1 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:20,800 What is krack Alac and fellow thermonuclear afs. I am Dana Valley coming at 2 00:00:20,839 --> 00:00:25,519 you without my co host Grand Hughes, but I am joined by the equally 3 00:00:25,839 --> 00:00:31,839 certified, fantabulous and thermonuclear AF friend of the podcast, coworker of mine at 4 00:00:31,839 --> 00:00:35,719 Bleacher Report, where he's a multi platform editor. He also covers the NBA 5 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:41,399 at Forbes, covers the Sixers at Liberty Ballers, and hosts the fantastic NBA 6 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:47,640 podcast called the NBA Podcast. Follow them on Twitter at the NBA Pods spelt 7 00:00:47,679 --> 00:00:52,320 exactly as it sounds you know by now. His name is Brian Taporek. 8 00:00:52,399 --> 00:00:56,280 Follow him on Twitter as well at b t poor K. That's at b 9 00:00:56,600 --> 00:01:03,000 t op O r e K. We are here to talk about the biggest 10 00:01:03,039 --> 00:01:06,879 questions we have remaining for the NBA season following the deadline, getting into just 11 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:08,640 a lot of like what's going on on the court now that we've moved past 12 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:14,519 the transaction stuff. This is being recorded on Friday, February ninth before I 13 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:19,319 begin my quite frankly well deserved vacation. But we have a ton of content 14 00:01:19,359 --> 00:01:21,959 coming out for you. In the pipeline we have banked. There will be 15 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:25,079 a total six podcasts coming out while I am gone, and so we did 16 00:01:25,079 --> 00:01:29,079 not short shrift you on the content. BT was kind enough to come on 17 00:01:29,159 --> 00:01:33,040 and go through this exercise. So if anything major happens, If Ogan andob 18 00:01:33,079 --> 00:01:36,319 announces that he's leaving the Knicks for the Charlotte Horneton free agency early, we 19 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:38,319 won't be able to cover it or react. I apologize if that becomes outdated. 20 00:01:38,439 --> 00:01:42,040 If a team is smart enough to pick up Franknelkina off the waiver wire 21 00:01:42,159 --> 00:01:46,040 and start him and then win the title, I won't be able to react 22 00:01:46,079 --> 00:01:49,719 to it. Brian first and foremost, how the heck are you doing? 23 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:53,280 I'm good, Dan, thank you for having me. I'm glad I can 24 00:01:53,319 --> 00:01:56,879 fill the BR quota. We need two BR people here at all times. 25 00:01:56,959 --> 00:02:00,959 So happy to fill in for Grant and congrats on surviving another trade deadline, 26 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:06,239 big news as always for all of us. I was up till one thirty 27 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:08,240 last night, so I apologize if my brain is putting today, but we 28 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:12,560 will. We will do our best to make it through you. So I 29 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:15,960 slept from and this wasn't purely trade deadline related, but I slept for about 30 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,280 three thirty in the morning until seven in the morning, so my brain might 31 00:02:19,319 --> 00:02:23,280 be putting as well. Uh so, and look, Brian and I behind 32 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:27,319 little peep behind the curtain. Brian was my editor for the Live Grades, 33 00:02:27,319 --> 00:02:30,639 which is just so having like a true sicco of the NBA beer editor during 34 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:35,479 that makes the process so much easier because it's a it's a frenetic time, 35 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,919 like he's feeding me details that I'm not seeing. So he's a he's a 36 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:40,680 heavy lift, so he deserves all the credit, but also any criticism for 37 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:45,759 stuff that you that you disagree with, so he just directed all towards him 38 00:02:45,759 --> 00:02:46,919 as well. But no, seriously, he makes that a lot easier and 39 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:50,759 a lot more enjoyable. And I said to him, I want to know 40 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,919 how many what were we There was one point We're talking about something so stupid 41 00:02:53,319 --> 00:02:55,560 and like, oh yeah, I knew, And I was like, how 42 00:02:55,560 --> 00:03:00,080 many people who are doing the same exercise, like at the other outlets you 43 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:02,840 think are having this exact conversation right now? And we settled on like maybe 44 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:07,719 Kevin Pelton with ESPN. Yeah, yep, I think it Pelton, Hollander, 45 00:03:08,039 --> 00:03:14,280 I don't even remember, but yeah, I'm glad we could rage together 46 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:20,599 yesterday at the News Breakers who were slopping it up ever so steadily trickling out. 47 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:23,960 Oh, by the way, the Dicks traded two picks and Quentin Grimes 48 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:28,240 for Alec Burks. I don't want to belabor this because I yelled about it 49 00:03:28,319 --> 00:03:34,039 on the live streaming afterwards. Sean's just stopped mentioning players that Phoenix trade and 50 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,280 was like, Phoenix creates two roster spots. It's like, motherfucker, who 51 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,360 are they sending out? Okay, you're like, wait mechich is in here? 52 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:47,159 Hours later? Oh, just just a crap show. However, it's 53 00:03:47,159 --> 00:03:51,039 in the past and now we look towards the future. So what is the 54 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:54,240 first question that as a guest that you have, whether it's team big picture, 55 00:03:54,240 --> 00:04:00,240 what do you got for me? Maybe I'm channeling my casco hosts Mortin 56 00:04:00,319 --> 00:04:04,639 Jensen on this point because he used to be a Chicago Bulls fan until they 57 00:04:04,639 --> 00:04:09,919 broke him. And I think a lot of Bolts fans are rapidly reaching that 58 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,120 point because I think my biggest question coming out of the deadline is what the 59 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:16,600 f are the Chicago Bulls doing here? I mean, I don't know if 60 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:20,800 you saw the quotes coming out from our tourist Kona Shovs's press conference yesterday. 61 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:26,759 Will Gottlieb of CHDO Sports was sharing them on Twitter, and it was like, 62 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,600 honestly, a nice palette cleanser after the deadline, because you know, 63 00:04:30,639 --> 00:04:33,639 you are so frenzied and trying to gather all these details and then you're seeing 64 00:04:33,639 --> 00:04:38,680 this guy talking about a team that's now two games under five hundred. He's 65 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:42,319 like, I don't know if it's it's too early to say if this season 66 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:45,680 was a success or a failure. I just want to keep us competitive. 67 00:04:45,879 --> 00:04:50,120 It's like, what are we talking about competitive here? You want winning a 68 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:54,800 damn thing. You would be lucky to be a top six seed. You 69 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,720 will be lucky to make the playoffs, and if you do, you are 70 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:01,560 going to get annihilated in the first round. So were those two games of 71 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:06,920 home playoff revenue worth keeping Andre Drummond through the deadline when you are likely going 72 00:05:06,959 --> 00:05:12,040 to lose him for nothing this offseason? What happens if Demarth de Rosen walks 73 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,199 this offseason? You lose him for nothing? Like they are clinging to this 74 00:05:15,399 --> 00:05:21,360 mediocrity that I just do not understand, And I mean I would be horrified 75 00:05:21,439 --> 00:05:25,759 right now, Like as I was reading those quots yesterday, I was just 76 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,519 like, if I was a Bulls fan, that would be my breaking point, 77 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:30,879 that would be my joker moment. I'd be out. I would just 78 00:05:30,879 --> 00:05:36,160 be completely out hearing the guy who is running this team talk about them in 79 00:05:36,199 --> 00:05:42,800 this way. Yeah, I just And then you saw there's the report from 80 00:05:42,879 --> 00:05:46,000 Yahoo that Tomato Rosen says he's open to returning to Chicago if the money's right, 81 00:05:46,319 --> 00:05:49,920 And so you get into this weird tug of war where it's they could 82 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:54,360 lose these players for nothing, but they have Andre Drummond's early bird rights, 83 00:05:54,639 --> 00:05:59,240 they have Tomorta Rosen's bird rights. What's to stop them from just paying these 84 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:02,560 dudes and running back as is and being either worse because Demarta Rows is older, 85 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:05,680 wi Lonzo Ball be healthier next year, Zach Lavine could be healthier next 86 00:06:05,759 --> 00:06:10,759 year. But then you also remember, well, like Royds Dwarf, is 87 00:06:10,759 --> 00:06:14,959 it, you know, the most spendye owner, And so you look at 88 00:06:14,959 --> 00:06:17,360 their like financial situation moving forward, it's well, are they really gonna pay 89 00:06:17,639 --> 00:06:21,600 Patrick Williams's extension eligible Andre Drummond deserves. I don't think he's gonna get a 90 00:06:21,639 --> 00:06:25,000 ton of money, but he'll get a raise, I'm assuming, and then 91 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:29,079 damar to stick around even in a comparable number. The finances start to get 92 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:32,519 a little bit scrunchy for a team that is as spend thrift as they typically 93 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:35,800 are. And it also bugged me a little bit of those comments that you 94 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:43,040 saw from Aka was him saying no, like, if he's covering for them, 95 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,040 that's his job. But if it's true that he has the green light 96 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:53,279 to rebuild and is actively chosen not to, like, that's malpractice on the 97 00:06:53,319 --> 00:06:57,240 part of just like you're like, it's malpractice, Like it's not fair to 98 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:00,399 the fans because what are you spinning your wheels towards And they're not even in 99 00:07:00,399 --> 00:07:03,800 a position because of Okay, so they're gonna convey a pick to uh, 100 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:08,240 the Spurs have their twenty twenty five pick, and then they they're like pick 101 00:07:08,319 --> 00:07:12,639 neutral after that, right in terms of first you don't even have the equity 102 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:16,120 though to like if you wanted to double down, and that's the danger here 103 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,720 is but what if they do that? What if they create another two first 104 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,680 round picks to try and get player X. I don't I don't know who 105 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:25,680 player X is. And so this season I'm just I don't even know what 106 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:28,600 to watch for. Like Zach Lavine is gone. People have argued that they're 107 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,319 better off done for the year. Excuse me, people argue they're better off 108 00:07:31,319 --> 00:07:34,079 without him, but they kind of started to find their momentum with him. 109 00:07:34,319 --> 00:07:38,120 Kobe White has been a good story. I think I a'a assume who's been 110 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:40,920 a pretty good story. Javon Carter's worked out like they have a lot of 111 00:07:41,279 --> 00:07:46,279 Andre Drummond. I think he's Their environment is to me, uniquely built to 112 00:07:46,279 --> 00:07:51,040 insulate Andre Drummond's worst tendencies on defense, not so much on offense at times, 113 00:07:51,199 --> 00:07:54,360 and I think that's why he looks so good. And then there's you 114 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,360 know, he's grabbing a ton of offensive rebounds because they're not the best offensive 115 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:01,480 team either. But like there's all these in events my good things like Demarta 116 00:08:01,519 --> 00:08:03,879 Rosen has still been as efficiency overall, and the clutches is really good, 117 00:08:03,879 --> 00:08:07,839 and the defensive pressure they can bring is great. To what end and you 118 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,240 just outlaid it a first round exit? Is this team ceiling? And so 119 00:08:11,279 --> 00:08:16,439 I don't know the pathway if they're not. You know, as people who 120 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:20,079 cover the league at large, I do understand that we can over romanticize or 121 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,720 exaggerate the idea of its title or bust, but like you need to have 122 00:08:22,759 --> 00:08:26,639 if you're somewhere in the middle, that's fine, but you then need to 123 00:08:26,639 --> 00:08:31,160 have a path forward to get out of it. And I don't see Chicago's. 124 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:33,200 I don't like wodor is Kobe White needs to develop into an All NBA 125 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:37,720 player. Is it? We're just banking on Lonzo Ball's knees to suddenly not 126 00:08:37,759 --> 00:08:39,320 be made of jello. And that's not a shot at him. It really 127 00:08:39,399 --> 00:08:45,480 sucks what happened to him because he was really probably the key ingredient to that 128 00:08:45,639 --> 00:08:48,159 entire team, just based off his skill set and what he did not only 129 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:54,279 defensively but as a ball mover offensively. So I don't understand the path forward 130 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:58,720 here for them to get better. And this just feels like like to not 131 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,679 rip it down just and I understand the zach Lavine injury through a wrench in 132 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:05,200 the plans, but this is now three years since the Boots trade. They 133 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:09,200 haven't done jack shit, like to really just rejigger the roster mid season, 134 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:13,519 and they're just treading water in not even the middle but the sub miiddle. 135 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:18,879 And it's just a very uninspiring and I would argue hopeless place to be. 136 00:09:18,799 --> 00:09:22,879 Yeah, I mean I think it probably stems from ownership. As you said 137 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:24,840 rhyin Storf. You know, I can't imagine he's going to pay the tax 138 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:28,240 for the nine seed and okay, maybe they're the six seed next year. 139 00:09:28,279 --> 00:09:31,480 Like, I still don't think the Bulls are going to pay the luxury tax 140 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:37,000 unless they look like an absolute hammer lock to make it to like the conference 141 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:41,639 finals at least. So not only do you have this you're stuck in the 142 00:09:41,639 --> 00:09:45,440 middle because of the roster you've assembled, but you don't have an owner who's 143 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,840 going to help spend your way out of it. If I remember correctly, 144 00:09:48,879 --> 00:09:52,399 I don't think they've spent their mid level exception this year, which you know, 145 00:09:54,039 --> 00:09:58,519 okay, fine, you know who who on the market could have made 146 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,480 a huge difference for them at the MLLE. Oh actually, sorry, it 147 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,480 looks like they Yeah, they gave part of it. They had I think 148 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:07,480 they used Davon Carter got most of it. So they've got six million dollars. 149 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:11,039 They didn't use the injury except like that's a more aggressive owner might have 150 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:15,759 been like, hey, we have this disabled player exception I'm gonna figure out 151 00:10:15,759 --> 00:10:16,720 a way to use it. I know those things don't get but like you 152 00:10:16,799 --> 00:10:20,639 knew as soon as that came in the bills, bills aren't going to use 153 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:22,679 it. Like that's not happening. Yeah, And I mean this is like 154 00:10:22,879 --> 00:10:26,440 you're absolutely right, you know. I would almost compare them to the New 155 00:10:26,519 --> 00:10:30,759 York Knicks in that way, Like after they got Julius Randall, they were 156 00:10:30,799 --> 00:10:33,480 also, I don't want to say, like suck in the middle, but 157 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:37,279 it was hard to see the path. How do we get from here to 158 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:41,240 championship contender. Then they get Jalen Brunson and then they just start chaining together. 159 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:46,879 These just really solid moves, the Josh part, that Dante DiVincenzo now 160 00:10:46,919 --> 00:10:50,320 og Anobi and what they just did at the deadline, and now you know, 161 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:52,799 the dust settled after the trade deadline and everyone's like, oh my god, 162 00:10:52,799 --> 00:10:58,159 the Knicks are a legitimate title contender. So maybe that's the Bulls plan 163 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,799 is just changed together a couple of hits in a row and something good is 164 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:05,960 going to come of it, or maybe Lonzo does come back. But it 165 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:09,519 is just really hard to see the vision, especially when you have a front 166 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:13,320 office executive who is saying, you know, we are trying to remain competitive, 167 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:18,440 and we are not willing to embrace taking a step back to take two 168 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:22,480 step forward later. It's just we're gonna continue running back the same core and 169 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:26,759 hope it gets better one year, I guess, which doesn't really feel like 170 00:11:26,799 --> 00:11:28,879 a plan to me. And the difference with them too is that and I 171 00:11:28,919 --> 00:11:31,480 didn't agree with everything the Knicks did during this time, made that clear, 172 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:35,279 but like they made that KP trade and put themselves in a position to where 173 00:11:35,279 --> 00:11:41,000 they were pick positive not pick negative like the Bulls are. But you mentioned 174 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,799 the Knicks, which is for my first question, and it's more of a 175 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:48,039 macro one, but I used it as a focus on the Knicks who is 176 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:52,519 and this encapsulates a lot. The second best team in the Eastern Conference. 177 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:58,039 I think the best team is clearly Boston. I just recorded a long podcast 178 00:11:58,039 --> 00:12:01,679 with Carter Rodriguez of the Chase Down Pod. The Calves are just on fire 179 00:12:01,799 --> 00:12:05,120 and people were overblowing like the fit issues between Evan Mobley and Jared down. 180 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:09,200 I think it's more of a question in the playoffs than anything. Darius Garland 181 00:12:09,279 --> 00:12:13,120 back and taking more threes. You have the Bucks who are just like I 182 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,639 understand they're not playing well yet under Doc Rivers, but they have Patrick Beverly 183 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:20,000 now and just like they're still a really good team. And then you also 184 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:22,879 have the Sixers. I'm sure we'll talk about a little bit so we don't 185 00:12:22,919 --> 00:12:24,919 have to, like I'm talking more about the Knicks here, but like, 186 00:12:24,919 --> 00:12:28,440 you have the Sixers and it's well, Joelle Embiid comes back, why wouldn't 187 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:31,720 they be. They just got Buddy Heald, who was a really good pickup 188 00:12:31,759 --> 00:12:35,320 despite what local media and fans fan thing. So uh. And then there's 189 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:41,720 the Knicks. Who would be my pick I think at this point with Cleveland 190 00:12:41,879 --> 00:12:43,960 looming, I'm not gonna lie and I don't and Milwaukee just makes me. 191 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:48,200 I'm just saying that I would pick every team, but the Knicks would I 192 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:52,759 think would be my pick at this juncture if they were healthier. And that's 193 00:12:52,759 --> 00:12:56,440 what's fascinating to me is that race for second is okay, the Calves have 194 00:12:56,480 --> 00:13:00,320 gotten healthier, the Bucks are. They're fairly healthy, even though Chris Middleton 195 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:03,039 doesn't look the same on defense, And then we know the Sixers aren't healthy 196 00:13:03,039 --> 00:13:07,240 because of they've also they've been banged up like six ways towards eight ways towards 197 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:13,120 Sunday. But the Knicks og Ananoby is gonna miss time, like a week 198 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:15,600 or two past the All Star break is when he's laid to be reevaluated. 199 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:20,559 Julius Randold's kind of on that same timeline with his dislocated shoulder. Mitchell Robinson 200 00:13:20,639 --> 00:13:22,320 is going to resume on court activity soon, I think over the All Star 201 00:13:22,399 --> 00:13:26,879 break, and so when is he coming back? Isaiah Hartenstein's been dealing with 202 00:13:26,879 --> 00:13:30,360 stuff, Jalen. Everyone's dealing with stuff this time of year, but Jalen 203 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,679 Brunson has been banged up. And so you look at this team and it's, 204 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:35,960 well, if they're at full strength, like they might be the answer. 205 00:13:37,279 --> 00:13:39,120 And you have to like everything they've done. And Chris Herring had a 206 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:43,759 great piece on ESPN about how og Ananobi has impacted their offense and it's drifted 207 00:13:43,799 --> 00:13:46,399 back a bit, but he's missed time, and now you've random missing time 208 00:13:46,759 --> 00:13:52,080 getting rid of a two higher usage players in a manual quickly and r J 209 00:13:52,159 --> 00:13:54,600 Barrett or if you don't even want to say higher usage people who prefer to 210 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:58,960 operate on ball, and then also r J Barrett, Jalen Brunson and Julius 211 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,200 Randall, who all want to operate from the same side of the floor. 212 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:05,200 It just opened things up for them, and so there's so much more intriguing, 213 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:09,039 like not only defensively but offensively. And they're even more intriguing now because 214 00:14:09,399 --> 00:14:13,720 Berks can be a little hijackie of points, but like he's a good offensive 215 00:14:13,759 --> 00:14:16,039 player. And then Boyon just fits everywhere. And if you have if one 216 00:14:16,039 --> 00:14:20,159 of your bigs is healthy because of who they are and Hartenstein and Robinson and 217 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:24,919 because of the I understand he's a frustrating defender, and I would say, 218 00:14:24,039 --> 00:14:28,879 on balance, not a good defender, but Julius Randall like covers actual dudes, 219 00:14:28,159 --> 00:14:31,519 like really good players, and so because of the assignments he lifts, 220 00:14:31,759 --> 00:14:35,000 you can actually just say, hey, we'll play og Julius Randall a big 221 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:37,799 and then Boyanc can be on the court with Jalen Brunson too. That's something 222 00:14:37,799 --> 00:14:43,279 you could do. The caveat to all of this is when are these guys 223 00:14:43,279 --> 00:14:46,440 gonna get healthy? What do they look like? And I'm curious is to 224 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:50,240 as someone who follows the Knicks intimately just because I'm in market and I grew 225 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:54,519 up a Knicks fan. This is not I think this is a typical national 226 00:14:54,559 --> 00:14:56,679 media slant, but I'm throwing it to I'm having this as someone who is 227 00:14:56,679 --> 00:15:00,919 following him it Intimately, I've almost wondered, is it a blessing in disguise 228 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:03,480 that like, these guys are going to be spared from Tom Thibodeau's workload through 229 00:15:03,559 --> 00:15:07,759 part of January and February. And I'm not I'm not trying to be facetious 230 00:15:07,759 --> 00:15:11,440 there. Yeah, And so it's like having Julius Randall get a breather, 231 00:15:11,799 --> 00:15:15,799 having o Gananoby, who's always dealing with something. I can't remember who tweeted 232 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:18,039 this. It was someone from Raptors Twitter. I apologize, but they were 233 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:22,279 just like, you have to be prepared with anything for Ogiananobi falls on the 234 00:15:22,279 --> 00:15:26,279 floor, Bruce's elbow goes against acl or something. So it was. And 235 00:15:26,279 --> 00:15:28,799 so I'm just wondering, like, does this almost set them up better or 236 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,200 is it like, well, we kind of need to have a conversation about 237 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:35,000 they're missing a lot of the ingredients right now and we don't know what they're 238 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,639 going to look like or necessarily when they're going to come back. Yeah. 239 00:15:37,759 --> 00:15:43,919 No, I think it's health permitting. Assuming the Knicks enter the playoffs with 240 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:48,360 all of those guys, including Robinson, I would lean toward them as the 241 00:15:48,399 --> 00:15:52,399 second best team in the East right now. The Calves are a close close 242 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:54,919 third, and I you know, the Bucks still have time to turn it 243 00:15:54,960 --> 00:16:00,679 around, but they're screaming who they are at this point, like they are 244 00:16:00,039 --> 00:16:03,519 now whatnot one in five under Doc Rivers, And I know guys have been 245 00:16:03,559 --> 00:16:06,720 in out of the lineup, so I don't want to overreact to a six 246 00:16:06,759 --> 00:16:10,320 game sample side. We'll get Patrick Beverley in there, But I mean Doc 247 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:15,600 Rivers is not exactly known as the best playoff coach of all time. Would 248 00:16:15,679 --> 00:16:18,799 someone tweet two? Did you see that? Has any coach ever taken over 249 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:21,840 a job, gotten hired on a multi year deal mid season, then gotten 250 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:26,360 fired at the same time Doc could make history? That might be his plan. 251 00:16:26,639 --> 00:16:30,840 Actually, he wasn't satisfied with sixteen million dollars of golf money from Josh 252 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:32,639 Harris, so it was like, you know what I got it, I 253 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:37,840 got some international tras. So yeah, I mean the Doc stuff and just 254 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:42,879 the Bucks defense in general has me concerned. I mean, the Knicks defensively 255 00:16:42,919 --> 00:16:48,000 are great. Offensively as you mentioned, OGI has really juiced them up, 256 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:52,120 and Boyan and Burks I think are only going to do favors for them on 257 00:16:52,159 --> 00:16:56,200 that of the floor, especially in the absence of OG. And you know, 258 00:16:56,559 --> 00:17:00,039 like not only to your point about those guys not getting the Tibbs minutes 259 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:04,400 in January, February and whenever they come back in March, but now the 260 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:12,640 Knicks are so legitimately deep of NBA caliber playoff caliber rotation players that I would 261 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:19,400 hope at least that Tibbs doesn't play his guys forty minutes per game, especially 262 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:22,160 in the regular season, but possibly not even in the playoffs, like there's 263 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:27,039 a chance that they can go a legit eight nine, even potentially ten deep. 264 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:32,599 So I feel like point, you know, usually, I feel one 265 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:36,160 of the knock on Tibbs teams is that he plays his guys so many minutes 266 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:38,920 during the regular season that there isn't like this level that they can scale up 267 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:42,880 in the playoffs. And I think that Knicks have given him so much depth, 268 00:17:44,279 --> 00:17:47,000 but now he definitely should not be playing guys once they're all healthy, 269 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:51,480 definitely should not be playing his normal like thirty eight minutes per game, but 270 00:17:51,559 --> 00:17:55,440 he might not even need to in the playoffs, So maybe the Knicks will 271 00:17:55,559 --> 00:18:00,319 have an ability to level up that they haven't had in the past under hips 272 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:03,400 for that reason, Like if they do need to play Brunson forty minutes a 273 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:06,519 night, they could still lean on that, but now they also have all 274 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:10,799 these other guys who can initiate the offense for them or you know, if 275 00:18:10,839 --> 00:18:15,599 Brunson needs you know, gets banged up or whatever, like they've got they 276 00:18:15,599 --> 00:18:18,720 have enough insurance basically at every position that I mean, are we sure that 277 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:22,559 they're not going to win the East? Is this crazy to think that they 278 00:18:22,559 --> 00:18:26,400 could at least potentially beat Boston. I don't. I don't think it's crazy 279 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:30,359 at all. And this is a quick tangent and had like Jonathan Macree of 280 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:33,519 Nicks Film School and anyone who listens knows love the work that him Andrew Claudio 281 00:18:33,559 --> 00:18:36,319 do over at Nicks Film School was talking about kind of the fall from the 282 00:18:36,319 --> 00:18:40,000 trade inline how all the national media and podcasts were complimenting the Knicks and they 283 00:18:40,039 --> 00:18:41,759 weren't used to it. Yeah, I know, fansn't necessarily care about it, 284 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:45,640 like the Leon Ros for Executive of the Year, like Bandwagon probably needs 285 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:49,880 to like if it hasn't departed already, it needs the part now. And 286 00:18:51,039 --> 00:18:53,119 what you mentioned is interesting because that is still kind of my concern is just 287 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:57,759 like Burks can initiate, not the best passer though, and then Boyan mcdonovich 288 00:18:57,799 --> 00:19:03,839 can run. He's run picking roles this year, He's not like going to 289 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:08,160 facilitate, and so I worry about their secondary playmaking behind Runson, behind Randall. 290 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,799 Now that you don't have Quickly or Barrett, but like you have enough 291 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:15,200 just ball movers, maybe not traditional initiators and Josh Hart and Dante e Vincenzo 292 00:19:15,519 --> 00:19:18,519 that I think, as you said, you've given yourself optionality. My almost 293 00:19:18,559 --> 00:19:22,720 bigger question would be what version of Julius Randall do you get in the playoffs? 294 00:19:23,079 --> 00:19:27,160 And that's where the Bowion, Bardonovich and Alec Burke's acquisitions come up huge 295 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,640 from the pure shock creation standpoint, is if Julius and maybe he'll be better 296 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:33,920 because he's never been to the postseason with the Knicks and not had RJ. 297 00:19:34,039 --> 00:19:38,359 Barrett with him as well, so like opening that up could help him. 298 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:41,400 And also he'll be coming off a season in which he played a lot fewer 299 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:47,680 minutes this year. But if he doesn't have it, you now aren't relying 300 00:19:47,759 --> 00:19:49,480 on you know, quickly was small. It was we saw how the Cavs 301 00:19:49,519 --> 00:19:52,759 kind of frustrated him and what happened to his floater game. And then RJ. 302 00:19:52,839 --> 00:19:55,920 Barretts has always been up and down, like if he's not get any 303 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:57,079 of the basket, and he was always a wild card once he got there, 304 00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:00,000 and the Knicks, to be fair, it never felt like they were 305 00:20:00,039 --> 00:20:02,480 good at getting him ahead of steam, which the Raptors have done off the 306 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:06,440 ball when he's played a good amount. So but now that you've replaced that 307 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:10,799 with someone either guys who are more reliable four spacers or just more reliable creators, 308 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:14,680 that's kind of the That's the wild card to me is will Tibbs pull 309 00:20:14,759 --> 00:20:18,920 that lever of bonion at the four and Julius Randalls minutes are coming down if 310 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:22,480 Julius Randall's playing like he has in the playoffs in the past, and I 311 00:20:22,519 --> 00:20:26,160 would say there's also the caveat though, like Julius Randall Jalen Brunson because of 312 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:30,279 the shots that they're taking and creating boy and Bardonovican al Pers are not taking 313 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:33,200 those same shots, and so these two players are still ultra central to the 314 00:20:33,279 --> 00:20:37,160 Knicks offense, and so that is still where my question lies. But to 315 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,400 your point about can they come out of the East, the answer is yes, 316 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:42,839 it's just would you predict it? And once you get into the playoffs, 317 00:20:42,839 --> 00:20:45,920 Like I think it's easier to answer this question for the regular season and 318 00:20:47,039 --> 00:20:49,359 just say Calves or Nicks and move on. But once you get to the 319 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:53,200 playoffs, that's where Milwaukee just gets a little bit more interesting because of Dame, 320 00:20:53,319 --> 00:20:56,599 like the top end talent of dam and Giannis, even the Calves, 321 00:20:56,599 --> 00:21:00,119 if they sort of figure things out, are they still staggering the way they 322 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:03,440 do? Does Isaac Occorro have a longer leash as he hit in his threes? 323 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,920 And if he's not our Sam Merril and Max Struce are they getting heavy 324 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:11,559 enough minutes to open up the floor anyway? But I think my answer right 325 00:21:11,599 --> 00:21:15,480 now would be in net who's the second best team needs or the second most 326 00:21:15,519 --> 00:21:18,920 likely team to emerge from the East. I think it might be the Knicks, 327 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:22,839 And I'm not sure if this is prisoner of the moment stuff, and 328 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:25,839 I'm like you, I almost have the Calves above the Bucks right now, 329 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:30,039 but I will default to the Bucks because of just the top end talent there, 330 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:33,119 and that's just like, I don't that's not a great answer. Then 331 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:34,079 I don't know what's going on in Philly, and maybe that's the good. 332 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:38,200 I'm assuming you have something on the Sixers moving forward. They're they're the biggest 333 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:41,720 will I'm talking about the Nicks as a wild card. They've kind of entrenched 334 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:45,920 themselves as something. The Sixers are just a huge wildcard for the rest of 335 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:48,559 this year. Yeah, they're taking Miami spot from last year. At the 336 00:21:49,279 --> 00:21:52,839 mentioned how far Miami has fallen. We don't even mention them. I know. 337 00:21:53,039 --> 00:21:56,440 Well, I mean we got to have one team from the play in 338 00:21:56,000 --> 00:22:00,680 make it to the NBA Finals, and that maybe this year because yeah, 339 00:22:00,039 --> 00:22:04,799 they are as you mentioned, they are hilariously injury ravaged right now. And 340 00:22:04,839 --> 00:22:08,720 not only MV but Melton has been out for a while with a lumbar spine 341 00:22:08,759 --> 00:22:12,160 issue. Nick Batoom has been in out of the lineup with a hamstring. 342 00:22:12,319 --> 00:22:18,440 Tobias Harris has been in out with multiple illnesses now with Tyrese Maxie has an 343 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,720 illness and as you mentioned, we're recording this on Friday, February ninth. 344 00:22:21,759 --> 00:22:25,680 It is unclear whether he's gonna play against Atlanta tonight. Like that, the 345 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:30,920 Sixers Legit if Buddy Heal and Campaign can't play, Legit will have nine healthy 346 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:33,839 players. That includes includes Maxie, who did not look healthy the last game 347 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:37,359 out. So all Star break, can I get here soon enough for the 348 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:41,480 Sixers? And then coming out of the All Star Break, I think their 349 00:22:41,519 --> 00:22:45,799 schedule is like Cleveland, New York, Boston, Milwaukee is the first four 350 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:48,839 games, so well, New York might not be at full strength, won't 351 00:22:48,839 --> 00:22:51,759 be at full strength at that point. So there's that that's true, Okay, 352 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:55,240 I mean I think it's gonna get worse before it's gonna get better for 353 00:22:55,279 --> 00:22:59,960 the Sixers. But like after the calendar flips to March, there's a chance 354 00:23:00,039 --> 00:23:03,359 that they go on a late season run and maybe secure one of these top 355 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:06,279 six seeds. But yeah, I mean, it all comes down to does 356 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:10,640 Joel Andbi come back this year, And I would imagine part of that will 357 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:12,839 depend on where they are in the standings. Like I don't know if he 358 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:18,240 needs to rush back if they're the nine seed by the time he comes back, 359 00:23:18,279 --> 00:23:22,200 because that means at best you're getting a first round matchup against Boston. 360 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:25,920 That you're probably gonna lose. So if they stay in the top six, 361 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:29,960 and depending on who they face in the first round, I mean, they'll 362 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:34,759 be live against anyone potentially. But you know, the vibes were certainly better 363 00:23:34,799 --> 00:23:38,039 a couple of weeks ago than they are right now, and it is fair 364 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:44,319 to wonder. You mentioned the mixed reaction to their trade deadline, and we 365 00:23:44,319 --> 00:23:47,519 were laughing about it yesterday as we were doing these live grades, because you 366 00:23:47,519 --> 00:23:51,960 know, you were pretty in favor of what they did. I heard, 367 00:23:52,039 --> 00:23:53,640 you know, the live stream that you and Grant did yesterday. You guys 368 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:56,920 seem to like what they did. Kevin Pelton gave them a ton of good 369 00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:00,920 grades for his trade grades. Dan Devine of Yahoo Sports had them as a 370 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:03,880 winner. And meanwhile, you know, I'm in the Liberty Baller slack trying 371 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:07,599 to talk everyone off the edge yesterday like they were. It was just a 372 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:14,440 Daryl Morey mutiny waiting to happen. So, you know, I think it's 373 00:24:14,799 --> 00:24:18,440 hard to say what they're going to look like because we don't know when these 374 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:22,319 guys are going to get back to full strength, if they're going to get 375 00:24:22,319 --> 00:24:25,480 back to full strength this year. But the Sixers have been one of the 376 00:24:25,519 --> 00:24:27,759 worst shooting teams in the NBA this season. Buddy Healed is one of the 377 00:24:27,759 --> 00:24:33,480 best shooters over the past decade, honestly, so he was going to address 378 00:24:33,519 --> 00:24:37,559 a major need. And you could certainly imagine, you know, the dribble 379 00:24:37,599 --> 00:24:42,519 handoff actions that Embiid and JJ Reddick or Embiid and or theF Curry used to 380 00:24:42,519 --> 00:24:45,200 do, and even the two man game with mb in Maxie this year. 381 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:49,799 You know, Healed is not as dangerous off the dribble as Maxie obviously, 382 00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:53,400 but I think there can be a lot of two man chemistry or even three 383 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:59,240 man chemistry with Maxi, Embiid and Healed. So I'm excited, you know, 384 00:24:59,319 --> 00:25:02,759 hopefully we see this year because you know, he will be a free 385 00:25:02,799 --> 00:25:06,599 agent this summer, So it'd be bummer if they make this trade and beat 386 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:10,359 never comes back and Heal leaves a free agency. Yeah, in theory, 387 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:15,160 a really good fit next to those two guys. There are concerns about him 388 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:19,079 holding up defensively in the playoffs, but if you know they have the Toom 389 00:25:19,319 --> 00:25:22,680 and Melton, then Tobias Harris and Kelly Oubray, if all those guys are 390 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:27,200 healthy, they don't necessarily need to rely on him if there's a certain matchup 391 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:32,200 where he's getting picked on. So I think you're right to insulate him with 392 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:37,279 Melton, Tobias Harris and like and Joel Embiid if he's out, Like the 393 00:25:37,319 --> 00:25:40,880 Pacers couldn't insulate him. I feel like the Sixers couldn't. I was gonna 394 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:42,400 ask you that's kind of I mean, like the big question for this and 395 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:47,200 maybe this gets dated by the time this goes live on Monday, but will 396 00:25:47,279 --> 00:25:51,400 Joel and be play again this season? And I tried to read into what 397 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:53,680 they did at the deadline, It's like, well does this I find it 398 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:56,960 what they did at the deadline because it was Buddy healed. I oftmately think 399 00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:00,440 the opportunity cost was just so low and impact their long term plans that they 400 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:03,720 would do it even if they knew and Beid wasn't gonna play this season. 401 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:07,039 But when you do tie that to the way that it's been reported, like 402 00:26:07,079 --> 00:26:11,200 there's just this mystery about his injury and what he even had done that it 403 00:26:11,279 --> 00:26:15,039 leads me to believe that they're that the door actually is still open for him 404 00:26:15,079 --> 00:26:18,799 to play this season, and so they were still trying to straddle those lines, 405 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:22,319 and that's the I mean, did you mentioned it in jes But like 406 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:25,720 that's a huge wild card because what if they are playing team I don't really 407 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:29,160 like they have somewhat of a cushion, and I'm just I'm so annoyed with 408 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:32,160 Orlando for not doing anything, so I'm just not gonna trust them, and 409 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:34,240 like, maybe Miami catches them, but you're still four games ahead in the 410 00:26:34,279 --> 00:26:37,640 lost column. If e Bead's gonna come back this year, you have time. 411 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:40,920 But if he's gonna come back and you're in the play and you might 412 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:45,799 just like that's all of a sudden, imagine pulling that matchup as Boston and 413 00:26:45,839 --> 00:26:47,799 it's just like, no, you wouldn't predict the Sixers to win it, 414 00:26:47,839 --> 00:26:48,680 But you go through all this to have the one seed and then you just 415 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:56,200 get a fully healthy Sixers team with Buddy heels gravity entering the postseason. Yeah, 416 00:26:56,720 --> 00:26:59,440 if that Bean comes back, it's gonna be a bad beat for whichever 417 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:02,960 one of these for Boston, Cleveland, Milwaukee, New York, whichever one 418 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:06,480 I then gets the Sixers in the first round, that that's gonna suck for 419 00:27:06,519 --> 00:27:11,599 them, for sure. I have a question for you Okay, which team 420 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:15,640 do you trust more like for the rest of the season, But looking at 421 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:18,960 playoff stock now that we're past the deadline, they can't make moves beyond buyouts 422 00:27:19,319 --> 00:27:26,680 the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Oklahoma City Thunder Ooh, I think for Oklahoma City. 423 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:33,240 Actually, maybe I'm overreacting, but I don't know that it's particularly close 424 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:38,359 either. I mean, okay, see adding Gorton Hayward like flew under the 425 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:41,079 radar because he's always hurt and he hasn't played in over a month, and 426 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:45,920 I do I do respect that the Hornets were clearly holding him out so that 427 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:51,839 he couldn't nuke his trade value. I don't know if he saw the quotes 428 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:52,279 room, but he was just like, yeah, I'm ready to go. 429 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:56,480 And so it's like, oh, Charlotte. Charlotte wasn't fucking around. They 430 00:27:56,480 --> 00:28:00,759 were like this body eventually cooked. So when I saw because he hadn't played 431 00:28:00,759 --> 00:28:02,799 in December, and I was like, yeah, he must be on the 432 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:04,720 verge of a return. Otherwise, why are you giving up anything for him? 433 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:08,079 And I guess they were just like, buddy, we're putting you in 434 00:28:08,119 --> 00:28:14,359 caution tape and bubble wrap and we know what's going to happen if you play 435 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:18,359 more than twenty five games, absolutely not go on vacation for a month. 436 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:21,279 That's interesting. Okay, well that makes me feel even better about it. 437 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:23,160 Okay, see you. But you know, with all due respect to Trey 438 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:30,400 Man and Mechicic and Bertan's like, none of those guys were key contributors, 439 00:28:30,559 --> 00:28:34,559 especially to their playoff rotation. Now you added Gordon Hayward, who I think 440 00:28:36,039 --> 00:28:41,519 at least could be if healthy, and gives them an out in case opponents 441 00:28:41,559 --> 00:28:45,720 are just not respecting Josh Giddy on the perimeter. So I really like that 442 00:28:45,759 --> 00:28:48,799 as an upgrade for them. I mean, Minnesota's been great all year. 443 00:28:48,839 --> 00:28:52,960 I don't want to take away from what Minnesota does. It's not me saying, 444 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:55,799 don't worry, I'm about to after you're done. I'm about here. 445 00:28:55,799 --> 00:28:59,160 So yeah, I'm not necessarily saying they're going to lose in the first round, 446 00:28:59,240 --> 00:29:02,680 but I do have you know, their offense bogs down, especially late 447 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:06,200 in games during crunch time, and that I have some concerns about that. 448 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:11,400 You know, the double big lineup is very effective against a lot of teams, 449 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:15,160 but all it takes is one bad matchup for that not to work as 450 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:21,200 well as it has. And I think Oklahoma City, based on the personnel 451 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:26,839 it has, has more variability. They can alter their like shape shift more 452 00:29:26,359 --> 00:29:30,279 based on their matchup than Minnesota, where you know you're you're not gonna like 453 00:29:30,359 --> 00:29:33,960 Bench Karl, Anthony Towns or Rudy Gobert. I don't think at all. 454 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:37,400 I mean, i'd be sure. I'd be shocked if they're down like two 455 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:41,039 to one in a series and that's their big mid series adjustment. I think 456 00:29:41,039 --> 00:29:42,960 they're just gonna have to go down with the ship. Whereas you know, 457 00:29:44,119 --> 00:29:47,720 again, if Josh Giddy is a disaster, okay, we're going Gordon Hayward, 458 00:29:47,839 --> 00:29:49,880 or you know, we can go with Cason Wallace or like, they 459 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:55,279 have so many different guys they can turn to outside of their big three, 460 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:59,559 all of whom are just terrifyingly good and still so young that they're only going 461 00:29:59,599 --> 00:30:03,400 to get better. I think I would agree with you. I might think 462 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:06,480 it's a little bit closer because I am a big believer in what the world 463 00:30:06,519 --> 00:30:07,960 and I'm saying you're not. You're not, But I am a big believer 464 00:30:08,039 --> 00:30:14,240 in what the Wolves have built. I just with the Thunder and I saw 465 00:30:14,319 --> 00:30:15,559 people. What makes you feel a little bit better about Thunder is you mentioned 466 00:30:15,559 --> 00:30:19,319 the option atonality they now have with a Gordon Hayward, and it does seem 467 00:30:19,359 --> 00:30:22,720 even before the trade, it was very clear that it was, well, 468 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:26,880 if we got to push the you know, the rip pull the ripcord on 469 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:30,319 Josh Giddy and or lou Dort crunch time minutes, we're gonna do it. 470 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:33,599 And so the fact that they are doing that, it just makes you feel 471 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:38,400 better by default, because I also don't think in as everyone got caught up 472 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:41,079 and we probably even got caught up a little bit on this podcast about well 473 00:30:41,079 --> 00:30:45,039 they need like size or heft or bounce up front to pair with Chad. 474 00:30:45,519 --> 00:30:48,079 Playing time out is so important to what they do. Like this team utilizes 475 00:30:48,279 --> 00:30:52,680 drive and kicks and flinging the ball around more than any other team in the 476 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:55,440 league. It's not even you look at drives per game, it's not even 477 00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:59,359 close. They lead it by like a monster margin, and so I feel 478 00:30:59,359 --> 00:31:03,480 better about that. Minnesota's defense definitely has a higher ceiling when you're looking at 479 00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:07,799 the guys that are there between Anthony Edwards and the way Rudy Gobert has played 480 00:31:07,839 --> 00:31:11,519 for much of this season, and Jade McDaniels. My thing with the Wolves 481 00:31:11,559 --> 00:31:15,960 though, is there's the turnovers. Of course, everyone's belabored how important Mike 482 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:18,720 Conley is to the team to the point that it's unsettling. Guess what, 483 00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:22,160 like you've lost the minutes Mike Comley plays without Anthony Edwards. Anyway, It's 484 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:26,400 like, what does Montey Morris actually change for you? He's not a high 485 00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:30,160 volume three point shooter, which is someone that I think they need, Like 486 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:33,039 I would liked to have seen them been in on a Luke Kennard or been 487 00:31:33,079 --> 00:31:37,200 more aggressive and said, hey, like maybe we'll trade Nasri to go get 488 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:41,160 Malcolm Brogden. I know that was unpopular amongst Wolves fans. They've been great, 489 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:45,240 so you don't trade one of your six best players just because I understand 490 00:31:45,519 --> 00:31:48,519 that notion, and they are better off they have a game manager now, 491 00:31:48,079 --> 00:31:52,200 But there's something off about their offense in the sense of it's not just the 492 00:31:52,240 --> 00:31:56,960 turnovers, but are they just there's not a willingness to try new things. 493 00:31:57,000 --> 00:32:00,839 I feel like and maybe having Montey Morris changes that, but I don't think 494 00:32:00,839 --> 00:32:05,920 it will. And so you watch them. It's gotten more pressed recently, 495 00:32:05,920 --> 00:32:08,279 but like they've had struggles keeping big leads this year. And the thing I 496 00:32:08,559 --> 00:32:12,640 feel like I noticed on offense is just like a hat tip to Dane Moore 497 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:15,359 of the NBA podcast. Do you know how many corner threes Karl Anthony Towns 498 00:32:15,359 --> 00:32:21,960 has made this year? I do not seven outside of garbage time that was 499 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:22,720 on cleaning the glass. I think he might be at eight. For the 500 00:32:22,799 --> 00:32:25,920 year, he's made seven corner He's seven of twenty nine I think from the 501 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:30,519 corners outside of garbage time. So it's not he's just not there. And 502 00:32:30,559 --> 00:32:34,640 then you have Rudy Gobert with his comments, and this is like a big 503 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:37,039 deal because Gobert is not the one taking these shots. He's not even the 504 00:32:37,039 --> 00:32:40,039 one setting up these shots. Aside from his his verdict, like his his 505 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:45,519 role gravity can help create them. He was talking about the other night how 506 00:32:45,559 --> 00:32:49,359 important it is for Minnesota to shoot the three ball, and so it's like 507 00:32:49,839 --> 00:32:52,440 he's not even the dude who's taking the shots. If he's he said, 508 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:54,799 I'll take a three pointer over a two pointer any day, and it's just 509 00:32:54,799 --> 00:32:59,920 like this is someone who's actively like that would by him saying that he would 510 00:32:59,920 --> 00:33:02,680 to a three over a two he's not talking about himself. He's actively saying 511 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:07,000 I wouldn't need the ball as much or I don't want to score as much, 512 00:33:07,039 --> 00:33:09,079 and I know that's not his role anyway. So it's just like there's 513 00:33:09,119 --> 00:33:14,279 something off there about is and I'm not blaming it on Towns. I do 514 00:33:14,319 --> 00:33:16,279 feel like this is more of a Chris Finch issue, or maybe it's just 515 00:33:16,319 --> 00:33:20,680 the lack of outside of Mike Comley. Like, yes, Anthey Edwards is 516 00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:23,279 a good passer, he's not a great passer, and so maybe that comes 517 00:33:23,319 --> 00:33:25,720 down to that a little bit. There's also a spacing issue, where like 518 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:30,400 against this team, you don't need guys to one. They either don't care 519 00:33:30,440 --> 00:33:32,000 about some of your shooters and so they will roam off the corners, or 520 00:33:32,039 --> 00:33:35,400 maybe they just don't feel the need to roam off the corners because it's just 521 00:33:35,720 --> 00:33:40,160 everyone's within enough proximity of everybody else. Their offense is just like you can't 522 00:33:40,279 --> 00:33:44,680 hover around the bottom ten of points per possession and then just go win the 523 00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:47,480 title. That's just not how it's gonna work. And I just don't know 524 00:33:47,519 --> 00:33:51,279 if they have the tools to a lot of what you see with Okloma City. 525 00:33:51,279 --> 00:33:52,400 They don't have the tools to be a better rebounding team. That's just 526 00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:59,759 not gonna happen. But like defensive rebounding issues versus total offensive issues, it's 527 00:33:59,799 --> 00:34:02,000 not like that's almost what it comes down to for me when we're discussing these 528 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:05,920 two teams. And I still remain high on Minnesota. I think that they 529 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:09,280 are legitimately they could win it all and it wouldn't shock me. But there's 530 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:15,559 just something off about their offense that I don't know if it's fixable. And 531 00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:16,800 you could just say, well, Karlathon Town's needs to be in the corner 532 00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:22,079 more or just take more threes in general, we're like, specifically with this 533 00:34:22,119 --> 00:34:24,679 group, we're now in season one point six y five of singing that same 534 00:34:24,679 --> 00:34:28,559 song. I mean, he wasn't really playing last year, so that was 535 00:34:28,599 --> 00:34:32,360 part of it. I just I don't know that there is there's a way 536 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:35,920 for them to be better than they've been now, but I don't know if 537 00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:39,199 it's much like can they be much better than they've been out over not just 538 00:34:39,239 --> 00:34:43,599 a sustained period of time, but a sustained period of time in which these 539 00:34:43,639 --> 00:34:47,360 teams have like they're focusing on just you in the best of seven set, 540 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:52,800 and that's the biggest difference between playoff basketball is the rest and the preparation time 541 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:57,639 and focus. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I mean we've seen you know, 542 00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:02,760 Cobert against certain matchup really struggling in the playoffs in past years. I 543 00:35:02,800 --> 00:35:07,559 honestly, I'm not worried about kat A Mattress and I am Gobert. I'm 544 00:35:07,599 --> 00:35:10,079 not gonna like I'm just worried at general. Like I just the two big 545 00:35:10,119 --> 00:35:14,639 thing is working really well for them in the regular season, and I think 546 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:19,039 that was basically what they're doing this year in the regular season is what we 547 00:35:19,119 --> 00:35:22,480 expected out of them last year. Like I when people when they when they 548 00:35:22,519 --> 00:35:24,800 made the trade, it was pretty well received. It was like, Okay, 549 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:28,119 that was a lot to give up for Rudy Gobert and that you might 550 00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:30,159 we loved it that around that, but it was like, you know, 551 00:35:30,239 --> 00:35:35,320 the Timberwolf should be an easy fifty win regular season team. The concern was 552 00:35:35,320 --> 00:35:38,320 not the regular season, it was what does this look like when the playoffs 553 00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:44,519 come around? And I know Denver has said Minnesota was the toughest matchup that 554 00:35:44,559 --> 00:35:47,320 they had in the playoffs last year, and that was with no Jaden McDaniels, 555 00:35:47,320 --> 00:35:51,000 and you know, like they and Karl Anthony Towns out for half the 556 00:35:51,079 --> 00:35:55,519 year, so this is a better version of that Timberwolves team. But yeah, 557 00:35:55,519 --> 00:36:00,639 I think there are reasons to be concerned about them. I'd say probably 558 00:36:00,679 --> 00:36:02,519 there are more reason to be concerned about them than there are okay see, 559 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:07,760 Like, okay see, it really feels like just youth and inexperience is the 560 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:14,920 biggest issue, and we're more forgiving of that by like default, But I 561 00:36:14,960 --> 00:36:17,280 also think there is and that might be coloring the way that I view it 562 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:21,079 and maybe even the way you do it, is there's an urgency here because 563 00:36:21,119 --> 00:36:23,360 no one wants to hear about this, like they're going to be the second 564 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:27,000 Apron. They're coming up towards it and like, oh, they have to 565 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:29,679 break this team up after this. Yeah, and they have until the end 566 00:36:29,719 --> 00:36:31,159 of next season to do it. It's like everyone, but it might happen 567 00:36:31,159 --> 00:36:35,599 over the like if they flame out in the playoffs, which I honestly think 568 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:37,599 that their defense is going to hold up a lot better than people think in 569 00:36:37,639 --> 00:36:43,800 the postseason. It's just their offense and the the The bigger difference from okay 570 00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:45,360 se is you framed it perfectly, Like with the youth in the experience, 571 00:36:45,519 --> 00:36:51,400 you could be more forgiving of that. It's also just they have more modes 572 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:53,480 to toggle between than I think this Wolves team does right now, even though 573 00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:55,639 they are deep, Like Kyle Andris has not had a good year, but 574 00:36:55,639 --> 00:37:00,239 it's still Kyle Anderson. And now you add someone in Monte More's who be 575 00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:02,679 a part of your playoff rotation, and like, yes, Jordan McLoughlin's had 576 00:37:02,679 --> 00:37:06,880 some nice moments, but him usurping Shake Milton and joy Rod Jeringier in the 577 00:37:06,920 --> 00:37:09,960 rotation was okay, good for Jordan McLoughlin, but that's not ideal. And 578 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:14,440 that's so. But you have Monte Morris, you have an to kill Alexander 579 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:16,719 Walker. That's someone who can play in the playoffs. I feel good about 580 00:37:16,719 --> 00:37:21,039 this team, but I felt great about them like a month month and a 581 00:37:21,079 --> 00:37:23,360 half ago, and I think that I was just kind of blind to some 582 00:37:23,400 --> 00:37:27,719 of these offensive issues where like, and what I think is frustrating about it 583 00:37:27,760 --> 00:37:30,159 is to use Cleveland as an example just looking at their bigs. I know 584 00:37:30,199 --> 00:37:34,480 Evan Mobley's embracing the three ball a little bit more since he's come back from 585 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:36,719 injury, and he's hit like four or five of them, and it's like, 586 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:38,800 wow, he could just do that, Like it's them. Remember when 587 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:42,920 Giannis in the beginning used hit those pull up triples. It's like he just 588 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:45,000 hits like one or two of those a game, Like it's over for everybody. 589 00:37:45,079 --> 00:37:49,360 So all there with Ben Simmons, It's gonna happen at some point. 590 00:37:50,239 --> 00:37:54,119 But like the Wolves feel like they actually have the tools within their top end 591 00:37:54,239 --> 00:38:00,519 unit to open up the floor more. But Karl Anthony Towns might and he 592 00:38:00,639 --> 00:38:01,639 is so good. I don't think that he should have made the All Star 593 00:38:01,679 --> 00:38:04,800 team necessarily. I would have if you had to give it to a Wolf, 594 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:07,880 it would have been go bare for me. But like they have the 595 00:38:07,920 --> 00:38:09,960 ability to open up the floor or steady the offense a little bit more, 596 00:38:10,679 --> 00:38:15,840 and they're just they're not. But I also recognize that it does feel like 597 00:38:15,880 --> 00:38:21,920 they have a playmaking directional ceiling on that end too. Yeah, I think 598 00:38:21,920 --> 00:38:25,679 it's a smart point to bring up about them feeling the urgency or maybe us 599 00:38:25,719 --> 00:38:30,280 all being aware of the urgency. And I don't know, I mean people 600 00:38:30,360 --> 00:38:32,559 have been talking about it, writing about it, you know, It's been 601 00:38:34,280 --> 00:38:37,800 a theme throughout the year. I don't know how many Timberwolves fans are like 602 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:40,760 really fixated on that right now. Would imagine most of them are. That's 603 00:38:40,760 --> 00:38:45,760 a problem for later. They've played the like there's no Tomorrow card, which 604 00:38:45,760 --> 00:38:47,880 I actually think is that's the smart way to view it. I questioned whether 605 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:52,199 the organization because if there's a no Tomorrow card, like you couldn't have given 606 00:38:52,280 --> 00:38:54,920 up, Like was there way to give up more and get Tias Jones in 607 00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:58,840 Sada Monte Morris or like I said, the no Tomorrow card would have been 608 00:38:59,360 --> 00:39:01,960 nas reading Kyler Anderson from Malcolm Brogden, does Portland actually turn that down? 609 00:39:02,440 --> 00:39:07,119 Yeah? Yeah, I mean that's the concern is that this core is just 610 00:39:07,239 --> 00:39:12,679 financially unsustainable beyond this year. And I think you're absolutely right about that. 611 00:39:12,840 --> 00:39:15,199 So you know, it makes me ner of risks going into the playoffs. 612 00:39:15,239 --> 00:39:19,519 And I would imagine the players are aware of this more than anything, Like 613 00:39:19,639 --> 00:39:24,360 they know NBA players are smart and they understand how I would imagine they're looking 614 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:28,519 around the league now, especially and once we get to the AUF season, 615 00:39:28,599 --> 00:39:30,239 it's going to become very clear of like, oh, we are in a 616 00:39:30,360 --> 00:39:35,119 very different landscape than we were a year ago thanks to this new CBA so 617 00:39:35,920 --> 00:39:38,159 how is this going to affect Like our team's going to be willing to shell 618 00:39:38,199 --> 00:39:44,039 out these massive luxury tax building more and be over the second apron. No, 619 00:39:44,320 --> 00:39:46,239 I don't think they will unless they are, you know, like Denver 620 00:39:46,360 --> 00:39:50,840 might because they just won championship and very well could win another one this year. 621 00:39:50,880 --> 00:39:54,679 But unless you are a top tier championship contender, which you know, 622 00:39:54,760 --> 00:40:00,719 Minnesota is in the conversation. But if you look at you know, title 623 00:40:00,760 --> 00:40:05,320 ades right now, it's Boston, Denver, Clippers, Milwaukee, Big Gap, 624 00:40:05,760 --> 00:40:08,159 and then you know Phoenix, New York. Okay, see Cleveland at 625 00:40:08,239 --> 00:40:13,880 least on vanduel Minnesota's ninth right now, like I do, just because that's 626 00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:15,239 a reflection of the market. I just feel like there are not enough people 627 00:40:15,239 --> 00:40:17,719 who care. I'm not playing that anyone who listen to this, I don't 628 00:40:17,719 --> 00:40:21,199 care if you watch the Wolves are don't or if you're a Wolves fan and 629 00:40:21,239 --> 00:40:23,320 are mad at what we're saying. That feels like a lack of just like, 630 00:40:24,119 --> 00:40:28,559 the Wolves are really good, and it's funny you mentioned this already because 631 00:40:28,599 --> 00:40:30,400 of what they did last year, So we feel better about the thunder to 632 00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:34,599 come out of the West. But like the Timberwolves are clearly much better suited 633 00:40:34,639 --> 00:40:37,159 to beat the Nuggets than this there are Yeah, yeah, yeah, I 634 00:40:37,199 --> 00:40:42,400 know. It's honestly, I'm surprised the thunder that high. I'm pleasantly surprised. 635 00:40:42,559 --> 00:40:46,440 I think, like, I think the thunder just one of the better 636 00:40:46,480 --> 00:40:51,320 stories of the NBA just because even Sam Presty company of the season was like, 637 00:40:51,360 --> 00:40:53,199 I don't really know how good we are, Like that's I think that 638 00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:57,360 was one of the surprises of the trade deadline with them, you know, 639 00:40:57,639 --> 00:41:00,119 cashing in a couple of chips, not big ones, but cashing in some 640 00:41:00,199 --> 00:41:05,320 chips for Gordon Hayward was like he said he wasn't gonna do this type of 641 00:41:05,360 --> 00:41:08,559 thing early heading into the season. And it's not an all in move. 642 00:41:08,639 --> 00:41:13,719 I mean they are they are still locked and loaded for whenever that type of 643 00:41:13,800 --> 00:41:17,199 move comes along. But it is the most sam Pressy thing ever would be 644 00:41:17,239 --> 00:41:21,360 that by the time we finished recording this podcast, they've signed Gordon Hayward to 645 00:41:21,400 --> 00:41:24,639 an extension. That would be the mostsion. The most sam Pressy thing is 646 00:41:24,679 --> 00:41:30,239 that he's somehow finagled another Pickswow that broke at like three h five yesterday and 647 00:41:30,239 --> 00:41:34,519 no one heard about it until right now? Uh, do you have more? 648 00:41:34,599 --> 00:41:37,559 You have another question for me? I do I do I have? 649 00:41:37,800 --> 00:41:43,639 I think maybe two more one? How much better did Dallas get at the 650 00:41:43,679 --> 00:41:49,360 trade deadline? Don't do this? Oh, we already had so many man 651 00:41:49,400 --> 00:41:52,280 Mavericks fans in the live stream, but they did have one of the most 652 00:41:52,320 --> 00:41:55,519 divisive deamlines. Look, the answer is I don't. I think they're better 653 00:41:57,400 --> 00:42:00,320 than they were because Daniel Gafford is good like he He's shown some mid range 654 00:42:00,320 --> 00:42:04,840 touch and he'll also it's not what peak for Shaun Holmes used to do, 655 00:42:05,239 --> 00:42:07,559 but it's like he will flip up shots outside of the restricted area, which 656 00:42:07,559 --> 00:42:10,880 gives you optionality on the like the roles, and he is the type of 657 00:42:10,920 --> 00:42:16,800 big that should thrive alongside Luca and or specifically Luca, but also Kyrie, 658 00:42:16,880 --> 00:42:22,119 so they are better and PJ Washington, even this season with some uneven stuff 659 00:42:22,119 --> 00:42:23,440 from the outside, he has been better than Grant Williams. He has more 660 00:42:23,440 --> 00:42:25,639 of a floor game on offense, he makes the most out of his pain 661 00:42:25,760 --> 00:42:31,199 touches. I think he's actually better equipped to defend like bigger bigs than Grant 662 00:42:31,239 --> 00:42:37,000 Williams is, who just feels like he's ultra switchable. But you played all 663 00:42:37,079 --> 00:42:43,400 of your best chips to get are they ten percent better fifteen percent better? 664 00:42:43,440 --> 00:42:46,639 And is ten to fifteen percent better enough to win the title? And because 665 00:42:46,679 --> 00:42:50,239 you have Luca, and because of the way Lucas played in the playoffs and 666 00:42:50,239 --> 00:42:52,800 because the way Kyrie is played in the playoffs previously, maybe you could talk 667 00:42:52,800 --> 00:42:59,239 to yourself into saying yes. But the opportunity cost of I think not materially 668 00:42:59,280 --> 00:43:01,920 improving your championship odds, which is that's the standard. I'm not saying it's 669 00:43:01,920 --> 00:43:06,039 title or bust, but when you're playing kind of the last of your first 670 00:43:06,079 --> 00:43:09,599 round assets, that is the standard. No, they're not much better off. 671 00:43:09,639 --> 00:43:13,280 And one of the comments we had, and I actually did respond, 672 00:43:13,280 --> 00:43:15,840 I don't think they ever got back to me, was well, why can't 673 00:43:15,880 --> 00:43:19,079 Dallas just get more first round picks? They did it over the offseason with 674 00:43:19,440 --> 00:43:23,239 the salary dump from like you know, the Kings, and I'm my question 675 00:43:23,320 --> 00:43:29,119 to them was those opportunities aren't always available, and now you don't have a 676 00:43:29,159 --> 00:43:31,480 lot of this dispensable money just to throw around. And then I also asked, 677 00:43:31,840 --> 00:43:37,280 who is the player outside of Luca, outside of Kyrie? And outside 678 00:43:37,320 --> 00:43:42,360 of Derek Lively that you could trade this offseason and get Dallas more of a 679 00:43:42,400 --> 00:43:45,360 first round pick. And then who's also someone unimportant enough that you won't miss 680 00:43:45,400 --> 00:43:51,360 them? Right, There's there's no one. There's not even like because I 681 00:43:51,360 --> 00:43:53,400 think Daniel Gafford was only worth a first round pick because you were sending out 682 00:43:53,440 --> 00:43:57,760 Rashaun Holmes in that deal. I don't think Daniel Gafford met you a first 683 00:43:57,840 --> 00:44:00,280 round pick in a vacuum as a reserve big who can definitely start for you 684 00:44:00,760 --> 00:44:06,599 if Derek Livey's dealing with nasal stuff, but like he can't. So I 685 00:44:06,639 --> 00:44:08,519 didn't feel great about their deadline. I know a lot of MAVs fans appreciated 686 00:44:08,519 --> 00:44:13,519 that they kind of undid the summer mistake. But we talked about this during 687 00:44:13,559 --> 00:44:16,960 the trade deadline. Just you used your last chips and aside from that, 688 00:44:17,000 --> 00:44:21,599 its you now turned your twenty thirty first round swap, like forget about the 689 00:44:21,639 --> 00:44:23,800 seconds, because they had some inbound and outbound ones for your twenty thirty first 690 00:44:23,840 --> 00:44:31,000 round swap and your twenty twenty seven first round pick into Daniel Gafford or or 691 00:44:31,000 --> 00:44:36,679 excuse me, into PJ. Washington. And so it's like that's underwhelming, 692 00:44:36,679 --> 00:44:38,519 and I know that PJ. Washington, I think could be better than he 693 00:44:38,679 --> 00:44:43,199 was shown in Charlotte, and people will probably pay more attention to him alongside 694 00:44:43,239 --> 00:44:46,519 Luca. He will get better three point quality looks with Luca and Kyrie teeing 695 00:44:46,559 --> 00:44:50,480 them up. I think he could be really good for this team. But 696 00:44:50,559 --> 00:44:54,719 like, the gap still between their third best player and their second best player 697 00:44:55,800 --> 00:44:59,960 is a chasm. It's a galaxy at this point. And yeah, there's 698 00:45:00,079 --> 00:45:04,079 some teams who are title contenders that are probably the same way, but there 699 00:45:04,119 --> 00:45:06,960 there's also not just like I mean, look at the Thunder, look at 700 00:45:06,960 --> 00:45:12,079 the Timberwolves, look at the Nuggets. There's not that huge gulf between like 701 00:45:12,119 --> 00:45:15,800 your top two guys and maybe Milwaukee, but like you still kind of have 702 00:45:15,840 --> 00:45:19,239 Middleton and Lopezan's like that gap is still going to be smaller than what's existing 703 00:45:19,239 --> 00:45:22,000 in Dallas. Yeah, that might be another good follow up question. Who 704 00:45:22,079 --> 00:45:25,760 is even the third best player on the Mavericks right now? Well, it's 705 00:45:27,000 --> 00:45:29,719 sort of like by committee. It could be PJ. Washington, it could 706 00:45:29,719 --> 00:45:32,639 be Derek Lively, it could be Tim Hardaway Junior. Legitimately that's the person. 707 00:45:32,800 --> 00:45:37,639 It could be Josh Green. Am I missing anyone? It can't be 708 00:45:37,719 --> 00:45:40,519 Max in cleeband anymore. That doesn't you know, No, I could not 709 00:45:40,800 --> 00:45:44,400 know. Yeah, I think those are the big ones. So do you 710 00:45:44,440 --> 00:45:47,599 think that how where you land on them? Yeah? I mean I I 711 00:45:47,639 --> 00:45:52,559 asked that question because I do think it's worth like separating the context of the 712 00:45:52,599 --> 00:45:58,000 move, which you know, I think it's right to criticize it in totality 713 00:45:58,559 --> 00:46:01,639 because to make that type of a move and the cash in one of your 714 00:46:01,679 --> 00:46:07,400 few remaining chips, it really does need to vault you into the Denver OKC 715 00:46:07,639 --> 00:46:10,239 Clippers here, and I don't think it did for Dallas. You know, 716 00:46:10,360 --> 00:46:15,119 does it push them above Sacramento? Does it push them above New Orleans? 717 00:46:15,079 --> 00:46:20,480 Potentially? But I mean if this all ends with a first round knockout or 718 00:46:20,480 --> 00:46:24,920 even a second round knockout, it's just you're playing a very dangerous game if 719 00:46:24,920 --> 00:46:30,840 you're the Mavericks, because you're trading these you know, distant distant picks, 720 00:46:30,840 --> 00:46:34,400 and you know you had to trade the twenty eight picks wop just to get 721 00:46:34,400 --> 00:46:39,400 the pick from oka See to send for Gafford. Luca become a free agent 722 00:46:39,440 --> 00:46:43,519 in twenty twenty seven. Now, they'll probably, you know, he's very 723 00:46:43,599 --> 00:46:46,400 likely as long as he plays sixty five games he'll make all NBA. One 724 00:46:46,400 --> 00:46:50,320 of these next couple years, he'll become eligible for a super max, they'll 725 00:46:50,320 --> 00:46:53,159 sign him to one and whatever. So like, I don't necessarily think he 726 00:46:53,280 --> 00:46:58,320 is definitely going to leave the Dallas Mavericks by twenty twenty six or by twenty 727 00:46:58,360 --> 00:47:02,920 twenty seven, but there's at least that possibility, and only the top two 728 00:47:02,960 --> 00:47:07,360 protection on the pick that they sent for Washington, and then, as far 729 00:47:07,360 --> 00:47:09,320 as I know, it's a fully unprotected swap in twenty eight. There is 730 00:47:09,840 --> 00:47:15,159 just a ton of long term downside. And I think the Mavericks' counterpoint to 731 00:47:15,239 --> 00:47:20,679 that would be, that's fine, you're absolutely right, but we have Luka 732 00:47:20,719 --> 00:47:23,360 Danci. Do we need to maximize his time here? So what did you 733 00:47:23,400 --> 00:47:27,480 want us to do? And I don't have a better answer to that question 734 00:47:27,559 --> 00:47:32,239 because I don't know what else was available. And I'm sorry interrupt my Yeah, 735 00:47:32,280 --> 00:47:36,960 I think they could have because Luca, you could worry about the contract 736 00:47:37,000 --> 00:47:39,800 stuff, but you have Kyrie under contract, Luca's still young. They were 737 00:47:39,840 --> 00:47:44,000 the team more so than the Lakers, or even more so than maybe the 738 00:47:44,039 --> 00:47:46,719 Warriors, but like those teams still made the decision. You could have just 739 00:47:46,760 --> 00:47:52,440 done nothing and had yourself more AMMO to use over the offseason and gotten someone 740 00:47:52,519 --> 00:47:55,360 better that Like I'm not right now, I don't know what they could have 741 00:47:55,360 --> 00:47:59,920 gotten by giving up let's just say that swap and that first round pick. 742 00:48:00,000 --> 00:48:02,679 I don't know what the better they they also clearly wanted, Like let's just 743 00:48:02,719 --> 00:48:06,760 say, for instance, had you given up that swap and that pick, 744 00:48:07,239 --> 00:48:10,239 that you would have been able to get Jeremy Grant. They may have made 745 00:48:10,239 --> 00:48:13,800 the action I would have maybe I probably would have done that, even though 746 00:48:13,800 --> 00:48:15,400 he wouldn't have helped their rebounding a lick And I look, I would argue 747 00:48:15,400 --> 00:48:17,960 that I don't know that PJ. Washington or Daniel Gafford helps him on the 748 00:48:17,960 --> 00:48:22,159 glass that much either. But they made the act decision, well, no, 749 00:48:22,239 --> 00:48:25,199 we need two guys in the front court, which is fine. But 750 00:48:25,239 --> 00:48:30,159 the other move was and we saw them make it last season. It was 751 00:48:30,239 --> 00:48:32,719 granted, it was more nuclear of just kind of bowing out of the playing 752 00:48:32,760 --> 00:48:38,239 conversation towards the end, But they, to me, more so than even 753 00:48:38,280 --> 00:48:42,519 the Hawks, just by doing nothing, because what if Trey Young requested trade, 754 00:48:42,519 --> 00:48:45,400 and you've now traded future first round equity. But like, definitely more 755 00:48:45,400 --> 00:48:49,679 so than the Lakers and the Warriors who did stamp pat you could have just 756 00:48:49,719 --> 00:48:52,079 said no, like we're gonna we can find something better in the offseason. 757 00:48:52,079 --> 00:48:54,760 And so even if you're telling me there was an option of well, they 758 00:48:54,760 --> 00:48:58,679 could have gotten Jeremy Grant, or it was PJ. Washington and Daniel Gafford, 759 00:48:58,800 --> 00:49:00,559 or it was Kyle Kuzma, those were not your only three options. 760 00:49:00,599 --> 00:49:04,480 You could have sat tight, opened up. What could they have trained the 761 00:49:04,480 --> 00:49:08,039 off season? Three first round picks, three first swapped in still would have 762 00:49:08,039 --> 00:49:12,519 had two more swap three and two swaps right where now it's one swap and 763 00:49:12,519 --> 00:49:15,719 that's it is what you can move. So they could have waited, and 764 00:49:15,760 --> 00:49:20,159 I know people would have been frustrated by that. I just can't talk myself 765 00:49:20,159 --> 00:49:24,400 into the immediate ceiling with PJ. Washington and Daniel Gafford versus like I would 766 00:49:24,440 --> 00:49:29,440 have taken the road not traveled, or the road of what what could have 767 00:49:29,480 --> 00:49:30,559 been? And so to me, it's not even just a matter of what 768 00:49:30,599 --> 00:49:34,400 else are they supposed to do with this trade deadline? It's well, what 769 00:49:34,480 --> 00:49:37,559 else could they have done this offseason, and there's definitely a scenario on which 770 00:49:37,039 --> 00:49:43,360 they could have gotten someone or someone's collectively better than Daniel Gafford and PJ. 771 00:49:43,480 --> 00:49:49,599 Washington. Yeah, totally agree with that. I have you mentioned them. 772 00:49:50,000 --> 00:49:52,000 I have three teams, but if we only get to one or two, 773 00:49:52,840 --> 00:49:54,840 this team is my kink. I think about them at night, trying to 774 00:49:54,840 --> 00:49:59,280 figure out what they are. I can buy into them as a pseudo title 775 00:49:59,280 --> 00:50:01,559 contender on one night, I'm depressed about their future. The other night, 776 00:50:02,719 --> 00:50:08,480 how good are the New Orleans Pelicans? Oh that's a good one. Yeah, 777 00:50:08,840 --> 00:50:15,000 please don't do. Our guy who does a great job covering the Pels 778 00:50:15,159 --> 00:50:21,159 was mentioning basically like Point Zion, it's gonna determine the second half of their 779 00:50:21,159 --> 00:50:24,360 season, which I think is a very fascinating. He's back too, like 780 00:50:24,400 --> 00:50:29,880 they finally they get away from it, and I can't remember who else listening 781 00:50:29,920 --> 00:50:34,679 to mentioned this and I thought it was good, Which is why I'm interrupting 782 00:50:34,719 --> 00:50:37,920 you. Is that do they just not trust that Zion will be available when 783 00:50:37,920 --> 00:50:40,559 it matters most, and that's why they get away from Point Zion so much. 784 00:50:40,599 --> 00:50:45,960 But I agree with you and Sumid that point Zion is definitely going to 785 00:50:45,039 --> 00:50:52,039 define their ceiling. Yeah. I mean it's interesting just because they are in 786 00:50:52,079 --> 00:50:55,199 this mix of top six seeds, and it does still feel like they're still 787 00:50:55,280 --> 00:51:00,599 kind of trying to figure themselves out a little bit and figure out their hierarchy. 788 00:51:00,800 --> 00:51:02,840 So the answer to your question is, I have no idea how good 789 00:51:02,920 --> 00:51:07,880 they are, and I honestly don't think they even know either. I think 790 00:51:07,920 --> 00:51:14,000 they are still working through a lot of like which combinations of players work best 791 00:51:14,039 --> 00:51:16,599 with one another. And I mean that if there's the fundamental question of who 792 00:51:16,599 --> 00:51:22,239 should be our primary ball handler fifty games into the season, that means we've 793 00:51:22,239 --> 00:51:25,360 still got a lot to figure out over these final thirty games before the playoffs 794 00:51:25,360 --> 00:51:30,239 begin. Yeah, they they confuse the hell out of me. And then 795 00:51:30,280 --> 00:51:32,920 you and like, I appreciate that they've tried some stuff where it's like, 796 00:51:32,960 --> 00:51:37,559 Okay, you've seen Larry and Junior start second halves and they've been like, 797 00:51:37,800 --> 00:51:39,719 the starting un up isn't good, but they've been good in first halves and 798 00:51:39,760 --> 00:51:43,679 not so much in second halves. And then it's you want to say, 799 00:51:44,000 --> 00:51:46,920 there's Zion in Brandon Ingram and first some of this season it was true they're 800 00:51:46,960 --> 00:51:51,800 just functionally hard to build around as your two players. But then you think 801 00:51:51,800 --> 00:51:53,920 of the data, it's like Zion's efficiency is just a lot better this season 802 00:51:53,960 --> 00:51:58,760 with both Zion and Valanchunis on the floor than with one or both of them 803 00:51:58,800 --> 00:52:00,719 off, And yeah, he might get to the rim a little bit more. 804 00:52:01,079 --> 00:52:06,320 But so like that confound you like in totality, and then the other 805 00:52:06,320 --> 00:52:08,920 thing that's confusing as hell is just how good they are on the margins. 806 00:52:08,920 --> 00:52:12,800 And this was the problem with them when you tie it to the trade deadline 807 00:52:12,840 --> 00:52:15,440 is and I didn't see a lot of people calling for them to make a 808 00:52:15,480 --> 00:52:19,159 move. There was a very clear we talked about this in our discord plug 809 00:52:19,360 --> 00:52:22,920 join, our discord links in the podcast and YouTube description that there was they 810 00:52:22,960 --> 00:52:27,519 had a clear need, but there was no one who And it's rim protection 811 00:52:27,599 --> 00:52:32,400 that came with one or both of role gravity or like outside floor spacing. 812 00:52:32,679 --> 00:52:36,400 Those players are not available and drove, so you weren't going to find them. 813 00:52:36,400 --> 00:52:37,880 But if you were going to find them, they needed to be better 814 00:52:38,280 --> 00:52:42,159 to either one force you to move one of your guys who are really good, 815 00:52:42,239 --> 00:52:45,480 or to usurp these guys in the rotation who are really good and there's 816 00:52:45,480 --> 00:52:49,599 so much to like about them though, and they've had like so ever since 817 00:52:49,639 --> 00:52:52,679 they dropped to I think it was twelve and eleven, they're one game over 818 00:52:52,679 --> 00:52:54,840 five hundred. They were injured that, you know, not that to say 819 00:52:54,840 --> 00:52:59,440 the sky was falling, but like the vibes weren't great. Since then, 820 00:52:59,880 --> 00:53:02,880 they are top five in net rating with a top five offense and a top 821 00:53:02,920 --> 00:53:07,480 five defense. Herb Jones not all the data supports this. He's better on 822 00:53:07,559 --> 00:53:10,719 offense, like he's hitting the corner threes those clips in the volume I have 823 00:53:10,840 --> 00:53:15,960 gone up. He's just I have never seen him perform this well in transition 824 00:53:15,000 --> 00:53:19,239 as a decision maker, as sort of a finisher. That's been huge for 825 00:53:19,320 --> 00:53:22,719 them. And then like Trey Murphy, you know, he goes through these 826 00:53:22,760 --> 00:53:24,159 sort of peaks and plunges. But then it's like you look at what he 827 00:53:24,199 --> 00:53:28,280 does as a shooter, an off ball mover, as even a guy who 828 00:53:28,320 --> 00:53:30,320 can keep the ball moving when he gets going downhill, and you look at 829 00:53:30,320 --> 00:53:35,920 their individual pieces and it's Jonas Valentunas can carry them on a night and outplay 830 00:53:35,960 --> 00:53:38,239 Alpern Ching gout against the Rockets in part because Zion Williamson is not playing, 831 00:53:38,440 --> 00:53:43,800 so you're able to feed him more. There's all this functional overlap that works, 832 00:53:44,039 --> 00:53:45,639 but it doesn't like can you reach your peak with it? And then 833 00:53:45,760 --> 00:53:50,880 what is the best version of yourself actually looking like? Again we both and 834 00:53:50,960 --> 00:53:54,719 schmidt As pointed this out time again that it's with points Ion, but like 835 00:53:54,880 --> 00:53:59,800 that's not necessarily maybe brandon Ingram's best bet, but then it also works at 836 00:53:59,800 --> 00:54:02,320 time we're not at times like we've seen it work to a high degree. 837 00:54:02,360 --> 00:54:07,840 And you love so many of the individual pieces on this roster and you can 838 00:54:07,880 --> 00:54:10,280 go to and they could probably do more of this. The Zion plus all 839 00:54:10,320 --> 00:54:15,079 shooters lineup when you're gonna stagger him and brandon Ingram, so you do have 840 00:54:15,119 --> 00:54:19,519 that button to press. There's so much and then also just the defense just 841 00:54:19,559 --> 00:54:22,039 belies their personnel at this point. I know Herb Jones is good, Trey 842 00:54:22,119 --> 00:54:25,119 Murphy solid, CJ. Mccollm's been good this year. They've done a great 843 00:54:25,159 --> 00:54:29,000 job in slating him, but he's made great decisions when he's kind of defending 844 00:54:29,199 --> 00:54:32,719 those weak side corners. But like you look at this team and it's okay, 845 00:54:32,800 --> 00:54:37,239 Zion Ingram, Jonas, Awn Chetas and CG. Mccoum are playing absurdly 846 00:54:37,239 --> 00:54:39,679 heavy minutes. Dyson Daniels can't always stay on the floor because of how raw 847 00:54:39,719 --> 00:54:44,480 he is offensively. No, they're just like an elite defensive unit. Statistically, 848 00:54:44,639 --> 00:54:46,320 It's like, there's there's so much to love about this team, but 849 00:54:46,360 --> 00:54:51,159 they actually I'm wondering if they have Maybe this was the question to ask you, 850 00:54:51,199 --> 00:54:55,159 do they have the highest range of outcomes among teams in the league this 851 00:54:55,239 --> 00:55:00,320 season where you could say they dipped it down towards the plan or they lost 852 00:55:00,320 --> 00:55:01,960 in the first round, but oh, Pelicans came out of the West. 853 00:55:02,119 --> 00:55:07,079 But yeah, yeah, if you're like discounting the sixers for injury reasons, 854 00:55:07,119 --> 00:55:12,440 because yeah, probably, but I mean otherwise, yeah, probably. So 855 00:55:12,559 --> 00:55:15,800 like you could absolutely talk yourselves into Pelicans get hot, go on a run, 856 00:55:15,920 --> 00:55:20,480 figure out which guys work best together. I mean, you brought up 857 00:55:20,480 --> 00:55:23,360 a Trey Murphy. He's only shooting thirty five point three percent from deep this 858 00:55:23,440 --> 00:55:27,719 year. You shot thirty eight point two as a rookie forty point six last 859 00:55:27,800 --> 00:55:31,519 year. Like, if he bounces back to the high thirties or even low 860 00:55:31,639 --> 00:55:36,559 forties, what does that do for a Pelicans team that you know one of 861 00:55:36,599 --> 00:55:39,400 the more efficient teams from deep shooting thirty seven point nine percent. As a 862 00:55:39,400 --> 00:55:44,480 team, which ranked sixth in the NBA, They're only twenty thirty three point 863 00:55:44,519 --> 00:55:47,480 attempts per game. I know. It's something that drives Schmidt absolutely bonkers. 864 00:55:47,480 --> 00:55:53,119 Is he just wants to see more shooters around Zion and Bi or just Zion 865 00:55:53,400 --> 00:55:55,800 or just b. I like, if you can, you know, have 866 00:55:57,079 --> 00:56:04,159 guys who can fire shoot, just get them up. Yeah, shoot shoot 867 00:56:04,559 --> 00:56:08,239 efficiently and shoot in volume like your high volume, high efficiency shooters. That 868 00:56:08,400 --> 00:56:14,639 it's really they gotta up. Yeah, that's right, that's right exactly. 869 00:56:15,159 --> 00:56:20,400 So yeah, I'm I'm curious to see how everything coalesces over these final thirty 870 00:56:20,440 --> 00:56:22,480 games where they end up in the standings. And you know, I mean, 871 00:56:22,519 --> 00:56:25,559 they just beat the Clippers the other night, and the Clippers have been 872 00:56:25,599 --> 00:56:28,719 one of the best teams in the NBA over the last two months. So 873 00:56:28,800 --> 00:56:31,360 like that's the stealing is they can beat the best teams in the NBA. 874 00:56:31,480 --> 00:56:36,480 It's just can you get make it to April in one piece with Zion in 875 00:56:36,519 --> 00:56:39,880 particular, and then if so, which of these guys are going to be 876 00:56:39,880 --> 00:56:45,559 in the playoff rotation? Because they frankly have too many guys that they play 877 00:56:45,639 --> 00:56:47,760 and not all of them are going to play in the playoffs. They're they're 878 00:56:47,800 --> 00:56:51,679 so maddening and it must be mandening to cover them on a day to day 879 00:56:51,719 --> 00:56:53,079 basis of just like, well, why isn't Zion? Why is it? 880 00:56:53,280 --> 00:56:57,639 Why is Zion at? What is Zion as your point guard? Not coming 881 00:56:57,679 --> 00:57:01,920 drips and DRAMs but like you know, like fade in, fade out type 882 00:57:01,920 --> 00:57:05,679 deal. And then also it has to be for you're always you mentioned with 883 00:57:05,679 --> 00:57:08,000 the Zion injury. It's kind of a cliche talking point, but it feels 884 00:57:08,039 --> 00:57:10,559 like you're always waiting for the other shoot to drop. With this team, 885 00:57:10,559 --> 00:57:14,960 well, something gonna go wrong with Bi or CJ or Zion. Even it's 886 00:57:15,079 --> 00:57:16,199 a lot of people who want to see Larry Nance get more minutes. It's 887 00:57:16,199 --> 00:57:19,400 like, I don't know, Larry NaN's locked twenty minutes. Somebody can his 888 00:57:19,480 --> 00:57:24,400 knees take that type deal? And this team is so fascinating and infuriating it 889 00:57:24,440 --> 00:57:27,679 the same like I said, they're my kink. They're the team that just 890 00:57:27,719 --> 00:57:30,639 like keeps me up. I'm so high on them, but they can they 891 00:57:30,639 --> 00:57:35,119 can toy with my emotions. The dial can fluctuate from zero to eleven on 892 00:57:35,280 --> 00:57:37,880 just any given moment, any given possession. Yeah, they're you know you 893 00:57:37,920 --> 00:57:43,840 brought up Minnesota earlier as a team that how long is this course sustainable for? 894 00:57:44,480 --> 00:57:46,559 I know Schmidt has been all over this as well, but you know, 895 00:57:46,920 --> 00:57:53,039 valentierness is up after this year. They're already I think like one hundred 896 00:57:53,079 --> 00:57:58,440 and fifty thousand or one hundred and fifty million on the books for next year, 897 00:57:58,480 --> 00:58:00,880 if not more. I'm just basing that off the spot track. So 898 00:58:00,920 --> 00:58:07,400 once you re sign JV, that alone might put you either at the tax 899 00:58:07,519 --> 00:58:10,320 or even over the tax. And are are the Pelicans willing to pay the 900 00:58:10,400 --> 00:58:14,000 tax or how deep are they willing to go into the tax or do they 901 00:58:14,039 --> 00:58:19,159 need to make some sort of consolidation move this summer? So I think these 902 00:58:19,320 --> 00:58:22,719 thirty games in this playoff run is going to be pretty instructive because yeah, 903 00:58:22,800 --> 00:58:28,639 I know Schibid has been banging the drum of like all three of the Zion, 904 00:58:28,960 --> 00:58:32,960 BI and CJ are probably not sustainable long term. So which two of 905 00:58:34,000 --> 00:58:37,960 them or which guy is the absolute we have to keep him? Is it? 906 00:58:37,079 --> 00:58:42,239 Zion? Because the ceiling is so high even though you know, highest 907 00:58:42,239 --> 00:58:45,960 ceiling of the three but lowest four because of the injury risk, or do 908 00:58:45,000 --> 00:58:47,719 you play it safe and go with like Bi, it's your league guy, 909 00:58:47,760 --> 00:58:51,559 and can he be the league guy on a title team. I think these 910 00:58:51,559 --> 00:58:53,079 are all fair questions. We're going to find out a lot of answers about 911 00:58:53,079 --> 00:58:57,920 the Pelicans in the next couple of months. I saw some people were frustrated 912 00:58:57,960 --> 00:59:00,440 too that since they didn't make a move at the deadline, again, just 913 00:59:00,440 --> 00:59:02,519 what was the move that would have made an impact? Like, honestly, 914 00:59:02,639 --> 00:59:06,559 it just when you look at this rotation, but that now they don't necessarily 915 00:59:06,599 --> 00:59:10,920 have tradable salary without dipping into the core and you mentioned like kind of the 916 00:59:12,280 --> 00:59:15,159 core element of that is that was never gonna happen, Like, yes, 917 00:59:15,159 --> 00:59:17,280 if the perfect deal came along, that they could have used Jonas Valentunas and 918 00:59:17,320 --> 00:59:22,440 picks and you know, Jordan Hawkins or like another smaller salary. If they 919 00:59:22,519 --> 00:59:28,559 make a meaningful change, it's gonna involve Zion brand ingram Merced McCollum. That's 920 00:59:28,559 --> 00:59:30,280 just like that's how you're going to upgrade at this point, And they still 921 00:59:30,320 --> 00:59:35,039 have like between if they really wanted to and didn't care about expenses, they 922 00:59:35,079 --> 00:59:38,559 have there's one they're signing trades with Jonas Valentnis, but there's also between Larry 923 00:59:38,639 --> 00:59:44,320 Nance and then step laddering your way with Dyson Daniel's money and Jordan Hawkins money 924 00:59:44,320 --> 00:59:47,000 if that deal comes along. But like you said there at one fifty eight 925 00:59:47,079 --> 00:59:50,960 is what I'm seeing before the yonis valentoonis Capole, and so if he even 926 00:59:50,960 --> 00:59:53,840 gets the same salary, they are into the tax. And this playoffs is 927 00:59:53,840 --> 00:59:59,599 also going to determine not just this team ceiling where they bow out, how 928 00:59:59,639 --> 01:00:01,960 they out will determine like, well, are we willing to go into the 929 01:00:02,039 --> 01:00:06,320 tax for this core and if you're not, or even if you are, 930 01:00:07,280 --> 01:00:10,639 what type of change needs we made to continue furthering our progress here. There's 931 01:00:10,719 --> 01:00:14,800 just there's so much at stake for them. I don't know if it's maybe 932 01:00:14,800 --> 01:00:15,559 they don't have the most. I haven't gone through that, but like the 933 01:00:15,599 --> 01:00:20,559 teams that have the most at stake just this year, it might it might 934 01:00:20,599 --> 01:00:23,599 be them. Yeah, they're up there. I mean, there's a lot 935 01:00:23,639 --> 01:00:30,079 of teams in the same boat of like it's it's not necessarily now or never 936 01:00:30,199 --> 01:00:35,599 for their entire core, but for the way they are currently constructed. It 937 01:00:35,679 --> 01:00:39,119 is hard to imagine that a couple of these teams are going to be built 938 01:00:39,199 --> 01:00:43,639 the exact same way next year, or that their core is going to be 939 01:00:43,679 --> 01:00:49,480 built the same way next year, like Minnesota is definitely one, New Orleans 940 01:00:49,559 --> 01:00:52,599 is one. Cleveland as well. As they're playing, there are going to 941 01:00:52,599 --> 01:00:57,039 be some major questions that they faced this summer, and how they fare in 942 01:00:57,039 --> 01:01:00,159 the playoffs will determine the answer. In Atlanta, the Bulls would like to 943 01:01:00,199 --> 01:01:02,239 be included in this conversation, even though they don't belong in it. The 944 01:01:02,360 --> 01:01:07,480 ball would love to be make the playoffs, win a playoff series, and 945 01:01:07,480 --> 01:01:09,679 then you can be involved in this conversation. Until then, go back to 946 01:01:09,719 --> 01:01:15,480 your treadmill of mediocrity. Please, you said you had one more I do 947 01:01:15,519 --> 01:01:22,480 Are we overlooking the Phoenix Suns? Ooh? I mean, first of all, 948 01:01:22,840 --> 01:01:25,719 and they might dovetail just because of the move they made with the one 949 01:01:25,719 --> 01:01:29,679 of the other teams that had my list. I kind of feel like yes, 950 01:01:30,400 --> 01:01:34,440 it just like you look at the issues they've had and they're real issues. 951 01:01:34,960 --> 01:01:37,320 But like the turnover stuff when you have your big three, it's not 952 01:01:37,440 --> 01:01:40,360 as prevalent through most of the game. Fourth quarters have been in issues. 953 01:01:40,400 --> 01:01:43,800 We've seen defenses blit them, blitz them, but you know, it's been 954 01:01:43,800 --> 01:01:46,320 a bigger issue for them in fourth quarters. Nobody hits a wide open jumper. 955 01:01:46,400 --> 01:01:50,559 They still generate them, but they shoot. And I've mentioned this now. 956 01:01:50,559 --> 01:01:52,840 I think like three times they have an effective field goal percentage of above 957 01:01:52,880 --> 01:01:57,599 sixty three on wide open jump shots outside ten feet. Through the first three 958 01:01:57,679 --> 01:02:00,559 quarters, that number drops to dead last and the NBA at about forty six 959 01:02:01,079 --> 01:02:06,280 in the fourth quarter. That's like Grayson Allen turns into a pumpkin, like 960 01:02:06,679 --> 01:02:09,639 Bradley Beal has struggled at points. But I look at this team, everyone 961 01:02:09,760 --> 01:02:13,320 not everyone. A lot of people thought they needed a point guard. I 962 01:02:13,400 --> 01:02:15,800 think they picked Royce O'Neil's not super athletic. I think they picked the right 963 01:02:15,880 --> 01:02:21,280 need, which was let's get another someone who, like, look, let's 964 01:02:21,320 --> 01:02:23,320 be honest, usef Nerdic has been good, Grayson Allen has been good. 965 01:02:23,519 --> 01:02:25,960 Eric Gordon has had his moments. But there's a chance that we look back 966 01:02:27,000 --> 01:02:30,079 at the trade deadline and say, did the Sun just acquire their fourth most 967 01:02:30,079 --> 01:02:32,440 important player, Like that's how good of a fit Royce O'Neil is. And 968 01:02:32,440 --> 01:02:36,800 so I think they just checked that the right box, and so like, 969 01:02:37,199 --> 01:02:40,920 are we overlooking them in the sense of could they win it all? I 970 01:02:40,920 --> 01:02:45,639 think we are because if the caveats just well, are their three stars need 971 01:02:45,679 --> 01:02:47,320 to be available? Well, no shit, And so it's just like we 972 01:02:47,400 --> 01:02:51,679 can't write them off because of that Caveat other rise, we'd be writing off 973 01:02:51,719 --> 01:02:54,519 the Clippers right now, right right. I mean, Beal has missed so 974 01:02:54,599 --> 01:02:58,840 much time this year, and even Booker and Durant missed a couple of games 975 01:02:58,840 --> 01:03:02,800 here or there, so we haven't seen them at full strength all that much 976 01:03:02,880 --> 01:03:07,039 this year. It's gotten much better as of late. But you know, 977 01:03:07,280 --> 01:03:08,280 i'd say, really for the first couple of months of the season, it 978 01:03:08,360 --> 01:03:12,679 was like, Okay, Balds back, but Kg's out, Kg's back, 979 01:03:12,719 --> 01:03:16,400 Bookers out, Bookers back, Beals out. So it just felt very inconsistent. 980 01:03:16,920 --> 01:03:20,960 But I mean, they are only five games back of the one seed 981 01:03:21,039 --> 01:03:24,920 right now. Over the last month, I think there are twelve and three 982 01:03:25,880 --> 01:03:31,079 yea, and they you know, they're playing like they played the Blazers, 983 01:03:31,119 --> 01:03:36,960 the Bulls, the Nets, the Wizards, so woohoo. I'm not gonna 984 01:03:37,159 --> 01:03:40,920 go celebrate that. But they've also beaten in that stretch the Sacramento Kings, 985 01:03:40,960 --> 01:03:45,039 the New Orleans Pelicans, the Indiana Pacers, the Dallas Mavericks, the Miami 986 01:03:45,159 --> 01:03:50,760 Heat, the Milwaukee Bucks. So no, yes, I'd like to see 987 01:03:50,760 --> 01:03:53,760 them prove it against the top tier contenders they've got. Okay, see in 988 01:03:53,800 --> 01:04:00,239 Denver in a three and four night stretch Houston and then okay, see the 989 01:04:00,239 --> 01:04:03,480 back to back and then then at Denver two nights later at the beginning of 990 01:04:03,480 --> 01:04:06,559 March. So that'll be fun. But like that might be a good litmus 991 01:04:06,559 --> 01:04:11,239 test for them. But I mean yeah, I mean, like, if 992 01:04:11,280 --> 01:04:15,880 you have Kevin Durant and Devin Booker alone, we saw how potent those two 993 01:04:15,920 --> 01:04:20,440 guys could be in that series against Denver last year. Now you add Bradley 994 01:04:20,480 --> 01:04:24,199 build of the equation, you add these other guys, Like, yeah, 995 01:04:24,239 --> 01:04:29,760 they they lost some of their depth that they acquired this offseason in the trade 996 01:04:29,760 --> 01:04:32,480 to get Royce O'Neill. That's okay. I mean, we knew from the 997 01:04:32,519 --> 01:04:36,800 moment they went with this big three cGy they were going to be very very 998 01:04:36,840 --> 01:04:40,920 top heavy and they were gonna have to lean on you know, they're probably 999 01:04:40,920 --> 01:04:44,119 gonna cut to like a seven or eight man rotation in the playoffs. And 1000 01:04:44,159 --> 01:04:46,480 that's they just got someone who's definitely gonna be a part of it too, 1001 01:04:46,480 --> 01:04:48,760 which you could not say about any of them, like you don't want an 1002 01:04:48,760 --> 01:04:51,920 Ibby already wasn't really playing, so like you couldn't say that about anyone that 1003 01:04:51,960 --> 01:04:56,960 they sent out. Yeah, like Kiddibates job is probably the best one of 1004 01:04:57,000 --> 01:05:00,920 the four, And I mean I think they got joshakhiy at home. They 1005 01:05:00,480 --> 01:05:03,800 have the offensive liability wing defender there, you go, right exactly, and 1006 01:05:03,800 --> 01:05:06,559 now yeah you have a right so O'Neil who should be a plug and play 1007 01:05:06,599 --> 01:05:11,760 fit there. So you know, I think they it's similar to Okay, 1008 01:05:11,760 --> 01:05:15,639 see, like their move is gonna fly under the deadline because everyone's so busy 1009 01:05:15,679 --> 01:05:17,840 falling over themselves trying to praise what the Knicks did and trying to make fun 1010 01:05:17,880 --> 01:05:21,239 of the Chicago Bulls and the Lakers and the Warriors. But I think the 1011 01:05:21,280 --> 01:05:29,800 Sun's got notably better yesterday. And you know, there's this focus on Minnesota, 1012 01:05:29,880 --> 01:05:32,559 Denver, Okay see Clippers because the standings are all still bunched at the 1013 01:05:32,679 --> 01:05:35,920 very top of the conference. But Phoenix is just lurking there, like, 1014 01:05:36,480 --> 01:05:41,000 hey, guys, you do remember that we have Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, 1015 01:05:41,000 --> 01:05:44,440 and Bradley Beal Right, like we are still a championship kid Dender as 1016 01:05:44,440 --> 01:05:46,880 well. And there's there's two variables that I think once in favor of the 1017 01:05:46,880 --> 01:05:49,360 Suns, and one isn't like the one that's in favor of them is like 1018 01:05:49,400 --> 01:05:53,239 Bradley Beal has and this because he missed some time and I think he was 1019 01:05:53,239 --> 01:05:56,119 always going to be the player that needed to adjust more. He's had to 1020 01:05:56,159 --> 01:05:59,000 make more adjustments and he struggled at points, but to his credit, he 1021 01:05:59,000 --> 01:06:01,079 hasn't really tried to like from the script, and there are just moments when 1022 01:06:01,119 --> 01:06:03,840 you can see it work and see it clicking and how this is all supposed 1023 01:06:03,840 --> 01:06:08,840 to collaise together so they're gonna get better, So they might get better on 1024 01:06:08,920 --> 01:06:11,960 offense, is my point. A team that over their last thirty games I 1025 01:06:12,000 --> 01:06:15,320 think has is like fifth in offense, or their their fourth in offense or 1026 01:06:15,360 --> 01:06:17,440 their last thirty games, and I don't remember what they were overall on the 1027 01:06:17,480 --> 01:06:20,519 season. They're sixth for the season. Now. The one that I have 1028 01:06:20,599 --> 01:06:26,039 questions about and you watch them and you don't understand it. You dig into 1029 01:06:26,079 --> 01:06:28,800 the data and you start to understand it, and then you wonder if it 1030 01:06:28,840 --> 01:06:32,039 holds up in the playoffs. They're just hovering around league average on defense despite 1031 01:06:32,079 --> 01:06:36,480 not necessarily having the personnel to do so. And then you start to look 1032 01:06:36,480 --> 01:06:40,920 at it, it's like they haven't really gotten too lucky on opponent three point 1033 01:06:40,960 --> 01:06:45,079 shooting. They haven't gotten like teams aren't hitting mid range jumpers against them. 1034 01:06:45,119 --> 01:06:47,039 But that's like not the hugest deal. And then you look, you look, 1035 01:06:47,079 --> 01:06:50,280 it's like they're not a good defensive rebounding team overall. Some of their 1036 01:06:50,320 --> 01:06:54,599 lineups can be, but just overall, they're not their backup. Big situation 1037 01:06:54,760 --> 01:06:58,000 is traditionally a mess like Drew Eubanks might decide to play well for two or 1038 01:06:58,000 --> 01:07:00,719 three games at a time, but that's about it. And yet they're a 1039 01:07:00,800 --> 01:07:04,079 team. And I think we people started to come onto this with the Denver 1040 01:07:04,199 --> 01:07:10,960 Nuggets last year. If your league average defensively put your super ultra elite on 1041 01:07:11,039 --> 01:07:15,199 offense, you can win the title. My issue with the Suns, and 1042 01:07:15,239 --> 01:07:17,599 they address is a little bit with Royce O'Neill, just just a little bit. 1043 01:07:18,199 --> 01:07:24,239 Is Denver always had, like some of the individual defenders, Aaron Gordon 1044 01:07:24,320 --> 01:07:27,719 specifically, they had Bruce Brown last year and now they have you know, 1045 01:07:27,760 --> 01:07:30,039 Peyton Watson in sort of a stay. You look at them and said, 1046 01:07:30,079 --> 01:07:33,960 like they could you could see the theory of what they were gonna do on 1047 01:07:34,000 --> 01:07:38,039 defense at the highest level. And then you also got you know, Jamal 1048 01:07:38,119 --> 01:07:41,280 Murray turns it up a notch. And the Sons have that with Devin Booker, 1049 01:07:41,320 --> 01:07:43,480 like they're kind of like Jamal Murray. He'll kick into the next year, 1050 01:07:43,559 --> 01:07:46,599 especially in one on one situations. The Sons don't have their Aaron Gordon. 1051 01:07:46,639 --> 01:07:49,679 They don't even have their Michael Porter Junior, who during the playoffs last 1052 01:07:49,760 --> 01:07:54,320 year, like and you don't need to listen to his opinions on the WNBA. 1053 01:07:54,320 --> 01:07:58,800 I'm talking strictly about it. Like he comes in and crashing the glass, 1054 01:07:59,039 --> 01:08:01,599 He's defending his ass off, He's like making good help rotations. I 1055 01:08:01,639 --> 01:08:05,519 don't see that on this team necessarily, And so I sort of question whether 1056 01:08:06,199 --> 01:08:09,960 when they're going up against teams that are and I'm not smart enough to know 1057 01:08:10,000 --> 01:08:12,880 the answer to this, I'm honest, I'm genuinely just asking this question. 1058 01:08:13,199 --> 01:08:15,760 When teams are gonna be able to game plan for them in a best of 1059 01:08:15,840 --> 01:08:18,359 seven series, do we see some pullback from a defense that I would say, 1060 01:08:18,439 --> 01:08:25,279 overall and especially relative to the personnel that they have, has overachieved and 1061 01:08:25,399 --> 01:08:27,960 is in a spot where you're like, like, if you just take the 1062 01:08:28,000 --> 01:08:31,199 defensive returns at face value, which again, there's nothing that stands out that 1063 01:08:31,279 --> 01:08:34,279 said you can even One of the things I thought about watching them is their 1064 01:08:34,279 --> 01:08:39,920 offense is so good. They get set like that helps, but like they 1065 01:08:40,319 --> 01:08:44,319 get back after committing a turnover or missing a shot like, so they have 1066 01:08:44,479 --> 01:08:46,439 that in them. And so you look at these results and if you told 1067 01:08:46,479 --> 01:08:50,039 me they're just the fourteenth or fifteenth or sixteenth the best defensive team in the 1068 01:08:50,119 --> 01:08:54,840 league and that that'll hold up in the playoffs, we are absolutely sleeping on 1069 01:08:54,880 --> 01:08:58,239 the Phoenix Suns. I'm just wondering, and I think we overall are sleeping 1070 01:08:58,279 --> 01:09:00,880 on them. I'm just very curious to see whether that type of league afferags 1071 01:09:00,920 --> 01:09:05,640 play can hold up in the playoff crucible. Yeah. Absolutely, And I 1072 01:09:05,640 --> 01:09:10,359 think even if it can't, there is low hanging fruit for them to address 1073 01:09:10,359 --> 01:09:13,359 on offense. But it's fair to wonder if they're ever going to do it. 1074 01:09:13,880 --> 01:09:16,239 That they are twenty sixth and three pointers attempted per game, they are 1075 01:09:16,560 --> 01:09:20,239 twenty fourth and three point rate. I mean, four of their five best 1076 01:09:20,279 --> 01:09:25,399 shooters are shooting thirty eight percent or higher from three point range, the one 1077 01:09:25,439 --> 01:09:29,479 exception being Bradley Beal who's at thirty six point two percent. So they have 1078 01:09:29,680 --> 01:09:33,119 five very good three point shooters on the team and yet they are taking the 1079 01:09:33,199 --> 01:09:39,600 fifth fewest three point attempts per game. So even if the defense does backslide, 1080 01:09:40,079 --> 01:09:43,760 I'm not saying they need to be the Boston Celtics and fire up almost 1081 01:09:43,800 --> 01:09:46,039 fifty three to night. That's like, but I think there is a better 1082 01:09:46,079 --> 01:09:53,079 balance that they can find between the mid range shots that especially Kadi and Bookers 1083 01:09:53,039 --> 01:09:56,720 so lethal line and can we stretch the floor a little bit more? And 1084 01:09:56,760 --> 01:10:00,720 I think Royce O'Neil might help in that regard as well. Yeah, he 1085 01:10:00,760 --> 01:10:04,319 definitely will, because right now they only have one player attempting more than six 1086 01:10:04,479 --> 01:10:09,800 three pointers per thirty six minutes. And that's just like even Grayson Allen's under 1087 01:10:09,840 --> 01:10:13,359 six attempts per thirty six minutes, and that's like Grayson Allen buddy, Like 1088 01:10:13,439 --> 01:10:15,039 that should probably be on a permanent basis, that should be up near ten. 1089 01:10:15,359 --> 01:10:19,119 I feel like like you're almost from three guy, like this is your 1090 01:10:19,159 --> 01:10:23,319 only role on offense, and I will say, there's room, and we've 1091 01:10:23,319 --> 01:10:26,720 seen it. I think for Devin Booker's volume to climb there because I think 1092 01:10:26,800 --> 01:10:29,319 I mean, he's when you look at it, just like three points splits 1093 01:10:29,319 --> 01:10:31,319 for his career. He's definitely like first team. All his shooting form makes 1094 01:10:31,359 --> 01:10:34,359 you think he's had a forty five percent from three season when he really hasn't. 1095 01:10:34,600 --> 01:10:38,520 But like I do think the extra volume is probably gonna need to come 1096 01:10:38,560 --> 01:10:42,399 from a bal or a KD just because like they're so low. They're barely 1097 01:10:42,479 --> 01:10:45,840 a kitty's not even at five attempts per thirty six minutes. And look, 1098 01:10:45,840 --> 01:10:47,920 it's an oversimplification, but we just went in detail and all this other stuff. 1099 01:10:48,319 --> 01:10:53,119 The math. Sometimes the math is gonna matter. Yeah, And so 1100 01:10:53,199 --> 01:10:55,760 when you're you're a team what I think is good about them, We'll see 1101 01:10:56,119 --> 01:10:59,960 if it holds in the playoffs. Okay, you're a team that, despite 1102 01:11:00,119 --> 01:11:02,560 not putting a ton of pressure on the basket, like you're going to get 1103 01:11:02,800 --> 01:11:06,239 to the foul line, they're actually second in free throw attempt rate on the 1104 01:11:06,279 --> 01:11:11,680 season, which is you know, when you consider where they rank as a 1105 01:11:11,720 --> 01:11:14,199 team when it comes to the share of their shots that just come at the 1106 01:11:14,279 --> 01:11:16,560 rim. Uh, they're actually seventh. I didn't realize they were that high 1107 01:11:16,640 --> 01:11:18,880 up. My reading that wrong. Oh that's accuracy. I knew I was. 1108 01:11:18,920 --> 01:11:23,239 I was like, uh, maybe you don't watch anything. They're twenty 1109 01:11:23,239 --> 01:11:26,479 fifthpresive. Okay, Yeah, they're twenty fifth in the share of their shots 1110 01:11:26,479 --> 01:11:30,479 that come at the rim. And so if that holds into the playoffs, 1111 01:11:30,840 --> 01:11:32,840 is it harder to draw the shooting fouls when it's coming from the perimeter. 1112 01:11:33,119 --> 01:11:35,920 The guys are talented enough that maybe it doesn't matter. But that's also a 1113 01:11:35,920 --> 01:11:40,239 fair question as well. But you're right, Roy, don't Neilli at least 1114 01:11:40,239 --> 01:11:43,199 help with the three point volume for sure? Yeah, I mean, like, 1115 01:11:43,359 --> 01:11:45,720 I'm not saying I'm picking the Suns to win the West by any means, 1116 01:11:45,720 --> 01:11:49,039 but I heard aggregators. There you go, there you go. But 1117 01:11:49,239 --> 01:11:55,439 I mean it like if you held a gun to my head and said it's 1118 01:11:55,640 --> 01:12:03,159 Minnesota versus Phoenix in the second round of the playoffs, I don't know your 1119 01:12:03,199 --> 01:12:06,920 face just said at all. Yeah, it's tough for me to pick against 1120 01:12:08,000 --> 01:12:11,800 the team with Kevin dur Devin Booker. Maybe it's too simp like maybe I'm 1121 01:12:11,840 --> 01:12:15,600 just lizard braining this, but and they would definitely. I think they would 1122 01:12:15,600 --> 01:12:19,119 try to like style the shit out of the series and just say, you 1123 01:12:19,119 --> 01:12:21,640 know what, Kevin Durant's gonna play more five and we're gonna see what that 1124 01:12:21,680 --> 01:12:26,239 does to their dual big set up. Yeah, it goes back to my 1125 01:12:26,279 --> 01:12:29,239 concern with Minnesota. Like all these other teams, I think are going to 1126 01:12:29,319 --> 01:12:33,159 have a little bit more ability to change their identity, and I think Phoenix 1127 01:12:33,199 --> 01:12:38,199 will be one of them where Royce O'Neil especially is going to be a very 1128 01:12:38,239 --> 01:12:43,319 interchangeable piece with any of their big three. My final team, I was 1129 01:12:43,359 --> 01:12:45,159 going to talk about the Atlanta Hawks, but they've gotten enough shine on this 1130 01:12:45,199 --> 01:12:49,119 podcast because of the actual trade deadline. This is a team that has been 1131 01:12:49,159 --> 01:12:53,399 neglected. Not being neglected. We've talked about them, but they've been I 1132 01:12:53,399 --> 01:12:57,239 think neglected on like a national scale, and then they neglected to do anything 1133 01:12:57,680 --> 01:13:03,399 of consequence at the trade deadline. Criminal Kings. I what is the pathway 1134 01:13:03,920 --> 01:13:12,079 to the Sacramento Kings being more dangerous this season this playoffs than they were last 1135 01:13:12,159 --> 01:13:16,640 year? Does it exist? I mean, Keagan Murray pulling up in the 1136 01:13:16,720 --> 01:13:21,600 last thirty games more than he already has. Yeah, and I thought they 1137 01:13:21,640 --> 01:13:24,880 were a team where you talk about the options that were out there, and 1138 01:13:24,920 --> 01:13:27,880 I actually think we speak of a neglection. I don't think we noted this 1139 01:13:28,079 --> 01:13:30,000 as well in the you know, you're reacting in real time and trying to 1140 01:13:30,000 --> 01:13:32,159 do four or five minutes a team. You could say, well, what 1141 01:13:32,199 --> 01:13:35,279 were they supposed to do? You don't give up two picks for Kyle Kuzma, 1142 01:13:35,640 --> 01:13:38,960 and I don't. We don't know that Jeremy Grant would have worked. 1143 01:13:38,960 --> 01:13:41,239 If one would, the Plazers have traded him and his two picks were and 1144 01:13:41,319 --> 01:13:45,119 worth it. But like we just covered the Suns, you're gonna tell me 1145 01:13:45,159 --> 01:13:47,960 that you could cobble together enough second round equity to rival or exceed that offer 1146 01:13:48,000 --> 01:13:53,119 to get Royce O'Neill, who would have helped you. So it's just like 1147 01:13:54,479 --> 01:13:58,840 they they have more than one biggest need. I think everyone focuses on the 1148 01:13:58,840 --> 01:14:00,760 perimeter defense. And I've tried to drive this home because I do believe it. 1149 01:14:01,039 --> 01:14:04,680 Darn Fox and Keithan Murray have gotten better enough that I think you could 1150 01:14:04,720 --> 01:14:09,079 have said, well, we need a rim protector who could ideally maybe play 1151 01:14:09,079 --> 01:14:11,600 alongside some bonus, but then you're just starting to run into the same issues 1152 01:14:11,640 --> 01:14:13,479 as the Pelicans, where it's oh, yeah, we just need like this 1153 01:14:14,119 --> 01:14:16,399 guy with role gravity or who will floor space and then also just protect the 1154 01:14:16,439 --> 01:14:20,479 basket. You also could have just focused on because your offense has not been 1155 01:14:20,520 --> 01:14:26,239 spectacular this year, like your your highest end lineup with your starters that has 1156 01:14:26,319 --> 01:14:30,319 killed it by and large, and it's hovered around league average defensively, that's 1157 01:14:30,560 --> 01:14:33,720 those those are good signs. You've outscored when you have Fox Herder, Murray 1158 01:14:33,800 --> 01:14:38,520 Barnes and Sabonus on the court, you're plus eight points per one hundred possessions. 1159 01:14:39,399 --> 01:14:43,079 But like you, there's like there is a void of like wanting that. 1160 01:14:43,119 --> 01:14:46,119 Malik Monk is more of a downhill guy, and Kevin Herder not much 1161 01:14:46,119 --> 01:14:48,560 of a shock creator. He's gone through some peaks and valleys this year, 1162 01:14:48,600 --> 01:14:51,840 but his his three points stuff is coming around. Barnes is just not the 1163 01:14:51,880 --> 01:14:55,720 same player. He's serviceable, but he's just not the same player. And 1164 01:14:55,720 --> 01:14:59,039 so you needed more of a multi level score if you wanted to. And 1165 01:14:59,119 --> 01:15:02,079 they prioritize nothing, and I look at them and I still think the offense 1166 01:15:02,079 --> 01:15:05,119 could just do damage in the playoffs. The Sabonus stuff is over sold. 1167 01:15:05,439 --> 01:15:10,079 Grant and I have disagreed on this. I honestly think, like what happens 1168 01:15:10,079 --> 01:15:13,800 if like his shooters are hitting more wide open threes against the Warriors last year. 1169 01:15:13,920 --> 01:15:16,199 I don't think it was just a Sabonis thing. However, when you 1170 01:15:16,199 --> 01:15:19,960 look at them defensively, they I don't want to use the word sell out, 1171 01:15:20,279 --> 01:15:25,079 but like they are so concerned with limiting opponent looks at the rim because 1172 01:15:25,079 --> 01:15:29,199 Sabonis is not a good rim protector that it leaves them very vulnerable on the 1173 01:15:29,239 --> 01:15:32,720 perimeter. Even with this improvement from Kegan Murray dearon Fox, they are among 1174 01:15:32,760 --> 01:15:38,359 the worst teams in the league at defending spot up jumpers because they're trying to 1175 01:15:38,359 --> 01:15:42,800 shoot these large gaps on closeouts and you just don't have this ultra explosive winger 1176 01:15:42,920 --> 01:15:46,279 guard who can either shoot those gaps or really just stick with anyone through any 1177 01:15:46,279 --> 01:15:48,960 type of coverage, which is why I think a lot of people want it, 1178 01:15:48,960 --> 01:15:53,000 and including myself, wanted them to go after Alex Caruso. We both 1179 01:15:53,039 --> 01:15:55,840 know the Bulls were being delusional as fuck when it came to that. I 1180 01:15:55,920 --> 01:15:59,880 hope the King at least like gave a real offer for him. And I 1181 01:16:00,079 --> 01:16:01,359 look at this team and I just don't see, like, yes, they 1182 01:16:01,359 --> 01:16:04,279 have seven guys that you could like when you get into Malik Monk and then 1183 01:16:04,319 --> 01:16:08,479 Trey Lyles like as part of their reserves, and after that, it's just 1184 01:16:08,520 --> 01:16:11,720 sort of like who do you feel good about and how do they up it 1185 01:16:12,039 --> 01:16:15,479 in the playoffs? Maybe they reached the level of defensive intensity that they did 1186 01:16:15,800 --> 01:16:19,119 last year, which a big part of that was get your offense set after 1187 01:16:19,199 --> 01:16:23,760 or get your defense set after the offense scores, but you were still at 1188 01:16:23,880 --> 01:16:29,960 this just physiology or athleticism deficit when it comes to what you're doing on the 1189 01:16:29,960 --> 01:16:31,960 perimeter. And I think you could have looked at getting more because of the 1190 01:16:32,000 --> 01:16:35,800 way you move Keegan Murray around at the one through four spot, It could 1191 01:16:35,800 --> 01:16:41,479 have been anywhere. And to not have that or even like the fact that 1192 01:16:41,520 --> 01:16:45,159 they just weren't. They were mentioned among like Pascal Siaka more than they were 1193 01:16:45,159 --> 01:16:46,880 oj Ananobi. I don't know if he telegraphed he didn't want to go there, 1194 01:16:47,159 --> 01:16:50,399 but like he was the perfect addition for them. I'm not saying they 1195 01:16:50,399 --> 01:16:54,159 could have outbid the Knicks or should have and it's clear if you're not willing 1196 01:16:54,199 --> 01:16:57,000 to trade Keegan Murray and the Raptors want players, well, then you can't 1197 01:16:57,039 --> 01:17:01,279 really offer the Raptors anything. So I'm not saying that they missed the boat 1198 01:17:01,399 --> 01:17:05,000 on that, but like that's to not even hear them linked to a type 1199 01:17:05,000 --> 01:17:08,760 of player that, like to even they could have let it leaked that, 1200 01:17:08,840 --> 01:17:11,399 hey, they offered two first round picks for Alex Caruso when the Bulls turned 1201 01:17:11,439 --> 01:17:14,000 it down, that probably would have put the fan base in a little bit 1202 01:17:14,000 --> 01:17:16,359 of ease. I the Kings are a really good basketball team, but I 1203 01:17:16,359 --> 01:17:20,640 think between the combination of their I'm more worried about their flaws on defense still, 1204 01:17:21,119 --> 01:17:27,760 and then just that coupled with how much more dangerous the Western Conferences this 1205 01:17:27,880 --> 01:17:30,960 year, because you like, I think there are three, there might be 1206 01:17:30,079 --> 01:17:33,640 four. Two where it's okay, the Thunder and the Wolves were not this 1207 01:17:34,319 --> 01:17:39,079 last year, The Clippers were not this last year, which is to say 1208 01:17:39,079 --> 01:17:42,880 healthy, and then even the we just talked about the Pelicans like so, 1209 01:17:43,399 --> 01:17:45,039 and it's just like you know the Suns too, but the Sons they were 1210 01:17:45,079 --> 01:17:49,039 there last year having a round. So now you're just dealing with four threats 1211 01:17:49,079 --> 01:17:53,800 in addition to the Nuggets and the Suns that you didn't have to cope with 1212 01:17:53,880 --> 01:17:57,119 last year, and who has fallen off enough that you don't have to worry 1213 01:17:57,119 --> 01:18:00,880 about them The Warriors. Okay, sure, and then like I guess the 1214 01:18:00,960 --> 01:18:04,079 Lakers, but like did anyone they made it to the conference finals last year. 1215 01:18:05,760 --> 01:18:10,279 Yeah, so those drop off, but let's just like you're still I 1216 01:18:10,319 --> 01:18:15,079 would say, let's ask me that at plus two more threats that didn't exist 1217 01:18:15,359 --> 01:18:18,239 last year, and that's Look, what if the Warriors and the Lakers hit 1218 01:18:18,239 --> 01:18:21,199 a stride, like the Warriors since Straymond Green has come back and figured out 1219 01:18:21,239 --> 01:18:25,279 a way to play Comingo Wiggans together, I don't. I don't believe in 1220 01:18:25,319 --> 01:18:28,600 them as a title threat this season and did over the Lakers, but like 1221 01:18:28,640 --> 01:18:31,319 their absolute peaks, or if you catch them in the right seven or they're 1222 01:18:31,359 --> 01:18:34,119 on the Kings and the wrong seven game series, I'm gonna tell you right 1223 01:18:34,159 --> 01:18:36,560 now, if the Kings face the Warriors again or the Lakers, I'll still 1224 01:18:36,600 --> 01:18:41,760 pick the Kings to win that series. But it's relative to the West and 1225 01:18:41,800 --> 01:18:47,720 their deepest, darkest, most glaring flaws. It's I just don't know how 1226 01:18:47,720 --> 01:18:49,880 to feel about them, But I don't know whether that's unfair or not. 1227 01:18:50,680 --> 01:18:55,159 Yeah, I mean, you know, right now the Warriors are tied with 1228 01:18:55,199 --> 01:18:58,039 the Jazz, but given what the Jazz did at the deadline, I think 1229 01:18:58,039 --> 01:19:00,920 it's fair to assume a Warrior is it or Rockets will leap the Jazz and 1230 01:19:01,039 --> 01:19:06,159 finishes in the play in tournaments. Right now, you know, Sacramento is 1231 01:19:06,199 --> 01:19:10,960 the seventh seed, would be playing Luca and Kyrie in the seven to eight 1232 01:19:11,039 --> 01:19:14,279 game if they lose that and they and by the way, they count as 1233 01:19:14,279 --> 01:19:17,720 a threat because they'd actively decided not to enter the race last year, right 1234 01:19:18,199 --> 01:19:21,960 and then you know, if Golden State or Houston jump up into the ten 1235 01:19:23,039 --> 01:19:25,640 and we've got Lakers in one of those two teams the nine to ten, 1236 01:19:25,760 --> 01:19:29,840 then Sacramento has to play them just to get into the playoffs. Like that's 1237 01:19:29,840 --> 01:19:33,800 a really scary proposition, I think. So they need to really prioritize getting 1238 01:19:33,880 --> 01:19:36,960 into the top six. And you asked, you know, you're right, 1239 01:19:38,039 --> 01:19:41,199 I think they're top seven. You can at least talk yourself into being a 1240 01:19:41,239 --> 01:19:45,439 solid playoff rotation. What else do they need beyond Keegan Murray continuing to level 1241 01:19:45,520 --> 01:19:48,119 up? They might just need one of their other young guys, whether it's 1242 01:19:48,560 --> 01:19:54,279 Kean Ellis or Davion Mitchell, maybe, uh, one of the I think 1243 01:19:54,319 --> 01:19:58,680 you need, like Damion Mitchell and Harrison Barnes to fuse together into one player 1244 01:19:59,359 --> 01:20:02,680 flash player. Yeah that would help. Yeah, yeah, that would help. 1245 01:20:02,880 --> 01:20:06,159 Yeah. I mean, I think they're just like one piece short, 1246 01:20:06,439 --> 01:20:10,720 and I don't know if they off the top of my head, if they 1247 01:20:10,720 --> 01:20:13,920 have an open roster spot. But even if they do, it's not like 1248 01:20:14,079 --> 01:20:17,840 they're gonna be a priority place for buy out signings to go. They might 1249 01:20:17,880 --> 01:20:20,239 be, but at the end of the day, it's a buyout signing too. 1250 01:20:20,439 --> 01:20:24,279 Yeah. Yeah, it's rare for those guys to make a real impact. 1251 01:20:24,279 --> 01:20:27,880 So yeah, I mean, the fundamental problem with the King this year 1252 01:20:28,000 --> 01:20:32,640 versus last year is last year their offense was like historic, all time great. 1253 01:20:33,079 --> 01:20:35,800 This year it's just kind of run of the mill, middle of the 1254 01:20:35,840 --> 01:20:40,479 pack. And when your defense, like if you're building around Fox and to 1255 01:20:40,560 --> 01:20:43,359 bonus, you're never going to have a top five defense. You are making 1256 01:20:43,399 --> 01:20:45,920 that trade off willingly, and you are saying like the you know you just 1257 01:20:45,960 --> 01:20:50,000 talked about the Nuggets last year, like it's you can live with an average 1258 01:20:50,039 --> 01:20:55,720 defense if your offense is that good. But if your offense is not that 1259 01:20:55,920 --> 01:20:59,680 good, we run into the problem of, Oh, this team. Darren 1260 01:20:59,720 --> 01:21:03,159 Fox and Sabonis are both incredible players. I think both had a legit All 1261 01:21:03,159 --> 01:21:06,560 Star case this year. It's not to take anything away from them. I 1262 01:21:06,560 --> 01:21:11,279 don't want to get caught in the cycle of, like, can't build around 1263 01:21:11,319 --> 01:21:15,000 Sabonis. He's not a playoff winner because he can't defend the rim. But 1264 01:21:15,079 --> 01:21:18,560 you're right about, you know, trying to pair him with someone of that 1265 01:21:18,680 --> 01:21:23,439 ilk well, like that, we just run back into the problem that Indiana 1266 01:21:23,479 --> 01:21:28,560 did building around him and Miles Turner like it. There are complications with him 1267 01:21:28,960 --> 01:21:31,359 as your center. For as good as he is offensively, you know, 1268 01:21:31,439 --> 01:21:35,960 what he doesn't provide defensively makes you build your team in a certain way. 1269 01:21:36,479 --> 01:21:41,680 And the Kings did a really good job of that last year, and unfortunately 1270 01:21:41,760 --> 01:21:45,039 this year, I think a couple guys hurt Her in particular, are not 1271 01:21:45,159 --> 01:21:47,960 living up to what they did last year, and it's caused kind of the 1272 01:21:47,960 --> 01:21:53,319 whole team to backslide offensively. So if they can get back into that, 1273 01:21:54,079 --> 01:21:56,399 you know, I don't know if they're going to get like top five offense 1274 01:21:56,439 --> 01:21:59,960 again, but even top ten, top eight, I feel a little better 1275 01:22:00,119 --> 01:22:02,359 about them. But if they can, if they stay in this like fourteen 1276 01:22:02,439 --> 01:22:08,640 fifteen, sixteen range, it gets harder to map out the pathway for them 1277 01:22:08,720 --> 01:22:13,399 to not only make the playoffs, but actually went a playoff series, especially 1278 01:22:13,399 --> 01:22:16,640 if you know Denver is their first round opponent. And it is a little 1279 01:22:16,680 --> 01:22:18,399 bit of a bummer when you look at it in the context. If I 1280 01:22:18,479 --> 01:22:21,680 agree with you that if you have Fox and Sibonis as your two main guys, 1281 01:22:21,680 --> 01:22:24,840 you're not looking at a top five defense. But I'm also a big 1282 01:22:24,880 --> 01:22:28,600 believer to get to that point where your average or better. I think Fox 1283 01:22:28,640 --> 01:22:31,319 and Keegan Murray specifically have gotten a lot better on defense this year to the 1284 01:22:31,359 --> 01:22:34,880 point that that should be feasible. And the fact that you didn't even like 1285 01:22:35,079 --> 01:22:38,359 over the all, and this isn't just about the trade deadline, by the 1286 01:22:38,359 --> 01:22:41,880 way, like you went through an entire offseason where you actively decided that getting 1287 01:22:41,920 --> 01:22:44,199 to the play and look, it's fine to kind of catch a beat and 1288 01:22:44,840 --> 01:22:47,039 not overreact, but like now you kind of we went through the trade in 1289 01:22:47,039 --> 01:22:49,159 line and you know, okay, this is what we still need. And 1290 01:22:49,159 --> 01:22:51,760 to your point about the offense. One of the biggest differences too, aside 1291 01:22:51,760 --> 01:22:56,960 from just the individual backslides, is last year Sibonis without Fox was plus three 1292 01:22:57,000 --> 01:23:00,600 points per one hundred possession. This year's like minus seven, and so like 1293 01:23:00,640 --> 01:23:03,560 that's a huge difference for them to not have, like to not be able 1294 01:23:03,560 --> 01:23:06,840 to navigate both sides of the one star minutes as well. Last year was 1295 01:23:06,840 --> 01:23:10,239 remember at the beginning of the everyone was where like, well, Fox can't 1296 01:23:10,239 --> 01:23:14,000 play the minutes without the bonus, and then that kind of that normalized as 1297 01:23:14,000 --> 01:23:15,319 the year went on. But the s bonus without Fox minutes of just not 1298 01:23:15,520 --> 01:23:19,239 And I think that's a big reason why their offensive ceiling is. Yes, 1299 01:23:19,279 --> 01:23:24,119 it's you know, you mentioned top five, top eight whatever that still exists 1300 01:23:24,359 --> 01:23:27,920 when you have the core members of your team on the court and the offense 1301 01:23:27,960 --> 01:23:30,399 has still been like I don't even know what the offense has been like, 1302 01:23:30,399 --> 01:23:33,039 like the actual raw numbers when some bonus it hasn't been good. It's in 1303 01:23:33,079 --> 01:23:35,600 the twenty eighth percentile. It just looked it up. It's like to lose 1304 01:23:35,640 --> 01:23:39,640 that is just bad. And I don't know how to feel about them, 1305 01:23:39,640 --> 01:23:42,720 but I think I find myself this might have more to do say about the 1306 01:23:42,720 --> 01:23:45,199 rest of the West, but I definitely feel worse about them this time right 1307 01:23:45,239 --> 01:23:48,640 now than I did this time last year. Yeah. Absolutely, And I 1308 01:23:48,720 --> 01:23:53,760 think you're totally right to point out the West has just gotten better. And 1309 01:23:53,880 --> 01:23:57,840 the Clippers were not the scary last year. The thunder were not scary last 1310 01:23:57,880 --> 01:24:00,720 year. Timberwold or not fit scary last year. So there, you know, 1311 01:24:00,800 --> 01:24:03,840 the standard of excellence is higher this year in the West than it was 1312 01:24:04,159 --> 01:24:08,840 last year. And it's not the takeaway from anything the Kings did last year, 1313 01:24:08,880 --> 01:24:11,880 because the Kings were a very, very good team last year, and 1314 01:24:11,920 --> 01:24:15,720 they gave Golden State one hell of a series that could have very easily swung 1315 01:24:15,159 --> 01:24:19,039 in either direction. But you know, you need to continue to build because 1316 01:24:19,079 --> 01:24:23,880 all of these you know, Clippers added James Arden, the Phoenix Suns added 1317 01:24:24,239 --> 01:24:29,479 Bradley Beal but okay, see didn't technically add chet Holmgrid but chet Holmgred was 1318 01:24:29,520 --> 01:24:31,359 not playing for them last year, ye for them this year. So you 1319 01:24:31,399 --> 01:24:39,000 know, all of these teams have added major pieces. And Sacramento understandably it 1320 01:24:39,199 --> 01:24:42,319 said, look, we had an incredible team last year. Let's run this 1321 01:24:42,439 --> 01:24:46,319 back and see if we can continue to develop continuity and more chemistry, and 1322 01:24:46,399 --> 01:24:54,039 that's great, but the ceiling is maybe not as high as a result since 1323 01:24:54,079 --> 01:24:59,119 they have not added one of these big marquee pieces. Brian, this was 1324 01:24:59,359 --> 01:25:01,520 fun as always. Thank you for giving me about ninety minutes of your time. 1325 01:25:01,520 --> 01:25:04,159 I really appreciate it. Are you just able to tell our listeners where 1326 01:25:04,159 --> 01:25:09,520 they can find you and all the mega ultra fantastic work that you do? 1327 01:25:10,520 --> 01:25:13,560 For sure? Thank you for having me as always. You can find me 1328 01:25:13,640 --> 01:25:16,399 on Twitter, as Dan mentioned, at B to pork b t O p 1329 01:25:16,560 --> 01:25:21,560 O r e K. You can find sixers coverage at Liberty Bollers, do 1330 01:25:21,760 --> 01:25:29,319 some Sixers stuff and just some general CBA capped nerdiness stuff at Sports Sports and 1331 01:25:29,359 --> 01:25:32,680 then the NTA podcast dram Podcast. Thank you so much, BT, I'll 1332 01:25:32,720 --> 01:25:36,199 be talking to you very soon for sure. Enjoy the bank, my man, 1333 01:25:36,239 --> 01:25:39,239 your vernon. Thank you, sir,