1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,120 What's Up, y'all is Drewski and I've teamed up with Mountain Dew to produce 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:08,640 a hilarious new basketball podcast called The due Zone with Drewski. Learn the backstories 3 00:00:08,679 --> 00:00:11,839 of your favorite balls and celebrities like Jamal Murray. Did you have like a 4 00:00:11,919 --> 00:00:14,720 favorite team? Was it the Raptors at the time or no, was the 5 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,160 Raptors even started on the topic? Come on, bro, I had that 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:21,559 tell you like I'm Vifty, Taylor Rogues, Asian Wilson, and many more. 7 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,359 You won't want to miss this. Listen to The Due Zone with Drewski 8 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:31,839 on Apple, Podcast, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. What's 9 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,719 Up part of the Knocks Listeners. In case you haven't heard, Blue Wire 10 00:00:34,799 --> 00:00:38,920 Studios just dropped their first original podcast, Golden Goal. The show gives you 11 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:43,240 ten minute episodes all about soccer legends and the moments that made them. Whether 12 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:46,960 you're just learning about soccer for the first time or a diehard fan, this 13 00:00:47,079 --> 00:00:51,240 podcast is a great listen for everyone. The final two episodes are live right 14 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:54,719 now, or you can binge the entire season to learn about your favorite soccer 15 00:00:54,799 --> 00:00:59,479 stars. Check out Blue Wire's Golden Goal available anywhere you listen to podcasts. 16 00:01:12,879 --> 00:01:18,680 What is up Hardwood Knox listeners. I am Dan for Valley, coming at 17 00:01:18,719 --> 00:01:23,239 you with my fabulous co host Adam frommel We are taking a break from our 18 00:01:23,439 --> 00:01:27,959 top ten Players of the decade for every NBA team series and we're going into 19 00:01:29,359 --> 00:01:33,359 the awards ballots. The NBA announced that they're going to base these decisions off 20 00:01:33,359 --> 00:01:36,359 of the season through March eleventh, and we were sort of holding off to 21 00:01:36,359 --> 00:01:38,120 see whether they were going to include the games that would happen in the bubble. 22 00:01:38,439 --> 00:01:42,359 Turns out they are not, and so we're gonna start dropping awards. 23 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:46,319 There will be separate pods for all NBA, All Defense, all Rookie. 24 00:01:46,359 --> 00:01:49,519 We're just going to go through the seven year end awards right here. Before 25 00:01:49,519 --> 00:01:53,319 we get started, though, First and foremost, shout out to our sponsor 26 00:01:53,359 --> 00:01:57,079 bet Online dot AG. They make this help make this podcast possible. And 27 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,920 second and equally important, Adam, how are you doing. I'm doing pretty 28 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:05,120 well. This is the last podcast that I'm going to be recording with you 29 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:08,439 before I get to go on a much needed and properly socially distanced and safe 30 00:02:08,479 --> 00:02:13,439 vacation. It's the first time either my wife or I has has taken a 31 00:02:13,439 --> 00:02:17,680 full week off since twenty sixteen, so I'm excited. That seems like a 32 00:02:17,719 --> 00:02:23,120 long time. It feels like an even longer time. That's sort of the 33 00:02:23,159 --> 00:02:27,360 problem with I mean, you have a child, which I think factors into 34 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,360 that as well. But with work culture in general now is I don't think 35 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:32,879 there's such a thing as just a full on vacation anymore. I remember my 36 00:02:32,879 --> 00:02:37,800 wife getting mad at me for answering emails and phone calls when we were on 37 00:02:37,319 --> 00:02:39,680 our honeymoon after our wedding, and there's I mean, that's on you, 38 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:44,960 that's it's one hundred percent on me. But hasn't like the work culture made 39 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:49,800 it nigh impossible to completely unplug. Oh, absolutely, every time I do, 40 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:53,319 I feel guilty, Like there's definitely there's definitely a propensity to do too 41 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:58,759 much work sometimes, I think, and it's it's really hard to pull yourself 42 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:00,879 away from everything. I think we both have that issue. If anyone has 43 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:04,639 suggestions, particularly people that are in that business, to help me and Adam 44 00:03:04,719 --> 00:03:07,400 unfug more often DM him, don't DM me. It's fine, DM Adam 45 00:03:07,439 --> 00:03:12,319 FROMO zero nine at FROMO zero nine, but are you ready to go through 46 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:16,159 this these ballots. I am so we're gonna we have top three for each, 47 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,400 right, we do. And it's still weird that like we're even doing 48 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,319 this at this stage of the year. This season time is meaningless. It's 49 00:03:23,319 --> 00:03:28,120 a flat circle as a as A as a TV show once said, But 50 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:32,159 I just yeah, it's it's like, it's so strange that we're talking awards 51 00:03:32,159 --> 00:03:38,599 with regular seasons games left to play, with postseason seeds unsettled. This is 52 00:03:38,639 --> 00:03:42,919 just it's it's strange. We haven't seen basketball in four plus months and we're 53 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:46,439 recording an awards podcast that's about a retrospective. It's not predictive for next season. 54 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,439 It feels like we're talking about ancient history if we even talk about like 55 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,199 October of twenty nineteen, right. I should note, as someone who's been 56 00:03:53,199 --> 00:03:58,800 super critical of sports resuming in general, and in the sense that I'm not 57 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:00,680 an expert, but it just didn't feel right. The NBA did have zero 58 00:04:00,719 --> 00:04:04,319 tests in the bubble of three hundred and forty six that were given out on 59 00:04:04,439 --> 00:04:08,039 Monday or Tuesday. I believe I can't remember the day at this point. 60 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,879 That's great. I think that's just celebrate good news. I don't think it's 61 00:04:12,039 --> 00:04:15,079 necessarily telltale of what's to come. But we finally got some just good news 62 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,120 on the NBA restart front, and so that's encouraging, and maybe we'll be 63 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:23,480 recording this for a purpose of, Oh, we're gonna watch actual basketball stud 64 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:27,240 and we can see how right or wrong our picks ultimately were. I still 65 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:31,399 think there's some level of cognitive dissonance in play here. Just because it's one 66 00:04:31,439 --> 00:04:35,160 hundred percent great news that there were no positive tests, it's less great news 67 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:39,199 that those tests are all turned around so quickly when we still see wait times 68 00:04:39,199 --> 00:04:43,199 throughout the country, and like, I still have to grapple with the idea 69 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,639 that the NBA is allocating resources, whether it's taking away or not. But 70 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:53,000 they're definitely like turning around results quicker and using these proximity indicators that could be 71 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:58,000 better used elsewhere. So it's still is like, I'm happy that the plan 72 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,519 is working, that the players seem to be in a safe situation, but 73 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:05,160 it still feels like it's just a little funky. There does feel like a 74 00:05:05,199 --> 00:05:11,920 morality dilemma there. I know that the the agency or laboratory, whatever you're 75 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,839 saying that they're using is that the NBA is not affecting their own turnaround time. 76 00:05:15,879 --> 00:05:18,480 But if it gets to a point where that's possible or that actually happens, 77 00:05:18,519 --> 00:05:21,399 is where it gets even harder to grapple with. And so right now 78 00:05:21,519 --> 00:05:27,879 I kind of feel not. I was more worried about the the sanctity of 79 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,920 the bubble the effectiveness of it, and that was sort of secondary at the 80 00:05:30,959 --> 00:05:33,959 point. If we get to a time, I guess where now that can 81 00:05:33,959 --> 00:05:36,759 be the main concern because we've established that the bubble is working. Maybe that's 82 00:05:36,759 --> 00:05:40,120 even a good sign. But yeah, it's it's tough all around. But 83 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:43,480 I do think objectively. While I don't know that it's tell tale, it's 84 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:49,279 just good news to hear that there were zero cases returns positive for that's a 85 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:53,000 great segue to get into Executive of the Year talk. I don't know about 86 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:58,000 you. If you can flesh out that segue, I would love to hear 87 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,279 it. Well, we have good news for people that want pat Riley, 88 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:03,759 we'll have an Executive of the year. Maybe if we're looking at your ballot, 89 00:06:04,399 --> 00:06:08,759 Yeah, so Executive of the year. So let's do it this way. 90 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,240 I'll give my top three. You want to give your top three, 91 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:13,639 and we'll do it that we can mention any other names that might spring to 92 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,560 mind for us. But my top three where pat Riley, Lawrence Frank was 93 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:21,439 second, David Griffin was third. So I've got Sam Presty third, and 94 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:26,879 then pat Riley second and Lawrence Frank first. So we have this. I 95 00:06:26,879 --> 00:06:30,839 had Sam Presty him and Chris Wallace of the Grizzlies. Where the other two 96 00:06:30,879 --> 00:06:34,560 people I considered what is Bessia. Jerry should probably get some retroactive credit just 97 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:39,759 for building so much depth that Toronto is still such a powerhouse, right, 98 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:43,920 but it does it felt weird to like give him an award for what he's 99 00:06:43,959 --> 00:06:47,000 done in previous seasons. Yeah, it's like, can you weigh like things 100 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,480 that marinate in this? I think you can to some extent. But when 101 00:06:49,519 --> 00:06:53,800 you do some extent, Yeah, but you know, Terrence Davis and Matt 102 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:55,800 Thomas, they're only going to get you so far in this. I mean 103 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:59,720 og and A Noby's development matters. He's still riding to Pascal siakamwave. But 104 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:00,920 if some wants to put him in the top five, I just don't know 105 00:07:00,959 --> 00:07:03,800 that he belongs in the top three. Relatives of the parameters. I would 106 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:09,879 imagine that your case for Lawrence frank Is is pretty blunt. It's it's pretty 107 00:07:09,879 --> 00:07:14,759 simple. It's it's managing to acquire Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the same 108 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:18,519 offseason while maintaining the core of the team. It's as simple as that. 109 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:24,360 Yeah, And I do think it's it's really cool that we have a year 110 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:30,279 where two general managers on opposing sides of the same trade are both getting love 111 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:35,639 for that trade, like the Thunder's ability to give up Paul George, get 112 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:42,040 a reasonable return for him and stay this competitive because you also managed to get 113 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:45,800 Chris Paul and he's had such a phenomenal season as will get to later, 114 00:07:46,199 --> 00:07:48,240 Like, that's that's just really cool. I don't know the last time two 115 00:07:48,279 --> 00:07:56,040 prominent contenders for the Executive of the Year award had involvement in the same blockbuster 116 00:07:56,160 --> 00:08:00,720 trade. Yeah, I mean to get Shay giljert Auxander and Daniel Gallanari as 117 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,720 part of the Paul George trade, plus all that cachet of draft picks was 118 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:09,920 was huge and they are sort of I think the Russell Westbrook trade immediately was 119 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,680 more helpful to them because this season specifically they have the better player. I 120 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:18,000 just don't really think that's up for debate at all. It's not I had 121 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:22,680 I still went with pat Riley just because the Heat didn't have cap space, 122 00:08:22,959 --> 00:08:28,120 and they still managed to go out and get Jimmy Butler. And then this 123 00:08:28,199 --> 00:08:33,039 is sort of the Messiah Jerry case. We're having the Duncan Robinson, even 124 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:35,840 Kendrick Nunn since they had signed him last season, like those fine sort of 125 00:08:35,879 --> 00:08:39,159 marinate and so I think you have to commend him for that. There's even 126 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:41,480 the bam at a bio like this is his boom, and so you have 127 00:08:41,519 --> 00:08:46,039 to give that front office credit for drafting him in the first place. But 128 00:08:46,399 --> 00:08:48,480 it was closed between that and Laurence Frank for me. And then look, 129 00:08:48,519 --> 00:08:52,720 the Pelicans are just there. They might not make the playoffs. If Zion 130 00:08:52,799 --> 00:08:54,840 was healthy all year, I might be inclined to say they definitely would have 131 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:58,039 made the playoffs. But it looks like they've set themselves up really nicely for 132 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:01,799 both the present and future. Despite trading who was a top seven player and 133 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:05,080 Anthony Davis over the summer and being forced into it. It's not something that 134 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:09,120 they wanted to do at the time. What pushed Lawrence Frank of the Clippers 135 00:09:09,159 --> 00:09:13,639 ahead for me was that the success of the team is a direct result of 136 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:16,240 his moves. You can give credit to Doc Rivers for the coaching job that 137 00:09:16,279 --> 00:09:20,000 he's done in Los Angeles, but it was still a direct byproduct of that 138 00:09:20,159 --> 00:09:26,320 movement. Whereas while pat Riley made good moves while continuing to leave cap space 139 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:30,240 open for future free agency pursuits, I think so much of the credit there 140 00:09:30,519 --> 00:09:35,080 the internal development the coaching of Eric Spoelstra has to go to other places that 141 00:09:35,159 --> 00:09:37,960 it was difficult for me to put him in the number one spot. I 142 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,559 think sort of that's a good way to look at it. But some of 143 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:43,759 the things he like did on like transaction wise on the margins actually helped his 144 00:09:43,799 --> 00:09:48,679 case for me. There's also this, I forget drafted Tyler hero I already 145 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:50,399 went over Jimmy Butler. They jet us into sun Whiteside, which then cleared 146 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:56,039 the way for bam Adebayo's breakout, which I think certainly helps signing Igodolla could 147 00:09:56,039 --> 00:09:58,600 be big, Like there are looks like an actual Okay, fine, and 148 00:09:58,759 --> 00:10:03,320 let's I forget the Duncan Robinson Duncan Robinson, but the James Johnson and Deon 149 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:05,320 Waiders trade itself. He was able to you know, you sold high on 150 00:10:05,399 --> 00:10:09,039 Justice Winslow while he was injured, and you were able to get off both 151 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:13,480 James Johnson and Deon Waiters without trading a future first round pick or a high 152 00:10:13,519 --> 00:10:18,559 end prospect aside from Winslow in the process. And so him doing moves, 153 00:10:18,639 --> 00:10:20,039 his doing moves the middle of the season, I think probably tipped him over 154 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:24,279 the edge. For me, that's fair, and I think the Winslow move 155 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:28,440 looks even better now. Fifteen minutes before we started recording this, Winslow is 156 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,320 ruled out for the rest of the season with a hip injury. So he 157 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:35,200 didn't give up much to get Igodala in that move, but yeah, it 158 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:41,120 was He is a very deserving candidate. I just stand by him having an 159 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:46,120 impact, but not the whole impact on why that team is successful. Whereas 160 00:10:46,399 --> 00:10:52,279 with Frank Like managing to keep all the pieces together and acquiring two marquee superstars 161 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:56,080 in the same offseason is untouchable for me, I think, I think that's 162 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,279 totally fairly look at and look, they traded from Marcus Morris middle of the 163 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,159 season two. Can't forget about that. We haven't really seeing whether he's a 164 00:11:01,159 --> 00:11:03,200 great fit. He wasn't playing too well at the time. But that's also 165 00:11:03,279 --> 00:11:07,320 something else too to consider. Coach of the Year, Do you want me 166 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:09,360 to go first? You want to go first on this one? I mean, 167 00:11:09,399 --> 00:11:13,200 this is the easiest pick of all for me. It's Nick Nurse of 168 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,480 the Toronto Raptors. I don't I don't think there's really any debate there, 169 00:11:16,519 --> 00:11:20,759 just given his ability to continue keeping this roster at the top of the Eastern 170 00:11:20,799 --> 00:11:24,960 Conference after losing Danny Green and to a lesser extent, Kawhi Leonard. Sorry 171 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:33,120 that was backwards. Just continuing to make sure that every piece of that rotation 172 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:37,240 thrives, continuing to get the most out of Pascal Siakam. Everything has worked. 173 00:11:37,279 --> 00:11:43,360 I'm really excited to see what he can do during the restart with so 174 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:48,360 much time to continue working with all of the pieces healthy. No Raptor has 175 00:11:48,399 --> 00:11:52,919 really stayed healthy throughout this entire season and they've still been this successful. Son 176 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:58,200 given the extra time, he's going to run strategic circles around everyone else. 177 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:03,399 It seems like there's a huge list of second tier contenders for this award. 178 00:12:03,759 --> 00:12:07,840 I personally had Taylor Jenkins and Eric Spoelstra in my second and third spots, 179 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:11,519 but you can very easily make cases for Frank Vogel, Rick Carlisle, Billy 180 00:12:11,519 --> 00:12:15,240 Donovan, and Mike Budenholz and probably some others. Yeah, I think Nurse 181 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:16,799 was my number one two for all the reasons you outlined, and then just 182 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:22,679 the contributions he's gotten from those fringe roster guys. We thought that the organization 183 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:24,960 has given him. They got quality minutes from Rondae Hollis Jefferson when they were 184 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:28,600 really banked up this year. I'm a big Terrence Davis guy. You know 185 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:31,519 that as well. The lineups that he throws out there can can be really 186 00:12:31,519 --> 00:12:37,240 funky. He's it feels like he's leaning on Pascal Siakam on offense, almost 187 00:12:37,279 --> 00:12:39,600 in spite of the results sometimes and that's not really a shot at Pascal Siakam, 188 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:43,519 but it's he's so determined to make sure that Pascal Siakam is going to 189 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:46,559 be okay. Is this primary initiator in the half court, not just not 190 00:12:46,639 --> 00:12:50,879 just on the break, and the Raptors are still finding a way to weather 191 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:52,679 it. And I do think that he is. The coaching staff in general 192 00:12:52,759 --> 00:12:56,080 is a big part of their defensive success. It's certainly the personnel that they've 193 00:12:56,080 --> 00:13:01,279 put in place, but Toronto can really shape shift just depending on its opponents. 194 00:13:01,279 --> 00:13:03,000 So he's the easy number one for me. It's slushing out the rest 195 00:13:03,039 --> 00:13:07,000 of the ballot. That's where it gets tough. I'd spoon number two like 196 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:09,399 you, And then I went with Doc Rivers. Actually, because of all 197 00:13:09,399 --> 00:13:13,519 the injuries that the Clippers navigated, Paul George wasn't the most available. You've 198 00:13:13,519 --> 00:13:16,240 had, Patrick Beverley missed some time. There's been a lot of inconsistency there. 199 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:20,120 And then we've argued that their sort of optionality is one of their greatest 200 00:13:20,159 --> 00:13:24,919 strengths. But it's also probably more so moving forward than it was this season 201 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:28,120 because injuries made decisions for him. But you're looking at who's going to close 202 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:33,120 games for this team's how do you balance Lou Williams's inclusion when he hurts you 203 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,480 on defense, And yes, his offense is valuable, but you have all 204 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:37,080 these other ball handlers, and so I give him a lot of credit for 205 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:41,120 what he's done, but I also had Stevens. I went five deep for 206 00:13:41,159 --> 00:13:43,799 this one. You know, Stevens belongs on there. And then Taylor Jenkins, 207 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:46,480 Frank Vogel could be tied. Even Billy Donovan. I'm not sure if 208 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:48,279 you mentioned him too, but just for the with the Thunder have done this 209 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:50,919 season, and if you want to mention Rick Carlisle, they've dealt with a 210 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:56,000 ton of injuries as well, and then inconsistency from Kristaps porzingis too. I 211 00:13:56,039 --> 00:14:01,960 feel like Carlisle is the guy that never gets enough credit in this conversation because 212 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:05,799 he's part of it every year. It's just like perpetual voter fatigue. But 213 00:14:05,879 --> 00:14:09,840 what he's done with the Mavericks has been incredible, just fully unleashing Don Chich, 214 00:14:09,879 --> 00:14:16,759 who's made that huge second year jump while having his troops literally produce the 215 00:14:16,919 --> 00:14:22,039 best offensive rating in NBA history, which is not an easy accomplishment even in 216 00:14:22,159 --> 00:14:26,879 today's three heavy game. Like he has gotten the best out of Tim Hardaway 217 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:31,360 Junior, he has made sure that his rotation has been able to navigate all 218 00:14:31,399 --> 00:14:35,000 of those injuries and working in Chris stops. Just what he's done has been 219 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:41,399 incredible, pushing this Dallas team so far ahead of schedule that they're like a 220 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:46,279 legitimate lower tier contender where it wouldn't be that surprising if they got hot during 221 00:14:46,279 --> 00:14:50,360 a playoff series and knocked off one of the premier teams. He deserves love 222 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:56,080 every year and this one is no different. I feel like whatever will say 223 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,720 three bench player lineup or more that he wants to roll out, there's just 224 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:03,000 going to be in net plus that's just every season. That's just what it 225 00:15:03,039 --> 00:15:05,639 feels like. If you're struggling in the NBA, just go join Dallas and 226 00:15:05,759 --> 00:15:09,480 Rick Carlisle will manage to make it work somehow. The last note on this 227 00:15:09,519 --> 00:15:13,799 I wanted to say is, and I talked about this on a previous podcast, 228 00:15:13,679 --> 00:15:16,080 it feels like the Raptors is to bring it back to Nick Nurse, 229 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:24,759 the reputation that the San Antonio Spurs has as this just billboard for the best 230 00:15:24,799 --> 00:15:28,799 culture in the NBA and maybe the best like develop mental track record, Like 231 00:15:28,799 --> 00:15:31,679 it feels like they're that team now and so the track record doesn't stem too 232 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:35,399 deep at this point, but it's they're the team that seems to epitomize the 233 00:15:35,759 --> 00:15:39,879 best culture in the league. And then if you want to put a fringe 234 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:43,759 roster guy on their depth chart, that's where you're gonna believe most that he 235 00:15:43,759 --> 00:15:50,039 would crack the rotation and be actually good. Toronto was a very popular lottery 236 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:56,159 finished projection going into this season. Like there were a number of prominent outlets 237 00:15:56,159 --> 00:16:00,759 and writers who had them outside of the playoff picture. And it's unfathomable. 238 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:03,759 Unfathomable now that a decade has passed since the start of the year, but 239 00:16:03,799 --> 00:16:11,279 like that was the reality two decades even, it wouldn't be surprising. Sports 240 00:16:11,279 --> 00:16:14,600 are coming back and so are your chances to bet on your favorite teams and 241 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:18,000 events, and there's no better place to start than our exclusive partner, bet 242 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:21,639 online. Get in on the action for this week's big UFC fight, or 243 00:16:21,879 --> 00:16:25,600 check out odds on NASCAR, Formula One and the Premier League. Can't wait 244 00:16:25,639 --> 00:16:27,840 for your team to come back. Bet online has future's odds, including wind 245 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:33,639 totals, division winners and even league championships. Or check out daily simulations of 246 00:16:33,639 --> 00:16:36,799 Madden and NBA two k to watch and wager on. Visit bet online, 247 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:40,440 dot ag and use promo code blue wire to receive your new welcome bonus. 248 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:45,840 That's Promo code blue Wire all one word bet online, your online wagering experts. 249 00:16:48,159 --> 00:16:52,279 Next up on our list six a Man of the Year. I'll go 250 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:55,120 through mine since you did yours last. This was I hate my ballot. 251 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:57,399 I just want just fyling right now. I hate this award in general, 252 00:16:57,759 --> 00:17:02,799 it's so tough to parse. I went with Montres Harrold number one. Dante 253 00:17:02,879 --> 00:17:06,680 di Vincenzo was number two for what I believe is a stellar two way impact 254 00:17:06,759 --> 00:17:10,519 and for fitting alongside all of the best players on his team. Then I 255 00:17:10,519 --> 00:17:15,720 had Dennis Shrewder third. Honorable mentions for me by the way to Justin Holliday. 256 00:17:15,759 --> 00:17:18,400 And then of course this is the Lou Williams slash Jamal Crawford Awards, 257 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:22,880 and we have to mention Lou Williams in this I had. I had Jordan 258 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:27,160 Clarkson third for what he's done with the Utah Jazz, just becoming that high 259 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:33,519 scoring bench weapon that they really need. My second place was Montrese Harrold and 260 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:41,319 first place was Dennis Shrewder. For me, I devalued Tres for two reasons. 261 00:17:41,519 --> 00:17:45,880 One is that by definition, there's only one sixth man on a team, 262 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:49,240 and it's hard to tell whether that's him or Lou Williams on the Clippers, 263 00:17:49,279 --> 00:17:53,559 just because they have two prominent bench pieces. And then also Shrewder is 264 00:17:53,599 --> 00:17:59,559 part of the closing lineup in Oklahoma City, that three guard monster lineup that 265 00:17:59,599 --> 00:18:03,240 they use with Chris Paul and Shaygil just Alexander, that's so important to their 266 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:07,319 success. He is an integral figure of that. While having the best season 267 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:14,400 of his career, Mantras typically thrives against backups, and there's immense value in 268 00:18:14,519 --> 00:18:18,200 being able to do that and to keep your team afloat against second units and 269 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:21,759 maintain leads. But you don't see him as part of the closing lineups as 270 00:18:21,799 --> 00:18:26,440 often, and you don't see him playing against the best adversaries that there are 271 00:18:26,559 --> 00:18:29,839 to offer, as opposed to Shrewder, who is on the floor for those 272 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:33,759 moments. I agree with building up Shrewder in that regard, but for the 273 00:18:33,799 --> 00:18:37,839 season specifically, Tres did log enough time to the starters with me and in 274 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:42,559 closing lineups to put him here. What probably is his bigger detraction, this 275 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:45,599 is just my opinion specifically, would be I don't know that he's the best 276 00:18:45,599 --> 00:18:48,920 fit on their team alongside their best players. And where you can say that 277 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:55,079 Dennis Shrewder is working with Oklahoma City's best players, I not Shrewder because the 278 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:59,559 offense craters whenever he doesn't play with Chris Paul and I don't know how much 279 00:18:59,599 --> 00:19:00,920 that matter if you're coming off the bench, but part of this should be 280 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:04,680 you're trying to bridge the gap of a superstar absence, and Trez is better 281 00:19:04,759 --> 00:19:07,400 suited to do that. Of course, he has lou Williams to help him, 282 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:11,200 which then gets into the trouble with parsing this award. He also he's 283 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:14,720 a little bit more self sufficient. I think people give him credit forward like 284 00:19:14,759 --> 00:19:17,079 he can really he can put the ball on the floor and going a straight 285 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:19,839 line and use some force on the block. But no, he's not going 286 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,920 to be headlining these lineups on his own. His numbers and his efficiency this 287 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:27,599 season though, we're just absolutely off the charts and he'll out work pretty much 288 00:19:27,839 --> 00:19:32,079 anyone. And so he was there for me. I considered putting Dante DiVincenzo 289 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:36,559 in first, probably for longer than I should have if he just doesn't have 290 00:19:37,079 --> 00:19:38,839 the sample size that a lot of the other guys do on this list. 291 00:19:40,079 --> 00:19:41,799 But they've played him at point guard in Milwaukee. He fits with their best 292 00:19:41,799 --> 00:19:45,480 players. He's run some units without both Jannis and Chris Middleton that have been 293 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:52,000 okay. I did notice that some of the advanced defensive metrics, specifically ESPN's 294 00:19:52,079 --> 00:19:53,759 defensive real plus minus, which I believe they tweaked. Don't love him as 295 00:19:53,799 --> 00:19:56,880 much as they did before. I still do believe that he's a real defensive 296 00:19:56,880 --> 00:20:02,160 impact, breaking up plays from behind, is not a bad rebounder for his 297 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:04,400 position. So he's someone that I don't think is going to get enough love 298 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:07,200 in this But that might also be because George Hill has been so good for 299 00:20:07,279 --> 00:20:11,559 them too, And that's why Dennis Shrewder's so appealing, is because there's not 300 00:20:11,599 --> 00:20:15,640 that other guy on the team to take votes away or consideration away. Justin 301 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:18,960 Holliday deserves though some considerations. Been an absolute monster on offense this year, 302 00:20:19,319 --> 00:20:22,000 just looking at his efficiency, and then they've had him defending up to power 303 00:20:22,039 --> 00:20:26,599 forwards. Those are backup power forwards. But still he's six six, and 304 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:29,319 I know he's long, but he's not like this huge, burly guy, 305 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:33,319 and so that's super impressive. I definitely spent a good bit of time considering 306 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:37,880 both George Hill and Dante de Vincenzo. I think that Jevencenso in particular is 307 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:41,599 one of those cases that requires so much nuance that he's more likely to feature 308 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:45,519 and A should be there than is going to be their conversation, and I'm 309 00:20:45,519 --> 00:20:52,119 not entirely sure how we're slanting this because those are so inextricable. I also 310 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:56,640 want to note that I hate saying bad things about Montrez Harold, like I 311 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:00,480 would love nothing more than for him to win, because he's so much fun 312 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:06,680 to watch and that hustle is just infectious. I always love guys who maximize 313 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:10,160 every bit of talent they have every moment that they're on the floor, and 314 00:21:10,279 --> 00:21:15,559 he fits that to a t. I maybe this is like a sympathy nod 315 00:21:15,599 --> 00:21:18,160 for him, because I almost feel like you could take him off the Clippers 316 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:19,720 and they're not that much worse. I know, I know, and that's 317 00:21:19,759 --> 00:21:25,240 why I feel horrible. But he's really good. I want to make that 318 00:21:25,319 --> 00:21:29,839 queer but that I can't shake that feeling either, and it's probably because he's 319 00:21:29,839 --> 00:21:33,240 also in the perfect role correct. I don't think like if he if some 320 00:21:33,319 --> 00:21:36,759 team decides to trade for him or pay to pay him big money in free 321 00:21:36,759 --> 00:21:40,319 agency to be a featured piece, I don't think that's gonna work too well. 322 00:21:40,599 --> 00:21:44,119 But like on a contender where he can make the most of more limited 323 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:47,920 minutes. It's perfect for him, right, And so that's why I'm fascinated 324 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:49,720 by his free agency. I'm fascinated by a lot of players free agencies because 325 00:21:49,799 --> 00:21:52,440 if he wants to get more than the middle of exception, I'm assuming the 326 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:55,799 Clippers will give him well more than that. But when you look at the 327 00:21:55,799 --> 00:21:57,440 teams that have tap space, there's gonna be about four to six of them, 328 00:21:57,759 --> 00:22:03,079 unless the New York Knicks get drunk on Tweeter Bigs again, or Charlotte 329 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:06,880 really wants Tress, and I guess that's possible. I just don't see a 330 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:11,240 clear market for him, and it doesn't I like him a lot more if 331 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:15,880 he provided you just a little bit more value on defense where it's Kenny anchor 332 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:18,759 and above average defense just as the primary back line defender. And there are 333 00:22:18,759 --> 00:22:22,000 minutes when you can do that. But can he do it against starters? 334 00:22:22,319 --> 00:22:23,799 Those are all fair questions. And then he's not something that you're gonna want 335 00:22:23,799 --> 00:22:27,079 to pull out to the perimeter either, and he's not the best rebound. 336 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:30,200 Or maybe if the personnel arounds him different where you don't rely on the wings 337 00:22:30,799 --> 00:22:33,640 to pick up boards too, perhaps he can do a little bit more there 338 00:22:34,519 --> 00:22:38,279 I just don't. I don't know who would give him the big money contract, 339 00:22:38,279 --> 00:22:41,480 in part because there's not a ton of cap space, but for also 340 00:22:41,559 --> 00:22:45,279 the reasons that you outlined, is he it seems like he requires just this 341 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:52,000 very specific type of roster to be around. I do just want to reiterate 342 00:22:52,039 --> 00:22:55,599 that I hate this award, Like the whole concept of the sixth Man of 343 00:22:55,599 --> 00:23:00,200 the Year is dumb because starting shouldn't be as relevant as it is in the 344 00:23:00,279 --> 00:23:03,319 NBA. It's more about being a part of the closing lineup or it's not 345 00:23:03,319 --> 00:23:06,039 like we're giving a ward in general. Yeah, yeah, who aren't a 346 00:23:06,079 --> 00:23:08,440 part of the closing lineup? And it also just the voting so much tends 347 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:11,119 to be like, hey, let's look through see guys who didn't start, 348 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:15,079 and then see who scored the most points. What I will say is that 349 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:18,240 it can be hard to come off the bench, and I would say more 350 00:23:18,279 --> 00:23:22,960 limited minutes. I mean, look, rontras Hell is averaging twenty seven point 351 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:25,519 eight minutes per game, like that's those are starter minutes basically, But if 352 00:23:25,519 --> 00:23:27,920 you're playing between you know, let's look at Christian would before he was inserted 353 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:30,960 into the starting lineup, who you could have considered depending on what your criteria 354 00:23:32,079 --> 00:23:34,759 is for this. Derek Rose also could deserve an honorable mention. I didn't 355 00:23:34,759 --> 00:23:38,759 pick him and I was gonna put him high, but he was starting when 356 00:23:38,799 --> 00:23:42,799 this whole when Leicia down. But Seth Curry was a name that I didn't 357 00:23:42,839 --> 00:23:48,240 think enough people considers for this. It's but anyway, I believe in a 358 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:51,880 rhythm, and I'm not sure how much I believe in it, Like how 359 00:23:52,039 --> 00:23:55,480 how can it impact your performance? But coming off the bench and being expected 360 00:23:55,519 --> 00:23:59,240 to make a high level impact when your minutes are going to come in smaller 361 00:23:59,279 --> 00:24:02,000 bursts and maybe a little bit more irregularly. And a lot of teams are 362 00:24:02,039 --> 00:24:04,920 good with their substitution patterns, obviously, but when your samples a little bit 363 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:08,519 smaller and you don't have the luxury of sort of warming up to your role. 364 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:11,799 I do respect that, and so maybe that's why this award is still 365 00:24:11,839 --> 00:24:18,160 prevalent. But I absolutely agree with you that starting shouldn't be like this identifier 366 00:24:18,279 --> 00:24:22,200 like it it's almost like positions at this point where those just don't matter as 367 00:24:22,319 --> 00:24:26,799 much as they did in the past. Agreed on all fronts, which brings 368 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:32,559 us to the rookie of the year award, which I don't think is tough 369 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:36,519 and is only a controversy if you're going to select a certain someone. I 370 00:24:36,559 --> 00:24:40,079 went first last time, so we'll let you go first here. So I 371 00:24:40,079 --> 00:24:45,920 mean, I have John Morant winning this award because duh. He's been incredible 372 00:24:45,039 --> 00:24:48,720 for the Memphis Grizzlies on so many levels, just pushing that team way ahead 373 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:52,160 of schedule into the playoff picture, taking control of the offense, avoiding the 374 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:57,960 typical rookie pitfalls of inefficient shooting and turnover woes. He's exciting, he's invigorating, 375 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:02,359 he's given the franchise new identity after the grid and Grind era. Just 376 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:07,079 he checks every single box with a plum. He's the obvious winner here. 377 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:11,559 Zion Williamson is still number two on my ballot because he's made such an incredible 378 00:25:11,599 --> 00:25:15,119 impact in the nineteen games that he's played, but the fact that he's only 379 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:21,119 played nineteen games means that he basically is disqualified from rising any higher. You 380 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:25,559 could give third place, you could give second place to Brandon Clark because he's 381 00:25:25,599 --> 00:25:29,400 been so effective, but because there's such a huge gap between one and everyone 382 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:33,200 else, I'm just gonna give it to Cam Reddish because go Hawks. Wow, 383 00:25:33,599 --> 00:25:37,799 I'm just gonna pends with that as a Brandon Clark because that's the that's 384 00:25:37,799 --> 00:25:40,480 the correct thing, so it is. It is the correct thick. But 385 00:25:40,519 --> 00:25:45,839 like I'm gonna give a little love to Reddish for improving throughout the year and 386 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:49,720 which completely doing away with his slow start and convincing Atlanta fans that he might 387 00:25:49,759 --> 00:25:53,599 actually be a long term piece, even though they and by they I mean 388 00:25:53,799 --> 00:26:00,440 me questioned the selection in the draft and questioned and more when he struggled at 389 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:03,240 the start of the year. More questionable to me is what they gave up 390 00:26:03,279 --> 00:26:07,039 to draft DeAndre Hunter. That just didn't seem like the draft to make that 391 00:26:07,079 --> 00:26:11,400 move. It did not. Brand Clark is really third, so I had 392 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:15,359 John Morant number one as well. And where we're going to differ is because 393 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:18,519 I already believe that Zion Williamson is the best rookie in the NBA, the 394 00:26:18,559 --> 00:26:22,200 best player of this rookie class, and so if I'm not going to put 395 00:26:22,279 --> 00:26:25,160 him one, I need to steer into it. And I'm gonna put Brandon 396 00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:27,920 Clark two because he has the larger sample. He was really good, and 397 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:33,559 I think that effectiveness has to matter So if I'm gonna wait sample for John 398 00:26:33,559 --> 00:26:37,119 Moran over Williamson when I believe that Zion's already better, that was just my 399 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:42,279 rational there. But two for John Moran. I also don't think that right 400 00:26:42,319 --> 00:26:45,440 now. And this isn't necessarily a hot take, but I believe Ian Williams 401 00:26:45,559 --> 00:26:49,440 is better. I don't believe it's by much Oscar Robinson, and I'm not 402 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:56,160 sure that's a statement that deserves to go unchallenged. So look, just to 403 00:26:56,160 --> 00:27:00,359 contextualize his season this year, Oscar Robinson, until this season was the only 404 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:03,240 other first year player to average at least twenty points an eight assists while matching 405 00:27:03,279 --> 00:27:07,160 Morant's true shooting. That's cross aeric comparisons are tough, but holy wow, 406 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:11,920 and we can now throw Oh, Trey Young was in there as well. 407 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:14,359 So it was Trey Young and Oscar Robinson. So excuse me, but that's 408 00:27:14,359 --> 00:27:19,519 still incredible company to be in. And the burden he carries on offense for 409 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:22,960 rookie is just it's mind melting. And there's the escapism off the dribble. 410 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:26,359 And this is something I didn't watch closely enough, but Zach low It talked 411 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:30,079 about it on his podcast. Is that people like me who are worried about 412 00:27:30,079 --> 00:27:33,920 his fit with Justice Winslow long term, maybe even Kyle Anderson and Dylan Brooks 413 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,759 because he needs the ball in his hand. He does work off the ball 414 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:40,039 and really goes after it on cuts. And so now this is someone who 415 00:27:40,039 --> 00:27:41,920 I don't know if you want to call him plug and play, but if 416 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:44,880 he ups his three point volume a little bit because he's hitting the threes that 417 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:48,799 he's taking mostly off the dribble, we're talking about an MVP level talent. 418 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:52,240 And so there might be two MVP level talents that come out of this draft 419 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:56,960 class, which is just absolutely bonkers. And so Brandon Clark though two for 420 00:27:56,960 --> 00:28:00,640 me, and then Zion was three. I had Eric pash Gal as an 421 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:03,839 honorable mention here I would have put him forth, and then PJ. Washington 422 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:07,640 started off really hot, but he was there was a roller coaster ride throughout 423 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:11,480 the season, but I think he held it pretty steady, especially on offense 424 00:28:11,519 --> 00:28:15,319 throughout the year that he could probably deserve some some just you know, residual 425 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:19,440 dap in this discussion, I just I can't get over how good Morant is 426 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:25,759 as a twenty year old rookie. It just it's unfathomable how good he is 427 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:29,920 at this age, the command that he has over the offense. The only 428 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:33,200 thing that I wish you would change is how he lands, because it terrifies 429 00:28:33,279 --> 00:28:37,319 me every time. Land on two feet. Don't land at weird angles. 430 00:28:37,319 --> 00:28:41,359 Protect your body. There's there's so much of his game that reminds me of 431 00:28:41,440 --> 00:28:45,839 Dwyane Wade, just the ability to attack and kind of play contortionist in the 432 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:52,440 air and leap early and go in the air in unexpected ways. Wade was 433 00:28:52,519 --> 00:28:56,359 such a good faller. He never seemed to get hurt when he hit the 434 00:28:56,359 --> 00:29:00,640 ground. He knew how to take contact and absorb it and get up fast. 435 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:07,400 And we've seen Marant have more awkward falls in his rookie season than Wade 436 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:11,079 has had in his entire career, or so it seems, And I just 437 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:15,240 I need him to change that because we cannot afford to lose this talent. 438 00:29:15,279 --> 00:29:19,160 Right. He is a I would call him a violent lander is the best 439 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:22,920 way to put it. Yes, And you need to be a soft lander 440 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:25,920 if you play the way that he does. Fun fact, one of my 441 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:30,119 puppies, Wade gives me the same anxiety when he lands after jumping, but 442 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:33,200 he's also just like this violent jumper where it seems like his I'm worried he's 443 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:37,319 going to displace his hip at some point because it's just so violent to one 444 00:29:37,319 --> 00:29:40,480 side. But Brant is a graceful leaper. I'll say that it's the landing 445 00:29:41,039 --> 00:29:45,079 where And what I like about him is that he seems like he wants to 446 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:48,480 murder you at the rim, Like anytime he sees a seven foot or anywhere 447 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:52,079 near the City of the Basket, he's just going to try and take off 448 00:29:52,119 --> 00:29:53,759 like that. He has that hit fact right for sure, Like in every 449 00:29:53,799 --> 00:29:57,519 way, in every way, he's like every once in a while, there 450 00:29:57,559 --> 00:30:02,480 come along these players who, like you can't help but get really excited when 451 00:30:02,519 --> 00:30:03,960 you watch them, when you talk about them, when you think about them, 452 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:07,160 whatever it may be. And we knew Zion was going to beat that 453 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:12,880 and he is that. But I don't think we expected Jaw to reach that 454 00:30:14,039 --> 00:30:18,519 level of excitement this quickly though, Like you can't talk about this guy without 455 00:30:18,559 --> 00:30:22,400 smiling. Something I will say about Zion that I actually was concerned about was 456 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:26,160 how he would work in a half court offense, just because you know, 457 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:29,240 when he gets going downhill on the break and everything that he's impossible to stop. 458 00:30:29,559 --> 00:30:33,519 He is so quick with everything he does in the half court that, 459 00:30:33,599 --> 00:30:36,720 no, you don't necessarily want him initiating yet, but he's going to pass 460 00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:41,640 or drive or you know, work in the post. Like it doesn't seem 461 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:44,519 like his possessions last a long time, so that he doesn't. The IQ's 462 00:30:44,559 --> 00:30:47,680 there for him to become a more methodical player, but right now he's like 463 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:51,759 smart enough to where he doesn't need to do that either, And so his 464 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:53,880 dominance, that's why it feels so real to me. And look, twenty 465 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:57,440 eight point five points, eight point two rebounds, two point six assists for 466 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:02,440 thirty six minutes while hitting fifty nine five percent of his two's speak for itself. 467 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:06,519 And then also, I believe this is a factual statement, but Brandon 468 00:31:06,559 --> 00:31:10,440 Clark has yet to miss a floater this year. I think that's correct, 469 00:31:10,519 --> 00:31:12,519 and I think he might have made more than he's taken at this point. 470 00:31:12,599 --> 00:31:17,440 Yeah, that's yeah, Brandon Clark has has made more floaters than he's attempted. 471 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:21,680 Let's let's write that down. The next award we have coming up here 472 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:26,680 is most improved Player. And as some of my message apps go off in 473 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:30,000 the background, so I'll start with this one. I had Luca Dontats at 474 00:31:30,039 --> 00:31:34,079 one, Brandon Ingram at two, and bam Adebayo at three. I also 475 00:31:34,079 --> 00:31:38,400 gave consideration a Christian Wood and Jason Tatum. People probably also make cases for 476 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:42,480 Pascal Siakam. They're you know, small cases to be made for DeVante Grahams 477 00:31:42,759 --> 00:31:48,599 as well, but but done for me. Is like he was already carrying 478 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:52,640 superstar usage last year and then just exploded anyway, and so you're looking at 479 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:59,000 his usage skyrocketing, and yet he's upped his two point shooting by basically seven 480 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:04,960 percent. He's shooting fifty seven point seven percent on two's compared to a fifty 481 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:07,279 seven point four percent on two is compared to fifty point three percent last year. 482 00:32:07,559 --> 00:32:12,519 His three point clip is down, but his overall true shooting percentage is 483 00:32:12,599 --> 00:32:15,559 up by almost four points. His usage is at thirty seven, up from 484 00:32:15,559 --> 00:32:21,880 thirty point five. And he's just he's more dynamic than he was last year. 485 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:24,759 He's just stronger when it comes to finishing on his drives, and his 486 00:32:24,799 --> 00:32:30,960 floaters generally craftier. He just feels like he is more of the complete package. 487 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:34,319 I know he's had his crunch time issues. Last year, but where 488 00:32:34,359 --> 00:32:37,559 he was splashing in just step back trickles at the triples at this ridiculous rate 489 00:32:37,599 --> 00:32:42,559 and flinging ridiculous passes and now feels like he's just rounded out his game more 490 00:32:42,599 --> 00:32:47,799 to create more chaos when he's inside the arc. And the list of players 491 00:32:47,799 --> 00:32:52,480 to average more than twenty eight points and eight assists per game on his efficiency 492 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:57,039 includes Trey Young doing it this year, James Harden and Lebron James and that's 493 00:32:57,039 --> 00:33:00,599 it, just having a monster season. And so while he was already of 494 00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:04,799 the superstar ilk, he's so much clearly better. Last year. He went 495 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:07,839 from what do you want to say, a top thirty to top twenty five 496 00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:10,039 player last years. Now he's got to be top five, top seven, 497 00:33:10,039 --> 00:33:13,960 And that's one of the hardest leaps to make. You know, It's easier 498 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:17,880 to go from top fifty or top one hundred to just much higher up on 499 00:33:17,880 --> 00:33:21,640 that list because you're splitting hairs a little bit more. But once you're trying 500 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:23,839 to crack that really elite, superstar tier, it gets really hard to do. 501 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:27,559 And the fact that he did it as a sophomore, it just it 502 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:32,000 bends your brain. I agree that Luca don Chich is the most improved player 503 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:36,880 in the NBA, and yet he's not on my ballot. And that's only 504 00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:42,759 because I personally think that second year players should be disqualified from this award, 505 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:47,319 just because we see those bigger jumps happen so frequently, and that sophomore leap 506 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:52,519 is almost an expectation for high draft picks. You know, you can give 507 00:33:52,559 --> 00:33:54,559 love to DeVante Graham, you can give love to Trey Young. You should 508 00:33:54,599 --> 00:33:59,640 give love to Luca don Chich. But I just I can't put those guys 509 00:34:00,160 --> 00:34:05,279 on my personal ballot because of that one stipulation. So I have Jason Tatum 510 00:34:05,359 --> 00:34:08,320 third. I have Christian Wood second, and not having him first was difficult, 511 00:34:08,599 --> 00:34:14,440 and he might have been first had the season continued and he continued that 512 00:34:15,079 --> 00:34:19,320 ridiculous trajectory that he was on just before the shutdown. Just to go from 513 00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:22,159 a guy who struggled to stick on any roster to being an absolute, no 514 00:34:22,280 --> 00:34:25,599 doubt keeper for the Detroit Pistons was huge. I do have Bam out to 515 00:34:25,639 --> 00:34:32,119 Bio in first place, because he completely transformed his game. He made the 516 00:34:32,199 --> 00:34:36,679 scoring leap, he made even more of a defensive leap. He went from 517 00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:39,760 being a seldom used distributor to being one of the Heat's primary playmakers while still 518 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:45,000 serving as this all around defensive weapon who could also score from all over the 519 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:51,199 court. The level of importance to that team that he gained from his second 520 00:34:51,199 --> 00:34:57,599 to his third season without sacrificing any effectiveness but actually getting better his jump was 521 00:34:57,639 --> 00:35:01,199 not just a byproduct of going from twenty three to thirty four minutes per game. 522 00:35:01,239 --> 00:35:07,559 It was him legitimately getting that much better. So I totally get the 523 00:35:07,639 --> 00:35:10,360 argument for don chich. I can't really disagree with it because he has made 524 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:14,639 what is an even more difficult leap to make, as you mentioned, But 525 00:35:14,840 --> 00:35:17,159 just because of my own personal rules on this vote, I have to have 526 00:35:17,199 --> 00:35:22,239 autobio first. Yeah, I almost put him lower because I thought I view 527 00:35:22,239 --> 00:35:27,960 it as more a circumstance of opportunity for him than an actual leap. But 528 00:35:27,960 --> 00:35:31,840 I think I think those opportunities come because of his skill too. Yeah, 529 00:35:31,840 --> 00:35:37,000 and that definitely matters. And I used to ascribe to the same. I 530 00:35:37,039 --> 00:35:40,000 won't include second your players on this, but I was basically destroyed for it 531 00:35:40,119 --> 00:35:44,119 last year, and so I just decided to kind of be more flexible there 532 00:35:44,119 --> 00:35:45,800 this year. But I actually understand that as well. And look, I 533 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:50,639 would have no qualms on putting brand In Ingram first because he's a better shot 534 00:35:50,679 --> 00:35:52,599 maker than he was. We always saw him getting to his spots, and 535 00:35:52,599 --> 00:35:54,280 we talked about him in our last podcast, so we won't go to in 536 00:35:54,320 --> 00:35:58,880 detail here, but as we mentioned then, the fact that he can fit 537 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:04,800 within a wider team dynamic now more seamlessly than he did during his first three 538 00:36:04,840 --> 00:36:07,960 seasons in the league. That's a big deal and a huge part of his 539 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:09,639 improvement. And so if we were going to remove second year players from consideration, 540 00:36:09,639 --> 00:36:14,440 I would still go with Brandon Ingram as number one. Then, and 541 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:16,639 you actually feel like he will be the one to win the award. I 542 00:36:16,679 --> 00:36:21,760 don't really have a feel for hes going to win this one. Just like 543 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:23,440 six Manut of the Year, I don't really know who's going to win that 544 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:28,559 one. And then, like you mentioned Christian Wood at the season unfolded differently, 545 00:36:28,599 --> 00:36:30,360 he might be higher up here. And then Jason Tatum deserves some love 546 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:32,840 as well. I know people have painted his rise as sort of this one 547 00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:37,000 month transformation. It's been way more in the making than that. He's been 548 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:42,199 really good this year, and it's been more he's just been better. I 549 00:36:42,199 --> 00:36:45,480 think that people are giving him him credit for are we also have to well, 550 00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:49,880 we have to give some love first to Pascal Siakam, who you mentioned 551 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:53,559 briefly just as an aside, But like, this guy won Most Improved Player 552 00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:58,840 last year, and he should have won Most Improved Player last year, and 553 00:36:58,920 --> 00:37:01,119 he's a very legitimate a candidate this time around as well. I think that 554 00:37:01,760 --> 00:37:07,000 his leap is more the product of opportunity after Kawhi Leonard left than a lot 555 00:37:07,039 --> 00:37:12,360 of these other candidates, where he hasn't both gotten bigger volume numbers and more 556 00:37:12,400 --> 00:37:16,800 efficient he has sacrificed some effectiveness to take on that bigger role. But just 557 00:37:16,920 --> 00:37:22,840 the fact that he won the award last year and is still a legitimate contender 558 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:27,400 this season. That's not supposed to happen, and that is a tremendous testament 559 00:37:27,519 --> 00:37:30,840 to the work ethic and desire to keep ascending the superstar hierarchy on his part. 560 00:37:31,840 --> 00:37:36,199 Yeah, I think that's important. That's important to talk about as well. 561 00:37:36,599 --> 00:37:42,159 Wade agrees. Yeah, Wade, Wade is voicing his voicing his agreement 562 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:45,639 in this process. Do you want to take us through Defensive Player of the 563 00:37:45,719 --> 00:37:51,559 Year. Absolutely, this was a little bit of a tricky one, just 564 00:37:51,760 --> 00:37:55,760 because there is not much of a historical precedent for one person winning MVP and 565 00:37:55,840 --> 00:38:00,360 Defensive Player of the Year. Michael Jordan and Hakim Malajuan are the only ones 566 00:38:00,360 --> 00:38:02,320 who have done so. But I think Jannis still has to be the favorite. 567 00:38:02,559 --> 00:38:07,400 The biggest knock against him that I have is that Brook Lopez's presence makes 568 00:38:07,440 --> 00:38:13,320 his candidacy a little bit tougher because Lopez is another viable another viable selection for 569 00:38:13,480 --> 00:38:17,679 the ballot and the ability to protect the rim lets. Janis thrive in more 570 00:38:17,760 --> 00:38:22,519 of a versatile free safety role, but the defense also maintains its effectiveness far 571 00:38:22,639 --> 00:38:28,000 better with Jannis on the court without Lopez than vice versa, and it's still 572 00:38:28,079 --> 00:38:30,960 clear that he is the biggest driving factor for their success. So I did 573 00:38:31,039 --> 00:38:35,280 have Jannis first. I had Ben Simmons second, and Anthony Davis third. 574 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:39,280 There are a lot of a lot of reasonable choices for this one. I 575 00:38:39,360 --> 00:38:45,320 think it's it's tougher to put someone like Kawhi Leonard or Rudy Gobert on the 576 00:38:45,360 --> 00:38:49,360 ballot this year, whether for availability or slight declines and effectiveness and possibly some 577 00:38:49,480 --> 00:38:52,719 voter fatigue on the last one, but Jannis is the deserving winner here. 578 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:55,599 I think I wanted to put Joel and B he would have had a really 579 00:38:55,639 --> 00:38:59,440 strong case. I think if he played more this year, and there did 580 00:38:59,480 --> 00:39:01,199 seem to be a rest of the season for just like a couple of weeks 581 00:39:01,239 --> 00:39:04,960 where it just didn't feel like he had it, I ended up with. 582 00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:08,239 My honorable mentions would be Kwhi Leonard just because he turned it on like a 583 00:39:08,360 --> 00:39:13,039 third of the way through the season or something, and then Ben Simmons would 584 00:39:13,039 --> 00:39:15,400 be an uh honorable mention for me. I had Anthy Davis hit third. 585 00:39:15,440 --> 00:39:20,119 And I know people get caught up in his on off splits just because the 586 00:39:20,199 --> 00:39:23,440 Lakers are technically better defensively without him on the floor this season, But when 587 00:39:23,480 --> 00:39:27,000 you look at the lineups he has to anchor, he spends a lot of 588 00:39:27,039 --> 00:39:30,360 time beside you know, Kyle Kuzma, Roger on Rondo, those are just 589 00:39:30,440 --> 00:39:32,840 tough lineups to anchor. And I actually think Kyle Kuzma has been a little 590 00:39:32,840 --> 00:39:37,559 bit better defensively over the past two seasons than most people have given him credit 591 00:39:37,559 --> 00:39:39,880 floor, but he's so tough to fit positionally on the defensive side the floor 592 00:39:39,920 --> 00:39:44,199 that it does increase the burden for anthy Davis. Number two for me was 593 00:39:44,280 --> 00:39:47,440 Rudy Gobert, just because even when you kind of factor in the malaise that 594 00:39:47,559 --> 00:39:52,440 he had, he's still one of the two most impactful defenders in the least 595 00:39:53,199 --> 00:40:00,760 Wow are there are no such things as facts? Okay, glad we but 596 00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:05,039 he caught a lot of shit. Pardon my friends there. I've actually been 597 00:40:05,039 --> 00:40:08,360 trying to curse less on this podcast for how the series unfolded against Houston last 598 00:40:08,400 --> 00:40:10,400 year. But by the end of it like he had kind of he and 599 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:13,960 the jazz had adapted, and the fact that he's more of a traditional big 600 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:16,159 man I could do that he does deserve credit for it. He is one 601 00:40:16,199 --> 00:40:20,000 of the two biggest rim to turns in the NBA. Depending on how you 602 00:40:20,079 --> 00:40:22,280 feel about Joe Embiid, he's not as much of a deer in headlights when 603 00:40:22,320 --> 00:40:27,119 he's pulled outside the restricted area as people like to think. And so if 604 00:40:27,159 --> 00:40:30,760 he had just been a little bit more consistent during the kind of the meat 605 00:40:30,800 --> 00:40:32,599 and potatoes of the season where it seems like he was more lethargic when it 606 00:40:32,639 --> 00:40:36,320 came to getting back in transition just for a little while, and it does 607 00:40:36,400 --> 00:40:37,800 seem like there were some stuff going on behind the scenes there, or maybe 608 00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:42,000 he wasn't as happy with his offensive role that actually matters for this. And 609 00:40:42,119 --> 00:40:44,840 look, I'll be open here. Maybe it's just voter fatigue because he won 610 00:40:44,880 --> 00:40:46,400 twice. Maybe he's the one that should be winning this. I went with 611 00:40:46,480 --> 00:40:51,760 Joannis Attentacopo as well, though, And you know you mentioned having brook Lopez 612 00:40:51,840 --> 00:40:54,039 there could actually hurt him, and I agree. Maybe it pulled some votes 613 00:40:54,079 --> 00:40:58,880 away from him. Maybe people believe that his job is just essentially easier. 614 00:40:59,280 --> 00:41:04,880 But the Bucks have the best defense in the NBA by a mile and jannest 615 00:41:04,880 --> 00:41:09,280 attempt Coopo. They are more than ten points better prone hundred possessions on defense 616 00:41:09,639 --> 00:41:14,840 with him on the court, and to have that type of impact is just 617 00:41:15,119 --> 00:41:19,920 it's monstrous. That's the third biggest defensive rating swing among players who've cleared at 618 00:41:20,000 --> 00:41:22,360 least five hundred minutes of court time, So we're seeing that's a huge swing 619 00:41:22,440 --> 00:41:25,440 for someone who plays for the team that has the league's best defense, and 620 00:41:25,480 --> 00:41:30,199 a defense that is still in about the seventieth percent tile of points aloud prone 621 00:41:30,280 --> 00:41:35,119 hundred possessions when he's off the court, seventy first percent tile and he's made 622 00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:37,119 sixty seventh percentile. Excuse me, I can't him my numbers straight here, 623 00:41:37,400 --> 00:41:42,039 So he's making the league's best defense that much better. What I've also been 624 00:41:42,079 --> 00:41:45,440 impressed with is he has spent more reps at center than ever, and the 625 00:41:45,559 --> 00:41:50,519 Bucks have a great defense during those during those stints when he's on the court 626 00:41:50,599 --> 00:41:53,880 as their de facto five, opponents are getting to the rim less when he's 627 00:41:55,000 --> 00:41:59,599 on the court as well. They're shooting under forty two percent at the rim 628 00:42:00,400 --> 00:42:04,119 against him this season forty one point eight percent on three point three attempts, 629 00:42:04,480 --> 00:42:07,440 and look, that's the best. That's the stingiest mark among one hundred and 630 00:42:07,519 --> 00:42:09,719 twenty five players who are facing at least three attempts at the rim per game. 631 00:42:09,840 --> 00:42:14,679 So he's by far to me, but maybe not by far. But 632 00:42:14,960 --> 00:42:16,519 it wasn't a hard decision for me to label him as the defensive player of 633 00:42:16,559 --> 00:42:21,119 the Year this season. More than ever, I see why Gobert is against 634 00:42:21,159 --> 00:42:24,119 facts, because all of those make a pretty clear case for Yannis. Rudy 635 00:42:24,159 --> 00:42:27,960 Gobert had doubled down on that because that was just such a dumb statement. 636 00:42:28,280 --> 00:42:30,639 That was a bad tweet, that was a bad tweet, and I can't 637 00:42:30,639 --> 00:42:34,800 defend I think I mocked it on Twitter yesterday as well. I do think 638 00:42:34,840 --> 00:42:37,519 he does have a semi compelling case for this. I just think this season 639 00:42:37,960 --> 00:42:43,119 Jannis has been decidedly better to where it's, yes, you can argue for 640 00:42:43,199 --> 00:42:46,199 Gobert, but it's just going to feel like a stretch in comparison to Janni's 641 00:42:46,239 --> 00:42:51,679 attempt Kompo's blend of versatility and volume, because no, he's not going to 642 00:42:51,719 --> 00:42:55,199 shoulder that same backline defensive role that Gobert has, but he does so many 643 00:42:55,320 --> 00:43:01,280 different things on the defensive end so consistently end in mad that it pretty clearly 644 00:43:01,519 --> 00:43:07,039 takes him pass Rudy Gobert's defensive value this season. I also think that if 645 00:43:07,119 --> 00:43:08,880 Jannis is going to win a DPOY, it needs to be this year because 646 00:43:08,960 --> 00:43:13,039 Ben Simmons is going to win the next few. Wow, that actually is 647 00:43:13,079 --> 00:43:15,480 a take. Yeah, I think there's a little heat on that one, 648 00:43:15,559 --> 00:43:19,719 But just the versatility and growth that he's shown on that end this year have 649 00:43:19,800 --> 00:43:24,079 been tremendous. He probably more than any other player including Jannis, has the 650 00:43:24,159 --> 00:43:30,440 ability to guard literally anyone on the floor, and his ability to do that 651 00:43:30,639 --> 00:43:35,159 is so key for Philadelphia. Just he seems to have more of an understanding 652 00:43:35,199 --> 00:43:38,360 of schemes and positioning than ever this year. He is constantly in the passing 653 00:43:38,480 --> 00:43:43,360 lanes. He is constantly wreaking havoc. There are so many things that aren't 654 00:43:43,400 --> 00:43:46,400 going to show up in the stat sheet, like the deterrence when he's guarding 655 00:43:46,440 --> 00:43:51,480 a star player and he prevents them from even touching the ball because you can't 656 00:43:51,519 --> 00:43:55,000 get it by him on an entry pass or on an off ball route around 657 00:43:55,000 --> 00:44:01,760 the corners. Just his ability to impact everything is overwhelming, and I think 658 00:44:01,800 --> 00:44:06,320 you can make a case that he's been the best defender in the year in 659 00:44:06,360 --> 00:44:09,920 the league this year already. But without the team's success that Jannis is enjoying, 660 00:44:10,360 --> 00:44:13,960 it's harder to make a case for him in the number one spot. 661 00:44:14,199 --> 00:44:16,719 But that's going to change going forward. I honestly wonder if it will be 662 00:44:17,320 --> 00:44:20,840 you know, he's gonna you know, you talked about Brook Lopez kind of 663 00:44:20,880 --> 00:44:24,199 taking away that consideration from Jannis. Joel Embiid, particularly when he plays enough, 664 00:44:24,320 --> 00:44:30,559 is definitely going to soak up votes and sponge them off of Ben Simmons. 665 00:44:30,880 --> 00:44:34,119 To me, it's really hard, It's really hard to be the Defensive 666 00:44:34,119 --> 00:44:36,239 Player of the Year when you're the only good defender on your team. Though, 667 00:44:36,760 --> 00:44:38,519 like this is this is one of those awards where I think, like 668 00:44:38,679 --> 00:44:44,559 having that co star in the area hurts you the least. I think it's 669 00:44:44,559 --> 00:44:46,960 still possible to win MVP with another top ten player alongside you. I think 670 00:44:47,000 --> 00:44:51,239 it's definitely possible to win Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, or 671 00:44:51,239 --> 00:44:52,599 sixth Man of the Year. But with Defensive Player of the Year, I 672 00:44:52,639 --> 00:44:57,000 feel like it's almost a necessity to have another good defender next to you, 673 00:44:57,360 --> 00:45:00,480 because if you don't, the results aren't going to be there. I agree 674 00:45:00,599 --> 00:45:04,400 that that's this is the easiest award in which to overcome if you have that 675 00:45:04,480 --> 00:45:07,760 elite partner, But I also think it benefits someone like a Rudy Gobert. 676 00:45:07,840 --> 00:45:09,559 You know, maybe he'll offer from voter Fatiam moving forward. But even look 677 00:45:09,599 --> 00:45:14,199 at this last season, like Joe Angles is a good defender, Joe Ingles 678 00:45:14,280 --> 00:45:16,679 isn't a great defender, and Mike Conley wasn't available enough this year, and 679 00:45:16,880 --> 00:45:21,079 you know he's older, so he's probably let's say Lee Gaverage maybe slightly above 680 00:45:21,119 --> 00:45:24,360 and so his body of work in Utah has been so impressive during these past 681 00:45:24,400 --> 00:45:29,960 few years because he really hasn't been beside another close to all NBA caliber defender. 682 00:45:30,280 --> 00:45:32,119 He's one of the few systems unto themselves. Yes, Rudy Gobert is 683 00:45:32,159 --> 00:45:35,719 a system onto himself. And so look, we were dumping all over his 684 00:45:35,760 --> 00:45:40,360 tweet because it was absolutely terrible, just absolutely horrible. Phenomenal defender, generational 685 00:45:40,440 --> 00:45:44,760 defensive talent, and so that not a knock against what he's done on the 686 00:45:44,840 --> 00:45:47,639 court. Our final category zone, We're gonna get this done in sub fifty 687 00:45:47,719 --> 00:45:50,880 minutes, like we kind of sort of set out too, We said sub 688 00:45:50,960 --> 00:45:53,199 forty five, but hey, we've been going over an hour lately. Do 689 00:45:53,320 --> 00:45:58,159 you want to take us through MVP as well? I would love to. 690 00:45:58,920 --> 00:46:02,840 I'm gonna have Janna Sanda Dakumpo in first place as the runaway winner to make 691 00:46:02,920 --> 00:46:07,280 it back to back, to make it MVP and DPOY, and then it 692 00:46:07,360 --> 00:46:10,639 gets a little trickier. I'm actually gonna have James Harden in second place. 693 00:46:12,239 --> 00:46:15,960 I know that the popular opinion, the popular opinion is have Lebron James, 694 00:46:16,000 --> 00:46:20,480 and there's absolutely a case for that. I think that Harden gets way too 695 00:46:20,559 --> 00:46:25,800 much hate just his ability to elevate and carry an offense for not just one 696 00:46:25,880 --> 00:46:31,519 game, but for significant portions of a season is so significant. He creates 697 00:46:31,840 --> 00:46:36,599 everything for this team, and he did even more when Russell Westbrook was struggling. 698 00:46:37,199 --> 00:46:42,159 His ability to thrive on offense to hold his own on defense while playing 699 00:46:42,480 --> 00:46:46,400 against bigger players enabled Houston to go to this ultra small ball lineup that they've 700 00:46:46,400 --> 00:46:52,239 been using, which in turn allowed Russell Westbrook to break out. Russell Westbrook 701 00:46:52,320 --> 00:46:57,320 does not play like he does at the end of the pre restart season. 702 00:46:57,840 --> 00:47:02,079 The only part that we're considering for these awards. If Harden doesn't absolutely dominate 703 00:47:02,199 --> 00:47:07,239 as a generational all time great offensive player. It's popular to hate on him 704 00:47:07,239 --> 00:47:10,840 because he shoots too many free throws and draws too many Tiki tack fouls and 705 00:47:12,199 --> 00:47:15,840 plays a ball commadering dribble it into the ground style. It works, it's 706 00:47:15,880 --> 00:47:20,440 effective. He is a system unto himself, and he had yet another incredible 707 00:47:20,519 --> 00:47:24,079 season. I think he's closer to number one than number three. Wow, 708 00:47:24,519 --> 00:47:29,239 that's so. I had James hard number three, and I have Lebron James 709 00:47:29,320 --> 00:47:31,320 number two. Janni's number one. Anyone who's interested in this I had Luga 710 00:47:31,400 --> 00:47:35,760 Danchis at number four and I copped out. I have Chris Paul and Thami 711 00:47:35,800 --> 00:47:38,559 and the Lord tie for fifth on my hypothetical MVP bat we were talking at 712 00:47:39,079 --> 00:47:43,960 four, and I'll agree with you on five, but push Paul slightly ahead 713 00:47:44,559 --> 00:47:45,480 and there are other names you can put there. But yeah, just what 714 00:47:45,519 --> 00:47:49,239 he's done with Oklahoma City just so much better with him on the floor. 715 00:47:49,280 --> 00:47:52,000 And I know the Blazers aren't good this year, but the amount of injuries 716 00:47:52,039 --> 00:47:53,519 that they dealt with, they should have been so much worse. And I 717 00:47:53,599 --> 00:47:58,679 think you have through Meyer. I'm like, I don't know how to wait 718 00:47:58,800 --> 00:48:00,719 intangibles, but the fact that you could go and sign Krmelo Anthony and trade 719 00:48:00,719 --> 00:48:04,719 first on whiteside and just everything's gonna be fine because you know Dame's there. 720 00:48:05,079 --> 00:48:07,079 There's a level of that that matters. And look, they were also good 721 00:48:07,119 --> 00:48:09,400 when he was on the court. But for Lebron James specifically, I do 722 00:48:09,559 --> 00:48:15,400 think he belongs in that second spot because he is so valuable to the Lakers. 723 00:48:15,519 --> 00:48:19,400 And I'm hesitant to use on off splits to illustrate this because it actually 724 00:48:19,440 --> 00:48:22,000 does make my point, but it makes the wrong point. I can't for 725 00:48:22,079 --> 00:48:25,480 the life of me. They're not that terrible when he's off the floor offensively, 726 00:48:25,559 --> 00:48:29,440 despite the fact that they don't really have these secondary ball handlers. It's 727 00:48:29,480 --> 00:48:32,320 defensively where they've experienced the biggest drop off. I'll say that comes close to 728 00:48:32,360 --> 00:48:36,000 matching the eye test in the sense that Lebron has been a defensive plus this 729 00:48:36,079 --> 00:48:38,039 year. He's not chasing around the toughest assignment, but he kind of cares 730 00:48:38,039 --> 00:48:43,400 about contesting shots now, and that's certainly something. But the Lakers are twelve 731 00:48:43,519 --> 00:48:46,119 points better prone hundred possessions with him on the floor. That's the fifth best 732 00:48:46,199 --> 00:48:50,920 mark, fifth largest swing among anyone who's logged at least one thousand minutes. 733 00:48:50,960 --> 00:48:52,119 And I know net ratings swings aren't the end all be all, but we're 734 00:48:52,119 --> 00:48:57,960 talking about someone who also leads the league in assists, and look, he's 735 00:48:58,079 --> 00:49:00,480 the lakers only plus ball handler. Don't really care what the on off splits 736 00:49:00,519 --> 00:49:06,480 say that their offense isn't terrible and necessarily when he's off the court, But 737 00:49:06,559 --> 00:49:09,599 you can't put Anthony Davis in most of these lineups without Lebron expect them to 738 00:49:09,639 --> 00:49:15,079 work offensively. I don't know how much you reward him for the makeup of 739 00:49:15,159 --> 00:49:17,480 a team where you have to believe he had some influence or ago he wanted 740 00:49:19,119 --> 00:49:21,960 Anthony Davis, but Anthy Davis is also a top seven player. That's a 741 00:49:22,000 --> 00:49:23,840 no brainer deal to make anyway, And so I do think he was clearly 742 00:49:23,920 --> 00:49:27,039 number two. But I did have Harden number three, where I think a 743 00:49:27,079 --> 00:49:30,360 lot of people might have put don chich and Harden slump kind of towards where 744 00:49:30,440 --> 00:49:34,039 Russell Westbrook it out played him where it felt like for a month or a 745 00:49:34,119 --> 00:49:37,960 little bit longer than that. Maybe that matters, but just the sheer workload 746 00:49:37,000 --> 00:49:39,480 that he carries, and I don't have anything to add really to what you 747 00:49:39,599 --> 00:49:43,239 put, and so it's not I don't think it's indefensible that you put him 748 00:49:43,239 --> 00:49:45,000 at two, but I'm legitimately caught off guard because in my mind, I 749 00:49:45,079 --> 00:49:49,760 do think that it needs to go Yannis one and then Lebron too, and 750 00:49:49,840 --> 00:49:54,119 you putting Harden two, I think kind of validates the separation between Yannis and 751 00:49:54,159 --> 00:49:57,880 the field, because I was going to ask you if Lebron could have caught 752 00:49:57,920 --> 00:50:01,199 up to Jannis during the rest of the regular season, the actual regular season, 753 00:50:01,280 --> 00:50:05,280 not whatever games are happening in Orlando because the Bucks had kind of been 754 00:50:05,320 --> 00:50:07,519 slumping when the NBA shut down and the Lakers weren't playing for the best record 755 00:50:07,800 --> 00:50:10,880 in the league. But the fact that you put Hardened number two just shows 756 00:50:10,920 --> 00:50:15,480 me that there is that enormous chasm for you, at least between Jannis and 757 00:50:15,599 --> 00:50:21,119 second place. Yeah, we're looking at like the peak Steph Curry thing again 758 00:50:21,320 --> 00:50:27,480 here where his numbers were enough to win unanimous MVP, and he didn't play 759 00:50:27,559 --> 00:50:30,440 as much as he could have because he was so dominant that he didn't need 760 00:50:30,519 --> 00:50:34,639 to. Ultimately, Jannis is having a historic season while only playing around thirty 761 00:50:34,639 --> 00:50:37,920 minutes per game because he doesn't have to be on the floor for fourth quarters. 762 00:50:37,400 --> 00:50:42,639 And to have it beat close is to knock him for being too dominant. 763 00:50:42,840 --> 00:50:46,480 I don't like that. I can't do that. The hardened, the 764 00:50:46,559 --> 00:50:52,079 hardened James thing is tough. It's I'm trying to figure out how best to 765 00:50:52,119 --> 00:50:59,800 phrase this. Because Lebron has always his playmaking is probably his biggest skill throughout 766 00:50:59,800 --> 00:51:04,559 his His ability to find open teammates, to read and react the defenses perfectly, 767 00:51:04,679 --> 00:51:07,320 to know where everyone's supposed to be at all times, to hit guys 768 00:51:07,679 --> 00:51:09,360 right in the shooting pocket and make their shots as easy as possible, and 769 00:51:09,480 --> 00:51:15,920 yet he doesn't empower players to become better during the season. It's like, 770 00:51:15,119 --> 00:51:20,880 when you play with Lebron, you're you're playing with the Lebron system, right, 771 00:51:21,039 --> 00:51:22,719 Like he's going to make you better when you're on the court, but 772 00:51:22,840 --> 00:51:27,679 he's not necessarily going to help allow the team to thrive when he's not there. 773 00:51:28,440 --> 00:51:31,920 And I think that that Harden's playing style and ability to thrive within that 774 00:51:32,039 --> 00:51:36,760 playing style have done the opposite this season, where we don't see as big 775 00:51:36,920 --> 00:51:39,519 on off splits for him, and they're still around six six points per one 776 00:51:39,559 --> 00:51:43,639 hundred possessions better with him on the floor, but we don't see as as 777 00:51:43,760 --> 00:51:50,280 large as swing because by thriving in this role to such an extent, he's 778 00:51:50,440 --> 00:51:54,079 also allowed other players to get better by catering the system to work towards his 779 00:51:54,320 --> 00:52:00,559 entire team. And I think that in a weird, bigger context to picture 780 00:52:00,920 --> 00:52:04,519 that that's been more valuable to the Rockets than what Lebron has done for the 781 00:52:04,599 --> 00:52:07,000 Lakers has been. Yeah, I mean, look, the other case for 782 00:52:07,079 --> 00:52:10,519 hard too is just thirty six point four usage and sixty one point six for 783 00:52:10,599 --> 00:52:14,639 shooting percentage. I'm not trying to dilute his case down further, but just 784 00:52:14,920 --> 00:52:16,039 because of what he's able to do to get to the line. But then 785 00:52:16,079 --> 00:52:22,280 also he's hitting those ridiculously difficult threes as well. The volume he shoulders and 786 00:52:22,360 --> 00:52:25,559 the efficiency that with which he ferries it is truly impressive, and Lebron's not 787 00:52:25,639 --> 00:52:29,320 at a point in his career where he needs to do that. And so 788 00:52:29,639 --> 00:52:34,400 what also helps Harden is his second best teammate. There's an even there's a 789 00:52:35,400 --> 00:52:39,119 huge gap between him and Russell Westbrook, and it's definitely smaller between Lebron and 790 00:52:39,159 --> 00:52:43,920 A D. I don't think a D deserved the MVP consideration that he got 791 00:52:44,360 --> 00:52:45,280 at the beginning of the middle of the season. It does seem like it 792 00:52:45,639 --> 00:52:50,719 it faded. But he's a top I'd take consensus top seven. Some people 793 00:52:50,719 --> 00:52:53,199 would argue top five, and Lebron's in there too. I'm not even sure 794 00:52:53,280 --> 00:52:58,119 Russell Westbrook is one of the top eighteen right now. He's definitely not a 795 00:52:58,159 --> 00:53:00,960 consensus top fifteen. And so you have James who's consensus top three or top 796 00:53:01,000 --> 00:53:05,840 four, whatever he might be, and so that certainly helps make his case. 797 00:53:05,880 --> 00:53:08,519 It also helps Makeyannest's case too. Though, I really appreciate your lack 798 00:53:08,559 --> 00:53:13,000 of adherence to round number by us, like who's gonna throw out? He's 799 00:53:13,039 --> 00:53:15,559 not top eighteen, like you could have just said top twenty, And I 800 00:53:15,679 --> 00:53:19,800 really appreciate you doing that. You're welcome. You know, next episode, 801 00:53:19,800 --> 00:53:22,039 we're gonna have to get you to do one of these intros or outros. 802 00:53:22,039 --> 00:53:23,559 I think the next time Adam is on this podcast, he will do an 803 00:53:23,639 --> 00:53:28,519 intro or an outro. Until next time, though, we just want to 804 00:53:28,559 --> 00:53:31,119 remind you employ you beg you plead you please rate, review and subscribe to 805 00:53:31,199 --> 00:53:36,039 us. Wherever you're getting this podcast, regardless of that, head over to 806 00:53:36,119 --> 00:53:38,119 iTunes, throw us a rating. We do really appreciate it. Five stars 807 00:53:38,280 --> 00:53:40,639 only would be great, and then write whatever you want in the review. 808 00:53:40,719 --> 00:53:45,920 We are checking those. Follow us on Twitter at Hardwood Knox, Follow Adam 809 00:53:45,920 --> 00:53:49,280 on Twitter at Framl zero nine. I am at Dan F Valley at a 810 00:53:49,400 --> 00:53:52,679 v alle. Please do not forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Just 811 00:53:52,719 --> 00:53:55,199 go to YouTube dot com search Hardwood NOx. Pretty much all of our podcast 812 00:53:55,280 --> 00:54:00,719 episodes will be on there as well. Next time or until next time, 813 00:54:00,840 --> 00:54:05,679 excuse me, we leave you with the shout out to the one the only. 814 00:54:06,119 --> 00:54:08,119 We think he's going to be the Defensive Player of the Year and the 815 00:54:08,239 --> 00:54:14,239 MVP Giannis Attenti Kompol. We go for normally more niche names than that, 816 00:54:14,480 --> 00:54:16,239 but I think he deserves it if he's going to go. In the company 817 00:54:16,280 --> 00:54:28,239 of A. Kiman and MJ Introducing Guinness Nitro cold Brew Coffee Beer. Blending 818 00:54:28,320 --> 00:54:31,519 the smooth, creamy nitro taste of Guinness with hints of coffee, chocolate, 819 00:54:31,679 --> 00:54:37,280 and caramel, Guinness Nitro cold Brew Coffee Beer your new favorite part of the 820 00:54:37,400 --> 00:54:40,239 day. Look for it where Guinness is sold. Must be twenty one and 821 00:54:40,320 --> 00:54:44,800 over to purchase. Please enjoy responsibly. Diagio Beer Company, New York, 822 00:54:44,880 --> 00:54:45,239 New York,