving too, But the ball is right there. 304 00:24:42,559 --> 00:24:45,720 Look what Jokic did. He had his hands down. He thought he 305 00:24:45,759 --> 00:24:49,119 could have the cat like reflexes to at least get a hand on it and 306 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:56,720 disrupt this pass, and it goes right through his hands to Lively. Unbelievable 307 00:24:56,759 --> 00:25:02,240 play there. But Luka Doncich is a basketball guy. Uh yeah, here's 308 00:25:02,279 --> 00:25:07,160 another thing that Luca can do against you. This is more just Luka Doncic 309 00:25:07,799 --> 00:25:12,039 being that guy, but this is a cross court pass from him. Here 310 00:25:12,079 --> 00:25:17,519 it comes again. They're committed get the ball out of Luca's hands. This 311 00:25:17,599 --> 00:25:21,960 isn't a hedge and recover. This is just a hard trap in a blitz 312 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:26,759 here by Aaron Gordon next to Jokic. But here, instead of going to 313 00:25:26,799 --> 00:25:33,319 the obvious guy in the roller in Lively who has MPG on him, Luca 314 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:37,640 throws like a no look over the shoulder pass to Maxi Kleeba. Here watch 315 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:44,319 this, I guess that's look. But as Jokis tries to drop back to 316 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:48,200 help. At the last second, he goes to Maxie who's in the near 317 00:25:48,319 --> 00:25:52,920 side corner. Now they're getting the Denver Nuggets in rotation. He gives it 318 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:56,000 up to exhum Michael Porter Junior comes over to close out. He attacks the 319 00:25:56,039 --> 00:26:00,039 close out and now they have the advantage once again. Jokic has to step 320 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:04,839 up here, but he's got a lob threat behind him in Lively in this 321 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:11,279 case, who gets the easy lob from ExHAM who has had a fantastic season, 322 00:26:11,319 --> 00:26:14,200 by the way for the Dallas Mavericks and could be one of their X 323 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:19,119 factors, their best guy really coming off the bench outside of Derek Lively is 324 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:22,599 the big man. You know what I see when I see this clip, 325 00:26:22,559 --> 00:26:26,960 I see paint you. Yes, I see Zoo having to make that decision. 326 00:26:27,559 --> 00:26:33,960 I see Zoo probably making the right decision. But if the Clippers rotations, 327 00:26:33,039 --> 00:26:37,000 which has been the issue on guys getting too the paint and stuff like 328 00:26:37,039 --> 00:26:41,680 that and knowing if you're the low man and things like that, if it's 329 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:45,480 not at the best that it's been all season, we're going to see a 330 00:26:45,519 --> 00:26:48,480 lot of the this body language, a lot of But you know what I 331 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:51,440 mean, We've we've seen it. We've seen it when this defense hasn't been 332 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:55,759 what it needs to be. So I'm getting I'm getting some sense of dread 333 00:26:56,599 --> 00:27:00,480 during this high five. Not that I was expecting it to be easy, 334 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:03,839 but you know what I'm saying with the fact with Kawhi probably not playing game 335 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:07,319 one, which it's not like it. It's not like any game isn't a 336 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:10,400 must win. But who boy, is it important? On Sunday? We 337 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:19,200 give uncomfortable truth here, indeed uncomfortable and inconvenient truth. The Dallas Mavericks are 338 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:23,559 a very good ball club that are completely different than the team the Clippers saw 339 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:30,119 earlier this season. The good news is Aviza zubots is a much better rimp 340 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:33,640 protector than Nikola Jokich, and that is not his strength. That is probably 341 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:37,039 his biggest weakness. Actually in his game, you can't attack him. In 342 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:41,240 Dallas, they were great at it in this game. Let's see. I 343 00:27:41,279 --> 00:27:48,839 think we got more from Luka Doncic here. This is let's see. Oh 344 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:56,799 for those saying Luca and irving our food. Defensively, remember for Dallas having 345 00:27:56,880 --> 00:28:03,440 been a top ten defense over almost half the season, their last thirty five 346 00:28:03,559 --> 00:28:08,920 games of the year pretty much all post trade deadline. Every team knows that 347 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:14,319 they aren't the best defenders, yet they remained a top ten defense. How 348 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:18,440 could that be possible? Yes, their weakness is that the Clippers have to 349 00:28:18,519 --> 00:28:22,680 try to pick on. But they've been playing much better and giving a better 350 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:29,640 defensive effort for a long time now. Consistently. Dallas went sixteen to two 351 00:28:29,799 --> 00:28:32,799 during an eighteen game stretch at the very end of the season where they had 352 00:28:32,839 --> 00:28:37,079 the number one rated defense, And I agree, some of it is a 353 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:44,279 little bit inflated, a little bit inflated, chuck, because of their opponents. 354 00:28:44,319 --> 00:28:49,640 They have beaten one top six opponent in either conference post All Star Break, 355 00:28:49,799 --> 00:28:53,640 and that would be the Denver Nuggets in this ballgame. But watch this, 356 00:28:55,119 --> 00:29:00,400 Luca doesn't just fight through two screens here first and off ball screen from 357 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:06,279 Aaron Gordon. Then it's a little dho from Jokis to Michael Porter Junior, 358 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:11,160 the man Luca is guarding here. Watch this effort. Boom boom, around 359 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:15,039 two, Luca's all over him. Luca loses him here for a second, 360 00:29:15,279 --> 00:29:19,480 He's still all over him. Porter Junior makes this shot, But I mean, 361 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:23,599 tip your cap. That's a Luka Doncics type of shot basically right, 362 00:29:25,119 --> 00:29:32,559 there's nothing more you could do defensively. This is a great effort. Was 363 00:29:32,559 --> 00:29:37,119 a second quarter. Yeah, look at that, he's all over and if 364 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:41,920 you're putting, and if you're putting, you know, Luca onto Michael Porter 365 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:45,319 Junior. It's like, if you're Jason Kidd, you're obviously feeling not too 366 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:49,480 terrible about that because Michael Porter around, you know what I mean, I 367 00:29:49,599 --> 00:29:53,720 need him, Like, yeah, that's a guy you have to hide him 368 00:29:53,759 --> 00:30:02,160 against. And Luca gave everything he could defensively here on this possession. They 369 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,480 give an effort like that, and you would imagine they would it's a playoff 370 00:30:04,559 --> 00:30:08,799 series now, not just a big game on a Sunday showcase. Here against 371 00:30:08,839 --> 00:30:12,960 the ten for Nuggets to get a feather in your cap type of victory. 372 00:30:14,279 --> 00:30:18,000 And then our last clip here in the high five is something very dangerous. 373 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:22,079 And this is the small small pick and roll, which is more of a 374 00:30:22,119 --> 00:30:30,640 pick and pop. Here Kyrie Irving here he ends up having Braxton Key on 375 00:30:30,799 --> 00:30:36,160 him. Luca has Aaron Gordon, the better defender on him. Watch how 376 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:45,240 they get the easy switch. Luca Iso step back left wing, three bucket. 377 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:48,960 It is now Aaron Gordon I would guess in a playoff setting, he's 378 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:52,920 doing a better job fighting over the top of this, or they're at least 379 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:56,440 talking about that. That's the thing the Clippers need to do, right That's 380 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:00,759 the thing we've seen the Clippers do is not own up enough on to getting 381 00:31:00,799 --> 00:31:04,880 through screens and fighting over that stuff. They switch far too easily. It's 382 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:11,400 going to happen, and this is what makes them much more dangerous. Now 383 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:18,000 they have someone like Kyrie Irving that you have to account for because Gordon's thinging. 384 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:22,079 I can't even hedge. I have to stick with Kyrie at some point 385 00:31:22,119 --> 00:31:26,319 here. I can't help out. I can't do anything. So it's just 386 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:29,759 the two man game that the Clippers are going to have to be aware of. 387 00:31:30,599 --> 00:31:34,319 There's your high five from the Dallas Mavericks perspective here. But to say 388 00:31:34,359 --> 00:31:37,960 all that, the Clippers can still win this game. We've been down for 389 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:41,599 these last thirty minutes because Kawhi Leonard is not playing Game one probably and that 390 00:31:41,640 --> 00:31:48,119 sucks ass. But there are ways for the Clippers to win this game. 391 00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:52,079 We just talked about a little bit them briefly, but I think we should 392 00:31:52,119 --> 00:31:56,759 start with the I mean, the pick and roll defense, is kind of 393 00:31:57,240 --> 00:32:01,400 like square one for me in terms of what this team's gonna look like to 394 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:06,279 set the tone early right, like they've been hyper aware of what they need 395 00:32:06,319 --> 00:32:09,200 to do from all we've heard from Zoo, especially this week. Shout out 396 00:32:09,279 --> 00:32:14,200 Christopher Henderson too for asking really good questions to Zoo about the pick and roll. 397 00:32:15,359 --> 00:32:19,160 But he talked about how they need to get through screens to get back 398 00:32:19,160 --> 00:32:21,720 in front of Luca when they run the pick and roll, and they need 399 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:25,599 that to happen to get a win on Sunday. It's really hard and Luca 400 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:30,400 tries to keep you in the rear view. It's Luca tries to keep it 401 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:35,480 in the rear view. You gotta worry about the roller. But Luca could 402 00:32:35,519 --> 00:32:37,759 just step back and shoot over the top while you're trying to fight through a 403 00:32:37,799 --> 00:32:42,920 screen like that. That's what I worry about. That's why the Clippers are 404 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:45,119 prone to switch, to not give up that space, to not give them 405 00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:50,160 that half a second to just get an open look to great shooters. That's 406 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:53,079 the advantage of switching in theory. Now, if it's a beats Zoo bots 407 00:32:53,119 --> 00:32:59,759 who continually gets spammed and gets run into the action multiple times at the very 408 00:32:59,799 --> 00:33:04,480 big the game. Maybe they have something for it this time around. I 409 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:09,680 would I would rather just have Luca's man, likely Paul George, just fight 410 00:33:09,759 --> 00:33:15,039 through it and not switch there with You're there the whole time. He's gotta 411 00:33:15,279 --> 00:33:17,400 be not thinking, Oh, I'm getting they're just gonna switch. Great, 412 00:33:17,759 --> 00:33:22,759 he can't be and we know there's other guys on the maps. We understand 413 00:33:22,799 --> 00:33:27,119 that people watching this. But the way that this offense is going to work 414 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:30,319 with Luca playing let's call it thirty nine to forty minutes, is the ball 415 00:33:30,359 --> 00:33:34,519 is gonna be in his hands. He's gonna be one hunting switches and stuff 416 00:33:34,559 --> 00:33:38,039 like that, and Paul George especially, we're gonna need Paul George to be 417 00:33:38,839 --> 00:33:44,440 a thirty point score on Sunday and someone who's fighting through screens and playing good 418 00:33:44,519 --> 00:33:50,759 defense. It's gotta be Diet Kawhi. Basically, if there's no Kawhi, 419 00:33:50,839 --> 00:33:53,759 Leonard, Moore is going to be asked from passage George on both ends. 420 00:33:55,440 --> 00:34:00,039 Yeah, he's your other superstar getting paid max money for a reason. That's 421 00:34:00,039 --> 00:34:04,079 what he has to do. He can't play one side of the basketball just 422 00:34:04,079 --> 00:34:08,159 because Kawhi Leonard is out and he's primed I think for this moment, considering 423 00:34:08,199 --> 00:34:13,119 how he was playing over the last for sure. And if so, let's 424 00:34:13,159 --> 00:34:17,119 so Kawhi probably out game one. Who are you envisioning as we're talking pick 425 00:34:17,159 --> 00:34:22,400 and roll defense, who's taking his spot? And we obviously know what they 426 00:34:22,440 --> 00:34:24,280 need to do, which is play the best they've played all year on defense 427 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:30,800 and communicate and know the sets. Are we thinking it's a mirror? I 428 00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:35,880 would guess, amir, But it could be Russ, it could be Norm. 429 00:34:36,039 --> 00:34:38,360 I don't think it's gonna be Norm though, because they don't want to 430 00:34:38,400 --> 00:34:43,440 give one more guy for Luca to go after to start the ball start. 431 00:34:44,199 --> 00:34:47,320 I don't think they want to do that. I think a mere because you'd 432 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:53,840 feel okay about a mirror getting in those switches. Luke is huge, don't 433 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:58,519 get me wrong. He will just back you down like he just he never 434 00:34:58,599 --> 00:35:01,159 lets you off, you know, just like ok I'm sure that doubling that 435 00:35:01,199 --> 00:35:05,440 we saw that was really good from the Clippers in that Pels game earlier, 436 00:35:05,760 --> 00:35:09,000 that we need that level of doubling because I I every year we play Luca, 437 00:35:09,039 --> 00:35:10,960 we talk about, like, you know, don't let him get the 438 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:15,400 meaty triple double, right, don't let him get like fifteen assists because that's 439 00:35:15,400 --> 00:35:21,400 when shit is just going really bad. So yeah, coach has talked about 440 00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:23,519 it a bunch. We're gonna but we're gonna see some you know, guys 441 00:35:23,719 --> 00:35:28,960 decide to double sometimes, which is not good. But if they can do 442 00:35:29,039 --> 00:35:30,480 it in the calcul in the best way they've done it all year, which 443 00:35:30,519 --> 00:35:34,320 was like against the Pels, against Ingram and stuff like that, where you're 444 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:37,119 showing a little bit, you are engaging in the double, but then you're 445 00:35:37,159 --> 00:35:39,760 making the right decision at the right time to back off, and everyone's rotations 446 00:35:39,840 --> 00:35:45,119 was on point as well. Like that needs to happen to the nth degree 447 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:52,159 again. One way to beat Dallas is to let Luca get his wear himself 448 00:35:52,199 --> 00:35:55,559 out and hopefully by the fourth quarter, just like in twenty twenty one, 449 00:35:55,679 --> 00:36:00,400 he doesn't have the legs on some of those step backs. He isn't able 450 00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:05,360 to drive past guys and get to the basket is easily and it's just a 451 00:36:05,440 --> 00:36:09,519 ropodope strategy. Can it still work with Kyrie Irving? I'm assuming we're gonna 452 00:36:09,519 --> 00:36:13,599 find out at some point, because you do have to pick your poison with 453 00:36:13,679 --> 00:36:22,280 this team. So no, I'm saying, you give up to fight through 454 00:36:22,280 --> 00:36:27,360 those screens and to not give him that advantage against Vitza Zubots, you give 455 00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:31,000 up Luka Doncic the ability to go right into a step back three there and 456 00:36:31,159 --> 00:36:37,440 just hope he's missing, hoping he's off, because either way, if Zou 457 00:36:37,559 --> 00:36:42,000 steps into it and it is his primary defender, then on the switch he 458 00:36:42,039 --> 00:36:47,440 feels very comfortable. So I'd rather just give him an open look than let 459 00:36:47,519 --> 00:36:52,400 him get comfortable against the Vitza Zubots over and over again, because he takes 460 00:36:52,440 --> 00:36:58,280 away your rim protector. I don't yea, and Zoo's been literally one of 461 00:36:58,280 --> 00:37:02,480 the best s rim protectors all season. He finished top three. He finished 462 00:37:02,519 --> 00:37:07,679 behind Rudy Gobert and Chris STAPs. Porzingis of guys that played a certain amount 463 00:37:07,679 --> 00:37:12,920 of minutes and Kyrie we talked about. I think last episode Kyrie runs the 464 00:37:12,960 --> 00:37:17,440 pick and roll post all Star break about it half the frequency of Luca. 465 00:37:17,519 --> 00:37:21,360 So we'll see what that looks like when Luca sits. Because the other part 466 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:25,079 about Quhy not playing, which sucks, is that Luca might not have to 467 00:37:25,079 --> 00:37:30,760 play as many minutes. He's still going to be over thirty five but I 468 00:37:30,760 --> 00:37:35,159 hope we have to make him play at least forty because and the MAVs, 469 00:37:35,239 --> 00:37:39,000 like we talk about Lucas shooting the three a lot, but the team itself, 470 00:37:40,079 --> 00:37:44,159 you know, they don't need the three. They get fifty one percent 471 00:37:44,199 --> 00:37:46,400 of their points from the two, thirty five and a half from three, 472 00:37:46,880 --> 00:37:50,920 and the other rest from free throws. Basically, so like this team does 473 00:37:50,960 --> 00:37:53,960 score two right, Like they're all right at the basket. It's modern basketball. 474 00:37:54,280 --> 00:37:58,400 It's right at the basket, or it's three points. And they have 475 00:37:58,559 --> 00:38:02,719 guys. It's Gafford, who's been an incredible roller. I did watch a 476 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:07,559 video of the Clippers torching Daniel Gafford when he was on the Wizards. Very 477 00:38:07,559 --> 00:38:12,079 different team, very different personnel, but at least there is some familiarity there. 478 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:16,639 James Harden is cerebral enough to remember that kind of stuff. Which does 479 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:21,199 you know, talk about someone else who needs to play well, who has 480 00:38:21,239 --> 00:38:27,119 an upcoming contract scenario, James Harden's gotta be I know we're talking about defense, 481 00:38:27,199 --> 00:38:30,039 but the Clippers seemingly, I guess, need to lean into offense because 482 00:38:30,039 --> 00:38:34,159 I don't know how you lean into defense without Kauhi out there. He's got 483 00:38:34,159 --> 00:38:39,639 to be on point as well. Daniel Gafford ended up shooting post All Star 484 00:38:39,719 --> 00:38:49,719 Break eighty on the field. Derek Lively great both of them, and as 485 00:38:49,719 --> 00:38:53,039 I've been reminded in the comments comments, Derek Lively is seven to one. 486 00:38:53,280 --> 00:38:59,960 He may not be the broadest guy, but he is seven or some ROLEMN 487 00:39:00,159 --> 00:39:04,920 numbers for the MAVs. Who do you think has the best points per possession 488 00:39:04,960 --> 00:39:08,000 as a roleman for the MAVs in the pick and roll, the guy who 489 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:17,400 sets the screen, uh on the season or since the is it? Is 490 00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:24,239 it Lively for the whole season? One one points per possession as the roleman. 491 00:39:25,039 --> 00:39:28,400 It's not very often. It's one point one, five, six, 492 00:39:29,159 --> 00:39:32,519 and then not too far away from his Dwight Powell at one and a half 493 00:39:32,599 --> 00:39:39,360 on this list. Kyrie I said this during the twenty sixteen finals. I 494 00:39:39,400 --> 00:39:49,960 think he might be the best finisher at the rim for a guy for in 495 00:39:50,119 --> 00:39:54,239 NBA history, the shots, the creativity, the acrobatic layups. He could 496 00:39:54,320 --> 00:40:00,119 get over much bigger opponents at the rim. I've never seen anything like it. 497 00:40:00,159 --> 00:40:05,000 Steve Nash had some of that. There's a few smaller guys and NBA 498 00:40:05,119 --> 00:40:08,039 history guards that were great at it, But I don't know if anybody has 499 00:40:08,119 --> 00:40:14,920 better touch as an undersized especially guard in this league. He's what six to 500 00:40:14,920 --> 00:40:21,280 two six' one than Kyrie Irving. He's incredible. He's very good floaters. 501 00:40:21,480 --> 00:40:25,119 But you can go left, you can go right, either hand offensively, 502 00:40:25,679 --> 00:40:30,000 we're beating a dead horse here. No disrespect Mavericks fans, but getting 503 00:40:30,039 --> 00:40:37,400 into your sets with real intention hint hint, remember that word later and quickly 504 00:40:37,039 --> 00:40:40,800 right like this is. This is mostly on Harden to get guys into their 505 00:40:40,840 --> 00:40:46,320 shit quickly, especially without Kawhi there. There was a very funny quote today 506 00:40:46,320 --> 00:40:52,119 from Derek Jones Junior on guarding star players like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and 507 00:40:52,159 --> 00:40:54,000 James Harden. He said, treat them like any other man. I just 508 00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:58,360 go out there and guard. I watch film, I look at people's tendencies. 509 00:40:58,559 --> 00:41:00,960 I watch what they like to do. I watch what they like to 510 00:41:00,039 --> 00:41:02,719 not don't like to do, and try to make them do what they don't 511 00:41:02,760 --> 00:41:08,559 like to do. Jones Junior says, Kawhi Leonard doesn't like to go left, 512 00:41:09,079 --> 00:41:13,079 well, he's probably not playing Game one, so good luck with that. 513 00:41:13,119 --> 00:41:21,639 One idiot I'm trying to like, is that games Wan shipped by Darren's 514 00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:24,159 crazy quote. It's probably just something weird to say, like I when you're 515 00:41:24,199 --> 00:41:29,599 good at you know how, Like like defensive backs in the NFL are such 516 00:41:29,679 --> 00:41:31,920 like lunatics, right Like it'll be an incomplete pass they've done nothing with and 517 00:41:31,960 --> 00:41:37,360 they'll be like celebrating and you know, doing the seatbelt celebration. Defensive specialists 518 00:41:37,400 --> 00:41:39,639 in the NBA are very similar to this mindset. I'll being like, you 519 00:41:39,679 --> 00:41:43,639 just make him go left. He's just like any other guy. It's very 520 00:41:43,639 --> 00:41:49,719 obvious he's not. He was watching too many of those we've done with the 521 00:41:49,800 --> 00:41:53,280 nineties videos about Jordan having no left hand, because I'm here telling you true. 522 00:41:54,039 --> 00:41:59,719 Yeah, Like it's literally the first time that's ever brought up. It's 523 00:41:59,719 --> 00:42:02,840 play off gamesmanship. I'm sure I hope Kai puts it up on the bullets 524 00:42:02,880 --> 00:42:07,199 and board or whatever. But it was just funny to hear. But it's 525 00:42:07,199 --> 00:42:10,800 like, okay, man, make him colect. Kawhi is as close as 526 00:42:10,840 --> 00:42:15,159 you can probably get to a flawless player in this league. That's his biggest 527 00:42:15,159 --> 00:42:22,079 flaw. Like he's not the greatest passer. It's not I don't I don't 528 00:42:22,119 --> 00:42:30,519 consider health like a skill. I think it's like, yes, apparently, 529 00:42:32,039 --> 00:42:38,440 but when it comes to on the court acumen and Kawhi Leonard is perfect, 530 00:42:38,519 --> 00:42:44,639 he can get to his spots as a plethora of ways to be doing that 531 00:42:44,679 --> 00:42:49,360 in game one, which is a damn shame. We'll see. I'm not 532 00:42:49,639 --> 00:42:55,599 I'm not totally giving question. It's less likely after that warrant Frank. We 533 00:42:55,639 --> 00:43:00,519 have heard nothing definitive. I've said this before. From my perspect I have 534 00:43:00,559 --> 00:43:04,400 no sources. It's all scuttle. But well, you listened to a lot 535 00:43:04,480 --> 00:43:07,519 earlier today. It sounds like he's backed off of saying he's playing game one. 536 00:43:08,280 --> 00:43:14,440 He doesn't expect Kawhi to play Game one. He expects him to play 537 00:43:14,519 --> 00:43:19,840 Game two or push to play in game two. So he heard Lawrence Frank's 538 00:43:19,880 --> 00:43:23,880 press conference and went from saying he's playing game one, he doesn't know how 539 00:43:23,960 --> 00:43:28,320 much, he doesn't know where he'll be at health wise, but he was 540 00:43:28,360 --> 00:43:31,679 going to give it a shot to most likely game two. I'll try to 541 00:43:31,679 --> 00:43:37,360 play and guess what if the Clippers won Game one without him, I don't 542 00:43:37,360 --> 00:43:39,360 think he's playing Game two. I think if I think if they got the 543 00:43:39,400 --> 00:43:44,440 split, unless he was feeling great, unless the swelling really went down. 544 00:43:44,800 --> 00:43:49,719 But I would guess you'd be happy with the split and giving Kawhi Leonard another 545 00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:57,199 week off to get ready for Friday in Dallas in game three. Yeah, 546 00:43:57,239 --> 00:44:00,920 maybe, well not not, maybe I would like to go up to I 547 00:44:01,039 --> 00:44:05,840 just guessing. Oh yeah, I mean that is fair. Well, like 548 00:44:05,880 --> 00:44:09,000 you said earlier, they could get the split even if they had Kawhi Leonard 549 00:44:09,039 --> 00:44:13,679 in the first two games. But they could also get the split. We 550 00:44:13,760 --> 00:44:16,079 got two games at home. You can you need the split without him? 551 00:44:16,880 --> 00:44:22,320 The last key to the game, specifically on Sunday, it's probably for the 552 00:44:22,360 --> 00:44:27,960 whole series. Two post All Star Break, the MAVs were eleventh, and 553 00:44:28,039 --> 00:44:36,280 percentage of points off of turnovers, the Clippers were twenty ninth. So I 554 00:44:36,320 --> 00:44:38,800 would not like the Clippers to give a team that is very good at converting 555 00:44:39,079 --> 00:44:45,239 turnovers to points easier chances to score more points and beat us in the possession 556 00:44:45,239 --> 00:44:49,039 battle. This isn't talking about rebounding we obviously no, that's gonna be huge. 557 00:44:49,079 --> 00:44:51,840 No idea what the offensive last looks like. We don't really know what 558 00:44:51,880 --> 00:44:53,559 the rotations are gonna look like for the center, but in terms of like 559 00:44:53,719 --> 00:44:59,519 live ball turnovers, Paul George and stuff like that. We cannot give this 560 00:44:59,599 --> 00:45:04,400 team free points, especially when the Clippers have not been able to cash in 561 00:45:04,480 --> 00:45:09,639 on their free points so far. Yeah, and post All Star Break, 562 00:45:10,000 --> 00:45:15,039 the Clippers got worse when it came to turnovers. They turned it over thirteen 563 00:45:15,079 --> 00:45:19,840 and a half times per game. The Dallas Mavericks are We're almost a turnover 564 00:45:20,159 --> 00:45:23,679 one turnover less better per game than the Clippers at twelve point six. We 565 00:45:23,760 --> 00:45:28,239 know it's been one of their biggest achilles heels. When they can set their 566 00:45:28,239 --> 00:45:32,719 defense, they're much better. Their transition defense has been bad. The effort's 567 00:45:32,760 --> 00:45:37,679 been bad. The effort will be good on Saturday. On Saturday, Yeah, 568 00:45:37,880 --> 00:45:42,440 it could turn around, just by guys all of a sudden willing to 569 00:45:42,480 --> 00:45:45,320 be more connected out of the walls, you know, like we gotta believe 570 00:45:45,360 --> 00:45:53,880 in something. This team. Their identity in the two point three era is 571 00:45:53,960 --> 00:46:00,679 stepping up when the Chips are down. Is being resilient and finding ways to 572 00:46:00,800 --> 00:46:06,079 win ball games or a series when they shouldn't. They weren't supposed to win 573 00:46:06,119 --> 00:46:10,119 that series against Utah. People were laughing at them when they thought, oh, 574 00:46:10,159 --> 00:46:14,480 Paul George is going to collapse under the pressure being the number one guy. 575 00:46:14,559 --> 00:46:16,519 Now that Kawhi Leonard's out for Game five on the road, in that 576 00:46:16,599 --> 00:46:21,239 game in that building against the Utah Jazz, and he had one of the 577 00:46:21,239 --> 00:46:24,599 best games of his career. So we haven't seen Paul George in a playoff 578 00:46:24,639 --> 00:46:29,960 series since then, and he wants a new contract and they haven't signed it 579 00:46:30,039 --> 00:46:32,480 yet. That's really building up for Paul George and James Harden to earn the 580 00:46:32,559 --> 00:46:38,639 shit out of their next contracts. That's the way that. Yes, coming 581 00:46:38,719 --> 00:46:43,199 up, we're gonna be talking our X factors. Before that, there might 582 00:46:43,199 --> 00:46:46,000 be some loud ads, so that's been the case for you, lovely audio 583 00:46:46,039 --> 00:46:50,119 listener, Go ahead and turn it down. We're talking that. And then 584 00:46:50,159 --> 00:46:54,840 we have another keyword giveaway for the Steve Bomber Bobblehead ads coming up in three 585 00:46:55,320 --> 00:47:01,559 two one. What's going on everybody, Welcome back, audio listeners. We 586 00:47:01,719 --> 00:47:05,920 usually pick a player of the game that has been tied. If you're new 587 00:47:05,960 --> 00:47:08,079 to the show, Welcome, Welcome to the YouTube, Welcome to the audio. 588 00:47:09,039 --> 00:47:13,880 Usually we pick a Kawhi Leonard player of the game. We named it 589 00:47:13,960 --> 00:47:19,119 this because we couldn't just pick Kawhi Leonard every single game, because we wanted 590 00:47:19,159 --> 00:47:24,159 to, and so even before the news yesterday, I had named this pick 591 00:47:24,239 --> 00:47:31,760 our Kawhi Leonard Honorable Game one X factor of the game. I would say, 592 00:47:31,920 --> 00:47:38,079 if you want to pick this time, because you're really making a bold 593 00:47:38,159 --> 00:47:42,079 pick, that'll be Will's pick. We'll say that Will is not here. 594 00:47:42,920 --> 00:47:45,480 He has not let us know who he thinks his pick is. But we're 595 00:47:45,519 --> 00:47:47,719 gonna say Will picks Kawhi Leonard. He picked PJ. Last time. He 596 00:47:47,760 --> 00:47:52,519 wasn't here, so he hasn't had the best track record. Will believes he'll 597 00:47:52,559 --> 00:47:55,320 be available for game Let's go. Let's put that on. Let's circulate that 598 00:47:55,360 --> 00:48:01,280 Clippers insider Will Updyke believes who that Kawhi Leonard will be good for Game one? 599 00:48:02,440 --> 00:48:07,960 Adam, who is your X factor for Game one? I have so 600 00:48:08,079 --> 00:48:12,159 many names for I've been thinking about this for the last like two days, 601 00:48:12,159 --> 00:48:15,000 and you could honestly say any name and I would I could be convinced, 602 00:48:15,760 --> 00:48:21,960 Oh yeah, there's plenty of guys. You can which case we're ending and 603 00:48:22,039 --> 00:48:27,119 looks smart. I gotta go with your guy, PJ. Tucker, though, 604 00:48:27,199 --> 00:48:31,119 Chuck, I think no, I'm not going with PJ. Although you 605 00:48:31,199 --> 00:48:35,440 never know if he got the start if Kawhi Leonard's out, you never know 606 00:48:35,480 --> 00:48:38,760 if that could be a possibility, or was first or second off the bench 607 00:48:38,760 --> 00:48:43,599 and the big man rotation for playing the five spot. I wouldn't be shocked 608 00:48:43,599 --> 00:48:45,119 by that. I would not be shocked. I would wouldn't feel good, 609 00:48:45,960 --> 00:48:51,119 but I wouldn't be shocked. I'm going to go with the guy who starts 610 00:48:51,119 --> 00:48:54,079 in that position. He's not only my player to watch for Game one, 611 00:48:54,239 --> 00:49:00,039 he's my overall player to watch for the series and player of the game to 612 00:49:00,159 --> 00:49:07,960 watch. I mean it's I mean, the more footage I've looked at with 613 00:49:08,079 --> 00:49:13,360 the Dallas Mavericks and how good they've been when it come to when it comes 614 00:49:13,360 --> 00:49:16,880 to gain the ball in the hands of Daniel Gafford or Derek Lively. Now 615 00:49:17,280 --> 00:49:22,639 is just having two elite rollers go into the basket. We mentioned the percentages 616 00:49:22,679 --> 00:49:24,519 post All Star Break and what they've been shooting. It's because they're getting a 617 00:49:24,519 --> 00:49:29,880 lot of dunks. That's the reason Daniel Gafford had thirty three straight made field 618 00:49:29,920 --> 00:49:34,039 goals at one point and I think another like twenty five straight at another point. 619 00:49:34,079 --> 00:49:40,400 It's insanity. Luca hasn't had guys like this, this reliable in that 620 00:49:40,519 --> 00:49:47,119 spot before, and they have a connection already. Daniel Gafford is fit hand 621 00:49:47,159 --> 00:49:52,360 in glove with this team. So Zubots is really going to have to be 622 00:49:52,400 --> 00:49:55,719 stellar defensively in going back to the high five and looking at some of those 623 00:49:55,719 --> 00:49:59,679 clips with Jokich and being in no man's land where he has to make a 624 00:49:59,679 --> 00:50:06,199 decision there who he wants to guard. Zoo has to pick right, and 625 00:50:06,239 --> 00:50:09,280 he's been great all season long. He's been great in his tenure as a 626 00:50:09,320 --> 00:50:14,639 Clipper. He's been great in his career when it comes to rim defense since 627 00:50:14,719 --> 00:50:17,239 day one, really as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. But I 628 00:50:17,239 --> 00:50:21,719 don't think it could be more important than this time right now, especially if 629 00:50:21,760 --> 00:50:25,599 they don't have Kawhi Leonard for him to give them a chance to slow down 630 00:50:25,679 --> 00:50:30,360 Dallas defensively, but then on the other end, he's got to punish him 631 00:50:30,559 --> 00:50:35,239 and then look for him. I think for them to have success in this 632 00:50:35,360 --> 00:50:42,280 series, Avitza, Zubots needs to average around thirty two minutes per game at 633 00:50:42,360 --> 00:50:50,360 least and gets you seventeen and twelve. I really believe that if Kawhi is 634 00:50:50,400 --> 00:50:53,320 back, then you know, you could make those numbers a little bit lower, 635 00:50:53,519 --> 00:51:00,519 sure, but I think it eats the Zubots is the guy because Gaffard 636 00:51:00,559 --> 00:51:06,960 at least is undersized against him. On the other end, vits Zubas also 637 00:51:07,039 --> 00:51:08,559 has to be good in the short role, which he has been, especially 638 00:51:08,559 --> 00:51:12,360 as I guess jumps this year have been as a passer in the short role. 639 00:51:12,400 --> 00:51:16,480 He's made mostly nothing but the right decision at finding guys out of the 640 00:51:16,480 --> 00:51:22,000 short role. That's a great point. I'd say, you get some great 641 00:51:22,039 --> 00:51:28,159 looks from dayson. Stay on the floor, Zoo. I think as long 642 00:51:28,199 --> 00:51:32,039 as he is not just doing his job defensively but being involved on the offensive 643 00:51:32,159 --> 00:51:37,039 end, Coach Lee will see it as he's too important of a piece to 644 00:51:37,159 --> 00:51:43,719 take off the floor because he's given them offense now too. That to me 645 00:51:43,880 --> 00:51:46,960 is everything in this series for the Clippers, and it would show that he's 646 00:51:47,039 --> 00:51:52,159 overcome some of the struggles and being played off the floor like he was in 647 00:51:52,239 --> 00:51:54,159 twenty twenty one by Luca in the Dallas Mavericks. It would show a tremendous 648 00:51:54,159 --> 00:52:02,599 amount of growth for still a relatively young player. And it also means to 649 00:52:02,639 --> 00:52:06,800 stay on the floor. He has to stay out of foul trouble, so 650 00:52:07,320 --> 00:52:12,000 he just has to be sound with his rotations and not be put into tough 651 00:52:12,079 --> 00:52:17,440 spots where he's trying to Yeah, it's not just about him collectively defensively, 652 00:52:17,480 --> 00:52:22,719 if they're five guys on a string, you're not forcing a beats the zobots 653 00:52:22,760 --> 00:52:24,719 into all these bad spots. If guys are staying in front of their man, 654 00:52:24,920 --> 00:52:30,280 it's still gonna happen here and there. If your point of attack, 655 00:52:30,400 --> 00:52:36,559 defense and the effort is there, it's not going to have a beatsa zubots 656 00:52:36,920 --> 00:52:40,440 in these tough spots too often. That's a great pick. I was kind 657 00:52:40,480 --> 00:52:44,880 of I was basing my pick if you were going to pick a bench guy 658 00:52:44,960 --> 00:52:47,679 or a starter, because we know, obviously James Harden needs to be, 659 00:52:49,119 --> 00:52:52,320 as Brian Semens so eloquently says, the straw that stirs the drink. We 660 00:52:52,400 --> 00:52:55,559 need Paul George to be at his absolute two way best. We Terrence Man 661 00:52:55,559 --> 00:53:01,119 to continue to shoot well and be fears on defense and crash the boards when 662 00:53:01,199 --> 00:53:06,679 Luke is on him on the defensive side of the ball, and we need 663 00:53:06,760 --> 00:53:12,760 you to do his things too. I I'm torn between a very popular pick, 664 00:53:12,800 --> 00:53:19,119 which is Russell Westbrook, because this is a chance for Russ to kind 665 00:53:19,119 --> 00:53:22,480 of pick up from where he left off on the good stuff last year at 666 00:53:22,519 --> 00:53:27,920 the end of the playoffs. This is this is shaping you know, this 667 00:53:27,960 --> 00:53:30,920 is why you get hardened all this stuff. This is also why you get 668 00:53:30,039 --> 00:53:36,480 Russ because he played forty minutes the other week. He's a guy who can 669 00:53:36,599 --> 00:53:40,800 just go and if he's being controlled, deliberate, energetic Russ again, I 670 00:53:40,840 --> 00:53:45,920 know those all three kind of sound like weird mixed together. He is going 671 00:53:45,960 --> 00:53:47,880 to be huge for the Clippers to win Game one. He needs to make 672 00:53:47,920 --> 00:53:52,559 a shot at the rock. Russ is the ultimate be quick, don't hurry 673 00:53:52,639 --> 00:54:00,320 line from John Woods. One hundred percent funny enough funny Russ story. My 674 00:54:01,079 --> 00:54:07,639 orthodontist at the UCLA School of Dentistry went to a dance with Russell Westbrook his 675 00:54:07,679 --> 00:54:09,320 freshman year at UCLA and I was like, well, I was like, 676 00:54:09,320 --> 00:54:12,280 what was that like? She was like, he was so quiet. It 677 00:54:12,320 --> 00:54:15,719 was before he became Russ and all this stuff. It was very funny. 678 00:54:16,119 --> 00:54:22,000 Shout out doctor Benco. Anyway, Russ is a very easy pick because if 679 00:54:22,079 --> 00:54:27,360 Russ is playing well in this game, that usually helps the Clippers. People 680 00:54:27,360 --> 00:54:30,800 who listen to this pod know that I am not a Russ stand by any 681 00:54:30,840 --> 00:54:34,079 means, but I believe he can be very good if he's off the bench. 682 00:54:34,119 --> 00:54:36,800 In this one, he's gonna have to be electric. It was between 683 00:54:36,880 --> 00:54:43,239 Russ and then kind of going with your Zoo pick whoever the hell is spelling. 684 00:54:43,360 --> 00:54:47,239 Zoo is my other X factor because I don't know who it's gonna be. 685 00:54:47,280 --> 00:54:52,360 It's Tice is where I think, is what the rotation leans towards. 686 00:54:52,360 --> 00:54:58,800 He can space the floor time machine, but I think it might go Tice, 687 00:54:59,119 --> 00:55:01,239 pg th Um. I don't want to see Plumbley in this series. 688 00:55:01,440 --> 00:55:08,000 Plumbley is bad right now. Well, it's a bad series matchup for him 689 00:55:08,280 --> 00:55:14,519 because if Luca gets the switch, he's gonna be cooked. If Daniel Tice 690 00:55:14,599 --> 00:55:16,079 has to guard a little bit on the perimeter, you can feel better about 691 00:55:16,119 --> 00:55:21,400 that. Same with PJ. Tucker. Yeah, and it is also hard 692 00:55:21,440 --> 00:55:27,000 for me to pick Terrence because they're gonna stick Luca on Terrence defensively, so 693 00:55:27,159 --> 00:55:30,800 terror I think, I assume, so Terrence needs to be la Clippers soon 694 00:55:30,920 --> 00:55:34,920 pointed this out, crashing the hell out of the offensive boards, just making 695 00:55:35,000 --> 00:55:37,239 Luca have to run around a lot. It is that we're not gonna be 696 00:55:37,320 --> 00:55:39,039 like, we're not gonna be dumping the ball to Terrence and say go to 697 00:55:39,079 --> 00:55:42,800 work on Luca. Nothing like that. But you can make him tired by 698 00:55:42,960 --> 00:55:45,880 making him box you out, making him aware of where you are. He's 699 00:55:45,920 --> 00:55:50,199 got that little step back in the mid range that he has. Now he's 700 00:55:50,239 --> 00:55:53,519 been quick fired from three. So my my one player that I'm picking is 701 00:55:53,599 --> 00:55:58,000 Terrence Man, Russell Westbrook and whoever spells spots. Those are my three X 702 00:55:58,039 --> 00:56:00,920 men. That's why those are my three to one X fact for the game. 703 00:56:00,280 --> 00:56:04,039 And the Clippers might need three X factors to win Game one. It's 704 00:56:04,079 --> 00:56:08,639 the other part though too. Unfortunately. Yeah, if they don't have Kawhi 705 00:56:08,719 --> 00:56:14,320 Leonard, a few guys are going to have to have really stellar performances, 706 00:56:14,360 --> 00:56:17,760 maybe playing above their heads a little bit, but that's what it takes. 707 00:56:17,840 --> 00:56:22,480 That's what we saw in Game three against Phoenix where they should have won that 708 00:56:22,599 --> 00:56:27,360 damn game if the ref just called the take foul my Devin Booker raised his 709 00:56:27,440 --> 00:56:30,800 hand that led to a rust turnover. Absolutely insane. So what's your pick 710 00:56:30,800 --> 00:56:37,920 for Game one? Are we going clips? You could ask me any game 711 00:56:37,960 --> 00:56:45,119 this series. What I do think it's a good opportunity to steal a game 712 00:56:45,280 --> 00:56:51,199 without Kawhi Leonard in game one. Yeah, just because there is going to 713 00:56:51,199 --> 00:56:54,320 be a little bit of a feeling out process, so you never know, 714 00:56:55,360 --> 00:56:59,679 you know how that game could swing, or who gets off to a quick 715 00:56:59,719 --> 00:57:05,400 start in the first quarter. As the chess matches underway, shout out Tyler, 716 00:57:05,559 --> 00:57:10,039 perhaps perhaps the fourth X factor for the Clippers. So now that we 717 00:57:10,159 --> 00:57:14,079 have gotten the fun stuff out of the way, let's get to the serious 718 00:57:14,119 --> 00:57:19,559 stuff. The contest giveaway, the bibblehead giveaway. We are giving away also 719 00:57:19,840 --> 00:57:25,119 we believe I got word from my connections at the post Office that the hardened 720 00:57:25,159 --> 00:57:30,360 bibblehead was sent out. Correct, that is what I heard, Adam, 721 00:57:30,400 --> 00:57:32,639 Is that true? I know I don't have any connections to the post office. 722 00:57:37,239 --> 00:57:40,679 Rocks. We are giving away the Steve Bober bobblehead, so you can 723 00:57:40,719 --> 00:57:45,559 have a billionaire biblehead on your desk. We've given away one keyword already, 724 00:57:46,920 --> 00:57:51,440 which we're not going to We don't have to give it out again. We're 725 00:57:51,440 --> 00:57:54,039 giving out you can go back and find that episode and find the last one. 726 00:57:54,119 --> 00:57:57,679 You can go find it. The next keyword, Adam, would you 727 00:57:57,679 --> 00:58:01,840 like to reveal this keyword I could do that. It's in the rundown. 728 00:58:04,239 --> 00:58:13,519 Keyword number two is intention intention, not intent, non intentional intentions. We're 729 00:58:13,519 --> 00:58:16,760 gonna have the third keyword on the well, depending if we go live on 730 00:58:16,840 --> 00:58:21,679 Saturday, we'll have a keyword. But we're definitely going live after the game 731 00:58:21,679 --> 00:58:23,880 on Sunday, we'll have the third keyword. There. You get all three 732 00:58:23,960 --> 00:58:28,840 keywords, you comment them, you get the Steve Balmber bubblehead. It's that 733 00:58:28,960 --> 00:58:35,280 easy. Please be in California if you win. We've spent a fortune on 734 00:58:35,440 --> 00:58:38,559 international shipping. One last piece of house cleaning that we need to do. 735 00:58:39,159 --> 00:58:45,320 I am begging anyone out there who's listening or watching to send us the final 736 00:58:45,840 --> 00:58:52,920 give no quarter results. We owe a charity of our choice. It can't 737 00:58:52,960 --> 00:58:55,440 be the Chuck Fund, it can't be the Adam Fund. We owe it. 738 00:58:57,159 --> 00:59:00,639 Yeah, we owe a charity of our choice. However, many quarters 739 00:59:00,000 --> 00:59:06,199 will donate it not in quarters that the Clippers lost. So please update us 740 00:59:06,239 --> 00:59:08,119 on that. We have no way to find that information. Just send it 741 00:59:08,159 --> 00:59:15,960 to us, please and we'll donate. Adam one positive we're gonna okay, 742 00:59:15,960 --> 00:59:17,840 so we already broke it down. If anything crazy happens tomorrow we'll be doing 743 00:59:17,880 --> 00:59:22,079 a live if not definitely alive after game one on Sunday. We'll put that 744 00:59:22,119 --> 00:59:24,800 out his audio two. But that's gonna be on YouTube dot com slash at 745 00:59:24,840 --> 00:59:29,119 Clippers podcast. Subscribe get an alert. That'll be fun. We're gonna have 746 00:59:29,159 --> 00:59:34,280 a full episode out on Monday with the whole crew talking what needs to happen 747 00:59:34,280 --> 00:59:37,280 in game two. Maybe we'll have a fun Kahi update. But before we 748 00:59:37,320 --> 00:59:44,199 fully send you out, Adam, one quick positive thing for these genius listeners 749 00:59:45,239 --> 00:59:50,480 and the maps ones to go into the weekend. I honestly, I really 750 00:59:50,519 --> 00:59:55,400 think that the situation with Kawhi Leonard, regardless of if he plays or not. 751 00:59:55,639 --> 00:59:59,679 If he does play, I don't think he's going to be one hundred 752 00:59:59,679 --> 01:00:04,360 p He could end up being on a minute restriction. He knows. But 753 01:00:04,519 --> 01:00:09,519 it has put this team you mentioned it earlier, in that familiar position where 754 01:00:09,559 --> 01:00:14,599 their backs are against the wall, where they have to meet the moment and 755 01:00:14,639 --> 01:00:19,159 play with a certain level of effort and urgency out there, which has always 756 01:00:19,199 --> 01:00:22,320 been when this Clippers team is at their best, when they have that level 757 01:00:22,360 --> 01:00:25,679 of desperation, when they are digging deep. I don't want to see them 758 01:00:25,719 --> 01:00:30,480 have to get down too over that to happen. It may just happen based 759 01:00:30,480 --> 01:00:34,400 on the fact that we don't know the status of Kawhi Leonard, and therefore 760 01:00:34,480 --> 01:00:37,760 guys are a little bit more focused, a little bit more locked in because 761 01:00:37,760 --> 01:00:42,360 they know they have to be. I could see this Clippers team thriving once 762 01:00:42,400 --> 01:00:47,719 again in that predicament where it's a stay ready type of all hands on deck 763 01:00:49,480 --> 01:00:53,719 Clippers game and performance because they know they have to rise above if they don't 764 01:00:53,719 --> 01:01:00,719 have Kawhi or if they have him at eighty percent or something. So I 765 01:01:00,760 --> 01:01:05,159 don't know, this is their identity. This is who they have been over 766 01:01:05,239 --> 01:01:08,840 five years, more so than anything else. A resilient team that shows up 767 01:01:09,239 --> 01:01:15,000 and plays their best typically when their best is required in these moments. Do 768 01:01:15,159 --> 01:01:20,440 you have it? Game one Sunday at twelve thirty. Memorize what Adam just 769 01:01:20,480 --> 01:01:22,760 said. Tell it to all your friends who are doubting that the Clippers are 770 01:01:22,760 --> 01:01:25,840 going to be able to make something happen. We will be back with y'all 771 01:01:25,920 --> 01:01:30,280 right after the game on Game one, maybe even before Will sends his regards. 772 01:01:30,320 --> 01:01:34,719 We have no idea where he is. We hope he's safe, Adam, 773 01:01:34,800 --> 01:01:36,719 hope you have a rest of the great rest of your evening. Hope 774 01:01:36,760 --> 01:01:38,719 everyone else listening and watching has a great rest of their evening, weekend, 775 01:01:39,079 --> 01:01:42,760 and as always, let's go clips.